Asia Dominates...Africa Grows...Europe Shrinks:

Asia Dominates...Africa Grows...Europe Shrinks

Whether collectively called Africa and Asia, the Global South, developing countries, or simply the poorer parts, there is no doubt that in population terms they dominate the world.

Asia already accounts for around 60% of the world's population. By 2050 Africa's high fertility rates are likely to mean over a quarter of the world's population lives there.

Population by Year and by Region
Period: 1950-2050

Region	Population 1950	Population 2000	Population 2025	Population 2050
Africa	9%	14%	19%	26%
Americas	13%	13%	13%	12%
Asia	59%	63%	61%	56%
Europe	18%	10%	8%	6%

Country	1950	2000	2050
Africa	9%	14%	26%
Americas	13%	13%	12%
Asia	59%	63%	56%
Europe	18%	10%	6%

Source: World Economics Population Database, 2025

Africa and Asia are already home to over three-quarters of the world. Europe with its ever-lower fertility levels is shrinking fast.

Poorer countries tend to have lower quality demographic data, and fertility rates can and do change over time. But the changes are so large and general the conclusions are unlikely to be too far removed from reality.

Governments, institutions, businesses, and investors will have to take account of these massive changes.

See more Population Data...