1980 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1980, 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 rapid global population growth. This rate, however, varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa exhibited the highest RNI, often exceeding 2.5%, due to high birth rates and declining mortality, especially in sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria and Kenya. Asia, home to over half the world’s population, had an RNI around 2%, with South and Southeast Asian nations such as India, Pakistan, and Indonesia experiencing particularly robust growth. Latin America’s RNI was also high, averaging around 2.4%, with countries like Mexico and Brazil contributing to the surge. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was markedly lower, often below 0.5%, as many Western and Eastern European countries approached population stagnation or even decline due to low fertility and aging populations. North America’s RNI hovered near 0.8%, with the United States slightly higher than Canada. Thus, while developing regions drove global population increases in 1980, developed countries saw much slower growth, highlighting stark demographic contrasts worldwide.

Data from US Census International Database