Low income Countries 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
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #1 with 3.77% per year. Chad is second with 3.41% per year, 10.5% behind. The top five are Syrian Arab Republic, Chad, Central African Republic, Somalia, Fed. Rep. and Niger. The median across all 25 is 2.55% per year; Korea, Dem. People's Rep. is last at 0.272% per year. Syrian Arab Republic's figure has risen 54% since 2001 (2.45% per year to 3.77% per year in 2025).
- #1
- Syrian Arab Republic · 3.77% per year
- Median
- 2.55% per year
- Coverage
- 25 Low income countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Population growth rate (% per year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syrian Arab Republic | 3.77 |
| 2 | Chad | 3.41 |
| 3 | Central African Republic | 3.37 |
| 4 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 3.34 |
| 5 | Niger | 3.22 |
| 6 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 3.2 |
| 7 | Mali | 2.9 |
| 8 | Yemen, Rep. | 2.89 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 2.85 |
| 10 | Afghanistan | 2.77 |
| 11 | Uganda | 2.7 |
| 12 | Malawi | 2.56 |
| 13 | Ethiopia | 2.55 |
| 14 | Burundi | 2.41 |
| 15 | Madagascar | 2.4 |
| 16 | Sudan | 2.38 |
| 17 | Gambia, The | 2.23 |
| 18 | Burkina Faso | 2.21 |
| 19 | Rwanda | 2.17 |
| 20 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.16 |
| 21 | Liberia | 2.09 |
| 22 | Sierra Leone | 2.04 |
| 23 | South Sudan | 2.03 |
| 24 | Eritrea | 2 |
| 25 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 0.272 |
About the top 10
#1 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic ranks #1 on this list with 3.77% per year.
- 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 Chad
Chad ranks #2 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.
#3 Central African Republic
Central African Republic ranks #3 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).
#4 Somalia, Fed. Rep.
Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #4 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).
#5 Niger
Niger ranks #5 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.
#6 Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Dem. Rep. ranks #6 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.
#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 Yemen, Rep.
Yemen, Rep. ranks #8 on this list with 2.89% per year.
- Capital
- Sanaa, Aden
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 41.77 million people (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 69.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 37% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 398,000 arrivals (2015)
- CO2 emissions per person
- 0.261 t CO2e per person (2024)
Also ranks #2 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #2 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #12 in unemployment rate.
#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 Afghanistan
Afghanistan ranks #10 on this list with 2.77% per year.
- Capital
- Kabul
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 43.84 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$17.78 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$416.9 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 25.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kabul.
Also ranks #1 in refugee population by origin · #4 in health expenditure share of gdp · #6 in agriculture value added share of gdp.
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.