Fertility & birth rates in Cameroon and Nigeria

Fertility rate in Cameroon vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Nigeria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2023	4.32	4.48
2022	4.4	4.55
2021	4.47	4.64
2020	4.56	4.7
2019	4.65	4.86
2018	4.74	5.02
2017	4.8	5.18
2016	4.84	5.34
2015	4.84	5.5
2014	4.84	5.62
2013	4.91	5.69
2012	4.98	5.8
2011	5.05	5.89
2010	5.15	5.95
2009	5.24	5.99
2008	5.29	6.02
2007	5.34	6.03
2006	5.37	6.05
2005	5.42	6.06
2004	5.44	6.09
2003	5.43	6.1
2002	5.44	6.12
2001	5.44	6.13
2000	5.51	6.12
1999	5.6	6.08
1998	5.66	6.07
1997	5.71	6.14
1996	5.8	6.22
1995	5.92	6.27
1994	6.04	6.32
1993	6.16	6.35
1992	6.26	6.39
1991	6.32	6.43
1990	6.36	6.46
1989	6.41	6.49
1988	6.48	6.5
1987	6.54	6.5
1986	6.57	6.56
1985	6.56	6.62
1984	6.56	6.7
1983	6.58	6.78
1982	6.59	6.8
1981	6.61	6.82
1980	6.61	6.85
1979	6.58	6.89
1978	6.55	6.92
1977	6.51	6.86
1976	6.45	6.81
1975	6.4	6.77
1974	6.36	6.7
1973	6.33	6.63
1972	6.29	6.58
1971	6.26	6.53
1970	6.2	6.47
1969	6.14	6.44
1968	6.04	6.42
1967	5.95	6.4
1966	5.85	6.39
1965	5.8	6.37
1964	5.74	6.36
1963	5.73	6.35
1962	5.73	6.36
1961	5.73	6.35
1960	5.73	6.36

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cameroon was 4.32 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.48 in Nigeria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Nigeria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2023	754,486	4,834,309
2022	734,893	4,739,502
2021	713,806	4,641,562
2020	716,361	4,525,164
2019	714,681	4,609,941
2018	706,188	4,659,898
2017	696,496	4,706,183
2016	677,051	4,761,594
2015	649,190	4,823,045
2014	619,243	4,862,319
2013	606,072	4,811,751
2012	594,029	4,774,508
2011	580,607	4,728,363
2010	569,921	4,629,173
2009	557,841	4,528,149
2008	542,919	4,412,976
2007	526,949	4,265,428
2006	511,366	4,135,703
2005	496,547	4,013,788
2004	478,880	3,877,376
2003	459,422	3,751,120
2002	439,544	3,606,814
2001	422,511	3,478,370
2000	411,633	3,343,196
1999	401,969	3,155,425
1998	388,432	3,003,946
1997	377,138	2,936,500
1996	370,355	2,882,205
1995	367,532	2,830,771
1994	364,390	2,735,198
1993	360,785	2,673,675
1992	356,072	2,596,173
1991	350,493	2,527,807
1990	342,901	2,491,928
1989	334,649	2,452,324
1988	328,168	2,376,419
1987	320,134	2,322,397
1986	308,188	2,295,003
1985	296,317	2,289,784
1984	284,110	2,278,060
1983	276,112	2,292,089
1982	274,652	2,233,401
1981	262,076	2,179,884
1980	247,808	2,121,618
1979	238,875	2,074,807
1978	229,958	2,019,621
1977	222,785	1,923,917
1976	214,916	1,827,289
1975	206,986	1,718,623
1974	200,693	1,624,813
1973	193,997	1,525,485
1972	186,521	1,448,928
1971	179,317	1,373,896
1970	170,713	1,295,507
1969	162,603	1,213,484
1968	153,080	1,168,254
1967	144,370	1,082,884
1966	135,927	1,095,582
1965	129,428	1,061,840
1964	123,469	1,028,272
1963	119,784	995,116
1962	116,232	966,452
1961	82,471	932,111
1960	77,948	901,301

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 +2.12% in Nigeria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.78% in Cameroon and +2.29% in Nigeria.

Birth rate in Cameroon vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

Nigeria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2023	33.7	33
2022	34.3	33.2
2021	34.8	33.5
2020	35.4	33.7
2019	36.2	34.7
2018	36.9	35.7
2017	37.5	36.7
2016	37.8	37.8
2015	37.7	39
2014	37.5	39.9
2013	38.1	40.4
2012	38.7	41.1
2011	39.2	41.8
2010	39.8	42.1
2009	40.4	42.5
2008	40.7	42.8
2007	40.9	42.9
2006	41.1	43.2
2005	41.3	43.4
2004	41.3	43.5
2003	41.1	43.7
2002	40.8	43.8
2001	40.7	43.9
2000	40.9	43.9
1999	41.1	43.4
1998	41	43.2
1997	40.9	43.5
1996	41.2	43.9
1995	41.7	44.1
1994	42.2	44
1993	42.7	44.1
1992	43.1	44.2
1991	43.5	44.3
1990	43.6	44.5
1989	43.8	44.8
1988	44.3	44.7
1987	44.6	44.8
1986	44.8	45.3
1985	44.6	45.9
1984	44.7	46.5
1983	45.1	47.5
1982	46.1	47.5
1981	45.7	47.9
1980	45.4	48.3
1979	45.6	48.8
1978	45.4	49.3
1977	45.5	49.1
1976	45.3	49
1975	45.1	49
1974	45.1	48.7
1973	45.1	48.2
1972	45	48
1971	45.1	47.8
1970	44.9	47.4
1969	44.8	47.3
1968	44.4	47.2
1967	44.1	47.1
1966	43.7	47
1965	43.6	46.9
1964	43.4	46.9
1963	43.7	46.8
1962	43.9	46.7
1961	43.9	46.6
1960	43.8	46.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.7 in Cameroon and 33 in Nigeria, compared with 43.8 and 46.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Cameroon

Factual

UN forecast

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2100	21.8%	20.4%
2099	21.9%	20.5%
2098	22.1%	20.6%
2097	22.2%	20.7%
2096	22.4%	20.8%
2095	22.6%	20.9%
2094	22.7%	21%
2093	22.9%	21.1%
2092	23.1%	21.2%
2091	23.3%	21.4%
2090	23.4%	21.5%
2089	23.6%	21.6%
2088	23.8%	21.8%
2087	24%	21.9%
2086	24.2%	22.1%
2085	24.4%	22.2%
2084	24.6%	22.4%
2083	24.8%	22.6%
2082	25%	22.7%
2081	25.2%	22.9%
2080	25.4%	23.1%
2079	25.6%	23.3%
2078	25.8%	23.5%
2077	26.1%	23.7%
2076	26.3%	23.9%
2075	26.5%	24.1%
2074	26.7%	24.3%
2073	26.9%	24.5%
2072	27.2%	24.7%
2071	27.4%	25%
2070	27.6%	25.2%
2069	27.8%	25.4%
2068	28.1%	25.7%
2067	28.3%	25.9%
2066	28.6%	26.1%
2065	28.8%	26.4%
2064	29.1%	26.6%
2063	29.3%	26.9%
2062	29.6%	27.2%
2061	29.9%	27.4%
2060	30.1%	27.7%
2059	30.4%	28%
2058	30.7%	28.3%
2057	31%	28.6%
2056	31.3%	29%
2055	31.5%	29.3%
2054	31.8%	29.6%
2053	32.1%	30%
2052	32.4%	30.3%
2051	32.7%	30.7%
2050	33%	31.1%
2049	33.3%	31.5%
2048	33.6%	31.8%
2047	33.9%	32.2%
2046	34.2%	32.6%
2045	34.5%	32.9%
2044	34.8%	33.3%
2043	35.1%	33.7%
2042	35.4%	34%
2041	35.7%	34.4%
2040	36%	34.7%
2039	36.4%	35%
2038	36.7%	35.4%
2037	37%	35.7%
2036	37.3%	36%
2035	37.7%	36.3%
2034	38.1%	36.6%
2033	38.5%	37%
2032	38.9%	37.4%
2031	39.3%	37.8%
2030	39.7%	38.3%
2029	40%	38.8%
2028	40.3%	39.3%
2027	40.6%	39.8%
2026	41%	40.3%
2025	41.3%	40.8%
2024	41.4%	41%
2023	41.8%	41.5%
2022	42.1%	42%
2021	42.3%	42.4%
2020	42.5%	42.8%
2019	42.7%	43.2%
2018	42.9%	43.6%
2017	43%	43.9%
2016	43%	44.1%
2015	43.2%	44.3%
2014	43.4%	44.4%
2013	43.5%	44.5%
2012	43.6%	44.5%
2011	43.7%	44.5%
2010	43.7%	44.4%
2009	43.8%	44.4%
2008	43.8%	44.3%
2007	43.9%	44.2%
2006	44%	44.1%
2005	44.1%	44%
2004	44.2%	43.9%
2003	44.3%	43.8%
2002	44.5%	43.8%
2001	44.7%	43.7%
2000	44.9%	43.7%
1999	45.1%	43.8%
1998	45.3%	43.9%
1997	45.5%	44.1%
1996	45.7%	44.2%
1995	45.9%	44.4%
1994	46%	44.6%
1993	46.1%	44.8%
1992	46.2%	45%
1991	46.2%	45.2%
1990	46.2%	45.3%
1989	46.1%	45.5%
1988	46.1%	45.5%
1987	46%	45.6%
1986	45.9%	45.6%
1985	45.8%	45.5%
1984	45.7%	45.4%
1983	45.6%	45.2%
1982	45%	45%
1981	44.6%	44.8%
1980	44.5%	44.6%
1979	44.4%	44.4%
1978	44.1%	44.2%
1977	43.8%	43.9%
1976	43.5%	43.7%
1975	43.2%	43.4%
1974	43%	43.2%
1973	42.8%	43%
1972	42.5%	42.8%
1971	42.3%	42.5%
1970	42%	42.4%
1969	41.8%	42.2%
1968	41.6%	42%
1967	41.3%	41.8%
1966	41.1%	41.7%
1965	40.9%	41.5%
1964	40.7%	41.4%
1963	40.4%	41.2%
1962	40.2%	41.1%
1961	39.9%	41.1%
1960	39.5%	41.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.4% of the population in Cameroon and 41% in Nigeria in 2024, compared to 46.2% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cameroon and Nigeria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Cameroon vs Nigeria

Chart Table

Cameroon

Nigeria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2023	258	993
2022	276	1,016
2021	342	1,046
2020	316	1,065
2019	336	1,091
2018	354	1,118
2017	372	1,142
2016	393	1,155
2015	417	1,168
2014	440	1,155
2013	469	1,146
2012	500	1,124
2011	541	1,108
2010	562	1,094
2009	579	1,088
2008	592	1,081
2007	605	1,063
2006	615	1,067
2005	629	1,060
2004	633	1,075
2003	645	1,090
2002	658	1,117
2001	672	1,130
2000	678	1,136
1999	672	1,165
1998	666	1,189
1997	652	1,184
1996	648	1,185
1995	641	1,186
1994	628	1,193
1993	606	1,200
1992	595	1,246
1991	584	1,282
1990	570	1,285
1989	564	1,304
1988	559	1,332
1987	557	1,351
1986	579	1,363
1985	572	1,344

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 993 deaths in Nigeria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Cameroon

Nigeria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Cameroon	Nigeria
2023	6.72%	10.5%
2022	6.95%	10.8%
2021	7.21%	11.1%
2020	7.46%	11.4%
2019	7.72%	11.8%
2018	7.97%	12%
2017	8.25%	12.3%
2016	8.56%	12.5%
2015	8.9%	12.6%
2014	9.31%	12.8%
2013	9.73%	12.9%
2012	10.2%	13.1%
2011	10.6%	13.3%
2010	11%	13.5%
2009	11.4%	13.8%
2008	11.8%	14.1%
2007	12.1%	14.5%
2006	12.5%	15%
2005	12.8%	15.5%
2004	13.1%	16%
2003	13.5%	16.5%
2002	13.8%	17.1%
2001	14.1%	17.7%
2000	14.4%	18.2%
1999	14.7%	18.8%
1998	14.8%	19.3%
1997	14.9%	19.7%
1996	14.8%	20.1%
1995	14.7%	20.4%
1994	14.5%	20.6%
1993	14.3%	20.7%
1992	14%	20.8%
1991	13.8%	20.9%
1990	13.7%	21%
1989	13.6%	21%
1988	13.8%	21%
1987	14%	20.9%
1986	14.4%	20.9%
1985	14.9%	20.8%
1984	15.5%	20.7%
1983	16.2%	20.7%
1982	16.8%	20.8%
1981	17.4%	21%
1980	17.9%	21.3%
1979	18.3%	21.8%
1978	18.7%	22.3%
1977	18.9%	22.9%
1976	19%	23.6%
1975	19.2%	24.4%
1974	19.3%	25.2%
1973	19.6%	26.1%
1972	20%	26.9%
1971	20.6%	27.7%
1970	21.3%	28.5%
1969	22.2%	29.3%
1968	23.1%	30%
1967	24%	30.7%
1966	24.7%	31.3%
1965	25.4%	32%
1964	26%	32.7%
1963	26.4%	-
1962	26.9%	-
1961	27.4%	-
1960	28%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 6.72% in Cameroon and 10.5% in Nigeria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.