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Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and South Sudan

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has an annual birth rate of 9.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.6 for South Sudan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.47 in Belgium and 3.86 in South Sudan — 162.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.1% in Belgium and by 46% in South Sudan — in 1960, it was 2.54 and 7.16, respectively.

  • Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate compared to 36/196 for South Sudan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3 in Belgium — it's 28.4 in South Sudan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.67 in Belgium vs 97.1 in South Sudan.
  • In Belgium, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in South Sudan.

Fertility rate in Belgium vs South Sudan by year

Belgium
South Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium South Sudan
2023 1.47 3.86
2022 1.53 3.96
2021 1.6 4.05
2020 1.55 4.16
2019 1.6 4.26
2018 1.62 4.37
2017 1.65 4.48
2016 1.68 4.58
2015 1.7 4.7
2014 1.74 4.82
2013 1.76 4.94
2012 1.8 5.06
2011 1.81 5.19
2010 1.86 5.32
2009 1.84 5.45
2008 1.85 5.57
2007 1.82 5.7
2006 1.8 5.85
2005 1.76 6.02
2004 1.72 6.19
2003 1.67 6.35
2002 1.65 6.52
2001 1.67 6.65
2000 1.67 6.8
1999 1.62 6.94
1998 1.6 7.08
1997 1.6 7.2
1996 1.59 7.32
1995 1.56 7.34
1994 1.56 7.35
1993 1.61 7.36
1992 1.65 7.37
1991 1.66 7.38
1990 1.62 7.38
1989 1.58 7.37
1988 1.57 7.38
1987 1.54 7.39
1986 1.54 7.38
1985 1.51 7.36
1984 1.54 7.35
1983 1.57 7.34
1982 1.61 7.34
1981 1.66 7.33
1980 1.68 7.33
1979 1.69 7.32
1978 1.69 7.33
1977 1.71 7.33
1976 1.73 7.33
1975 1.74 7.33
1974 1.83 7.31
1973 1.95 7.31
1972 2.09 7.31
1971 2.21 7.3
1970 2.25 7.29
1969 2.27 7.28
1968 2.31 7.26
1967 2.41 7.26
1966 2.52 7.25
1965 2.61 7.22
1964 2.71 7.22
1963 2.68 7.2
1962 2.59 7.2
1961 2.63 7.18
1960 2.54 7.16

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs South Sudan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Belgium
South Sudan
1x
Year Natural population change
Belgium South Sudan
2023 0 217,966
2022 -2,336 211,166
2021 5,793 213,567
2020 -12,692 212,332
2019 8,042 209,708
2018 7,999 168,497
2017 10,238 72,193
2016 14,731 110,553
2015 11,274 148,542
2014 21,297 227,611
2013 16,739 315,983
2012 18,882 312,974
2011 25,388 303,181
2010 23,970 287,409
2009 23,752 278,859
2008 22,491 268,268
2007 23,376 256,546
2006 21,096 246,706
2005 15,718 239,272
2004 16,673 231,877
2003 7,263 225,822
2002 7,233 212,014
2001 11,315 204,108
2000 12,302 196,055
1999 9,203 180,721
1998 9,183 -12,157
1997 12,218 121,454
1996 12,188 116,728
1995 11,150 110,417
1994 12,139 165,407
1993 14,118 32,779
1992 20,090 28,874
1991 22,010 87,873
1990 19,935 82,900
1989 13,912 83,735
1988 14,853 -125,447
1987 11,844 5,756
1986 5,917 99,502
1985 2,958 95,342
1984 4,927 90,970
1983 2,956 104,107
1982 7,885 118,641
1981 11,831 115,163
1980 10,845 112,307
1979 11,818 109,540
1978 7,872 107,352
1977 8,847 104,886
1976 1,964 102,346
1975 0 99,882
1974 7,818 97,181
1973 11,690 94,765
1972 18,451 74,803
1971 21,281 72,308
1970 23,173 44,776
1969 21,221 42,015
1968 20,199 44,213
1967 31,618 41,357
1966 36,206 38,523
1965 39,748 51,682
1964 51,580 64,786
1963 41,804 46,333
1962 42,414 47,406
1961 52,349 45,186
1960 40,275 42,945

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

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 +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Belgium vs South Sudan by year

Belgium
South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Belgium South Sudan
2023 9.4 28.6
2022 9.8 29.1
2021 10.2 29.7
2020 9.9 29.4
2019 10.2 29.4
2018 10.4 29.1
2017 10.5 32.8
2016 10.8 35.1
2015 10.8 35.4
2014 11.2 38.2
2013 11.3 38.3
2012 11.5 39.1
2011 11.7 39.8
2010 11.9 39.9
2009 11.8 41
2008 11.9 41.6
2007 11.7 42.3
2006 11.6 43.2
2005 11.4 44.3
2004 11.3 45.5
2003 11 46.8
2002 10.9 48
2001 11.2 48.9
2000 11.4 49.8
1999 11.2 50.7
1998 11.2 51.2
1997 11.4 51.6
1996 11.5 52.6
1995 11.4 52.7
1994 11.5 52.7
1993 12 52.7
1992 12.4 52.5
1991 12.6 52.4
1990 12.4 52.3
1989 12.2 53.1
1988 12.1 51.9
1987 11.9 50.6
1986 11.9 50.6
1985 11.6 50.7
1984 11.7 50.8
1983 11.9 51.1
1982 12.2 51.4
1981 12.6 51.7
1980 12.6 52
1979 12.6 52.3
1978 12.5 52.7
1977 12.4 53
1976 12.3 53.4
1975 12.2 53.7
1974 12.7 53.9
1973 13.3 54.3
1972 14 54.5
1971 14.6 54.6
1970 14.7 54.5
1969 14.7 54.3
1968 14.8 54
1967 15.3 53.7
1966 15.9 53.5
1965 16.4 53.1
1964 17.2 53
1963 17.1 52.7
1962 16.8 52.5
1961 17.3 52.3
1960 16.8 52

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 16.8 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Belgium South Sudan
Fertility rate 1.47 3.86
Fertility rate rank 151/196 31/196
Birth rate 9.4 28.6
Birth rate rank 155/196 36/196
Population change due to births and deaths +0 +217,966
Natural population change rank 157/196 58/196
Natural population change rate +0% +1.9%
Population growth +0.67% +4.01%
Population growth rank 119/197 7/197
Age at first childbirth 29.5 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 31.3 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.31 95.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 55.1 173.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 15.4 43.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 1.59%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.3% 39.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.69%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.21% 4.02%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 7.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.36% 9.87%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 58 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Belgium
Factual

UN forecast
South Sudan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Belgium South Sudan
2100 12.8% 20.1%
2099 12.8% 20.2%
2098 12.9% 20.3%
2097 12.9% 20.3%
2096 12.9% 20.4%
2095 13% 20.5%
2094 13% 20.6%
2093 13.1% 20.7%
2092 13.1% 20.9%
2091 13.2% 21%
2090 13.2% 21.1%
2089 13.2% 21.2%
2088 13.3% 21.3%
2087 13.3% 21.5%
2086 13.3% 21.6%
2085 13.3% 21.8%
2084 13.3% 21.9%
2083 13.3% 22.1%
2082 13.3% 22.3%
2081 13.3% 22.4%
2080 13.2% 22.6%
2079 13.2% 22.8%
2078 13.2% 23%
2077 13.1% 23.2%
2076 13.1% 23.3%
2075 13% 23.5%
2074 13% 23.7%
2073 12.9% 23.9%
2072 12.9% 24.1%
2071 12.9% 24.3%
2070 12.9% 24.5%
2069 12.9% 24.7%
2068 12.9% 25%
2067 13% 25.2%
2066 13% 25.4%
2065 13.1% 25.6%
2064 13.1% 25.8%
2063 13.2% 26%
2062 13.3% 26.3%
2061 13.4% 26.5%
2060 13.5% 26.7%
2059 13.6% 27%
2058 13.7% 27.2%
2057 13.7% 27.5%
2056 13.8% 27.8%
2055 13.9% 28.1%
2054 13.9% 28.5%
2053 13.9% 28.8%
2052 14% 29.2%
2051 14% 29.5%
2050 13.9% 29.9%
2049 13.9% 30.3%
2048 13.8% 30.8%
2047 13.8% 31.2%
2046 13.7% 31.6%
2045 13.7% 32%
2044 13.6% 32.4%
2043 13.5% 32.7%
2042 13.4% 33%
2041 13.4% 33.3%
2040 13.3% 33.6%
2039 13.3% 33.8%
2038 13.3% 33.9%
2037 13.3% 34.1%
2036 13.5% 34.2%
2035 13.6% 34.3%
2034 13.7% 34.4%
2033 13.9% 34.3%
2032 14.1% 34.4%
2031 14.3% 34.6%
2030 14.5% 34.8%
2029 14.7% 35.2%
2028 15% 35.8%
2027 15.3% 36.6%
2026 15.6% 37.5%
2025 15.9% 38.4%
2024 16% 38.9%
2023 16.3% 39.9%
2022 16.5% 40.9%
2021 16.7% 41.6%
2020 16.8% 42.4%
2019 16.9% 43.6%
2018 16.9% 44.9%
2017 17% 45%
2016 17% 43.7%
2015 17% 43.1%
2014 17% 42.5%
2013 17% 41.9%
2012 17% 41.9%
2011 17% 42.2%
2010 16.9% 42.8%
2009 16.9% 43.4%
2008 16.9% 43.8%
2007 16.9% 44.3%
2006 17% 44.8%
2005 17.1% 45.3%
2004 17.2% 45.8%
2003 17.3% 45.9%
2002 17.5% 45.7%
2001 17.5% 45.5%
2000 17.6% 45.5%
1999 17.7% 45.6%
1998 17.7% 45.8%
1997 17.8% 46%
1996 17.9% 46%
1995 18% 45.8%
1994 18.1% 45.8%
1993 18.1% 45.7%
1992 18.2% 45.6%
1991 18.2% 45.5%
1990 18.1% 45.4%
1989 18.1% 45.4%
1988 18.2% 46.2%
1987 18.3% 46.9%
1986 18.6% 46.7%
1985 18.8% 46.6%
1984 19.1% 46.5%
1983 19.4% 46.3%
1982 19.6% 46.2%
1981 19.9% 46%
1980 20.3% 45.8%
1979 20.6% 45.7%
1978 21% 45.5%
1977 21.4% 45.4%
1976 21.8% 45.3%
1975 22.2% 45.2%
1974 22.6% 45.1%
1973 23% 45%
1972 23.3% 44.8%
1971 23.5% 44.7%
1970 23.6% 44.5%
1969 23.8% 44.3%
1968 23.9% 44%
1967 23.9% 43.8%
1966 24% 43.5%
1965 24% 43.3%
1964 23.9% 43%
1963 23.9% 42.8%
1962 23.8% 42.6%
1961 23.8% 42.6%
1960 23.7% 42.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and South Sudan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs South Sudan

Belgium
South Sudan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Belgium South Sudan
2023 4 692
2022 11 704
2021 7 749
2020 4 729
2019 4 745
2018 5 913
2017 5 1,662
2016 5 1,629
2015 5 1,436
2014 5 1,216
2013 6 771
2012 5 755
2011 6 770
2010 6 776
2009 6 823
2008 6 858
2007 7 933
2006 6 1,005
2005 7 1,074
2004 7 1,150
2003 7 1,199
2002 7 1,521
2001 8 1,580
2000 8 1,658
1999 8 2,048
1998 8 7,514
1997 8 4,172
1996 9 4,357
1995 9 4,430
1994 9 1,666
1993 9 7,537
1992 9 7,597
1991 9 4,764
1990 9 4,877
1989 9 5,103
1988 9 5,535
1987 9 8,045
1986 9 3,720
1985 9 3,845

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

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 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Belgium
South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Belgium South Sudan
2023 0.36% 9.87%
2022 0.37% 9.87%
2021 0.38% 9.87%
2020 0.39% 9.87%
2019 0.39% 9.87%
2018 0.4% 13.2%
2017 0.4% 27.8%
2016 0.41% 26.4%
2015 0.41% 23.7%
2014 0.42% 18.2%
2013 0.42% 9.92%
2012 0.43% 10.1%
2011 0.44% 10.5%
2010 0.45% 10.9%
2009 0.46% 11.5%
2008 0.47% 12.1%
2007 0.48% 12.7%
2006 0.49% 13.4%
2005 0.5% 14.1%
2004 0.52% 14.8%
2003 0.53% 15.7%
2002 0.55% 16.5%
2001 0.57% 17.4%
2000 0.59% 18.3%
1999 0.61% 19.2%
1998 0.64% 42.6%
1997 0.67% 25.2%
1996 0.72% 26.1%
1995 0.77% 27%
1994 0.82% 23%
1993 0.87% 33.1%
1992 0.92% 33.8%
1991 0.96% 29.7%
1990 1% 30.3%
1989 1.03% 30.7%
1988 1.07% 76.7%
1987 1.1% 36%
1986 1.14% 26.7%
1985 1.18% 27.1%
1984 1.22% 27.5%
1983 1.27% 27.8%
1982 1.33% 28.2%
1981 1.39% 28.5%
1980 1.45% 28.9%
1979 1.52% 29.2%
1978 1.59% 29.5%
1977 1.67% 29.9%
1976 1.76% 30.2%
1975 1.86% 30.6%
1974 1.97% 30.9%
1973 2.08% 31.3%
1972 2.19% 31.6%
1971 2.3% 31.9%
1970 2.39% 32.3%
1969 2.48% 32.6%
1968 2.55% 32.9%
1967 2.62% 33.3%
1966 2.7% 33.6%
1965 2.79% 34%
1964 2.89% 34.3%
1963 3% 34.6%
1962 3.12% 34.9%
1961 3.25% 35.2%
1960 3.39% 35.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/south-sudan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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