It surpassed China, becoming the world's most populous country

According to the latest data obtained from population research, India has become the most populous country in the world with a population of 1 billion 463 million. China, on the other hand, has fallen to second place with a population of 1 billion 416 million. This development is seen as a significant turning point in global demographics.

In the list of the most populous countries, the United States is in third place with a population of 347 million, while Indonesia has 285 million citizens and Pakistan has 255 million. Nigeria with 237 million, Brazil with 212 million, Bangladesh with 175 million, Russia with 144 million, and Ethiopia with 135 million make up the top 10.

Among the notable countries outside of this ranking, Mexico stands out with 132 million, Japan with 123 million, and Egypt with 118 million. These countries play important roles in global balances in terms of both regional politics and the economy.

Turkey, with its current population of 87 million 794 thousand 430, ranks 18th. Iran is just above it with a population of 92 million, and Germany is just below it with 84 million. This situation shows that Turkey also maintains its title as one of the most populous countries in Europe.

Across Europe, the United Kingdom has a population of 69 million, France 66 million, and Italy 59 million. Spain with 47 million and South Korea with 51 million are evaluated in a similar category. Argentina, located in the Southern Hemisphere, continues to rank high on the list with a population of 45 million, while South Africa has 64 million.

Canada (38 million), Australia (26 million), Saudi Arabia (34 million), and Kazakhstan (20 million), which have large territories in terms of surface area, stand out at the bottom of the ranking as countries with low population density. The high standard of living in these countries is another factor that stands out in the statistics.

Demographic analyses regarding Turkey point to a decline in the fertility rate and a change in the age structure of society. The total fertility rate, which was 2.38 in 2001, has declined to 1.48 in 2024, and this figure remains below the rate required for the population to replace itself.

According to the latest data, 57.2 percent of households in Turkey do not have children between the ages of 0-17. The rate of families with one child reaches 19 percent, and the rate of families with two children reaches 14.6 percent. It is noted that the rates of households with three or more children have fallen to single-digit values.

Long-term projections contain worrying results. The United Nations' low-growth scenario predicts that if current trends continue, Turkey's population could fall to 25 million by the year 2100. According to TÜİK's projections, this figure could drop to 54 million. Experts point out that these projections carry serious risks in terms of the labor force, the social security system, and the country's economic sustainability.

The proportion of the elderly population in Turkey is also gradually increasing. The elderly population rate, which was 7.1 percent in 2007, rose to 10.6 percent as of 2024. The number of provinces with an elderly population of over 10 percent has increased to 59. 

News Source: 12punto