Fertility & birth rates in Botswana and DR Congo

Fertility rate in Botswana vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

Botswana

DR Congo

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Botswana	DR Congo
2023	2.73	6.05
2022	2.79	6.11
2021	2.83	6.16
2020	2.86	6.21
2019	2.91	6.25
2018	2.94	6.3
2017	2.97	6.35
2016	2.99	6.39
2015	3.01	6.44
2014	3.03	6.48
2013	3.05	6.53
2012	3.07	6.56
2011	3.1	6.58
2010	3.14	6.59
2009	3.13	6.59
2008	3.13	6.58
2007	3.13	6.56
2006	3.11	6.55
2005	3.08	6.53
2004	3.06	6.53
2003	3.11	6.55
2002	3.18	6.61
2001	3.25	6.66
2000	3.29	6.7
1999	3.31	6.69
1998	3.36	6.7
1997	3.43	6.69
1996	3.57	6.67
1995	3.79	6.68
1994	4.02	6.64
1993	4.15	6.64
1992	4.26	6.64
1991	4.37	6.65
1990	4.51	6.65
1989	4.67	6.65
1988	4.88	6.66
1987	5.1	6.65
1986	5.33	6.63
1985	5.48	6.61
1984	5.63	6.59
1983	5.79	6.56
1982	5.97	6.54
1981	6.16	6.52
1980	6.29	6.5
1979	6.4	6.48
1978	6.48	6.46
1977	6.54	6.45
1976	6.6	6.44
1975	6.61	6.42
1974	6.61	6.4
1973	6.59	6.39
1972	6.56	6.37
1971	6.54	6.34
1970	6.55	6.33
1969	6.56	6.3
1968	6.58	6.29
1967	6.6	6.27
1966	6.61	6.24
1965	6.6	6.21
1964	6.61	6.19
1963	6.58	6.16
1962	6.54	6.14
1961	6.56	6.12
1960	6.6	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Botswana was 2.73 children per woman in 2023, compared to 6.05 in the DR Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Botswana

DR Congo

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Botswana	DR Congo
2023	47,098	3,467,787
2022	47,400	3,347,664
2021	40,894	3,227,992
2020	45,610	3,156,152
2019	45,110	3,075,538
2018	44,171	2,993,184
2017	43,154	2,883,245
2016	41,993	2,753,687
2015	40,897	2,665,016
2014	40,046	2,580,251
2013	39,404	2,489,378
2012	39,202	2,405,462
2011	38,613	2,310,679
2010	38,101	2,212,255
2009	36,671	2,126,912
2008	35,433	2,044,210
2007	33,832	1,963,738
2006	31,340	1,889,398
2005	29,385	1,800,300
2004	27,481	1,731,022
2003	26,545	1,679,188
2002	26,163	1,631,597
2001	26,112	1,594,999
2000	25,850	1,549,518
1999	25,358	1,450,318
1998	25,397	1,375,130
1997	25,738	1,392,037
1996	26,847	1,380,490
1995	28,478	1,395,440
1994	30,664	1,259,539
1993	31,691	1,209,242
1992	31,995	1,152,781
1991	32,219	1,114,033
1990	33,015	1,063,508
1989	33,756	1,027,238
1988	34,564	995,278
1987	35,647	959,875
1986	36,203	925,334
1985	35,966	885,670
1984	35,530	844,956
1983	35,142	807,122
1982	34,859	774,823
1981	34,327	748,371
1980	33,934	724,111
1979	32,486	691,773
1978	30,596	646,411
1977	29,009	638,242
1976	27,497	624,147
1975	25,762	608,655
1974	24,160	593,539
1973	22,449	578,280
1972	21,004	564,495
1971	19,926	549,343
1970	19,438	533,300
1969	19,024	514,800
1968	18,725	497,682
1967	18,463	479,552
1966	18,250	463,397
1965	18,045	429,002
1964	17,634	406,334
1963	17,084	398,972
1962	16,507	383,406
1961	16,185	368,207
1960	15,861	363,517

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 +1.9% in Botswana and +3.28% in the DR Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.88% in Botswana and +3.29% in the DR Congo.

Birth rate in Botswana vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

Botswana

DR Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Botswana	DR Congo
2023	24.7	41.3
2022	25.3	41.6
2021	25.4	41.9
2020	25.5	42.2
2019	25.8	42.5
2018	25.9	42.9
2017	26.1	43
2016	26.3	42.9
2015	26.5	43.2
2014	26.8	43.5
2013	27.2	43.7
2012	27.7	44
2011	28	44
2010	28.4	43.9
2009	28.4	44
2008	28.4	44
2007	28.3	44
2006	28.1	44
2005	27.7	43.7
2004	27.3	43.8
2003	27.4	44.2
2002	27.6	44.6
2001	27.9	45
2000	27.9	45.3
1999	27.7	45.2
1998	27.7	44.9
1997	27.9	46
1996	28.6	47
1995	29.9	47.2
1994	31.3	45.3
1993	31.9	45.9
1992	32.4	45.7
1991	32.8	46
1990	33.6	45.9
1989	34.5	46.1
1988	35.8	46.4
1987	37.2	46.5
1986	38.5	46.6
1985	39.4	46.5
1984	40.2	46.2
1983	41.2	46.1
1982	42.3	46
1981	43.4	46.1
1980	44.7	46.1
1979	44.7	45.8
1978	45.1	45.4
1977	45.8	45.9
1976	46.2	46.2
1975	46.2	46.4
1974	46.1	46.6
1973	45.7	46.9
1972	45.5	47.1
1971	45.5	47.4
1970	45.7	47.6
1969	45.5	47.7
1968	45.5	47.8
1967	45.5	47.9
1966	45.6	47.9
1965	45.8	47.8
1964	45.8	47.7
1963	45.9	47.5
1962	46	47.4
1961	46.6	47.2
1960	47.1	47.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.7 in Botswana and 41.3 in the DR Congo, compared with 47.1 and 47.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Botswana

Factual

UN forecast

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Botswana	DR Congo
2100	16.9%	23.4%
2099	16.9%	23.6%
2098	17%	23.8%
2097	17.1%	24%
2096	17.2%	24.2%
2095	17.3%	24.4%
2094	17.4%	24.6%
2093	17.5%	24.8%
2092	17.5%	25%
2091	17.6%	25.2%
2090	17.7%	25.4%
2089	17.8%	25.6%
2088	17.8%	25.8%
2087	17.9%	26.1%
2086	18%	26.3%
2085	18.1%	26.5%
2084	18.2%	26.8%
2083	18.2%	27%
2082	18.3%	27.2%
2081	18.4%	27.5%
2080	18.5%	27.8%
2079	18.6%	28%
2078	18.7%	28.3%
2077	18.9%	28.6%
2076	19%	28.9%
2075	19.1%	29.2%
2074	19.3%	29.5%
2073	19.4%	29.8%
2072	19.6%	30.1%
2071	19.8%	30.4%
2070	20%	30.7%
2069	20.2%	31.1%
2068	20.3%	31.4%
2067	20.5%	31.7%
2066	20.7%	32.1%
2065	20.9%	32.4%
2064	21.1%	32.8%
2063	21.3%	33.1%
2062	21.5%	33.5%
2061	21.7%	33.8%
2060	21.8%	34.1%
2059	22%	34.5%
2058	22.2%	34.8%
2057	22.4%	35.1%
2056	22.5%	35.5%
2055	22.7%	35.8%
2054	22.9%	36.1%
2053	23%	36.5%
2052	23.2%	36.8%
2051	23.4%	37.1%
2050	23.6%	37.5%
2049	23.9%	37.8%
2048	24.1%	38.2%
2047	24.4%	38.6%
2046	24.7%	39%
2045	25%	39.4%
2044	25.3%	39.8%
2043	25.7%	40.2%
2042	26.1%	40.6%
2041	26.5%	41.1%
2040	26.9%	41.5%
2039	27.4%	42%
2038	27.9%	42.4%
2037	28.3%	42.8%
2036	29%	43.2%
2035	29.4%	43.6%
2034	29.8%	44%
2033	30.1%	44.3%
2032	30.5%	44.6%
2031	30.8%	44.9%
2030	31.1%	45.2%
2029	31.3%	45.4%
2028	31.5%	45.6%
2027	31.7%	45.8%
2026	31.9%	45.9%
2025	32%	46%
2024	32.1%	46%
2023	32.3%	46.1%
2022	32.4%	46.1%
2021	32.6%	46.1%
2020	32.9%	46.1%
2019	33.3%	46%
2018	33.6%	45.9%
2017	33.9%	45.8%
2016	34.2%	45.9%
2015	34.4%	46%
2014	34.4%	46%
2013	34.4%	46%
2012	34.2%	46%
2011	34%	46%
2010	34.1%	46.1%
2009	34.2%	46.1%
2008	34.5%	46%
2007	34.8%	46%
2006	35.1%	45.9%
2005	35.5%	45.9%
2004	35.9%	45.9%
2003	36.5%	45.8%
2002	37.1%	45.7%
2001	37.7%	45.7%
2000	38.4%	45.7%
1999	39.1%	45.6%
1998	39.8%	45.6%
1997	40.6%	45.4%
1996	41.4%	44.7%
1995	42.2%	44%
1994	43%	44.1%
1993	43.7%	44.5%
1992	44.2%	44.5%
1991	44.7%	44.4%
1990	45.1%	44.4%
1989	45.5%	44.3%
1988	45.8%	44.3%
1987	46%	44.2%
1986	46.1%	44.1%
1985	46.2%	44.1%
1984	46.2%	44.1%
1983	46.2%	44.2%
1982	46.2%	44.3%
1981	46.2%	44.3%
1980	46.1%	44.2%
1979	46%	44.3%
1978	46.5%	44.5%
1977	47%	44.6%
1976	47.3%	44.5%
1975	47.7%	44.3%
1974	48.2%	44.2%
1973	48.6%	44%
1972	49.1%	43.8%
1971	49.3%	43.6%
1970	49.2%	43.4%
1969	48.9%	43.3%
1968	48.6%	43.2%
1967	48.2%	43%
1966	47.9%	42.9%
1965	47.5%	42.8%
1964	47.2%	42.7%
1963	46.8%	42.7%
1962	46.2%	42.7%
1961	45.6%	42.8%
1960	45.1%	42.9%

Children aged 0-14 make up 32.1% of the population in Botswana and 46% in the DR Congo in 2024, compared to 45.1% and 44.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Botswana and the DR Congo compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Botswana vs DR Congo

Chart Table

Botswana

DR Congo

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Botswana	DR Congo
2023	155	427
2022	120	456
2021	165	507
2020	98	489
2019	100	493
2018	99	508
2017	46	519
2016	72	526
2015	141	545
2014	212	558
2013	221	567
2012	288	578
2011	269	589
2010	228	601
2009	213	608
2008	199	620
2007	201	631
2006	204	619
2005	166	613
2004	151	607
2003	142	605
2002	140	601
2001	138	588
2000	136	585
1999	131	601
1998	126	605
1997	123	617
1996	130	661
1995	148	644
1994	182	656
1993	230	683
1992	263	709
1991	283	735
1990	296	755
1989	300	791
1988	319	824
1987	302	863
1986	304	902
1985	313	934

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 155 deaths per 100,000 live births in Botswana, compared to 427 deaths in the DR Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Botswana

DR Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Botswana	DR Congo
2023	3.96%	7.32%
2022	4.07%	7.57%
2021	4.2%	7.81%
2020	4.39%	8.07%
2019	4.5%	8.35%
2018	4.59%	8.63%
2017	4.65%	8.93%
2016	4.9%	9.23%
2015	4.98%	9.56%
2014	5.11%	9.9%
2013	5.1%	10.3%
2012	5.34%	10.6%
2011	5.68%	11%
2010	5.58%	11.4%
2009	5.78%	11.8%
2008	6.03%	12.2%
2007	6.16%	12.7%
2006	6.43%	13.1%
2005	7.03%	13.6%
2004	7.63%	14.1%
2003	7.85%	14.6%
2002	8%	15%
2001	8.12%	15.5%
2000	8.11%	15.9%
1999	7.91%	16.3%
1998	7.57%	16.7%
1997	7.37%	17%
1996	7.1%	17.3%
1995	6.74%	17.5%
1994	6.72%	17.7%
1993	6.2%	17.9%
1992	5.7%	18.1%
1991	5.29%	18.3%
1990	5.01%	18.5%
1989	4.87%	18.8%
1988	4.88%	19%
1987	5%	19.2%
1986	5.22%	19.5%
1985	5.5%	19.7%
1984	5.8%	20%
1983	6.12%	20.3%
1982	6.47%	20.6%
1981	6.86%	20.9%
1980	7.29%	21.2%
1979	7.74%	21.5%
1978	8.23%	21.9%
1977	8.77%	22.3%
1976	9.32%	22.6%
1975	9.88%	23%
1974	10.4%	23.4%
1973	10.9%	23.7%
1972	11.4%	24%
1971	11.9%	24.3%
1970	12.4%	24.7%
1969	12.8%	25.1%
1968	13.2%	-
1967	13.6%	-
1966	14%	-
1965	14.5%	-
1964	14.9%	-
1963	15.3%	-
1962	15.8%	-
1961	16.3%	-
1960	16.8%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.96% in Botswana and 7.32% in the DR Congo. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.