This graph shows the dramatic change in population over the last 500 years in China, India, Africa, Latin America, Western Europe, and United States. (Note: the dip in 1950 of India's population was due to the partitioning of India creating Pakistan.)
See also: China: 2,000 Years of Income and Population GrowthLast 2,000 years of growth in world income and population
Data estimates for the population from Angus Maddison Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Groningen.