Cuba Rate of Natural Increase

Cuba’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—has been notably low in recent years, even approaching zero or becoming negative. This reflects Cuba’s low fertility rate, which is well below replacement level, and a relatively high proportion of elderly citizens. In contrast, many of Cuba’s neighboring countries in the Caribbean and Central America, such as the Dominican Republic and Haiti, have higher RNIs due to higher birth rates and younger populations, despite improvements in healthcare and declining mortality. While Cuba’s population growth is stagnating or even declining, its neighbors continue to experience moderate to high population growth, highlighting significant demographic differences in the region.

Data from US Census International Database