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Fertility & birth rates in Denmark and Lesotho

Updated on by Georank team

Denmark has an annual birth rate of 9.7 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.1 for Lesotho. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Denmark and 2.69 in Lesotho — 79.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -41.6% in Denmark and by -53.4% in Lesotho — in 1960, it was 2.57 and 5.78, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Denmark is ranked 151/196 by birth rate compared to 56/196 for Lesotho.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.1 years in Denmark, compared to 20.9 years in Lesotho.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.8 in Denmark — it's 27.9 in Lesotho.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.14 in Denmark vs 70.6 in Lesotho.
  • In Denmark, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in Lesotho.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.01% in Denmark and +1.35% in Lesotho.

Birth rate data compared

Denmark Lesotho
Fertility rate 1.5 2.69
Birth rate 9.7 24.1
Birth rate rank 151/196 56/196
Age at first childbirth 30.1 years 20.9 years
Average age at childbearing 31.8 years 27.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1 69.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 57.4 134.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.5 38.1
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 27.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 59.9% 65.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 95.3% 86.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.48%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.18% 2.87%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 5.54%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.34% 5.89%
Population change due to births and deaths -595 +31,115
Natural population change rank 163/196 103/196
Natural population change rate -0.01% +1.35%
Population growth +0.51% +1.12%
Population growth rank 133/197 96/197
Life expectancy 82.2 years 58.2 years

Fertility rate in Denmark vs Lesotho chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Denmark was 1.5 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Denmark vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Denmark
Factual

UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Denmark Lesotho
1960 2.57 5.78
1961 2.55 5.79
1962 2.55 5.79
1963 2.67 5.78
1964 2.6 5.77
1965 2.61 5.77
1966 2.62 5.76
1967 2.35 5.75
1968 2.12 5.73
1969 2 5.7
1970 1.95 5.7
1971 2.04 5.7
1972 2.03 5.69
1973 1.92 5.69
1974 1.9 5.75
1975 1.92 5.83
1976 1.75 5.87
1977 1.66 5.85
1978 1.67 5.82
1979 1.6 5.79
1980 1.55 5.75
1981 1.44 5.69
1982 1.43 5.63
1983 1.38 5.56
1984 1.4 5.48
1985 1.45 5.4
1986 1.48 5.32
1987 1.5 5.22
1988 1.56 5.1
1989 1.62 4.96
1990 1.67 4.81
1991 1.68 4.68
1992 1.76 4.54
1993 1.75 4.37
1994 1.81 4.21
1995 1.8 4.13
1996 1.75 4.06
1997 1.75 3.98
1998 1.72 3.82
1999 1.73 3.67
2000 1.77 3.61
2001 1.74 3.63
2002 1.72 3.68
2003 1.76 3.62
2004 1.78 3.51
2005 1.8 3.43
2006 1.85 3.41
2007 1.84 3.44
2008 1.89 3.39
2009 1.84 3.31
2010 1.87 3.25
2011 1.75 3.34
2012 1.73 3.3
2013 1.67 3.28
2014 1.69 3.24
2015 1.71 3.22
2016 1.79 3.18
2017 1.75 3.11
2018 1.73 3.02
2019 1.7 2.92
2020 1.68 2.85
2021 1.72 2.77
2022 1.55 2.72
2023 1.5 2.69
2024 1.51 2.66
2025 1.51 2.64
2026 1.51 2.61
2027 1.52 2.58
2028 1.52 2.55
2029 1.52 2.53
2030 1.53 2.5
2031 1.53 2.47
2032 1.53 2.45
2033 1.53 2.43
2034 1.53 2.41
2035 1.54 2.38
2036 1.54 2.37
2037 1.54 2.34
2038 1.54 2.32
2039 1.54 2.3
2040 1.55 2.29
2041 1.55 2.27
2042 1.55 2.25
2043 1.55 2.24
2044 1.56 2.22
2045 1.56 2.21
2046 1.56 2.19
2047 1.56 2.18
2048 1.56 2.17
2049 1.56 2.16
2050 1.56 2.14

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Denmark
Factual

UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Denmark Lesotho
1960 25.2% 45.1%
1961 24.7% 45.2%
1962 24.2% 45.3%
1963 24% 45.2%
1964 23.8% 44.9%
1965 23.8% 44.8%
1966 23.8% 44.9%
1967 23.8% 44.8%
1968 23.7% 44.4%
1969 23.5% 44%
1970 23.3% 43.6%
1971 23.1% 43.1%
1972 23% 42.7%
1973 22.9% 42.3%
1974 22.7% 41.9%
1975 22.6% 41.6%
1976 22.4% 41.4%
1977 22.1% 41.5%
1978 21.8% 41.7%
1979 21.3% 41.9%
1980 20.8% 42.1%
1981 20.3% 42.3%
1982 19.7% 42.5%
1983 19.2% 42.7%
1984 18.8% 42.8%
1985 18.4% 43%
1986 18.1% 42.7%
1987 17.7% 42.5%
1988 17.5% 42.7%
1989 17.2% 42.8%
1990 17.1% 42.9%
1991 17% 42.9%
1992 17% 42.8%
1993 17.1% 42.6%
1994 17.2% 42.3%
1995 17.4% 42%
1996 17.6% 41.7%
1997 17.9% 41.2%
1998 18.1% 40.7%
1999 18.3% 40.2%
2000 18.5% 39.6%
2001 18.7% 39.1%
2002 18.8% 38.6%
2003 18.8% 38.1%
2004 18.8% 37.7%
2005 18.8% 37.4%
2006 18.7% 37.1%
2007 18.5% 36.8%
2008 18.4% 36.7%
2009 18.2% 36.6%
2010 18% 36.5%
2011 17.8% 36.5%
2012 17.6% 36.5%
2013 17.3% 36.5%
2014 17.1% 36.6%
2015 16.9% 36.6%
2016 16.8% 36.6%
2017 16.7% 36.5%
2018 16.6% 36.3%
2019 16.4% 36.1%
2020 16.3% 35.8%
2021 16.2% 35.6%
2022 16% 35.3%
2023 15.9% 34.9%
2024 15.7% 34.5%
2025 15.6% 34.1%
2026 15.5% 33.6%
2027 15.4% 33.1%
2028 15.4% 32.6%
2029 15.4% 32%
2030 15.4% 31.5%
2031 15.4% 31%
2032 15.3% 30.5%
2033 15.2% 30.1%
2034 15.2% 29.7%
2035 15.1% 29.3%
2036 15% 29%
2037 15% 28.8%
2038 15% 28.5%
2039 15% 28.3%
2040 14.9% 28.1%
2041 14.9% 27.8%
2042 14.9% 27.6%
2043 14.8% 27.4%
2044 14.8% 27.1%
2045 14.7% 26.9%
2046 14.7% 26.7%
2047 14.6% 26.4%
2048 14.6% 26.2%
2049 14.5% 25.9%
2050 14.5% 25.7%

Children aged 0-14 make up 15.7% of the population in Denmark and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 17.1% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Denmark and Lesotho compared.

Natural population change in Denmark vs Lesotho by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +0.09% in Denmark and +1.44% in Lesotho. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Denmark
Lesotho

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Denmark Lesotho
1960 32,515 19,981
1961 33,205 20,581
1962 32,070 21,132
1963 36,539 21,585
1964 36,832 22,116
1965 37,596 22,755
1966 38,858 23,326
1967 33,363 23,911
1968 27,243 24,490
1969 23,481 25,137
1970 22,673 25,935
1971 26,801 26,838
1972 24,958 27,841
1973 21,092 28,859
1974 19,676 30,444
1975 20,746 32,311
1976 11,667 34,117
1977 11,703 35,654
1978 9,187 37,084
1979 4,605 38,440
1980 1,537 39,617
1981 -3,073 40,808
1982 -2,559 41,941
1983 -6,649 42,899
1984 -5,623 43,785
1985 -4,603 44,575
1986 -2,561 45,232
1987 -1,538 47,718
1988 0 47,158
1989 2,053 46,264
1990 2,056 45,060
1991 4,639 44,026
1992 6,722 42,579
1993 4,670 40,505
1994 8,850 38,629
1995 6,280 37,370
1996 6,842 36,228
1997 7,927 34,637
1998 7,956 30,889
1999 6,919 27,393
2000 9,078 24,786
2001 6,967 23,190
2002 5,376 22,274
2003 7,007 20,133
2004 9,188 17,271
2005 9,755 15,831
2006 9,787 15,234
2007 8,192 17,763
2008 10,438 19,349
2009 8,285 20,335
2010 8,876 21,877
2011 6,685 25,647
2012 5,592 27,592
2013 3,931 29,789
2014 5,644 30,922
2015 5,683 32,087
2016 9,165 33,390
2017 8,071 33,601
2018 6,373 33,112
2019 6,977 32,279
2020 5,831 30,721
2021 5,857 27,806
2022 -1,180 30,803
2023 -595 31,115

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Denmark vs Lesotho

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Denmark, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Denmark
Lesotho
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Denmark Lesotho
1985 12 711
1986 12 680
1987 12 686
1988 13 680
1989 13 680
1990 12 665
1991 12 641
1992 12 601
1993 12 542
1994 12 423
1995 12 357
1996 11 319
1997 10 312
1998 9 332
1999 9 371
2000 9 413
2001 9 465
2002 9 484
2003 8 508
2004 8 499
2005 8 549
2006 7 696
2007 7 891
2008 7 1,205
2009 7 1,387
2010 7 1,311
2011 6 1,210
2012 6 1,000
2013 5 855
2014 5 707
2015 5 594
2016 5 518
2017 5 468
2018 5 491
2019 4 467
2020 4 529
2021 8 577
2022 6 477
2023 4 478

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.34% in Denmark and 5.89% in Lesotho. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Denmark
Lesotho

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
Denmark Lesotho
1960 2.5% 18.6%
1961 2.45% 18.5%
1962 2.38% 18.5%
1963 2.3% 18.6%
1964 2.21% 18.6%
1965 2.11% 18.7%
1966 2.01% 18.6%
1967 1.9% 18.5%
1968 1.81% 18.3%
1969 1.73% 18%
1970 1.66% 17.7%
1971 1.58% 17.3%
1972 1.49% 16.9%
1973 1.39% 16.5%
1974 1.31% 16%
1975 1.23% 15.5%
1976 1.17% 14.9%
1977 1.11% 14.2%
1978 1.06% 13.6%
1979 1.03% 12.9%
1980 1% 12.3%
1981 0.98% 11.7%
1982 0.96% 11.1%
1983 0.96% 10.6%
1984 0.96% 10.1%
1985 0.97% 9.72%
1986 0.97% 9.36%
1987 0.97% 9.06%
1988 0.96% 8.8%
1989 0.93% 8.6%
1990 0.89% 8.47%
1991 0.84% 8.43%
1992 0.79% 8.51%
1993 0.74% 8.73%
1994 0.69% 9.07%
1995 0.65% 9.45%
1996 0.63% 9.83%
1997 0.6% 10.2%
1998 0.59% 10.5%
1999 0.57% 10.7%
2000 0.56% 10.9%
2001 0.55% 11.1%
2002 0.54% 11.2%
2003 0.52% 11.4%
2004 0.5% 11.5%
2005 0.48% 11.6%
2006 0.46% 11.5%
2007 0.45% 11.2%
2008 0.43% 10.9%
2009 0.42% 9.64%
2010 0.41% 9.01%
2011 0.41% 8.59%
2012 0.41% 8.26%
2013 0.41% 8.02%
2014 0.41% 7.82%
2015 0.41% 7.51%
2016 0.4% 7.18%
2017 0.4% 7.12%
2018 0.39% 6.91%
2019 0.38% 6.87%
2020 0.37% 6.68%
2021 0.36% 6.44%
2022 0.35% 6.15%
2023 0.34% 5.89%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Denmark vs Lesotho
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