Rate versus count
The fastest rate is not always the largest addition
A smaller country can grow faster in percentage terms while adding fewer people than a much larger country. Both columns are shown to prevent that common misreading.
Largest-country comparison · 2026
Where population is growing—and declining
The original UN calendar-year growth rates show both increasing and declining populations among the 15 largest countries. Rates combine births, deaths and net migration within the UN demographic model.
Positive annual change
Growing populations
This is a comparison among the 15 largest countries, not a ranking of every country.
DR Congo+3,647,187 people/year+3.13%Ethiopia+3,445,190 people/year+2.48%Nigeria+4,928,166 people/year+2.03%Pakistan+4,126,841 people/year+1.59%Egypt+1,734,585 people/year+1.44%Bangladesh+2,123,011 people/year+1.19%India+12,659,731 people/year+0.86%Philippines+933,677 people/year+0.79%Mexico+1,034,945 people/year+0.78%Indonesia+2,133,057 people/year+0.74%United States+1,714,898 people/year+0.49%Brazil+721,091 people/year+0.34%
Negative annual change
Declining populations
A negative total can occur even with positive net migration when deaths exceed births.
Projection limits
One year does not define a permanent trend
Fertility, mortality and migration can change. The 2026 values belong to the UN medium scenario and should be re-reviewed when the source revision changes.
Primary evidence
One named source, visible limits
Figures use the Medium variant of the 2024 Revision. The UN series covers 237 countries or areas; estimates and projections from 1950 to 2100 and is built from 1,910 population censuses and 3,189 nationally representative sample surveys, alongside vital-registration and other demographic systems.
These are demographic estimates and projections for country population change, not a live register of identifiable people. Mid-year values refer to 1 July; moving counters interpolate between the original January and July population anchors. Demographic indicators use the original 2026 workbook rows. Urban share uses World Bank 2024 and land area uses World Bank 2023 indicators, not 2026 projections.