The Fastest Growing Populations, by Percentage and Number of People 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦

What We're Showing

This graphic compares the countries with the fastest population growth in percentage terms and the biggest population gains in absolute numbers from 2000 to 2025, using IMF data.

The two rankings show how small Gulf and African countries dominate percentage growth, while the largest increases in people are concentrated in Asia and Africa.

Key Takeaways

• Qatar has the fastest percentage growth at 423%, well ahead of the UAE at 250%, with Equatorial Guinea, Niger, and Bahrain next at 167%, 157%, and 154%.
• India adds the most people by far at 406 million, nearly triple China’s 138 million and far above Nigeria’s 113 million and Pakistan’s 105 million.
• Only a few countries appear on both lists, including the DRC, Uganda, Angola, Yemen, Tanzania, and Mozambique, indicating both rapid relative growth and large absolute population gains.