The population of Earth has seen a meteoric rise over the past century. In just 37 years, the world population doubled, from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 5 billion in 1987, and it is estimated to reach 8 billion this year, according to U.N. data.
The increase is expected to continue, though at a slower rate. The U.N. projects that the world population will rise to as high as 9.8 billion by the year 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. In order to break down how the population is changing, it is easier to look at individual countries and how they are contributing to the global population.
To identify the 40 countries with the fastest-growing populations, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the CIA World Factbook’s one-year population growth estimates for 2022. The countries on this list recorded at least a 2% one-year population growth. All data is from the CIA World Factbook and for 2022.
Reviewing the list, one thing that stands is that developed countries like the United States, France, Russia, or Japan are absent from the list. Instead, a majority tend to be in developing world regions and sub-Saharan Africa specifically. Of the 40 countries on the list, 33 are in Africa. (On the other hand, here are the countries on track to shrink the most this century.)
In addition, most of the countries in the list have population pyramids with higher concentrations at the bottom, the younger ages, as opposed to inverted population pyramids in countries like Japan, where there is a high concentration of the population in the old ages. Part of the explanation for this is that more industrialized nations tend to have lower birth rates, many below the replacement rate.
Also, as technology and health care continue to disseminate and improve, the populations of developing nations benefit exponentially as standards of living improves. (Many of the countries on this list are also among the poorest countries in the world.)
Here’s a look at countries with the fastest growing populations:
40. Iraq
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.0%
> 2022 population: 40,462,701 — 30th largest of 237
> Median age: 21.2 — 35th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 24.7 per 1,000 residents — 46th highest of 228
> Region: Middle East
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39. Gaza Strip
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.0%
> 2022 population: 1,997,328 — 87th smallest of 237
> Median age: 18.0 — 13th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 27.7 per 1,000 residents — 39th highest of 228
> Region: Middle East
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38. Kenya
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.1%
> 2022 population: 55,864,655 — 27th largest of 237
> Median age: 20.0 — 29th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 26.4 per 1,000 residents — 43rd highest of 228
> Region: Africa
37. Timor-Leste
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.1%
> 2022 population: 1,445,006 — 82nd smallest of 237
> Median age: 19.6 — 27th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 30.9 per 1,000 residents — 28th highest of 228
> Region: East and Southeast Asia
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36. Cote d’Ivoire
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.2%
> 2022 population: 28,713,423 — 52nd largest of 237
> Median age: 20.3 — 31st lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 28.3 per 1,000 residents — 35th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
35. Ghana
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.2%
> 2022 population: 33,107,275 — 44th largest of 237
> Median age: 21.4 — 36th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 28.6 per 1,000 residents — 34th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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34. Madagascar
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.3%
> 2022 population: 28,172,462 — 53rd largest of 237
> Median age: 20.3 — 31st lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 28.7 per 1,000 residents — 33rd highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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33. Gambia
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.3%
> 2022 population: 2,413,403 — 94th smallest of 237
> Median age: 21.8 — 37th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 28.8 per 1,000 residents — 32nd highest of 228
> Region: Africa
32. Afghanistan
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.3%
> 2022 population: 38,346,720 — 37th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.5 — 25th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 35.5 per 1,000 residents — 15th highest of 228
> Region: South Asia
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31. Malawi
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.3%
> 2022 population: 20,794,353 — 61st largest of 237
> Median age: 16.8 — 7th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 27.9 per 1,000 residents — 38th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
30. Republic of the Congo
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.3%
> 2022 population: 5,546,307 — 118th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.5 — 25th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 31.8 per 1,000 residents — 26th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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29. Papua New Guinea
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.4%
> 2022 population: 9,593,498 — 94th largest of 237
> Median age: 24.0 — 39th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 29.0 per 1,000 residents — 31st highest of 228
> Region: East and Southeast Asia
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28. Gabon
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.4%
> 2022 population: 2,340,613 — 92nd largest of 237
> Median age: 21.0 — 34th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 26.0 per 1,000 residents — 44th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
27. Somalia
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.4%
> 2022 population: 12,386,248 — 78th largest of 237
> Median age: 18.5 — 18th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 38.0 per 1,000 residents — 8th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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26. Venezuela
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.4%
> 2022 population: 29,789,730 — 50th largest of 237
> Median age: 30.0 — 40th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 17.3 per 1,000 residents — 91st highest of 228
> Region: South America
25. Ethiopia
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 113,656,596 — 13th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.8 — 28th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 30.5 per 1,000 residents — 29th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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24. Togo
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 8,492,333 — 102nd largest of 237
> Median age: 20.0 — 29th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 31.9 per 1,000 residents — 25th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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23. Sierra Leone
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 8,692,606 — 100th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.1 — 22nd lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 32.2 per 1,000 residents — 24th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
22. Nigeria
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 225,082,083 — 6th largest of 237
> Median age: 18.6 — 20th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 34.2 per 1,000 residents — 18th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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21. Guinea-Bissau
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 2,026,778 — 88th largest of 237
> Median age: 18.0 — 13th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 36.5 per 1,000 residents — 12th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
20. Burkina Faso
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.5%
> 2022 population: 21,935,389 — 59th largest of 237
> Median age: 17.9 — 12th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 33.6 per 1,000 residents — 19th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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19. Sudan
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.6%
> 2022 population: 47,958,856 — 30th largest of 237
> Median age: 18.3 — 17th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 33.5 per 1,000 residents — 20th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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18. Mozambique
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.6%
> 2022 population: 31,693,239 — 46th largest of 237
> Median age: 17.0 — 9th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 37.5 per 1,000 residents — 10th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
17. Senegal
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.6%
> 2022 population: 17,923,036 — 68th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.4 — 24th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 31.5 per 1,000 residents — 27th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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16. Liberia
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.7%
> 2022 population: 5,358,483 — 117th smallest of 237
> Median age: 18.0 — 13th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 36.6 per 1,000 residents — 11th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
15. Cameroon
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.8%
> 2022 population: 29,321,637 — 51st largest of 237
> Median age: 18.5 — 18th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 35.5 per 1,000 residents — 14th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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14. Guinea
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.8%
> 2022 population: 13,237,832 — 75th largest of 237
> Median age: 19.1 — 22nd lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 35.7 per 1,000 residents — 13th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
13. Tanzania
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.8%
> 2022 population: 63,852,892 — 23rd largest of 237
> Median age: 18.2 — 16th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 33.3 per 1,000 residents — 21st highest of 228
> Region: Africa
12. Zambia
> 2021-2022 population growth: +2.9%
> 2022 population: 19,642,123 — 63rd largest of 237
> Median age: 16.9 — 8th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 34.9 per 1,000 residents — 17th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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11. Mali
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.0%
> 2022 population: 20,741,769 — 62nd largest of 237
> Median age: 16.0 — 4th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 41.1 per 1,000 residents — 4th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
10. Chad
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.1%
> 2022 population: 17,963,211 — 67th largest of 237
> Median age: 16.1 — 5th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 40.5 per 1,000 residents — 6th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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9. Democratic Republic of the Congo
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.1%
> 2022 population: 108,407,721 — 14th largest of 237
> Median age: 16.7 — 6th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 40.1 per 1,000 residents — 7th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
8. Uganda
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.3%
> 2022 population: 46,205,893 — 33rd largest of 237
> Median age: 15.7 — 2nd lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 40.9 per 1,000 residents — 5th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
7. Benin
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.3%
> 2022 population: 13,754,688 — 74th largest of 237
> Median age: 17.0 — 9th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 41.1 per 1,000 residents — 3rd highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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6. Angola
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.4%
> 2022 population: 34,795,287 — 42nd largest of 237
> Median age: 15.9 — 3rd lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 41.8 per 1,000 residents — 2nd highest of 228
> Region: Africa
5. Equatorial Guinea
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.5%
> 2022 population: 1,679,172 — 84th smallest of 237
> Median age: 20.3 — 31st lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 30.0 per 1,000 residents — 30th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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4. Burundi
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.6%
> 2022 population: 12,696,478 — 77th smallest of 237
> Median age: 17.7 — 11th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 35.2 per 1,000 residents — 16th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
3. Niger
> 2021-2022 population growth: +3.7%
> 2022 population: 24,484,587 — 56th smallest of 237
> Median age: 14.8 — the lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 47.1 per 1,000 residents — the highest of 228
> Region: Africa
2. South Sudan
> 2021-2022 population growth: +4.9%
> 2022 population: 11,544,905 — 82nd smallest of 237
> Median age: 18.6 — 20th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 37.7 per 1,000 residents — 9th highest of 228
> Region: Africa
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1. Syria
> 2021-2022 population growth: +5.9%
> 2022 population: 21,563,800 — 60th smallest of 237
> Median age: 23.5 — 38th lowest of 227
> Annual birth rate: 22.7 per 1,000 residents — 51st highest of 228
> Region: Middle East
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