About this quiz
More than half the people alive today live in just ten countries. The top three are gimmes; the back half of the list is where good geography knowledge shows, and one spot regularly surprises even confident players. Type a country to reveal its rank and population — figures are World Bank 2024 estimates, so they reflect the recent switch at the very top of the table.
Frequently asked questions
Is India or China number one?
India — it overtook China in 2023 and the gap is widening. Our figures are World Bank 2024 estimates.
Why isn’t Mexico (or Japan) in the top ten?
The tenth spot is one of the closest calls in geography: Ethiopia edges out Mexico by around a million people in the 2024 World Bank figures, with Japan just behind. If a different source puts Mexico tenth, it’s because the two are nearly tied.