1972 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1972, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and crude death rate, excluding migration—was at a historic high, averaging around 2.0% per year. This rapid growth was driven primarily by high birth rates and declining death rates, especially in developing regions. Africa and Asia exhibited the highest RNIs, often exceeding 2.5% in many countries due to youthful populations and improvements in healthcare. Latin America also experienced high natural increase rates, typically between 2.5% and 3%. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was much lower, often below 1%, with some countries like West Germany and Hungary experiencing near-zero or even negative natural increase due to low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was moderate, generally between 1% and 1.5%, reflecting the post-baby boom demographic transition. Thus, while countries like Nigeria, India, and Brazil saw rapid population growth, nations such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Japan were already experiencing a marked slowdown, highlighting stark contrasts in demographic trends across continents and regions in 1972.

Data from US Census International Database