Mapped: Where Populations Are Booming and Shrinking by 2050

Where Populations Are Booming and Shrinking by 2050

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The world’s population is projected to grow by 1.4 billion people by 2050—but that growth is becoming increasingly concentrated in a handful of regions.

Using data from the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2024, this map shows where populations are rising fastest—and where they are entering long-term decline. The contrast is stark: parts of sub-Saharan Africa are set to nearly double in size, while several of the world’s largest economies are projected to shrink significantly.

These shifts will reshape labor markets, economic growth, and global influence over the coming decades.

The Fastest-Growing Countries in the World

The most dramatic population increases are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, where several countries are on track to nearly double in size by 2050.

The Democratic Republic of Congo leads globally, with its population projected to surge by over 100 million people (+93%). Close behind are countries like Niger, Angola, and Somalia.

The table below shows population forecasts across 195 countries worldwide:

Rank	Country	Population 2025 (M)	Population 2050 (M)	Change 2020- 2025	% Change 2020- 2025
1	DR Congo	112.8	218.2	+105.4M	93.4%
2	Central African Republic	5.5	10.6	+5.1M	92.6%
3	Angola	39	74.3	+35.3M	90.3%
4	Somalia	19.7	37.2	+17.6M	89.3%
5	Niger	27.9	52.5	+24.6M	88.1%
6	Chad	21	38.9	+17.9M	85.0%
7	Tanzania	70.5	129.6	+59.1M	83.7%
8	Mali	25.2	46.2	+21.0M	83.2%
9	Mozambique	35.6	63.5	+27.9M	78.3%
10	Mauritania	5.3	9.4	+4.1M	77.1%
11	Afghanistan	43.8	76.9	+33.0M	75.4%
12	Zambia	21.9	38.1	+16.2M	73.8%
13	Cameroon	29.9	51.1	+21.2M	71.0%
14	Cote d’Ivoire	32.7	55.7	+23.0M	70.4%
15	Yemen	41.8	71	+29.2M	69.9%
16	Congo	6.5	11	+4.5M	69.7%
17	Malawi	22.2	37.4	+15.1M	68.2%
18	Burundi	14.4	24.1	+9.7M	67.7%
19	Uganda	51.4	85.4	+34.0M	66.3%
20	Ethiopia	135.5	225	+89.5M	66.1%
21	Sudan	51.7	85.2	+33.5M	64.9%
22	Benin	14.8	24.4	+9.6M	64.9%
23	Madagascar	32.7	53.2	+20.4M	62.4%
24	Equatorial Guinea	1.9	3.1	+1.2M	62.2%
25	Senegal	18.9	30.4	+11.4M	60.4%
26	Togo	9.7	15.6	+5.9M	60.3%
27	Vanuatu	0.3	0.5	+199K	59.4%
28	Eritrea	3.6	5.7	+2.1M	57.9%
29	Gabon	2.6	4.1	+1.5M	57.5%
30	Solomon Islands	0.8	1.3	+470K	56.1%
31	Rwanda	14.6	22.7	+8.1M	55.9%
32	Liberia	5.7	8.9	+3.2M	55.5%
33	Burkina Faso	24.1	37.3	+13.2M	55.0%
34	Guinea	15.1	23.4	+8.3M	55.0%
35	Iraq	47	71.9	+24.9M	53.0%
36	Guinea-Bissau	2.2	3.4	+1.2M	52.9%
37	Zimbabwe	17	25.9	+8.9M	52.6%
38	Gambia	2.8	4.3	+1.5M	52.4%
39	Sao Tome and Principe	0.2	0.4	+125K	52.0%
40	Nigeria	237.5	359.2	+121.7M	51.2%
41	Palestine	5.6	8.5	+2.9M	51.2%
42	South Sudan	12.2	18.3	+6.2M	50.5%
43	Comoros	0.9	1.3	+425K	48.1%
44	Syria	25.6	37.8	+12.2M	47.5%
45	Sierra Leone	8.8	12.9	+4.1M	46.8%
46	Namibia	3.1	4.5	+1.4M	45.9%
47	Pakistan	255.2	371.9	+116.6M	45.7%
48	Kenya	57.5	83.6	+26.1M	45.3%
49	Tajikistan	10.8	15.6	+4.8M	44.4%
50	Ghana	35.1	50.6	+15.5M	44.2%
51	Vatican City	0.001	0.001	213	42.5%
52	Oman	5.5	7.8	+2.3M	42.4%
53	Jordan	11.5	16.4	+4.8M	42.1%
54	Uzbekistan	37.1	52.2	+15.2M	40.9%
55	Papua New Guinea	10.8	14.9	+4.1M	38.5%
56	Saudi Arabia	34.6	47.7	+13.1M	38.0%
57	Israel	9.5	13.1	+3.6M	37.6%
58	Egypt	118.4	161.6	+43.3M	36.6%
59	United Arab Emirates	11.3	15.4	+4.0M	35.4%
60	Honduras	11	14.8	+3.8M	34.9%
61	Botswana	2.6	3.4	+875K	34.2%
62	Kiribati	0.1	0.2	+46.1K	33.8%
63	Qatar	3.1	4.2	+1.0M	33.7%
64	Timor-Leste	1.4	1.9	+471K	33.2%
65	Kyrgyzstan	7.3	9.6	+2.3M	32.2%
66	Guatemala	18.7	24.7	+6.0M	32.0%
67	Nauru	0	0	+3.7K	31.0%
68	Bahrain	1.6	2.1	+496K	30.2%
69	Djibouti	1.2	1.5	+346K	29.3%
70	Bolivia	12.6	16.1	+3.5M	28.0%
71	Mongolia	3.5	4.5	+984K	28.0%
72	Kazakhstan	20.8	26.5	+5.7M	27.3%
73	Kuwait	5	6.4	+1.3M	26.7%
74	Lesotho	2.4	3	+630K	26.6%
75	Turkmenistan	7.6	9.6	+2.0M	26.5%
76	Algeria	47.4	59.6	+12.1M	25.6%
77	Nicaragua	7	8.8	+1.7M	25.0%
78	Samoa	0.2	0.3	+53.4K	24.4%
79	Libya	7.5	9.3	+1.8M	24.2%
80	Laos	7.9	9.8	+1.9M	23.9%
81	Haiti	11.9	14.7	+2.8M	23.6%
82	Paraguay	7	8.6	+1.6M	23.2%
83	Panama	4.6	5.6	+1.1M	23.2%
84	Malaysia	36	44.3	+8.3M	23.1%
85	Cambodia	17.8	21.9	+4.1M	22.9%
86	South Africa	64.7	79.2	+14.4M	22.3%
87	Bangladesh	175.7	214.7	+39.0M	22.2%
88	Belize	0.4	0.5	+93.7K	22.2%
89	Australia	27	32.5	+5.5M	20.5%
90	Eswatini	1.3	1.5	+249K	19.8%
91	Lebanon	5.8	7	+1.1M	19.7%
92	Peru	34.6	40.6	+6.0M	17.4%
93	Nepal	29.6	34.6	+5.0M	17.0%
94	Ecuador	18.3	21.3	+3.0M	16.7%
95	Luxembourg	0.7	0.8	+111K	16.3%
96	Philippines	116.8	134.4	+17.6M	15.1%
97	India	1,463.90	1,679.60	+215.7M	14.7%
98	Suriname	0.6	0.7	+94.1K	14.7%
99	Canada	40.1	45.6	+5.5M	13.7%
100	Morocco	38.4	43.4	+5.0M	13.0%
101	Mexico	131.9	148.9	+17.0M	12.9%
102	Dominican Republic	11.5	13	+1.5M	12.8%
103	Ireland	5.3	6	+662K	12.5%
104	Guyana	0.8	0.9	+105K	12.5%
105	Indonesia	285.7	320.7	+35.0M	12.2%
106	Maldives	0.5	0.6	+60.3K	11.4%
107	Brunei	0.5	0.5	+53.2K	11.4%
108	Colombia	53.4	59.4	+6.0M	11.2%
109	Micronesia	0.1	0.1	+12.7K	11.2%
110	Bhutan	0.8	0.9	+85.7K	10.8%
111	Iran	92.4	101.9	+9.4M	10.2%
112	Cyprus	1.4	1.5	+138K	10.0%
113	United States	347.3	380.8	+33.6M	9.7%
114	New Zealand	5.3	5.8	+503K	9.6%
115	Venezuela	28.5	31.1	+2.6M	9.0%
116	Iceland	0.4	0.4	+34.7K	8.7%
117	United Kingdom	69.6	75.5	+6.0M	8.6%
118	Vietnam	101.6	110	+8.4M	8.3%
119	Azerbaijan	10.4	11.2	+827K	8.0%
120	Cabo Verde	0.5	0.6	+38.8K	7.4%
121	Fiji	0.9	1	+67.1K	7.2%
122	Liechtenstein	0	0	+2.9K	7.2%
123	Myanmar	54.9	58.6	+3.8M	6.9%
124	Sri Lanka	23.2	24.8	+1.6M	6.8%
125	Seychelles	0.1	0.1	+9.0K	6.8%
126	Tunisia	12.3	13.1	+797K	6.5%
127	Sweden	10.7	11.3	+653K	6.1%
128	Argentina	45.9	48.3	+2.5M	5.4%
129	Bahamas	0.4	0.4	+21.2K	5.3%
130	Norway	5.6	5.9	+277K	4.9%
131	El Salvador	6.4	6.7	+298K	4.7%
132	Switzerland	9	9.3	+375K	4.2%
133	Turkey	87.7	91.3	+3.6M	4.1%
134	Costa Rica	5.2	5.4	+201K	3.9%
135	Singapore	5.9	6.1	+211K	3.6%
136	Netherlands	18.3	19	+612K	3.3%
137	Tuvalu	0	0.01	289	3.0%
138	France	66.7	68.2	+1.6M	2.4%
139	Chile	19.9	20.3	+460K	2.3%
140	Brazil	212.8	217.5	+4.7M	2.2%
141	Denmark	6	6.1	+122K	2.0%
142	Tonga	0.1	0.1	+1.5K	1.4%
143	Belgium	11.8	11.9	+112K	1.0%
144	Antigua and Barbuda	0.1	0.1	846	0.9%
145	San Marino	0.034	0.034	124	0.4%
146	Andorra	0.083	0.082	-709	-0.9%
147	Malta	0.55	0.54	-9.7K	-1.8%
148	North Korea	26.6	25.8	-784K	-3.0%
149	Grenada	0.12	0.11	-4.1K	-3.5%
150	Georgia	3.8	3.7	-143K	-3.7%
151	Uruguay	3.4	3.3	-130K	-3.9%
152	Monaco	0.04	0	-1.6K	-4.1%
153	Dominica	0.07	0.06	-2.7K	-4.1%
154	Austria	9.1	8.7	-389K	-4.3%
155	Saint Lucia	0.18	0.17	-8.1K	-4.5%
156	Finland	5.6	5.4	-272K	-4.8%
157	Russia	144	136.1	-7.9M	-5.5%
158	Saint Kitts and Nevis	0.05	0.04	-2.7K	-5.7%
159	Portugal	10.4	9.8	-642K	-6.2%
160	Spain	47.9	44.9	-3.0M	-6.2%
161	Slovenia	2.1	2	-136K	-6.4%
162	Barbados	0.28	0.26	-18.4K	-6.5%
163	Germany	84.1	78.3	-5.8M	-6.9%
164	Thailand	71.6	66.4	-5.2M	-7.3%
165	Trinidad and Tobago	1.5	1.4	-111K	-7.4%
166	Czechia	10.6	9.8	-784K	-7.4%
167	Hungary	9.6	8.7	-907K	-9.4%
168	Slovakia	5.5	4.9	-538K	-9.8%
169	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	0.1	0.09	-11.0K	-11.0%
170	China	1,416.10	1,260.30	-155.8M	-11.0%
171	Greece	9.9	8.8	-1.1M	-11.3%
172	Palau	0.02	0.02	-2.1K	-12.1%
173	Italy	59.1	51.9	-7.3M	-12.3%
174	Estonia	1.3	1.2	-170K	-12.6%
175	South Korea	51.7	45.1	-6.5M	-12.6%
176	Mauritius	1.3	1.1	-161K	-12.7%
177	Jamaica	2.8	2.5	-382K	-13.5%
178	Poland	38.1	32.8	-5.3M	-14.0%
179	Cuba	10.9	9.4	-1.6M	-14.2%
180	Japan	123.1	105.1	-18.0M	-14.6%
181	Romania	18.9	16	-2.9M	-15.2%
182	Armenia	3	2.5	-457K	-15.5%
183	Montenegro	0.63	0.53	-99.4K	-15.7%
184	Croatia	3.8	3.2	-614K	-16.0%
185	North Macedonia	1.8	1.5	-301K	-16.6%
186	Belarus	9	7.5	-1.5M	-17.2%
187	Serbia	6.7	5.5	-1.2M	-17.3%
188	Ukraine	39	32	-7.0M	-17.9%
189	Latvia	1.9	1.5	-340K	-18.3%
190	Albania	2.8	2.2	-531K	-19.2%
191	Bulgaria	6.7	5.4	-1.3M	-19.5%
192	Lithuania	2.8	2.3	-571K	-20.2%
193	Moldova	3	2.4	-644K	-21.5%
194	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3.1	2.5	-685K	-21.8%
195	Marshall Islands	0.04	0.03	-11.1K	-30.6%

All 10 of the fastest-growing sovereign states are in sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility remains high and child mortality has fallen sharply—a demographic lag that East Asia passed through decades ago.

This surge will place increasing pressure on infrastructure, education systems, and job markets, while also creating opportunities for economic expansion.

Where Populations Are Shrinking the Fastest

At the other end of the spectrum, several major economies are entering sustained population decline—driven by low birth rates and aging populations.

China alone is projected to lose more than 150 million people by 2050, while Japan, Italy, and Russia are also facing steep contractions. This shift could have significant implications for economic growth, labor supply, and public finances. Overall, European countries make up 11 of the 20 largest absolute declines.

Even Thailand is projected to shrink by 4.2 million people, highlighting how population decline is spreading beyond traditionally aging regions. Like many countries in East Asia, Thailand faces persistently low fertility rates (around 1.2 births per woman) and a rapidly aging population.

By mid-century, global population trends will be defined less by overall growth and more by divergence.

A small group of countries will account for the vast majority of new people, while many others shrink. This widening gap between fast-growing and shrinking populations is set to reshape migration flows, economic power, and the global workforce over the coming decades.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries with the most births per hour.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-how-the-worlds-population-will-change-by-country/