Fertility & birth rates in Afghanistan and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Afghanistan vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2023	4.84	2.69
2022	4.93	2.72
2021	5.04	2.77
2020	5.15	2.85
2019	5.24	2.92
2018	5.33	3.02
2017	5.43	3.11
2016	5.54	3.18
2015	5.65	3.22
2014	5.77	3.24
2013	5.88	3.28
2012	5.99	3.3
2011	6.09	3.34
2010	6.2	3.25
2009	6.3	3.31
2008	6.39	3.39
2007	6.51	3.44
2006	6.69	3.41
2005	6.86	3.43
2004	7.02	3.51
2003	7.17	3.62
2002	7.32	3.68
2001	7.45	3.63
2000	7.57	3.61
1999	7.64	3.67
1998	7.69	3.82
1997	7.73	3.98
1996	7.76	4.06
1995	7.77	4.13
1994	7.77	4.21
1993	7.76	4.37
1992	7.7	4.54
1991	7.63	4.68
1990	7.58	4.81
1989	7.56	4.96
1988	7.55	5.1
1987	7.55	5.22
1986	7.55	5.32
1985	7.55	5.4
1984	7.55	5.48
1983	7.57	5.56
1982	7.6	5.63
1981	7.62	5.69
1980	7.64	5.75
1979	7.61	5.79
1978	7.6	5.82
1977	7.59	5.85
1976	7.56	5.87
1975	7.54	5.83
1974	7.53	5.75
1973	7.49	5.69
1972	7.45	5.69
1971	7.43	5.7
1970	7.4	5.7
1969	7.39	5.7
1968	7.36	5.73
1967	7.34	5.75
1966	7.32	5.76
1965	7.31	5.77
1964	7.3	5.77
1963	7.3	5.78
1962	7.29	5.79
1961	7.28	5.79
1960	7.28	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Afghanistan was 4.84 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Afghanistan vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2023	1,228,719	31,115
2022	1,219,475	30,803
2021	1,133,611	27,806
2020	1,134,407	30,721
2019	1,138,485	32,279
2018	1,115,262	33,112
2017	1,101,218	33,601
2016	1,090,016	33,390
2015	1,077,068	32,087
2014	1,053,788	30,922
2013	1,033,778	29,789
2012	1,004,814	27,592
2011	966,743	25,647
2010	943,473	21,877
2009	920,581	20,335
2008	891,246	19,349
2007	889,848	17,763
2006	875,301	15,234
2005	855,112	15,831
2004	850,940	17,271
2003	826,165	20,133
2002	776,048	22,274
2001	764,090	23,190
2000	782,727	24,786
1999	760,727	27,393
1998	719,860	30,889
1997	709,778	34,637
1996	685,005	36,228
1995	653,280	37,370
1994	609,096	38,629
1993	541,257	40,505
1992	440,132	42,579
1991	409,954	44,026
1990	402,433	45,060
1989	381,158	46,264
1988	358,397	47,158
1987	314,361	47,718
1986	310,066	45,232
1985	228,469	44,575
1984	205,262	43,785
1983	263,778	42,899
1982	263,210	41,941
1981	343,468	40,808
1980	365,396	39,617
1979	361,750	38,440
1978	369,101	37,084
1977	372,567	35,654
1976	357,775	34,117
1975	343,850	32,311
1974	330,232	30,444
1973	315,062	28,859
1972	300,633	27,841
1971	288,267	26,838
1970	275,129	25,935
1969	263,823	25,137
1968	251,798	24,490
1967	239,967	23,911
1966	228,786	23,326
1965	217,741	22,755
1964	207,867	22,116
1963	198,035	21,585
1962	188,427	21,132
1961	179,094	20,581
1960	170,257	19,981

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.96% in Afghanistan and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.04% in Afghanistan and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Afghanistan vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2023	35.4	24.1
2022	36	24.4
2021	36.3	24.9
2020	36.6	25.6
2019	37.1	26.4
2018	37.6	27.4
2017	38.2	28.2
2016	38.7	28.9
2015	39.4	29.2
2014	39.6	29.5
2013	40.3	30
2012	40.7	30
2011	41	30.2
2010	41.8	29.2
2009	42.2	29.4
2008	42.5	29.6
2007	43.8	29.5
2006	44.1	28.6
2005	45	28.6
2004	46.5	28.7
2003	47.1	29.3
2002	47.5	29.4
2001	49.6	28.7
2000	51.5	28.2
1999	50.9	28.5
1998	51.5	29.2
1997	52.1	30.2
1996	52.5	30.4
1995	52.7	30.6
1994	52.4	31
1993	50.8	32
1992	50.3	33.2
1991	52.3	34.2
1990	52.9	35.1
1989	51.7	36.3
1988	51.7	37.4
1987	52.2	38.3
1986	52.2	37.5
1985	51.7	37.9
1984	50.4	38.4
1983	51.2	38.9
1982	52	39.5
1981	55.2	39.9
1980	53.5	40.4
1979	52	40.8
1978	51.3	41
1977	51.3	41.1
1976	51.3	41
1975	51.3	40.6
1974	51.4	40.2
1973	51.3	39.9
1972	51.2	40.2
1971	51.3	40.5
1970	51.2	40.8
1969	51.3	41.3
1968	51.2	41.9
1967	51.1	42.5
1966	51	43
1965	50.9	43.3
1964	50.9	43.5
1963	50.8	43.7
1962	50.7	44.1
1961	50.6	44.3
1960	50.5	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 35.4 in Afghanistan and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 50.5 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2100	21%	18%
2099	21.2%	18.1%
2098	21.3%	18.2%
2097	21.5%	18.3%
2096	21.6%	18.3%
2095	21.8%	18.4%
2094	21.9%	18.5%
2093	22.1%	18.6%
2092	22.3%	18.7%
2091	22.4%	18.9%
2090	22.6%	19%
2089	22.8%	19.1%
2088	23%	19.2%
2087	23.1%	19.3%
2086	23.3%	19.4%
2085	23.5%	19.6%
2084	23.7%	19.7%
2083	23.9%	19.8%
2082	24.2%	19.9%
2081	24.4%	20%
2080	24.6%	20.2%
2079	24.8%	20.3%
2078	25%	20.4%
2077	25.3%	20.5%
2076	25.5%	20.6%
2075	25.8%	20.7%
2074	26%	20.9%
2073	26.2%	21%
2072	26.5%	21.1%
2071	26.7%	21.3%
2070	27%	21.4%
2069	27.3%	21.5%
2068	27.5%	21.7%
2067	27.8%	21.9%
2066	28%	22%
2065	28.3%	22.2%
2064	28.6%	22.4%
2063	28.8%	22.6%
2062	29.1%	22.8%
2061	29.4%	23%
2060	29.6%	23.3%
2059	29.9%	23.5%
2058	30.2%	23.7%
2057	30.4%	24%
2056	30.7%	24.2%
2055	31.1%	24.5%
2054	31.4%	24.7%
2053	31.7%	25%
2052	32%	25.3%
2051	32.4%	25.5%
2050	32.7%	25.8%
2049	33.1%	26.1%
2048	33.4%	26.3%
2047	33.8%	26.5%
2046	34.2%	26.8%
2045	34.6%	27%
2044	35%	27.3%
2043	35.4%	27.5%
2042	35.8%	27.7%
2041	36.3%	28%
2040	36.7%	28.2%
2039	37.2%	28.4%
2038	37.6%	28.7%
2037	38%	28.9%
2036	38.4%	29.2%
2035	38.8%	29.5%
2034	39.2%	29.9%
2033	39.6%	30.3%
2032	40.1%	30.8%
2031	40.5%	31.3%
2030	40.9%	31.8%
2029	41.3%	32.3%
2028	41.7%	32.8%
2027	42%	33.4%
2026	42.4%	33.9%
2025	42.7%	34.3%
2024	42.9%	34.5%
2023	43.2%	34.9%
2022	43.6%	35.3%
2021	43.9%	35.6%
2020	44.2%	35.8%
2019	44.6%	36.1%
2018	45%	36.3%
2017	45.4%	36.5%
2016	45.8%	36.6%
2015	46.3%	36.6%
2014	46.7%	36.6%
2013	47.2%	36.5%
2012	47.6%	36.5%
2011	48%	36.5%
2010	48.5%	36.5%
2009	48.9%	36.6%
2008	49.3%	36.7%
2007	49.6%	36.8%
2006	49.9%	37.1%
2005	50%	37.4%
2004	50.2%	37.7%
2003	50.2%	38.1%
2002	50.2%	38.6%
2001	50.2%	39.1%
2000	50%	39.6%
1999	49.8%	40.2%
1998	49.6%	40.7%
1997	49.3%	41.2%
1996	49%	41.7%
1995	48.7%	42%
1994	48.5%	42.3%
1993	48.2%	42.6%
1992	48%	42.8%
1991	47.8%	42.9%
1990	47.7%	42.9%
1989	47.5%	42.8%
1988	47.4%	42.7%
1987	47.3%	42.5%
1986	47.2%	42.7%
1985	47%	43%
1984	46.8%	42.8%
1983	46.6%	42.7%
1982	46.5%	42.5%
1981	46.3%	42.3%
1980	46.1%	42.1%
1979	45.8%	41.9%
1978	45.6%	41.7%
1977	45.4%	41.5%
1976	45.2%	41.4%
1975	45%	41.6%
1974	44.8%	41.9%
1973	44.6%	42.3%
1972	44.4%	42.7%
1971	44.2%	43.1%
1970	43.9%	43.6%
1969	43.7%	44%
1968	43.4%	44.4%
1967	43.2%	44.8%
1966	42.9%	44.9%
1965	42.6%	44.8%
1964	42.4%	44.9%
1963	42.2%	45.2%
1962	42.1%	45.3%
1961	42%	45.2%
1960	41.9%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.9% of the population in Afghanistan and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 47.7% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Afghanistan and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Afghanistan vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2023	521	478
2022	551	477
2021	660	577
2020	634	529
2019	601	467
2018	629	491
2017	659	468
2016	702	518
2015	741	594
2014	755	707
2013	778	855
2012	810	1,000
2011	838	1,210
2010	893	1,311
2009	925	1,387
2008	955	1,205
2007	1,032	891
2006	1,069	696
2005	1,108	549
2004	1,166	499
2003	1,201	508
2002	1,263	484
2001	1,311	465
2000	1,372	413
1999	1,346	371
1998	1,464	332
1997	1,376	312
1996	1,389	319
1995	1,414	357
1994	1,396	423
1993	1,347	542
1992	1,443	601
1991	1,534	641
1990	1,550	665
1989	1,520	680
1988	1,572	680
1987	1,821	686
1986	1,857	680
1985	2,232	711

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 521 deaths per 100,000 live births in Afghanistan, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Afghanistan

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Afghanistan	Lesotho
2023	5.55%	5.89%
2022	5.74%	6.15%
2021	5.93%	6.44%
2020	6.13%	6.68%
2019	6.33%	6.87%
2018	6.54%	6.91%
2017	6.76%	7.12%
2016	7%	7.18%
2015	7.24%	7.51%
2014	7.51%	7.82%
2013	7.8%	8.02%
2012	8.12%	8.26%
2011	8.46%	8.59%
2010	8.83%	9.01%
2009	9.22%	9.64%
2008	9.63%	10.9%
2007	10.1%	11.2%
2006	10.5%	11.5%
2005	11%	11.6%
2004	11.4%	11.5%
2003	11.9%	11.4%
2002	12.3%	11.2%
2001	12.7%	11.1%
2000	13.2%	10.9%
1999	13.6%	10.7%
1998	14%	10.5%
1997	14.4%	10.2%
1996	14.8%	9.83%
1995	15.3%	9.45%
1994	15.8%	9.07%
1993	16.3%	8.73%
1992	16.9%	8.51%
1991	17.4%	8.43%
1990	18.1%	8.47%
1989	18.7%	8.6%
1988	21.8%	8.8%
1987	24.7%	9.06%
1986	25.3%	9.36%
1985	30.1%	9.72%
1984	30.9%	10.1%
1983	27.4%	10.6%
1982	28%	11.1%
1981	23.9%	11.7%
1980	24.6%	12.3%
1979	25.2%	12.9%
1978	25.8%	13.6%
1977	26.4%	14.2%
1976	27%	14.9%
1975	27.5%	15.5%
1974	28.1%	16%
1973	28.6%	16.5%
1972	29.1%	16.9%
1971	29.7%	17.3%
1970	30.2%	17.7%
1969	30.6%	18%
1968	31.2%	18.3%
1967	31.7%	18.5%
1966	32.2%	18.6%
1965	32.7%	18.7%
1964	33.2%	18.6%
1963	33.7%	18.6%
1962	34.2%	18.5%
1961	34.8%	18.5%
1960	35.3%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.55% in Afghanistan and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.