Population ranking 2012 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population, Total in 2012, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: China (1,354,190,000). A total of 217 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | people (2012) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 1,354,190,000 |
| 2 | India | 1,278,674,502 |
| 3 | United States | 314,339,099 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 252,698,525 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 207,667,125 |
| 6 | Brazil | 196,876,111 |
| 7 | Nigeria | 176,200,625 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 155,070,101 |
| 9 | Russian Federation | 143,378,447 |
| 10 | Japan | 127,629,000 |
| 11 | Mexico | 116,818,208 |
| 12 | Philippines | 100,175,512 |
| 13 | Ethiopia | 95,798,767 |
| 14 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 93,161,001 |
| 15 | Viet Nam | 89,510,356 |
| 16 | Germany | 80,425,823 |
| 17 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 79,370,580 |
| 18 | Turkiye | 75,175,827 |
| 19 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 73,254,618 |
| 20 | Thailand | 69,436,098 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 2012 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 2012 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| China | #2 | #2 |
| India | #1 | #1 |
| United States | #3 | #3 |
| Indonesia | #4 | #4 |
| Pakistan | #5 | #5 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population in 2012?
China, with 1,354,190,000 (people).
How many countries are included?
217 economies reported a value for SP.POP.TOTL in 2012. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.