Published
October 27, 2025 6:23 am
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By
Julia Wendling
Editing
- Alan Kennedy
Design
- Athul Alexander
The following content is sponsored by Global X ETFs
Mapped: Population of Emerging Markets
Key Takeaways
- Emerging Markets (excluding China) make up 35% of the world’s population and contribute 17.4% of global GDP, underscoring their growing influence.
- India tops the list with a population of 1.5B, followed by Indonesia (283.5M) and Brazil (212.0M).
- The Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (EMM) offers targeted exposure to dynamic markets beyond China, where innovation and expansion are driving long-term potential.
Emerging Markets (EMs) are nations transitioning from developing to developed economies, a shift often marked by rapid economic growth, expanding middle classes, and the build-out of modern infrastructure and institutions.
But how significant are these markets, and what role do they play in shaping the global economy?
To answer these questions, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Global X ETFs to launch a three-part EM Series, exploring the size, growth, and opportunities within the world’s developing economies.
The Population of Emerging Markets
In this first installment, we examine the overall size of EMs excluding China, based on MSCI’s market classifications.
Together, these nations account for roughly 35% of the global population—from fast-growing economies like India and Brazil to emerging players such as Poland and Colombia.
| Countries | Population (millions) |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 212.0 |
| Chile | 19.7 |
| Colombia | 52.9 |
| Czechia | 10.9 |
| Egypt | 116.5 |
| Greece | 10.4 |
| Hungary | 9.6 |
| India | 1450.9 |
| Indonesia | 283.5 |
| South Korea | 51.8 |
| Kuwait | 5.0 |
| Malaysia | 35.6 |
| Mexico | 130.9 |
| Peru | 34.2 |
| Philippines | 115.8 |
| Poland | 36.6 |
| Qatar | 2.9 |
| Saudi Arabia | 35.3 |
| South Africa | 64.0 |
| Thailand | 71.7 |
| Türkiye | 85.5 |
| United Arab Emirates | 10.9 |
| EM Total (ex. China) | 2811.7 |
While their share of global GDP (17.4%) still trails their population weight, these economies remain key contributors to global growth. For investors, that imbalance can represent opportunity—particularly as many of these countries move up the economic value chain.
An Emerging Opportunity
EMs continue to demonstrate resilience and momentum in 2025, with average GDP growth expected to exceed 4% this year.
In the second part of this series, we’ll chart the flow of foreign investment into EMs since 2000, revealing how capital has followed growth across these dynamic economies.
Exploring Emerging Markets (ex. China)
For investors seeking to focus on growth beyond China, the Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (EMM) provides targeted exposure to companies across developing nations that are achieving (or poised to achieve) market leadership within their regions.
The fund’s strategy identifies early winners in rapidly evolving industries, where entrepreneurship, innovation, and determination are creating tomorrow’s global competitors.
Learn more about the Global X Emerging Markets ex-China ETF (EMM).
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