How to calculate annual rate of population growth for a country

The annual rate of population growth is calculated by taking the difference between birth and death rates, adjusting for migration, and dividing by the total population, usually expressed as a percentage.

Formula

Population Growth Rate (%) = [(Births − Deaths) + (Immigrants − Emigrants)] ÷ Total Population × 100

Simplified version (without migration)

Growth Rate (%) = [(Birth Rate − Death Rate) ÷ 1000] × 100

where birth and death rates are given per 1,000 people.

Worked example

Suppose a country has:

• Birth rate = 25 per 1,000
• Death rate = 8 per 1,000
• Total population = 50 million

Natural increase = 25 − 8 = 17 per 1,000. Growth rate = (17 ÷ 1000) × 100 = 1.7% per year.