Fertility & birth rates in Congo and South Sudan

Fertility rate in Congo vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Congo

South Sudan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Congo	South Sudan
2023	4.16	3.86
2022	4.22	3.96
2021	4.28	4.05
2020	4.33	4.16
2019	4.38	4.26
2018	4.44	4.37
2017	4.5	4.48
2016	4.55	4.58
2015	4.61	4.7
2014	4.67	4.82
2013	4.73	4.94
2012	4.79	5.06
2011	4.83	5.19
2010	4.85	5.32
2009	4.81	5.45
2008	4.73	5.57
2007	4.65	5.7
2006	4.65	5.85
2005	4.67	6.02
2004	4.69	6.19
2003	4.7	6.35
2002	4.7	6.52
2001	4.67	6.65
2000	4.72	6.8
1999	4.81	6.94
1998	4.91	7.08
1997	5	7.2
1996	5.03	7.32
1995	5.07	7.34
1994	5.1	7.35
1993	5.13	7.36
1992	5.18	7.37
1991	5.22	7.38
1990	5.27	7.38
1989	5.33	7.37
1988	5.39	7.38
1987	5.46	7.39
1986	5.51	7.38
1985	5.59	7.36
1984	5.66	7.35
1983	5.76	7.34
1982	5.85	7.34
1981	5.98	7.33
1980	6.07	7.33
1979	6.14	7.32
1978	6.21	7.33
1977	6.27	7.33
1976	6.32	7.33
1975	6.36	7.33
1974	6.39	7.31
1973	6.42	7.31
1972	6.44	7.31
1971	6.42	7.3
1970	6.38	7.29
1969	6.35	7.28
1968	6.33	7.26
1967	6.29	7.26
1966	6.27	7.25
1965	6.23	7.22
1964	6.18	7.22
1963	6.15	7.2
1962	6.1	7.2
1961	6.09	7.18
1960	6.09	7.16

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 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Congo

South Sudan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Congo	South Sudan
2023	150,486	217,966
2022	147,076	211,166
2021	144,241	213,567
2020	143,492	212,332
2019	139,513	209,708
2018	142,704	168,497
2017	141,973	72,193
2016	141,358	110,553
2015	141,539	148,542
2014	141,674	227,611
2013	142,080	315,983
2012	142,464	312,974
2011	140,371	303,181
2010	136,908	287,409
2009	126,904	278,859
2008	120,711	268,268
2007	112,459	256,546
2006	106,876	246,706
2005	101,344	239,272
2004	96,577	231,877
2003	91,326	225,822
2002	88,497	212,014
2001	84,876	204,108
2000	78,491	196,055
1999	76,204	180,721
1998	72,450	-12,157
1997	66,149	121,454
1996	75,628	116,728
1995	74,189	110,417
1994	72,857	165,407
1993	71,119	32,779
1992	69,973	28,874
1991	68,534	87,873
1990	67,241	82,900
1989	65,944	83,735
1988	64,629	-125,447
1987	63,183	5,756
1986	61,669	99,502
1985	60,359	95,342
1984	59,028	90,970
1983	58,120	104,107
1982	57,036	118,641
1981	56,603	115,163
1980	55,550	112,307
1979	54,723	109,540
1978	53,885	107,352
1977	53,179	104,886
1976	52,148	102,346
1975	51,155	99,882
1974	49,563	97,181
1973	48,017	94,765
1972	46,427	74,803
1971	44,431	72,308
1970	42,374	44,776
1969	40,532	42,015
1968	38,786	44,213
1967	36,866	41,357
1966	35,452	38,523
1965	33,865	51,682
1964	32,270	64,786
1963	30,832	46,333
1962	29,342	47,406
1961	28,220	45,186
1960	27,094	42,945

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 +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Congo and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Congo vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Congo

South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Congo	South Sudan
2023	30.6	28.6
2022	30.9	29.1
2021	31.4	29.7
2020	31.7	29.4
2019	32.2	29.4
2018	32.8	29.1
2017	33.4	32.8
2016	34.1	35.1
2015	34.9	35.4
2014	35.8	38.2
2013	36.8	38.3
2012	37.8	39.1
2011	38.4	39.8
2010	38.9	39.9
2009	38	41
2008	38	41.6
2007	37.2	42.3
2006	37.1	43.2
2005	37	44.3
2004	37.1	45.5
2003	37	46.8
2002	37.3	48
2001	37.1	48.9
2000	36.2	49.8
1999	37	50.7
1998	37.5	51.2
1997	38.4	51.6
1996	38.4	52.6
1995	38.5	52.7
1994	38.6	52.7
1993	38.6	52.7
1992	38.7	52.5
1991	38.8	52.4
1990	38.9	52.3
1989	39.1	53.1
1988	39.2	51.9
1987	39.4	50.6
1986	39.6	50.6
1985	39.8	50.7
1984	40.1	50.8
1983	40.6	51.1
1982	40.8	51.4
1981	41.4	51.7
1980	41.8	52
1979	42.2	52.3
1978	42.7	52.7
1977	43.2	53
1976	43.6	53.4
1975	44	53.7
1974	44.1	53.9
1973	44.3	54.3
1972	44.5	54.5
1971	44.4	54.6
1970	44.1	54.5
1969	44	54.3
1968	43.9	54
1967	43.7	53.7
1966	43.6	53.5
1965	43.5	53.1
1964	43.4	53
1963	43.3	52.7
1962	43.2	52.5
1961	43.3	52.3
1960	43.5	52

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in the Congo and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 43.5 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Congo

Factual

UN forecast

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Congo	South Sudan
2100	22.6%	20.1%
2099	22.7%	20.2%
2098	22.8%	20.3%
2097	23%	20.3%
2096	23.1%	20.4%
2095	23.3%	20.5%
2094	23.4%	20.6%
2093	23.6%	20.7%
2092	23.8%	20.9%
2091	23.9%	21%
2090	24.1%	21.1%
2089	24.3%	21.2%
2088	24.4%	21.3%
2087	24.6%	21.5%
2086	24.8%	21.6%
2085	25%	21.8%
2084	25.2%	21.9%
2083	25.4%	22.1%
2082	25.6%	22.3%
2081	25.9%	22.4%
2080	26.1%	22.6%
2079	26.3%	22.8%
2078	26.5%	23%
2077	26.7%	23.2%
2076	26.9%	23.3%
2075	27.1%	23.5%
2074	27.3%	23.7%
2073	27.5%	23.9%
2072	27.7%	24.1%
2071	27.9%	24.3%
2070	28.1%	24.5%
2069	28.3%	24.7%
2068	28.5%	25%
2067	28.7%	25.2%
2066	29%	25.4%
2065	29.2%	25.6%
2064	29.4%	25.8%
2063	29.6%	26%
2062	29.9%	26.3%
2061	30.1%	26.5%
2060	30.4%	26.7%
2059	30.7%	27%
2058	30.9%	27.2%
2057	31.2%	27.5%
2056	31.5%	27.8%
2055	31.8%	28.1%
2054	32.1%	28.5%
2053	32.4%	28.8%
2052	32.7%	29.2%
2051	32.9%	29.5%
2050	33.2%	29.9%
2049	33.5%	30.3%
2048	33.8%	30.8%
2047	34.1%	31.2%
2046	34.3%	31.6%
2045	34.6%	32%
2044	34.8%	32.4%
2043	35%	32.7%
2042	35.2%	33%
2041	35.4%	33.3%
2040	35.6%	33.6%
2039	35.7%	33.8%
2038	35.9%	33.9%
2037	36.1%	34.1%
2036	36.3%	34.2%
2035	36.5%	34.3%
2034	36.7%	34.4%
2033	36.9%	34.3%
2032	37.2%	34.4%
2031	37.5%	34.6%
2030	37.8%	34.8%
2029	38.2%	35.2%
2028	38.6%	35.8%
2027	39.1%	36.6%
2026	39.7%	37.5%
2025	40.2%	38.4%
2024	40.4%	38.9%
2023	40.9%	39.9%
2022	41.3%	40.9%
2021	41.5%	41.6%
2020	41.8%	42.4%
2019	41.9%	43.6%
2018	42.1%	44.9%
2017	42.1%	45%
2016	42.1%	43.7%
2015	41.9%	43.1%
2014	41.7%	42.5%
2013	41.3%	41.9%
2012	41%	41.9%
2011	40.6%	42.2%
2010	40.4%	42.8%
2009	40.5%	43.4%
2008	40.7%	43.8%
2007	40.7%	44.3%
2006	40.9%	44.8%
2005	41.1%	45.3%
2004	41.4%	45.8%
2003	41.7%	45.9%
2002	41.9%	45.7%
2001	41.9%	45.5%
2000	42.5%	45.5%
1999	43.1%	45.6%
1998	43.3%	45.8%
1997	43.3%	46%
1996	43.2%	46%
1995	43.3%	45.8%
1994	43.4%	45.8%
1993	43.6%	45.7%
1992	43.8%	45.6%
1991	44%	45.5%
1990	44.2%	45.4%
1989	44.3%	45.4%
1988	44.5%	46.2%
1987	44.6%	46.9%
1986	44.7%	46.7%
1985	44.9%	46.6%
1984	45%	46.5%
1983	45.2%	46.3%
1982	45.4%	46.2%
1981	45.6%	46%
1980	45.7%	45.8%
1979	45.8%	45.7%
1978	45.8%	45.5%
1977	45.8%	45.4%
1976	45.7%	45.3%
1975	45.5%	45.2%
1974	45.4%	45.1%
1973	45.2%	45%
1972	45%	44.8%
1971	44.8%	44.7%
1970	44.7%	44.5%
1969	44.5%	44.3%
1968	44.3%	44%
1967	44.2%	43.8%
1966	44%	43.5%
1965	43.9%	43.3%
1964	43.7%	43%
1963	43.5%	42.8%
1962	43.3%	42.6%
1961	43%	42.6%
1960	42.7%	42.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.4% of the population in the Congo and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 44.2% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Congo and South Sudan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs South Sudan

Chart Table

Congo

South Sudan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Congo	South Sudan
2023	241	692
2022	241	704
2021	301	749
2020	247	729
2019	245	745
2018	259	913
2017	262	1,662
2016	263	1,629
2015	284	1,436
2014	302	1,216
2013	320	771
2012	374	755
2011	378	770
2010	382	776
2009	414	823
2008	395	858
2007	370	933
2006	394	1,005
2005	385	1,074
2004	400	1,150
2003	436	1,199
2002	464	1,521
2001	489	1,580
2000	509	1,658
1999	554	2,048
1998	597	7,514
1997	650	4,172
1996	545	4,357
1995	551	4,430
1994	551	1,666
1993	541	7,537
1992	531	7,597
1991	514	4,764
1990	505	4,877
1989	506	5,103
1988	510	5,535
1987	519	8,045
1986	535	3,720
1985	546	3,845

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 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Congo

South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Congo	South Sudan
2023	4.05%	9.87%
2022	4.19%	9.87%
2021	4.33%	9.87%
2020	4.47%	9.87%
2019	5.24%	9.87%
2018	4.77%	13.2%
2017	4.93%	27.8%
2016	5.09%	26.4%
2015	5.27%	23.7%
2014	5.45%	18.2%
2013	5.64%	9.92%
2012	5.82%	10.1%
2011	6.02%	10.5%
2010	6.25%	10.9%
2009	6.55%	11.5%
2008	6.95%	12.1%
2007	7.43%	12.7%
2006	8.02%	13.4%
2005	8.66%	14.1%
2004	9.35%	14.8%
2003	10%	15.7%
2002	10.6%	16.5%
2001	11.1%	17.4%
2000	11.4%	18.3%
1999	11.5%	19.2%
1998	11.4%	42.6%
1997	11.2%	25.2%
1996	10.9%	26.1%
1995	10.5%	27%
1994	10.2%	23%
1993	9.84%	33.1%
1992	9.54%	33.8%
1991	9.31%	29.7%
1990	9.15%	30.3%
1989	9.05%	30.7%
1988	9.04%	76.7%
1987	9.11%	36%
1986	9.25%	26.7%
1985	9.44%	27.1%
1984	9.68%	27.5%
1983	9.95%	27.8%
1982	10.2%	28.2%
1981	10.5%	28.5%
1980	10.7%	28.9%
1979	11%	29.2%
1978	11.2%	29.5%
1977	11.5%	29.9%
1976	11.8%	30.2%
1975	12.1%	30.6%
1974	12.4%	30.9%
1973	12.6%	31.3%
1972	13%	31.6%
1971	13.4%	31.9%
1970	13.7%	32.3%
1969	14.2%	32.6%
1968	14.6%	32.9%
1967	15.1%	33.3%
1966	15.6%	33.6%
1965	16.1%	34%
1964	16.7%	34.3%
1963	17.3%	34.6%
1962	18%	34.9%
1961	18.6%	35.2%
1960	19.4%	35.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.