Syria experiences the
highest population growth rate at
6.39%, which significantly surpasses
South Sudan, the country with the second-highest rate, by
1.61 percentage points.
Top three countries by population growth
The countries with the
top three population growth rates are Syria (
6.39%), South
Sudan (
4.78%), and
Niger (
3.66%), highlighting a notable variance in growth rates within the top positions.
African nations dominate high growth rates
Nineteen out of the twenty countries listed are in
Africa, underscoring the continent's significant
demographic expansion. Only Syria, a Middle Eastern country, breaks this pattern.
Growth rates above 3%
Ten countries report population growth rates
above 3%, indicating rapid demographic expansions that could double their populations in less than 24 years.
Sub-Saharan Africa's demographic trends
Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Niger,
Burundi, and
Angola, showcase some of the
highest growth rates globally, with figures ranging from
3.34% to 3.66%.
Countries like
Nigeria, with a growth rate of
2.53%, and Angola at
3.34%, might face challenges in providing education, healthcare, and
employment for their rapidly increasing populations.
Narrow growth rate range among lower-ranked countries
The difference between the
lowest and
highest growth rates among the listed countries is
3.86 percentage points, from Syria’s 6.39% to Nigeria's 2.53%, indicating a relatively narrow range of growth rates across these fast-growing populations.
Equatorial Guinea's unique position
Equatorial Guinea is the only listed country not in Sub-Saharan Africa or the Middle East, with a notable growth rate of
3.36%, highlighting its demographic anomaly compared to regional trends.
Population growth rates and resource planning
Countries with growth rates exceeding
3%, such as
Uganda (
3.22%) and
DR Congo (
3.13%), underscore the urgency for strategic resource allocation and infrastructure development to accommodate their burgeoning populations.