Fertility & birth rates in Congo and Zambia

Fertility rate in Congo vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Congo	Zambia
2023	4.16	4.1
2022	4.22	4.18
2021	4.28	4.25
2020	4.33	4.32
2019	4.38	4.42
2018	4.44	4.49
2017	4.5	4.57
2016	4.55	4.67
2015	4.61	4.78
2014	4.67	4.89
2013	4.73	5.01
2012	4.79	5.14
2011	4.83	5.26
2010	4.85	5.36
2009	4.81	5.45
2008	4.73	5.53
2007	4.65	5.61
2006	4.65	5.68
2005	4.67	5.7
2004	4.69	5.7
2003	4.7	5.71
2002	4.7	5.77
2001	4.67	5.85
2000	4.72	5.92
1999	4.81	6
1998	4.91	6.07
1997	5	6.12
1996	5.03	6.18
1995	5.07	6.23
1994	5.1	6.26
1993	5.13	6.3
1992	5.18	6.35
1991	5.22	6.46
1990	5.27	6.57
1989	5.33	6.64
1988	5.39	6.7
1987	5.46	6.8
1986	5.51	6.87
1985	5.59	6.93
1984	5.66	6.97
1983	5.76	7.01
1982	5.85	7.04
1981	5.98	7.07
1980	6.07	7.14
1979	6.14	7.22
1978	6.21	7.29
1977	6.27	7.35
1976	6.32	7.39
1975	6.36	7.42
1974	6.39	7.36
1973	6.42	7.34
1972	6.44	7.3
1971	6.42	7.26
1970	6.38	7.22
1969	6.35	7.18
1968	6.33	7.18
1967	6.29	7.15
1966	6.27	7.14
1965	6.23	7.12
1964	6.18	7.09
1963	6.15	7.06
1962	6.1	7.01
1961	6.09	6.98
1960	6.09	6.95

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.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Congo	Zambia
2023	150,486	577,660
2022	147,076	563,456
2021	144,241	535,629
2020	143,492	536,484
2019	139,513	528,089
2018	142,704	515,644
2017	141,973	504,630
2016	141,358	497,521
2015	141,539	491,021
2014	141,674	483,663
2013	142,080	476,846
2012	142,464	469,406
2011	140,371	459,743
2010	136,908	448,337
2009	126,904	434,458
2008	120,711	419,560
2007	112,459	403,729
2006	106,876	387,891
2005	101,344	368,756
2004	96,577	349,352
2003	91,326	331,189
2002	88,497	316,041
2001	84,876	302,682
2000	78,491	293,186
1999	76,204	283,297
1998	72,450	275,568
1997	66,149	268,198
1996	75,628	262,468
1995	74,189	257,897
1994	72,857	252,023
1993	71,119	245,917
1992	69,973	239,953
1991	68,534	237,957
1990	67,241	235,835
1989	65,944	233,429
1988	64,629	230,118
1987	63,183	227,813
1986	61,669	224,768
1985	60,359	221,351
1984	59,028	216,695
1983	58,120	212,712
1982	57,036	207,621
1981	56,603	202,822
1980	55,550	198,817
1979	54,723	197,578
1978	53,885	194,933
1977	53,179	191,557
1976	52,148	186,762
1975	51,155	182,258
1974	49,563	174,484
1973	48,017	168,258
1972	46,427	161,648
1971	44,431	155,249
1970	42,374	149,380
1969	40,532	142,660
1968	38,786	137,315
1967	36,866	131,938
1966	35,452	127,164
1965	33,865	122,814
1964	32,270	117,197
1963	30,832	114,555
1962	29,342	110,173
1961	28,220	106,318
1960	27,094	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Congo and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Congo vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Congo

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Congo	Zambia
2023	30.6	33.1
2022	30.9	33.5
2021	31.4	33.9
2020	31.7	34.4
2019	32.2	35
2018	32.8	35.5
2017	33.4	35.9
2016	34.1	36.6
2015	34.9	37.3
2014	35.8	38.1
2013	36.8	39
2012	37.8	39.9
2011	38.4	40.7
2010	38.9	41.4
2009	38	42
2008	38	42.6
2007	37.2	43.2
2006	37.1	43.7
2005	37	43.8
2004	37.1	43.9
2003	37	43.9
2002	37.3	44.3
2001	37.1	44.8
2000	36.2	45.5
1999	37	45.9
1998	37.5	46.2
1997	38.4	46.3
1996	38.4	46.6
1995	38.5	46.8
1994	38.6	46.7
1993	38.6	46.6
1992	38.7	46.6
1991	38.8	46.9
1990	38.9	47
1989	39.1	47.1
1988	39.2	47.1
1987	39.4	47.3
1986	39.6	47.4
1985	39.8	47.4
1984	40.1	47.3
1983	40.6	47.3
1982	40.8	47.3
1981	41.4	47.3
1980	41.8	47.5
1979	42.2	48.2
1978	42.7	48.7
1977	43.2	49.2
1976	43.6	49.5
1975	44	50
1974	44.1	49.7
1973	44.3	49.7
1972	44.5	49.6
1971	44.4	49.4
1970	44.1	49.3
1969	44	48.9
1968	43.9	48.9
1967	43.7	48.8
1966	43.6	48.8
1965	43.5	48.8
1964	43.4	48.9
1963	43.3	48.9
1962	43.2	48.9
1961	43.3	48.9
1960	43.5	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in the Congo and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 43.5 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Congo	Zambia
2100	22.6%	21.6%
2099	22.7%	21.7%
2098	22.8%	21.9%
2097	23%	22%
2096	23.1%	22.2%
2095	23.3%	22.3%
2094	23.4%	22.5%
2093	23.6%	22.7%
2092	23.8%	22.8%
2091	23.9%	23%
2090	24.1%	23.1%
2089	24.3%	23.3%
2088	24.4%	23.5%
2087	24.6%	23.6%
2086	24.8%	23.8%
2085	25%	24%
2084	25.2%	24.2%
2083	25.4%	24.3%
2082	25.6%	24.5%
2081	25.9%	24.7%
2080	26.1%	24.9%
2079	26.3%	25.1%
2078	26.5%	25.3%
2077	26.7%	25.5%
2076	26.9%	25.7%
2075	27.1%	25.9%
2074	27.3%	26.1%
2073	27.5%	26.4%
2072	27.7%	26.6%
2071	27.9%	26.8%
2070	28.1%	27%
2069	28.3%	27.2%
2068	28.5%	27.5%
2067	28.7%	27.7%
2066	29%	27.9%
2065	29.2%	28.1%
2064	29.4%	28.4%
2063	29.6%	28.6%
2062	29.9%	28.9%
2061	30.1%	29.1%
2060	30.4%	29.3%
2059	30.7%	29.6%
2058	30.9%	29.8%
2057	31.2%	30.1%
2056	31.5%	30.4%
2055	31.8%	30.6%
2054	32.1%	30.9%
2053	32.4%	31.2%
2052	32.7%	31.5%
2051	32.9%	31.8%
2050	33.2%	32.2%
2049	33.5%	32.5%
2048	33.8%	32.8%
2047	34.1%	33.2%
2046	34.3%	33.5%
2045	34.6%	33.9%
2044	34.8%	34.2%
2043	35%	34.6%
2042	35.2%	34.9%
2041	35.4%	35.3%
2040	35.6%	35.6%
2039	35.7%	36%
2038	35.9%	36.3%
2037	36.1%	36.6%
2036	36.3%	37%
2035	36.5%	37.3%
2034	36.7%	37.6%
2033	36.9%	38%
2032	37.2%	38.3%
2031	37.5%	38.7%
2030	37.8%	39%
2029	38.2%	39.4%
2028	38.6%	39.8%
2027	39.1%	40.3%
2026	39.7%	40.7%
2025	40.2%	41.2%
2024	40.4%	41.5%
2023	40.9%	42%
2022	41.3%	42.4%
2021	41.5%	42.9%
2020	41.8%	43.3%
2019	41.9%	43.8%
2018	42.1%	44.1%
2017	42.1%	44.5%
2016	42.1%	44.9%
2015	41.9%	45.2%
2014	41.7%	45.5%
2013	41.3%	45.7%
2012	41%	45.9%
2011	40.6%	46.1%
2010	40.4%	46.3%
2009	40.5%	46.4%
2008	40.7%	46.6%
2007	40.7%	46.8%
2006	40.9%	47%
2005	41.1%	47.1%
2004	41.4%	47.3%
2003	41.7%	47.4%
2002	41.9%	47.6%
2001	41.9%	47.8%
2000	42.5%	48%
1999	43.1%	48.1%
1998	43.3%	48.2%
1997	43.3%	48.2%
1996	43.2%	48.2%
1995	43.3%	48.2%
1994	43.4%	48.2%
1993	43.6%	48.2%
1992	43.8%	48.2%
1991	44%	48.3%
1990	44.2%	48.4%
1989	44.3%	48.5%
1988	44.5%	48.6%
1987	44.6%	48.7%
1986	44.7%	48.8%
1985	44.9%	48.9%
1984	45%	49%
1983	45.2%	49.1%
1982	45.4%	49.3%
1981	45.6%	49.4%
1980	45.7%	49.5%
1979	45.8%	49.5%
1978	45.8%	49.4%
1977	45.8%	49.2%
1976	45.7%	49.1%
1975	45.5%	48.8%
1974	45.4%	48.6%
1973	45.2%	48.3%
1972	45%	48%
1971	44.8%	47.7%
1970	44.7%	47.4%
1969	44.5%	47.2%
1968	44.3%	47.1%
1967	44.2%	47%
1966	44%	46.9%
1965	43.9%	46.9%
1964	43.7%	46.7%
1963	43.5%	46.5%
1962	43.3%	46.3%
1961	43%	46.2%
1960	42.7%	46%

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.

Demographics of the Congo and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Congo vs Zambia

Chart Table

Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Congo	Zambia
2023	241	85
2022	241	89
2021	301	140
2020	247	99
2019	245	103
2018	259	117
2017	262	141
2016	263	158
2015	284	154
2014	302	174
2013	320	213
2012	374	256
2011	378	291
2010	382	332
2009	414	406
2008	395	394
2007	370	324
2006	394	262
2005	385	264
2004	400	260
2003	436	250
2002	464	274
2001	489	306
2000	509	340
1999	554	378
1998	597	392
1997	650	403
1996	545	433
1995	551	466
1994	551	507
1993	541	532
1992	531	581
1991	514	611
1990	505	625
1989	506	635
1988	510	635
1987	519	630
1986	535	619
1985	546	596

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.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Congo

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Congo	Zambia
2023	4.05%	4.47%
2022	4.19%	4.67%
2021	4.33%	4.92%
2020	4.47%	5.24%
2019	5.24%	5.41%
2018	4.77%	5.52%
2017	4.93%	5.61%
2016	5.09%	5.9%
2015	5.27%	6.15%
2014	5.45%	6.38%
2013	5.64%	6.72%
2012	5.82%	7.04%
2011	6.02%	7.31%
2010	6.25%	7.57%
2009	6.55%	8%
2008	6.95%	8.62%
2007	7.43%	9.14%
2006	8.02%	9.71%
2005	8.66%	10.5%
2004	9.35%	11.4%
2003	10%	12.4%
2002	10.6%	13.4%
2001	11.1%	14.4%
2000	11.4%	15.3%
1999	11.5%	15.9%
1998	11.4%	16.3%
1997	11.2%	16.7%
1996	10.9%	17%
1995	10.5%	17.3%
1994	10.2%	17.7%
1993	9.84%	17.9%
1992	9.54%	18.1%
1991	9.31%	18.1%
1990	9.15%	18.1%
1989	9.05%	17.9%
1988	9.04%	17.7%
1987	9.11%	17.3%
1986	9.25%	17%
1985	9.44%	16.6%
1984	9.68%	16.2%
1983	9.95%	15.9%
1982	10.2%	15.7%
1981	10.5%	15.6%
1980	10.7%	15.5%
1979	11%	15.4%
1978	11.2%	15.3%
1977	11.5%	15.3%
1976	11.8%	15.4%
1975	12.1%	15.5%
1974	12.4%	15.9%
1973	12.6%	16.3%
1972	13%	16.9%
1971	13.4%	17.4%
1970	13.7%	17.9%
1969	14.2%	18.3%
1968	14.6%	18.5%
1967	15.1%	18.7%
1966	15.6%	18.9%
1965	16.1%	19%
1964	16.7%	19.2%
1963	17.3%	19.5%
1962	18%	19.8%
1961	18.6%	20.1%
1960	19.4%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.05% in the Congo and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.