Africa is poised to experience unprecedented population growth over the coming decades, with all of the 10 countries projected to expand the fastest in percentage terms located on the continent, according to the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 report.

Niger is projected to achieve a 581% increase in its population, with Angola (473%) and Tanzania (378%) also witnessing extremely rapid rises. Other African countries set to be among the fastest growing in the world are Somalia, Zambia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Mali and Mozambique.

When it comes to the size of the increase, Africa also accounts for eight of the ten countries projected to see the largest population increases by 2100. Nigeria is expected to lead the surge with an estimated increase of 527mn people, followed by strong gains in the DRC, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Niger, Egypt and Sudan.

Pakistan and the United States are the only non-African nations on this list, projected to grow by 182mn and 103mn people respectively. 

The projections from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) indicate that while the populations of dozens of countries (including most of Emerging Europe) have peaked, the population in 126 countries and areas will continue to grow out to 2054, potentially peaking later in the century or beyond 2100. 

This group includes some of the world's most populous nations such as India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States. Overall, the population in these locations is projected to increase by 38% by 2054. In countries like Angola, the Central African Republic, the DRC, Niger and Somalia, populations are projected to double between 2024 and 2054.

Countries and areas in sub-Saharan Africa are projected to see their populations increase by 79% over the next 30 years, reaching 2.2bn people by 2054. This number is expected to further grow by 51% by the end of the century, reaching 3.3bn. 

This rapid growth will significantly shift the ranking of the world's most populous countries, with Pakistan, Nigeria and the DRC likely to surpass the United States in population size, and Tanzania expected to join the top ten by the century's end.

The primary driver of this rapid growth in sub-Saharan Africa is high fertility rates. In around one-fifth of the countries experiencing continued growth, nearly all in sub-Saharan Africa, women had an average of four or more births in 2024. This high fertility rate exacerbates the challenges of achieving social and economic development, requiring significant investments to ensure no one is left behind.

These countries will face increased pressure to eradicate poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, and ensure universal access to essential services such as healthcare and education.

Despite concerns over rapid population growth and its impact on the planet, global population increase is slowing. However, the population of these 126 countries and areas that is protected to continue growing past 2054 will significantly influence the global demographic landscape. By 2100, this group is projected to be home to 8.3bn people, a 64% increase from 2024. This rise will account for over 82% of the global population by 2100, up from 62% in 2024.