2007 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2007, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, excluding migration—stood at approximately 1.2% per year, translating to an annual global population growth of around 78 million people. This rate, however, varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa had the highest RNI, with many countries such as Niger and Uganda experiencing rates above 2.5% per year, driven by high birth rates and relatively young populations. Asia’s RNI was moderate, with South and Southeast Asian countries like India and the Philippines seeing higher rates (around 1.5–1.8%), while East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea had very low or even negative RNIs due to aging populations and low fertility. Europe had the lowest RNI, with many countries—especially in Eastern and Southern Europe—experiencing zero or negative growth, reflecting low birth rates and higher proportions of elderly citizens. Latin America’s RNI was intermediate, generally ranging from 1.0% to 1.5%, while North America’s was lower, with the United States at about 0.6% and Canada even less. These contrasts highlight the demographic transition, with developing countries maintaining higher natural increase rates and developed countries facing stagnation or decline.

Data from US Census International Database