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Fertility & birth rates in Cape Verde and Lesotho

Updated on by Georank team

Cape Verde has an annual birth rate of 12.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.1 for Lesotho. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.52 in Cape Verde and 2.69 in Lesotho — 77% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 77.9% in Cape Verde and by 53.4% in Lesotho — in 1960, it was 6.89 and 5.78, respectively.

  • Cape Verde is ranked 113/196 by birth rate compared to 56/196 for Lesotho.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.9 in Cape Verde — it's 27.8 in Lesotho.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 38.8 in Cape Verde vs 70.6 in Lesotho.
  • In Cape Verde, 26.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in Lesotho.

Fertility rate in Cape Verde vs Lesotho by year

Cape Verde
Lesotho
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cape Verde Lesotho
2023 1.52 2.69
2022 1.53 2.72
2021 1.55 2.77
2020 1.59 2.85
2019 1.7 2.92
2018 1.8 3.02
2017 1.93 3.11
2016 1.97 3.18
2015 1.97 3.22
2014 2.03 3.24
2013 2.07 3.28
2012 2.15 3.3
2011 2.33 3.34
2010 2.33 3.25
2009 2.25 3.31
2008 2.3 3.39
2007 2.41 3.44
2006 2.56 3.41
2005 2.73 3.43
2004 2.9 3.51
2003 3.03 3.62
2002 3.19 3.68
2001 3.37 3.63
2000 3.55 3.61
1999 3.73 3.67
1998 3.9 3.82
1997 4.05 3.98
1996 4.26 4.06
1995 4.49 4.13
1994 4.72 4.21
1993 4.95 4.37
1992 5.12 4.54
1991 5.26 4.68
1990 5.36 4.81
1989 5.45 4.96
1988 5.55 5.1
1987 5.68 5.22
1986 5.81 5.32
1985 5.92 5.4
1984 5.97 5.48
1983 6.07 5.56
1982 6.17 5.63
1981 6.27 5.69
1980 6.38 5.75
1979 6.47 5.79
1978 6.56 5.82
1977 6.65 5.85
1976 6.71 5.87
1975 6.77 5.83
1974 6.82 5.75
1973 6.86 5.69
1972 6.89 5.69
1971 6.91 5.7
1970 6.94 5.7
1969 6.95 5.7
1968 6.97 5.73
1967 6.98 5.75
1966 6.99 5.76
1965 6.99 5.77
1964 6.99 5.77
1963 6.98 5.78
1962 6.95 5.79
1961 6.92 5.79
1960 6.89 5.78

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cape Verde was 1.52 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 Cape Verde vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Cape Verde
Lesotho
1x
Year Natural population change
Cape Verde Lesotho
2023 3,798 31,115
2022 3,864 30,803
2021 3,575 27,806
2020 3,734 30,721
2019 4,773 32,279
2018 5,282 33,112
2017 5,993 33,601
2016 6,238 33,390
2015 6,314 32,087
2014 6,622 30,922
2013 6,780 29,789
2012 7,157 27,592
2011 7,874 25,647
2010 7,746 21,877
2009 7,216 20,335
2008 7,313 19,349
2007 7,559 17,763
2006 7,980 15,234
2005 8,428 15,831
2004 8,825 17,271
2003 9,037 20,133
2002 9,278 22,274
2001 9,510 23,190
2000 9,752 24,786
1999 9,989 27,393
1998 10,187 30,889
1997 10,323 34,637
1996 10,613 36,228
1995 10,764 37,370
1994 11,410 38,629
1993 11,805 40,505
1992 11,915 42,579
1991 11,899 44,026
1990 11,738 45,060
1989 11,608 46,264
1988 11,523 47,158
1987 11,426 47,718
1986 11,295 45,232
1985 11,105 44,575
1984 10,835 43,785
1983 10,736 42,899
1982 10,597 41,941
1981 10,470 40,808
1980 10,276 39,617
1979 10,223 38,440
1978 10,152 37,084
1977 10,036 35,654
1976 9,833 34,117
1975 9,601 32,311
1974 9,295 30,444
1973 9,003 28,859
1972 8,716 27,841
1971 8,359 26,838
1970 7,878 25,935
1969 7,625 25,137
1968 7,408 24,490
1967 7,214 23,911
1966 7,039 23,326
1965 6,877 22,755
1964 6,725 22,116
1963 6,589 21,585
1962 6,468 21,132
1961 6,247 20,581
1960 6,098 19,981

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | 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 +0.73% in Cape Verde and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.98% in Cape Verde and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Cape Verde vs Lesotho by year

Cape Verde
Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Cape Verde Lesotho
2023 12.3 24.1
2022 12.4 24.4
2021 12.6 24.9
2020 13.1 25.6
2019 14.3 26.4
2018 15.5 27.4
2017 16.8 28.2
2016 17.3 28.9
2015 17.5 29.2
2014 18.1 29.5
2013 18.4 30
2012 19.1 30
2011 20.6 30.2
2010 20.4 29.2
2009 19.5 29.4
2008 19.9 29.6
2007 20.6 29.5
2006 21.6 28.6
2005 22.8 28.6
2004 23.9 28.7
2003 24.7 29.3
2002 25.7 29.4
2001 26.8 28.7
2000 27.9 28.2
1999 29 28.5
1998 30.1 29.2
1997 31.1 30.2
1996 32.5 30.4
1995 34.2 30.6
1994 36 31
1993 37.7 32
1992 38.8 33.2
1991 39.7 34.2
1990 40.2 35.1
1989 40.7 36.3
1988 41.2 37.4
1987 41.7 38.3
1986 42 37.5
1985 42.1 37.9
1984 42 38.4
1983 42.3 38.9
1982 42.5 39.5
1981 42.7 39.9
1980 42.7 40.4
1979 43.2 40.8
1978 43.6 41
1977 43.8 41.1
1976 43.9 41
1975 43.8 40.6
1974 43.3 40.2
1973 42.8 39.9
1972 42.3 40.2
1971 41.5 40.5
1970 40.6 40.8
1969 40.7 41.3
1968 41.2 41.9
1967 41.8 42.5
1966 42.5 43
1965 43.3 43.3
1964 44.3 43.5
1963 45.4 43.7
1962 46.5 44.1
1961 47.2 44.3
1960 47.9 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.3 in Cape Verde and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 47.9 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Cape Verde Lesotho
Fertility rate 1.52 2.69
Fertility rate rank 137/196 68/196
Birth rate 12.3 24.1
Birth rate rank 113/196 56/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,798 +31,115
Natural population change rank 133/196 103/196
Natural population change rate +0.73% +1.35%
Population growth +0.49% +1.12%
Population growth rank 136/197 93/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 20.9 years
Average age at childbearing 28.9 years 27.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 36.1 69.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 64.5 133.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.6 37.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.3% 27.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 54.6% 65.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 97.3% 86.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.48%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.83% 2.87%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.1% 5.54%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.16% 5.89%
Life expectancy 76.6 years 58.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Cape Verde
Factual

UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Cape Verde Lesotho
2100 11.1% 18%
2099 11.1% 18.1%
2098 11.2% 18.2%
2097 11.2% 18.3%
2096 11.3% 18.3%
2095 11.3% 18.4%
2094 11.4% 18.5%
2093 11.5% 18.6%
2092 11.6% 18.7%
2091 11.6% 18.9%
2090 11.7% 19%
2089 11.8% 19.1%
2088 11.8% 19.2%
2087 11.9% 19.3%
2086 11.9% 19.4%
2085 11.9% 19.6%
2084 12% 19.7%
2083 12% 19.8%
2082 11.9% 19.9%
2081 11.9% 20%
2080 11.9% 20.2%
2079 11.9% 20.3%
2078 11.8% 20.4%
2077 11.8% 20.5%
2076 11.7% 20.6%
2075 11.7% 20.7%
2074 11.7% 20.9%
2073 11.7% 21%
2072 11.7% 21.1%
2071 11.7% 21.3%
2070 11.8% 21.4%
2069 11.9% 21.5%
2068 12% 21.7%
2067 12.2% 21.9%
2066 12.3% 22%
2065 12.5% 22.2%
2064 12.7% 22.4%
2063 13% 22.6%
2062 13.2% 22.8%
2061 13.5% 23%
2060 13.7% 23.3%
2059 14% 23.5%
2058 14.2% 23.7%
2057 14.5% 24%
2056 14.7% 24.2%
2055 14.9% 24.5%
2054 15.1% 24.7%
2053 15.3% 25%
2052 15.4% 25.3%
2051 15.6% 25.5%
2050 15.7% 25.8%
2049 15.8% 26.1%
2048 15.9% 26.3%
2047 15.9% 26.5%
2046 16% 26.8%
2045 16.1% 27%
2044 16.1% 27.3%
2043 16.2% 27.5%
2042 16.2% 27.7%
2041 16.3% 28%
2040 16.3% 28.2%
2039 16.4% 28.4%
2038 16.5% 28.7%
2037 16.6% 28.9%
2036 16.7% 29.2%
2035 17.2% 29.5%
2034 17.9% 29.9%
2033 18.6% 30.3%
2032 19.4% 30.8%
2031 20.2% 31.3%
2030 21% 31.8%
2029 21.8% 32.3%
2028 22.6% 32.8%
2027 23.4% 33.4%
2026 24.3% 33.9%
2025 25.1% 34.3%
2024 25.5% 34.5%
2023 26.4% 34.9%
2022 27.2% 35.3%
2021 28% 35.6%
2020 28.4% 35.8%
2019 28.4% 36.1%
2018 28.4% 36.3%
2017 28.4% 36.5%
2016 28.5% 36.6%
2015 28.8% 36.6%
2014 29.2% 36.6%
2013 29.8% 36.5%
2012 30.4% 36.5%
2011 31.3% 36.5%
2010 32.2% 36.5%
2009 33.1% 36.6%
2008 34.1% 36.7%
2007 35% 36.8%
2006 36% 37.1%
2005 36.9% 37.4%
2004 37.9% 37.7%
2003 38.9% 38.1%
2002 39.9% 38.6%
2001 40.9% 39.1%
2000 41.8% 39.6%
1999 42.5% 40.2%
1998 43.2% 40.7%
1997 43.7% 41.2%
1996 44.2% 41.7%
1995 44.6% 42%
1994 44.9% 42.3%
1993 45.2% 42.6%
1992 45.5% 42.8%
1991 45.6% 42.9%
1990 45.7% 42.9%
1989 45.8% 42.8%
1988 45.9% 42.7%
1987 46.1% 42.5%
1986 46.2% 42.7%
1985 46.4% 43%
1984 46.6% 42.8%
1983 46.8% 42.7%
1982 47% 42.5%
1981 47.3% 42.3%
1980 47.4% 42.1%
1979 47.3% 41.9%
1978 46.9% 41.7%
1977 46.5% 41.5%
1976 45.9% 41.4%
1975 45.3% 41.6%
1974 44.9% 41.9%
1973 45% 42.3%
1972 45% 42.7%
1971 45% 43.1%
1970 45.2% 43.6%
1969 45.5% 44%
1968 45.9% 44.4%
1967 46.1% 44.8%
1966 46.2% 44.9%
1965 46.2% 44.8%
1964 46% 44.9%
1963 45.6% 45.2%
1962 45.1% 45.3%
1961 44.3% 45.2%
1960 43.6% 45.1%

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/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.5% of the population in Cape Verde and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cape Verde and Lesotho compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Cape Verde vs Lesotho

Cape Verde
Lesotho
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Cape Verde Lesotho
2023 40 478
2022 42 477
2021 56 577
2020 56 529
2019 41 467
2018 43 491
2017 43 468
2016 44 518
2015 46 594
2014 48 707
2013 50 855
2012 51 1,000
2011 55 1,210
2010 61 1,311
2009 62 1,387
2008 68 1,205
2007 73 891
2006 76 696
2005 75 549
2004 80 499
2003 86 508
2002 92 484
2001 101 465
2000 110 413
1999 122 371
1998 134 332
1997 147 312
1996 167 319
1995 196 357
1994 214 423
1993 233 542
1992 255 601
1991 277 641
1990 298 665
1989 322 680
1988 346 680
1987 366 686
1986 394 680
1985 420 711

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 40 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cape Verde, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Cape Verde
Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Cape Verde Lesotho
2023 1.16% 5.89%
2022 1.21% 6.15%
2021 1.27% 6.44%
2020 1.33% 6.68%
2019 1.41% 6.87%
2018 1.51% 6.91%
2017 1.62% 7.12%
2016 1.76% 7.18%
2015 1.91% 7.51%
2014 2.09% 7.82%
2013 2.26% 8.02%
2012 2.42% 8.26%
2011 2.56% 8.59%
2010 2.67% 9.01%
2009 2.75% 9.64%
2008 2.79% 10.9%
2007 2.8% 11.2%
2006 2.8% 11.5%
2005 2.8% 11.6%
2004 2.82% 11.5%
2003 2.9% 11.4%
2002 3.05% 11.2%
2001 3.28% 11.1%
2000 3.6% 10.9%
1999 4% 10.7%
1998 4.44% 10.5%
1997 4.84% 10.2%
1996 5.17% 9.83%
1995 5.37% 9.45%
1994 5.45% 9.07%
1993 5.46% 8.73%
1992 5.46% 8.51%
1991 5.5% 8.43%
1990 5.64% 8.47%
1989 5.88% 8.6%
1988 6.21% 8.8%
1987 6.59% 9.06%
1986 6.95% 9.36%
1985 7.25% 9.72%
1984 7.46% 10.1%
1983 7.59% 10.6%
1982 7.65% 11.1%
1981 7.72% 11.7%
1980 7.82% 12.3%
1979 8% 12.9%
1978 8.27% 13.6%
1977 8.65% 14.2%
1976 9.09% 14.9%
1975 9.6% 15.5%
1974 10.2% 16%
1973 10.8% 16.5%
1972 11.5% 16.9%
1971 12.1% 17.3%
1970 12.8% 17.7%
1969 13.4% 18%
1968 14% 18.3%
1967 14.5% 18.5%
1966 15% 18.6%
1965 15.4% 18.7%
1964 15.9% 18.6%
1963 16.2% 18.6%
1962 16.6% 18.5%
1961 16.9% 18.5%
1960 17.2% 18.6%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/lesotho | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.16% in Cape Verde and 5.89% in Lesotho. 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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