2001 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2001, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.2% per year, translating to a global population growth of about 77 million people annually. This rate, however, varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa had the highest RNI, with many Sub-Saharan countries experiencing rates above 2.5%, driven by high birth rates and relatively young populations. Asia, home to over 60% of the world’s population, had an RNI around 1.4%, with South and Southeast Asia growing faster than East Asia, where China’s RNI had dropped below 1% due to family planning policies. Latin America and the Caribbean saw moderate growth, with RNIs between 1.5% and 2%. In contrast, Europe experienced the lowest and even negative RNIs in some countries, as birth rates fell below death rates, leading to population decline in places like Russia and Eastern Europe. North America’s RNI was modest, around 0.6%, with the United States growing faster than Canada due to higher birth rates and a younger population. These contrasts highlight the demographic divide: developing countries, especially in Africa and parts of Asia, continued to grow rapidly, while many developed nations faced stagnation or decline in natural population increase.

Data from US Census International Database