Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Belgium vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	Lesotho
2023	1.47	2.69
2022	1.53	2.72
2021	1.6	2.77
2020	1.55	2.85
2019	1.6	2.92
2018	1.62	3.02
2017	1.65	3.11
2016	1.68	3.18
2015	1.7	3.22
2014	1.74	3.24
2013	1.76	3.28
2012	1.8	3.3
2011	1.81	3.34
2010	1.86	3.25
2009	1.84	3.31
2008	1.85	3.39
2007	1.82	3.44
2006	1.8	3.41
2005	1.76	3.43
2004	1.72	3.51
2003	1.67	3.62
2002	1.65	3.68
2001	1.67	3.63
2000	1.67	3.61
1999	1.62	3.67
1998	1.6	3.82
1997	1.6	3.98
1996	1.59	4.06
1995	1.56	4.13
1994	1.56	4.21
1993	1.61	4.37
1992	1.65	4.54
1991	1.66	4.68
1990	1.62	4.81
1989	1.58	4.96
1988	1.57	5.1
1987	1.54	5.22
1986	1.54	5.32
1985	1.51	5.4
1984	1.54	5.48
1983	1.57	5.56
1982	1.61	5.63
1981	1.66	5.69
1980	1.68	5.75
1979	1.69	5.79
1978	1.69	5.82
1977	1.71	5.85
1976	1.73	5.87
1975	1.74	5.83
1974	1.83	5.75
1973	1.95	5.69
1972	2.09	5.69
1971	2.21	5.7
1970	2.25	5.7
1969	2.27	5.7
1968	2.31	5.73
1967	2.41	5.75
1966	2.52	5.76
1965	2.61	5.77
1964	2.71	5.77
1963	2.68	5.78
1962	2.59	5.79
1961	2.63	5.79
1960	2.54	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 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 Belgium vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	Lesotho
2023	0	31,115
2022	-2,336	30,803
2021	5,793	27,806
2020	-12,692	30,721
2019	8,042	32,279
2018	7,999	33,112
2017	10,238	33,601
2016	14,731	33,390
2015	11,274	32,087
2014	21,297	30,922
2013	16,739	29,789
2012	18,882	27,592
2011	25,388	25,647
2010	23,970	21,877
2009	23,752	20,335
2008	22,491	19,349
2007	23,376	17,763
2006	21,096	15,234
2005	15,718	15,831
2004	16,673	17,271
2003	7,263	20,133
2002	7,233	22,274
2001	11,315	23,190
2000	12,302	24,786
1999	9,203	27,393
1998	9,183	30,889
1997	12,218	34,637
1996	12,188	36,228
1995	11,150	37,370
1994	12,139	38,629
1993	14,118	40,505
1992	20,090	42,579
1991	22,010	44,026
1990	19,935	45,060
1989	13,912	46,264
1988	14,853	47,158
1987	11,844	47,718
1986	5,917	45,232
1985	2,958	44,575
1984	4,927	43,785
1983	2,956	42,899
1982	7,885	41,941
1981	11,831	40,808
1980	10,845	39,617
1979	11,818	38,440
1978	7,872	37,084
1977	8,847	35,654
1976	1,964	34,117
1975	0	32,311
1974	7,818	30,444
1973	11,690	28,859
1972	18,451	27,841
1971	21,281	26,838
1970	23,173	25,935
1969	21,221	25,137
1968	20,199	24,490
1967	31,618	23,911
1966	36,206	23,326
1965	39,748	22,755
1964	51,580	22,116
1963	41,804	21,585
1962	42,414	21,132
1961	52,349	20,581
1960	40,275	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 +0% in Belgium and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Belgium vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	Lesotho
2023	9.4	24.1
2022	9.8	24.4
2021	10.2	24.9
2020	9.9	25.6
2019	10.2	26.4
2018	10.4	27.4
2017	10.5	28.2
2016	10.8	28.9
2015	10.8	29.2
2014	11.2	29.5
2013	11.3	30
2012	11.5	30
2011	11.7	30.2
2010	11.9	29.2
2009	11.8	29.4
2008	11.9	29.6
2007	11.7	29.5
2006	11.6	28.6
2005	11.4	28.6
2004	11.3	28.7
2003	11	29.3
2002	10.9	29.4
2001	11.2	28.7
2000	11.4	28.2
1999	11.2	28.5
1998	11.2	29.2
1997	11.4	30.2
1996	11.5	30.4
1995	11.4	30.6
1994	11.5	31
1993	12	32
1992	12.4	33.2
1991	12.6	34.2
1990	12.4	35.1
1989	12.2	36.3
1988	12.1	37.4
1987	11.9	38.3
1986	11.9	37.5
1985	11.6	37.9
1984	11.7	38.4
1983	11.9	38.9
1982	12.2	39.5
1981	12.6	39.9
1980	12.6	40.4
1979	12.6	40.8
1978	12.5	41
1977	12.4	41.1
1976	12.3	41
1975	12.2	40.6
1974	12.7	40.2
1973	13.3	39.9
1972	14	40.2
1971	14.6	40.5
1970	14.7	40.8
1969	14.7	41.3
1968	14.8	41.9
1967	15.3	42.5
1966	15.9	43
1965	16.4	43.3
1964	17.2	43.5
1963	17.1	43.7
1962	16.8	44.1
1961	17.3	44.3
1960	16.8	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 16.8 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	Lesotho
2100	12.8%	18%
2099	12.8%	18.1%
2098	12.9%	18.2%
2097	12.9%	18.3%
2096	12.9%	18.3%
2095	13%	18.4%
2094	13%	18.5%
2093	13.1%	18.6%
2092	13.1%	18.7%
2091	13.2%	18.9%
2090	13.2%	19%
2089	13.2%	19.1%
2088	13.3%	19.2%
2087	13.3%	19.3%
2086	13.3%	19.4%
2085	13.3%	19.6%
2084	13.3%	19.7%
2083	13.3%	19.8%
2082	13.3%	19.9%
2081	13.3%	20%
2080	13.2%	20.2%
2079	13.2%	20.3%
2078	13.2%	20.4%
2077	13.1%	20.5%
2076	13.1%	20.6%
2075	13%	20.7%
2074	13%	20.9%
2073	12.9%	21%
2072	12.9%	21.1%
2071	12.9%	21.3%
2070	12.9%	21.4%
2069	12.9%	21.5%
2068	12.9%	21.7%
2067	13%	21.9%
2066	13%	22%
2065	13.1%	22.2%
2064	13.1%	22.4%
2063	13.2%	22.6%
2062	13.3%	22.8%
2061	13.4%	23%
2060	13.5%	23.3%
2059	13.6%	23.5%
2058	13.7%	23.7%
2057	13.7%	24%
2056	13.8%	24.2%
2055	13.9%	24.5%
2054	13.9%	24.7%
2053	13.9%	25%
2052	14%	25.3%
2051	14%	25.5%
2050	13.9%	25.8%
2049	13.9%	26.1%
2048	13.8%	26.3%
2047	13.8%	26.5%
2046	13.7%	26.8%
2045	13.7%	27%
2044	13.6%	27.3%
2043	13.5%	27.5%
2042	13.4%	27.7%
2041	13.4%	28%
2040	13.3%	28.2%
2039	13.3%	28.4%
2038	13.3%	28.7%
2037	13.3%	28.9%
2036	13.5%	29.2%
2035	13.6%	29.5%
2034	13.7%	29.9%
2033	13.9%	30.3%
2032	14.1%	30.8%
2031	14.3%	31.3%
2030	14.5%	31.8%
2029	14.7%	32.3%
2028	15%	32.8%
2027	15.3%	33.4%
2026	15.6%	33.9%
2025	15.9%	34.3%
2024	16%	34.5%
2023	16.3%	34.9%
2022	16.5%	35.3%
2021	16.7%	35.6%
2020	16.8%	35.8%
2019	16.9%	36.1%
2018	16.9%	36.3%
2017	17%	36.5%
2016	17%	36.6%
2015	17%	36.6%
2014	17%	36.6%
2013	17%	36.5%
2012	17%	36.5%
2011	17%	36.5%
2010	16.9%	36.5%
2009	16.9%	36.6%
2008	16.9%	36.7%
2007	16.9%	36.8%
2006	17%	37.1%
2005	17.1%	37.4%
2004	17.2%	37.7%
2003	17.3%	38.1%
2002	17.5%	38.6%
2001	17.5%	39.1%
2000	17.6%	39.6%
1999	17.7%	40.2%
1998	17.7%	40.7%
1997	17.8%	41.2%
1996	17.9%	41.7%
1995	18%	42%
1994	18.1%	42.3%
1993	18.1%	42.6%
1992	18.2%	42.8%
1991	18.2%	42.9%
1990	18.1%	42.9%
1989	18.1%	42.8%
1988	18.2%	42.7%
1987	18.3%	42.5%
1986	18.6%	42.7%
1985	18.8%	43%
1984	19.1%	42.8%
1983	19.4%	42.7%
1982	19.6%	42.5%
1981	19.9%	42.3%
1980	20.3%	42.1%
1979	20.6%	41.9%
1978	21%	41.7%
1977	21.4%	41.5%
1976	21.8%	41.4%
1975	22.2%	41.6%
1974	22.6%	41.9%
1973	23%	42.3%
1972	23.3%	42.7%
1971	23.5%	43.1%
1970	23.6%	43.6%
1969	23.8%	44%
1968	23.9%	44.4%
1967	23.9%	44.8%
1966	24%	44.9%
1965	24%	44.8%
1964	23.9%	44.9%
1963	23.9%	45.2%
1962	23.8%	45.3%
1961	23.8%	45.2%
1960	23.7%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Belgium

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	Lesotho
2023	4	478
2022	11	477
2021	7	577
2020	4	529
2019	4	467
2018	5	491
2017	5	468
2016	5	518
2015	5	594
2014	5	707
2013	6	855
2012	5	1,000
2011	6	1,210
2010	6	1,311
2009	6	1,387
2008	6	1,205
2007	7	891
2006	6	696
2005	7	549
2004	7	499
2003	7	508
2002	7	484
2001	8	465
2000	8	413
1999	8	371
1998	8	332
1997	8	312
1996	9	319
1995	9	357
1994	9	423
1993	9	542
1992	9	601
1991	9	641
1990	9	665
1989	9	680
1988	9	680
1987	9	686
1986	9	680
1985	9	711

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 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	Lesotho
2023	0.36%	5.89%
2022	0.37%	6.15%
2021	0.38%	6.44%
2020	0.39%	6.68%
2019	0.39%	6.87%
2018	0.4%	6.91%
2017	0.4%	7.12%
2016	0.41%	7.18%
2015	0.41%	7.51%
2014	0.42%	7.82%
2013	0.42%	8.02%
2012	0.43%	8.26%
2011	0.44%	8.59%
2010	0.45%	9.01%
2009	0.46%	9.64%
2008	0.47%	10.9%
2007	0.48%	11.2%
2006	0.49%	11.5%
2005	0.5%	11.6%
2004	0.52%	11.5%
2003	0.53%	11.4%
2002	0.55%	11.2%
2001	0.57%	11.1%
2000	0.59%	10.9%
1999	0.61%	10.7%
1998	0.64%	10.5%
1997	0.67%	10.2%
1996	0.72%	9.83%
1995	0.77%	9.45%
1994	0.82%	9.07%
1993	0.87%	8.73%
1992	0.92%	8.51%
1991	0.96%	8.43%
1990	1%	8.47%
1989	1.03%	8.6%
1988	1.07%	8.8%
1987	1.1%	9.06%
1986	1.14%	9.36%
1985	1.18%	9.72%
1984	1.22%	10.1%
1983	1.27%	10.6%
1982	1.33%	11.1%
1981	1.39%	11.7%
1980	1.45%	12.3%
1979	1.52%	12.9%
1978	1.59%	13.6%
1977	1.67%	14.2%
1976	1.76%	14.9%
1975	1.86%	15.5%
1974	1.97%	16%
1973	2.08%	16.5%
1972	2.19%	16.9%
1971	2.3%	17.3%
1970	2.39%	17.7%
1969	2.48%	18%
1968	2.55%	18.3%
1967	2.62%	18.5%
1966	2.7%	18.6%
1965	2.79%	18.7%
1964	2.89%	18.6%
1963	3%	18.6%
1962	3.12%	18.5%
1961	3.25%	18.5%
1960	3.39%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.