Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe

Updated on by Georank team

Cape Verde has an annual birth rate of 12.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.2 for Sao Tome and Principe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.52 in Cape Verde and 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe — 139.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 77.9% in Cape Verde and by 41.6% in Sao Tome and Principe — in 1960, it was 6.89 and 6.24, respectively.

  • Cape Verde is ranked 113/196 by birth rate compared to 39/196 for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.9 in Cape Verde — it's 28.4 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 38.8 in Cape Verde vs 86.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • In Cape Verde, 26.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.2% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Fertility rate in Cape Verde vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Cape Verde
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2023 1.52 3.64
2022 1.53 3.7
2021 1.55 3.76
2020 1.59 3.83
2019 1.7 3.9
2018 1.8 3.98
2017 1.93 4.07
2016 1.97 4.2
2015 1.97 4.35
2014 2.03 4.49
2013 2.07 4.58
2012 2.15 4.66
2011 2.33 4.72
2010 2.33 4.77
2009 2.25 4.84
2008 2.3 4.91
2007 2.41 4.96
2006 2.56 4.93
2005 2.73 4.94
2004 2.9 4.96
2003 3.03 5.01
2002 3.19 5.06
2001 3.37 5.1
2000 3.55 5.16
1999 3.73 5.23
1998 3.9 5.3
1997 4.05 5.4
1996 4.26 5.47
1995 4.49 5.55
1994 4.72 5.56
1993 4.95 5.64
1992 5.12 5.7
1991 5.26 5.77
1990 5.36 5.83
1989 5.45 5.88
1988 5.55 5.94
1987 5.68 5.99
1986 5.81 6.05
1985 5.92 6.1
1984 5.97 6.16
1983 6.07 6.22
1982 6.17 6.28
1981 6.27 6.33
1980 6.38 6.39
1979 6.47 6.43
1978 6.56 6.47
1977 6.65 6.5
1976 6.71 6.52
1975 6.77 6.53
1974 6.82 6.53
1973 6.86 6.53
1972 6.89 6.51
1971 6.91 6.49
1970 6.94 6.47
1969 6.95 6.44
1968 6.97 6.42
1967 6.98 6.39
1966 6.99 6.37
1965 6.99 6.35
1964 6.99 6.33
1963 6.98 6.31
1962 6.95 6.28
1961 6.92 6.26
1960 6.89 6.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Cape Verde vs Sao Tome and Principe population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Cape Verde
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Natural population change
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2023 3,798 5,221
2022 3,864 5,102
2021 3,575 4,954
2020 3,734 4,874
2019 4,773 4,932
2018 5,282 4,957
2017 5,993 5,007
2016 6,238 5,125
2015 6,314 5,269
2014 6,622 5,381
2013 6,780 5,449
2012 7,157 5,501
2011 7,874 5,445
2010 7,746 5,391
2009 7,216 5,349
2008 7,313 5,297
2007 7,559 5,226
2006 7,980 5,057
2005 8,428 4,897
2004 8,825 4,810
2003 9,037 4,702
2002 9,278 4,591
2001 9,510 4,471
2000 9,752 4,334
1999 9,989 4,221
1998 10,187 4,120
1997 10,323 4,041
1996 10,613 3,993
1995 10,764 3,948
1994 11,410 3,860
1993 11,805 3,841
1992 11,915 3,822
1991 11,899 3,801
1990 11,738 3,719
1989 11,608 3,576
1988 11,523 3,544
1987 11,426 3,440
1986 11,295 3,180
1985 11,105 3,242
1984 10,835 3,163
1983 10,736 3,100
1982 10,597 3,047
1981 10,470 3,015
1980 10,276 2,965
1979 10,223 2,893
1978 10,152 2,800
1977 10,036 2,705
1976 9,833 2,608
1975 9,601 2,515
1974 9,295 2,422
1973 9,003 2,329
1972 8,716 2,232
1971 8,359 2,127
1970 7,878 1,980
1969 7,625 1,862
1968 7,408 1,767
1967 7,214 1,693
1966 7,039 1,642
1965 6,877 1,611
1964 6,725 1,600
1963 6,589 1,609
1962 6,468 1,625
1961 6,247 1,657
1960 6,098 1,547

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 +2.26% in Sao Tome and Principe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.98% in Cape Verde and +2.4% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Birth rate in Cape Verde vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Cape Verde
Sao Tome and Principe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2023 12.3 28.2
2022 12.4 28.3
2021 12.6 28.5
2020 13.1 28.6
2019 14.3 29.2
2018 15.5 29.8
2017 16.8 30.6
2016 17.3 31.7
2015 17.5 33
2014 18.1 34.3
2013 18.4 35.4
2012 19.1 36.4
2011 20.6 36.8
2010 20.4 37.3
2009 19.5 37.9
2008 19.9 38.5
2007 20.6 38.9
2006 21.6 38.9
2005 22.8 39
2004 23.9 39.2
2003 24.7 39.6
2002 25.7 39.8
2001 26.8 40
2000 27.9 39.7
1999 29 39.4
1998 30.1 39.2
1997 31.1 39.2
1996 32.5 39.3
1995 34.2 39.5
1994 36 39.4
1993 37.7 39.8
1992 38.8 40.2
1991 39.7 40.7
1990 40.2 40.7
1989 40.7 40.9
1988 41.2 40.9
1987 41.7 41
1986 42 41
1985 42.1 41
1984 42 41.1
1983 42.3 41.2
1982 42.5 41.3
1981 42.7 41.5
1980 42.7 41.6
1979 43.2 41.6
1978 43.6 41.4
1977 43.8 41.3
1976 43.9 41.1
1975 43.8 40.9
1974 43.3 40.6
1973 42.8 40.3
1972 42.3 39.9
1971 41.5 39.5
1970 40.6 38.8
1969 40.7 38.2
1968 41.2 37.8
1967 41.8 37.7
1966 42.5 38
1965 43.3 38.6
1964 44.3 39.7
1963 45.4 41.1
1962 46.5 42.7
1961 47.2 44.6
1960 47.9 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.3 in Cape Verde and 28.2 in Sao Tome and Principe, compared with 47.9 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Cape Verde Sao Tome
Fertility rate 1.52 3.64
Fertility rate rank 137/196 41/196
Birth rate 12.3 28.2
Birth rate rank 113/196 39/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,798 +5,221
Natural population change rank 133/196 126/196
Natural population change rate +0.73% +2.26%
Population growth +0.49% +2.02%
Population growth rank 136/197 49/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 19.4 years
Average age at childbearing 28.9 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 36.1 82.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 64.5 169.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.6 47.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.3% 25.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 54.6% 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 97.3% 96.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.08%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.83% 0.68%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.1% 0.94%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.16% 1.39%
Life expectancy 76.6 years 70.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Cape Verde
Factual

UN forecast
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2100 11.1% 19.5%
2099 11.1% 19.6%
2098 11.2% 19.8%
2097 11.2% 19.9%
2096 11.3% 20%
2095 11.3% 20.2%
2094 11.4% 20.3%
2093 11.5% 20.4%
2092 11.6% 20.6%
2091 11.6% 20.7%
2090 11.7% 20.9%
2089 11.8% 21.1%
2088 11.8% 21.2%
2087 11.9% 21.4%
2086 11.9% 21.6%
2085 11.9% 21.8%
2084 12% 22%
2083 12% 22.2%
2082 11.9% 22.4%
2081 11.9% 22.6%
2080 11.9% 22.9%
2079 11.9% 23.1%
2078 11.8% 23.3%
2077 11.8% 23.5%
2076 11.7% 23.7%
2075 11.7% 24%
2074 11.7% 24.2%
2073 11.7% 24.4%
2072 11.7% 24.6%
2071 11.7% 24.8%
2070 11.8% 25%
2069 11.9% 25.2%
2068 12% 25.4%
2067 12.2% 25.6%
2066 12.3% 25.9%
2065 12.5% 26.1%
2064 12.7% 26.3%
2063 13% 26.5%
2062 13.2% 26.8%
2061 13.5% 27%
2060 13.7% 27.3%
2059 14% 27.5%
2058 14.2% 27.8%
2057 14.5% 28.1%
2056 14.7% 28.4%
2055 14.9% 28.7%
2054 15.1% 29%
2053 15.3% 29.4%
2052 15.4% 29.7%
2051 15.6% 30.1%
2050 15.7% 30.4%
2049 15.8% 30.8%
2048 15.9% 31.1%
2047 15.9% 31.5%
2046 16% 31.8%
2045 16.1% 32.1%
2044 16.1% 32.5%
2043 16.2% 32.8%
2042 16.2% 33.1%
2041 16.3% 33.4%
2040 16.3% 33.6%
2039 16.4% 33.9%
2038 16.5% 34.1%
2037 16.6% 34.4%
2036 16.7% 34.6%
2035 17.2% 34.7%
2034 17.9% 34.9%
2033 18.6% 35.1%
2032 19.4% 35.3%
2031 20.2% 35.5%
2030 21% 35.8%
2029 21.8% 36.1%
2028 22.6% 36.6%
2027 23.4% 37%
2026 24.3% 37.3%
2025 25.1% 37.6%
2024 25.5% 37.8%
2023 26.4% 38.3%
2022 27.2% 38.8%
2021 28% 39.4%
2020 28.4% 39.9%
2019 28.4% 40.5%
2018 28.4% 40.9%
2017 28.4% 41.4%
2016 28.5% 41.7%
2015 28.8% 41.9%
2014 29.2% 42%
2013 29.8% 42%
2012 30.4% 42%
2011 31.3% 42%
2010 32.2% 42.1%
2009 33.1% 42.1%
2008 34.1% 42.1%
2007 35% 42%
2006 36% 42%
2005 36.9% 42%
2004 37.9% 42.1%
2003 38.9% 42.2%
2002 39.9% 42.3%
2001 40.9% 42.5%
2000 41.8% 42.8%
1999 42.5% 43.4%
1998 43.2% 43.9%
1997 43.7% 44.3%
1996 44.2% 44.7%
1995 44.6% 44.9%
1994 44.9% 45.1%
1993 45.2% 45.2%
1992 45.5% 45.2%
1991 45.6% 45.1%
1990 45.7% 45.1%
1989 45.8% 45%
1988 45.9% 45%
1987 46.1% 44.9%
1986 46.2% 44.7%
1985 46.4% 44.5%
1984 46.6% 44.4%
1983 46.8% 44.5%
1982 47% 44.5%
1981 47.3% 44.7%
1980 47.4% 44.9%
1979 47.3% 45.1%
1978 46.9% 45.2%
1977 46.5% 45.3%
1976 45.9% 45.4%
1975 45.3% 45.5%
1974 44.9% 45.6%
1973 45% 45.7%
1972 45% 45.9%
1971 45% 46.1%
1970 45.2% 46.2%
1969 45.5% 45.8%
1968 45.9% 44.9%
1967 46.1% 44%
1966 46.2% 42.9%
1965 46.2% 41.6%
1964 46% 40.2%
1963 45.6% 38.5%
1962 45.1% 36.6%
1961 44.3% 34.3%
1960 43.6% 32.9%

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.5% of the population in Cape Verde and 37.8% in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 45.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Cape Verde vs Sao Tome and Principe

Cape Verde
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2023 40 75
2022 42 82
2021 56 98
2020 56 92
2019 41 95
2018 43 100
2017 43 110
2016 44 119
2015 46 128
2014 48 138
2013 50 150
2012 51 158
2011 55 164
2010 61 170
2009 62 172
2008 68 174
2007 73 174
2006 76 177
2005 75 181
2004 80 177
2003 86 178
2002 92 179
2001 101 178
2000 110 180
1999 122 179
1998 134 175
1997 147 173
1996 167 171
1995 196 172
1994 214 168
1993 233 166
1992 255 164
1991 277 166
1990 298 164
1989 322 167
1988 346 157
1987 366 161
1986 394 175
1985 420 159

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 75 deaths in Sao Tome and Principe.

Under-five mortality rates

Cape Verde
Sao Tome and Principe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Cape Verde Sao Tome
2023 1.16% 1.39%
2022 1.21% 1.46%
2021 1.27% 1.53%
2020 1.33% 1.6%
2019 1.41% 1.7%
2018 1.51% 1.81%
2017 1.62% 1.95%
2016 1.76% 2.11%
2015 1.91% 2.31%
2014 2.09% 2.54%
2013 2.26% 2.77%
2012 2.42% 3.04%
2011 2.56% 3.33%
2010 2.67% 3.63%
2009 2.75% 3.95%
2008 2.79% 4.3%
2007 2.8% 4.68%
2006 2.8% 5.11%
2005 2.8% 5.56%
2004 2.82% 6.05%
2003 2.9% 6.57%
2002 3.05% 7.1%
2001 3.28% 7.66%
2000 3.6% 8.21%
1999 4% 8.76%
1998 4.44% 9.26%
1997 4.84% 9.73%
1996 5.17% 10.1%
1995 5.37% 10.4%
1994 5.45% 10.7%
1993 5.46% 10.8%
1992 5.46% 10.9%
1991 5.5% 10.9%
1990 5.64% 10.8%
1989 5.88% 10.7%
1988 6.21% 10.6%
1987 6.59% 10.4%
1986 6.95% 11.4%
1985 7.25% 9.99%
1984 7.46% 9.77%
1983 7.59% 9.56%
1982 7.65% 9.37%
1981 7.72% 9.21%
1980 7.82% 9.1%
1979 8% 9.02%
1978 8.27% 8.96%
1977 8.65% 8.93%
1976 9.09% 8.89%
1975 9.6% 8.85%
1974 10.2% 8.79%
1973 10.8% 8.73%
1972 11.5% 8.67%
1971 12.1% 8.63%
1970 12.8% 8.64%
1969 13.4% 8.71%
1968 14% 8.85%
1967 14.5% 9.04%
1966 15% 9.29%
1965 15.4% 9.56%
1964 15.9% -
1963 16.2% -
1962 16.6% -
1961 16.9% -
1960 17.2% -

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.16% in Cape Verde and 1.39% in Sao Tome and Principe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.