List of continents and continental subregions by population
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This is a list of continental landmasses, continents, and continental subregions by population. For statistical convenience, the populations of continental landmasses also include the populations of their associated islands.
World population by continent, 2021
- Asia (59.4%)
- Africa (17.6%)
- Europe (9.40%)
- North America (7.50%)
- South America (5.50%)
- Oceania (0.60%)
- Antarctica (0.00%)
Distribution of populations by continental landmass
| Continental landmass | Population (2021)[1][2][3] |
% (world) |
±% p.a. (2010–2013) |
Sovereign states (2025) |
De facto states (2025) |
Non-self-governing territories (2025) |
Other area(s) (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Afro-Eurasia | 6,833,426,385 | 86.4% | 86.4% | 146 | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| America | 1,030,037,584 | 13% | 0.96% | 35 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Oceania[a] | 44,491,724 | 0.6% | 1.47% | 16 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Distribution of populations by continent
| Continent | Population (2021)[1][2][4] |
% (world) |
±% p.a. (2010–2013) |
Sovereign states (2025) |
De facto states (2025) |
Non-self-governing territory(ies) (2025) |
Other area(s) (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Asia | 4,694,576,167 | 59.4% | 1.04% | 48 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Africa | 1,393,676,444 | 17.6% | 2.57% | 54 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Europe | 745,173,774 | 9.4% | 0.08% | 44 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| North America | 595,783,465 | 7.5% | 0.96% | 23 | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| South America | 434,254,119 | 5.5% | 1.06% | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Oceania[b] | 44,491,724 | 0.6% | 1.47% | 16 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Distribution of populations by continental subregion
| Continental subregion |
Population (2021)[1][2] |
% (world) |
±% p.a. (2010–2013) |
Sovereign states (2025) |
De facto state(s) (2025) |
Non-self-governing territory(ies) (2025) |
Other area(s) (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | 7,909,295,151 | 100% | 1.17% | 197 | 8 | 17 | 34 |
| Southern Asia[c] | 1,989,452,478 | 25.2% | 1.32% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eastern Asia | 1,663,696,923 | 21.0% | 0.57% | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa[d] | 1,137,938,708 | 14.4% | N/A | 48 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| South-eastern Asia | 675,796,065 | 8.5% | 1.20% | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean[e] | 656,098,097 | 8.30% | N/A | 33 | 0 | 7 | 12 |
| Eastern Africa[f] | 461,141,845 | 5.8% | 2.89% | 18 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| South America[g] | 434,254,119 | 5.5% | 1.06% | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Western Africa[h] | 418,544,337 | 5.3% | 2.78% | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern America | 375,278,947 | 4.7% | 0.85% | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Eastern Europe[i] | 291,464,162 | 3.7% | 0.23% | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Asia[j] | 289,733,123 | 3.7% | 1.98% | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Africa[k] | 255,737,736 | 3.2% | 1.70% | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Western Europe[l] | 195,381,649 | 2.5% | 0.25% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Middle Africa[m] | 190,267,973 | 2.4% | 2.79% | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Central America[n] | 177,661,929 | 2.2% | 1.40% | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southern Europe | 152,130,606 | 1.9% | 0.24% | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern Europe[o] | 106,197,357 | 1.3% | 0.54% | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Central Asia | 75,897,577 | 1.0% | 1.43% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southern Africa | 67,984,554 | 0.9% | 0.91% | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caribbean | 44,182,048 | 0.6% | 0.71% | 13 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Australia and New Zealand[p] | 31,050,816 | 0.4% | N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Melanesia[q] | 12,188,834 | 0.2% | N/A | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Polynesia | 717,467 | 0.009% | N/A | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Micronesia[r] | 534,606 | 0.007% | N/A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Antarctica | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Global, continental, and subregional totals from 1950 to 2021
Africa
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66,923,000 | — |
| 1960 | 84,305,000 | +2.34% |
| 1970 | 110,428,000 | +2.74% |
| 1980 | 147,512,000 | +2.94% |
| 1990 | 198,232,000 | +3.00% |
| 2000 | 259,373,000 | +2.72% |
| 2010 | 342,743,000 | +2.83% |
| 2021 | 461,141,845 | +2.73% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26,401,000 | — |
| 1960 | 32,216,000 | +2.01% |
| 1970 | 40,846,000 | +2.40% |
| 1980 | 53,135,000 | +2.67% |
| 1990 | 70,886,000 | +2.92% |
| 2000 | 96,113,000 | +3.09% |
| 2010 | 130,598,000 | +3.11% |
| 2021 | 190,267,973 | +3.48% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 49,222,000 | — |
| 1960 | 63,697,000 | +2.61% |
| 1970 | 82,883,000 | +2.67% |
| 1980 | 106,908,000 | +2.58% |
| 1990 | 140,117,000 | +2.74% |
| 2000 | 171,891,000 | +2.06% |
| 2010 | 203,717,000 | +1.71% |
| 2021 | 255,737,736 | +2.09% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15,588,000 | — |
| 1960 | 19,724,000 | +2.38% |
| 1970 | 25,454,000 | +2.58% |
| 1980 | 32,997,000 | +2.63% |
| 1990 | 42,049,000 | +2.45% |
| 2000 | 51,451,000 | +2.04% |
| 2010 | 59,067,000 | +1.39% |
| 2021 | 67,984,554 | +1.29% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 70,769,000 | — |
| 1960 | 84,946,000 | +1.84% |
| 1970 | 106,015,000 | +2.24% |
| 1980 | 137,414,000 | +2.63% |
| 1990 | 180,331,000 | +2.76% |
| 2000 | 235,235,000 | +2.69% |
| 2010 | 307,982,000 | +2.73% |
| 2021 | 418,544,337 | +2.83% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 228,902,000 | — |
| 1960 | 284,887,000 | +2.21% |
| 1970 | 365,626,000 | +2.53% |
| 1980 | 477,965,000 | +2.72% |
| 1990 | 631,614,000 | +2.83% |
| 2000 | 814,063,000 | +2.57% |
| 2010 | 1,044,107,000 | +2.52% |
| 2021 | 1,393,676,444 | +2.66% |
Americas
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 340,459,000 | — |
| 1960 | 425,357,000 | +2.25% |
| 1970 | 519,522,000 | +2.02% |
| 1980 | 619,252,000 | +1.77% |
| 1990 | 727,522,000 | +1.62% |
| 2000 | 840,614,000 | +1.46% |
| 2010 | 943,952,000 | +1.17% |
| 2021 | 1,031,377,044 | +0.81% |
North America
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 17,076,000 | — |
| 1960 | 20,724,000 | +1.96% |
| 1970 | 25,306,000 | +2.02% |
| 1980 | 29,748,000 | +1.63% |
| 1990 | 34,198,000 | +1.40% |
| 2000 | 38,314,000 | +1.14% |
| 2010 | 41,621,000 | +0.83% |
| 2021 | 44,182,048 | +0.54% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38,029,000 | — |
| 1960 | 51,400,000 | +3.06% |
| 1970 | 69,702,000 | +3.09% |
| 1980 | 92,425,000 | +2.86% |
| 1990 | 114,823,000 | +2.19% |
| 2000 | 138,780,000 | +1.91% |
| 2010 | 161,117,000 | +1.50% |
| 2021 | 177,661,929 | +0.89% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 171,615,000 | — |
| 1960 | 204,167,000 | +1.75% |
| 1970 | 231,029,000 | +1.24% |
| 1980 | 254,217,000 | +0.96% |
| 1990 | 280,633,000 | +0.99% |
| 2000 | 313,724,000 | +1.12% |
| 2010 | 344,129,000 | +0.93% |
| 2021 | 375,278,947 | +0.79% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 226,719,000 | — |
| 1960 | 276,291,000 | +2.00% |
| 1970 | 326,036,000 | +1.67% |
| 1980 | 376,390,000 | +1.45% |
| 1990 | 429,653,000 | +1.33% |
| 2000 | 490,818,000 | +1.34% |
| 2010 | 546,867,000 | +1.09% |
| 2021 | 597,122,924 | +0.80% |
South America
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 113,739,000 | — |
| 1960 | 149,066,000 | +2.74% |
| 1970 | 193,486,000 | +2.64% |
| 1980 | 242,862,000 | +2.30% |
| 1990 | 297,869,000 | +2.06% |
| 2000 | 349,796,000 | +1.62% |
| 2010 | 397,085,000 | +1.28% |
| 2021 | 434,254,119 | +0.82% |
Asia
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18,131,000 | — |
| 1960 | 24,616,000 | +3.10% |
| 1970 | 33,156,000 | +3.02% |
| 1980 | 41,277,000 | +2.21% |
| 1990 | 50,407,929 | +2.02% |
| 2000 | 55,117,000 | +0.90% |
| 2010 | 62,139,000 | +1.21% |
| 2021 | 75,897,577 | +1.83% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 666,586,000 | — |
| 1960 | 788,145,000 | +1.69% |
| 1970 | 978,113,000 | +2.18% |
| 1980 | 1,173,372,000 | +1.84% |
| 1990 | 1,368,592,000 | +1.55% |
| 2000 | 1,496,284,000 | +0.90% |
| 2010 | 1,575,320,000 | +0.52% |
| 2021 | 1,663,696,923 | +0.50% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 164,900,000 | — |
| 1960 | 213,838,000 | +2.63% |
| 1970 | 281,521,000 | +2.79% |
| 1980 | 358,106,000 | +2.44% |
| 1990 | 445,665,000 | +2.21% |
| 2000 | 526,179,000 | +1.67% |
| 2010 | 596,708,000 | +1.27% |
| 2021 | 675,796,065 | +1.14% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 493,443,000 | — |
| 1960 | 593,943,000 | +1.87% |
| 1970 | 741,603,000 | +2.25% |
| 1980 | 939,043,000 | +2.39% |
| 1990 | 1,189,261,000 | +2.39% |
| 2000 | 1,451,933,000 | +2.02% |
| 2010 | 1,702,969,000 | +1.61% |
| 2021 | 1,989,452,478 | +1.42% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50,957,000 | — |
| 1960 | 66,156,000 | +2.64% |
| 1970 | 86,037,000 | +2.66% |
| 1980 | 113,786,000 | +2.83% |
| 1990 | 148,552,000 | +2.70% |
| 2000 | 184,957,000 | +2.22% |
| 2010 | 232,703,000 | +2.32% |
| 2021 | 289,733,123 | +2.01% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,394,018,000 | — |
| 1960 | 1,686,698,000 | +1.92% |
| 1970 | 2,120,430,000 | +2.31% |
| 1980 | 2,625,584,000 | +2.16% |
| 1990 | 3,202,475,000 | +2.01% |
| 2000 | 3,714,470,000 | +1.49% |
| 2010 | 4,169,850,000 | +1.16% |
| 2021 | 4,694,576,167 | +1.08% |
Europe
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 220,171,000 | — |
| 1960 | 253,630,000 | +1.42% |
| 1970 | 276,396,000 | +0.86% |
| 1980 | 295,042,000 | +0.65% |
| 1990 | 310,027,000 | +0.50% |
| 2000 | 303,789,000 | −0.20% |
| 2010 | 294,591,000 | −0.31% |
| 2021 | 291,464,162 | −0.10% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 78,030,000 | — |
| 1960 | 81,790,000 | +0.47% |
| 1970 | 87,305,000 | +0.65% |
| 1980 | 89,833,000 | +0.29% |
| 1990 | 92,040,000 | +0.24% |
| 2000 | 94,397,000 | +0.25% |
| 2010 | 99,682,000 | +0.55% |
| 2021 | 106,197,357 | +0.58% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 108,633,000 | — |
| 1960 | 117,879,000 | +0.82% |
| 1970 | 127,617,000 | +0.80% |
| 1980 | 138,495,000 | +0.82% |
| 1990 | 143,404,000 | +0.35% |
| 2000 | 145,058,000 | +0.11% |
| 2010 | 153,360,000 | +0.56% |
| 2021 | 152,130,606 | −0.07% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 142,256,000 | — |
| 1960 | 152,320,000 | +0.69% |
| 1970 | 165,903,000 | +0.86% |
| 1980 | 170,489,000 | +0.27% |
| 1990 | 175,615,000 | +0.30% |
| 2000 | 183,163,000 | +0.42% |
| 2010 | 187,762,000 | +0.25% |
| 2021 | 195,381,649 | +0.36% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 549,089,000 | — |
| 1960 | 605,619,000 | +0.98% |
| 1970 | 657,221,000 | +0.82% |
| 1980 | 693,859,000 | +0.54% |
| 1990 | 721,086,000 | +0.39% |
| 2000 | 726,407,000 | +0.07% |
| 2010 | 735,395,000 | +0.12% |
| 2021 | 745,173,774 | +0.12% |
Oceania
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,682,000 | — |
| 1960 | 15,784,000 | +2.21% |
| 1970 | 19,688,000 | +2.23% |
| 1980 | 22,972,000 | +1.55% |
| 1990 | 26,971,000 | +1.62% |
| 2000 | 31,068,000 | +1.42% |
| 2010 | 36,411,000 | +1.60% |
| 2016 | 39,901,000 | +1.54% |
| 2021 | 44,491,724 | +2.20% |
World
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2,525,149,000 | — |
| 1960 | 3,018,344,000 | +1.80% |
| 1970 | 3,682,488,000 | +2.01% |
| 1980 | 4,439,632,000 | +1.89% |
| 1990 | 5,309,668,000 | +1.81% |
| 2000 | 6,126,622,000 | +1.44% |
| 2010 | 6,929,725,000 | +1.24% |
| 2021 | 7,909,295,151 | +1.21% |
See also
- Human geography
- List of countries and dependencies by area
- List of countries and dependencies by population
- List of countries and dependencies by population density
- List of countries by past and projected future population
- List of countries by population in 1900
- List of countries by population in 2005
- List of countries by population in 2010
- List of population concern organizations
- List of religious populations
- List of sovereign states
- World population
Notes
- Comprising Australasia (mainland Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania), Melanesia (the Aru Islands, Island Melanesia, and New Guinea), Micronesia, and Polynesia.
- Comprising the continent of Australia-New Guinea (the Aru Islands, Australia, the mainland regions of Papua New Guinea, and Western New Guinea), the East Melanesian Islands (the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu), Fiji, Micronesia, Polynesia, and the submerged continent of Zealandia (New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island).
- The UN geoscheme includes Afghanistan and Iran in Southern Asia.
- Consisting of Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, and Western Africa.
- Consisting of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
- The UN geoscheme includes the British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago), the Comoros, the French Southern Territories, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in Eastern Africa.
- The UN geoscheme includes Bouvet Island in South America.
- The UN geoscheme includes Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in Western Africa.
- The UN geoscheme includes Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as Siberia (Northern Asia) in Eastern Europe.
- The UN geoscheme includes the South Caucasian countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as Cyprus and Turkey in Western Asia.
- The UN geoscheme includes Western Sahara in Northern Africa.
- The UN geoscheme includes the DACH countries and Liechtenstein in Western Europe.
- The UN geoscheme includes Angola in Middle Africa.
- The UN geoscheme includes Mexico in Central America.
- The UN geoscheme includes the Baltic states, the British Isles, and the Channel Islands in Northern Europe.
- The UN geoscheme includes Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Australia and New Zealand.
- The UN geoscheme includes Papua New Guinea in Melanesia.
- The UN geoscheme includes the United States Minor Outlying Islands in Micronesia.