Countries With Declining Population

Population dynamics strongly influence a nation's social structure, economic potential, and overall sustainability. Significantly, some countries are facing an emerging trend of declining populations, driven by factors such as low fertility rates, emigration, and an increasing elderly population. This shift has profound implications on these countries' workforces, social services, and economic growth. 

Using data projections from 2020 to 2050, we spotlight countries where population shrinkage is an increasing concern and outline key implications this trend holds for these nations. 

Key findings from the data include:

• Bulgaria tops the list, with a projected population decline of 22.5 percent from 2020 to 2050--the most significant decrease globally. This is closely followed by Lithuania at 22.1 percent, and Latvia at 21.6 percent.
• In fact, Eastern European countries dominate the list, accounting for ten of the top fifteen nations with the most significant projected population decreases.
• Outside of Europe, Japan is the country with the most substantial predicted population decline—16.3 percent. This drop is mainly attributed to the country's fast-aging population and low fertility rate, a trend that is affecting many other developed nations.
• Notably, Cuba is the only country in the Americas on the list, with an anticipated population decrease of 10.3 percent from 2020 to 2050.
• Italy, a key player in Europe, is also expected to face a considerable population decline of 10.1 percent by 2050.

To mitigate the impacts of a declining population, these countries will likely need to find innovative solutions at the intersection of immigration policy, family planning, and economic vitality. As we journey into the future, tracking these demographic shifts will remain of paramount importance in global policy-making and socio-economic stratagem development.

To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.