2005 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2005, the global rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.2% per year, translating to a net gain of about 77 million people annually. However, this average masked significant regional and continental disparities. Africa exhibited the highest RNI, with many Sub-Saharan countries experiencing rates above 2.5%, driven by high fertility and relatively young populations. Asia, home to the world’s largest populations, had moderate RNI levels, with South and Southeast Asia showing higher rates (around 1.5–2%) compared to East Asia, where countries like China had much lower rates (below 0.7%) due to declining fertility. Latin America and the Caribbean saw intermediate RNI values, generally between 1.2% and 1.8%. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was close to zero or even negative in some Eastern European nations, reflecting low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was modest, with the United States maintaining a slightly positive rate (around 0.6%), while Canada’s was even lower. This contrast highlights how demographic transitions and socio-economic factors shape population growth differently across the globe.

Data from US Census International Database