Population
8.09B persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
World
All indicators of the Macroscope base for World, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
GDP per capita, PPP
21,914
constant 2021 international $, 2025
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 4.85 in 1950 → 2.25 in 2023 (−54%). Peak: 5.31 in 1963; the latest value is 58% lower. The trend broke around 1965 and 1993: +0.01 → −0.07 → −0.02 a year.
- Births: 91.8M in 1950 → 132M in 2023 (+44%). The trend broke around 1985 and 2017: +1.14M → +219k → −2.04M a year.
- Population: 2.49B in 1950 → 8.09B in 2023 (×3.2).
- Internet: 15.6% in 2005 → 73.6% in 2025 (+58 pp). Threshold: above 50% since 2019. Fastest growth in 2017–2022: 46.3% → 67%.
- Urban share: 34.2% in 1960 → 57.8% in 2025 (+24 pp). Threshold: above 50% since 2007. The trend broke around 2018: change slowed down (+0.51 → +0.28 a year).
- GDP per person (PPP): 11,275 PPP dollars in 1990 → 21,914 PPP dollars in 2025 (+94%). The trend broke around 1998: change sped up (+109 → +356 a year).
- GDP growth: on average 3.2% in the 1980s, 3.0% in the 1990s, 3.7% in the 2000s, 3.7% in the 2010s, 3.0% in the 2020s. Lowest: −2.7% in 2020; highest: 6.7% in 2021.
- Inflation: on average 15.5% in the 1980s, 19.7% in the 1990s, 4.2% in the 2000s, 3.5% in the 2010s, 5.6% in the 2020s. Lowest: 2.6% in 2009; highest: 39.8% in 1993.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1968–1978: 4.96 → 3.79. Over the same years: births 122M → 122M; population 3.55B → 4.29B; urban share 36% → 38.6%; no data for the others in those years.
- Over the last 10 years (2013–2023): fertility (TFR) 2.57 → 2.25; births 145M → 132M; population 7.29B → 8.09B; internet 35.3% → 69.2%; urban share 53.4% → 57.3%; GDP per person (PPP) 17,122 PPP dollars → 20,895 PPP dollars; GDP growth 3.4% → 3.3%; inflation 3.6% → 6.7%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (2005–2023, 19 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.96); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = −0.47).
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2023, 64 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.92); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = −0.29).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2023, 34 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.91); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = 0.36).
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 3 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 8; median gap +2.1%.
- The UN 1998 projection expected this level (2.25) already around 2020: reality is 3 years behind it.
- The UN 2008 projection expected today's level (2.25, 2023) only around 2026: reality is 3 years ahead of it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 2.10 (−7% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.84 (−18% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 1.36.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 1 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 10; median gap +3.5%.
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 133M (0% vs 2023), 2100 — 110M (−17% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 48.4M.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 0 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 12; median gap +2.7%.
- The UN 1998 projection expected today's level (8.09B, 2023) only around 2030: reality is 7 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2022 projection expected today's level (8.09B, 2023) only around 2024: reality is 1 year ahead of it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 9.66B (+19% vs 2023), 2100 — 10.2B (+26% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 6.99B.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 0.6 pp below the forecast; below it in 67% of cases; typical error ±1.2 pp. The biggest miss was for 2020: IMF, April 2019 expected 3.6%, the outcome was −2.7%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 3.1%, 2028 — 3.2%, 2031 — 3.1%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 0.6 pp above the forecast; below it in 44% of cases; typical error ±1.1 pp. The biggest miss was for 2022: IMF, April 2021 expected 3.2%, the outcome was 8.7%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 4.4%, 2028 — 3.4%, 2031 — 3.2%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 7.7B | 8.09B | +5.1% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 7.8B | 8.09B | +3.8% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 7.73B | 8.09B | +4.7% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 7.78B | 8.09B | +4% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 7.88B | 8.09B | +2.7% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 7.88B | 8.09B | +2.7% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 7.87B | 8.09B | +2.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 7.94B | 8.09B | +1.9% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 7.99B | 8.09B | +1.3% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 8.03B | 8.09B | +0.7% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 8.03B | 8.09B | +0.8% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 8.05B | 8.09B | +0.6% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 130M | 141M | +9.1% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 136M | 141M | +3.8% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 135M | 141M | +4.4% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 137M | 141M | +3.5% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 137M | 141M | +2.9% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 136M | 141M | +3.6% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 135M | 141M | +4.4% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 139M | 141M | +1.7% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 141M | 141M | +0.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 141M | 141M | +0.4% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 134M | 132M | −1.6% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 2.29 | 2.46 | +7.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 2.44 | 2.46 | +1.1% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 2.41 | 2.46 | +2.1% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 2.38 | 2.46 | +3.2% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 2.37 | 2.46 | +3.7% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 2.40 | 2.46 | +2.7% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 2.39 | 2.46 | +3% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 2.45 | 2.46 | +0.4% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 2.47 | 2.46 | −0.5% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 2.47 | 2.46 | −0.5% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 2.31 | 2.25 | −2.6% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 36 | −0.6 pp | 1.2 pp | 67% |
| Inflation | 36 | +0.6 pp | 1.1 pp | 44% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
132M births per year latest value, 2023
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Total fertility rate
2.25 children per woman latest value, 2023
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Life expectancy at birth, women
75.9 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
70.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
30.4 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
28.2 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
105.5 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
0 persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
16.4 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
73.6 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
111.5 per 100 people latest value, 2025
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
20.1 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2025
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
21,914 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
3.4 % per year latest value, 2025
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
4.1 % per year, average latest value, 2025
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
79.3 % of GDP latest value, 2010
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
57.8 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
46.5 % gross latest value, 2024
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
73.5 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
In-depth checks
This country has in-depth checks against archives of national projections: