2022 Rate of Natural Increase

In 2022, the global rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—was approximately 0.8% per year, reflecting a continued slowdown in population growth. Africa exhibited the highest RNI, with many countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, experiencing rates above 2.5% annually due to high fertility and relatively lower mortality rates; Niger, for example, had an RNI exceeding 3%. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was negative or near zero in many countries, such as Germany and Italy, where deaths outnumbered births, leading to natural population decline. Asia showed wide variation: South and Southeast Asia (e.g., India, Indonesia) maintained moderate RNIs around 1–1.5%, while East Asia (notably China and Japan) saw very low or negative RNIs due to aging populations and low birth rates. Latin America and the Caribbean had declining but still positive RNIs, generally between 0.8–1.2%. North America’s RNI was modest, with the United States and Canada both under 0.5%. These contrasts highlight how demographic transitions and socioeconomic factors shape population growth differently across continents and countries.

Data from US Census International Database