Population by country

What it is

The total number of people living in a country in the middle of the year, whatever their nationality. Figures come from censuses and population registers, filled in between censuses with estimates by the United Nations.

Why it matters

Population is the starting point for almost every comparison: the size of the workforce, how many consumers a market has, and figures 'per person'. A growing, young population and a shrinking, ageing one face very different challenges, from schools to pensions.

What moves it

Births, deaths and migration. In many rich countries, including Portugal, more people die than are born each year, and immigration decides whether the population grows.