Estimating populations across centuries, especially for
ancient periods, is challenging due to limited historical data.
Figures for earlier eras are rough estimates based on
archaeological evidence, historical records, and scholarly
reconstructions. For later centuries, data improves with
better documentation. Below is a concise summary of
global population estimates, century by century, from
ancient times to the present, based on available historical
demography. I’ll use midpoint or end-of-century estimates
where possible, drawing from sources like the United
Nations, historical demographers (e.g., McEvedy and Jones),
and other scholarly works. All numbers are approximate and
in millions.
• 1st Century CE (100 CE): ~200–300 million. The Roman
Empire (~50 million), Han China (~60 million), and India
(~35 million) were major population centers. Most
people lived in agrarian societies.
• 2nd Century CE (200 CE): ~190–250 million. Slight
decline or stagnation due to plagues (e.g., Antonine
Plague) and political instability in Rome and China.
• 3rd Century CE (300 CE): ~190–250 million. Continued
stagnation from crises like the Roman Empire’s decline
and China’s Three Kingdoms period.
• 4th Century CE (400 CE): ~190–210 million. Slow
recovery in some regions, but disruptions from
migrations (e.g., Huns, Germanic tribes) kept growth
minimal.
• 5th Century CE (500 CE): ~190–210 million. Collapse of
Western Roman Empire and regional conflicts limited
population growth.
• 6th Century CE (600 CE): ~200–220 million. Slight
growth with stabilization in Byzantium and China’s Sui
dynasty, despite Justinian Plague (~540 CE).
• 7th Century CE (700 CE): ~210–230 million. Growth in
Asia (Tang China, India) offset by stagnation in Europe
due to early medieval fragmentation.
• 8th Century CE (800 CE): ~220–240 million. Expansion
of Islamic empires and Carolingian Europe; China’s
population grew under Tang dynasty.
• 9th Century CE (900 CE): ~230–260 million. Gradual
increase with agricultural improvements in Asia and
Middle East.
• 10th Century CE (1000 CE): ~250–300 million. Growth
accelerated with medieval warm period boosting
agriculture in Europe and Asia.
• 11th Century CE (1100 CE): ~300–320 million. Song
China’s innovations and Europe’s feudal systems
supported steady growth.
• 12th Century CE (1200 CE): ~350–400 million. Global
population rose with urbanization in China, India, and
Islamic world; Europe saw early city growth.
• 13th Century CE (1300 CE): ~360–430 million. Peak
before Black Death; Mongol invasions disrupted some
regions but trade boosted others.
• 14th Century CE (1400 CE): ~350–375 million. Black
Death (1346–1353) killed ~30–50% of Europe’s
population; recovery began late century.
• 15th Century CE (1500 CE): ~425–460 million.
Renaissance Europe, Ming China (~100 million), and
Mesoamerica (~10–20 million) drove growth.
• 16th Century CE (1600 CE): ~500–550 million. Global
exploration and trade; population recovery in Europe,
growth in Asia.
• 17th Century CE (1700 CE): ~600–650 million.
Agricultural advances and colonial expansion; China’s
Qing dynasty and India’s Mughal Empire grew.
• 18th Century CE (1800 CE): ~900–1,000 million.
Industrial Revolution began; global population neared 1
billion, with China (~300 million) and India (~200
million) leading.
• 19th Century CE (1900 CE): ~1,600–1,700 million.
Industrialization and medical advances spurred rapid
growth; Europe and Americas expanded significantly.
• 20th Century CE (2000 CE): ~6,100 million. Exponential
growth from technological and medical breakthroughs;
Asia’s share remained dominant (~60%).
• 21st Century CE (2025 CE): ~8,100 million. Based on
UN projections and recent data, growth continues but
slows, with Africa’s population rising fastest.
•1800: ~1 billion
• 1900: ~1.6 billion
• 2000: ~6.1 billion
• 2100 (projected): ~10.2–10.4 billion
Notes:
• Ancient estimates (pre-1000 CE) are highly uncertain,
with ranges reflecting scholarly debates.
• Data becomes more reliable post-1500 CE due to better
records.
• Key drivers: agriculture, disease, war, and technology
(e.g., Industrial Revolution, modern medicine).
• For real-time or regional breakdowns, I can search
web/X sources if needed. Let me know if you want
specifics (e.g., by region or country).
• If you want to live a wonderful/ideal
life, then have one baby, if you want to
live a comfortable life, then have two
babies, but if you want to live a
miserable life, then go for many
children and keep crying,
yelling/shouting, babbling and abusing.
