List of countries by population in 1500


This is a list of countries by population in 1500. Estimate numbers are from the beginning of the year, and exact population figures are for countries that held a census on various dates in that year. The bulk of these numbers are sourced from Alexander V. Avakov's Two Thousand Years of Economic Statistics, Volume 1, pages 12 to 14, which cover population figures from the year 1500 divided into modern borders. Avakov, in turn, cites a variety of sources, mostly Angus Maddison.

List

RankCountry/TerritoryPopulation
estimate
Percentage of
world population
World438,000,000
1Ming China60,000,000–103,000,000
2 Delhi Sultanate
~55,000,000~
3 Holy Roman Empire23,000,000+
4Vijayanagara Empire18,000,000
5 France and possessions
16,250,000
6 Ottoman Empire
Serbia – 990,000