MOST vs LEAST Populated Countries in the World 2026

Explore the 30 most populated and 30 least populated countries in 2026! This world population comparison counts down both rankings, revealing the enormous gap between population giants and tiny nations. From India and China to Tuvalu and Vatican City, The Data Inspector brings 60 countries into one side-by-side countdown. See how the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and other major populations compare with some of the world's smallest nations by population. Along the way, discover population totals, growth and decline, median ages, population density and memorable country facts. Which country will surprise you most? Watch to the end for the No. 1 country in each ranking, then tell us in the comments: which population was furthest from your guess? Subscribe to The Data Inspector for more country rankings, geography facts and world data comparisons. Like this video if you enjoy seeing the world through numbers! DATA SOURCES - [Worldometer — Population by Country (2026)](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/) - [United Nations — World Population Prospects 2024](https://population.un.org/wpp/) Population figures use 2026 medium-variant projections from UN World Population Prospects 2024, as presented by Worldometer. This video compares sovereign states; dependent territories are excluded. Rankings are based on total population, not land area or population density. Figures are projections, not live population counts. #WorldPopulation #CountryComparison #Geography