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Fertility & birth rates in Benin and Central African Republic

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has an annual birth rate of 33.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 46.4 for the Central African Republic. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.56 in Benin and 6.01 in the Central African Republic — 32% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has changed by 27.5% in Benin and by +1.08% in the Central African Republic — in 1960, it was 6.28 and 5.95, respectively.

  • Benin is ranked 14/196 by birth rate compared to 1/196 for the Central African Republic.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29 in Benin — it's 28.9 in the Central African Republic.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 77.8 in Benin vs 163.1 in the Central African Republic.
  • In Benin, 23.9% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23.2% in the Central African Republic.

Fertility rate in Benin vs Central African Republic by year

Benin
Central African Republic
1x
Year Fertility rate
Benin CAR
2023 4.56 6.01
2022 4.63 6.02
2021 4.71 6.05
2020 4.8 6.06
2019 4.9 6.09
2018 5.03 6.11
2017 5.16 6.13
2016 5.25 6.13
2015 5.32 6.13
2014 5.37 6.1
2013 5.41 6.08
2012 5.43 6.05
2011 5.44 6.01
2010 5.45 5.96
2009 5.49 5.94
2008 5.55 5.9
2007 5.63 5.87
2006 5.67 5.84
2005 5.69 5.81
2004 5.72 5.78
2003 5.76 5.8
2002 5.79 5.79
2001 5.85 5.81
2000 5.94 5.85
1999 6.03 5.88
1998 6.14 5.89
1997 6.23 5.92
1996 6.28 5.96
1995 6.33 5.94
1994 6.42 5.92
1993 6.51 5.93
1992 6.59 5.96
1991 6.67 6.03
1990 6.74 6.05
1989 6.82 6.07
1988 6.87 6.1
1987 6.92 6.12
1986 6.96 6.11
1985 7 6.12
1984 7.03 6.14
1983 7.05 6.15
1982 7.06 6.16
1981 7.06 6.17
1980 6.99 6.13
1979 6.91 6.09
1978 6.82 6.04
1977 6.83 5.99
1976 6.83 5.94
1975 6.83 5.88
1974 6.82 5.9
1973 6.81 5.93
1972 6.8 5.96
1971 6.77 5.99
1970 6.74 6.03
1969 6.71 6.06
1968 6.67 6.1
1967 6.64 6.08
1966 6.63 6.06
1965 6.61 6.03
1964 6.57 6.01
1963 6.51 5.99
1962 6.46 5.97
1961 6.4 5.96
1960 6.28 5.95

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Benin was 4.56 children per woman in 2023, compared to 6.01 in the Central African Republic in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Benin vs the Central African Republic population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Benin
Central African Republic
1x
Year Natural population change
Benin CAR
2023 353,933 190,325
2022 349,518 -49,456
2021 341,103 124,408
2020 341,929 156,911
2019 339,817 68,523
2018 340,270 153,361
2017 339,763 128,461
2016 336,559 142,419
2015 330,573 141,912
2014 323,753 107,448
2013 315,804 140,489
2012 306,180 146,791
2011 296,348 142,913
2010 287,703 130,539
2009 280,204 -130,613
2008 274,242 128,627
2007 271,305 123,137
2006 265,040 118,882
2005 253,795 113,534
2004 245,630 108,548
2003 237,962 105,540
2002 229,472 100,588
2001 222,877 99,598
2000 218,013 97,468
1999 213,074 96,108
1998 208,342 94,361
1997 203,182 93,378
1996 197,643 93,369
1995 194,481 92,748
1994 196,637 90,943
1993 179,858 89,873
1992 173,794 88,939
1991 168,174 88,688
1990 163,055 87,507
1989 157,235 85,969
1988 153,580 84,654
1987 147,783 83,408
1986 142,039 81,149
1985 136,621 79,266
1984 131,590 77,395
1983 126,349 75,399
1982 122,748 73,330
1981 118,634 71,391
1980 112,969 68,759
1979 106,782 66,104
1978 100,762 63,285
1977 97,200 60,436
1976 93,141 57,725
1975 89,350 55,106
1974 85,623 53,777
1973 82,422 52,525
1972 79,415 51,390
1971 76,034 50,142
1970 73,156 48,690
1969 70,155 47,066
1968 67,327 45,377
1967 64,709 42,979
1966 62,169 40,804
1965 60,154 38,710
1964 57,352 36,878
1963 54,514 35,218
1962 51,664 33,731
1961 48,838 32,383
1960 44,564 31,131

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | 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 +2.51% in Benin and +3.69% in the Central African Republic.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.72% in Benin and +2.39% in the Central African Republic.

Birth rate in Benin vs Central African Republic by year

Benin
Central African Republic

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Benin CAR
2023 33.9 46.4
2022 34.4 45.4
2021 34.8 45.2
2020 35.3 44.5
2019 36 44.1
2018 37 43.8
2017 37.8 43.7
2016 38.6 43.4
2015 39 43.3
2014 39.3 44.6
2013 39.6 44.7
2012 39.7 45.1
2011 39.7 45.3
2010 39.8 45
2009 40 43.6
2008 40.4 42.5
2007 41 42.2
2006 41.3 42.2
2005 41.1 41.8
2004 41.3 41.6
2003 41.5 41.7
2002 41.5 41.4
2001 41.7 42
2000 42.1 42.1
1999 42.5 42.3
1998 43 42.6
1997 43.4 43
1996 43.7 43.7
1995 44.4 44.1
1994 45.7 44.2
1993 44.1 44.7
1992 44.9 45.4
1991 45.4 46.2
1990 45.7 46.8
1989 46 47.3
1988 46.6 47.8
1987 46.9 47.9
1986 47.1 47.5
1985 47.3 47.2
1984 47.6 46.9
1983 47.7 46.5
1982 48 46.1
1981 48.2 45.8
1980 47.9 45.1
1979 47.4 44.4
1978 46.9 43.7
1977 47 42.9
1976 47.1 42.2
1975 47.1 41.7
1974 47.2 42
1973 47.3 42.4
1972 47.4 42.8
1971 47.5 43.1
1970 47.5 43.4
1969 47.5 43.7
1968 47.5 43.8
1967 47.5 43.6
1966 47.7 43.4
1965 47.7 43.3
1964 47.6 43.2
1963 47.4 43.2
1962 47.1 43.3
1961 46.7 43.4
1960 45.8 43.5

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.9 in Benin and 46.4 in the Central African Republic, compared with 45.8 and 43.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Benin CAR
Fertility rate 4.56 6.01
Fertility rate rank 14/196 5/196
Birth rate 33.9 46.4
Birth rate rank 14/196 1/196
Population change due to births and deaths +353,933 +190,325
Natural population change rank 49/196 61/196
Natural population change rate +2.51% +3.69%
Population growth +2.49% +3.46%
Population growth rank 27/197 9/197
Age at first childbirth 20.5 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 29 years 28.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 74.6 153.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 216.3 247.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 68.7 97.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.9% 23.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 16.9% 14.4%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 78.1% 40.3%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.52% 0.69%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.8% 3.07%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.64% 6.04%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.79% 9.22%
Life expectancy 61.3 years 58.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Benin
Factual

UN forecast
Central African Republic
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Benin CAR
2100 22.4% 22.2%
2099 22.5% 22.4%
2098 22.7% 22.6%
2097 22.8% 22.7%
2096 23% 22.9%
2095 23.1% 23.1%
2094 23.3% 23.3%
2093 23.4% 23.5%
2092 23.6% 23.7%
2091 23.8% 23.9%
2090 23.9% 24.1%
2089 24.1% 24.3%
2088 24.3% 24.5%
2087 24.5% 24.7%
2086 24.7% 25%
2085 24.8% 25.2%
2084 25% 25.5%
2083 25.2% 25.7%
2082 25.4% 26%
2081 25.6% 26.3%
2080 25.8% 26.6%
2079 26% 26.9%
2078 26.2% 27.2%
2077 26.4% 27.6%
2076 26.6% 27.9%
2075 26.8% 28.2%
2074 27% 28.6%
2073 27.2% 28.9%
2072 27.4% 29.3%
2071 27.6% 29.7%
2070 27.8% 30%
2069 28% 30.4%
2068 28.2% 30.8%
2067 28.4% 31.2%
2066 28.7% 31.5%
2065 28.9% 31.9%
2064 29.2% 32.3%
2063 29.4% 32.7%
2062 29.7% 33%
2061 30% 33.4%
2060 30.3% 33.8%
2059 30.6% 34.2%
2058 30.9% 34.5%
2057 31.2% 34.9%
2056 31.5% 35.3%
2055 31.8% 35.7%
2054 32.1% 36.2%
2053 32.4% 36.6%
2052 32.7% 37.1%
2051 33% 37.6%
2050 33.3% 38.1%
2049 33.5% 38.7%
2048 33.8% 39.3%
2047 34.1% 39.9%
2046 34.3% 40.5%
2045 34.6% 41.2%
2044 34.9% 41.9%
2043 35.2% 42.5%
2042 35.4% 43.2%
2041 35.7% 43.8%
2040 36% 44.4%
2039 36.3% 45%
2038 36.7% 45.6%
2037 37% 45.9%
2036 37.3% 46.2%
2035 37.6% 46.4%
2034 38% 46.6%
2033 38.4% 46.7%
2032 38.8% 46.9%
2031 39.2% 47%
2030 39.6% 47.1%
2029 40% 47.3%
2028 40.4% 47.6%
2027 40.8% 48%
2026 41.1% 48.5%
2025 41.4% 48.9%
2024 41.6% 49%
2023 41.8% 49.2%
2022 42.1% 49.2%
2021 42.4% 49%
2020 42.7% 48.9%
2019 42.9% 49%
2018 43.1% 49%
2017 43.2% 49%
2016 43.3% 49%
2015 43.4% 49%
2014 43.5% 48.5%
2013 43.6% 47.6%
2012 43.7% 46.9%
2011 43.8% 46.3%
2010 43.9% 45.9%
2009 44.1% 45.6%
2008 44.3% 45.4%
2007 44.4% 45.3%
2006 44.4% 45.1%
2005 44.6% 45.1%
2004 44.8% 45.1%
2003 44.9% 45.2%
2002 45.1% 45.3%
2001 45.3% 45.4%
2000 45.4% 45.5%
1999 45.6% 45.6%
1998 45.8% 45.7%
1997 45.9% 45.7%
1996 46% 45.7%
1995 45.9% 45.6%
1994 45.5% 45.5%
1993 45.7% 45.4%
1992 46.2% 45.2%
1991 46.2% 44.9%
1990 46.1% 44.5%
1989 46.1% 44.1%
1988 46.1% 43.8%
1987 46% 43.5%
1986 45.9% 43.3%
1985 45.8% 43.2%
1984 45.7% 43%
1983 45.6% 43%
1982 45.5% 42.9%
1981 45.3% 42.8%
1980 45.2% 42.8%
1979 45.1% 42.8%
1978 45% 42.8%
1977 44.8% 42.8%
1976 44.7% 42.9%
1975 44.5% 42.9%
1974 44.3% 42.7%
1973 44.1% 42.6%
1972 43.8% 42.4%
1971 43.5% 42.2%
1970 43.2% 42.1%
1969 42.8% 41.9%
1968 42.5% 41.9%
1967 42.1% 41.8%
1966 41.6% 41.7%
1965 41.2% 41.7%
1964 40.8% 41.6%
1963 40.3% 41.4%
1962 39.9% 41.1%
1961 39.5% 40.8%
1960 39.1% 40.5%

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/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.6% of the population in Benin and 49% in the Central African Republic in 2024, compared to 46.1% and 44.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Benin and the Central African Republic compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Benin vs Central African Republic

Benin
Central African Republic
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Benin CAR
2023 518 692
2022 547 841
2021 584 1,127
2020 578 1,296
2019 572 1,650
2018 585 881
2017 592 1,093
2016 604 962
2015 606 981
2014 605 1,034
2013 607 1,092
2012 618 1,092
2011 613 1,131
2010 607 1,230
2009 598 1,272
2008 563 1,234
2007 501 1,271
2006 509 1,337
2005 514 1,389
2004 531 1,450
2003 532 1,487
2002 534 1,496
2001 532 1,504
2000 529 1,490
1999 536 1,411
1998 547 1,346
1997 556 1,270
1996 576 1,191
1995 586 1,123
1994 605 1,053
1993 591 997
1992 625 956
1991 666 910
1990 692 866
1989 732 835
1988 765 815
1987 817 803
1986 858 795
1985 910 796

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 518 deaths per 100,000 live births in Benin, compared to 692 deaths in the Central African Republic.

Under-five mortality rates

Benin
Central African Republic

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Benin CAR
2023 7.79% 9.22%
2022 8.04% 38.7%
2021 8.31% 17.1%
2020 8.55% 12.3%
2019 8.8% 24.3%
2018 9.05% 12%
2017 9.27% 15.2%
2016 9.5% 12.6%
2015 9.71% 11.4%
2014 9.93% 18.3%
2013 10.2% 13.4%
2012 10.4% 12.2%
2011 10.6% 12.5%
2010 10.8% 14.9%
2009 11.1% 47.9%
2008 11.3% 13.6%
2007 11.5% 14%
2006 11.8% 14.4%
2005 12.1% 14.8%
2004 12.4% 15.2%
2003 12.7% 15.6%
2002 13% 15.9%
2001 13.3% 16.3%
2000 13.6% 16.6%
1999 13.9% 16.8%
1998 14.3% 17%
1997 14.6% 17.2%
1996 14.9% 17.3%
1995 15.2% 17.5%
1994 15.6% 17.5%
1993 16% 17.6%
1992 16.4% 17.7%
1991 16.8% 17.7%
1990 17.2% 17.8%
1989 17.6% 17.8%
1988 18% 17.8%
1987 18.4% 17.9%
1986 18.8% 17.9%
1985 19.2% 18%
1984 19.6% 18.1%
1983 20% 18.2%
1982 20.4% 18.4%
1981 20.8% 18.6%
1980 21.2% 18.8%
1979 21.6% 19.1%
1978 22.1% 19.4%
1977 22.6% 19.7%
1976 23.1% 20%
1975 23.7% 20.4%
1974 24.2% 20.8%
1973 24.7% 21.2%
1972 25.2% 21.7%
1971 25.7% 22.1%
1970 26.1% 22.6%
1969 26.6% 23.2%
1968 27% 23.7%
1967 27.5% 24.3%
1966 28% 24.9%
1965 28.5% 25.5%
1964 29.1% 26.1%
1963 29.6% 26.7%
1962 30.2% 27.2%
1961 30.7% 27.8%
1960 31.2% 28.3%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/central-african-republic | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.79% in Benin and 9.22% in the Central African Republic. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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