Population Growth Rate
Definition
The annual percentage change in total population, including both natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration.
Why It Matters
Growth rate determines whether a population is expanding, stable, or shrinking. Rapidly growing populations need more housing, schools, and infrastructure. Shrinking populations face labor shortages and fiscal pressure.
How It's Measured
Calculated as: ((Population at end of year - Population at start of year) / Population at start of year) x 100. Published annually by the World Bank and national statistics agencies.
Current Value
US: approximately 0.5%; World: approximately 0.9%
Related Ranking
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Frequently Asked Questions
The annual percentage change in total population, including both natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration.
Growth rate determines whether a population is expanding, stable, or shrinking. Rapidly growing populations need more housing, schools, and infrastructure. Shrinking populations face labor shortages and fiscal pressure.
Calculated as: ((Population at end of year - Population at start of year) / Population at start of year) x 100. Published annually by the World Bank and national statistics agencies.
Population Growth Rate is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.