In this method, the local population and the country's population for the last four to five decades is obtained from the census records. The ratios of the local population to national population are then worked out for these decades. A graph is then plotted between time and these ratios, and extended upto the design period to extrapolate the ratio corresponding to future design year. This ratio is then multiplied by the expected national population at the end of the design period, so as to obtain the required city's future population.

Drawbacks:

1. Depends on accuracy of national population estimate.
2. Does not consider the abnormal or special conditions which can lead to population shifts from one city to another.