Countries by population growth rate
South Sudan’s population is growing at 5.86% per year—while Saint Martin is shrinking at -5.40%. That’s a staggering 11.26 percentage-point swing, meaning one country could double its population in just over a decade while another rapidly empties out. Few metrics capture global divergence as sharply as population growth.
Ranking 2024
Values shown in %.
Analysis
Population growth rate measures the annual percentage change in a country’s population, combining births, deaths, and migration. Positive growth means a country is expanding; negative growth signals decline. This metric is one of the most powerful indicators of long-term economic and social trajectory. Fast-growing populations can mean a young workforce and future expansion—but also pressure on housing, jobs, and infrastructure. Declining populations often signal aging societies, shrinking labor forces, and rising dependency ratios.
The fastest-growing countries are heavily concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and fragile states. South Sudan (5.86%), Chad (5.71%), and Syria (4.92%) top the rankings, with growth rates that can double populations in roughly 12–15 years. Countries like Somalia (3.56%), Niger (3.31%), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (3.26%) follow closely, reflecting high birth rates and improving survival rates. Gulf states such as Oman (4.59%) and the United Arab Emirates (3.70%) also rank high—but for a different reason: large inflows of migrant workers rather than natural population growth.
Mid-range countries show more stable, sustainable expansion. Nations like Egypt (1.82%), Kenya (1.97%), and Nigeria (2.10%) are still growing rapidly in absolute terms due to their large populations, even if their percentage growth is lower than the top tier. Developed economies cluster much lower: the United States (0.58%), Australia (0.99%), and Canada (1.22%) rely heavily on immigration to sustain growth. Across Europe, rates are even lower—Germany (0.35%), France (0.17%), and the United Kingdom (0.70%) hover near stagnation, reflecting low birth rates and aging populations.
At the bottom, population decline is becoming widespread across developed and post-industrial societies. Japan (-0.48%), South Korea (-0.04%), and Italy (-0.22%) are all shrinking, as deaths outpace births and migration fails to offset the gap. Eastern Europe shows some of the steepest declines: Ukraine (-1.55%), Bulgaria (-0.52%), and Romania (-0.53%) are losing population rapidly. Small island territories dominate the most extreme contractions—Saint Martin (-5.40%) and the Cook Islands (-3.59%)—where migration swings can dramatically reshape population size year to year.
Population growth is not just about births—it’s increasingly shaped by migration, conflict, and economic opportunity. A high growth rate in one country may reflect a youth boom, while in another it signals an influx of foreign workers. Similarly, negative growth may result from aging, emigration, or crisis. The same number can imply entirely different realities depending on context. What’s clear is that the world is splitting into two demographic paths: rapidly expanding populations in parts of Africa and the Middle East, and stagnating or shrinking populations across Europe and East Asia.
Methodology
Population growth rate represents the annual percentage change in total population, calculated using births, deaths, and net migration. Data is typically sourced from national statistical agencies, census data, and international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank. The dataset includes 237 countries and territories for 2024. Growth rates are expressed as decimals (e.g., 0.02 = 2%). The metric reflects short-term changes and may be influenced by migration flows, conflicts, or one-time demographic events. While useful for comparison, it does not capture age structure, fertility rates, or long-term demographic sustainability.