Collecting the full name and date of birth of all humans alive - The Population Project

The Population Project has temporarily suspended its activities. Our database of about 700 million and 200 million dead remains freely accessible. Read more.

0.00%

Total population recorded out of 8,176,786,363 people born

Latest articles

Why Some Countries Are Paying Couples to Have More Children

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Poland are offering financial incentives to encourage higher birth rates as they face population decline; Japan’s population has dropped to around 125 million with a birth rate of just 1.3 births per woman, South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate at 0.72, and Poland, with a birth rate of 1.4, is introducing policies to slow its population decline.

The 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in the World: What’s Driving the Boom?

Among the 10 fastest-growing cities in the world, places like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Dhaka are experiencing annual population growth rates exceeding 4%, driven by rural-to-urban migration and economic opportunities, while some formerly booming cities face stagnation or decline due to environmental challenges and shifting economic trends.

The World's Smallest Countries by Population: Hidden Gems to Explore

Some of the world’s smallest countries by population, like Vatican City (around 800 residents) and Tuvalu (just over 11,000), have remained relatively stable, while others, such as Nauru and Palau, face slow declines due to emigration, and Monaco continues to grow, with its population surpassing 39,000 due to high immigration and luxury living.

10 Most Populous Countries in the World and Why Their Population Matters

The 10 most populous countries, including India (1.43 billion) and the U.S. (over 330 million), play a crucial role in global demographics, with nations like Nigeria and Pakistan experiencing annual growth rates above 2%, while countries such as Japan and Russia are seeing population declines, with Japan projected to lose nearly 30% of its population by 2070 due to aging and low birth rates.

The History of Population Growth: Key Milestones Over the Centuries

Global population growth has seen key milestones over the centuries, rising from around 300 million in 1000 AD to 1 billion by 1800, then accelerating to 2.5 billion by 1950 and surpassing 8 billion today, while some countries like Bhutan, Paraguay, and Laos now experience slower growth rates due to shifting demographics and migration trends.

The Global Population Pyramid: What It Tells Us About the Future

The global population pyramid highlights significant shifts, with developing regions like Africa experiencing a youthful population surge and rapid growth, while countries in Europe and East Asia, such as Italy and Japan, face population decline and aging, potentially leading to labor shortages and increased pressure on social welfare systems in the coming decades.

Urbanization and Its Impact on Global Populations

Urbanization is rapidly transforming global populations, with Tanzania’s urban population growing at over 4.5% annually as cities like Dar es Salaam expand, while Saudi Arabia’s urbanization rate has surpassed 84% due to economic development. Meanwhile, Chile’s urban population remains steady at around 88%, and Romania faces urban decline, with some cities losing over 15% of their population due to emigration and low birth rates.

What Will the World Look Like in 2050? A Peek Into Population Projections

By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion, with countries like Nigeria expected to surpass 400 million people, while nations like Japan and Russia face steep declines, with Japan’s population potentially shrinking to around 87 million due to aging and low birth rates, reshaping global demographics and economic dynamics.

The World’s Most Diverse Countries and What Makes Them Unique

India, the world’s most populous and diverse democracy, has surpassed 1.43 billion people, while Brazil, home to over 215 million, continues to grow slowly. South Africa, with a population of 60 million, faces regional disparities in growth, whereas Canada’s population recently exceeded 40 million, driven largely by immigration. Meanwhile, the United States, with over 330 million people, maintains steady growth, though birth rates have declined to around 1.6 births per woman.

Population Myths: Common Misconceptions About Global Demographics

A common myth is that global population growth is accelerating, but in reality, the growth rate has slowed from 2.1% in the 1960s to around 0.9% today. While countries like India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia continue to grow rapidly, nations like Japan, China, Russia, Germany, and Italy are experiencing population declines due to aging and low birth rates, while Brazil, the United States, South Africa, and Mexico see slower but steady growth.

Why Some Countries Are Paying Couples to Have More Children

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Poland are offering financial incentives to encourage higher birth rates as they face population decline; Japan’s population has dropped to around 125 million with a birth rate of just 1.3 births per woman, South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate at 0.72, and Poland, with a birth rate of 1.4, is introducing policies to slow its population decline.

The 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in the World: What’s Driving the Boom?

Among the 10 fastest-growing cities in the world, places like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Dhaka are experiencing annual population growth rates exceeding 4%, driven by rural-to-urban migration and economic opportunities, while some formerly booming cities face stagnation or decline due to environmental challenges and shifting economic trends.

The World's Smallest Countries by Population: Hidden Gems to Explore

Some of the world’s smallest countries by population, like Vatican City (around 800 residents) and Tuvalu (just over 11,000), have remained relatively stable, while others, such as Nauru and Palau, face slow declines due to emigration, and Monaco continues to grow, with its population surpassing 39,000 due to high immigration and luxury living.

10 Most Populous Countries in the World and Why Their Population Matters

The 10 most populous countries, including India (1.43 billion) and the U.S. (over 330 million), play a crucial role in global demographics, with nations like Nigeria and Pakistan experiencing annual growth rates above 2%, while countries such as Japan and Russia are seeing population declines, with Japan projected to lose nearly 30% of its population by 2070 due to aging and low birth rates.

The History of Population Growth: Key Milestones Over the Centuries

Global population growth has seen key milestones over the centuries, rising from around 300 million in 1000 AD to 1 billion by 1800, then accelerating to 2.5 billion by 1950 and surpassing 8 billion today, while some countries like Bhutan, Paraguay, and Laos now experience slower growth rates due to shifting demographics and migration trends.

The Global Population Pyramid: What It Tells Us About the Future

The global population pyramid highlights significant shifts, with developing regions like Africa experiencing a youthful population surge and rapid growth, while countries in Europe and East Asia, such as Italy and Japan, face population decline and aging, potentially leading to labor shortages and increased pressure on social welfare systems in the coming decades.

Urbanization and Its Impact on Global Populations

Urbanization is rapidly transforming global populations, with Tanzania’s urban population growing at over 4.5% annually as cities like Dar es Salaam expand, while Saudi Arabia’s urbanization rate has surpassed 84% due to economic development. Meanwhile, Chile’s urban population remains steady at around 88%, and Romania faces urban decline, with some cities losing over 15% of their population due to emigration and low birth rates.

What Will the World Look Like in 2050? A Peek Into Population Projections

By 2050, the world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion, with countries like Nigeria expected to surpass 400 million people, while nations like Japan and Russia face steep declines, with Japan’s population potentially shrinking to around 87 million due to aging and low birth rates, reshaping global demographics and economic dynamics.

The World’s Most Diverse Countries and What Makes Them Unique

India, the world’s most populous and diverse democracy, has surpassed 1.43 billion people, while Brazil, home to over 215 million, continues to grow slowly. South Africa, with a population of 60 million, faces regional disparities in growth, whereas Canada’s population recently exceeded 40 million, driven largely by immigration. Meanwhile, the United States, with over 330 million people, maintains steady growth, though birth rates have declined to around 1.6 births per woman.

Population Myths: Common Misconceptions About Global Demographics

A common myth is that global population growth is accelerating, but in reality, the growth rate has slowed from 2.1% in the 1960s to around 0.9% today. While countries like India, Nigeria, and Ethiopia continue to grow rapidly, nations like Japan, China, Russia, Germany, and Italy are experiencing population declines due to aging and low birth rates, while Brazil, the United States, South Africa, and Mexico see slower but steady growth.

Why Some Countries Are Paying Couples to Have More Children

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Poland are offering financial incentives to encourage higher birth rates as they face population decline; Japan’s population has dropped to around 125 million with a birth rate of just 1.3 births per woman, South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate at 0.72, and Poland, with a birth rate of 1.4, is introducing policies to slow its population decline.

The 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in the World: What’s Driving the Boom?

Among the 10 fastest-growing cities in the world, places like Lagos, Kinshasa, and Dhaka are experiencing annual population growth rates exceeding 4%, driven by rural-to-urban migration and economic opportunities, while some formerly booming cities face stagnation or decline due to environmental challenges and shifting economic trends.

The World's Smallest Countries by Population: Hidden Gems to Explore

Some of the world’s smallest countries by population, like Vatican City (around 800 residents) and Tuvalu (just over 11,000), have remained relatively stable, while others, such as Nauru and Palau, face slow declines due to emigration, and Monaco continues to grow, with its population surpassing 39,000 due to high immigration and luxury living.

10 Most Populous Countries in the World and Why Their Population Matters

The 10 most populous countries, including India (1.43 billion) and the U.S. (over 330 million), play a crucial role in global demographics, with nations like Nigeria and Pakistan experiencing annual growth rates above 2%, while countries such as Japan and Russia are seeing population declines, with Japan projected to lose nearly 30% of its population by 2070 due to aging and low birth rates.

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Because every life deserves to be acknowledged

It is estimated that 1 billion people have no legal existence whatsoever. They cannot vote, travel, or open a bank account.

Living people documented in our database

203,920,943

Deceased people documented in our database

52.3 yrs

Average age of a human documented in our database

65.0%

Information we have on average for each human

80.4

Average certainty index for each human

What is The Population Project

The Population Project is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to record the full name and place and date of birth of all humans alive.

about

A Monumental Task

Despite the challenges inherent to this task, the Population Project is dedicated to recording the name of every single living person.

300,000 babies born every day

Not all births are registered, which makes tracking them difficult

15% humans without identification

The information that we log is collected from multitudinous sources that must be cross-checked, again and again, for accuracy

0 countries using names in their census reports without identification

Sources we gather data from may contain errors; typos are known to happen even in electoral records and graduation lists

F.A.Q

Why we need volunteers?

Calling the Population Project an ambitious initiative might be the understatement of the year. We need to identify up to 8 billion people in countries with highly different linguistic structures and record-keeping traditions. Simply put, we need your time and enthusiasm to gather as many records from as many corners of the world as possible. It means scouring the internet, looking for long lists of names, ideally from official sources.

Why is the website’s counter sometimes down?

It is the star of the Population Project: our counter of living humans is never idle for long. Most of the time, it’s ticking up as we process new public lists. Sometimes thought, it’s inching down. Before explaining how it is possible, it’s worth remembering that the Population Project’s counter reflects the number of LIVING humans in the database. But we also host 152

Is there a way to stay informed about The Population Project’s activities?

Information on newsletters, social media, or other communication channels.

How can I contact The Population Project for more information?

Contact details and methods for reaching out.

How can I contribute to The Population Project?

The world map depicted on the home page should give you an idea of the countries where we need the most help. The ideal list is long, official, and contains some notion of birth year. Counting your family members, friends, schoolmates, and colleagues, you probably know a few hundred people. It’s up to you to see them all on the Population Project! Look

What are the goals of The Population Project?

Simply put, because every life deserves to be acknowledged. It is estimated that one billion people - 15% of the world’s population - has no legal existence whatsoever. They cannot vote, travel, open a bank account. The Population Project might not reverse the legal plight of these people but it can give them that doesn’t cost much but means a lot: dignity.