Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Population growth (annual %) (World Population) was 2.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population growth in Least developed countries, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 2.3% for population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Least developed countries peaked at 2.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1981.
Least developed countries ranks 9th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.4% | — |
| 1962 | 2.4% | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 2.5% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 2.5% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 2.6% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 1971 | 2.3% | -8.1% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | +10.5% |
| 1974 | 2.6% | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 2.5% | -5.2% |
| 1976 | 2.4% | -3.4% |
| 1977 | 2.4% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 2.6% | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 2.3% | -9.8% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | +13.4% |
| 1983 | 2.7% | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 2.7% | +8.1% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 2.7% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More climate change data for Least developed countries
- Urban population, annual growth rate 3.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.3664 units per person (2025)
- Urban population 444.81 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Population, total 1.21 billion (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 56.96 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 20.33 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Least developed countries?
- Population growth in Least developed countries was 2.3% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1981.
- How does Least developed countries rank for population growth?
- Least developed countries ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.