Fertility & birth rates in Cameroon and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Cameroon vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2023	4.32	2.69
2022	4.4	2.72
2021	4.47	2.77
2020	4.56	2.85
2019	4.65	2.92
2018	4.74	3.02
2017	4.8	3.11
2016	4.84	3.18
2015	4.84	3.22
2014	4.84	3.24
2013	4.91	3.28
2012	4.98	3.3
2011	5.05	3.34
2010	5.15	3.25
2009	5.24	3.31
2008	5.29	3.39
2007	5.34	3.44
2006	5.37	3.41
2005	5.42	3.43
2004	5.44	3.51
2003	5.43	3.62
2002	5.44	3.68
2001	5.44	3.63
2000	5.51	3.61
1999	5.6	3.67
1998	5.66	3.82
1997	5.71	3.98
1996	5.8	4.06
1995	5.92	4.13
1994	6.04	4.21
1993	6.16	4.37
1992	6.26	4.54
1991	6.32	4.68
1990	6.36	4.81
1989	6.41	4.96
1988	6.48	5.1
1987	6.54	5.22
1986	6.57	5.32
1985	6.56	5.4
1984	6.56	5.48
1983	6.58	5.56
1982	6.59	5.63
1981	6.61	5.69
1980	6.61	5.75
1979	6.58	5.79
1978	6.55	5.82
1977	6.51	5.85
1976	6.45	5.87
1975	6.4	5.83
1974	6.36	5.75
1973	6.33	5.69
1972	6.29	5.69
1971	6.26	5.7
1970	6.2	5.7
1969	6.14	5.7
1968	6.04	5.73
1967	5.95	5.75
1966	5.85	5.76
1965	5.8	5.77
1964	5.74	5.77
1963	5.73	5.78
1962	5.73	5.79
1961	5.73	5.79
1960	5.73	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cameroon was 4.32 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Cameroon vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2023	754,486	31,115
2022	734,893	30,803
2021	713,806	27,806
2020	716,361	30,721
2019	714,681	32,279
2018	706,188	33,112
2017	696,496	33,601
2016	677,051	33,390
2015	649,190	32,087
2014	619,243	30,922
2013	606,072	29,789
2012	594,029	27,592
2011	580,607	25,647
2010	569,921	21,877
2009	557,841	20,335
2008	542,919	19,349
2007	526,949	17,763
2006	511,366	15,234
2005	496,547	15,831
2004	478,880	17,271
2003	459,422	20,133
2002	439,544	22,274
2001	422,511	23,190
2000	411,633	24,786
1999	401,969	27,393
1998	388,432	30,889
1997	377,138	34,637
1996	370,355	36,228
1995	367,532	37,370
1994	364,390	38,629
1993	360,785	40,505
1992	356,072	42,579
1991	350,493	44,026
1990	342,901	45,060
1989	334,649	46,264
1988	328,168	47,158
1987	320,134	47,718
1986	308,188	45,232
1985	296,317	44,575
1984	284,110	43,785
1983	276,112	42,899
1982	274,652	41,941
1981	262,076	40,808
1980	247,808	39,617
1979	238,875	38,440
1978	229,958	37,084
1977	222,785	35,654
1976	214,916	34,117
1975	206,986	32,311
1974	200,693	30,444
1973	193,997	28,859
1972	186,521	27,841
1971	179,317	26,838
1970	170,713	25,935
1969	162,603	25,137
1968	153,080	24,490
1967	144,370	23,911
1966	135,927	23,326
1965	129,428	22,755
1964	123,469	22,116
1963	119,784	21,585
1962	116,232	21,132
1961	82,471	20,581
1960	77,948	19,981

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 +2.66% in Cameroon and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.78% in Cameroon and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Cameroon vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2023	33.7	24.1
2022	34.3	24.4
2021	34.8	24.9
2020	35.4	25.6
2019	36.2	26.4
2018	36.9	27.4
2017	37.5	28.2
2016	37.8	28.9
2015	37.7	29.2
2014	37.5	29.5
2013	38.1	30
2012	38.7	30
2011	39.2	30.2
2010	39.8	29.2
2009	40.4	29.4
2008	40.7	29.6
2007	40.9	29.5
2006	41.1	28.6
2005	41.3	28.6
2004	41.3	28.7
2003	41.1	29.3
2002	40.8	29.4
2001	40.7	28.7
2000	40.9	28.2
1999	41.1	28.5
1998	41	29.2
1997	40.9	30.2
1996	41.2	30.4
1995	41.7	30.6
1994	42.2	31
1993	42.7	32
1992	43.1	33.2
1991	43.5	34.2
1990	43.6	35.1
1989	43.8	36.3
1988	44.3	37.4
1987	44.6	38.3
1986	44.8	37.5
1985	44.6	37.9
1984	44.7	38.4
1983	45.1	38.9
1982	46.1	39.5
1981	45.7	39.9
1980	45.4	40.4
1979	45.6	40.8
1978	45.4	41
1977	45.5	41.1
1976	45.3	41
1975	45.1	40.6
1974	45.1	40.2
1973	45.1	39.9
1972	45	40.2
1971	45.1	40.5
1970	44.9	40.8
1969	44.8	41.3
1968	44.4	41.9
1967	44.1	42.5
1966	43.7	43
1965	43.6	43.3
1964	43.4	43.5
1963	43.7	43.7
1962	43.9	44.1
1961	43.9	44.3
1960	43.8	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.7 in Cameroon and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 43.8 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Cameroon

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2100	21.8%	18%
2099	21.9%	18.1%
2098	22.1%	18.2%
2097	22.2%	18.3%
2096	22.4%	18.3%
2095	22.6%	18.4%
2094	22.7%	18.5%
2093	22.9%	18.6%
2092	23.1%	18.7%
2091	23.3%	18.9%
2090	23.4%	19%
2089	23.6%	19.1%
2088	23.8%	19.2%
2087	24%	19.3%
2086	24.2%	19.4%
2085	24.4%	19.6%
2084	24.6%	19.7%
2083	24.8%	19.8%
2082	25%	19.9%
2081	25.2%	20%
2080	25.4%	20.2%
2079	25.6%	20.3%
2078	25.8%	20.4%
2077	26.1%	20.5%
2076	26.3%	20.6%
2075	26.5%	20.7%
2074	26.7%	20.9%
2073	26.9%	21%
2072	27.2%	21.1%
2071	27.4%	21.3%
2070	27.6%	21.4%
2069	27.8%	21.5%
2068	28.1%	21.7%
2067	28.3%	21.9%
2066	28.6%	22%
2065	28.8%	22.2%
2064	29.1%	22.4%
2063	29.3%	22.6%
2062	29.6%	22.8%
2061	29.9%	23%
2060	30.1%	23.3%
2059	30.4%	23.5%
2058	30.7%	23.7%
2057	31%	24%
2056	31.3%	24.2%
2055	31.5%	24.5%
2054	31.8%	24.7%
2053	32.1%	25%
2052	32.4%	25.3%
2051	32.7%	25.5%
2050	33%	25.8%
2049	33.3%	26.1%
2048	33.6%	26.3%
2047	33.9%	26.5%
2046	34.2%	26.8%
2045	34.5%	27%
2044	34.8%	27.3%
2043	35.1%	27.5%
2042	35.4%	27.7%
2041	35.7%	28%
2040	36%	28.2%
2039	36.4%	28.4%
2038	36.7%	28.7%
2037	37%	28.9%
2036	37.3%	29.2%
2035	37.7%	29.5%
2034	38.1%	29.9%
2033	38.5%	30.3%
2032	38.9%	30.8%
2031	39.3%	31.3%
2030	39.7%	31.8%
2029	40%	32.3%
2028	40.3%	32.8%
2027	40.6%	33.4%
2026	41%	33.9%
2025	41.3%	34.3%
2024	41.4%	34.5%
2023	41.8%	34.9%
2022	42.1%	35.3%
2021	42.3%	35.6%
2020	42.5%	35.8%
2019	42.7%	36.1%
2018	42.9%	36.3%
2017	43%	36.5%
2016	43%	36.6%
2015	43.2%	36.6%
2014	43.4%	36.6%
2013	43.5%	36.5%
2012	43.6%	36.5%
2011	43.7%	36.5%
2010	43.7%	36.5%
2009	43.8%	36.6%
2008	43.8%	36.7%
2007	43.9%	36.8%
2006	44%	37.1%
2005	44.1%	37.4%
2004	44.2%	37.7%
2003	44.3%	38.1%
2002	44.5%	38.6%
2001	44.7%	39.1%
2000	44.9%	39.6%
1999	45.1%	40.2%
1998	45.3%	40.7%
1997	45.5%	41.2%
1996	45.7%	41.7%
1995	45.9%	42%
1994	46%	42.3%
1993	46.1%	42.6%
1992	46.2%	42.8%
1991	46.2%	42.9%
1990	46.2%	42.9%
1989	46.1%	42.8%
1988	46.1%	42.7%
1987	46%	42.5%
1986	45.9%	42.7%
1985	45.8%	43%
1984	45.7%	42.8%
1983	45.6%	42.7%
1982	45%	42.5%
1981	44.6%	42.3%
1980	44.5%	42.1%
1979	44.4%	41.9%
1978	44.1%	41.7%
1977	43.8%	41.5%
1976	43.5%	41.4%
1975	43.2%	41.6%
1974	43%	41.9%
1973	42.8%	42.3%
1972	42.5%	42.7%
1971	42.3%	43.1%
1970	42%	43.6%
1969	41.8%	44%
1968	41.6%	44.4%
1967	41.3%	44.8%
1966	41.1%	44.9%
1965	40.9%	44.8%
1964	40.7%	44.9%
1963	40.4%	45.2%
1962	40.2%	45.3%
1961	39.9%	45.2%
1960	39.5%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.4% of the population in Cameroon and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 46.2% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cameroon and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Cameroon vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Cameroon

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2023	258	478
2022	276	477
2021	342	577
2020	316	529
2019	336	467
2018	354	491
2017	372	468
2016	393	518
2015	417	594
2014	440	707
2013	469	855
2012	500	1,000
2011	541	1,210
2010	562	1,311
2009	579	1,387
2008	592	1,205
2007	605	891
2006	615	696
2005	629	549
2004	633	499
2003	645	508
2002	658	484
2001	672	465
2000	678	413
1999	672	371
1998	666	332
1997	652	312
1996	648	319
1995	641	357
1994	628	423
1993	606	542
1992	595	601
1991	584	641
1990	570	665
1989	564	680
1988	559	680
1987	557	686
1986	579	680
1985	572	711

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 258 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cameroon, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Cameroon

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Cameroon	Lesotho
2023	6.72%	5.89%
2022	6.95%	6.15%
2021	7.21%	6.44%
2020	7.46%	6.68%
2019	7.72%	6.87%
2018	7.97%	6.91%
2017	8.25%	7.12%
2016	8.56%	7.18%
2015	8.9%	7.51%
2014	9.31%	7.82%
2013	9.73%	8.02%
2012	10.2%	8.26%
2011	10.6%	8.59%
2010	11%	9.01%
2009	11.4%	9.64%
2008	11.8%	10.9%
2007	12.1%	11.2%
2006	12.5%	11.5%
2005	12.8%	11.6%
2004	13.1%	11.5%
2003	13.5%	11.4%
2002	13.8%	11.2%
2001	14.1%	11.1%
2000	14.4%	10.9%
1999	14.7%	10.7%
1998	14.8%	10.5%
1997	14.9%	10.2%
1996	14.8%	9.83%
1995	14.7%	9.45%
1994	14.5%	9.07%
1993	14.3%	8.73%
1992	14%	8.51%
1991	13.8%	8.43%
1990	13.7%	8.47%
1989	13.6%	8.6%
1988	13.8%	8.8%
1987	14%	9.06%
1986	14.4%	9.36%
1985	14.9%	9.72%
1984	15.5%	10.1%
1983	16.2%	10.6%
1982	16.8%	11.1%
1981	17.4%	11.7%
1980	17.9%	12.3%
1979	18.3%	12.9%
1978	18.7%	13.6%
1977	18.9%	14.2%
1976	19%	14.9%
1975	19.2%	15.5%
1974	19.3%	16%
1973	19.6%	16.5%
1972	20%	16.9%
1971	20.6%	17.3%
1970	21.3%	17.7%
1969	22.2%	18%
1968	23.1%	18.3%
1967	24%	18.5%
1966	24.7%	18.6%
1965	25.4%	18.7%
1964	26%	18.6%
1963	26.4%	18.6%
1962	26.9%	18.5%
1961	27.4%	18.5%
1960	28%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 6.72% in Cameroon and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.