Population growth ranking 1972 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population Growth (Annual %) in 1972, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: United Arab Emirates (13.91%). A total of 216 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, United Arab Emirates, stood at 13.91%. The twentieth economy, Iraq, reported 3.44% — a 4× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 216 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | annual % (1972) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 13.91% |
| 2 | Northern Mariana Islands | 11.43% |
| 3 | Qatar | 10.92% |
| 4 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 7.31% |
| 5 | Djibouti | 6.92% |
| 6 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 6.9% |
| 7 | Andorra | 6.83% |
| 8 | Kuwait | 6.19% |
| 9 | Cayman Islands | 5.83% |
| 10 | Bahrain | 4.81% |
| 11 | Saudi Arabia | 4.76% |
| 12 | New Caledonia | 4.62% |
| 13 | Cote d'Ivoire | 4.48% |
| 14 | Jordan | 4.13% |
| 15 | Palau | 3.63% |
| 16 | Botswana | 3.59% |
| 17 | Tanzania | 3.57% |
| 18 | Lesotho | 3.52% |
| 19 | Kenya | 3.48% |
| 20 | Iraq | 3.44% |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1972 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1972 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | #1 | #1 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | #213 | #214 |
| Qatar | #4 | #4 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | #201 | #202 |
| Djibouti | #80 | #81 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population growth in 1972?
United Arab Emirates, with 13.91% (annual %).
How many countries are included?
216 economies reported a value for SP.POP.GROW in 1972. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.