Top 10 Countries with Greatest Population Growth Expected, All Belong to Africa

According to the UN’s World Population Prospects 2024 report, Africa is set to witness extraordinary population growth in the coming decades, with the top ten fastest-growing countries all situated on the continent. Niger is projected to lead with a population increase of 581%, followed by Angola at 473% and Tanzania at 378%. Somalia, Zambia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Mali, and Mozambique are also among the world’s fastest-growing nations.

In terms of sheer numbers, Africa will dominate the list of countries experiencing the largest population increases by 2100. Nigeria is forecasted to see the largest surge, with an additional 527 million people, followed by significant growth in the DRC, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Niger, Egypt, and Sudan. Pakistan and the United States are the only non-African countries on this list, expected to grow by 182 million and 103 million people, respectively.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) predicts that while many countries have peaked in population, 126 countries and areas will continue to grow until at least 2054, potentially peaking later in the century or beyond 2100. This includes highly populous nations such as India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the United States, with an overall projected increase of 38% by 2054. Countries like Angola, the Central African Republic, the DRC, Niger, and Somalia are expected to double their populations between 2024 and 2054.

Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to see a population increase of 79% over the next 30 years, reaching 2.2 billion people by 2054 and growing by an additional 51% by the end of the century to 3.3 billion. This rapid growth will significantly alter the global population rankings, with Pakistan, Nigeria, and the DRC likely to surpass the United States, and Tanzania is expected to enter the top ten by the century’s end.

High fertility rates are the primary driver of this rapid growth in sub-Saharan Africa. In around one-fifth of the countries experiencing ongoing growth, nearly all in sub-Saharan Africa, women had an average of four or more births in 2024. This high fertility rate presents challenges for social and economic development, requiring substantial investments to ensure inclusive progress.

Despite concerns about rapid population growth and its global impact, the overall increase in global population is slowing. However, the continued growth in these 126 countries and areas beyond 2054 will significantly shape the global demographic landscape. By 2100, this group is projected to be home to 8.3 billion people, representing a 64% increase from 2024 and accounting for over 82% of the global population, up from 62% in 2024.

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