Where Population Growth Has Been Fastest Since 2000
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- India added 406 million people since 2000, the largest increase globally.
- Qatar and the UAE recorded the fastest growth rates, with populations rising over 250%.
- Population growth since 2000 has been concentrated in Africa and South Asia, both in scale and speed.
The world’s population grew by more than 2 billion people between 2000 and 2025, but that growth has varied significantly across countries.
This chart compares the countries with the fastest population growth over that period, measured by both percentage increase and total people added, using IMF data.
While smaller Gulf nations dominate in percentage terms, the largest population gains come from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, highlighting a divide between relative growth and absolute impact.
The data reveals a key split: countries leading in percentage growth are often smaller economies, while those adding the most people are already among the world’s most populous.
The Most Populous Country in History
India’s population growth since 2000 stands apart in scale.
The country added 406 million people in just 25 years, more than the population of the United States, making it the largest population increase of any country in modern history.
This represents 38% growth over its population in 2000, which had already topped one billion. In 2023, India surpassed China to become the world’s most populous country, a position it is unlikely to lose anytime soon.
| Rank | Country | Population growth in millions (2000-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  India |
406 |
| 2 |  China |
138 |
| 3 |  Nigeria |
113 |
| 4 |  Pakistan |
105 |
| 5 |  Indonesia |
78 |
| 6 |  United States |
59 |
| 7 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
59 |
| 8 |  Ethiopia |
50 |
| 9 |  Bangladesh |
46 |
| 10 |  Egypt |
45 |
| 11 |  Brazil |
39 |
| 12 |  Philippines |
37 |
| 13 |  Tanzania |
35 |
| 14 |  Mexico |
34 |
| 15 |  Uganda |
26 |
| 16 |  Iran |
24 |
| 17 |  Kenya |
24 |
| 18 |  Angola |
23 |
| 19 |  Vietnam |
23 |
| 20 |  Yemen |
22 |
| 21 |  Türkiye |
22 |
| 22 |  Sudan |
19 |
| 23 |  South Africa |
19 |
| 24 |  Mozambique |
18 |
| 25 |  Saudi Arabia |
18 |
Today, nearly a fifth of the world’s population lives in India, despite the country occupying roughly 2.5% of the world’s land area. This surge has made India the most populous country in recorded history.
In recent years, population growth has slowed in the South Asian giant, raising concerns that it could follow China in facing a demographic slowdown earlier than expected.
Population Booms in the Persian Gulf
While Asia leads in total population gains, the fastest growth rates are concentrated in the Persian Gulf.
Between 2005 and 2025, countries such as Bahrain (154%), Kuwait (139%), and the United Arab Emirates (250%) recorded some of the highest growth rates globally. With 423% growth, Qatar leads the world in population growth since 2000.
The following data table lists the 25 fastest-growing countries by percentage change in population since 2000.
| Rank | Country | Population growth (2000–2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Qatar |
423.4% |
| 2 |  United Arab Emirates |
249.7% |
| 3 |  Equatorial Guinea |
166.6% |
| 4 |  Niger |
157.0% |
| 5 |  Bahrain |
153.9% |
| 6 |  Papua New Guinea |
149.6% |
| 7 | Angola |
139.7% |
| 8 |  Kuwait |
139.1% |
| 9 |  Oman |
129.1% |
| 10 |  Chad |
126.9% |
| 11 |  Jordan |
126.3% |
| 12 |  Burundi |
123.6% |
| 13 | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
121.8% |
| 14 | Uganda |
120.1% |
| 15 |  Zambia |
119.5% |
| 16 |  Mali |
118.4% |
| 17 | Yemen |
112.9% |
| 18 |  Gambia |
112.8% |
| 19 |  Madagascar |
108.7% |
| 20 |  Republic of Congo |
107.0% |
| 21 |  Benin |
106.6% |
| 22 | Tanzania |
106.4% |
| 23 | Mozambique |
102.3% |
| 24 |  Ivory Coast |
102.3% |
| 25 |  Burkina Faso |
102.3% |
The Gulf states’ population surges are driven largely by imported labor supporting construction and energy booms. Today, less than 15% of Qatar’s population consists of citizens, with the majority made up of foreign-born workers, particularly from South Asia.
Africa: The Next Population Hotspot
Africa is emerging as the center of global population growth.
More than two-thirds of the fastest-growing countries by percentage are located on the continent, with several nations already doubling their populations since 2000.
This growth has been driven by rising life expectancy and lower infant mortality, even as fertility rates remain high. The continent is projected to surpass 2 billion people by 2038, with some regions expected to more than quintuple in population over the 21st century.
West Africa is one such region. With a population exceeding 400 million, about half of whom live in Nigeria, it is projected to become one of the most densely populated areas in the world in the coming decades.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Africa’s Annual Births Are Catching up to Asia on Voronoi.Use This Visualization
