Saint Lucia Rate of Natural Increase

Saint Lucia’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—has been gradually declining in recent years, reflecting broader demographic trends in the Caribbean. As of the early 2020s, Saint Lucia’s RNI hovers around 0.4% per year, indicating modest population growth driven more by births than deaths, but at a much slower pace than in previous decades. Compared to neighboring countries, Saint Lucia’s RNI is similar to that of Barbados and Dominica, both of which also experience low or even negative natural increase due to aging populations and lower fertility rates. In contrast, countries like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or Grenada may have slightly higher RNIs, but the overall regional trend is toward slower natural population growth. Additionally, migration plays a significant role in shaping population dynamics across the region, often offsetting or exacerbating the effects of low RNIs.

Data from US Census International Database