This is a list of countries by population in 1939 (including any dependent, occupied or colonized territories for empires), providing an approximate overview of the world population beforeWorld War II.
Estimate numbers are from the beginning of the year, and exact population figures are for countries that were having a census in the year 1939 (which were on various dates in that year).
^The population of the Crown Colony of Aden was derived by taking the population ratio between North and South Yemen in 1975 (see reference) and applying that same distribution to both Yemens in 1939.
^According to the preceding reference, French Morocco contained 90% of the Moroccan population in 1955. This ratio was used for the Moroccan population of 1939. Please update if more accurate information is available.
^Population distribution according to first reference was 10% in Spanish Morocco and 90% for French Morocco in 1955. This ratio was used to divide the 1939 total Moroccan population figures. Please update if more accurate information is found.
^The population of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen was derived by taking the population ratio between North and South Yemen in 1975 (see reference) and applying that same distribution to both Yemeni states in 1939
^A. G. Volkov Census of 1937 Facts and Fictions originally published in Перепись населения СССР 1937 года. История и материалы/Экспресс-информация. Серия "История статистики". Выпуск 3–5 (часть II). М., 1990/ с. 6–63