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Fertility & birth rates in Congo and Sri Lanka

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 11.2 for Sri Lanka. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.16 in the Congo and 1.97 in Sri Lanka — 52.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 31.7% in the Congo and by 63.1% in Sri Lanka — in 1960, it was 6.09 and 5.35, respectively.

  • The Congo is ranked 28/196 by birth rate compared to 125/196 for Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.6 years in the Congo, compared to 25.6 years in Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in the Congo — it's 29.7 in Sri Lanka.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 109.9 in the Congo vs 15.1 in Sri Lanka.
  • In the Congo, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Sri Lanka.

Fertility rate in Congo vs Sri Lanka by year

Congo
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
Congo Sri Lanka
2023 4.16 1.97
2022 4.22 1.98
2021 4.28 2
2020 4.33 2.01
2019 4.38 2.02
2018 4.44 2.03
2017 4.5 2.04
2016 4.55 2.06
2015 4.61 2.09
2014 4.67 2.13
2013 4.73 2.18
2012 4.79 2.17
2011 4.83 2.14
2010 4.85 2.13
2009 4.81 2.18
2008 4.73 2.23
2007 4.65 2.3
2006 4.65 2.29
2005 4.67 2.26
2004 4.69 2.27
2003 4.7 2.3
2002 4.7 2.31
2001 4.67 2.28
2000 4.72 2.21
1999 4.81 2.14
1998 4.91 2.14
1997 5 2.22
1996 5.03 2.29
1995 5.07 2.35
1994 5.1 2.4
1993 5.13 2.44
1992 5.18 2.49
1991 5.22 2.51
1990 5.27 2.54
1989 5.33 2.58
1988 5.39 2.57
1987 5.46 2.64
1986 5.51 2.74
1985 5.59 2.9
1984 5.66 3.01
1983 5.76 3.11
1982 5.85 3.32
1981 5.98 3.65
1980 6.07 3.73
1979 6.14 3.82
1978 6.21 3.81
1977 6.27 3.74
1976 6.32 3.78
1975 6.36 3.82
1974 6.39 3.86
1973 6.42 4
1972 6.44 4.16
1971 6.42 4.27
1970 6.38 4.39
1969 6.35 4.5
1968 6.33 4.66
1967 6.29 4.79
1966 6.27 4.83
1965 6.23 4.93
1964 6.18 5.06
1963 6.15 5.12
1962 6.1 5.18
1961 6.09 5.24
1960 6.09 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

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 1.97 in Sri Lanka in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Congo
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Natural population change
Congo Sri Lanka
2023 150,486 66,111
2022 147,076 95,378
2021 144,241 121,858
2020 143,492 170,968
2019 139,513 172,243
2018 142,704 183,610
2017 141,973 187,993
2016 141,358 194,232
2015 141,539 201,815
2014 141,674 211,541
2013 142,080 221,021
2012 142,464 229,138
2011 140,371 224,461
2010 136,908 224,325
2009 126,904 200,175
2008 120,711 232,225
2007 112,459 248,287
2006 106,876 248,706
2005 101,344 248,683
2004 96,577 212,527
2003 91,326 252,008
2002 88,497 252,840
2001 84,876 244,377
2000 78,491 227,060
1999 76,204 206,876
1998 72,450 201,059
1997 66,149 208,193
1996 75,628 215,290
1995 74,189 221,957
1994 72,857 228,904
1993 71,119 226,257
1992 69,973 222,230
1991 68,534 218,117
1990 67,241 224,454
1989 65,944 212,401
1988 64,629 219,184
1987 63,183 226,414
1986 61,669 233,782
1985 60,359 247,836
1984 59,028 263,175
1983 58,120 277,768
1982 57,036 300,030
1981 56,603 328,096
1980 55,550 328,155
1979 54,723 329,791
1978 53,885 317,055
1977 53,179 300,038
1976 52,148 291,816
1975 51,155 282,496
1974 49,563 275,521
1973 48,017 278,577
1972 46,427 282,494
1971 44,431 281,200
1970 42,374 286,719
1969 40,532 286,218
1968 38,786 286,642
1967 36,866 284,738
1966 35,452 275,549
1965 33,865 272,422
1964 32,270 269,584
1963 30,832 262,880
1962 29,342 256,719
1961 28,220 251,087
1960 27,094 247,631

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | 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 +2.43% in the Congo and +0.3% in Sri Lanka.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Congo and +0.75% in Sri Lanka.

Birth rate in Congo vs Sri Lanka by year

Congo
Sri Lanka

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Congo Sri Lanka
2023 30.6 11.2
2022 30.9 12.4
2021 31.4 12.9
2020 31.7 13.8
2019 32.2 14.6
2018 32.8 15.2
2017 33.4 15.4
2016 34.1 15.7
2015 34.9 16
2014 35.8 16.5
2013 36.8 17
2012 37.8 17.1
2011 38.4 17.1
2010 38.9 17.1
2009 38 17.6
2008 38 18.2
2007 37.2 18.8
2006 37.1 18.9
2005 37 18.7
2004 37.1 18.8
2003 37 19.1
2002 37.3 19.2
2001 37.1 19
2000 36.2 18.4
1999 37 17.9
1998 37.5 17.8
1997 38.4 18.5
1996 38.4 19
1995 38.5 19.6
1994 38.6 20
1993 38.6 20
1992 38.7 20.1
1991 38.8 20.2
1990 38.9 20.5
1989 39.1 20.6
1988 39.2 20.3
1987 39.4 20.8
1986 39.6 21.4
1985 39.8 22.4
1984 40.1 23.5
1983 40.6 24.4
1982 40.8 26
1981 41.4 28.1
1980 41.8 28.6
1979 42.2 29.3
1978 42.7 29
1977 43.2 28.3
1976 43.6 28.3
1975 44 28.2
1974 44.1 28.2
1973 44.3 28.9
1972 44.5 29.7
1971 44.4 30.2
1970 44.1 31.2
1969 44 31.8
1968 43.9 32.6
1967 43.7 33.2
1966 43.6 33.2
1965 43.5 33.8
1964 43.4 34.5
1963 43.3 34.7
1962 43.2 35.1
1961 43.3 35.6
1960 43.5 36.3

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in the Congo and 11.2 in Sri Lanka, compared with 43.5 and 36.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Congo Sri Lanka
Fertility rate 4.16 1.97
Fertility rate rank 23/196 101/196
Birth rate 30.6 11.2
Birth rate rank 28/196 125/196
Population change due to births and deaths +150,486 +66,111
Natural population change rank 69/196 87/196
Natural population change rate +2.43% +0.3%
Population growth +2.43% -0.55%
Population growth rank 31/197 188/197
Age at first childbirth 19.6 years 25.6 years
Average age at childbearing 28.6 years 29.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 106.3 14.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 181.5 94.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 57.5 20.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.3% 53.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 91.2% 99.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.24% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.77% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.76% 0.53%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4.05% 0.61%
Life expectancy 66.4 years 78 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Congo
Factual

UN forecast
Sri Lanka
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Congo Sri Lanka
2100 22.6% 13.1%
2099 22.7% 13.1%
2098 22.8% 13.2%
2097 23% 13.2%
2096 23.1% 13.2%
2095 23.3% 13.3%
2094 23.4% 13.3%
2093 23.6% 13.4%
2092 23.8% 13.4%
2091 23.9% 13.5%
2090 24.1% 13.6%
2089 24.3% 13.7%
2088 24.4% 13.7%
2087 24.6% 13.8%
2086 24.8% 13.9%
2085 25% 14%
2084 25.2% 14%
2083 25.4% 14.1%
2082 25.6% 14.2%
2081 25.9% 14.3%
2080 26.1% 14.3%
2079 26.3% 14.4%
2078 26.5% 14.5%
2077 26.7% 14.5%
2076 26.9% 14.6%
2075 27.1% 14.6%
2074 27.3% 14.7%
2073 27.5% 14.7%
2072 27.7% 14.8%
2071 27.9% 14.9%
2070 28.1% 14.9%
2069 28.3% 15%
2068 28.5% 15%
2067 28.7% 15.1%
2066 29% 15.2%
2065 29.2% 15.3%
2064 29.4% 15.4%
2063 29.6% 15.5%
2062 29.9% 15.6%
2061 30.1% 15.7%
2060 30.4% 15.8%
2059 30.7% 16%
2058 30.9% 16.1%
2057 31.2% 16.3%
2056 31.5% 16.4%
2055 31.8% 16.6%
2054 32.1% 16.8%
2053 32.4% 16.9%
2052 32.7% 17.1%
2051 32.9% 17.2%
2050 33.2% 17.4%
2049 33.5% 17.5%
2048 33.8% 17.7%
2047 34.1% 17.8%
2046 34.3% 17.9%
2045 34.6% 18%
2044 34.8% 18.2%
2043 35% 18.3%
2042 35.2% 18.4%
2041 35.4% 18.5%
2040 35.6% 18.6%
2039 35.7% 18.7%
2038 35.9% 18.9%
2037 36.1% 19%
2036 36.3% 19.1%
2035 36.5% 19.3%
2034 36.7% 19.5%
2033 36.9% 19.7%
2032 37.2% 19.9%
2031 37.5% 20.1%
2030 37.8% 20.3%
2029 38.2% 20.6%
2028 38.6% 20.9%
2027 39.1% 21.2%
2026 39.7% 21.5%
2025 40.2% 21.9%
2024 40.4% 22%
2023 40.9% 22.4%
2022 41.3% 22.7%
2021 41.5% 23%
2020 41.8% 23.3%
2019 41.9% 23.7%
2018 42.1% 24%
2017 42.1% 24.2%
2016 42.1% 24.5%
2015 41.9% 24.7%
2014 41.7% 24.9%
2013 41.3% 25%
2012 41% 25.2%
2011 40.6% 25.3%
2010 40.4% 25.4%
2009 40.5% 25.5%
2008 40.7% 25.6%
2007 40.7% 25.7%
2006 40.9% 25.7%
2005 41.1% 25.8%
2004 41.4% 26%
2003 41.7% 26.1%
2002 41.9% 26.3%
2001 41.9% 26.6%
2000 42.5% 27%
1999 43.1% 27.4%
1998 43.3% 27.8%
1997 43.3% 28.2%
1996 43.2% 28.6%
1995 43.3% 29.2%
1994 43.4% 29.9%
1993 43.6% 30.6%
1992 43.8% 31.4%
1991 44% 32.1%
1990 44.2% 32.5%
1989 44.3% 33%
1988 44.5% 33.5%
1987 44.6% 34%
1986 44.7% 34.6%
1985 44.9% 35.2%
1984 45% 35.5%
1983 45.2% 35.8%
1982 45.4% 36%
1981 45.6% 36.2%
1980 45.7% 36.4%
1979 45.8% 36.7%
1978 45.8% 36.9%
1977 45.8% 37.2%
1976 45.7% 37.6%
1975 45.5% 38%
1974 45.4% 38.4%
1973 45.2% 38.8%
1972 45% 39.2%
1971 44.8% 39.5%
1970 44.7% 39.7%
1969 44.5% 39.9%
1968 44.3% 40.1%
1967 44.2% 40.3%
1966 44% 40.4%
1965 43.9% 40.5%
1964 43.7% 40.6%
1963 43.5% 40.7%
1962 43.3% 40.8%
1961 43% 40.9%
1960 42.7% 41%

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/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.4% of the population in the Congo and 22% in Sri Lanka in 2024, compared to 44.2% and 32.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Congo and Sri Lanka compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs Sri Lanka

Congo
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Congo Sri Lanka
2023 241 18
2022 241 22
2021 301 34
2020 247 23
2019 245 20
2018 259 21
2017 262 21
2016 263 22
2015 284 22
2014 302 23
2013 320 23
2012 374 24
2011 378 25
2010 382 26
2009 414 28
2008 395 30
2007 370 31
2006 394 32
2005 385 32
2004 400 37
2003 436 35
2002 464 36
2001 489 37
2000 509 39
1999 554 41
1998 597 43
1997 650 45
1996 545 47
1995 551 48
1994 551 49
1993 541 51
1992 531 54
1991 514 57
1990 505 59
1989 506 61
1988 510 62
1987 519 64
1986 535 66
1985 546 68

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

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 18 deaths in Sri Lanka.

Under-five mortality rates

Congo
Sri Lanka

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Congo Sri Lanka
2023 4.05% 0.61%
2022 4.19% 0.64%
2021 4.33% 0.66%
2020 4.47% 0.69%
2019 5.24% 0.72%
2018 4.77% 0.76%
2017 4.93% 0.79%
2016 5.09% 0.83%
2015 5.27% 0.87%
2014 5.45% 0.92%
2013 5.64% 0.98%
2012 5.82% 1.03%
2011 6.02% 1.08%
2010 6.25% 1.12%
2009 6.55% 2.08%
2008 6.95% 1.2%
2007 7.43% 1.26%
2006 8.02% 1.33%
2005 8.66% 1.4%
2004 9.35% 2.88%
2003 10% 1.52%
2002 10.6% 1.55%
2001 11.1% 1.58%
2000 11.4% 1.63%
1999 11.5% 1.69%
1998 11.4% 1.76%
1997 11.2% 1.86%
1996 10.9% 1.95%
1995 10.5% 2.05%
1994 10.2% 2.14%
1993 9.84% 2.22%
1992 9.54% 2.29%
1991 9.31% 2.32%
1990 9.15% 2.33%
1989 9.05% 2.74%
1988 9.04% 2.41%
1987 9.11% 2.54%
1986 9.25% 2.74%
1985 9.44% 3.02%
1984 9.68% 3.35%
1983 9.95% 3.67%
1982 10.2% 3.98%
1981 10.5% 4.29%
1980 10.7% 4.63%
1979 11% 4.99%
1978 11.2% 5.38%
1977 11.5% 5.77%
1976 11.8% 6.12%
1975 12.1% 6.41%
1974 12.4% 6.62%
1973 12.6% 6.77%
1972 13% 6.86%
1971 13.4% 6.94%
1970 13.7% 7.02%
1969 14.2% 7.14%
1968 14.6% 7.32%
1967 15.1% 7.55%
1966 15.6% 7.81%
1965 16.1% 8.07%
1964 16.7% 8.3%
1963 17.3% 8.48%
1962 18% 8.66%
1961 18.6% 8.95%
1960 19.4% 9.41%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/congo/sri-lanka | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 0.61% in Sri Lanka. 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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