Population growth is one of the most important topics we cover at Our World in Data.
For most of human history, the global population was a tiny fraction of what it is today. Over the last few centuries, the human population has gone through an extraordinary change. In 1800, there were one billion people. Today there are more than 8 billion of us.
But after a period of very fast population growth, demographers expect the world population to peak by the end of this century.
On this page, you will find all of our data, charts, and writing on changes in population growth. This includes how populations are distributed worldwide, how this has changed, and what demographers expect for the future.
Key insights on Population Growth
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Research & Writing
More Key articles on Population Growth
How many people die and how many are born each year?
Hannah Ritchie and Edouard Mathieu
Five key findings from the 2022 UN Population Prospects
Hannah Ritchie, Edouard Mathieu and Lucas Rodés-Guirao
Which countries are most densely populated?
Hannah Ritchie and Edouard Mathieu