1951 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1951, the world's rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and crude death rate, typically expressed as a percentage—was notably high, averaging around 1.8% per year. This period marked the early stages of the post-World War II population boom, often referred to as the "baby boom." Asia and Africa exhibited the highest RNIs, with many countries in these continents experiencing rates above 2%, driven by high birth rates and declining death rates due to improvements in medicine and public health. In contrast, Europe had a much lower RNI, often below 1%, as birth rates had already begun to decline and populations were aging. North America, particularly the United States and Canada, saw moderate RNIs around 1.5–2% due to the baby boom, while Latin America also experienced high RNIs, frequently exceeding 2%, similar to parts of Asia and Africa. Oceania's RNI varied, with Australia and New Zealand showing lower rates akin to Europe, while Pacific Island nations had higher rates. These regional differences reflected varying stages of the demographic transition, with industrialized countries experiencing slower natural increase and developing countries seeing rapid population growth.

Data from US Census International Database