2020 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2020, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between crude birth and death rates, excluding migration—was approximately 1.0% per year, reflecting a gradual slowdown from previous decades. Africa had the highest RNI among continents, with sub-Saharan Africa leading at over 2.5% per year due to high birth rates and relatively lower death rates compared to other regions. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was negative or near zero, with many countries such as Germany and Italy experiencing more deaths than births, resulting in natural population decline. Asia showed considerable variation: South and Southeast Asian countries like India and the Philippines maintained moderate RNI (about 1–1.5%), while East Asian countries like Japan and China had very low or negative rates due to aging populations and low fertility. Latin America’s RNI was positive but declining, generally between 1–1.5%. In North America, the United States and Canada had low but positive RNI, while Oceania, led by countries like Papua New Guinea, had higher rates compared to Australia and New Zealand. These contrasts highlight how demographic transitions, economic development, and social factors shape population growth differently across the globe.

Data from US Census International Database