How net migration affects population change calculations

Net migration (immigrants minus emigrants) adds to or subtracts from natural growth. A country with high immigration can grow even if births equal deaths, while heavy emigration can offset natural increase.

Illustrative cases

• USA: Natural growth is modest, but positive net migration significantly adds to total change.
• Japan: Births < deaths (negative growth). With low immigration, population change is strongly negative.
• Qatar: Natural increase is small, but huge net in-migration from workers makes total change strongly positive.

Equation with migration

Total Population Change = (Births − Deaths) + Net Migration