Natural growth of population is
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Births - Deaths
Natural growth counts only births and deaths. Actual growth also counts the people who move in and out.
Option (1) Births - Deaths + Migration — Incorrect. Natural growth leaves migration out, so no migration term is added.
Option (2) Births - Deaths + In-migration + Out-migration — Incorrect. Migration has no place in natural growth. Out-migration also takes people away, so it is never added.
Option (3) Births - Deaths — Correct. Natural growth is the difference between births and deaths in a region between two points of time.
Option (4) Births - Deaths + In-migration - Out-migration — Incorrect. This is the formula of the actual growth of population.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 24-05-2026 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 07-06-2023 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2026-27): “Natural Growth of Population: This is the population increased by difference between births and deaths in a particular region between two points of time.” “Actual Growth of Population : This is Births – Deaths + In Migration – Out Migration” |