Mid-Year Pop Growth Rate (%) Total Fertility Rate
1952 1.78 5.02
1957 1.80 4.96
1962 1.95 4.98
1967 2.02 4.90
1972 1.94 4.47
1977 1.76 3.92
1982 1.74 3.58
1987 1.73 3.38
1992 1.54 3.05
1997 1.37 2.80
2002 1.24 2.65
2007 0.99 2.30

Total fertility rate = expected number of children per woman.

Data source: UN Population Prospects 2006.

Further reading: AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment.

Note 1: This chart was last updated in June, 2007. To see the orginal chart, click here.

Note 2: The figures for 2007 are estimates from the UN's "Low Variant" Projection, which assumes that fertility rates continue to decline towards an eventual equilibrium level of 1.85.