2008 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2008, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, not accounting for migration—stood at approximately 1.2% per year, reflecting continued but slowing global population growth. Africa had the highest RNI among continents, with many countries such as Niger and Uganda experiencing rates above 3%, 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 showing higher rates (1.5–2%), while East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea had very low or even negative RNI due to aging populations and low fertility. Europe, in contrast, had the lowest RNI, with many countries like Germany, Italy, and Russia experiencing negative or near-zero rates, indicating population decline without immigration. Latin America and the Caribbean had an RNI around 1.3%, while North America’s was lower, close to 0.6%. These contrasts highlight the demographic transition, with less developed regions maintaining higher RNIs due to higher fertility, while more developed regions saw stagnation or decline as birth rates fell below replacement levels.

Data from US Census International Database