List of continents and continental subregions by population

This is a list of continental landmasses, continents, and continental subregions by population. For statistical convenience, the populations of continental landmasses also include the populations of their associated islands.

World population by continent, 2021
  1. Asia (59.4%)
  2. Africa (17.6%)
  3. Europe (9.4%)
  4. North America (7.5%)
  5. South America (5.5%)
  6. Oceania (0.6%)
  7. Antarctica (0%)

Distribution of populations by continental landmass

Continental landmass Population
(2021)[1][2][3] 		%
(world) 		±% p.a.
(2010–2013) 		Sovereign states
(2025) 		De facto states
(2025) 		Non-self-governing
territories (2025) 		Other area(s)
(2025)
World 7,909,295,151 100% 1.17% 197 8 17 34
Africa-Eurasia 6,833,426,385 86.4% 86.4% 146 8 3 12
America 1,030,037,584 13% 0.96% 35 0 8 14
Oceania[a] 44,491,724 0.6% 1.47% 16 0 6 7
Antarctica 0 0% 0% 0 0 0 1

Distribution of populations by continent

Continent Population
(2021)[1][2][4] 		%
(world) 		±% p.a.
(2010–2013) 		Sovereign states
(2025) 		De facto states
(2025) 		Non-self-governing
territory(ies) (2025) 		Other area(s)
(2025)
World 7,909,295,151 100% 1.17% 197 8 17 34
Asia 4,694,576,167 59.4% 1.04% 48 4 0 2
Africa 1,393,676,444 17.6% 2.57% 54 2 2 4
Europe 745,173,774 9.4% 0.08% 44 2 1 6
North America 595,783,465 7.5% 0.96% 23 0 7 11
South America 434,254,119 5.5% 1.06% 12 0 1 3
Oceania[b] 44,491,724 0.6% 1.47% 16 0 6 7
Antarctica 0 0% 0% 0 0 0 1

Distribution of populations by continental subregion

Continental
subregion 		Population
(2021)[1][2] 		%
(world) 		±% p.a.
(2010–2013) 		Sovereign states
(2025) 		De facto state(s)
(2025) 		Non-self-governing
territory(ies) (2025) 		Other area(s)
(2025)
World 7,909,295,151 100% 1.17% 197 8 17 34
Southern Asia[c] 1,989,452,478 25.2% 1.32% 9 0 0 0
Eastern Asia 1,663,696,923 21.0% 0.57% 5 1 0 2
Sub-Saharan Africa[d] 1,137,938,708 14.4% N/A 48 1 1 4
South-eastern Asia 675,796,065 8.5% 1.20% 11 0 0 0
Latin America and the Caribbean[e] 656,098,097 8.30% N/A 33 0 7 12
Eastern Africa[f] 461,141,845 5.8% 2.89% 18 1 0 4
South America[g] 434,254,119 5.5% 1.06% 12 0 1 3
Western Africa[h] 418,544,337 5.3% 2.78% 16 0 1 0
Northern America 375,278,947 4.7% 0.85% 2 0 1 2
Eastern Europe[i] 291,464,162 3.7% 0.23% 10 1 0 0
Western Asia[j] 289,733,123 3.7% 1.98% 18 3 0 0
Northern Africa[k] 255,737,736 3.2% 1.70% 6 1 1 0
Western Europe[l] 195,381,649 2.5% 0.25% 9 0 0 0
Middle Africa[m] 190,267,973 2.4% 2.79% 9 0 0 0
Central America[n] 177,661,929 2.2% 1.40% 8 0 0 0
Southern Europe 152,130,606 1.9% 0.24% 15 1 1 0
Northern Europe[o] 106,197,357 1.3% 0.54% 10 0 0 6
Central Asia 75,897,577 1.0% 1.43% 5 0 0 0
Southern Africa 67,984,554 0.9% 0.91% 5 0 0 0
Caribbean 44,182,048 0.6% 0.71% 13 0 6 9
Australia and New Zealand[p] 31,050,816 0.4% N/A 2 0 0 4
Melanesia[q] 12,188,834 0.2% N/A 4 0 1 0
Polynesia 717,467 0.009% N/A 5 0 4 1
Micronesia[r] 534,606 0.007% N/A 5 0 1 2
Antarctica 0 0% 0% 0 0 0 1

Global, continental, and subregional totals from 1950 to 2021

See also: United Nations geoscheme

Africa

Eastern Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 66,923,000—    
1960 84,305,000+2.34%
1970 110,428,000+2.74%
1980 147,512,000+2.94%
1990 198,232,000+3.00%
2000 259,373,000+2.72%
2010 342,743,000+2.83%
2021 461,141,845+2.73%
Middle Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 26,401,000—    
1960 32,216,000+2.01%
1970 40,846,000+2.40%
1980 53,135,000+2.67%
1990 70,886,000+2.92%
2000 96,113,000+3.09%
2010 130,598,000+3.11%
2021 190,267,973+3.48%
Northern Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 49,222,000—    
1960 63,697,000+2.61%
1970 82,883,000+2.67%
1980 106,908,000+2.58%
1990 140,117,000+2.74%
2000 171,891,000+2.06%
2010 203,717,000+1.71%
2021 255,737,736+2.09%
Southern Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 15,588,000—    
1960 19,724,000+2.38%
1970 25,454,000+2.58%
1980 32,997,000+2.63%
1990 42,049,000+2.45%
2000 51,451,000+2.04%
2010 59,067,000+1.39%
2021 67,984,554+1.29%
Western Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 70,769,000—    
1960 84,946,000+1.84%
1970 106,015,000+2.24%
1980 137,414,000+2.63%
1990 180,331,000+2.76%
2000 235,235,000+2.69%
2010 307,982,000+2.73%
2021 418,544,337+2.83%
Total Africa
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 228,902,000—    
1960 284,887,000+2.21%
1970 365,626,000+2.53%
1980 477,965,000+2.72%
1990 631,614,000+2.83%
2000 814,063,000+2.57%
2010 1,044,107,000+2.52%
2021 1,393,676,444+2.66%

Americas

Total Americas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 340,459,000—    
1960 425,357,000+2.25%
1970 519,522,000+2.02%
1980 619,252,000+1.77%
1990 727,522,000+1.62%
2000 840,614,000+1.46%
2010 943,952,000+1.17%
2021 1,031,377,044+0.81%

North America

Caribbean
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 17,076,000—    
1960 20,724,000+1.96%
1970 25,306,000+2.02%
1980 29,748,000+1.63%
1990 34,198,000+1.40%
2000 38,314,000+1.14%
2010 41,621,000+0.83%
2021 44,182,048+0.54%
Central America
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 38,029,000—    
1960 51,400,000+3.06%
1970 69,702,000+3.09%
1980 92,425,000+2.86%
1990 114,823,000+2.19%
2000 138,780,000+1.91%
2010 161,117,000+1.50%
2021 177,661,929+0.89%
Northern America
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 171,615,000—    
1960 204,167,000+1.75%
1970 231,029,000+1.24%
1980 254,217,000+0.96%
1990 280,633,000+0.99%
2000 313,724,000+1.12%
2010 344,129,000+0.93%
2021 375,278,947+0.79%
Total North America
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 226,719,000—    
1960 276,291,000+2.00%
1970 326,036,000+1.67%
1980 376,390,000+1.45%
1990 429,653,000+1.33%
2000 490,818,000+1.34%
2010 546,867,000+1.09%
2021 597,122,924+0.80%

South America

Total South America
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 113,739,000—    
1960 149,066,000+2.74%
1970 193,486,000+2.64%
1980 242,862,000+2.30%
1990 297,869,000+2.06%
2000 349,796,000+1.62%
2010 397,085,000+1.28%
2021 434,254,119+0.82%

Asia

Central Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 18,131,000—    
1960 24,616,000+3.10%
1970 33,156,000+3.02%
1980 41,277,000+2.21%
1990 50,407,929+2.02%
2000 55,117,000+0.90%
2010 62,139,000+1.21%
2021 75,897,577+1.83%
Eastern Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 666,586,000—    
1960 788,145,000+1.69%
1970 978,113,000+2.18%
1980 1,173,372,000+1.84%
1990 1,368,592,000+1.55%
2000 1,496,284,000+0.90%
2010 1,575,320,000+0.52%
2021 1,663,696,923+0.50%
South-eastern Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 164,900,000—    
1960 213,838,000+2.63%
1970 281,521,000+2.79%
1980 358,106,000+2.44%
1990 445,665,000+2.21%
2000 526,179,000+1.67%
2010 596,708,000+1.27%
2021 675,796,065+1.14%
Southern Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 493,443,000—    
1960 593,943,000+1.87%
1970 741,603,000+2.25%
1980 939,043,000+2.39%
1990 1,189,261,000+2.39%
2000 1,451,933,000+2.02%
2010 1,702,969,000+1.61%
2021 1,989,452,478+1.42%
Western Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 50,957,000—    
1960 66,156,000+2.64%
1970 86,037,000+2.66%
1980 113,786,000+2.83%
1990 148,552,000+2.70%
2000 184,957,000+2.22%
2010 232,703,000+2.32%
2021 289,733,123+2.01%
Total Asia
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 1,394,018,000—    
1960 1,686,698,000+1.92%
1970 2,120,430,000+2.31%
1980 2,625,584,000+2.16%
1990 3,202,475,000+2.01%
2000 3,714,470,000+1.49%
2010 4,169,850,000+1.16%
2021 4,694,576,167+1.08%

Europe

Eastern Europe
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 220,171,000—    
1960 253,630,000+1.42%
1970 276,396,000+0.86%
1980 295,042,000+0.65%
1990 310,027,000+0.50%
2000 303,789,000−0.20%
2010 294,591,000−0.31%
2021 291,464,162−0.10%
Northern Europe
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 78,030,000—    
1960 81,790,000+0.47%
1970 87,305,000+0.65%
1980 89,833,000+0.29%
1990 92,040,000+0.24%
2000 94,397,000+0.25%
2010 99,682,000+0.55%
2021 106,197,357+0.58%
Southern Europe
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 108,633,000—    
1960 117,879,000+0.82%
1970 127,617,000+0.80%
1980 138,495,000+0.82%
1990 143,404,000+0.35%
2000 145,058,000+0.11%
2010 153,360,000+0.56%
2021 152,130,606−0.07%
Western Europe
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 142,256,000—    
1960 152,320,000+0.69%
1970 165,903,000+0.86%
1980 170,489,000+0.27%
1990 175,615,000+0.30%
2000 183,163,000+0.42%
2010 187,762,000+0.25%
2021 195,381,649+0.36%
Total Europe
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 549,089,000—    
1960 605,619,000+0.98%
1970 657,221,000+0.82%
1980 693,859,000+0.54%
1990 721,086,000+0.39%
2000 726,407,000+0.07%
2010 735,395,000+0.12%
2021 745,173,774+0.12%

Oceania

Total Oceania
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 12,682,000—    
1960 15,784,000+2.21%
1970 19,688,000+2.23%
1980 22,972,000+1.55%
1990 26,971,000+1.62%
2000 31,068,000+1.42%
2010 36,411,000+1.60%
2016 39,901,000+1.54%
2021 44,491,724+2.20%

World

Total World
YearPop.±% p.a.
1950 2,525,149,000—    
1960 3,018,344,000+1.80%
1970 3,682,488,000+2.01%
1980 4,439,632,000+1.89%
1990 5,309,668,000+1.81%
2000 6,126,622,000+1.44%
2010 6,929,725,000+1.24%
2021 7,909,295,151+1.21%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Comprising Australasia (mainland Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania), Melanesia (the Aru Islands, Island Melanesia, and New Guinea), Micronesia, and Polynesia.
  2. ^ Comprising the continent of Australia-New Guinea (the Aru Islands, Australia, the mainland regions of Papua New Guinea, and Western New Guinea), the East Melanesian Islands (the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu), Fiji, Micronesia, Polynesia, and the submerged continent of Zealandia (New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island).
  3. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Afghanistan and Iran in Southern Asia.
  4. ^ Consisting of Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, and Western Africa.
  5. ^ Consisting of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
  6. ^ The UN geoscheme includes the British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago), the Comoros, the French Southern Territories, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in Eastern Africa.
  7. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Bouvet Island in South America.
  8. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in Western Africa.
  9. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as Siberia (Northern Asia) in Eastern Europe.
  10. ^ The UN geoscheme includes the South Caucasian countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as Cyprus and Turkey in Western Asia.
  11. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Western Sahara in Northern Africa.
  12. ^ The UN geoscheme includes the DACH countries and Liechtenstein in Western Europe.
  13. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Angola in Middle Africa.
  14. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Mexico in Central America.
  15. ^ The UN geoscheme includes the Baltic states, the British Isles, and the Channel Islands in Northern Europe.
  16. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Australia and New Zealand.
  17. ^ The UN geoscheme includes Papua New Guinea in Melanesia.
  18. ^ The UN geoscheme includes the United States Minor Outlying Islands in Micronesia.

References

  1. ^ a b c "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Population". United Nations. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "Population". United Nations. Retrieved July 25, 2021.

Sources

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