Fertility & birth rates in Benin and Gambia

Fertility rate in Benin vs Gambia by year

Chart Table

Benin

Gambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Benin	Gambia
2023	4.56	4.01
2022	4.63	4.08
2021	4.71	4.17
2020	4.8	4.25
2019	4.9	4.33
2018	5.03	4.42
2017	5.16	4.61
2016	5.25	4.81
2015	5.32	5
2014	5.37	5.2
2013	5.41	5.39
2012	5.43	5.52
2011	5.44	5.54
2010	5.45	5.56
2009	5.49	5.57
2008	5.55	5.63
2007	5.63	5.69
2006	5.67	5.74
2005	5.69	5.71
2004	5.72	5.68
2003	5.76	5.66
2002	5.79	5.66
2001	5.85	5.67
2000	5.94	5.72
1999	6.03	5.77
1998	6.14	5.82
1997	6.23	5.85
1996	6.28	5.93
1995	6.33	5.99
1994	6.42	6.04
1993	6.51	6.03
1992	6.59	6.11
1991	6.67	6.19
1990	6.74	6.25
1989	6.82	6.25
1988	6.87	6.26
1987	6.92	6.3
1986	6.96	6.34
1985	7	6.36
1984	7.03	6.39
1983	7.05	6.39
1982	7.06	6.4
1981	7.06	6.4
1980	6.99	6.41
1979	6.91	6.41
1978	6.82	6.42
1977	6.83	6.43
1976	6.83	6.43
1975	6.83	6.43
1974	6.82	6.42
1973	6.81	6.41
1972	6.8	6.37
1971	6.77	6.33
1970	6.74	6.26
1969	6.71	6.25
1968	6.67	6.22
1967	6.64	6.21
1966	6.63	6.18
1965	6.61	6.19
1964	6.57	6.2
1963	6.51	6.2
1962	6.46	6.21
1961	6.4	6.23
1960	6.28	6.25

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Benin was 4.56 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.01 in the Gambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Benin

Gambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Benin	Gambia
2023	353,933	65,118
2022	349,518	63,634
2021	341,103	62,239
2020	341,929	62,209
2019	339,817	61,701
2018	340,270	60,854
2017	339,763	61,665
2016	336,559	62,358
2015	330,573	62,832
2014	323,753	63,185
2013	315,804	63,510
2012	306,180	62,745
2011	296,348	60,571
2010	287,703	58,554
2009	280,204	56,575
2008	274,242	55,032
2007	271,305	53,653
2006	265,040	52,335
2005	253,795	50,010
2004	245,630	48,276
2003	237,962	46,473
2002	229,472	45,156
2001	222,877	44,154
2000	218,013	43,249
1999	213,074	42,533
1998	208,342	41,842
1997	203,182	40,742
1996	197,643	40,253
1995	194,481	39,681
1994	196,637	38,880
1993	179,858	37,302
1992	173,794	35,951
1991	168,174	34,584
1990	163,055	33,163
1989	157,235	31,504
1988	153,580	29,938
1987	147,783	28,452
1986	142,039	27,195
1985	136,621	25,795
1984	131,590	24,586
1983	126,349	23,175
1982	122,748	21,894
1981	118,634	20,156
1980	112,969	19,566
1979	106,782	18,543
1978	100,762	17,424
1977	97,200	16,773
1976	93,141	16,032
1975	89,350	15,256
1974	85,623	14,628
1973	82,422	14,046
1972	79,415	13,432
1971	76,034	12,842
1970	73,156	12,128
1969	70,155	11,670
1968	67,327	11,215
1967	64,709	10,823
1966	62,169	10,422
1965	60,154	10,162
1964	57,352	9,825
1963	54,514	9,493
1962	51,664	9,150
1961	48,838	8,778
1960	44,564	8,420

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 +2.41% in the Gambia.

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

Birth rate in Benin vs Gambia by year

Chart Table

Benin

Gambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Benin	Gambia
2023	33.9	30.4
2022	34.4	30.8
2021	34.8	31.2
2020	35.3	31.5
2019	36	31.9
2018	37	32.3
2017	37.8	33.5
2016	38.6	34.6
2015	39	35.7
2014	39.3	36.9
2013	39.6	38.1
2012	39.7	38.8
2011	39.7	38.8
2010	39.8	38.9
2009	40	38.9
2008	40.4	39.2
2007	41	39.5
2006	41.3	39.9
2005	41.1	39.7
2004	41.3	39.7
2003	41.5	39.7
2002	41.5	40
2001	41.7	40.5
2000	42.1	41.1
1999	42.5	41.8
1998	43	42.5
1997	43.4	43.2
1996	43.7	44.1
1995	44.4	45.1
1994	45.7	45.9
1993	44.1	46.1
1992	44.9	46.6
1991	45.4	47.2
1990	45.7	47.7
1989	46	47.9
1988	46.6	48.1
1987	46.9	48.5
1986	47.1	48.8
1985	47.3	49
1984	47.6	49.3
1983	47.7	49
1982	48	48.8
1981	48.2	48.5
1980	47.9	48.2
1979	47.4	47.8
1978	46.9	47.6
1977	47	47.5
1976	47.1	47.4
1975	47.1	47.3
1974	47.2	47.3
1973	47.3	47.5
1972	47.4	47.5
1971	47.5	47.6
1970	47.5	47.4
1969	47.5	47.6
1968	47.5	47.9
1967	47.5	48.2
1966	47.7	48.5
1965	47.7	49
1964	47.6	49.4
1963	47.4	49.8
1962	47.1	50
1961	46.7	50.3
1960	45.8	50.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.9 in Benin and 30.4 in the Gambia, compared with 45.8 and 50.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Benin

Factual

UN forecast

Gambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Benin	Gambia
2100	22.4%	18.1%
2099	22.5%	18.2%
2098	22.7%	18.3%
2097	22.8%	18.4%
2096	23%	18.5%
2095	23.1%	18.6%
2094	23.3%	18.7%
2093	23.4%	18.9%
2092	23.6%	19%
2091	23.8%	19.1%
2090	23.9%	19.3%
2089	24.1%	19.4%
2088	24.3%	19.6%
2087	24.5%	19.7%
2086	24.7%	19.9%
2085	24.8%	20%
2084	25%	20.2%
2083	25.2%	20.3%
2082	25.4%	20.5%
2081	25.6%	20.6%
2080	25.8%	20.8%
2079	26%	21%
2078	26.2%	21.2%
2077	26.4%	21.3%
2076	26.6%	21.5%
2075	26.8%	21.7%
2074	27%	21.9%
2073	27.2%	22.1%
2072	27.4%	22.3%
2071	27.6%	22.6%
2070	27.8%	22.8%
2069	28%	23%
2068	28.2%	23.2%
2067	28.4%	23.5%
2066	28.7%	23.7%
2065	28.9%	24%
2064	29.2%	24.3%
2063	29.4%	24.5%
2062	29.7%	24.8%
2061	30%	25.1%
2060	30.3%	25.4%
2059	30.6%	25.7%
2058	30.9%	26%
2057	31.2%	26.3%
2056	31.5%	26.7%
2055	31.8%	27%
2054	32.1%	27.3%
2053	32.4%	27.6%
2052	32.7%	28%
2051	33%	28.3%
2050	33.3%	28.6%
2049	33.5%	28.9%
2048	33.8%	29.3%
2047	34.1%	29.6%
2046	34.3%	30%
2045	34.6%	30.3%
2044	34.9%	30.7%
2043	35.2%	31.1%
2042	35.4%	31.5%
2041	35.7%	31.9%
2040	36%	32.3%
2039	36.3%	32.7%
2038	36.7%	33.2%
2037	37%	33.6%
2036	37.3%	34.1%
2035	37.6%	34.5%
2034	38%	35%
2033	38.4%	35.4%
2032	38.8%	35.9%
2031	39.2%	36.4%
2030	39.6%	37%
2029	40%	37.6%
2028	40.4%	38.2%
2027	40.8%	38.9%
2026	41.1%	39.5%
2025	41.4%	40%
2024	41.6%	40.2%
2023	41.8%	40.7%
2022	42.1%	41.2%
2021	42.4%	41.6%
2020	42.7%	42%
2019	42.9%	42.4%
2018	43.1%	42.8%
2017	43.2%	43.1%
2016	43.3%	43.3%
2015	43.4%	43.6%
2014	43.5%	43.7%
2013	43.6%	43.9%
2012	43.7%	44.1%
2011	43.8%	44.3%
2010	43.9%	44.5%
2009	44.1%	44.8%
2008	44.3%	45.1%
2007	44.4%	45.3%
2006	44.4%	45.6%
2005	44.6%	45.9%
2004	44.8%	46.1%
2003	44.9%	46.4%
2002	45.1%	46.6%
2001	45.3%	46.7%
2000	45.4%	46.8%
1999	45.6%	46.9%
1998	45.8%	46.9%
1997	45.9%	46.9%
1996	46%	46.7%
1995	45.9%	46.5%
1994	45.5%	46.3%
1993	45.7%	46%
1992	46.2%	45.9%
1991	46.2%	45.8%
1990	46.1%	45.7%
1989	46.1%	45.6%
1988	46.1%	45.5%
1987	46%	45.4%
1986	45.9%	45.2%
1985	45.8%	45%
1984	45.7%	44.9%
1983	45.6%	44.6%
1982	45.5%	44.3%
1981	45.3%	44%
1980	45.2%	43.7%
1979	45.1%	43.5%
1978	45%	43.3%
1977	44.8%	43%
1976	44.7%	42.8%
1975	44.5%	42.6%
1974	44.3%	42.4%
1973	44.1%	42.3%
1972	43.8%	42.2%
1971	43.5%	42.1%
1970	43.2%	42%
1969	42.8%	41.9%
1968	42.5%	41.8%
1967	42.1%	41.6%
1966	41.6%	41.5%
1965	41.2%	41.3%
1964	40.8%	41%
1963	40.3%	40.8%
1962	39.9%	40.7%
1961	39.5%	40.8%
1960	39.1%	41%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.6% of the population in Benin and 40.2% in the Gambia in 2024, compared to 46.1% and 45.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Benin and the Gambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Benin vs Gambia

Chart Table

Benin

Gambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Benin	Gambia
2023	518	354
2022	547	365
2021	584	420
2020	578	400
2019	572	422
2018	585	450
2017	592	469
2016	604	490
2015	606	527
2014	605	561
2013	607	606
2012	618	628
2011	613	634
2010	607	632
2009	598	634
2008	563	653
2007	501	675
2006	509	682
2005	514	707
2004	531	719
2003	532	749
2002	534	772
2001	532	794
2000	529	810
1999	536	830
1998	547	867
1997	556	928
1996	576	956
1995	586	999
1994	605	1,039
1993	591	1,072
1992	625	1,115
1991	666	1,167
1990	692	1,207
1989	732	1,258
1988	765	1,302
1987	817	1,360
1986	858	1,401
1985	910	1,454

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 354 deaths in the Gambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Benin

Gambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Benin	Gambia
2023	7.79%	4.41%
2022	8.04%	4.56%
2021	8.31%	4.72%
2020	8.55%	4.89%
2019	8.8%	5.07%
2018	9.05%	5.27%
2017	9.27%	5.47%
2016	9.5%	5.7%
2015	9.71%	5.93%
2014	9.93%	6.18%
2013	10.2%	6.45%
2012	10.4%	6.73%
2011	10.6%	7.01%
2010	10.8%	7.31%
2009	11.1%	7.64%
2008	11.3%	7.98%
2007	11.5%	8.33%
2006	11.8%	8.71%
2005	12.1%	9.11%
2004	12.4%	9.52%
2003	12.7%	9.95%
2002	13%	10.4%
2001	13.3%	10.9%
2000	13.6%	11.3%
1999	13.9%	11.8%
1998	14.3%	12.3%
1997	14.6%	12.8%
1996	14.9%	13.3%
1995	15.2%	13.9%
1994	15.6%	14.4%
1993	16%	14.9%
1992	16.4%	15.5%
1991	16.8%	16%
1990	17.2%	16.6%
1989	17.6%	17.2%
1988	18%	17.8%
1987	18.4%	18.4%
1986	18.8%	19.1%
1985	19.2%	19.7%
1984	19.6%	20.4%
1983	20%	21%
1982	20.4%	21.7%
1981	20.8%	22.3%
1980	21.2%	23%
1979	21.6%	23.6%
1978	22.1%	24.2%
1977	22.6%	24.9%
1976	23.1%	25.5%
1975	23.7%	26.2%
1974	24.2%	26.9%
1973	24.7%	27.5%
1972	25.2%	28.2%
1971	25.7%	28.9%
1970	26.1%	29.5%
1969	26.6%	30.2%
1968	27%	30.9%
1967	27.5%	31.5%
1966	28%	32.1%
1965	28.5%	32.8%
1964	29.1%	33.5%
1963	29.6%	34.1%
1962	30.2%	34.8%
1961	30.7%	35.5%
1960	31.2%	36.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.79% in Benin and 4.41% in the Gambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.