Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and DR Congo

Fertility rate in Belgium vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

Belgium

DR Congo

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	DR Congo
2023	1.47	6.05
2022	1.53	6.11
2021	1.6	6.16
2020	1.55	6.21
2019	1.6	6.25
2018	1.62	6.3
2017	1.65	6.35
2016	1.68	6.39
2015	1.7	6.44
2014	1.74	6.48
2013	1.76	6.53
2012	1.8	6.56
2011	1.81	6.58
2010	1.86	6.59
2009	1.84	6.59
2008	1.85	6.58
2007	1.82	6.56
2006	1.8	6.55
2005	1.76	6.53
2004	1.72	6.53
2003	1.67	6.55
2002	1.65	6.61
2001	1.67	6.66
2000	1.67	6.7
1999	1.62	6.69
1998	1.6	6.7
1997	1.6	6.69
1996	1.59	6.67
1995	1.56	6.68
1994	1.56	6.64
1993	1.61	6.64
1992	1.65	6.64
1991	1.66	6.65
1990	1.62	6.65
1989	1.58	6.65
1988	1.57	6.66
1987	1.54	6.65
1986	1.54	6.63
1985	1.51	6.61
1984	1.54	6.59
1983	1.57	6.56
1982	1.61	6.54
1981	1.66	6.52
1980	1.68	6.5
1979	1.69	6.48
1978	1.69	6.46
1977	1.71	6.45
1976	1.73	6.44
1975	1.74	6.42
1974	1.83	6.4
1973	1.95	6.39
1972	2.09	6.37
1971	2.21	6.34
1970	2.25	6.33
1969	2.27	6.3
1968	2.31	6.29
1967	2.41	6.27
1966	2.52	6.24
1965	2.61	6.21
1964	2.71	6.19
1963	2.68	6.16
1962	2.59	6.14
1961	2.63	6.12
1960	2.54	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 6.05 in the DR Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs the DR Congo population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

DR Congo

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	DR Congo
2023	0	3,467,787
2022	-2,336	3,347,664
2021	5,793	3,227,992
2020	-12,692	3,156,152
2019	8,042	3,075,538
2018	7,999	2,993,184
2017	10,238	2,883,245
2016	14,731	2,753,687
2015	11,274	2,665,016
2014	21,297	2,580,251
2013	16,739	2,489,378
2012	18,882	2,405,462
2011	25,388	2,310,679
2010	23,970	2,212,255
2009	23,752	2,126,912
2008	22,491	2,044,210
2007	23,376	1,963,738
2006	21,096	1,889,398
2005	15,718	1,800,300
2004	16,673	1,731,022
2003	7,263	1,679,188
2002	7,233	1,631,597
2001	11,315	1,594,999
2000	12,302	1,549,518
1999	9,203	1,450,318
1998	9,183	1,375,130
1997	12,218	1,392,037
1996	12,188	1,380,490
1995	11,150	1,395,440
1994	12,139	1,259,539
1993	14,118	1,209,242
1992	20,090	1,152,781
1991	22,010	1,114,033
1990	19,935	1,063,508
1989	13,912	1,027,238
1988	14,853	995,278
1987	11,844	959,875
1986	5,917	925,334
1985	2,958	885,670
1984	4,927	844,956
1983	2,956	807,122
1982	7,885	774,823
1981	11,831	748,371
1980	10,845	724,111
1979	11,818	691,773
1978	7,872	646,411
1977	8,847	638,242
1976	1,964	624,147
1975	0	608,655
1974	7,818	593,539
1973	11,690	578,280
1972	18,451	564,495
1971	21,281	549,343
1970	23,173	533,300
1969	21,221	514,800
1968	20,199	497,682
1967	31,618	479,552
1966	36,206	463,397
1965	39,748	429,002
1964	51,580	406,334
1963	41,804	398,972
1962	42,414	383,406
1961	52,349	368,207
1960	40,275	363,517

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 +0% in Belgium and +3.28% in the DR Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +3.29% in the DR Congo.

Birth rate in Belgium vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

Belgium

DR Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	DR Congo
2023	9.4	41.3
2022	9.8	41.6
2021	10.2	41.9
2020	9.9	42.2
2019	10.2	42.5
2018	10.4	42.9
2017	10.5	43
2016	10.8	42.9
2015	10.8	43.2
2014	11.2	43.5
2013	11.3	43.7
2012	11.5	44
2011	11.7	44
2010	11.9	43.9
2009	11.8	44
2008	11.9	44
2007	11.7	44
2006	11.6	44
2005	11.4	43.7
2004	11.3	43.8
2003	11	44.2
2002	10.9	44.6
2001	11.2	45
2000	11.4	45.3
1999	11.2	45.2
1998	11.2	44.9
1997	11.4	46
1996	11.5	47
1995	11.4	47.2
1994	11.5	45.3
1993	12	45.9
1992	12.4	45.7
1991	12.6	46
1990	12.4	45.9
1989	12.2	46.1
1988	12.1	46.4
1987	11.9	46.5
1986	11.9	46.6
1985	11.6	46.5
1984	11.7	46.2
1983	11.9	46.1
1982	12.2	46
1981	12.6	46.1
1980	12.6	46.1
1979	12.6	45.8
1978	12.5	45.4
1977	12.4	45.9
1976	12.3	46.2
1975	12.2	46.4
1974	12.7	46.6
1973	13.3	46.9
1972	14	47.1
1971	14.6	47.4
1970	14.7	47.6
1969	14.7	47.7
1968	14.8	47.8
1967	15.3	47.9
1966	15.9	47.9
1965	16.4	47.8
1964	17.2	47.7
1963	17.1	47.5
1962	16.8	47.4
1961	17.3	47.2
1960	16.8	47.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 41.3 in the DR Congo, compared with 16.8 and 47.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	DR Congo
2100	12.8%	23.4%
2099	12.8%	23.6%
2098	12.9%	23.8%
2097	12.9%	24%
2096	12.9%	24.2%
2095	13%	24.4%
2094	13%	24.6%
2093	13.1%	24.8%
2092	13.1%	25%
2091	13.2%	25.2%
2090	13.2%	25.4%
2089	13.2%	25.6%
2088	13.3%	25.8%
2087	13.3%	26.1%
2086	13.3%	26.3%
2085	13.3%	26.5%
2084	13.3%	26.8%
2083	13.3%	27%
2082	13.3%	27.2%
2081	13.3%	27.5%
2080	13.2%	27.8%
2079	13.2%	28%
2078	13.2%	28.3%
2077	13.1%	28.6%
2076	13.1%	28.9%
2075	13%	29.2%
2074	13%	29.5%
2073	12.9%	29.8%
2072	12.9%	30.1%
2071	12.9%	30.4%
2070	12.9%	30.7%
2069	12.9%	31.1%
2068	12.9%	31.4%
2067	13%	31.7%
2066	13%	32.1%
2065	13.1%	32.4%
2064	13.1%	32.8%
2063	13.2%	33.1%
2062	13.3%	33.5%
2061	13.4%	33.8%
2060	13.5%	34.1%
2059	13.6%	34.5%
2058	13.7%	34.8%
2057	13.7%	35.1%
2056	13.8%	35.5%
2055	13.9%	35.8%
2054	13.9%	36.1%
2053	13.9%	36.5%
2052	14%	36.8%
2051	14%	37.1%
2050	13.9%	37.5%
2049	13.9%	37.8%
2048	13.8%	38.2%
2047	13.8%	38.6%
2046	13.7%	39%
2045	13.7%	39.4%
2044	13.6%	39.8%
2043	13.5%	40.2%
2042	13.4%	40.6%
2041	13.4%	41.1%
2040	13.3%	41.5%
2039	13.3%	42%
2038	13.3%	42.4%
2037	13.3%	42.8%
2036	13.5%	43.2%
2035	13.6%	43.6%
2034	13.7%	44%
2033	13.9%	44.3%
2032	14.1%	44.6%
2031	14.3%	44.9%
2030	14.5%	45.2%
2029	14.7%	45.4%
2028	15%	45.6%
2027	15.3%	45.8%
2026	15.6%	45.9%
2025	15.9%	46%
2024	16%	46%
2023	16.3%	46.1%
2022	16.5%	46.1%
2021	16.7%	46.1%
2020	16.8%	46.1%
2019	16.9%	46%
2018	16.9%	45.9%
2017	17%	45.8%
2016	17%	45.9%
2015	17%	46%
2014	17%	46%
2013	17%	46%
2012	17%	46%
2011	17%	46%
2010	16.9%	46.1%
2009	16.9%	46.1%
2008	16.9%	46%
2007	16.9%	46%
2006	17%	45.9%
2005	17.1%	45.9%
2004	17.2%	45.9%
2003	17.3%	45.8%
2002	17.5%	45.7%
2001	17.5%	45.7%
2000	17.6%	45.7%
1999	17.7%	45.6%
1998	17.7%	45.6%
1997	17.8%	45.4%
1996	17.9%	44.7%
1995	18%	44%
1994	18.1%	44.1%
1993	18.1%	44.5%
1992	18.2%	44.5%
1991	18.2%	44.4%
1990	18.1%	44.4%
1989	18.1%	44.3%
1988	18.2%	44.3%
1987	18.3%	44.2%
1986	18.6%	44.1%
1985	18.8%	44.1%
1984	19.1%	44.1%
1983	19.4%	44.2%
1982	19.6%	44.3%
1981	19.9%	44.3%
1980	20.3%	44.2%
1979	20.6%	44.3%
1978	21%	44.5%
1977	21.4%	44.6%
1976	21.8%	44.5%
1975	22.2%	44.3%
1974	22.6%	44.2%
1973	23%	44%
1972	23.3%	43.8%
1971	23.5%	43.6%
1970	23.6%	43.4%
1969	23.8%	43.3%
1968	23.9%	43.2%
1967	23.9%	43%
1966	24%	42.9%
1965	24%	42.8%
1964	23.9%	42.7%
1963	23.9%	42.7%
1962	23.8%	42.7%
1961	23.8%	42.8%
1960	23.7%	42.9%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 46% in the DR Congo in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 44.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and the DR Congo compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs DR Congo

Chart Table

Belgium

DR Congo

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	DR Congo
2023	4	427
2022	11	456
2021	7	507
2020	4	489
2019	4	493
2018	5	508
2017	5	519
2016	5	526
2015	5	545
2014	5	558
2013	6	567
2012	5	578
2011	6	589
2010	6	601
2009	6	608
2008	6	620
2007	7	631
2006	6	619
2005	7	613
2004	7	607
2003	7	605
2002	7	601
2001	8	588
2000	8	585
1999	8	601
1998	8	605
1997	8	617
1996	9	661
1995	9	644
1994	9	656
1993	9	683
1992	9	709
1991	9	735
1990	9	755
1989	9	791
1988	9	824
1987	9	863
1986	9	902
1985	9	934

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 427 deaths in the DR Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

DR Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	DR Congo
2023	0.36%	7.32%
2022	0.37%	7.57%
2021	0.38%	7.81%
2020	0.39%	8.07%
2019	0.39%	8.35%
2018	0.4%	8.63%
2017	0.4%	8.93%
2016	0.41%	9.23%
2015	0.41%	9.56%
2014	0.42%	9.9%
2013	0.42%	10.3%
2012	0.43%	10.6%
2011	0.44%	11%
2010	0.45%	11.4%
2009	0.46%	11.8%
2008	0.47%	12.2%
2007	0.48%	12.7%
2006	0.49%	13.1%
2005	0.5%	13.6%
2004	0.52%	14.1%
2003	0.53%	14.6%
2002	0.55%	15%
2001	0.57%	15.5%
2000	0.59%	15.9%
1999	0.61%	16.3%
1998	0.64%	16.7%
1997	0.67%	17%
1996	0.72%	17.3%
1995	0.77%	17.5%
1994	0.82%	17.7%
1993	0.87%	17.9%
1992	0.92%	18.1%
1991	0.96%	18.3%
1990	1%	18.5%
1989	1.03%	18.8%
1988	1.07%	19%
1987	1.1%	19.2%
1986	1.14%	19.5%
1985	1.18%	19.7%
1984	1.22%	20%
1983	1.27%	20.3%
1982	1.33%	20.6%
1981	1.39%	20.9%
1980	1.45%	21.2%
1979	1.52%	21.5%
1978	1.59%	21.9%
1977	1.67%	22.3%
1976	1.76%	22.6%
1975	1.86%	23%
1974	1.97%	23.4%
1973	2.08%	23.7%
1972	2.19%	24%
1971	2.3%	24.3%
1970	2.39%	24.7%
1969	2.48%	25.1%
1968	2.55%	-
1967	2.62%	-
1966	2.7%	-
1965	2.79%	-
1964	2.89%	-
1963	3%	-
1962	3.12%	-
1961	3.25%	-
1960	3.39%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 7.32% in the DR Congo. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.