Angola Rate of Natural Increase

Angola’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth and death rates—remains one of the highest in the world, estimated at around 2.9% per year as of the early 2020s. This high RNI is driven by Angola’s youthful population and high fertility rate, despite ongoing improvements in healthcare that have reduced mortality. Compared to its neighbors, Angola’s RNI is similar to that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which also experiences rapid population growth due to high fertility. In contrast, Namibia and Botswana to the south have significantly lower RNIs, generally below 2%, reflecting lower birth rates and more advanced stages of demographic transition. Zambia’s RNI is somewhat comparable to Angola’s, though slightly lower, while the Republic of the Congo to the north also has a high RNI but not quite as elevated as Angola’s. These differences highlight Angola’s position among the fastest-growing populations in the region, with implications for development, infrastructure, and resource management.

Data from US Census International Database