Countries With the Fastest Decline in Population ages 0-14 share (5-Year Change)
Change in Population ages 0-14 share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Syrian Arab Republic fell the most: by 6.15 pts, from 34.6% of population to 28.4% of population in the five years to 2025. South Sudan is second (−4.44 pts), followed by Cabo Verde (−3.7 pts). 210 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −1.44 pts.
- #1
- Syrian Arab Republic · −6.15 pts
- Median
- −1.44 pts
- Coverage
- 210 countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syrian Arab Republic | 34.6 | 28.4 | −6.15 pts |
| 2 | South Sudan | 42.4 | 38 | −4.44 pts |
| 3 | Cabo Verde | 28.4 | 24.7 | −3.7 pts |
| 4 | Philippines | 30.7 | 27.1 | −3.54 pts |
| 5 | American Samoa | 29.7 | 26.3 | −3.32 pts |
| 6 | Kenya | 39.3 | 36.3 | −3.03 pts |
| 7 | Bhutan | 23.4 | 20.4 | −3.01 pts |
| 8 | Malawi | 43.1 | 40.1 | −2.99 pts |
| 9 | Burundi | 47 | 44 | −2.98 pts |
| 10 | Venezuela, RB | 27.8 | 24.9 | −2.91 pts |
| 11 | British Virgin Islands | 17 | 14.1 | −2.91 pts |
| 12 | Timor-Leste | 36 | 33.1 | −2.89 pts |
| 13 | Burkina Faso | 44 | 41.2 | −2.88 pts |
| 14 | French Polynesia | 21.3 | 18.5 | −2.85 pts |
| 15 | Eritrea | 40.4 | 37.6 | −2.81 pts |
| 16 | Guatemala | 33.8 | 31 | −2.78 pts |
| 17 | Argentina | 23.7 | 21 | −2.68 pts |
| 18 | Malaysia | 24 | 21.3 | −2.65 pts |
| 19 | Kuwait | 20.6 | 18 | −2.65 pts |
| 20 | Jordan | 32.8 | 30.2 | −2.65 pts |
| 21 | Belize | 28.9 | 26.3 | −2.63 pts |
| 22 | Libya | 29.5 | 26.8 | −2.62 pts |
| 23 | Kosovo | 22.6 | 20 | −2.61 pts |
| 24 | Senegal | 40.3 | 37.7 | −2.59 pts |
| 25 | China | 18 | 15.4 | −2.55 pts |
| 26 | Ecuador | 26.4 | 23.9 | −2.49 pts |
| 27 | São Tomé and Principe | 39.9 | 37.5 | −2.48 pts |
| 28 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 17.3 | 14.8 | −2.48 pts |
| 29 | Iraq | 38.5 | 36 | −2.47 pts |
| 30 | Costa Rica | 20.7 | 18.3 | −2.43 pts |
| 31 | Zambia | 43.3 | 41 | −2.36 pts |
| 32 | Lebanon | 27.9 | 25.6 | −2.36 pts |
| 33 | Gambia, The | 42 | 39.7 | −2.32 pts |
| 34 | Nigeria | 42.8 | 40.5 | −2.31 pts |
| 35 | Liberia | 41.4 | 39.1 | −2.3 pts |
| 36 | Jamaica | 20.6 | 18.3 | −2.28 pts |
| 37 | Northern Mariana Islands | 23.5 | 21.2 | −2.27 pts |
| 38 | Guinea-Bissau | 40.5 | 38.3 | −2.22 pts |
| 39 | Djibouti | 31 | 28.8 | −2.21 pts |
| 40 | Maldives | 21.2 | 19 | −2.21 pts |
| 41 | Azerbaijan | 23.4 | 21.2 | −2.19 pts |
| 42 | Sierra Leone | 39.8 | 37.7 | −2.16 pts |
| 43 | India | 26.3 | 24.2 | −2.15 pts |
| 44 | Puerto Rico (US) | 13.4 | 11.2 | −2.14 pts |
| 45 | Rwanda | 39.2 | 37 | −2.14 pts |
| 46 | Uganda | 45.2 | 43.1 | −2.11 pts |
| 47 | Nicaragua | 30.4 | 28.3 | −2.11 pts |
| 48 | Nepal | 30.1 | 28.1 | −2.02 pts |
| 49 | Ireland | 20.1 | 18.1 | −2 pts |
| 50 | Chad | 48 | 46 | −2 pts |
| 51 | El Salvador | 26.3 | 24.4 | −1.95 pts |
| 52 | Bahamas, The | 19.5 | 17.5 | −1.94 pts |
| 53 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 33.5 | 31.6 | −1.92 pts |
| 54 | Honduras | 32.2 | 30.3 | −1.92 pts |
| 55 | Uruguay | 19.8 | 17.9 | −1.91 pts |
| 56 | Korea, Rep. | 12.1 | 10.2 | −1.91 pts |
| 57 | Zimbabwe | 42.2 | 40.3 | −1.9 pts |
| 58 | Mexico | 26 | 24.1 | −1.89 pts |
| 59 | Peru | 25.5 | 23.6 | −1.89 pts |
| 60 | Grenada | 20.9 | 19 | −1.89 pts |
| 61 | Saudi Arabia | 25.5 | 23.6 | −1.87 pts |
| 62 | Solomon Islands | 38.4 | 36.6 | −1.87 pts |
| 63 | Chile | 18.4 | 16.5 | −1.87 pts |
| 64 | Panama | 26.4 | 24.5 | −1.86 pts |
| 65 | Congo, Rep. | 41.8 | 39.9 | −1.82 pts |
| 66 | Mauritius | 16.4 | 14.5 | −1.82 pts |
| 67 | Haiti | 32.6 | 30.8 | −1.81 pts |
| 68 | Morocco | 27 | 25.2 | −1.8 pts |
| 69 | Ghana | 37.2 | 35.4 | −1.79 pts |
| 70 | Niger | 48 | 46.2 | −1.79 pts |
| 71 | Andorra | 13.4 | 11.6 | −1.78 pts |
| 72 | Lao PDR | 31.6 | 29.8 | −1.77 pts |
| 73 | Thailand | 16.2 | 14.4 | −1.75 pts |
| 74 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 23.8 | 22 | −1.75 pts |
| 75 | Türkiye | 22.8 | 21 | −1.75 pts |
| 76 | Lesotho | 35.8 | 34.1 | −1.74 pts |
| 77 | Aruba | 18.3 | 16.5 | −1.74 pts |
| 78 | Côte d'Ivoire | 42.2 | 40.5 | −1.73 pts |
| 79 | West Bank and Gaza | 39.3 | 37.6 | −1.72 pts |
| 80 | Curaçao | 16.3 | 14.6 | −1.71 pts |
| 81 | Eswatini | 34.7 | 33 | −1.69 pts |
| 82 | Colombia | 21.7 | 20 | −1.67 pts |
| 83 | Ethiopia | 40.5 | 38.8 | −1.67 pts |
| 84 | Afghanistan | 44.2 | 42.6 | −1.66 pts |
| 85 | Antigua and Barbuda | 19.1 | 17.5 | −1.64 pts |
| 86 | Sri Lanka | 23.3 | 21.7 | −1.64 pts |
| 87 | Pakistan | 37.9 | 36.2 | −1.62 pts |
| 88 | Bangladesh | 29.3 | 27.6 | −1.61 pts |
| 89 | Guinea | 42.1 | 40.5 | −1.6 pts |
| 90 | Ukraine | 15.3 | 13.7 | −1.59 pts |
| 91 | Indonesia | 25.8 | 24.2 | −1.59 pts |
| 92 | Spain | 14.2 | 12.6 | −1.58 pts |
| 93 | Cambodia | 31.1 | 29.5 | −1.58 pts |
| 94 | Bolivia | 31 | 29.4 | −1.58 pts |
| 95 | Papua New Guinea | 34.7 | 33.1 | −1.55 pts |
| 96 | San Marino | 13.4 | 11.9 | −1.55 pts |
| 97 | Viet Nam | 24.4 | 22.9 | −1.53 pts |
| 98 | Mali | 47.3 | 45.8 | −1.53 pts |
| 99 | Tunisia | 25.1 | 23.6 | −1.52 pts |
| 100 | Suriname | 26.8 | 25.3 | −1.5 pts |
Showing the top 100 of 210. Premium downloads the full list as CSV or JSON.
About the top 10
#1 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #1 on this list with −6.15 pts.
- Capital
- Damascus
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 25.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$23.74 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$1,057 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 72.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Damascus, Aleppo.
Also ranks #2 in refugee population by origin · #2 in agriculture value added share of gdp · #3 in net migration.
#2 South Sudan
South Sudan ranks #2 on this list with −4.44 pts.
- Capital
- Juba
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 12.19 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 57.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 21.7% of population (2025)
- Currency
- South Sudanese pound
- Official languages
- English
Also ranks #1 in infant mortality rate · #4 in inflation rate · #4 in maternal mortality ratio.
#3 Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde ranks #3 on this list with −3.7 pts.
- Capital
- Praia
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 527,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,797 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #10 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #17 in women in parliament share · #23 in youth unemployment rate.
#4 Philippines
Philippines ranks #4 on this list with −3.54 pts.
- Capital
- Manila
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 116.79 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$487.09 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,171 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 55.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Metro Manila, Quezon City, Manila.
Also ranks #4 in remittances received · #4 in low-birthweight babies share · #7 in annual freshwater withdrawals.
#5 American Samoa
American Samoa ranks #5 on this list with −3.32 pts.
- Capital
- Pago Pago
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 46,029 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$871 million (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$18,017 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #8 in forest area share · #9 in voice and accountability score · #14 in homicide rate.
#6 Kenya
Kenya ranks #6 on this list with −3.03 pts.
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 57.53 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$135.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,363 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 32.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Nairobi, Mombasa.
Also ranks #8 in prevalence of undernourishment · #8 in deposit interest rate · #12 in poverty headcount ratio.
#7 Bhutan
Bhutan ranks #7 on this list with −3.01 pts.
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 796,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,493 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 43.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gross capital formation rate · #4 in water resources per capita · #4 in protected terrestrial area share.
#8 Malawi
Malawi ranks #8 on this list with −2.99 pts.
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.22 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$14.92 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$671.5 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (primary) · #3 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #3 in poverty headcount ratio.
#9 Burundi
Burundi ranks #9 on this list with −2.98 pts.
- Capital
- Gitega
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.39 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.36 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$233.8 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.7% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #3 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in real effective exchange rate index.
#10 Venezuela, RB
Venezuela, RB ranks #10 on this list with −2.91 pts.
- Capital
- Caracas
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 28.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.66 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,495 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.
Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Population ages 0-14 share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SP.POP.0014.TO.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Population ages 0-14 (% of total population): United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects., United Nations Population Division (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects., United Nations Population Division.
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.