World Population Day: 10 countries undergoing the biggest population crises
Jul 11, 2024
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A population crisis
While some countries grow, others shrink — 55 nations are set to see population drops by 2050. Dive in to learn about 9 countries facing significant population decline, as per the World Population Review data!
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10. Albania
Albania's population is expected to decrease by 15.8% over the next thirty years, falling from 2.9 million to 2.4 million people. A significant portion of Albania's population resides abroad, contributing to its population decline.
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9. Japan
Japan is projected to lose 20.7 million people by 2050, with its population decreasing from 126.5 million to 105.8 million, marking a 16.3% decline. Japan's declining population is attributed to very low fertility rates and an increasingly aged demographic.
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8. Moldova
Moldova's population is set to decline by 16.7% from 2020 to 2050, falling from 4-3.4 million people. Economic challenges, including poverty and corruption, have driven away the skilled youth, while the aging population faces high mortality rates and poor living conditions.
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7. Croatia
Croatia's population is expected to shrink by 18.0%, dropping from 4.1 million to 3.4 million over the next thirty years. Declining birth rates and an aging population have contributed to Croatia's ongoing population decrease since its peak in 1991.
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6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is projected to see its population decline by 18.2%, shrinking from 3.3 million in 2020 to 2.7 million in 2050. The country's fertility rate, currently at 1.26 births per woman, falls well below the replacement rate necessary to sustain the population.
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5. Serbia
Serbia's population is anticipated to decrease from 8.7 million to 7.1 million over the next three decades, marking an 18.9% decline. The exodus of highly educated and skilled workers seeking better job opportunities, combined with low fertility rates, form primary causes.
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4. Ukraine
Ukraine's population is expected to decline by 19.5%, dropping from 43.7 million in 2020 to 35.2 million in 2050. High emigration rates, coupled with high death and low birth rates, contribute significantly to Ukraine's population decline.
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3. Latvia
Latvia expects a 21.6% decrease in its population from 2020 to 2050. Since joining the European Union in 2004, Latvia has witnessed a loss of about one-fifth of its population. Economic migration and low birth rates are the main drivers of Latvia's population decline.
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2. Lithuania
Lithuania is projected to experience a 22.1% reduction in its population over the next thirty years, falling from 2.7 million to 2.1 million individuals. Like Bulgaria, Lithuania faces substantial population decline primarily due to widespread emigration.
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1. Bulgaria
Bulgaria's population is anticipated to decrease by 22.5%, dropping from 6.9 million in 2020 to 5.4 million in 2050. The primary reason behind this decline is a significant exodus of people leaving the country.
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