In order to determine the meaning of the term at hand, it is necessary, first of all, to discover the etymological origin of the two words that give it shape:
-Growth, on the one hand, derives from Latin. Exactly it emanates from the verb “crescere”, which can be translated as “increase in size through what is a natural organic development”.
-Natural, on the other hand, also comes from Latin. In its case, it comes from “naturalis”, which is the result of the sum of three clearly differentiated parts: the adjective “natum”, which is synonymous with “born”; the suffix “-ura”, which is used to indicate “the result of an action”, and the suffix “-al”, which is used to indicate “relating to”. It means “relating to nature.”
Growth is the act and consequence of growing. This verb, for its part, refers to enlarge, increase or increase. As for natural , it is that which comes from nature, that is spontaneous or that happens habitually.
The idea of natural growth is used in the field of demography to refer to the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths in a certain territory and during a certain period. If the number of births is higher than the number of deaths, the population level increases and so-called natural growth (or vegetative growth ) takes place.
On the contrary, if deaths exceed births in the period in question, the population level is reduced and we speak of negative natural growth (also called natural decrease ).
Take the case of a certain region where, in one year, 15,403 people are born and 14,890 die. In the period in question, because the number of births is higher than the number of deaths, the region experiences natural growth.
In another area , however, 8,514 individuals are born and 8,852 people die in one year. As can be seen, the number of deaths is higher than the number of births: this means that a negative natural growth is recorded.
It is important to know that there are a series of factors that irremediably influence this natural growth that concerns us. Specifically, among the most significant, some stand out such as the following:
-Education is one of the aspects that exerts the most influence on this aforementioned growth. And the thing is that, for example, if it reaches more people who are encouraged to pursue careers, the usual thing will be for them to opt for developing their studies further and trying to achieve greater professional success. What this will bring with it, among other things, is that it will take them longer to have children and, therefore, they will have fewer offspring.
-Health is, in the same way, another of the factors that most influences. And the more there is a commitment to this, the more well-being among the population and, therefore, a greater life expectancy.
The natural growth rate is calculated by dividing the natural growth by the number of inhabitants, and then multiplying this result by 100 . According to the rate , natural growth is classified as low, moderate or high.