what country has the highest population

The country with the highest population in 2025 is India, with over 1.46 billion people. India has surpassed China, which now has just over 1.42 billion people, making China the second most populous country. This shift happened due to India's population growth while China's population growth has been slowing. So, as of 2025, India holds the position as the most populous country in the world.