List of continents by population

Asia is the world's most populous continent, with 4.86 billion people in 2026, accounting for 58.59% of the global population. Africa ranks second, with approximately 1.58 billion people, or 19.09% of the world's population. Asia and Africa are the only two continents with populations exceeding one billion, together accounting for more than 77% of the global population.

Europe has approximately 743 million people (8.96%), while North America has around 621 million (7.48%). South America is the second-least-populous continent, with approximately 440 million inhabitants (5.31%). Oceania, with around 47 million people, is the least populous continent when Antarctica is excluded, as the UN does not provide population estimates for Antarctica.

The world's three most populous subregions are all in Asia: Southern Asia (2.11 billion), Eastern Asia (1.65 billion), and Southeastern Asia (704 million). Southern Asia accounts for 25.37% of the global population, while Eastern Asia accounts for 19.86%. Together, these two subregions are home to 45.23% of the world's population. Southern Asia includes India, the world's most populous country, while Eastern Asia includes China, the second-most-populous country. At the other end of the scale, Micronesia is the world's least populous subregion, followed by Polynesia, with both having populations of fewer than one million.

Africa has the highest population growth rate of any continent, with all subregions growing above 2% located in Africa. Middle Africa leads at nearly 3%, followed by Eastern Africa and Western Africa, both growing at well over 2%. Africa's population growth rate of 2.22% is almost double that of Oceania (1.07%), the second-fastest-growing continent.

Apart from Africa and Oceania, the other four continents have population growth rates below 1%. Asia (0.57%), North America (0.62%), and South America (0.53%) are growing at broadly similar rates. Overall, nine subregions have population growth rates exceeding 1%.

Europe is the only continent experiencing population decline, with a negative growth rate of 0.14%. At the subregional level, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Asia also have negative population growth rates.

With an increase of 35 million people in 2026, Africa is the largest contributor to global population growth, closely followed by Asia (28 million).

Europe's population peaked in 2020, while South America is projected to be the next continent to reach its peak, in 2049. Asia and North America are projected to peak in 2054 and 2083, respectively. Africa and Oceania are not projected to reach their population peaks before 2100.

Continents by population

Continents by population (historical and projection)

Subregions by population

Subregions by population (historical and projection)