Thread by @RARohde

Animated bar chart showing the evolution of the most populous countries from 1800 to 2100.

Future projections are based on the UN World Population Prospects Median Scenario. Historical populations are reported relative to present-day national boundaries.

The UN population projections for 2100 point to some remarkable changes in the world order.

Firstly, in the near future, India is expected to surpass China and again become the world's most populated country.

Secondly, by 2100, the population of Africa is expected to grow from 1.3 billion to 4.3 billion, nearly equaling the population of Asia.

10 of the 20 most populous countries would then be expected to be in Africa in 2100. 5 more of the 20 would be in Asia.

During most of the 20th century, European countries have featured among the world's most populous (the year 1900 shown), but by 2100, the UN projects that no country fully in Europe will rank any higher than 34th by population.

If the UN's projections turn out to be reasonable, demographic shifts are likely to greatly impact the balance of power among nations during the 21st century.

For those looking for a much longer perspective, here is my previous animation showing population changes over the last 12,000 years:

https://twitter.com/RARohde/status/1108391436272234498

Also, as a climate person, I also find the UN's notion that more than half the world's population will live in Africa and India by 2100 to be pretty challenging.

If global warming continues, both regions will get harder to live in and are likely to face agricultural problems.