University of Botswana History Department

Estimated world population, 1800 - 1950

Estimated world population by continents, 1800 - 1950

Estimated world population in millions by continents, 1800 - 1950. Source: R. Cameron, Concise Economic History of the World (New York: O.U.P., 1993) p. 193. See below for table format. Graph produced by StarOffice Calc.

Points to note:

Russia is listed separately because although it is a European power, it also includes much Asian territory.
The population of Europe is very large for such a small area. Until recently it has been larger than the population of Africa.
Throughout the time period shown, more than half of the world's population has lived in Asia.

World population figures (table):

**Estimated world population (millions)**
***	1800	1850	1900	1950
Europe	150	206	291	366
Russia	37	60	111	193
Africa	90	95	120	198
Asia	602	749	937	1302
North America	16	39	106	217
South America	9	20	38	111
Oceania	2	2	6	13
Source: R. Cameron, Concise Economic History of the World (New York: O.U.P., 1993) p. 193.