Bermuda Rate of Natural Increase

Bermuda’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—is notably low, and in recent years has even been negative or close to zero. This means that Bermuda’s population is growing very slowly or even declining without considering migration. This trend is similar to many other high-income, island territories in the North Atlantic, such as the Bahamas and Barbados, which also experience low RNIs due to aging populations and low birth rates. However, compared to nearby Caribbean nations like the Bahamas, Bermuda’s RNI is generally lower, as the Bahamas maintains a modestly positive RNI thanks to slightly higher birth rates. In contrast, the United States, Bermuda’s closest continental neighbor, has a higher RNI than Bermuda, though it too has seen its natural increase slow in recent years. Overall, Bermuda’s demographic profile reflects broader trends among affluent island territories, with population growth increasingly reliant on migration rather than natural increase.

Data from US Census International Database