Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Population growth rates are closely tied to the level of economic and social development. Less developed regions generally experience higher annual growth rates compared to highly developed ones.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to global demographic data for the 2010–2015 period:
1. Africa (2): Experiences the highest growth rate (approx. \( 2.5% \)) due to high fertility rates.
2. Latin America (3): Follows with a growth rate around \( 1.1% \).
3. Asia (1): Has a growth rate of about \( 1.0% \). While Asia has the largest population, its rate of growth is slowing down compared to Africa.
4. Europe (4): Has the lowest growth rate (approx. \( 0.1% \)), with some countries facing population decline.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The descending order is Africa > Latin America > Asia > Europe. This corresponds to the sequence 2, 3, 1, 4.