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Fertility & birth rates in Cameroon and Malaysia

Updated on by Georank team

Cameroon has an annual birth rate of 33.7 births per 1,000 people, compared to 12.4 for Malaysia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.32 in Cameroon and 1.55 in Malaysia — 64.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 24.5% in Cameroon and by 75.8% in Malaysia — in 1960, it was 5.73 and 6.41, respectively.

  • Cameroon is ranked 16/196 by birth rate compared to 112/196 for Malaysia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.4 in Cameroon — it's 31 in Malaysia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 106.7 in Cameroon vs 5.96 in Malaysia.
  • In Cameroon, 24.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.5% in Malaysia.

Fertility rate in Cameroon vs Malaysia by year

Cameroon
Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cameroon Malaysia
2023 4.32 1.55
2022 4.4 1.55
2021 4.47 1.56
2020 4.56 1.68
2019 4.65 1.78
2018 4.74 1.84
2017 4.8 1.89
2016 4.84 1.94
2015 4.84 2.01
2014 4.84 2.06
2013 4.91 2.07
2012 4.98 2.12
2011 5.05 2.15
2010 5.15 2.14
2009 5.24 2.22
2008 5.29 2.26
2007 5.34 2.25
2006 5.37 2.31
2005 5.42 2.39
2004 5.44 2.49
2003 5.43 2.6
2002 5.44 2.66
2001 5.44 2.81
2000 5.51 2.94
1999 5.6 3.07
1998 5.66 3.12
1997 5.71 3.23
1996 5.8 3.3
1995 5.92 3.32
1994 6.04 3.35
1993 6.16 3.36
1992 6.26 3.37
1991 6.32 3.34
1990 6.36 3.3
1989 6.41 3.31
1988 6.48 3.5
1987 6.54 3.57
1986 6.57 3.7
1985 6.56 3.8
1984 6.56 3.89
1983 6.58 3.93
1982 6.59 3.97
1981 6.61 4
1980 6.61 4.04
1979 6.58 4.09
1978 6.55 4.18
1977 6.51 4.28
1976 6.45 4.4
1975 6.4 4.5
1974 6.36 4.62
1973 6.33 4.73
1972 6.29 4.82
1971 6.26 4.92
1970 6.2 5.04
1969 6.14 5.16
1968 6.04 5.29
1967 5.95 5.43
1966 5.85 5.64
1965 5.8 5.84
1964 5.74 6.03
1963 5.73 6.19
1962 5.73 6.3
1961 5.73 6.37
1960 5.73 6.41

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cameroon was 4.32 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.55 in Malaysia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Cameroon
Malaysia
1x
Year Natural population change
Cameroon Malaysia
2023 754,486 254,806
2022 734,893 237,560
2021 713,806 212,002
2020 716,361 283,282
2019 714,681 309,426
2018 706,188 324,568
2017 696,496 336,434
2016 677,051 345,681
2015 649,190 358,302
2014 619,243 367,587
2013 606,072 366,738
2012 594,029 371,497
2011 580,607 372,836
2010 569,921 360,260
2009 557,841 366,157
2008 542,919 362,380
2007 526,949 348,711
2006 511,366 349,509
2005 496,547 355,324
2004 478,880 365,138
2003 459,422 377,425
2002 439,544 381,084
2001 422,511 400,939
2000 411,633 417,371
1999 401,969 432,355
1998 388,432 436,316
1997 377,138 447,768
1996 370,355 450,174
1995 367,532 443,349
1994 364,390 437,873
1993 360,785 429,910
1992 356,072 418,900
1991 350,493 401,938
1990 342,901 384,518
1989 334,649 373,277
1988 328,168 386,507
1987 320,134 381,999
1986 308,188 385,799
1985 296,317 383,243
1984 284,110 376,797
1983 276,112 365,290
1982 274,652 353,138
1981 262,076 339,991
1980 247,808 326,947
1979 238,875 317,439
1978 229,958 311,027
1977 222,785 305,515
1976 214,916 300,615
1975 206,986 294,541
1974 200,693 289,880
1973 193,997 284,611
1972 186,521 276,263
1971 179,317 272,323
1970 170,713 269,341
1969 162,603 264,327
1968 153,080 260,705
1967 144,370 258,764
1966 135,927 262,162
1965 129,428 264,836
1964 123,469 266,406
1963 119,784 265,815
1962 116,232 262,140
1961 82,471 257,270
1960 77,948 251,090

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | 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 +2.66% in Cameroon and +0.73% in Malaysia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.78% in Cameroon and +0.92% in Malaysia.

Birth rate in Cameroon vs Malaysia by year

Cameroon
Malaysia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Cameroon Malaysia
2023 33.7 12.4
2022 34.3 12.4
2021 34.8 12.4
2020 35.4 13.4
2019 36.2 14.2
2018 36.9 14.8
2017 37.5 15.3
2016 37.8 15.8
2015 37.7 16.3
2014 37.5 16.7
2013 38.1 16.8
2012 38.7 17
2011 39.2 17.2
2010 39.8 16.9
2009 40.4 17.3
2008 40.7 17.4
2007 40.9 17.1
2006 41.1 17.4
2005 41.3 17.9
2004 41.3 18.7
2003 41.1 19.6
2002 40.8 20.1
2001 40.7 21.4
2000 40.9 22.6
1999 41.1 23.8
1998 41 24.4
1997 40.9 25.4
1996 41.2 26.1
1995 41.7 26.3
1994 42.2 26.6
1993 42.7 26.8
1992 43.1 26.8
1991 43.5 26.5
1990 43.6 26.2
1989 43.8 26.3
1988 44.3 27.8
1987 44.6 28.3
1986 44.8 29.4
1985 44.6 30.1
1984 44.7 30.6
1983 45.1 30.7
1982 46.1 30.8
1981 45.7 30.8
1980 45.4 30.7
1979 45.6 30.8
1978 45.4 31
1977 45.5 31.3
1976 45.3 31.7
1975 45.1 32
1974 45.1 32.3
1973 45.1 32.7
1972 45 32.7
1971 45.1 33.2
1970 44.9 33.7
1969 44.8 34
1968 44.4 34.5
1967 44.1 35.1
1966 43.7 36.4
1965 43.6 37.7
1964 43.4 39.1
1963 43.7 40.4
1962 43.9 41.3
1961 43.9 42.2
1960 43.8 42.9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.7 in Cameroon and 12.4 in Malaysia, compared with 43.8 and 42.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Cameroon Malaysia
Fertility rate 4.32 1.55
Fertility rate rank 17/196 133/196
Birth rate 33.7 12.4
Birth rate rank 16/196 112/196
Population change due to births and deaths +754,486 +254,806
Natural population change rank 24/196 54/196
Natural population change rate +2.66% +0.73%
Population growth +2.65% +1.23%
Population growth rank 23/197 89/197
Age at first childbirth 20.1 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 28.4 years 31 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 103.5 5.24
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 193.2 66
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 66.4 25.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.5% 26.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 15.4% 34.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 69% 99.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.26% 0.03%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.52% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.12% 0.68%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 6.72% 0.81%
Life expectancy 64.5 years 77.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Cameroon
Factual

UN forecast
Malaysia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Cameroon Malaysia
2100 21.8% 13.3%
2099 21.9% 13.3%
2098 22.1% 13.4%
2097 22.2% 13.4%
2096 22.4% 13.4%
2095 22.6% 13.4%
2094 22.7% 13.5%
2093 22.9% 13.5%
2092 23.1% 13.5%
2091 23.3% 13.6%
2090 23.4% 13.6%
2089 23.6% 13.7%
2088 23.8% 13.7%
2087 24% 13.7%
2086 24.2% 13.8%
2085 24.4% 13.8%
2084 24.6% 13.8%
2083 24.8% 13.9%
2082 25% 13.9%
2081 25.2% 13.9%
2080 25.4% 13.9%
2079 25.6% 13.9%
2078 25.8% 13.9%
2077 26.1% 13.9%
2076 26.3% 13.9%
2075 26.5% 13.9%
2074 26.7% 13.9%
2073 26.9% 13.9%
2072 27.2% 13.9%
2071 27.4% 13.9%
2070 27.6% 13.9%
2069 27.8% 14%
2068 28.1% 14%
2067 28.3% 14.1%
2066 28.6% 14.1%
2065 28.8% 14.2%
2064 29.1% 14.3%
2063 29.3% 14.4%
2062 29.6% 14.5%
2061 29.9% 14.6%
2060 30.1% 14.8%
2059 30.4% 14.9%
2058 30.7% 15.1%
2057 31% 15.2%
2056 31.3% 15.4%
2055 31.5% 15.5%
2054 31.8% 15.7%
2053 32.1% 15.8%
2052 32.4% 16%
2051 32.7% 16.1%
2050 33% 16.2%
2049 33.3% 16.3%
2048 33.6% 16.4%
2047 33.9% 16.5%
2046 34.2% 16.6%
2045 34.5% 16.7%
2044 34.8% 16.8%
2043 35.1% 16.9%
2042 35.4% 16.9%
2041 35.7% 17%
2040 36% 17.1%
2039 36.4% 17.1%
2038 36.7% 17.2%
2037 37% 17.3%
2036 37.3% 17.3%
2035 37.7% 17.5%
2034 38.1% 17.7%
2033 38.5% 18%
2032 38.9% 18.3%
2031 39.3% 18.7%
2030 39.7% 19.2%
2029 40% 19.7%
2028 40.3% 20.1%
2027 40.6% 20.6%
2026 41% 21.1%
2025 41.3% 21.6%
2024 41.4% 21.8%
2023 41.8% 22.3%
2022 42.1% 22.8%
2021 42.3% 23.4%
2020 42.5% 24%
2019 42.7% 24.5%
2018 42.9% 24.9%
2017 43% 25.2%
2016 43% 25.5%
2015 43.2% 25.8%
2014 43.4% 26.2%
2013 43.5% 26.6%
2012 43.6% 27%
2011 43.7% 27.4%
2010 43.7% 27.9%
2009 43.8% 28.6%
2008 43.8% 29.4%
2007 43.9% 30%
2006 44% 30.7%
2005 44.1% 31.4%
2004 44.2% 32%
2003 44.3% 32.6%
2002 44.5% 33.2%
2001 44.7% 33.7%
2000 44.9% 34.2%
1999 45.1% 34.6%
1998 45.3% 35%
1997 45.5% 35.3%
1996 45.7% 35.5%
1995 45.9% 35.7%
1994 46% 36%
1993 46.1% 36.3%
1992 46.2% 36.6%
1991 46.2% 36.9%
1990 46.2% 37.2%
1989 46.1% 37.5%
1988 46.1% 37.7%
1987 46% 37.9%
1986 45.9% 38%
1985 45.8% 38.1%
1984 45.7% 38.2%
1983 45.6% 38.4%
1982 45% 38.6%
1981 44.6% 38.8%
1980 44.5% 39.2%
1979 44.4% 39.6%
1978 44.1% 40.1%
1977 43.8% 40.6%
1976 43.5% 41.1%
1975 43.2% 41.7%
1974 43% 42.2%
1973 42.8% 42.8%
1972 42.5% 43.4%
1971 42.3% 44%
1970 42% 44.5%
1969 41.8% 45%
1968 41.6% 45.5%
1967 41.3% 45.9%
1966 41.1% 46.2%
1965 40.9% 46.5%
1964 40.7% 46.6%
1963 40.4% 46.5%
1962 40.2% 46.3%
1961 39.9% 45.9%
1960 39.5% 45.4%

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/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.4% of the population in Cameroon and 21.8% in Malaysia in 2024, compared to 46.2% and 37.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cameroon and Malaysia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Cameroon vs Malaysia

Cameroon
Malaysia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Cameroon Malaysia
2023 258 26
2022 276 38
2021 342 52
2020 316 29
2019 336 28
2018 354 29
2017 372 29
2016 393 30
2015 417 30
2014 440 30
2013 469 29
2012 500 29
2011 541 29
2010 562 29
2009 579 29
2008 592 29
2007 605 30
2006 615 30
2005 629 31
2004 633 33
2003 645 34
2002 658 34
2001 672 36
2000 678 37
1999 672 38
1998 666 39
1997 652 40
1996 648 42
1995 641 43
1994 628 44
1993 606 46
1992 595 48
1991 584 49
1990 570 51
1989 564 52
1988 559 55
1987 557 56
1986 579 59
1985 572 63

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

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 26 deaths in Malaysia.

Under-five mortality rates

Cameroon
Malaysia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Cameroon Malaysia
2023 6.72% 0.81%
2022 6.95% 0.81%
2021 7.21% 0.81%
2020 7.46% 0.81%
2019 7.72% 0.82%
2018 7.97% 0.82%
2017 8.25% 0.82%
2016 8.56% 0.82%
2015 8.9% 0.81%
2014 9.31% 0.81%
2013 9.73% 0.81%
2012 10.2% 0.8%
2011 10.6% 0.81%
2010 11% 0.81%
2009 11.4% 0.82%
2008 11.8% 0.82%
2007 12.1% 0.82%
2006 12.5% 0.83%
2005 12.8% 0.83%
2004 13.1% 0.84%
2003 13.5% 0.85%
2002 13.8% 0.88%
2001 14.1% 0.93%
2000 14.4% 1%
1999 14.7% 1.07%
1998 14.8% 1.15%
1997 14.9% 1.23%
1996 14.8% 1.29%
1995 14.7% 1.34%
1994 14.5% 1.39%
1993 14.3% 1.45%
1992 14% 1.51%
1991 13.8% 1.58%
1990 13.7% 1.66%
1989 13.6% 1.74%
1988 13.8% 1.83%
1987 14% 1.93%
1986 14.4% 2.05%
1985 14.9% 2.18%
1984 15.5% 2.32%
1983 16.2% 2.47%
1982 16.8% 2.65%
1981 17.4% 2.84%
1980 17.9% 3.04%
1979 18.3% 3.25%
1978 18.7% 3.48%
1977 18.9% 3.71%
1976 19% 3.97%
1975 19.2% 4.23%
1974 19.3% 4.5%
1973 19.6% 4.79%
1972 20% 5.06%
1971 20.6% 5.32%
1970 21.3% 5.56%
1969 22.2% 5.79%
1968 23.1% 6.02%
1967 24% 6.27%
1966 24.7% 6.56%
1965 25.4% 6.89%
1964 26% 7.28%
1963 26.4% 7.74%
1962 26.9% 8.25%
1961 27.4% 8.83%
1960 28% 9.46%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cameroon/malaysia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 6.72% in Cameroon and 0.81% in Malaysia. 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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