The Congo has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 33.1 for Zambia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.16 in the Congo and 4.1 in Zambia — 1.35% difference.
1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -31.7% in the Congo and by -41% in Zambia — in 1960, it was 6.09 and 6.95, respectively.
Birth rates facts compared:
- The Congo is ranked 28/196 by birth rate compared to 19/196 for Zambia.
- The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.6 years in the Congo, compared to 19.2 years in Zambia.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in the Congo — it's 28.4 in Zambia.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 109.9 in the Congo vs 115.9 in Zambia.
- In the Congo, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.3% in Zambia.
- Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.43% in the Congo and +2.79% in Zambia.
Birth rate data compared
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 4.16 | 4.1 |
| Birth rate | 30.6 | 33.1 |
| Birth rate rank | 28/196 | 19/196 |
| Age at first childbirth | 19.6 years | 19.2 years |
| Average age at childbearing | 28.6 years | 28.4 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 105.9 | 115 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 180.6 | 175.9 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 58.2 | 65.3 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 24% | 25.3% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 18.3% | 47.5% |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 91.2% | 80.4% |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.24% | 0.09% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 1.77% | 2.2% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 2.76% | 3.09% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | 4.05% | 4.47% |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +150,486 | +577,660 |
| Natural population change rank | 69/196 | 34/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +2.43% | +2.79% |
| Population growth | +2.43% | +2.85% |
| Population growth rank | 33/197 | 22/197 |
| Life expectancy | 66.2 years | 66.7 years |
Fertility rate in Congo vs Zambia 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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.
Check the Congo vs Zambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.
The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.
Congo
Factual
UN forecast
Zambia
Factual
UN forecast
Births per woman
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 1960 | 6.09 | 6.95 |
| 1961 | 6.09 | 6.98 |
| 1962 | 6.1 | 7.01 |
| 1963 | 6.15 | 7.06 |
| 1964 | 6.18 | 7.09 |
| 1965 | 6.23 | 7.12 |
| 1966 | 6.27 | 7.14 |
| 1967 | 6.29 | 7.15 |
| 1968 | 6.33 | 7.18 |
| 1969 | 6.35 | 7.18 |
| 1970 | 6.38 | 7.22 |
| 1971 | 6.42 | 7.26 |
| 1972 | 6.44 | 7.3 |
| 1973 | 6.42 | 7.34 |
| 1974 | 6.39 | 7.36 |
| 1975 | 6.36 | 7.42 |
| 1976 | 6.32 | 7.39 |
| 1977 | 6.27 | 7.35 |
| 1978 | 6.21 | 7.29 |
| 1979 | 6.14 | 7.22 |
| 1980 | 6.07 | 7.14 |
| 1981 | 5.98 | 7.07 |
| 1982 | 5.85 | 7.04 |
| 1983 | 5.76 | 7.01 |
| 1984 | 5.66 | 6.97 |
| 1985 | 5.59 | 6.93 |
| 1986 | 5.51 | 6.87 |
| 1987 | 5.46 | 6.8 |
| 1988 | 5.39 | 6.7 |
| 1989 | 5.33 | 6.64 |
| 1990 | 5.27 | 6.57 |
| 1991 | 5.22 | 6.46 |
| 1992 | 5.18 | 6.35 |
| 1993 | 5.13 | 6.3 |
| 1994 | 5.1 | 6.26 |
| 1995 | 5.07 | 6.23 |
| 1996 | 5.03 | 6.18 |
| 1997 | 5 | 6.12 |
| 1998 | 4.91 | 6.07 |
| 1999 | 4.81 | 6 |
| 2000 | 4.72 | 5.92 |
| 2001 | 4.67 | 5.85 |
| 2002 | 4.7 | 5.77 |
| 2003 | 4.7 | 5.71 |
| 2004 | 4.69 | 5.7 |
| 2005 | 4.67 | 5.7 |
| 2006 | 4.65 | 5.68 |
| 2007 | 4.65 | 5.61 |
| 2008 | 4.73 | 5.53 |
| 2009 | 4.81 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 4.85 | 5.36 |
| 2011 | 4.83 | 5.26 |
| 2012 | 4.79 | 5.14 |
| 2013 | 4.73 | 5.01 |
| 2014 | 4.67 | 4.89 |
| 2015 | 4.61 | 4.78 |
| 2016 | 4.55 | 4.67 |
| 2017 | 4.5 | 4.57 |
| 2018 | 4.44 | 4.49 |
| 2019 | 4.38 | 4.42 |
| 2020 | 4.33 | 4.32 |
| 2021 | 4.28 | 4.25 |
| 2022 | 4.22 | 4.18 |
| 2023 | 4.16 | 4.1 |
| 2024 | 4.11 | 4.04 |
| 2025 | 4.05 | 3.97 |
| 2026 | 3.99 | 3.91 |
| 2027 | 3.93 | 3.85 |
| 2028 | 3.88 | 3.77 |
| 2029 | 3.83 | 3.72 |
| 2030 | 3.78 | 3.67 |
| 2031 | 3.73 | 3.61 |
| 2032 | 3.68 | 3.56 |
| 2033 | 3.64 | 3.5 |
| 2034 | 3.59 | 3.45 |
| 2035 | 3.54 | 3.4 |
| 2036 | 3.5 | 3.35 |
| 2037 | 3.46 | 3.3 |
| 2038 | 3.42 | 3.25 |
| 2039 | 3.38 | 3.19 |
| 2040 | 3.35 | 3.15 |
| 2041 | 3.31 | 3.11 |
| 2042 | 3.27 | 3.07 |
| 2043 | 3.24 | 3.03 |
| 2044 | 3.2 | 3 |
| 2045 | 3.16 | 2.96 |
| 2046 | 3.13 | 2.93 |
| 2047 | 3.09 | 2.9 |
| 2048 | 3.06 | 2.87 |
| 2049 | 3.03 | 2.84 |
| 2050 | 3 | 2.81 |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
Congo
Factual
UN forecast
Zambia
Factual
UN forecast
| Year | Share of people 0-14 years old | |
|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 1960 | 42.7% | 46% |
| 1961 | 43% | 46.2% |
| 1962 | 43.3% | 46.3% |
| 1963 | 43.5% | 46.5% |
| 1964 | 43.7% | 46.7% |
| 1965 | 43.9% | 46.9% |
| 1966 | 44% | 46.9% |
| 1967 | 44.2% | 47% |
| 1968 | 44.3% | 47.1% |
| 1969 | 44.5% | 47.2% |
| 1970 | 44.7% | 47.4% |
| 1971 | 44.8% | 47.7% |
| 1972 | 45% | 48% |
| 1973 | 45.2% | 48.3% |
| 1974 | 45.4% | 48.6% |
| 1975 | 45.5% | 48.8% |
| 1976 | 45.7% | 49.1% |
| 1977 | 45.8% | 49.2% |
| 1978 | 45.8% | 49.4% |
| 1979 | 45.8% | 49.5% |
| 1980 | 45.7% | 49.5% |
| 1981 | 45.6% | 49.4% |
| 1982 | 45.4% | 49.3% |
| 1983 | 45.2% | 49.1% |
| 1984 | 45% | 49% |
| 1985 | 44.9% | 48.9% |
| 1986 | 44.7% | 48.8% |
| 1987 | 44.6% | 48.7% |
| 1988 | 44.5% | 48.6% |
| 1989 | 44.3% | 48.5% |
| 1990 | 44.2% | 48.4% |
| 1991 | 44% | 48.3% |
| 1992 | 43.8% | 48.2% |
| 1993 | 43.6% | 48.2% |
| 1994 | 43.4% | 48.2% |
| 1995 | 43.3% | 48.2% |
| 1996 | 43.2% | 48.2% |
| 1997 | 43.3% | 48.2% |
| 1998 | 43.3% | 48.2% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | 48.1% |
| 2000 | 42.5% | 48% |
| 2001 | 41.9% | 47.8% |
| 2002 | 41.9% | 47.6% |
| 2003 | 41.7% | 47.4% |
| 2004 | 41.4% | 47.3% |
| 2005 | 41.1% | 47.1% |
| 2006 | 40.9% | 47% |
| 2007 | 40.7% | 46.8% |
| 2008 | 40.7% | 46.6% |
| 2009 | 40.5% | 46.4% |
| 2010 | 40.4% | 46.3% |
| 2011 | 40.6% | 46.1% |
| 2012 | 41% | 45.9% |
| 2013 | 41.3% | 45.7% |
| 2014 | 41.7% | 45.5% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | 45.2% |
| 2016 | 42.1% | 44.9% |
| 2017 | 42.1% | 44.5% |
| 2018 | 42.1% | 44.1% |
| 2019 | 41.9% | 43.8% |
| 2020 | 41.8% | 43.3% |
| 2021 | 41.5% | 42.9% |
| 2022 | 41.3% | 42.4% |
| 2023 | 40.9% | 42% |
| 2024 | 40.4% | 41.5% |
| 2025 | 39.9% | 41% |
| 2026 | 39.4% | 40.5% |
| 2027 | 38.9% | 40% |
| 2028 | 38.4% | 39.6% |
| 2029 | 38% | 39.2% |
| 2030 | 37.6% | 38.8% |
| 2031 | 37.3% | 38.5% |
| 2032 | 37% | 38.1% |
| 2033 | 36.8% | 37.8% |
| 2034 | 36.6% | 37.5% |
| 2035 | 36.4% | 37.1% |
| 2036 | 36.2% | 36.8% |
| 2037 | 36% | 36.5% |
| 2038 | 35.8% | 36.1% |
| 2039 | 35.6% | 35.8% |
| 2040 | 35.5% | 35.4% |
| 2041 | 35.3% | 35.1% |
| 2042 | 35.1% | 34.7% |
| 2043 | 34.9% | 34.4% |
| 2044 | 34.7% | 34% |
| 2045 | 34.4% | 33.7% |
| 2046 | 34.2% | 33.3% |
| 2047 | 33.9% | 33% |
| 2048 | 33.6% | 32.6% |
| 2049 | 33.4% | 32.3% |
| 2050 | 33.1% | 32% |
Children aged 0-14 make up 40.4% of the population in the Congo and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 44.2% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.
Natural population change in Congo vs Zambia by year
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.59% in the Congo and +2.87% in Zambia. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.
Congo
Zambia
Natural population change
| Year | Population change due to births and deaths | |
|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 1960 | 27,094 | 102,335 |
| 1961 | 28,220 | 106,318 |
| 1962 | 29,342 | 110,173 |
| 1963 | 30,832 | 114,555 |
| 1964 | 32,270 | 117,197 |
| 1965 | 33,865 | 122,814 |
| 1966 | 35,452 | 127,164 |
| 1967 | 36,866 | 131,938 |
| 1968 | 38,786 | 137,315 |
| 1969 | 40,532 | 142,660 |
| 1970 | 42,374 | 149,380 |
| 1971 | 44,431 | 155,249 |
| 1972 | 46,427 | 161,648 |
| 1973 | 48,017 | 168,258 |
| 1974 | 49,563 | 174,484 |
| 1975 | 51,155 | 182,258 |
| 1976 | 52,148 | 186,762 |
| 1977 | 53,179 | 191,557 |
| 1978 | 53,885 | 194,933 |
| 1979 | 54,723 | 197,578 |
| 1980 | 55,550 | 198,817 |
| 1981 | 56,603 | 202,822 |
| 1982 | 57,036 | 207,621 |
| 1983 | 58,120 | 212,712 |
| 1984 | 59,028 | 216,695 |
| 1985 | 60,359 | 221,351 |
| 1986 | 61,669 | 224,768 |
| 1987 | 63,183 | 227,813 |
| 1988 | 64,629 | 230,118 |
| 1989 | 65,944 | 233,429 |
| 1990 | 67,241 | 235,835 |
| 1991 | 68,534 | 237,957 |
| 1992 | 69,973 | 239,953 |
| 1993 | 71,119 | 245,917 |
| 1994 | 72,857 | 252,023 |
| 1995 | 74,189 | 257,897 |
| 1996 | 75,628 | 262,468 |
| 1997 | 66,149 | 268,198 |
| 1998 | 72,450 | 275,568 |
| 1999 | 76,204 | 283,297 |
| 2000 | 78,491 | 293,186 |
| 2001 | 84,876 | 302,682 |
| 2002 | 88,497 | 316,041 |
| 2003 | 91,326 | 331,189 |
| 2004 | 96,577 | 349,352 |
| 2005 | 101,344 | 368,756 |
| 2006 | 106,876 | 387,891 |
| 2007 | 112,459 | 403,729 |
| 2008 | 120,711 | 419,560 |
| 2009 | 126,904 | 434,458 |
| 2010 | 136,908 | 448,337 |
| 2011 | 140,371 | 459,743 |
| 2012 | 142,464 | 469,406 |
| 2013 | 142,080 | 476,846 |
| 2014 | 141,674 | 483,663 |
| 2015 | 141,539 | 491,021 |
| 2016 | 141,358 | 497,521 |
| 2017 | 141,973 | 504,630 |
| 2018 | 142,704 | 515,644 |
| 2019 | 139,513 | 528,089 |
| 2020 | 143,492 | 536,484 |
| 2021 | 144,241 | 535,629 |
| 2022 | 147,076 | 563,456 |
| 2023 | 150,486 | 577,660 |
Fertility rates around the globe
Fertility rate
Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs Zambia
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 85 deaths in Zambia.
Congo
Zambia
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Congo
|
Zambia
|
|
| 1985 | 546 | 596 |
| 1986 | 535 | 619 |
| 1987 | 519 | 630 |
| 1988 | 510 | 635 |
| 1989 | 506 | 635 |
| 1990 | 505 | 625 |
| 1991 | 514 | 611 |
| 1992 | 531 | 581 |
| 1993 | 541 | 532 |
| 1994 | 551 | 507 |
| 1995 | 551 | 466 |
| 1996 | 545 | 433 |
| 1997 | 650 | 403 |
| 1998 | 597 | 392 |
| 1999 | 554 | 378 |
| 2000 | 509 | 340 |
| 2001 | 489 | 306 |
| 2002 | 464 | 274 |
| 2003 | 436 | 250 |
| 2004 | 400 | 260 |
| 2005 | 385 | 264 |
| 2006 | 394 | 262 |
| 2007 | 370 | 324 |
| 2008 | 395 | 394 |
| 2009 | 414 | 406 |
| 2010 | 382 | 332 |
| 2011 | 378 | 291 |
| 2012 | 374 | 256 |
| 2013 | 320 | 213 |
| 2014 | 302 | 174 |
| 2015 | 284 | 154 |
| 2016 | 263 | 158 |
| 2017 | 262 | 141 |
| 2018 | 259 | 117 |
| 2019 | 245 | 103 |
| 2020 | 247 | 99 |
| 2021 | 301 | 140 |
| 2022 | 241 | 89 |
| 2023 | 241 | 85 |
Under-five mortality rates
The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 4.47% in Zambia. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.
Congo
Zambia
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
|
Zambia
|
|
| 1960 | 19.4% | 20.5% |
| 1961 | 18.6% | 20.1% |
| 1962 | 18% | 19.8% |
| 1963 | 17.3% | 19.5% |
| 1964 | 16.7% | 19.2% |
| 1965 | 16.1% | 19% |
| 1966 | 15.6% | 18.9% |
| 1967 | 15.1% | 18.7% |
| 1968 | 14.6% | 18.5% |
| 1969 | 14.2% | 18.3% |
| 1970 | 13.7% | 17.9% |
| 1971 | 13.4% | 17.4% |
| 1972 | 13% | 16.9% |
| 1973 | 12.6% | 16.3% |
| 1974 | 12.4% | 15.9% |
| 1975 | 12.1% | 15.5% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | 15.4% |
| 1977 | 11.5% | 15.3% |
| 1978 | 11.2% | 15.3% |
| 1979 | 11% | 15.4% |
| 1980 | 10.7% | 15.5% |
| 1981 | 10.5% | 15.6% |
| 1982 | 10.2% | 15.7% |
| 1983 | 9.95% | 15.9% |
| 1984 | 9.68% | 16.2% |
| 1985 | 9.44% | 16.6% |
| 1986 | 9.25% | 17% |
| 1987 | 9.11% | 17.3% |
| 1988 | 9.04% | 17.7% |
| 1989 | 9.05% | 17.9% |
| 1990 | 9.15% | 18.1% |
| 1991 | 9.31% | 18.1% |
| 1992 | 9.54% | 18.1% |
| 1993 | 9.84% | 17.9% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | 17.7% |
| 1995 | 10.5% | 17.3% |
| 1996 | 10.9% | 17% |
| 1997 | 11.2% | 16.7% |
| 1998 | 11.4% | 16.3% |
| 1999 | 11.5% | 15.9% |
| 2000 | 11.4% | 15.3% |
| 2001 | 11.1% | 14.4% |
| 2002 | 10.6% | 13.4% |
| 2003 | 10% | 12.4% |
| 2004 | 9.35% | 11.4% |
| 2005 | 8.66% | 10.5% |
| 2006 | 8.02% | 9.71% |
| 2007 | 7.43% | 9.14% |
| 2008 | 6.95% | 8.62% |
| 2009 | 6.55% | 8% |
| 2010 | 6.25% | 7.57% |
| 2011 | 6.02% | 7.31% |
| 2012 | 5.82% | 7.04% |
| 2013 | 5.64% | 6.72% |
| 2014 | 5.45% | 6.38% |
| 2015 | 5.27% | 6.15% |
| 2016 | 5.09% | 5.9% |
| 2017 | 4.93% | 5.61% |
| 2018 | 4.77% | 5.52% |
| 2019 | 5.24% | 5.41% |
| 2020 | 4.47% | 5.24% |
| 2021 | 4.33% | 4.92% |
| 2022 | 4.19% | 4.67% |
| 2023 | 4.05% | 4.47% |
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