Fastest growing country through land reclamation (% of original size)

The fastest growing country through land reclamation is Singapore, when compared as a percentage of its original size. In 1960, the total area of the island nation was 581.5 km² (224.5 miles²), since then Singapore has added over 100 km² (38.6 miles²) of land, which represents an increase of 17% of the original area. By 2030, Singapore intends to have extended the area by a total of 150 km² (58 miles²)- a growth of a quarter (25%) of its original area. This process of land reclamation has essentially involved dumping sand into the gaps between the island and its reefs as well as into the swamp areas. The main reason for the land reclamation programme is to accommodate the needs of a growing population, interms of housing, transport links and industrial/commercial activities. Dubai's palm islands are smaller in area will measure 40 m (131 ft) wide by 5 km (3 miles) across by 2007. They are, in theory, the world's fastest growing islands, as they go straight out on to open water. Here, sand is sprayed from ships onto artifical banks. Please note, this is fastest growing (unnaturally), that is excluding volcanic islands etc.