1969 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1969, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and crude death rate, not accounting for migration—stood at approximately 2.0% per year, marking one of the highest points in modern history. This rapid growth was most pronounced in Africa and Asia, where many countries experienced RNIs exceeding 2.5% due to high birth rates and declining death rates following improvements in public health. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was much lower, often below 1%, as birth rates had already fallen sharply in the postwar decades, and death rates were relatively stable. Latin America and the Middle East also saw high RNIs, typically between 2% and 3%. Individual countries varied widely: for instance, India and Nigeria had RNIs above 2.5%, fueling their population booms, while countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom saw RNIs closer to 0.5% to 1%. This stark contrast reflected the different stages of demographic transition across the globe, with developing regions experiencing explosive population growth and developed nations entering an era of slower natural increase.

Data from US Census International Database