Africa is the only world region projected to have strong population growth for the rest of this century.
Between 2020 and 2100, Africa’s population is expected to increase from 1.3 billion to 4.3 billion. Projections show these gains will come mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, which is expected to more than triple in population by 2100.
The regions that include the US and Canada (North America) and Australia and New Zealand (Oceania) are projected to grow too, but at slower rates than Africa’s.
By 2100, five of the world’s 10 largest countries are projected to be in Africa. Six countries are projected to account for more than half the world’s population growth until the end of this century, and five are in Africa.
The global population is expected to grow by about 3.1 billion people between 2020 and 2100.
More than half of this increase is projected to come from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Angola, with one non-African country, Pakistan.
On a percentage basis, all 10 countries that are projected to experience the biggest growth in population by 2100 are in Africa, led by Niger (581% increase), Angola (473%) and Tanzania (378%).
The biggest percentage decreases in population are expected in Eastern European nations, led by Albania (-62%), Serbia (-52%) and Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina (both -50%).
– Pew Research
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