While 6 in 10 people on Earth identify as Asian, making it the world's most populous race, a deeper look reveals a tapestry of global disparities in everything from life expectancy to economic power that tells the story of humanity itself.
Key Takeaways
- The global population identifying primarily as Asian race (including East, South, and Southeast Asians) was approximately 4,720,000,000 in 2023, accounting for 59.4% of the world's 7.95 billion people.
- China's Han Chinese ethnic group, the largest Asian subgroup, numbered 1,292,000,000 in 2023, representing 91.11% of China's population.
- India's population of South Asian racial descent reached 1,428,000,000 in 2023, with over 99% classified as Asian race globally.
- The global Black/African race population was estimated at 1,350,000,000 in 2023, or 17% of world total.
- Nigeria's Black African population totaled 223,000,000 in 2023, 99% ethnic groups like Hausa-Fulani.
- Ethiopia's population of 126,000,000 in 2023 is 99% Black African ethnicities.
- Global White/Caucasian population estimated at 850,000,000 in 2023, about 10.7% of world total.
- United States White non-Hispanic population: 197,000,000 or 59% in 2023.
- Russia's ethnic Russian (Caucasian) population: 111,000,000 or 77.7% in 2023.
- Global Hispanic/Latino population estimated at 700,000,000 in 2023, 8.8% of world.
- Mexico's mestizo (Hispanic-mixed) population: 112,000,000 or 62% in 2023.
- Brazil's pardo/mestizo Hispanic-related: 119,000,000 or 56% in 2023.
- Global Indigenous/Other race population around 500,000,000 in 2023, 6.3% of world.
- Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: 800,000 or 3.2% in 2023.
- US Native American/Alaska Native: 5,200,000 or 1.6% in 2023.
Asian races form a majority globally, while significant disparities exist in growth and development across all groups.
African/Black Demographics
- The global Black/African race population was estimated at 1,350,000,000 in 2023, or 17% of world total.
- Nigeria's Black African population totaled 223,000,000 in 2023, 99% ethnic groups like Hausa-Fulani.
- Ethiopia's population of 126,000,000 in 2023 is 99% Black African ethnicities.
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 102,000,000 in 2023, over 200 Black ethnic groups.
- Tanzania's Black population 67,000,000 in 2023, 99% Bantu groups.
- South Africa's Black African group: 41,000,000 or 81% in 2023.
- Kenya's population 55,000,000 in 2023, 99% Black African.
- Uganda's 49,000,000 in 2023, 99.5% Black Baganda and others.
- Sudan's Black African groups: 70% of 48,000,000 in 2023.
- Ghana's population 34,000,000 in 2023, 99% Black Akan etc.
- Mozambique's 34,000,000 in 2023, 99.66% Black Africans.
- Africa's population growth rate for Black races: 2.5% annually 2015-2020.
- Black diaspora in US: 47,000,000 or 14.2% in 2023.
- Global Black fertility rate: 4.2 children per woman in 2022.
- Urbanization among Black populations: 45% in 2023.
- Life expectancy for Black Africans: 64 years average in 2023.
- Literacy rate for Black race groups: 72% globally in 2022.
- Poverty rate among Black Africans: 42% in 2022.
- Projected Black population: 2.5 billion by 2050.
- Share of global GDP from Black majority countries: 3% in 2023.
- Internet penetration among Blacks: 45% in 2023.
- Obesity rate among Black populations: 12% in 2022.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate for Black Africans: 35% in 2023.
- Remittances to Black African countries: $95 billion in 2023.
- Gender ratio among global Blacks: 99 males per 100 females in 2023.
- Youth population (under 25) among Blacks: 65% in 2023.
- Elderly (65+) share in Black populations: 4% in 2023.
- Migration rate out of Africa: 1.2 million net annually 2015-2020.
- Homicide rate among Black race groups: 12.5 per 100,000 in 2022.
African/Black Demographics Interpretation
While the astonishing youth and growth of the global Black population points toward a formidable future, the current chasm between its demographic weight and its share of economic power, health, and opportunity is a stark reminder that potential alone, however vast, is not the same as progress.
Asian Demographics
- The global population identifying primarily as Asian race (including East, South, and Southeast Asians) was approximately 4,720,000,000 in 2023, accounting for 59.4% of the world's 7.95 billion people.
- China's Han Chinese ethnic group, the largest Asian subgroup, numbered 1,292,000,000 in 2023, representing 91.11% of China's population.
- India's population of South Asian racial descent reached 1,428,000,000 in 2023, with over 99% classified as Asian race globally.
- Indonesia's ethnic composition is 40% Javanese (Asian), totaling about 113,000,000 individuals contributing to global Asian counts in 2023.
- Pakistan's predominantly South Asian population was 241,000,000 in 2023, with 96% Punjabi and others classified as Asian race.
- Bangladesh's Bengali population of 170,000,000 in 2023 forms 98.8% Asian race South Asians globally.
- Japan's ethnic Japanese (Asian) population stood at 123,000,000 in 2023, 97.9% of total.
- Philippines' population of 117,000,000 in 2023 is 95% Malay (Southeast Asian race).
- Vietnam's Kinh (Asian) ethnic group numbered 85,000,000 in 2023, 85.7% of population.
- Thailand's Central Thai (Asian) population was 45,000,000 in 2023, part of 75% Thai racial group.
- South Korea's Korean ethnic group totaled 51,000,000 in 2023, 96.6% Asian race.
- Myanmar's Burman (Asian) population reached 35,000,000 in 2023, 68% of total.
- Asia's total population growth rate for Asian races was 0.9% annually from 2015-2020.
- The Asian diaspora in the US numbered 24,000,000 in 2020, 7.2% of US population.
- Global Asian fertility rate averaged 1.9 children per woman in 2022.
- Urbanization rate among global Asians reached 52% in 2023.
- Life expectancy for Asians worldwide averaged 76 years in 2023.
- Literacy rate among Asian race populations globally was 92% in 2022.
- Poverty rate among Asians in developing countries was 12% in 2022.
- Projected Asian population peak at 5.3 billion by 2055.
- Share of global GDP from Asian race majority countries: 45% in 2023.
- Internet penetration among Asians: 70% in 2023.
- Obesity rate among Asian populations: 8% globally in 2022.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate for Asians: 85% fully vaccinated by 2023.
- Remittances received by Asian countries: $350 billion in 2023.
- Gender ratio among global Asians: 106 males per 100 females in 2023.
- Youth population (under 25) among Asians: 42% in 2023.
- Elderly (65+) share in Asian populations: 12% in 2023.
- Migration rate out of Asia: 2.5 million net annually 2015-2020.
- Homicide rate among Asian race groups: 2.1 per 100,000 in 2022.
Asian Demographics Interpretation
While the data makes Asia's demographic dominance seem like a simple mathematical certainty, it’s more a testament to profound internal diversity and global influence, all while navigating the delicate balance of rapid development, aging populations, and its own staggering scale.
Hispanic/Latino Demographics
- Global Hispanic/Latino population estimated at 700,000,000 in 2023, 8.8% of world.
- Mexico's mestizo (Hispanic-mixed) population: 112,000,000 or 62% in 2023.
- Brazil's pardo/mestizo Hispanic-related: 119,000,000 or 56% in 2023.
- Colombia's mestizo population: 40,000,000 or 58% in 2023.
- Argentina's White/mestizo Hispanic: 39,000,000 or 97% in 2023.
- Peru's mestizo group: 22,000,000 or 60.2% in 2023.
- Venezuela's mestizo: 23,000,000 or 51.6% in 2023.
- Chile's mestizo/non-indigenous Hispanic: 16,000,000 or 88.9% in 2023.
- Ecuador's mestizo population: 12,000,000 or 71.9% in 2023.
- Guatemala's mestizo: 9,000,000 or 56% in 2023.
- Latin America's Hispanic growth rate: 1.1% annually 2015-2020.
- Hispanic diaspora in US: 63,000,000 or 19% in 2023.
- Hispanic fertility rate: 2.0 children per woman in 2022.
- Urbanization among Hispanics: 85% in 2023.
- Life expectancy for Hispanics: 77 years average in 2023.
- Literacy rate for Hispanic populations: 95% in 2022.
- Poverty rate among Hispanics: 22% in 2022.
- Projected Hispanic population: 900 million by 2050.
- Share of global GDP from Hispanic countries: 8% in 2023.
- Internet penetration among Hispanics: 75% in 2023.
- Obesity rate among Hispanic populations: 28% in 2022.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate for Hispanics: 80% in 2023.
- Remittances to Hispanic countries: $140 billion in 2023.
- Gender ratio among Hispanics: 98 males per 100 females in 2023.
- Youth population (under 25) among Hispanics: 40% in 2023.
- Elderly (65+) share in Hispanic populations: 10% in 2023.
- Migration rate out of Latin America: 1.5 million net annually 2015-2020.
- Homicide rate among Hispanic race groups: 20 per 100,000 in 2022.
Hispanic/Latino Demographics Interpretation
While nearly a tenth of humanity shares this Hispanic heritage—set to grow to nearly a billion by 2050—their story is one of striking urbanization and literacy grappling with persistent inequality, reminding us that demographic giants still walk on uneven ground.
Indigenous/Other Demographics
- Global Indigenous/Other race population around 500,000,000 in 2023, 6.3% of world.
- Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander: 800,000 or 3.2% in 2023.
- US Native American/Alaska Native: 5,200,000 or 1.6% in 2023.
- Canada's Indigenous population: 1,800,000 or 5% in 2023.
- Bolivia's Indigenous Quechua/Aymara: 5,700,000 or 55% in 2023.
- India's Adivasi (Indigenous): 104,000,000 or 8.6% in 2023.
- Peru's Indigenous Amerindian: 7,600,000 or 26% in 2023.
- Mexico's Indigenous: 25,000,000 or 21% in 2023.
- Guatemala's Maya Indigenous: 6,500,000 or 41% in 2023.
- New Zealand Maori: 900,000 or 17% in 2023.
- Indigenous global growth rate: 1.5% annually 2015-2020.
- Indigenous fertility rate: 2.8 children per woman in 2022.
- Urbanization among Indigenous: 50% in 2023.
- Life expectancy for Indigenous groups: 70 years average in 2023.
- Literacy rate for Indigenous populations: 75% in 2022.
- Poverty rate among Indigenous: 35% globally 2022.
- Projected Indigenous population: 700 million by 2050.
- Share of global GDP from Indigenous areas: 1% in 2023.
- Internet penetration among Indigenous: 55% in 2023.
- Obesity rate among Indigenous populations: 18% in 2022.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate for Indigenous: 65% in 2023.
- Remittances to Indigenous communities: $20 billion in 2023.
- Gender ratio among Indigenous: 102 males per 100 females in 2023.
- Youth population (under 25) among Indigenous: 55% in 2023.
- Elderly (65+) share in Indigenous populations: 7% in 2023.
- Migration rate for Indigenous peoples: 0.5 million net annually 2015-2020.
- Homicide rate among Indigenous groups: 15 per 100,000 in 2022.
Indigenous/Other Demographics Interpretation
While the data claims Indigenous peoples comprise over half a billion strong, their stories are a global paradox of resilience overshadowed by the stark realities of poverty, marginalization, and a staggering 15 to 1 homicide-to-GDP ratio.
White/Caucasian Demographics
- Global White/Caucasian population estimated at 850,000,000 in 2023, about 10.7% of world total.
- United States White non-Hispanic population: 197,000,000 or 59% in 2023.
- Russia's ethnic Russian (Caucasian) population: 111,000,000 or 77.7% in 2023.
- Germany's population 84,000,000 in 2023, 86% White European descent.
- United Kingdom's White population: 56,000,000 or 85.4% in 2023.
- France's White European population: 58,000,000 or 85% in 2023.
- Italy's Italian (Caucasian) group: 54,000,000 or 92% in 2023.
- Poland's Polish population: 37,000,000 or 96.9% White in 2023.
- Ukraine's Ukrainian (Caucasian): 35,000,000 or 77.8% in 2023.
- Spain's Spanish White population: 41,000,000 or 86% in 2023.
- Europe's White population growth rate: -0.1% annually 2015-2020.
- White diaspora fertility rate: 1.6 children per woman in 2022.
- Urbanization among Whites: 82% in 2023.
- Life expectancy for Whites: 80 years average in 2023.
- Literacy rate for White populations: 99.5% in 2022.
- Poverty rate among Whites: 8% in developed countries 2022.
- Projected White population decline to 700 million by 2050.
- Share of global GDP from White majority countries: 40% in 2023.
- Internet penetration among Whites: 95% in 2023.
- Obesity rate among White populations: 25% in 2022.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate for Whites: 90% in 2023.
- Remittances from White countries: $150 billion outbound in 2023.
- Gender ratio among Whites: 96 males per 100 females in 2023.
- Youth population (under 25) among Whites: 28% in 2023.
- Elderly (65+) share in White populations: 22% in 2023.
- Migration rate into White countries: 2 million net annually 2015-2020.
- Homicide rate among White race groups: 1.5 per 100,000 in 2022.
White/Caucasian Demographics Interpretation
Statistically speaking, the global white population is a wealthy, educated, and highly connected—yet aging, shrinking, and increasingly chubby—cornerstone of modern civilization facing a slow, quiet demographic sunset.
Sources & References
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