Fertility & birth rates in Congo and Rwanda

Fertility rate in Congo vs Rwanda by year

Chart Table

Congo

Rwanda

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Congo	Rwanda
2023	4.16	3.7
2022	4.22	3.78
2021	4.28	3.84
2020	4.33	3.91
2019	4.38	3.99
2018	4.44	4.05
2017	4.5	4.08
2016	4.55	4.11
2015	4.61	4.11
2014	4.67	4.12
2013	4.73	4.14
2012	4.79	4.2
2011	4.83	4.33
2010	4.85	4.52
2009	4.81	4.71
2008	4.73	4.92
2007	4.65	5.14
2006	4.65	5.34
2005	4.67	5.5
2004	4.69	5.64
2003	4.7	5.74
2002	4.7	5.82
2001	4.67	5.89
2000	4.72	5.97
1999	4.81	6.06
1998	4.91	6.17
1997	5	6.24
1996	5.03	6.29
1995	5.07	6.35
1994	5.1	6.42
1993	5.13	6.48
1992	5.18	6.54
1991	5.22	6.62
1990	5.27	6.8
1989	5.33	7.03
1988	5.39	7.23
1987	5.46	7.43
1986	5.51	7.61
1985	5.59	7.79
1984	5.66	7.91
1983	5.76	8
1982	5.85	8.06
1981	5.98	8.1
1980	6.07	8.12
1979	6.14	8.13
1978	6.21	8.16
1977	6.27	8.14
1976	6.32	8.12
1975	6.36	8.1
1974	6.39	8.1
1973	6.42	8.09
1972	6.44	8.09
1971	6.42	8.09
1970	6.38	8.15
1969	6.35	8.18
1968	6.33	8.19
1967	6.29	8.21
1966	6.27	8.23
1965	6.23	8.25
1964	6.18	8.27
1963	6.15	8.27
1962	6.1	8.27
1961	6.09	8.28
1960	6.09	8.28

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Congo was 4.16 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.7 in Rwanda in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Congo vs Rwanda population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Congo

Rwanda

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Congo	Rwanda
2023	150,486	312,762
2022	147,076	312,145
2021	144,241	309,895
2020	143,492	312,692
2019	139,513	313,525
2018	142,704	312,512
2017	141,973	310,323
2016	141,358	305,549
2015	141,539	299,114
2014	141,674	292,779
2013	142,080	286,331
2012	142,464	282,584
2011	140,371	282,922
2010	136,908	286,848
2009	126,904	287,034
2008	120,711	287,334
2007	112,459	285,791
2006	106,876	282,149
2005	101,344	275,121
2004	96,577	265,273
2003	91,326	251,243
2002	88,497	239,036
2001	84,876	230,845
2000	78,491	221,276
1999	76,204	210,518
1998	72,450	197,185
1997	66,149	174,687
1996	75,628	140,455
1995	74,189	121,137
1994	72,857	-719,479
1993	71,119	183,926
1992	69,973	188,025
1991	68,534	196,431
1990	67,241	207,895
1989	65,944	217,632
1988	64,629	223,759
1987	63,183	225,744
1986	61,669	225,526
1985	60,359	223,794
1984	59,028	219,337
1983	58,120	212,750
1982	57,036	205,147
1981	56,603	195,769
1980	55,550	184,988
1979	54,723	174,477
1978	53,885	163,779
1977	53,179	155,011
1976	52,148	147,665
1975	51,155	140,596
1974	49,563	135,743
1973	48,017	131,021
1972	46,427	126,403
1971	44,431	122,567
1970	42,374	119,273
1969	40,532	115,394
1968	38,786	111,422
1967	36,866	108,053
1966	35,452	105,128
1965	33,865	103,422
1964	32,270	102,562
1963	30,832	94,296
1962	29,342	102,548
1961	28,220	102,051
1960	27,094	100,627

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 +2.43% in the Congo and +2.24% in Rwanda.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Congo and +2.45% in Rwanda.

Birth rate in Congo vs Rwanda by year

Chart Table

Congo

Rwanda

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Congo	Rwanda
2023	30.6	28.3
2022	30.9	28.9
2021	31.4	29.4
2020	31.7	30
2019	32.2	30.7
2018	32.8	31.2
2017	33.4	31.7
2016	34.1	32
2015	34.9	32.1
2014	35.8	32.2
2013	36.8	32.4
2012	37.8	32.9
2011	38.4	33.8
2010	38.9	35.1
2009	38	36.3
2008	38	37.6
2007	37.2	38.8
2006	37.1	39.9
2005	37	40.6
2004	37.1	41.1
2003	37	41.4
2002	37.3	41.8
2001	37.1	42.1
2000	36.2	42.1
1999	37	42.1
1998	37.5	42.2
1997	38.4	40.5
1996	38.4	37.2
1995	38.5	39.5
1994	38.6	48
1993	38.6	41.5
1992	38.7	42.2
1991	38.8	42.8
1990	38.9	44.1
1989	39.1	45.3
1988	39.2	46.6
1987	39.4	47.8
1986	39.6	49
1985	39.8	50.2
1984	40.1	51.1
1983	40.6	51.8
1982	40.8	52.4
1981	41.4	52.7
1980	41.8	52.7
1979	42.2	52.5
1978	42.7	52.1
1977	43.2	51.6
1976	43.6	51.1
1975	44	50.4
1974	44.1	50
1973	44.3	49.4
1972	44.5	48.9
1971	44.4	48.5
1970	44.1	48.2
1969	44	47.9
1968	43.9	47.6
1967	43.7	47.4
1966	43.6	47.6
1965	43.5	48
1964	43.4	48.8
1963	43.3	49.8
1962	43.2	50.9
1961	43.3	52
1960	43.5	52.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in the Congo and 28.3 in Rwanda, compared with 43.5 and 52.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Rwanda

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Congo	Rwanda
2100	22.6%	18.7%
2099	22.7%	18.9%
2098	22.8%	19%
2097	23%	19.1%
2096	23.1%	19.3%
2095	23.3%	19.4%
2094	23.4%	19.6%
2093	23.6%	19.7%
2092	23.8%	19.9%
2091	23.9%	20%
2090	24.1%	20.2%
2089	24.3%	20.4%
2088	24.4%	20.5%
2087	24.6%	20.7%
2086	24.8%	20.9%
2085	25%	21.1%
2084	25.2%	21.3%
2083	25.4%	21.5%
2082	25.6%	21.7%
2081	25.9%	21.9%
2080	26.1%	22.1%
2079	26.3%	22.2%
2078	26.5%	22.4%
2077	26.7%	22.6%
2076	26.9%	22.8%
2075	27.1%	23%
2074	27.3%	23.2%
2073	27.5%	23.4%
2072	27.7%	23.6%
2071	27.9%	23.8%
2070	28.1%	24%
2069	28.3%	24.2%
2068	28.5%	24.4%
2067	28.7%	24.6%
2066	29%	24.9%
2065	29.2%	25.1%
2064	29.4%	25.3%
2063	29.6%	25.6%
2062	29.9%	25.8%
2061	30.1%	26.1%
2060	30.4%	26.4%
2059	30.7%	26.7%
2058	30.9%	27%
2057	31.2%	27.3%
2056	31.5%	27.6%
2055	31.8%	27.9%
2054	32.1%	28.3%
2053	32.4%	28.6%
2052	32.7%	28.9%
2051	32.9%	29.2%
2050	33.2%	29.5%
2049	33.5%	29.8%
2048	33.8%	30.1%
2047	34.1%	30.4%
2046	34.3%	30.7%
2045	34.6%	31%
2044	34.8%	31.2%
2043	35%	31.5%
2042	35.2%	31.8%
2041	35.4%	32.1%
2040	35.6%	32.4%
2039	35.7%	32.7%
2038	35.9%	33%
2037	36.1%	33.3%
2036	36.3%	33.6%
2035	36.5%	33.9%
2034	36.7%	34.2%
2033	36.9%	34.6%
2032	37.2%	34.9%
2031	37.5%	35.2%
2030	37.8%	35.6%
2029	38.2%	35.9%
2028	38.6%	36.2%
2027	39.1%	36.5%
2026	39.7%	36.9%
2025	40.2%	37.2%
2024	40.4%	37.4%
2023	40.9%	37.7%
2022	41.3%	38.2%
2021	41.5%	38.6%
2020	41.8%	39.2%
2019	41.9%	39.7%
2018	42.1%	40.1%
2017	42.1%	40.5%
2016	42.1%	40.9%
2015	41.9%	41.1%
2014	41.7%	41.4%
2013	41.3%	41.7%
2012	41%	41.9%
2011	40.6%	42.2%
2010	40.4%	42.4%
2009	40.5%	42.6%
2008	40.7%	42.8%
2007	40.7%	42.9%
2006	40.9%	42.9%
2005	41.1%	43.1%
2004	41.4%	43.3%
2003	41.7%	43.7%
2002	41.9%	44.3%
2001	41.9%	45.2%
2000	42.5%	46.4%
1999	43.1%	47.8%
1998	43.3%	49.2%
1997	43.3%	50.5%
1996	43.2%	51.4%
1995	43.3%	52.4%
1994	43.4%	50.1%
1993	43.6%	48.4%
1992	43.8%	48.7%
1991	44%	48.9%
1990	44.2%	49%
1989	44.3%	48.9%
1988	44.5%	48.9%
1987	44.6%	48.8%
1986	44.7%	48.6%
1985	44.9%	48.3%
1984	45%	48.1%
1983	45.2%	47.7%
1982	45.4%	47.4%
1981	45.6%	47.1%
1980	45.7%	46.8%
1979	45.8%	46.5%
1978	45.8%	46.4%
1977	45.8%	46.4%
1976	45.7%	46.4%
1975	45.5%	46.6%
1974	45.4%	46.9%
1973	45.2%	47.2%
1972	45%	47.5%
1971	44.8%	47.9%
1970	44.7%	48.2%
1969	44.5%	48.7%
1968	44.3%	49.2%
1967	44.2%	49.7%
1966	44%	50.2%
1965	43.9%	50.6%
1964	43.7%	50.8%
1963	43.5%	50.6%
1962	43.3%	50.2%
1961	43%	49.7%
1960	42.7%	49.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.4% of the population in the Congo and 37.4% in Rwanda in 2024, compared to 44.2% and 49% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Congo and Rwanda compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs Rwanda

Chart Table

Congo

Rwanda

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Congo	Rwanda
2023	241	229
2022	241	234
2021	301	254
2020	247	252
2019	245	261
2018	259	269
2017	262	275
2016	263	278
2015	284	292
2014	302	301
2013	320	317
2012	374	331
2011	378	358
2010	382	393
2009	414	418
2008	395	454
2007	370	494
2006	394	494
2005	385	465
2004	400	460
2003	436	551
2002	464	677
2001	489	769
2000	509	885
1999	554	1,073
1998	597	1,268
1997	650	1,318
1996	545	1,295
1995	551	1,505
1994	551	5,721
1993	541	1,619
1992	531	1,530
1991	514	1,386
1990	505	1,309
1989	506	1,238
1988	510	1,188
1987	519	1,145
1986	535	1,126
1985	546	1,116

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 241 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Congo, compared to 229 deaths in Rwanda.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Congo

Rwanda

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Congo	Rwanda
2023	4.05%	4%
2022	4.19%	4.08%
2021	4.33%	4.16%
2020	4.47%	4.25%
2019	5.24%	4.34%
2018	4.77%	4.43%
2017	4.93%	4.52%
2016	5.09%	4.63%
2015	5.27%	4.78%
2014	5.45%	4.96%
2013	5.64%	5.17%
2012	5.82%	5.45%
2011	6.02%	5.81%
2010	6.25%	6.33%
2009	6.55%	6.92%
2008	6.95%	7.62%
2007	7.43%	8.45%
2006	8.02%	9.37%
2005	8.66%	10.5%
2004	9.35%	11.8%
2003	10%	13.3%
2002	10.6%	14.9%
2001	11.1%	16.7%
2000	11.4%	18.5%
1999	11.5%	20.2%
1998	11.4%	21.5%
1997	11.2%	22.2%
1996	10.9%	22.2%
1995	10.5%	21.8%
1994	10.2%	38.9%
1993	9.84%	19.3%
1992	9.54%	17.5%
1991	9.31%	16%
1990	9.15%	15.1%
1989	9.05%	14.8%
1988	9.04%	14.8%
1987	9.11%	15.2%
1986	9.25%	15.6%
1985	9.44%	16.1%
1984	9.68%	16.6%
1983	9.95%	17.4%
1982	10.2%	18.6%
1981	10.5%	20.1%
1980	10.7%	21.8%
1979	11%	23.4%
1978	11.2%	24.6%
1977	11.5%	25.1%
1976	11.8%	25.1%
1975	12.1%	24.6%
1974	12.4%	24%
1973	12.6%	23.4%
1972	13%	23%
1971	13.4%	22.6%
1970	13.7%	22.3%
1969	14.2%	22%
1968	14.6%	21.7%
1967	15.1%	21.4%
1966	15.6%	21.2%
1965	16.1%	21.1%
1964	16.7%	21.1%
1963	17.3%	21.3%
1962	18%	21.5%
1961	18.6%	21.9%
1960	19.4%	22.4%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 4% in Rwanda. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.