Map Reveals Countries With Disappearing Populations [Video]

Despite surpassing 8 billion people in November 2022, global population growth is slowing down. However, these declines have not been equal across the globe—while some countries show explosive growth, others are beginning to wane.

In an analysis of 236 countries and territories around the world, 40 were estimated to have shrinking populations, with some experiencing a decline of 1 percent a year, or more. The data was compiled as part of the United States government’s World Factbook, published by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

“This [pattern of decline] is mostly due to persistently low (and in some cases extreme low) fertility rates, especially in many countries in Europe, and East Asia (but also in Puerto Rico and Cuba),” Tomas Sobotka, a senior researcher at the Wittgenstein Center for Demography and Global Human Capital and deputy director of the Vienna Institute of Demography, told Newsweek.

“Countries with sharp population decline often combine low …