Population by Country in 1939

Saying that 1939 was a year full of change and historical significance is a real understatement. With World War II getting ready to break out the following year, the whole world and all its people were definitely in the process of transitioning from one phase to the next.

In 1939, the world had approximately 2 billion people worldwide. Between 60 million and 78 million people would go on to die in World War II, which was about 3 percent of the total population. Therefore, analyzing world population by country in 1939 can help provide a helpful overview of how the world looked before one of the most culturally traumatic events in human history.

Countries with the Highest Populations in 1939

In 1939, just before World War II, the following were the world’s most populous countries.

China

In 1939, the most populous country by far at the time was China, and it remains so as of 2023. Just prior to WWII, China’s population was about 513 million people strong and accounted for a relatively large slice of the world’s people at the time.

India

Just as it does in 2023, India had the world’s second-largest population in 1939 with around 389 million people.

United States

In 1939, the United States had a population of approximately 131 million people, making it the third most populous country that year. Like India and China, the United States has also maintained this position as of 2023.

Quite a few countries across Europe were also fairly populous throughout 1939. These include but aren’t necessarily limited to France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Factors Contributing to the 1939 World Population

As is the case in any other year, there were various internal and external factors influencing the world population from country to country in 1939. The following are a couple of key examples to consider.

Sociopolitical Factors in Europe

Politics and social climate always affect the population to at least some degree. In 1939, this was especially the case across Europe. While it’s true that many parts of Europe were still thriving that year, populations in Eastern Europe actually shrank due to political unrest and other localized social issues.

Colonial Rule and Its Effects

Countries and regions under colonial rule in 1939 (particularly in Africa and Asia) experienced related obstacles, such as limited access to healthcare services, ideal sanitation, and other resources. This hindered normal population growth in many of those areas.

Other influences – such as migration, natural disasters, industrialization, and access to education also influenced populations in various countries throughout 1939.