DR Congo birth & fertility rate charts by year

Fertility rate in the DR Congo by year

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in the DR Congo is 6.05, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.64 — a 8.88% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in the DR Congo (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +3.29% annually. On average, 3,015,051 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 3.28% — 3,467,787 more people were born than died.

In 2023, the DR Congo ranks 4/196 for absolute natural population change and 4/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates by women's age

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in the DR Congo by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 13.6% will be to women under age 20, 48.7% to women ages 20-29, and 37.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 13.5%, 47.3%, and 39.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
	DR Congo	World
2100	23.4%	16.5%
2099	23.6%	16.6%
2098	23.8%	16.6%
2097	24%	16.7%
2096	24.2%	16.8%
2095	24.4%	16.8%
2094	24.6%	16.9%
2093	24.8%	17%
2092	25%	17%
2091	25.2%	17.1%
2090	25.4%	17.2%
2089	25.6%	17.2%
2088	25.8%	17.3%
2087	26.1%	17.4%
2086	26.3%	17.4%
2085	26.5%	17.5%
2084	26.8%	17.5%
2083	27%	17.6%
2082	27.2%	17.7%
2081	27.5%	17.7%
2080	27.8%	17.8%
2079	28%	17.8%
2078	28.3%	17.9%
2077	28.6%	17.9%
2076	28.9%	18%
2075	29.2%	18%
2074	29.5%	18.1%
2073	29.8%	18.2%
2072	30.1%	18.2%
2071	30.4%	18.3%
2070	30.7%	18.3%
2069	31.1%	18.4%
2068	31.4%	18.5%
2067	31.7%	18.6%
2066	32.1%	18.6%
2065	32.4%	18.7%
2064	32.8%	18.8%
2063	33.1%	18.9%
2062	33.5%	19.1%
2061	33.8%	19.2%
2060	34.1%	19.3%
2059	34.5%	19.4%
2058	34.8%	19.5%
2057	35.1%	19.6%
2056	35.5%	19.8%
2055	35.8%	19.9%
2054	36.1%	20%
2053	36.5%	20.1%
2052	36.8%	20.2%
2051	37.1%	20.3%
2050	37.5%	20.4%
2049	37.8%	20.5%
2048	38.2%	20.6%
2047	38.6%	20.7%
2046	39%	20.8%
2045	39.4%	20.9%
2044	39.8%	20.9%
2043	40.2%	21%
2042	40.6%	21.1%
2041	41.1%	21.2%
2040	41.5%	21.2%
2039	42%	21.3%
2038	42.4%	21.4%
2037	42.8%	21.5%
2036	43.2%	21.6%
2035	43.6%	21.8%
2034	44%	22%
2033	44.3%	22.2%
2032	44.6%	22.4%
2031	44.9%	22.7%
2030	45.2%	23%
2029	45.4%	23.3%
2028	45.6%	23.6%
2027	45.8%	23.9%
2026	45.9%	24.2%
2025	46%	24.6%
2024	46%	24.7%
2023	46.1%	25%
2022	46.1%	25.3%
2021	46.1%	25.6%
2020	46.1%	25.8%
2019	46%	26%
2018	45.9%	26.2%
2017	45.8%	26.4%
2016	45.9%	26.5%
2015	46%	26.6%
2014	46%	26.8%
2013	46%	26.9%
2012	46%	27%
2011	46%	27.1%
2010	46.1%	27.3%
2009	46.1%	27.5%
2008	46%	27.6%
2007	46%	27.9%
2006	45.9%	28.1%
2005	45.9%	28.5%
2004	45.9%	28.8%
2003	45.8%	29.2%
2002	45.7%	29.6%
2001	45.7%	30%
2000	45.7%	30.4%
1999	45.6%	30.8%
1998	45.6%	31.1%
1997	45.4%	31.5%
1996	44.7%	31.8%
1995	44%	32.1%
1994	44.1%	32.3%
1993	44.5%	32.5%
1992	44.5%	32.7%
1991	44.4%	32.9%
1990	44.4%	33%
1989	44.3%	33.2%
1988	44.3%	33.4%
1987	44.2%	33.6%
1986	44.1%	33.8%
1985	44.1%	34%
1984	44.1%	34.3%
1983	44.2%	34.6%
1982	44.3%	34.9%
1981	44.3%	35.2%
1980	44.2%	35.5%
1979	44.3%	35.9%
1978	44.5%	36.3%
1977	44.6%	36.7%
1976	44.5%	36.9%
1975	44.3%	37.1%
1974	44.2%	37.2%
1973	44%	37.3%
1972	43.8%	37.5%
1971	43.6%	37.6%
1970	43.4%	37.7%
1969	43.3%	37.8%
1968	43.2%	37.9%
1967	43%	38%
1966	42.9%	38%
1965	42.8%	38%
1964	42.7%	38%
1963	42.7%	37.8%
1962	42.7%	37.6%
1961	42.8%	37.5%
1960	42.9%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in the DR Congo was 42.9% in 1960, 44.5% in 1992, and 46% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of the DR Congo.

Maternal mortality by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

World's average

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	World
2023	427	197
2022	456	203
2021	507	242
2020	489	211
2019	493	207
2018	508	211
2017	519	215
2016	526	220
2015	545	228
2014	558	231
2013	567	235
2012	578	239
2011	589	247
2010	601	253
2009	608	258
2008	620	264
2007	631	269
2006	619	276
2005	613	283
2004	607	291
2003	605	301
2002	601	311
2001	588	321
2000	585	328
1999	601	340
1998	605	360
1997	617	358
1996	661	366
1995	644	371
1994	656	382
1993	683	389
1992	709	395
1991	735	395
1990	755	391
1989	791	401
1988	824	414
1987	863	429
1986	902	438
1985	934	460

The maternal mortality rate in the DR Congo was 427 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.43% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 27% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

World's average

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	World
2023	7.32%	2.49%
2022	7.57%	2.59%
2021	7.81%	2.66%
2020	8.07%	2.75%
2019	8.35%	2.86%
2018	8.63%	2.97%
2017	8.93%	3.11%
2016	9.23%	3.22%
2015	9.56%	3.35%
2014	9.9%	3.48%
2013	10.3%	3.61%
2012	10.6%	3.77%
2011	11%	3.97%
2010	11.4%	4.11%
2009	11.8%	4.31%
2008	12.2%	4.5%
2007	12.7%	4.7%
2006	13.1%	4.92%
2005	13.6%	5.16%
2004	14.1%	5.43%
2003	14.6%	5.65%
2002	15%	5.94%
2001	15.5%	6.21%
2000	15.9%	6.48%
1999	16.3%	6.75%
1998	16.7%	7.05%
1997	17%	7.28%
1996	17.3%	7.52%
1995	17.5%	7.76%
1994	17.7%	7.98%
1993	17.9%	8.19%
1992	18.1%	8.46%
1991	18.3%	8.66%
1990	18.5%	8.81%
1989	18.8%	9.02%
1988	19%	9.31%
1987	19.2%	9.47%
1986	19.5%	9.81%
1985	19.7%	10.1%
1984	20%	10.4%
1983	20.3%	10.6%
1982	20.6%	10.8%
1981	20.9%	11%
1980	21.2%	11.4%
1979	21.5%	11.7%
1978	21.9%	12.2%
1977	22.3%	12.6%
1976	22.6%	13%
1975	23%	13.4%
1974	23.4%	13.8%
1973	23.7%	14.1%
1972	24%	14.5%
1971	24.3%	15.1%
1970	24.7%	15.2%
1969	25.1%	15.4%
1968	-	15.6%
1967	-	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

The under-5 mortality rate in the DR Congo was 73.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 7.32% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 159.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.