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Fertility & birth rates in Benin and Congo

Updated on by Georank team

Benin has an annual birth rate of 33.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.6 for the Congo. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.56 in Benin and 4.16 in the Congo — 8.76% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 27.5% in Benin and by 31.7% in the Congo — in 1960, it was 6.28 and 6.09, respectively.

  • Benin is ranked 14/196 by birth rate compared to 28/196 for the Congo.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.5 years in Benin, compared to 19.6 years in the Congo.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29 in Benin — it's 28.6 in the Congo.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 77.8 in Benin vs 109.9 in the Congo.
  • In Benin, 23.9% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24% in the Congo.

Fertility rate in Benin vs Congo by year

Benin
Congo
1x
Year Fertility rate
Benin Congo
2023 4.56 4.16
2022 4.63 4.22
2021 4.71 4.28
2020 4.8 4.33
2019 4.9 4.38
2018 5.03 4.44
2017 5.16 4.5
2016 5.25 4.55
2015 5.32 4.61
2014 5.37 4.67
2013 5.41 4.73
2012 5.43 4.79
2011 5.44 4.83
2010 5.45 4.85
2009 5.49 4.81
2008 5.55 4.73
2007 5.63 4.65
2006 5.67 4.65
2005 5.69 4.67
2004 5.72 4.69
2003 5.76 4.7
2002 5.79 4.7
2001 5.85 4.67
2000 5.94 4.72
1999 6.03 4.81
1998 6.14 4.91
1997 6.23 5
1996 6.28 5.03
1995 6.33 5.07
1994 6.42 5.1
1993 6.51 5.13
1992 6.59 5.18
1991 6.67 5.22
1990 6.74 5.27
1989 6.82 5.33
1988 6.87 5.39
1987 6.92 5.46
1986 6.96 5.51
1985 7 5.59
1984 7.03 5.66
1983 7.05 5.76
1982 7.06 5.85
1981 7.06 5.98
1980 6.99 6.07
1979 6.91 6.14
1978 6.82 6.21
1977 6.83 6.27
1976 6.83 6.32
1975 6.83 6.36
1974 6.82 6.39
1973 6.81 6.42
1972 6.8 6.44
1971 6.77 6.42
1970 6.74 6.38
1969 6.71 6.35
1968 6.67 6.33
1967 6.64 6.29
1966 6.63 6.27
1965 6.61 6.23
1964 6.57 6.18
1963 6.51 6.15
1962 6.46 6.1
1961 6.4 6.09
1960 6.28 6.09

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | 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 4.16 in the Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Benin
Congo
1x
Year Natural population change
Benin Congo
2023 353,933 150,486
2022 349,518 147,076
2021 341,103 144,241
2020 341,929 143,492
2019 339,817 139,513
2018 340,270 142,704
2017 339,763 141,973
2016 336,559 141,358
2015 330,573 141,539
2014 323,753 141,674
2013 315,804 142,080
2012 306,180 142,464
2011 296,348 140,371
2010 287,703 136,908
2009 280,204 126,904
2008 274,242 120,711
2007 271,305 112,459
2006 265,040 106,876
2005 253,795 101,344
2004 245,630 96,577
2003 237,962 91,326
2002 229,472 88,497
2001 222,877 84,876
2000 218,013 78,491
1999 213,074 76,204
1998 208,342 72,450
1997 203,182 66,149
1996 197,643 75,628
1995 194,481 74,189
1994 196,637 72,857
1993 179,858 71,119
1992 173,794 69,973
1991 168,174 68,534
1990 163,055 67,241
1989 157,235 65,944
1988 153,580 64,629
1987 147,783 63,183
1986 142,039 61,669
1985 136,621 60,359
1984 131,590 59,028
1983 126,349 58,120
1982 122,748 57,036
1981 118,634 56,603
1980 112,969 55,550
1979 106,782 54,723
1978 100,762 53,885
1977 97,200 53,179
1976 93,141 52,148
1975 89,350 51,155
1974 85,623 49,563
1973 82,422 48,017
1972 79,415 46,427
1971 76,034 44,431
1970 73,156 42,374
1969 70,155 40,532
1968 67,327 38,786
1967 64,709 36,866
1966 62,169 35,452
1965 60,154 33,865
1964 57,352 32,270
1963 54,514 30,832
1962 51,664 29,342
1961 48,838 28,220
1960 44,564 27,094

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | 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 +2.43% in the Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.72% in Benin and +2.59% in the Congo.

Birth rate in Benin vs Congo by year

Benin
Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Benin Congo
2023 33.9 30.6
2022 34.4 30.9
2021 34.8 31.4
2020 35.3 31.7
2019 36 32.2
2018 37 32.8
2017 37.8 33.4
2016 38.6 34.1
2015 39 34.9
2014 39.3 35.8
2013 39.6 36.8
2012 39.7 37.8
2011 39.7 38.4
2010 39.8 38.9
2009 40 38
2008 40.4 38
2007 41 37.2
2006 41.3 37.1
2005 41.1 37
2004 41.3 37.1
2003 41.5 37
2002 41.5 37.3
2001 41.7 37.1
2000 42.1 36.2
1999 42.5 37
1998 43 37.5
1997 43.4 38.4
1996 43.7 38.4
1995 44.4 38.5
1994 45.7 38.6
1993 44.1 38.6
1992 44.9 38.7
1991 45.4 38.8
1990 45.7 38.9
1989 46 39.1
1988 46.6 39.2
1987 46.9 39.4
1986 47.1 39.6
1985 47.3 39.8
1984 47.6 40.1
1983 47.7 40.6
1982 48 40.8
1981 48.2 41.4
1980 47.9 41.8
1979 47.4 42.2
1978 46.9 42.7
1977 47 43.2
1976 47.1 43.6
1975 47.1 44
1974 47.2 44.1
1973 47.3 44.3
1972 47.4 44.5
1971 47.5 44.4
1970 47.5 44.1
1969 47.5 44
1968 47.5 43.9
1967 47.5 43.7
1966 47.7 43.6
1965 47.7 43.5
1964 47.6 43.4
1963 47.4 43.3
1962 47.1 43.2
1961 46.7 43.3
1960 45.8 43.5

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.9 in Benin and 30.6 in the Congo, compared with 45.8 and 43.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Benin Congo
Fertility rate 4.56 4.16
Fertility rate rank 14/196 23/196
Birth rate 33.9 30.6
Birth rate rank 14/196 28/196
Population change due to births and deaths +353,933 +150,486
Natural population change rank 49/196 69/196
Natural population change rate +2.51% +2.43%
Population growth +2.49% +2.43%
Population growth rank 27/197 31/197
Age at first childbirth 20.5 years 19.6 years
Average age at childbearing 29 years 28.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 74.6 106.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 216.3 181.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 68.7 57.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.9% 24%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 16.9% 18.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 78.1% 91.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.52% 0.24%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.8% 1.77%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.64% 2.76%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.79% 4.05%
Life expectancy 61.3 years 66.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Benin
Factual

UN forecast
Congo
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Benin Congo
2100 22.4% 22.6%
2099 22.5% 22.7%
2098 22.7% 22.8%
2097 22.8% 23%
2096 23% 23.1%
2095 23.1% 23.3%
2094 23.3% 23.4%
2093 23.4% 23.6%
2092 23.6% 23.8%
2091 23.8% 23.9%
2090 23.9% 24.1%
2089 24.1% 24.3%
2088 24.3% 24.4%
2087 24.5% 24.6%
2086 24.7% 24.8%
2085 24.8% 25%
2084 25% 25.2%
2083 25.2% 25.4%
2082 25.4% 25.6%
2081 25.6% 25.9%
2080 25.8% 26.1%
2079 26% 26.3%
2078 26.2% 26.5%
2077 26.4% 26.7%
2076 26.6% 26.9%
2075 26.8% 27.1%
2074 27% 27.3%
2073 27.2% 27.5%
2072 27.4% 27.7%
2071 27.6% 27.9%
2070 27.8% 28.1%
2069 28% 28.3%
2068 28.2% 28.5%
2067 28.4% 28.7%
2066 28.7% 29%
2065 28.9% 29.2%
2064 29.2% 29.4%
2063 29.4% 29.6%
2062 29.7% 29.9%
2061 30% 30.1%
2060 30.3% 30.4%
2059 30.6% 30.7%
2058 30.9% 30.9%
2057 31.2% 31.2%
2056 31.5% 31.5%
2055 31.8% 31.8%
2054 32.1% 32.1%
2053 32.4% 32.4%
2052 32.7% 32.7%
2051 33% 32.9%
2050 33.3% 33.2%
2049 33.5% 33.5%
2048 33.8% 33.8%
2047 34.1% 34.1%
2046 34.3% 34.3%
2045 34.6% 34.6%
2044 34.9% 34.8%
2043 35.2% 35%
2042 35.4% 35.2%
2041 35.7% 35.4%
2040 36% 35.6%
2039 36.3% 35.7%
2038 36.7% 35.9%
2037 37% 36.1%
2036 37.3% 36.3%
2035 37.6% 36.5%
2034 38% 36.7%
2033 38.4% 36.9%
2032 38.8% 37.2%
2031 39.2% 37.5%
2030 39.6% 37.8%
2029 40% 38.2%
2028 40.4% 38.6%
2027 40.8% 39.1%
2026 41.1% 39.7%
2025 41.4% 40.2%
2024 41.6% 40.4%
2023 41.8% 40.9%
2022 42.1% 41.3%
2021 42.4% 41.5%
2020 42.7% 41.8%
2019 42.9% 41.9%
2018 43.1% 42.1%
2017 43.2% 42.1%
2016 43.3% 42.1%
2015 43.4% 41.9%
2014 43.5% 41.7%
2013 43.6% 41.3%
2012 43.7% 41%
2011 43.8% 40.6%
2010 43.9% 40.4%
2009 44.1% 40.5%
2008 44.3% 40.7%
2007 44.4% 40.7%
2006 44.4% 40.9%
2005 44.6% 41.1%
2004 44.8% 41.4%
2003 44.9% 41.7%
2002 45.1% 41.9%
2001 45.3% 41.9%
2000 45.4% 42.5%
1999 45.6% 43.1%
1998 45.8% 43.3%
1997 45.9% 43.3%
1996 46% 43.2%
1995 45.9% 43.3%
1994 45.5% 43.4%
1993 45.7% 43.6%
1992 46.2% 43.8%
1991 46.2% 44%
1990 46.1% 44.2%
1989 46.1% 44.3%
1988 46.1% 44.5%
1987 46% 44.6%
1986 45.9% 44.7%
1985 45.8% 44.9%
1984 45.7% 45%
1983 45.6% 45.2%
1982 45.5% 45.4%
1981 45.3% 45.6%
1980 45.2% 45.7%
1979 45.1% 45.8%
1978 45% 45.8%
1977 44.8% 45.8%
1976 44.7% 45.7%
1975 44.5% 45.5%
1974 44.3% 45.4%
1973 44.1% 45.2%
1972 43.8% 45%
1971 43.5% 44.8%
1970 43.2% 44.7%
1969 42.8% 44.5%
1968 42.5% 44.3%
1967 42.1% 44.2%
1966 41.6% 44%
1965 41.2% 43.9%
1964 40.8% 43.7%
1963 40.3% 43.5%
1962 39.9% 43.3%
1961 39.5% 43%
1960 39.1% 42.7%

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/congo | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.6% of the population in Benin and 40.4% in the Congo in 2024, compared to 46.1% and 44.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Benin and the Congo compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Benin vs Congo

Benin
Congo
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Benin Congo
2023 518 241
2022 547 241
2021 584 301
2020 578 247
2019 572 245
2018 585 259
2017 592 262
2016 604 263
2015 606 284
2014 605 302
2013 607 320
2012 618 374
2011 613 378
2010 607 382
2009 598 414
2008 563 395
2007 501 370
2006 509 394
2005 514 385
2004 531 400
2003 532 436
2002 534 464
2001 532 489
2000 529 509
1999 536 554
1998 547 597
1997 556 650
1996 576 545
1995 586 551
1994 605 551
1993 591 541
1992 625 531
1991 666 514
1990 692 505
1989 732 506
1988 765 510
1987 817 519
1986 858 535
1985 910 546

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | 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 241 deaths in the Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Benin
Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Benin Congo
2023 7.79% 4.05%
2022 8.04% 4.19%
2021 8.31% 4.33%
2020 8.55% 4.47%
2019 8.8% 5.24%
2018 9.05% 4.77%
2017 9.27% 4.93%
2016 9.5% 5.09%
2015 9.71% 5.27%
2014 9.93% 5.45%
2013 10.2% 5.64%
2012 10.4% 5.82%
2011 10.6% 6.02%
2010 10.8% 6.25%
2009 11.1% 6.55%
2008 11.3% 6.95%
2007 11.5% 7.43%
2006 11.8% 8.02%
2005 12.1% 8.66%
2004 12.4% 9.35%
2003 12.7% 10%
2002 13% 10.6%
2001 13.3% 11.1%
2000 13.6% 11.4%
1999 13.9% 11.5%
1998 14.3% 11.4%
1997 14.6% 11.2%
1996 14.9% 10.9%
1995 15.2% 10.5%
1994 15.6% 10.2%
1993 16% 9.84%
1992 16.4% 9.54%
1991 16.8% 9.31%
1990 17.2% 9.15%
1989 17.6% 9.05%
1988 18% 9.04%
1987 18.4% 9.11%
1986 18.8% 9.25%
1985 19.2% 9.44%
1984 19.6% 9.68%
1983 20% 9.95%
1982 20.4% 10.2%
1981 20.8% 10.5%
1980 21.2% 10.7%
1979 21.6% 11%
1978 22.1% 11.2%
1977 22.6% 11.5%
1976 23.1% 11.8%
1975 23.7% 12.1%
1974 24.2% 12.4%
1973 24.7% 12.6%
1972 25.2% 13%
1971 25.7% 13.4%
1970 26.1% 13.7%
1969 26.6% 14.2%
1968 27% 14.6%
1967 27.5% 15.1%
1966 28% 15.6%
1965 28.5% 16.1%
1964 29.1% 16.7%
1963 29.6% 17.3%
1962 30.2% 18%
1961 30.7% 18.6%
1960 31.2% 19.4%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/benin/congo | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.79% in Benin and 4.05% in the Congo. 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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