Will China's population drop below 1 billion?

Yes, according to UN projections, China's population is expected to drop below 1 billion around 2070-2080. China's population peaked in 2021 at approximately 1.41 billion and has been declining since. With a fertility rate of just 1.40 births per woman (far below the replacement level of 2.1), the decline is expected to accelerate. By 2100, China's population could fall to around 770 million.

Why is India's population growing faster than China's?

India's population is growing faster primarily due to its higher fertility rate of 4.59 births per woman compared to China's 1.40. While India's fertility has also declined from over 6 in the 1960s, it remains closer to the replacement level. Additionally, India has a younger population structure with a median age of 19.4 years versus 40.9 years in China, meaning more people are in their reproductive years.

What is the demographic dividend and which country benefits more?

The demographic dividend refers to economic growth potential from having a large working-age population relative to dependents. Yemen is currently in a better position to benefit, with 65% of its population under 35 years old. Yemen's demographic window will remain open for about 20 more years, while Norway's has already begun closing. However, Yemen needs to create jobs and improve education to fully capitalize on this advantage, as its workforce participation rate (especially for women at 25-35%) is much lower than Norway's.

How does population affect GDP for Norway and Yemen?

Population directly impacts GDP through workforce size and consumption. Norway currently has a higher GDP per capita, but its aging and shrinking workforce poses challenges. Yemen's growing, younger population provides more workers and consumers, potentially driving economic growth. Economists project that Yemen's economy could surpass Norway's by 2075 due to demographic advantages. However, Yemen must improve productivity (currently about half of Norway's) to fully benefit from its population advantage.

What was the impact of China's one-child policy?

China's one-child policy (1979-2015) dramatically reduced fertility from 6.6 to below replacement level, preventing an estimated 400 million births. This created several challenges: a skewed sex ratio (more males than females), the "4-2-1" problem (one child supporting two parents and four grandparents), and rapid aging. The policy contributed to China's current fertility rate of just 1.40, well below what's needed for population stability.

Which country has more elderly people?

Norway has significantly more elderly people both in absolute numbers and percentage. With a median age of 40.9 years, Norway is aging rapidly - about 13% of its population is over 65, compared to just 7% in Yemen. By 2050, over one-third of Norway's population will be 65+, creating massive pension and healthcare challenges. Yemen, with a median age of 19.4, has more time to prepare for population aging.

What are the population densities of Norway vs Yemen?

Yemen is significantly more densely populated than Norway. With 41.8 million people in 3.3 million km², Yemen has about 448 people per km². Norway, despite having 5.6 million people, has 9.6 million km² of land, resulting in just 147 people per km². This makes Yemen over 3 times as densely populated as Norway, creating different challenges for infrastructure and resource management.

When will India's population peak?

India's population is projected to peak around 2061 at approximately 1.7 billion people, after which it will begin a gradual decline. This gives India about 36 more years of population growth. The peak will come as fertility rates continue to fall (currently 4.59 and declining) and the population ages. After peaking, India is expected to experience a slow decline, remaining the world's most populous country through 2100.

How do male-female ratios compare between Norway and Yemen?

Both countries have more males than females, but for different reasons. Norway's sex ratio imbalance (about 105 males per 100 females) was exacerbated by the one-child policy and cultural preference for sons, leading to sex-selective practices. Yemen also has a skewed ratio (about 108 males per 100 females), similarly influenced by cultural preferences. Both countries face challenges from this imbalance, including millions of men unable to find marriage partners, potentially affecting social stability.

Norway vs Yemen: Population Comparison 2025

Oil wealth, different outcomes. Norway's managed decline vs Yemen's crisis.

Norway

2025

Total Population

Yemen

Total Population

Yemen leads by 36.2M people

Gap is 642.90% of Norway's population

Fertility Rate

1.40vs4.59

Yemen +3.19

Median Age

40.9vs19.4

Yemen younger

Density /km²

1vs13

Yemen 13.0x denser

Working Age %

65.0%vs56.4%

Ages 15-64

Norway: Stable Population

Yemen: Stable Population

Replacement Level: 2.1

Population Pyramids Comparison

Total Population

Norway

5.6M

Yemen

41.8M

Youth (0-14)

Norway

15.9%

Yemen

41.0%

Elderly (65+)

Norway

19.1%

Yemen

2.5%

Demographic Analysis: Norway vs Yemen

In 2025, Norway has a population of 6M, while Yemen has 42M. This represents a difference of 36M, with Yemen having 7.4 times the population of the other. Norway ranks #117 globally by population size, while Yemen ranks #37.

The median age reveals significant demographic differences: Norway has a median age of 40.9 years, compared to 19.4 years in Yemen. This 21.5-year difference indicates that Norway has a significantly older population, with important implications for workforce dynamics, healthcare needs, and economic development. The dependency ratio in Norway is 53.9%, while in Yemen it is 77.2%, showing the relative burden of non-working age populations on the workforce.

Gender balance differs between the two countries: Norway has a sex ratio of 101.64 males per female, while Yemen has 102.70. Yemen shows a higher proportion of males, which can affect marriage markets, labor force composition, and social dynamics. These ratios reflect various factors including sex-selective practices, differential mortality rates, and migration patterns.

Comprehensive Demographic Comparison 2025

Indicator	Norway	Yemen	Difference / Ratio
Population Metrics
Total Population (2025)	6M	42M	7.4x smaller
World Population Ranking	#117	#37	80 places apart
Population Growth Rate (5-year)	+0.89%	+2.94%	2.05pp difference
Projected Growth (2025-2050)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00pp difference
Age Structure
Median Age	40.9 years	19.4 years	21.5 years older
Youth (0-14) Population	15.9%	41.0%	25.1pp difference
Working Age (15-64) Population	65.0%	56.4%	8.6pp difference
Elderly (65+) Population	19.1%	2.5%	16.5pp difference
Youth Bulge (15-29)	18.9%	27.1%	8.2pp difference
Prime Workforce (25-54)	40.2%	33.5%	6.6pp difference
Demographic Indicators
Total Dependency Ratio	53.9%	77.2%	23.3pp difference
Child Dependency Ratio	24.5%	72.7%	48.2pp difference
Old-Age Dependency Ratio	29.4%	4.5%	24.8pp difference
Sex Ratio (males per 100 females)	101.6	102.7	1.1 difference
Total Fertility Rate	1.40 children/woman	4.59 children/woman	3.19 difference
Estimated Birth Rate	9.8 per 1,000	31.4 per 1,000	21.6 difference
Aging Index (65+/0-14)	119.8%	6.2%	113.6pp difference
Population Pyramid Type	constrictive	expansive	Different types

📊 Understanding the Population Difference Chart

This visualization shows where and by how much the populations differ between Norway and Yemen for each age group, split by gender:

Left Side (Males)

Blue = Norway has more males

Green = Yemen has more males

Right Side (Females)

Pink = Norway has more females

Orange = Yemen has more females

💡 How to Read: Each age group shows up to 2 bars - one on the left (male difference) and one on the right (female difference). The bar's color tells you which country has more people, and the bar's length shows by how much. For example, if you see a green bar on the left, it means Yemen has more males in that age group.

Notable Differences (>20% variance):

Ages 0-4: Yemen has 95.8% more people

Men: 3.2M more in Yemen • Women: 3.1M more in Yemen

Norway: 141K men, 134K women • Yemen: 3.4M men, 3.2M women

Population Ratio

275K

6.6M

Ages 5-9: Yemen has 94.8% more people

Men: 2.8M more in Yemen • Women: 2.7M more in Yemen

Norway: 153K men, 145K women • Yemen: 2.9M men, 2.8M women

Population Ratio

298K

5.8M

Ages 10-14: Yemen has 93.3% more people

Men: 2.3M more in Yemen • Women: 2.2M more in Yemen

Norway: 165K men, 157K women • Yemen: 2.5M men, 2.4M women

Population Ratio

322K

4.8M

Ages 15-19: Yemen has 92.0% more people

Men: 2.0M more in Yemen • Women: 1.9M more in Yemen

Norway: 176K men, 167K women • Yemen: 2.2M men, 2.1M women

Population Ratio

343K

4.3M

Ages 20-24: Yemen has 90.7% more people

Men: 1.7M more in Yemen • Women: 1.7M more in Yemen

Norway: 178K men, 170K women • Yemen: 1.9M men, 1.8M women

Population Ratio

348K

3.7M

Ages 25-29: Yemen has 88.8% more people

Men: 1.5M more in Yemen • Women: 1.5M more in Yemen

Norway: 191K men, 181K women • Yemen: 1.7M men, 1.6M women

Population Ratio

371K

3.3M

Ages 30-34: Yemen has 87.3% more people

Men: 1.4M more in Yemen • Women: 1.3M more in Yemen

Norway: 202K men, 194K women • Yemen: 1.6M men, 1.5M women

Population Ratio

396K

3.1M

Ages 35-39: Yemen has 85.2% more people

Men: 1.1M more in Yemen • Women: 1.1M more in Yemen

Norway: 201K men, 193K women • Yemen: 1.3M men, 1.3M women

Population Ratio

394K

2.7M

Ages 40-44: Yemen has 82.7% more people

Men: 889K more in Yemen • Women: 870K more in Yemen

Norway: 188K men, 180K women • Yemen: 1.1M men, 1.0M women

Population Ratio

368K

2.1M

Ages 45-49: Yemen has 77.8% more people

Men: 624K more in Yemen • Women: 614K more in Yemen

Norway: 181K men, 173K women • Yemen: 805K men, 787K women

Population Ratio

354K

1.6M

Ages 50-54: Yemen has 68.4% more people

Men: 405K more in Yemen • Women: 412K more in Yemen

Norway: 192K men, 185K women • Yemen: 597K men, 596K women

Population Ratio

377K

1.2M

Ages 55-59: Yemen has 58.6% more people

Men: 251K more in Yemen • Women: 275K more in Yemen

Norway: 190K men, 182K women • Yemen: 441K men, 457K women

Population Ratio

372K

898K

Ages 60-64: Yemen has 48.5% more people

Men: 139K more in Yemen • Women: 173K more in Yemen

Norway: 168K men, 163K women • Yemen: 307K men, 336K women

Population Ratio

331K

643K

Ages 65-69: Yemen has 32.2% more people

Men: 54K more in Yemen • Women: 88K more in Yemen

Norway: 150K men, 150K women • Yemen: 204K men, 238K women

Population Ratio

299K

442K

Ages 75-79: Norway has 22.9% more people

Men: 33K more in Norway • Women: 11K more in Norway

Norway: 113K men, 121K women • Yemen: 80K men, 111K women

Population Ratio

234K

191K

Ages 80-84: Norway has 49.1% more people

Men: 29K more in Norway • Women: 21K more in Norway

Norway: 69K men, 82K women • Yemen: 40K men, 61K women

Population Ratio

152K

102K

Ages 85-89: Norway has 113.8% more people

Men: 19K more in Norway • Women: 24K more in Norway

Norway: 33K men, 47K women • Yemen: 14K men, 24K women

Population Ratio

80K

38K

Ages 90-94: Norway has 331.2% more people

Men: 9K more in Norway • Women: 17K more in Norway

Norway: 12K men, 23K women • Yemen: 3K men, 5K women

Population Ratio

34K

Ages 95-99: Norway has 1105.1% more people

Men: 2K more in Norway • Women: 6K more in Norway

Norway: 3K men, 7K women • Yemen: 184 men, 607 women

Population Ratio

10K

791

Ages 100+: Norway has 6410.5% more people

Men: 238 more in Norway • Women: 980 more in Norway

Norway: 239 men, 998 women • Yemen: 1 men, 18 women

Population Ratio

195020252025

Population Difference

-36.2M

Yemen larger

Growth Since 1950

Norway

+72.2%

Yemen

+804.8%

Population Ratio

1 : 7.43

Norway : Yemen

Metric	Norway	Yemen	Difference
Total Population	5.6M	41.8M	-86.5%
Median Age	40.9 years	19.4 years	+21.5
Youth Population (0-14)	895.4K 15.9%	17.1M 41.0%	-94.8%
Working Age (15-64)	3.7M 65.0%	23.6M 56.4%	-84.5%
Elderly Population (65+)	1.1M 19.1%	1.1M 2.5%	+0.9%
Total Dependency Ratio	53.9 per 100	77.2 per 100	-23.3
Youth Dependency Ratio	24.5 per 100	72.7 per 100	-48.2
Old-Age Dependency Ratio	29.4 per 100	4.5 per 100	+24.8
Sex Ratio	101.6 M/100F	102.7 M/100F	-1.1
Population Structure Type	Constrictive	Expansive	Different

Total Population

Norway

5.6M

Yemen

41.8M

Difference: -86.5%

Median Age

Norway

40.9 years

Yemen

19.4 years

Difference: +21.5

Youth Population (0-14)

Norway

895.4K

15.9%

Yemen

17.1M

41.0%

Difference: -94.8%

Working Age (15-64)

Norway

3.7M

65.0%

Yemen

23.6M

56.4%

Difference: -84.5%

Elderly Population (65+)

Norway

1.1M

19.1%

Yemen

1.1M

2.5%

Difference: +0.9%

Total Dependency Ratio

Norway

53.9 per 100

Yemen

77.2 per 100

Difference: -23.3

Youth Dependency Ratio

Norway

24.5 per 100

Yemen

72.7 per 100

Difference: -48.2

Old-Age Dependency Ratio

Norway

29.4 per 100

Yemen

4.5 per 100

Difference: +24.8

Sex Ratio

Norway

101.6 M/100F

Yemen

102.7 M/100F

Difference: -1.1

Note: Dependency ratios represent the number of dependents (youth + elderly) per 100 working-age individuals. Higher ratios indicate greater economic burden on the working population.

Current Gap

3.19

births per woman

Below Replacement Level

Norway

Population decline risk

2030 Projection Gap

2.94

Yemen above replacement

Note: The replacement fertility rate of 2.1 is the level at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.Both countries are experiencing demographic transitions as they develop economically. Countries below 2.1 face potential population decline without immigration, while those above 2.1 continue growing naturally.

🏆

Historic Milestone: 2023

Yemen became the world's most populous country, ending Norway's centuries-long reign

Norway: 75-Year Journey

1950 Population:3M

2025 Population:6M

Total Growth:+2M (72.2%)

Peak Year:Still growing

Yemen: 75-Year Journey

1950 Population:5M

2025 Population:42M

Total Growth:+37M (804.8%)

Projected Peak:Still growing

Growth Rate by Period

1950-1975

Norway: 0.82%/yr

Yemen: 2.29%/yr

1975-2000

Norway: 0.46%/yr

Yemen: 3.59%/yr

2000-2025

Norway: 0.90%/yr

Yemen: 3.07%/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

India officially overtook China as the world's most populous country in April 2023, according to United Nations estimates. This historic shift ended China's long reign as the world's most populous nation, a position it had held for centuries. As of 2025, India has 41.8 million people compared to China's 5.6 million, a gap of 36.2 million people.