2006 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2006, the world's rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and crude death rate, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.2% per year, equating to a net addition of about 79 million people annually. This global average masked significant regional and continental disparities. Africa had the highest RNI, with many Sub-Saharan countries experiencing rates above 2.5% due to high birth rates and relatively young populations, despite elevated mortality. Asia, home to more than half the world's population, saw moderate rates, with South and Southeast Asia (notably India, Pakistan, and the Philippines) registering higher RNIs than East Asia, where China’s RNI had dropped below 0.7% due to policies like the one-child policy. Latin America’s RNI was also above the world average, though lower than Africa’s, while Europe’s natural increase was close to zero or even negative in some countries (such as Russia and Ukraine), reflecting low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was modest, with the United States experiencing a higher rate than Canada, largely due to higher fertility among certain demographic groups. In summary, while population growth was rapid in Africa and parts of Asia, it was stagnant or declining in much of Europe and East Asia, highlighting the demographic divide between developed and developing regions.

Data from US Census International Database