1994 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1994, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—stood at about 1.6% per year, translating to a rapid global population growth. This rate varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa had the highest RNI, often exceeding 2.5% in many countries, driven by high fertility rates and declining mortality. Asia, home to the largest share of the world’s population, had an RNI around 1.8%, with Southeast Asia and South Asia experiencing higher rates than East Asia, where China’s one-child policy had begun to slow growth. Latin America’s RNI was also high, averaging around 2%, while Europe had the lowest RNI, with many countries experiencing rates below 0.5% or even negative natural increase due to low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was moderate, around 0.7%, with the United States higher than Canada. Countries like Nigeria and Pakistan exhibited some of the highest RNIs globally, while Germany, Italy, and Russia saw some of the lowest, highlighting the stark demographic contrasts between developing and developed nations in 1994.

Data from US Census International Database