Population growth ranking 2025 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Population Growth (Annual %) in 2025, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: United Arab Emirates (4.68%). A total of 217 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, United Arab Emirates, stood at 4.68%. The twentieth economy, Afghanistan, reported 2.77% — a 1.7× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 217 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | annual % (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 4.68% |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | 4.63% |
| 3 | Oman | 3.96% |
| 4 | Qatar | 3.92% |
| 5 | Syria | 3.77% |
| 6 | Chad | 3.41% |
| 7 | Central African Republic | 3.37% |
| 8 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 3.34% |
| 9 | Niger | 3.22% |
| 10 | DR Congo | 3.2% |
| 11 | Georgia | 3.18% |
| 12 | Angola | 3% |
| 13 | Ukraine | 2.92% |
| 14 | Mali | 2.9% |
| 15 | Yemen | 2.89% |
| 16 | Tanzania | 2.86% |
| 17 | Mozambique | 2.85% |
| 18 | Mauritania | 2.78% |
| 19 | Zambia | 2.77% |
| 20 | Afghanistan | 2.77% |
Where are they now?
The top five of 2025 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 2025 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | #1 | #1 |
| Saudi Arabia | #2 | #2 |
| Oman | #3 | #3 |
| Qatar | #4 | #4 |
| Syria | #5 | #5 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Population growth in 2025?
United Arab Emirates, with 4.68% (annual %).
How many countries are included?
217 economies reported a value for SP.POP.GROW in 2025. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.