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What is the ratio of people being born to people dying on any given day?

The birth rate compared to the death rate is changing quite significantly at the moment, but in what direction?

Asked by: Jacob Hackett, Swadlincote

According to UN Census figures, the number of births for 2005-2010 is expected to be 20.3 per year, per thousand people, averaged over the planet. The same figure for deaths from all causes is 8.5. So for each person that dies, 2.39 babies are born.

However, the birth rate is dropping while deaths are (slightly) increasing. By 2050, the ratio is expected to be 1:1.34.

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Luis Villazon

Q&A expert

Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.