Natural increase in population means excess of

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks what "natural increase in population" means. The phrase "natural" is the key: it refers to population change that comes from within the population itself (births and deaths), not from people moving in or out.

Step 2: Explain the concept Population change has two components:

• Natural change = Births − Deaths
• Net migration = Immigration − Emigration

Natural increase occurs when the number of births is greater than the number of deaths in a given period, usually one year. It is often expressed as a rate per 1,000 people.

Step 3: Work through the options

• A. Emigration over immigration: This is net out-migration, which reduces population through movement. It is not natural increase.
• B. Immigration over emigration: This is net in-migration. It is a migration effect, not a natural one.
• C. Deaths over births: This is natural decrease, the opposite of what is asked.
• D. Births over deaths: This matches the definition of natural increase.

Step 4: Answer Natural increase = Birth rate − Death rate, so the correct option is D. births over deaths.

Tip: Remember "Natural = Nature's cycle of birth and death." If migration (immigration or emigration) is mentioned, it is not natural change. Also, if the question says "natural decrease," just flip it to deaths over births.