List of continents and continental subregions by population

Last updated

This is a list of continents and continental subregions by population.

Contents

World population by continent, 2021

   Asia (59.4%)
   Africa (17.6%)
   Europe (9.4%)
   North America (7.5%)
   South America (5.5%)
   Oceania (0.6%)
   Antarctica (0%)

Distribution of populations by continent

Continent Population
(2021) [1] [2] [3] 		 %
(world)		±% p.a.
(2010–2013)		 Sovereign states
(2024)		 De facto states
(2024)		 Non-self-governing
territory(ies) (2024)		 Other area(s)
(2024)
World 7,909,295,151100%1.17%19781734
Asia 4,694,576,16759.4%1.04%48402
Africa 1,393,676,44417.6%2.57%54224
Europe 745,173,7749.4%0.08%44216
North America 595,783,4657.5%0.96%230711
South America 434,254,1195.5%1.06%12013
Oceania 44,491,7240.6%1.47%16067
Antarctica 00%0%0001

Distribution of populations by real continent

Continent Population
(2021) [1] [2] [4] 		 %
(world)		±% p.a.
(2010–2013)		 Sovereign states
(2024)		 De facto states
(2024)		 Non-self-governing
territory(ies) (2024)		 Other area(s)
(2024)
World 7,909,295,151100%1.17%19781734
Afroeurasia 6,833,426,38586.4%86.4%1468312
America 1,030,037,58413%0.96%350814
Oceania 44,491,7240.6%1.47%16067
Antarctica 00%0%0001

Distribution of populations by continental subregion

Continental
subregion 		Population
(2021) [1] [2] 		 %
(world)		±% p.a.
(2010–2013)		 Sovereign states
(2024)		 De facto state(s)
(2024)		 Non-self-governing
territory(ies) (2024)		 Other area(s)
(2024)
World 7,909,295,151100%1.17%19781734
Southern Asia [lower-alpha 1] 1,989,452,47825.2%1.32%9000
Eastern Asia 1,663,696,92321.0%0.57%5102
Sub-Saharan Africa [lower-alpha 2] 1,137,938,70814.4%N/A48114
South-eastern Asia 675,796,0658.5%1.20%11000
Latin America and the Caribbean [lower-alpha 3] 656,098,0978.30%N/A330712
Eastern Africa [lower-alpha 4] 461,141,8455.8%2.89%18104
South America [lower-alpha 5] 434,254,1195.5%1.06%12013
Western Africa [lower-alpha 6] 418,544,3375.3%2.78%16010
Northern America 375,278,9474.7%0.85%2012
Eastern Europe [lower-alpha 7] 291,464,1623.7%0.23%10100
Western Asia [lower-alpha 8] 289,733,1233.7%1.98%18300
Northern Africa [lower-alpha 9] 255,737,7363.2%1.70%6110
Western Europe [lower-alpha 10] 195,381,6492.5%0.25%9000
Middle Africa [lower-alpha 11] 190,267,9732.4%2.79%9000
Central America [lower-alpha 12] 177,661,9292.2%1.40%8000
Southern Europe 152,130,6061.9%0.24%15110
Northern Europe [lower-alpha 13] 106,197,3571.3%0.54%10006
Central Asia 75,897,5771.0%1.43%5000
Southern Africa 67,984,5540.9%0.91%5000
Caribbean 44,182,0480.6%0.71%13069
Australia and New Zealand [lower-alpha 14] 31,050,8160.4%N/A2004
Melanesia [lower-alpha 15] 12,188,8340.2%N/A4010
Polynesia 717,4670.009%N/A5041
Micronesia [lower-alpha 16] 534,6060.007%N/A5012
Antarctica 00%0%0001

Global, continental, and subregional totals from 1950 to 2021

Africa

Eastern Africa
YearPop.±% 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%
Middle Africa
YearPop.±% 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%
Northern Africa
YearPop.±% 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%
Southern Africa
YearPop.±% 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%
Western Africa
YearPop.±% 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%
Total Africa
YearPop.±% 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

Total Americas
YearPop.±% 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

Caribbean
YearPop.±% 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%
Central America
YearPop.±% 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%
Northern America
YearPop.±% 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%
Total North America
YearPop.±% 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

Total South America
YearPop.±% 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

Central Asia
YearPop.±% 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%
Eastern Asia
YearPop.±% 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%
South-eastern Asia
YearPop.±% 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%
Southern Asia
YearPop.±% 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%
Western Asia
YearPop.±% 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%
Total Asia
YearPop.±% 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

Eastern Europe
YearPop.±% 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%
Northern Europe
YearPop.±% 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%
Southern Europe
YearPop.±% 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%
Western Europe
YearPop.±% 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%
Total Europe
YearPop.±% 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

Total Oceania
YearPop.±% 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

Total World
YearPop.±% 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%

Notes

  1. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Afghanistan and Iran in Southern Asia.
  2. ↑ Consisting of Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, and Western Africa.
  3. ↑ Consisting of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Bouvet Island in South America.
  6. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in Western Africa.
  7. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as Siberia (Northern Asia) in Eastern Europe.
  8. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes the South Caucasian countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as Cyprus and Turkey in Western Asia.
  9. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Western Sahara in Northern Africa.
  10. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes the DACH countries and Liechtenstein in Western Europe.
  11. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Angola in Middle Africa.
  12. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Mexico in Central America.
  13. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes the Baltic states, the British Isles, and the Channel Islands in Northern Europe.
  14. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Australia and New Zealand.
  15. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes Papua New Guinea in Melanesia.
  16. ↑ The UN geoscheme includes the United States Minor Outlying Islands in Micronesia.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations geoscheme for Asia</span> Alphabetical list of subregions in the United Nations geoscheme for Asia

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Population". United Nations. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Population". United Nations. Retrieved July 25, 2021.

Sources

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