1976 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1976, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.8% per year, reflecting a period of rapid global population growth. This rate, however, varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa and Asia exhibited the highest RNIs, with many Sub-Saharan African countries exceeding 2.5%, driven by high birth rates and declining mortality. In contrast, Europe experienced some of the lowest RNIs, often below 0.5%, due to low fertility and aging populations, with some Eastern European countries even experiencing near-zero or negative natural increase. Latin America and the Middle East had RNIs typically between 2% and 3%, while North America and Oceania fell in the middle, with rates around 1% to 1.5%. For example, in 1976, India’s RNI was about 2.2%, China’s was slightly lower due to early family planning efforts, while the United States had an RNI near 0.9%. These contrasts highlighted the demographic divide between the rapidly growing “Global South” and the slower-growing or even shrinking populations of the “Global North.”

Data from US Census International Database