Countries With the Fastest Decline in Population growth rate (5-Year Change)
Change in Population growth rate 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
Maldives fell the most: by 2.55 pts, from 2.91% per year to 0.355% per year in the five years to 2025. Macao SAR, China is second (−2.13 pts), followed by Turks and Caicos Islands (−2.1 pts). 146 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.228 pts.
- #1
- Maldives · −2.55 pts
- Median
- −0.228 pts
- Coverage
- 146 countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maldives | 2.91 | 0.355 | −2.55 pts |
| 2 | Macao SAR, China | 1.97 | -0.16 | −2.13 pts |
| 3 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 2.79 | 0.685 | −2.1 pts |
| 4 | Jordan | 1.8 | -0.279 | −2.07 pts |
| 5 | Nepal | 1.93 | -0.111 | −2.04 pts |
| 6 | Qatar | 5.73 | 3.92 | −1.8 pts |
| 7 | New Zealand | 2.03 | 0.654 | −1.38 pts |
| 8 | British Virgin Islands | 2.01 | 0.659 | −1.35 pts |
| 9 | Sri Lanka | 0.531 | -0.733 | −1.26 pts |
| 10 | Kosovo | 0.07 | -1.1 | −1.17 pts |
| 11 | Faroe Islands | 1.48 | 0.475 | −1 pts |
| 12 | Namibia | 2.91 | 2.05 | −0.863 pts |
| 13 | American Samoa | -0.896 | -1.59 | −0.69 pts |
| 14 | Moldova | -1.1 | -1.75 | −0.656 pts |
| 15 | Timor-Leste | 1.91 | 1.27 | −0.643 pts |
| 16 | Uganda | 3.33 | 2.7 | −0.632 pts |
| 17 | Estonia | 0.198 | -0.428 | −0.626 pts |
| 18 | Monaco | -0.155 | -0.754 | −0.599 pts |
| 19 | South Sudan | 2.6 | 2.03 | −0.571 pts |
| 20 | Israel | 1.76 | 1.2 | −0.565 pts |
| 21 | Mongolia | 1.81 | 1.25 | −0.559 pts |
| 22 | Bermuda | 0.428 | -0.125 | −0.553 pts |
| 23 | Türkiye | 0.97 | 0.42 | −0.55 pts |
| 24 | Burundi | 2.91 | 2.41 | −0.502 pts |
| 25 | Slovenia | 0.67 | 0.168 | −0.501 pts |
| 26 | Turkmenistan | 2.12 | 1.65 | −0.477 pts |
| 27 | South Africa | 1.62 | 1.15 | −0.473 pts |
| 28 | Sweden | 0.723 | 0.254 | −0.468 pts |
| 29 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 3.8 | 3.34 | −0.456 pts |
| 30 | Tonga | 0.033 | -0.417 | −0.45 pts |
| 31 | Tajikistan | 2.28 | 1.83 | −0.444 pts |
| 32 | Samoa | 1.03 | 0.589 | −0.438 pts |
| 33 | Marshall Islands | -3 | -3.43 | −0.429 pts |
| 34 | Northern Mariana Islands | -1.26 | -1.68 | −0.422 pts |
| 35 | Colombia | 1.44 | 1.01 | −0.422 pts |
| 36 | Chile | 0.896 | 0.48 | −0.416 pts |
| 37 | Czechia | 0.243 | -0.167 | −0.41 pts |
| 38 | China | 0.238 | -0.17 | −0.408 pts |
| 39 | Algeria | 1.71 | 1.32 | −0.394 pts |
| 40 | Afghanistan | 3.15 | 2.77 | −0.386 pts |
| 41 | Kyrgyz Republic | 2.05 | 1.66 | −0.384 pts |
| 42 | Papua New Guinea | 2.13 | 1.75 | −0.382 pts |
| 43 | Malta | 2.27 | 1.89 | −0.381 pts |
| 44 | Jamaica | 0.264 | -0.074 | −0.338 pts |
| 45 | Equatorial Guinea | 2.73 | 2.4 | −0.337 pts |
| 46 | Senegal | 2.63 | 2.3 | −0.336 pts |
| 47 | Philippines | 1.15 | 0.811 | −0.335 pts |
| 48 | Ecuador | 1.18 | 0.848 | −0.333 pts |
| 49 | Viet Nam | 0.927 | 0.603 | −0.324 pts |
| 50 | Sudan | 2.69 | 2.38 | −0.312 pts |
| 51 | Libya | 1.35 | 1.04 | −0.304 pts |
| 52 | Cambodia | 1.47 | 1.18 | −0.292 pts |
| 53 | Cyprus | 1.2 | 0.914 | −0.289 pts |
| 54 | Kiribati | 1.74 | 1.45 | −0.288 pts |
| 55 | Latvia | -0.701 | -0.988 | −0.286 pts |
| 56 | Brunei Darussalam | 1.06 | 0.777 | −0.285 pts |
| 57 | Gabon | 2.39 | 2.11 | −0.278 pts |
| 58 | Sierra Leone | 2.31 | 2.04 | −0.272 pts |
| 59 | Angola | 3.27 | 3 | −0.267 pts |
| 60 | Korea, Rep. | 0.138 | -0.129 | −0.266 pts |
| 61 | Greenland | 0.252 | -0.0088 | −0.261 pts |
| 62 | Benin | 2.66 | 2.4 | −0.26 pts |
| 63 | Azerbaijan | 0.684 | 0.432 | −0.252 pts |
| 64 | Tunisia | 0.83 | 0.58 | −0.25 pts |
| 65 | Hungary | -0.252 | -0.501 | −0.249 pts |
| 66 | Costa Rica | 0.693 | 0.448 | −0.245 pts |
| 67 | Pakistan | 1.8 | 1.56 | −0.244 pts |
| 68 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.201 | -0.042 | −0.242 pts |
| 69 | Guinea | 2.55 | 2.31 | −0.24 pts |
| 70 | Slovak Republic | 0.086 | -0.152 | −0.238 pts |
| 71 | Thailand | 0.167 | -0.067 | −0.234 pts |
| 72 | Dominican Republic | 1.04 | 0.81 | −0.233 pts |
| 73 | Grenada | 0.31 | 0.082 | −0.228 pts |
| 74 | Burkina Faso | 2.44 | 2.21 | −0.227 pts |
| 75 | Suriname | 1.08 | 0.851 | −0.225 pts |
| 76 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 1.53 | 1.31 | −0.218 pts |
| 77 | Luxembourg | 1.67 | 1.46 | −0.206 pts |
| 78 | Virgin Islands (US) | -0.356 | -0.562 | −0.206 pts |
| 79 | Saudi Arabia | 4.83 | 4.63 | −0.202 pts |
| 80 | Japan | -0.294 | -0.492 | −0.198 pts |
| 81 | Djibouti | 1.5 | 1.31 | −0.197 pts |
| 82 | Kazakhstan | 1.41 | 1.21 | −0.197 pts |
| 83 | Brazil | 0.579 | 0.383 | −0.196 pts |
| 84 | Isle of Man | 0.127 | -0.05 | −0.177 pts |
| 85 | Lao PDR | 1.49 | 1.32 | −0.174 pts |
| 86 | Madagascar | 2.57 | 2.4 | −0.17 pts |
| 87 | Mauritius | 0.0023 | -0.164 | −0.166 pts |
| 88 | Cameroon | 2.72 | 2.56 | −0.163 pts |
| 89 | West Bank and Gaza | 2.49 | 2.33 | −0.161 pts |
| 90 | Ethiopia | 2.71 | 2.55 | −0.16 pts |
| 91 | Malaysia | 1.33 | 1.17 | −0.159 pts |
| 92 | Ghana | 1.99 | 1.83 | −0.159 pts |
| 93 | Channel Islands | 0.359 | 0.202 | −0.157 pts |
| 94 | Cuba | -0.237 | -0.389 | −0.152 pts |
| 95 | Cayman Islands | 2 | 1.85 | −0.15 pts |
| 96 | Panama | 1.37 | 1.22 | −0.149 pts |
| 97 | Peru | 1.19 | 1.04 | −0.149 pts |
| 98 | Paraguay | 1.35 | 1.2 | −0.148 pts |
| 99 | Palau | -0.034 | -0.181 | −0.147 pts |
| 100 | Argentina | 0.485 | 0.339 | −0.146 pts |
Showing the top 100 of 146. Premium downloads the full list as CSV or JSON.
About the top 10
#1 Maldives
Maldives ranks #1 on this list with −2.55 pts.
- Capital
- Malé
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 529,680 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$7.74 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$14,615 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 42.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in male population share · #5 in population ages 15-64 share · #8 in population density.
#2 Macao SAR, China
Macao SAR, China ranks #2 on this list with −2.13 pts.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 685,900 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$52.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$75,902 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 5.9 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in population density · #2 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #2 in services value added share of gdp.
#3 Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands ranks #3 on this list with −2.1 pts.
- Capital
- Cockburn Town
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 46,855 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.75 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$37,507 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 78.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in homicide rate · #2 in completion rate (primary) · #4 in completion rate (lower secondary).
#4 Jordan
Jordan ranks #4 on this list with −2.07 pts.
- Capital
- Amman
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 11.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$61.61 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,348 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 93.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in refugee population by asylum · #8 in youth unemployment rate · #8 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#5 Nepal
Nepal ranks #5 on this list with −2.04 pts.
- Capital
- Kathmandu
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 29.62 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$45.49 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,536 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 67% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in school enrolment (primary) · #6 in low-birthweight babies share · #7 in gross savings rate.
#6 Qatar
Qatar ranks #6 on this list with −1.8 pts.
- Capital
- Doha
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 2.97 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$215.56 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$72,525 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 99.4% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Doha.
Also ranks #1 in male population share · #1 in population ages 15-64 share · #1 in labour force participation rate.
#7 New Zealand
New Zealand ranks #7 on this list with −1.38 pts.
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.32 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$264.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$49,591 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 84% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Auckland.
Also ranks #3 in voice and accountability score · #4 in tax revenue share of gdp · #4 in control of corruption score.
#8 British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands ranks #8 on this list with −1.35 pts.
- Capital
- Road Town
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 39,732 people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 57.4% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 83,000 arrivals (2020)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 2.33 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #1 in secure internet servers per million · #6 in population ages 15-64 share · #13 in fdi inflows.
#9 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka ranks #9 on this list with −1.26 pts.
- Capital
- Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 21.76 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$108.83 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,002 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 77.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 20.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in rural population share · #9 in immunisation (measles) rate · #13 in prevalence of wasting (under-5).
#10 Kosovo
Kosovo ranks #10 on this list with −1.17 pts.
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 1.58 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$12.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,899 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 50.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #13 in gross capital formation rate · #32 in population ages 15-64 share.
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 growth rate 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.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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.