Rate of natural increase

Suppose a population of 5,000 individuals experiences 1,150 live births and 900 deaths over the course of one year.

The equation would be +50 ÷ 1,000 = 0.05 = +5% The rate of natural increase gives demographers an idea of how a region's population is shifting over time.

RNI excludes in-migration and out-migration, giving an indication of population growth based only on births and deaths.

[1] The trend of RNI over time can indicate what stage of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM) a region or country is in.

For example, during the COVID-19 crisis Singapore offered families a “pandemic baby bonus” to encourage a higher birth rate, therefore increasing RNI.