How it Works
Calculating the number of people who have ever lived is challenging and requires both science and best estimates based on research.
We know a lot about the current global population and we can make educated guesses about the population at different times in human history. The two of these combined help us create an estimate of your unique Sapien Number.
What we know
You are here.
What we don't know
How do you know My Sapien Number is accurate?
Your Sapien Number is our best guess based on the facts we know from science and estimates of what we can never know. Only 1% of the span of human history has been tracked with accurate demographic data. The rest is a guess made by very smart people.
What makes My Sapien Number truly unique?
Your Sapien Number will always be unique. There are currently an average of about 380,000 people born every day or about 260 per minute! Even if two people are born at the same time, we’ll give each of them a unique Sapien Number.
How do you know what time all these famous people were born?
The truth is, we don’t actually know the exact time most famous people were born. We’re making a general estimation based on available public information. But if any of them (who are still living, of course) want a more accurate Sapien Number, we’ll provide them with one. All they need to do is fill out our form!
Population Growth Theory
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) explains that any estimate of total population relies on three factors:
- The length of time humans are believed to have been on Earth.
- The average size of the population at different periods of human history.
- The number of births per 1,000 during each of those periods.
What We Know
- Modern Homo Sapiens appeared around 190,000 BCE
- The Global Population around 8,000 BCE was about 5 Million
- The Global Population in 1 CE was about 300 Million
- Today’s Global Population is 8 Billion (and counting)
What We Don’t Know
- The actual average world population size for most of human history.
- The actual average annual rate of population growth for most of human history
- The actual birth rate for much of human history.
What Math Can Tell Us
- The estimated number of people ever born.
- The estimated population growth rate for human history.
- Your estimated unique Sapien Number in the history of mankind.
Modern Sapien Population Data
Total Sapiens Alive Today
Total Sapiens Alive One Year Ago Today
Sapiens Born In The Last Year
Total Sapiens Alive Last Year
Total Sapiens Alive Today
Total Sapiens Alive One Year Ago Today
Sapiens Born In The Last Year
Total Sapiens Alive Last Year
Birthrate
Take a Break
Repeat Birthrate Equation in 10 Year Intervals
Birthrate
Take a Break
Repeat Birthrate Equation in 10 Year Intervals
Average Birthrate Over 100 Years
Sapien Population From 100 Years Ago
Sapien Population From Today Years Ago
When Did Sapiens First Walk The Earth?
Average Birthrate Over 100 Years
Sapien Population From 100 Years Ago
Sapien Population From Today Years Ago
When Did Sapiens First Walk The Earth?
Math is Hard!
Total Number Of Sapiens Who Ever Lived
Math is Hard!
Total Number Of Sapiens Who Ever Lived
Quiz
If these smiles represented 100% of the people who've ever lived... How many smileys would be alive today?
7 smileys is the correct answer!
According to the PRB study from 2021, the currently living percentage of total human population that has ever lived is 7%.
And YOU are one of them… can you believe it?
385,000
New Sapiens Each Day
117.2B
Members of the Homo Sapien species ever born
4.46
New Sapiens Each Second
0
New Sapiens Since You Started Reading This
1
YOU
Can you believe it?
To get your unique Sapien Number, just tell us your birth date and time.
Note: If you don’t know your birth time, you can leave it blank or give us your best guess.