Countries in Africa Ranked by Population growth rate (2025)
Population growth rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Chad ranks #1 with 3.41% per year. Central African Republic is second with 3.37% per year, 1.3% behind. The top five are Chad, Central African Republic, Somalia, Fed. Rep., Niger and Congo, Dem. Rep.. The median across all 54 is 2.17% per year; Mauritius is last at -0.164% per year. Chad's figure has risen 1% since 2001 (3.37% per year to 3.41% per year in 2025).
- #1
- Chad · 3.41% per year
- Median
- 2.17% per year
- Coverage
- 54 countries in Africa
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Population growth rate (% per year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad | 3.41 |
| 2 | Central African Republic | 3.37 |
| 3 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 3.34 |
| 4 | Niger | 3.22 |
| 5 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 3.2 |
| 6 | Angola | 3 |
| 7 | Mali | 2.9 |
| 8 | Tanzania | 2.86 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 2.85 |
| 10 | Mauritania | 2.78 |
| 11 | Zambia | 2.77 |
| 12 | Uganda | 2.7 |
| 13 | Cameroon | 2.56 |
| 14 | Malawi | 2.56 |
| 15 | Ethiopia | 2.55 |
| 16 | Burundi | 2.41 |
| 17 | Côte d'Ivoire | 2.41 |
| 18 | Benin | 2.4 |
| 19 | Madagascar | 2.4 |
| 20 | Equatorial Guinea | 2.4 |
| 21 | Sudan | 2.38 |
| 22 | Congo, Rep. | 2.36 |
| 23 | Guinea | 2.31 |
| 24 | Senegal | 2.3 |
| 25 | Gambia, The | 2.23 |
| 26 | Burkina Faso | 2.21 |
| 27 | Togo | 2.18 |
| 28 | Rwanda | 2.17 |
| 29 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.16 |
| 30 | Gabon | 2.11 |
| 31 | Liberia | 2.09 |
| 32 | Nigeria | 2.06 |
| 33 | Namibia | 2.05 |
| 34 | Sierra Leone | 2.04 |
| 35 | South Sudan | 2.03 |
| 36 | Eritrea | 2 |
| 37 | São Tomé and Principe | 1.98 |
| 38 | Kenya | 1.93 |
| 39 | Zimbabwe | 1.88 |
| 40 | Comoros | 1.85 |
| 41 | Ghana | 1.83 |
| 42 | Botswana | 1.61 |
| 43 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 1.56 |
| 44 | Algeria | 1.32 |
| 45 | Djibouti | 1.31 |
| 46 | South Africa | 1.15 |
| 47 | Seychelles | 1.13 |
| 48 | Lesotho | 1.1 |
| 49 | Eswatini | 1.07 |
| 50 | Libya | 1.04 |
| 51 | Morocco | 0.914 |
| 52 | Tunisia | 0.58 |
| 53 | Cabo Verde | 0.466 |
| 54 | Mauritius | -0.164 |
About the top 10
#1 Chad
Chad ranks #1 on this list with 3.41% per year.
- Capital
- N'Djamena
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 21 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$21.47 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,022 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 55.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 27.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: N'Djamena.
Also ranks #1 in fertility rate · #2 in birth rate · #2 in maternal mortality ratio.
#2 Central African Republic
Central African Republic ranks #2 on this list with 3.37% per year.
- Capital
- Bangui
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 5.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.07 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$556.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 44.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in population ages 0-14 share · #1 in age dependency ratio · #1 in age dependency ratio (young).
#3 Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #3 on this list with 3.34% per year.
- Capital
- Mogadishu
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 19.66 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$13 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$661.2 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 59 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).
#4 Niger
Niger ranks #4 on this list with 3.22% per year.
- Capital
- Niamey
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 27.92 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$21.65 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$775.4 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 61.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 18.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Niamey.
Also ranks #1 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #2 in under-5 mortality rate · #3 in population ages 0-14 share.
#5 Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Dem. Rep. ranks #5 on this list with 3.2% per year.
- Capital
- Kinshasa
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 112.83 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$91.03 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$806.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 45.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Kananga.
Also ranks #1 in renewable energy share · #1 in poverty headcount ratio · #1 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#6 Angola
Angola ranks #6 on this list with 3% per year.
- Capital
- Luanda
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 39.04 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$122.17 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,130 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 64.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 71.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Luanda, Quilamba Quiaxi.
Also ranks #4 in gini index · #4 in oil rents share of gdp · #5 in income share of richest 10%.
#7 Mali
Mali ranks #7 on this list with 2.9% per year.
- Capital
- Bamako
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.2 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.07 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,193 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 60.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 32.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bamako.
Also ranks #6 in population ages 0-14 share · #6 in age dependency ratio · #6 in age dependency ratio (young).
#8 Tanzania
Tanzania ranks #8 on this list with 2.86% per year.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 70.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,319 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 36.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dar es Salaam.
Also ranks #4 in labour force participation rate · #4 in female labour force participation · #5 in livestock production index.
#9 Mozambique
Mozambique ranks #9 on this list with 2.85% per year.
- Capital
- Maputo
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 35.63 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.34 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$626.9 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Maputo, Matola.
Also ranks #2 in poverty headcount ratio · #3 in income share of richest 10% · #4 in debt service share of exports.
#10 Mauritania
Mauritania ranks #10 on this list with 2.78% per year.
- Capital
- Nouakchott
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 5.32 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$11.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,198 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 61.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Nouakchott.
Also ranks #2 in gross capital formation rate · #3 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #8 in gender parity index (school enrolment).
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Population growth rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.POP.GROW. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Population growth (annual %): World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division; Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), note: Derived from total population; Demographic Statistics, Eurostat (ESTAT), note: Derived from total population.
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.