1968 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1968, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—was at one of its historical peaks, averaging around 2.0% per year globally. This rapid growth was driven largely by high birth rates and declining death rates due to improvements in medicine and public health, especially in developing regions. Africa and Asia exhibited the highest RNIs, often exceeding 2.5% in many countries, with sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia leading due to persistently high fertility rates and falling mortality. Latin America also experienced a robust RNI, typically between 2.5% and 3%. In contrast, Europe and North America had much lower rates of natural increase, often below 1%, as both continents were already experiencing demographic transitions marked by lower fertility and aging populations. For example, countries like India and Nigeria had RNIs above 2.5%, while nations such as West Germany or Sweden had RNIs close to or below 0.5%. This stark contrast highlighted the demographic divide between the developed and developing world during the late 1960s.

Data from US Census International Database