List of continents by population

Asia is the most populous continent in the world, with 4.81 billion people accounting for nearly 58.89% of the world population as of 2024. Africa is the second most largest continent by population, with around 1.52 billion people, or 18.56% of the world's population. Only these two continents have crossed one billion milestone. Asia and Africa, together share over 77% of the global population. Europe has a population of around 745 million (9.13%), North America is home to around 613 million (7.51%), South America, the second least populated continent, has about 436 million inhabitants (5.34%). Oceania (46 million) is the smallest continent on the basis population if Antarctica is excluded as there is no population estimates for Antarctica by UN (World Population Prospects 2024).

Top three biggest subregions belong to Asia Continent : Southern Asia (2.06 bn), Eastern Asia (1.66 bn) and South-Eastern Asia (695 mn). 45.58% of the world's population lives in Southern Asia (25.29%) and Eastern Asia (20.29%). Southern Asia includes India, the most populous country and Eastern Asia includes China, the 2nd most populous country. Micronesia is the smallest subregion followed by Polynesia having less than 1 mn people.

Africa has the highest population growth rate as all three subregions growing over 2% are in Africa. Middle Africa has highest rate of over 3% followed by Eastern Africa and Western Africa growing over 2%. The population growth rate of Africa (2.30%) continent is almost double of the growth rate of second most fastest growing continent Oceania (1.15%). Except Africa and Oceania, remaining four continent have growth grate below 1%. Population of Asia (0.60%), South America (0.59%) and North America (0.70%) are increasing with almost similar rate. Eight subregions have growth rate above 1%. Europe is the only continent with negative growth rate of -0.08% as lowest two ranked subregions are located in Europe. Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia have negative growth rate.

With 34 mn more people in 2024, Africa is the top contributor of the total world population increment closely followed by Asia (29 mn).

Population of Europe has reached its peak level in 2020, South America is the next continent that is projected to peak in 2049. Asia and.North America are projected to peak in 2054 and 2083, resp. Population of Africa and Oceania will not peak until 2100.