The global population is projected to grow by 0.75% annually through 2030. This gradual increase occurs alongside stark disparities in living conditions, from a global health expenditure of $9.8 trillion to 68.4 million people internally displaced in the same year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 56.0 million abortions were estimated globally? (IPPF/WHO estimates)
- The number of international migrants living in Europe was 87 million in 2020 (UN DESA).
- In 2022, 75.6 million people were internally displaced globally (UNHCR Global Trends).
- Global population density was about 59 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).
- Population density in Bangladesh was about 1,265 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).
- Population density in India was about 464 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).
- 0.75% per year is the projected World population growth rate for 2025–2030
- 4.0% is the global crude death rate in 2021 (deaths per 1,000 population)
- 31% of the global population lives in cities with at least 1 million residents (2023 estimate)
- 27% is the share of the global population projected to be aged 20–64 in 2050 (relative to total population)
- 1.0 billion people are projected to be aged 60+ globally by 2020
- 2.3 is the global median age in years in 2020 (UN/World estimates as compiled by OECD Data)
- In 2023, 35.3 million people were refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people worldwide
- In 2023, 68.4 million people were internally displaced worldwide
- 2.0% is the share of the global population that is international migrants (2020)
In 2023, 56 million abortions were estimated globally as displacement, migration, and health pressures continue rising worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Fertility & Mortality1 stats
01
In 2023, 56.0 million abortions were estimated globally? (IPPF/WHO estimates)https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion
Interpretation
Fertility & Mortality Interpretation
In 2023, an estimated 56.0 million abortions worldwide highlights how fertility outcomes and mortality-related health pressures are deeply intertwined under the Fertility and Mortality category.
02 · Category
Migration2 stats
01
The number of international migrants living in Europe was 87 million in 2020 (UN DESA).https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/international-migrant-stock
02
In 2022, 75.6 million people were internally displaced globally (UNHCR Global Trends).https://www.unhcr.org/us/media/unhcr-global-trends-2022
Interpretation
Migration Interpretation
In the Migration category, Europe hosted 87 million international migrants in 2020 while globally 75.6 million people were internally displaced in 2022, showing that population movement remains a major and growing human reality both across borders and within countries.
03 · Category
Population Density6 stats
01
Global population density was about 59 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST
02
Population density in Bangladesh was about 1,265 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=BD
03
Population density in India was about 464 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=IN
04
Population density in Canada was about 4 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=CA
05
Population density in Germany was about 237 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=DE
06
Population density in Nigeria was about 226 people per square kilometer in 2020 (World Bank).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST?locations=NG
Interpretation
Population Density Interpretation
In 2020, population density varied hugely across countries under this category, ranging from about 59 people per square kilometer globally to as high as roughly 1,265 in Bangladesh while Canada sat at only about 4.
04 · Category
Population Growth2 stats
01
0.75% per year is the projected World population growth rate for 2025–2030https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
02
4.0% is the global crude death rate in 2021 (deaths per 1,000 population)https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/crude-death-rate.csv?tab=chart&stackMode=absolute
Interpretation
Population Growth Interpretation
Under the Population Growth category, the world is projected to grow by about 0.75% per year from 2025 to 2030 while the global crude death rate is 4.0% in 2021, highlighting a transition to slower growth amid ongoing mortality pressure.
05 · Category
Urbanization1 stats
01
31% of the global population lives in cities with at least 1 million residents (2023 estimate)https://www.oecd.org/en/data/datasets/urbanization-rate.html
Interpretation
Urbanization Interpretation
As of the 2023 estimate, 31% of the world’s population lives in cities with at least 1 million residents, underscoring how rapidly urbanization is concentrating people in major urban centers.
More related reading
06 · Category
Demographic Structure4 stats
01
27% is the share of the global population projected to be aged 20–64 in 2050 (relative to total population)https://www.iiasa.ac.at/docs/IRP/IssuesBriefs/IIASA-IRP-Working-Paper-2019-02.pdf
02
1.0 billion people are projected to be aged 60+ globally by 2020https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/world-population-ageing-2019
03
2.3 is the global median age in years in 2020 (UN/World estimates as compiled by OECD Data)https://data.oecd.org/pop/median-age.htm
04
7% of the global population is aged 75+ in 2020 (UN/World estimates as compiled by OECD Data)https://data.oecd.org/pop/age-distribution.htm
Interpretation
Demographic Structure Interpretation
In terms of demographic structure, the world is aging rapidly, with the median age reaching 2.3 years in 2020 and the share aged 75 plus rising to 7 percent, while projections show that by 2050 people aged 20–64 will make up 27 percent of the global population.
07 · Category
Displacement & Migration4 stats
01
In 2023, 35.3 million people were refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people worldwidehttps://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
02
In 2023, 68.4 million people were internally displaced worldwidehttps://www.unhcr.org/global-trends/
03
2.0% is the share of the global population that is international migrants (2020)https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/international-migrant-stock-2020_6fbf56f3-en
04
In 2021, 281 million international migrants lived abroad worldwide (UN DESA estimates as compiled by OECD)https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/international-migration-outlook-2022_2ac70c5a-en
Interpretation
Displacement & Migration Interpretation
In 2023, 35.3 million people were forcibly displaced across borders as refugees and asylum seekers and 68.4 million were displaced within their own countries, showing that displacement is both international and largely internal in scale.
08 · Category
Population Health5 stats
01
10.6 million children under age 5 died globally in 2022https://childmortality.org/data/
02
6.1 million people died in 2022 from chronic respiratory diseases globally (IHME Global Burden of Disease)https://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool
03
1 in 6 people worldwide (about 16%) faced food insecurity in 2022 (moderate or severe)https://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/en/
04
6.8% is the global prevalence of wasting in children under 5 (2000 baseline; WHO/UNICEF estimates)https://www.unicef.org/reports/levels-and-trends-child-malnutrition
05
1.5 million deaths are estimated to be attributable to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in 2019 (global)https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
Interpretation
Population Health Interpretation
Population Health is being severely strained as 10.6 million children under 5 died globally in 2022 and 6.1 million people died from chronic respiratory diseases, while food insecurity affects about 16% of people and wasting remains at 6.8% prevalence, showing how health outcomes are tightly linked to basic living conditions.
09 · Category
Economics & Services3 stats
01
2.9% of global GDP was spent on health in 2022 (World Bank current health expenditure share of GDP, global average)https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
02
$9.8 trillion global health expenditure is estimated for 2022 (current US$)https://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.HEALTHEXPENDv
03
78% of the world’s population had access to at least basic sanitation services in 2022 (WHO/UNICEF JMP estimate)https://washdata.org/data/household
Interpretation
Economics & Services Interpretation
From an Economics and Services perspective, the world devoted about 2.9% of GDP to health in 2022 totaling $9.8 trillion while 78% of people had access to at least basic sanitation, showing how major spending and essential service coverage are moving together but still leave a sizable gap.
report visual · Key figures
Global population, migration, and displacement (latest estimates)
Across displacement, migration, and urbanization, global population patterns reflect major demographic and mobility pressures.
2023
In 2023, 35.3 million people were refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people worldwide
2023
In 2023, 68.4 million people were internally displaced worldwide
2021
In 2021, 281 million international migrants lived abroad worldwide (UN DESA estimates as compiled by OECD)
31%
31% of the global population lives in cities with at least 1 million residents (2023 estimate)
2%
2.0% is the share of the global population that is international migrants (2020)
source-verifiedunhcr.org · oecd-ilibrary.org · oecd.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Population Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/population-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Population Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/population-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Population Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/population-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)