Natural population growth rate in United States
United States: Natural population growth rate was 0.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Natural population growth rate in United States, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 0.2% for natural population growth rate in 2023.
That represents a change of up 20.4% on the previous year and down 51.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth rate in United States peaked at 1.6% in 1954 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2021.
That places United States 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Natural population growth rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.4% | — |
| 1951 | 1.5% | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 1.5% | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 1.6% | +4.9% |
| 1955 | 1.6% | -1.9% |
| 1956 | 1.6% | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 1.6% | -0.7% |
| 1958 | 1.6% | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 1.5% | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 1.5% | -3.0% |
| 1961 | 1.5% | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 1.4% | -8.1% |
| 1963 | 1.3% | -7.5% |
| 1964 | 1.2% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 1.1% | -12.8% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | -10.6% |
| 1967 | 0.9% | -6.5% |
| 1968 | 0.8% | -6.9% |
| 1969 | 0.9% | +6.1% |
| 1970 | 0.9% | +6.7% |
| 1971 | 0.8% | -10.7% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | -19.9% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -9.6% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 0.7% | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 0.8% | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -5.6% |
| 1984 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 0.8% | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -10.4% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 0.5% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 0.5% | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 0.5% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 0.5% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -9.8% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | -72.4% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -27.1% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | +197.7% |
| 2023 | 0.2% | +20.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 1.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Natural population growth rate in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +197.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | -72.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 157 Trinidad and Tobago 0.2% compare
- 158 Faroe Islands 0.2% compare
- 159 Bahamas 0.2% compare
- 161 Albania 0.2% compare
- 162 Guadeloupe 0.2% compare
- 162 Liechtenstein 0.2% compare
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 46.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 19.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is natural population growth rate in United States?
- Natural population growth rate in United States was 0.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.6% in 1954.
- What is the lowest natural population growth rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2021.
- How does United States rank for natural population growth rate?
- United States ranks 160th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Natural population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Births minus deaths, as a share of the population. This is the part of population change that comes only from births and deaths, ignoring migration.