In 2023, the global population will reach approximately eight billion people. This is double what the population was just 48 years previously, in 1975, when it reached four billion people. When we compare growth rates over the selected periods, it took an average of 12 years per one billion people between 1975 and 2023, which is almost double the rate of the period between 1928 and 1975, and over ten times faster than growth between 1803 and 1928. Additionally, it took almost 700 years for the world population to increase by 250 million people during the Middle Ages, in contrast, an increase of 250 million has been observed every three to four years since the 1960s.
Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023
Characteristic
Years taken to double
837-1534: 0.25 to 0.5 billion
697
1534-1803: 0.5 to 1 billion
260
1803-1928: 1 to 2 billion
125
1928-1975: 2 to 4 billion
47
1975-2023: 4 to 8 bilion*
48
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Years taken to double69769726026012512547474848837-1534:0.25 to 0.5 billion1534-1803:0.5 to 1 billion1803-1928:1 to 2 billion1928-1975:2 to 4 billion1975-2023:4 to 8 bilion*
0100200300400500600700800
Add this content to your personal favorites. These can be accessed from the favorites menu in the main navigation.
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Statista has been my savior on several occasions.
The site is easy to maneuver and the data is in a format that can
go right into a report or presentation.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
OWID. (April 20, 2022). Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/
OWID. "Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023." Chart. April 20, 2022. Statista. Accessed February 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/
OWID. (2022). Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/
OWID. "Number of Years Taken for The World Population to Double in Size from Selected Points between 837 and 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Apr 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/
OWID, Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/ (last visited February 28, 2025)
Number of years taken for the world population to double in size from selected points between 837 and 2023 [Graph], OWID, April 20, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1303469/time-taken-for-global-pop-double/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.