Countries with the Highest Population Growth and Decline Since 2000

What We’re Showing

This chart ranks the countries with the fastest population growth and steepest population decline from 2000 to 2025, using IMF World Economic Outlook population estimates.

Values show the percentage change in total population over the full 25-year period.

Key Takeaways

• Qatar recorded the largest increase at +423.4%, followed by the United Arab Emirates at +249.7%.
• Many of the fastest-growing countries are in Africa or the Middle East, including Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Bahrain, Papua New Guinea, Angola, Kuwait, Oman, and Chad.
• Ukraine saw the steepest decline at -32.5%, followed by the Marshall Islands, Bulgaria, and Latvia.