2011 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2011, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, excluding migration—was approximately 1.2% per year, translating to a global annual population growth of about 80 million people. Africa had the highest RNI, with many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing rates above 2.5%, driven by high fertility and relatively young populations. Asia, home to over half of the world’s population, had a moderate RNI of around 1.1%, with South and Southeast Asia showing higher rates than East Asia, where China’s RNI was below 0.5% due to its one-child policy. Latin America’s RNI was about 1.3%, reflecting ongoing demographic transition. In contrast, Europe had the lowest RNI, with many countries—such as Germany, Italy, and Russia—reporting near-zero or even negative rates, as deaths outnumbered births. North America’s RNI hovered around 0.5%, with the United States slightly higher than Canada. This global contrast highlights how less developed regions, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia, continued to drive population growth, while many developed countries faced stagnation or decline in natural increase.

Data from US Census International Database