1996 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1996, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.6% per year, translating to a global population growth of about 80 million people annually. This rate, however, varied dramatically across continents and regions. Africa had the highest RNI, often exceeding 2.5% in many countries due to high fertility rates and decreasing mortality, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Asia, home to over half the world’s population, had an RNI around 1.7%, with South and Southeast Asia (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Indonesia) experiencing higher rates than East Asia, where China’s RNI had dropped below 1% due to the effects of the one-child policy. Latin America’s RNI hovered around 1.8%, while Europe had the lowest rates, with many countries—especially in Eastern and Southern Europe—approaching zero or even negative natural increase due to low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was modest, around 0.6%, reflecting lower birth rates and higher life expectancy. Thus, while some countries like Nigeria and Pakistan saw RNIs above 2.5%, others like Germany and Italy faced stagnation or population decline, highlighting the demographic divergence between developing and developed regions in 1996.

Data from US Census International Database