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The world population didn’t change a great deal for thousands of years, and it is estimated that the population didn’t reach 1 billion until the year 1800.

This means that for centuries the world was definitely not a crowded place. Different civilizations came and went, from the Egyptians to the Minoans, all having a slight effect on population change but there was no rapid population growth like we have seen in more recent times.

The reason for this is the balance between the death rate and birth rate.

For much of the time before 1800, the birth rate was very high, with families often having between four and eight babies. But the death rate was also very high and, of particular importance, the infant mortality rate was high. This means that despite large numbers of babies being born, many died at a very young age.

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The world population hit 1 billion in the early nineteenth century during an important historical process known as the Industrial Revolution.

The industrial revolution led to an increased interconnectedness around the world due to the effects of colonialism and trade. People started to live longer as a result of the effects of the Industrial Revolution.

This was mainly due to developments in health. The use of antiseptics and anaesthetics in hospitals improved survival rates, vaccinations targeted many deadly diseases, such as smallpox, and improvements in childbirth procedures reduced the infant mortality rate.

The overall pattern was for increased population throughout the industrial revolutions.

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In the 20th century, the global population rose dramatically from under 2 billion to 6 billion by 1999.

This was mainly due to better healthcare, which increased life expectancy and reduced infant mortality.

A key factor was the post-World War II baby boom, where many countries encouraged large families.

By the 1960s, many women had more than two children, fueling population growth.

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The number of live births per 1000 people per year.

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The number of deaths per 1000 people per year.

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The number of deaths of children under the age of one year per 1000 live births.

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The expected average life span of people in a particular population.

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The rate of Population growth calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate

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Countries by Population Density 2026

Explore the interactive Population Density by Country website by clicking the link provided. Examine the population density data of different countries, then discuss the following questions with your partner:

Which countries appear to be the most densely populated?

Which countries appear to be the most sparsely populated?

What patterns or trends do you notice?

Why do you think some countries have higher population densities than others?

Discuss your ideas and then feedback to the class.

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What are the most densely populated countries in the world?

The most populous countries in the world are not the most densely populated.

Here is a ranking of the top 10 most densely populated countries in the world:

1. Macau (Population density: 21,055/km²)

2. Monaco (Population density: 19,150/km²)

3. Singapore (Population density: 8,109/km²)

4. Hong Kong (Population density: 6,677/km²)

5. Gibraltar (Population density: 5,620/km²)

6. Bahrain (Population density: 2,052/km²)

7. Vatican City (Population density: 1,820/km²)

8. Maldives (Population density: 1,719/km²)

9. Malta (Population density: 1,390/km²)

10. Sint Maarten (Population density: 1,234/km²)

As the country with the world's highest population, it is not surprising that the Chinese territory of Macau also has the world's highest population density at 21,081/km². This is followed by the small European city-state of Monaco at 19,256/km², the south-east Asian city-state of Singapore, and the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. It is notable that all three of these locations are regarded as centers of wealth and finance, attracting a population of many high net worth individuals.

Some of the largest countries in the world by landmass have quite low population densities. For example, Russia has a population density of just 8/km², while Canada is even lower at 4/km². The United States of America has a relatively low population density of 35/km², given that it is the country with the third-highest population in the world. In comparison, the two countries with the highest populations - China and India - have population densities of 146/km² and 412/km², respectively.

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What are the most densely populated countries in the world? The most populous countries in the world are not the most densely populated.

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Not surprisingly, the largest countries in the world in terms of population are China and India, with both countries now having populations of well over a billion. The United States comes in third with just under 325 million residents. The BRIC countries ( Brazil, Russia, India and China), generally regarded as the four major emerging economies expected to dominate in the 21st century, are all in the top ten most populous countries, indicating how important the sheer size of their populations are to their economic expansion.

However, a number of countries considered by the International Monetary Fund to be developing countries (that is, having not achieved a high degree of industrialization relative to their populations, and where the population typically has a medium to low standard of living) also have sizeable populations, including Nigeria (over 190 million), Bangladesh (almost 165 million) and Mexico (around 129 million), demonstrating that the issues affecting developing nations span multiple continents.

It is notable that a number of the largest economies in the world have smaller populations, particularly in Europe. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy are all among the top ten largest economies and all have populations of under 100 million. Their numbers range from 82 million (Germany) to just under 60 million (Italy).

Furthermore, several extremely small countries, such as Monaco, Luxembourg, and the Cayman Islands - all with fewer than a million residents - play a much larger role in the financial world than their population numbers would suggest. In contrast, Canada, which is also a major economic player and one of the largest countries in the world by landmass, has a relatively small population for its size, with around 36.5 million residents.

Choose Year to Display Below:

Note: India is set to overtake China's population soon, so the "live" column sorting may be slightly off for a short period.

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Summary:

Why didn't the world population reach 1 billion before 1800?

The death rate was very high.

Many babies died at a very young age because the infant mortality rate was high.

Although families had many children (4–8 babies), many did not survive.

The high birth rate was balanced by the high death rate, so the population grew very slowly.

As a result, the world's population increased only a little over thousands of years and did not reach 1 billion until around 1800.

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Summary:

Why did the world's population reach 1 billion in the early 1800s?

The world population reached 1 billion during the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution improved trade and increased global connections.

Advances in healthcare helped people live longer.

Antiseptics and anaesthetics made surgeries and medical treatments safer.

Vaccinations protected people from deadly diseases, such as smallpox.

Improved childbirth care reduced infant mortality, so more babies survived.

As death rates decreased while birth rates remained high, the population began to grow much faster

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Summary:

Why did the world's population grow rapidly in the 20th century?

The global population increased from under 2 billion to 6 billion by 1999.

Better healthcare helped people live longer.

Life expectancy increased, and infant mortality decreased.

After World War II, many countries experienced a baby boom, with more families having children.

By the 1960s, many women had more than two children, increasing the population even faster.

These factors led to rapid population growth throughout the 20th century.

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The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years.