For any 2⩽r⩽∞,n⩾2, we prove the existence of an open set U of C^r‑self‑mappings of any n‑manifold so that a generic map f in U displays a fast growth of the number of periodic points: the number of its n‑periodic points grows as fast as asked. This complements the works of Martens–de Melo–van Strien, Kaloshin, Bonatti–Díaz–Fisher and Turaev, to give a full answer to questions asked by Smale in 1967, Bowen in 1978 and Arnold in 1989, for any manifold of any dimension and for any smoothness.
Furthermore, for any 1⩽r<∞ and any k⩾0, we prove the existence of an open set \hat U of k-parameter families in U such that for a generic (f_p)^p ∈ \hat U, for every ∥p∥⩽1, the map f_p displays a fast growth of the number of periodic points. This gives a negative answer to a problem asked by Arnold in 1992 in the finitely smooth case.