The global population has seen extraordinary growth in recent centuries, defying initial expectations. While it was expected to take hundreds of thousands of years to reach 1 billion people, the population surged to seven times that figure within just 200 years. By 2011, the world's population had hit 7 billion, and projections from the United Nations indicate that this upward trend will continue in the decades ahead, estimating a rise of 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. However, geopolitical conflicts can also shake up a country's population as a result of refugees and the unfortunate loss of lives, like Ukraine has been identified as the fastest-shrinking country in the world, driven by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Europe is witnessing a significant population decrease, with a reported shrinkage of 0.2% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Six of the world's top ten countries are in the region. In addition to declining birth rates and increasing aged populations, which were further catalysed by the Greek financial crisis of the 2010s, Greece's population of around 10 million is expected to lose 1 million by 2050. Mass emigration in Tuvalu, a country of just 10,000 people in Oceania, the second-fastest shrinking globally, will take a hit, making it one of the first places on Earth to disappear due to a changing climate and rising ocean levels. On the contrary, Asia is one of the most populated continents, experiencing an overall growth rate of 0.6% as of 2023, with countries like India leading and being the most populous globally. Rounding up the top ten, Japan is the only Asian nation recognised for its significant population decline, driven by its burgeoning elderly population, declining birth rates, and the tendency to marry young and have children later. Top 10 countries witnessing the biggest decrease in population percentage between 2022—2023: Rank Country Region % Decline (2022–2023) 1 Ukraine Europe -8.10% 2 Tuvalu Oceania -1.80% 3 Greece Europe -1.60% 4 San Marino Europe -1.10% 5 Kosovo Landlocked -1.00% 6 St. Vincent & the Grenadines Latin America & Caribbean -0.70% 7 Belarus Europe -0.60% 8 Bosnia & Herzegovina Europe -0.60% 9 Albania Europe -0.60% 10 Japan Asia -0.50% Source: UN Population Division (via Statista) Note: Due to outmigration and demographic change. The sharp population decline in Ukraine is largely attributed to refugees fleeing due to the war.
