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Fertility & birth rates in Congo and Sweden

Updated on by Georank team

The Congo has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.5 for Sweden. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.16 in the Congo and 1.45 in Sweden — 65.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -31.7% in the Congo and by -33.2% in Sweden — in 1960, it was 6.09 and 2.17, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • The Congo is ranked 28/196 by birth rate compared to 153/196 for Sweden.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.6 years in the Congo, compared to 30 years in Sweden.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in the Congo — it's 31.7 in Sweden.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 109.9 in the Congo vs 1.79 in Sweden.
  • In the Congo, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.3% in Sweden.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.43% in the Congo and +0.05% in Sweden.

Birth rate data compared

Congo Sweden
Fertility rate 4.16 1.45
Birth rate 30.6 9.5
Birth rate rank 28/196 153/196
Age at first childbirth 19.6 years 30 years
Average age at childbearing 28.6 years 31.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 105.9 1.63
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 180.6 54
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 58.2 18.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 21.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.3% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 91.2% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.24% 0.004%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.77% 0.14%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.76% 0.2%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 4.05% 0.25%
Population change due to births and deaths +150,486 +5,269
Natural population change rank 69/196 125/196
Natural population change rate +2.43% +0.05%
Population growth +2.43% +0.31%
Population growth rank 33/197 148/197
Life expectancy 66.2 years 83.6 years

Fertility rate in Congo vs Sweden chart

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 1.45 in Sweden in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Congo
Factual

UN forecast
Sweden
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Congo Sweden
1960 6.09 2.17
1961 6.09 2.21
1962 6.1 2.25
1963 6.15 2.33
1964 6.18 2.47
1965 6.23 2.39
1966 6.27 2.37
1967 6.29 2.28
1968 6.33 2.07
1969 6.35 1.93
1970 6.38 1.92
1971 6.42 1.96
1972 6.44 1.91
1973 6.42 1.87
1974 6.39 1.87
1975 6.36 1.77
1976 6.32 1.68
1977 6.27 1.64
1978 6.21 1.6
1979 6.14 1.66
1980 6.07 1.68
1981 5.98 1.63
1982 5.85 1.62
1983 5.76 1.61
1984 5.66 1.66
1985 5.59 1.74
1986 5.51 1.8
1987 5.46 1.84
1988 5.39 1.96
1989 5.33 2.01
1990 5.27 2.13
1991 5.22 2.11
1992 5.18 2.09
1993 5.13 1.99
1994 5.1 1.88
1995 5.07 1.73
1996 5.03 1.6
1997 5 1.52
1998 4.91 1.5
1999 4.81 1.5
2000 4.72 1.54
2001 4.67 1.57
2002 4.7 1.65
2003 4.7 1.71
2004 4.69 1.75
2005 4.67 1.77
2006 4.65 1.85
2007 4.65 1.88
2008 4.73 1.91
2009 4.81 1.94
2010 4.85 1.98
2011 4.83 1.9
2012 4.79 1.91
2013 4.73 1.89
2014 4.67 1.88
2015 4.61 1.85
2016 4.55 1.85
2017 4.5 1.78
2018 4.44 1.76
2019 4.38 1.71
2020 4.33 1.67
2021 4.28 1.67
2022 4.22 1.53
2023 4.16 1.45
2024 4.11 1.45
2025 4.05 1.46
2026 3.99 1.46
2027 3.93 1.47
2028 3.88 1.47
2029 3.83 1.48
2030 3.78 1.48
2031 3.73 1.49
2032 3.68 1.49
2033 3.64 1.49
2034 3.59 1.5
2035 3.54 1.5
2036 3.5 1.5
2037 3.46 1.51
2038 3.42 1.51
2039 3.38 1.51
2040 3.35 1.52
2041 3.31 1.52
2042 3.27 1.53
2043 3.24 1.53
2044 3.2 1.53
2045 3.16 1.53
2046 3.13 1.53
2047 3.09 1.54
2048 3.06 1.54
2049 3.03 1.54
2050 3 1.54

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Congo
Factual

UN forecast
Sweden
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Congo Sweden
1960 42.7% 22.4%
1961 43% 22%
1962 43.3% 21.5%
1963 43.5% 21.2%
1964 43.7% 21%
1965 43.9% 20.9%
1966 44% 20.9%
1967 44.2% 21%
1968 44.3% 20.9%
1969 44.5% 20.9%
1970 44.7% 20.8%
1971 44.8% 20.8%
1972 45% 20.8%
1973 45.2% 20.7%
1974 45.4% 20.7%
1975 45.5% 20.7%
1976 45.7% 20.6%
1977 45.8% 20.5%
1978 45.8% 20.3%
1979 45.8% 19.9%
1980 45.7% 19.6%
1981 45.6% 19.2%
1982 45.4% 18.9%
1983 45.2% 18.6%
1984 45% 18.3%
1985 44.9% 18.2%
1986 44.7% 18%
1987 44.6% 17.9%
1988 44.5% 17.8%
1989 44.3% 17.8%
1990 44.2% 17.9%
1991 44% 18.1%
1992 43.8% 18.4%
1993 43.6% 18.6%
1994 43.4% 18.8%
1995 43.3% 18.9%
1996 43.2% 18.8%
1997 43.3% 18.7%
1998 43.3% 18.7%
1999 43.1% 18.6%
2000 42.5% 18.4%
2001 41.9% 18.3%
2002 41.9% 18.1%
2003 41.7% 17.9%
2004 41.4% 17.7%
2005 41.1% 17.4%
2006 40.9% 17.1%
2007 40.7% 16.9%
2008 40.7% 16.7%
2009 40.5% 16.6%
2010 40.4% 16.6%
2011 40.6% 16.7%
2012 41% 16.8%
2013 41.3% 17%
2014 41.7% 17.2%
2015 41.9% 17.3%
2016 42.1% 17.5%
2017 42.1% 17.7%
2018 42.1% 17.8%
2019 41.9% 17.8%
2020 41.8% 17.7%
2021 41.5% 17.7%
2022 41.3% 17.5%
2023 40.9% 17.2%
2024 40.4% 17%
2025 39.9% 16.7%
2026 39.4% 16.4%
2027 38.9% 16.2%
2028 38.4% 15.9%
2029 38% 15.6%
2030 37.6% 15.3%
2031 37.3% 15.1%
2032 37% 14.8%
2033 36.8% 14.5%
2034 36.6% 14.3%
2035 36.4% 14.1%
2036 36.2% 13.9%
2037 36% 13.8%
2038 35.8% 13.8%
2039 35.6% 13.8%
2040 35.5% 13.8%
2041 35.3% 13.8%
2042 35.1% 13.9%
2043 34.9% 13.9%
2044 34.7% 14%
2045 34.4% 14.1%
2046 34.2% 14.1%
2047 33.9% 14.2%
2048 33.6% 14.3%
2049 33.4% 14.4%
2050 33.1% 14.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.4% of the population in the Congo and 17% in Sweden in 2024, compared to 44.2% and 17.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Congo and Sweden compared.

Natural population change in Congo vs Sweden by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.59% in the Congo and +0.2% in Sweden. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Congo
Sweden

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Congo Sweden
1960 27,094 27,693
1961 28,220 30,832
1962 29,342 30,246
1963 30,832 35,741
1964 32,270 45,968
1965 33,865 44,857
1966 35,452 45,286
1967 36,866 41,700
1968 38,786 30,858
1969 40,532 23,904
1970 42,374 30,563
1971 44,431 31,583
1972 46,427 28,428
1973 48,017 24,409
1974 49,563 23,664
1975 51,155 14,746
1976 52,148 8,222
1977 53,179 7,426
1978 53,885 4,138
1979 54,723 4,976
1980 55,550 5,818
1981 56,603 1,664
1982 57,036 1,665
1983 58,120 833
1984 59,028 3,335
1985 60,359 4,175
1986 61,669 9,206
1987 63,183 11,757
1988 64,629 15,186
1989 65,944 24,629
1990 67,241 29,100
1991 68,534 29,299
1992 69,973 28,605
1993 71,119 20,924
1994 72,857 20,196
1995 74,189 9,710
1996 75,628 1,768
1997 66,149 -3,539
1998 72,450 -3,541
1999 76,204 -6,201
2000 78,491 -2,662
2001 84,876 -1,779
2002 88,497 893
2003 91,326 6,271
2004 96,577 9,893
2005 101,344 9,030
2006 106,876 15,436
2007 112,459 15,552
2008 120,711 18,439
2009 126,904 21,387
2010 136,908 25,320
2011 140,371 21,733
2012 142,464 20,943
2013 142,080 23,041
2014 141,674 26,179
2015 141,539 23,518
2016 141,358 25,800
2017 141,973 24,138
2018 142,704 23,403
2019 139,513 25,697
2020 143,492 14,495
2021 144,241 22,914
2022 147,076 10,487
2023 150,486 5,269

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs Sweden

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 4 deaths in Sweden.

Congo
Sweden
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Congo Sweden
1985 546 8
1986 535 8
1987 519 8
1988 510 9
1989 506 9
1990 505 8
1991 514 8
1992 531 8
1993 541 8
1994 551 7
1995 551 7
1996 545 6
1997 650 6
1998 597 6
1999 554 6
2000 509 5
2001 489 5
2002 464 5
2003 436 5
2004 400 5
2005 385 5
2006 394 5
2007 370 5
2008 395 5
2009 414 5
2010 382 5
2011 378 5
2012 374 5
2013 320 5
2014 302 5
2015 284 5
2016 263 5
2017 262 5
2018 259 5
2019 245 4
2020 247 5
2021 301 5
2022 241 5
2023 241 4

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 0.25% in Sweden. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Congo
Sweden

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
Congo Sweden
1960 19.4% 1.96%
1961 18.6% 1.92%
1962 18% 1.86%
1963 17.3% 1.79%
1964 16.7% 1.71%
1965 16.1% 1.63%
1966 15.6% 1.56%
1967 15.1% 1.49%
1968 14.6% 1.44%
1969 14.2% 1.39%
1970 13.7% 1.34%
1971 13.4% 1.29%
1972 13% 1.23%
1973 12.6% 1.16%
1974 12.4% 1.09%
1975 12.1% 1.03%
1976 11.8% 0.98%
1977 11.5% 0.94%
1978 11.2% 0.9%
1979 11% 0.87%
1980 10.7% 0.84%
1981 10.5% 0.82%
1982 10.2% 0.8%
1983 9.95% 0.78%
1984 9.68% 0.77%
1985 9.44% 0.76%
1986 9.25% 0.75%
1987 9.11% 0.74%
1988 9.04% 0.73%
1989 9.05% 0.72%
1990 9.15% 0.7%
1991 9.31% 0.66%
1992 9.54% 0.62%
1993 9.84% 0.57%
1994 10.2% 0.52%
1995 10.5% 0.48%
1996 10.9% 0.46%
1997 11.2% 0.44%
1998 11.4% 0.42%
1999 11.5% 0.41%
2000 11.4% 0.41%
2001 11.1% 0.4%
2002 10.6% 0.4%
2003 10% 0.39%
2004 9.35% 0.37%
2005 8.66% 0.36%
2006 8.02% 0.35%
2007 7.43% 0.33%
2008 6.95% 0.32%
2009 6.55% 0.31%
2010 6.25% 0.31%
2011 6.02% 0.3%
2012 5.82% 0.3%
2013 5.64% 0.29%
2014 5.45% 0.29%
2015 5.27% 0.29%
2016 5.09% 0.28%
2017 4.93% 0.28%
2018 4.77% 0.27%
2019 5.24% 0.26%
2020 4.47% 0.26%
2021 4.33% 0.25%
2022 4.19% 0.25%
2023 4.05% 0.25%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Congo vs Sweden
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