India and China lead projected world population rankings for 2026

According to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau International Database (IDB), the global population is expected to reach 8.2 billion by July 1, 2026. Most of the world's most populous nations are located in Asia.

India is projected to be the most populous country, with an estimated 1,429,700,205 residents, making it the only nation expected to exceed 1.4 billion. China follows in second place with approximately 1,405,918,803 people, though UN projections suggest its population has peaked and may decline in the long term.

The United States is ranked third with a projected population of 342,620,143, serving as the only non-Asian nation in the top three. Indonesia is expected to rank fourth, with a projected population of 285,562,809.