1952 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1952, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—was notably high, reflecting the global post-World War II baby boom. On average, the global RNI hovered around 1.8% per year, meaning the world population was growing rapidly. Asia and Africa experienced the highest RNIs, with many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia exceeding 2.5% due to high fertility rates and declining mortality from medical advances. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was much lower, often below 1%, as many countries faced lower birth rates and an aging population. Latin America also saw high RNIs, typically between 2% and 3%, while North America’s RNI was moderate, around 1.5%, reflecting the tail end of its own baby boom. For example, India and Nigeria had RNIs well above the global average, while countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom had much lower rates, underscoring the demographic divide between developed and developing regions during this period.

Data from US Census International Database