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Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and El Salvador

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has an annual birth rate of 41.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 15.8 for El Salvador. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 6.05 in the DR Congo and 1.78 in El Salvador — 70.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 0.88% in the DR Congo and by 73.2% in El Salvador — in 1960, it was 6.11 and 6.62, respectively.

  • The DR Congo is ranked 5/196 by birth rate compared to 99/196 for El Salvador.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.9 years in the DR Congo, compared to 20.8 years in El Salvador.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1 in the DR Congo — it's 27.2 in El Salvador.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 106.9 in the DR Congo vs 54.2 in El Salvador.
  • In the DR Congo, 22.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 28% in El Salvador.

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs El Salvador by year

DR Congo
El Salvador
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo El Salvador
2023 6.05 1.78
2022 6.11 1.79
2021 6.16 1.8
2020 6.21 1.82
2019 6.25 1.84
2018 6.3 1.85
2017 6.35 1.9
2016 6.39 1.97
2015 6.44 2.07
2014 6.48 2.13
2013 6.53 2.15
2012 6.56 2.19
2011 6.58 2.22
2010 6.59 2.24
2009 6.59 2.26
2008 6.58 2.29
2007 6.56 2.35
2006 6.55 2.4
2005 6.53 2.44
2004 6.53 2.52
2003 6.55 2.64
2002 6.61 2.78
2001 6.66 2.93
2000 6.7 3.08
1999 6.69 3.22
1998 6.7 3.34
1997 6.69 3.38
1996 6.67 3.48
1995 6.68 3.57
1994 6.64 3.61
1993 6.64 3.69
1992 6.64 3.8
1991 6.65 3.89
1990 6.65 3.96
1989 6.65 4.03
1988 6.66 4.1
1987 6.65 4.18
1986 6.63 4.19
1985 6.61 4.32
1984 6.59 4.48
1983 6.56 4.65
1982 6.54 4.83
1981 6.52 4.99
1980 6.5 5.11
1979 6.48 5.23
1978 6.46 5.36
1977 6.45 5.47
1976 6.44 5.59
1975 6.42 5.71
1974 6.4 5.82
1973 6.39 5.93
1972 6.37 6.03
1971 6.34 6.13
1970 6.33 6.18
1969 6.3 6.28
1968 6.29 6.39
1967 6.27 6.49
1966 6.24 6.57
1965 6.21 6.64
1964 6.19 6.68
1963 6.16 6.69
1962 6.14 6.68
1961 6.12 6.64
1960 6.11 6.62

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the DR Congo was 6.05 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in El Salvador in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the DR Congo vs El Salvador population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

DR Congo
El Salvador
1x
Year Natural population change
DR Congo El Salvador
2023 3,467,787 51,985
2022 3,347,664 53,138
2021 3,227,992 46,530
2020 3,156,152 48,244
2019 3,075,538 56,816
2018 2,993,184 57,509
2017 2,883,245 59,824
2016 2,753,687 63,751
2015 2,665,016 69,263
2014 2,580,251 72,581
2013 2,489,378 73,869
2012 2,405,462 75,495
2011 2,310,679 76,182
2010 2,212,255 75,695
2009 2,126,912 74,908
2008 2,044,210 75,107
2007 1,963,738 76,776
2006 1,889,398 80,887
2005 1,800,300 84,883
2004 1,731,022 90,905
2003 1,679,188 97,849
2002 1,631,597 106,137
2001 1,594,999 114,313
2000 1,549,518 122,315
1999 1,450,318 128,947
1998 1,375,130 134,065
1997 1,392,037 134,448
1996 1,380,490 136,929
1995 1,395,440 138,268
1994 1,259,539 137,974
1993 1,209,242 138,432
1992 1,152,781 139,221
1991 1,114,033 140,691
1990 1,063,508 140,311
1989 1,027,238 139,093
1988 995,278 136,230
1987 959,875 133,667
1986 925,334 130,177
1985 885,670 127,248
1984 844,956 125,036
1983 807,122 121,700
1982 774,823 120,938
1981 748,371 117,346
1980 724,111 111,771
1979 691,773 123,838
1978 646,411 124,468
1977 638,242 121,446
1976 624,147 120,511
1975 608,655 116,737
1974 593,539 113,846
1973 578,280 111,546
1972 564,495 107,604
1971 549,343 104,714
1970 533,300 100,499
1969 514,800 99,848
1968 497,682 98,851
1967 479,552 98,424
1966 463,397 97,156
1965 429,002 95,341
1964 406,334 93,328
1963 398,972 90,794
1962 383,406 88,237
1961 368,207 84,614
1960 363,517 81,544

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

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 +3.28% in the DR Congo and +0.82% in El Salvador.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +0.93% in El Salvador.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs El Salvador by year

DR Congo
El Salvador

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
DR Congo El Salvador
2023 41.3 15.8
2022 41.6 15.9
2021 41.9 16.2
2020 42.2 16.3
2019 42.5 16.6
2018 42.9 16.7
2017 43 17.1
2016 42.9 17.7
2015 43.2 18.6
2014 43.5 19
2013 43.7 19.2
2012 44 19.4
2011 44 19.6
2010 43.9 19.7
2009 44 19.8
2008 44 20
2007 44 20.6
2006 44 21
2005 43.7 21.4
2004 43.8 22.1
2003 44.2 23.1
2002 44.6 24.4
2001 45 25.8
2000 45.3 27.1
1999 45.2 28.3
1998 44.9 29.4
1997 46 29.6
1996 47 30.3
1995 47.2 30.8
1994 45.3 31
1993 45.9 31.3
1992 45.7 32.2
1991 46 33.1
1990 45.9 33.7
1989 46.1 34.4
1988 46.4 34.9
1987 46.5 35.2
1986 46.6 35.1
1985 46.5 35.7
1984 46.2 36.7
1983 46.1 37.7
1982 46 38.6
1981 46.1 39.6
1980 46.1 39.8
1979 45.8 40.1
1978 45.4 40.4
1977 45.9 40.8
1976 46.2 41.2
1975 46.4 41.5
1974 46.6 41.9
1973 46.9 42.2
1972 47.1 42.5
1971 47.4 42.8
1970 47.6 42.8
1969 47.7 43.5
1968 47.8 44.3
1967 47.9 45.1
1966 47.9 45.7
1965 47.8 46.3
1964 47.7 46.8
1963 47.5 47
1962 47.4 47.1
1961 47.2 47
1960 47.1 47

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 15.8 in El Salvador, compared with 47.1 and 47, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

DR Congo El Salvador
Fertility rate 6.05 1.78
Fertility rate rank 4/196 113/196
Birth rate 41.3 15.8
Birth rate rank 5/196 99/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,467,787 +51,985
Natural population change rank 4/196 93/196
Natural population change rate +3.28% +0.82%
Population growth +3.3% +0.45%
Population growth rank 11/197 140/197
Age at first childbirth 19.9 years 20.8 years
Average age at childbearing 30.1 years 27.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 103.3 52
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 244.2 87.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 106.7 18
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 22.3% 28%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 17.6% 52.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 85.2% 99.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.43% 0.04%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.53% 0.44%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.45% 0.92%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.32% 1.04%
Life expectancy 62.4 years 72.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

DR Congo
Factual

UN forecast
El Salvador
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
DR Congo El Salvador
2100 23.4% 12.6%
2099 23.6% 12.6%
2098 23.8% 12.7%
2097 24% 12.7%
2096 24.2% 12.7%
2095 24.4% 12.7%
2094 24.6% 12.8%
2093 24.8% 12.8%
2092 25% 12.8%
2091 25.2% 12.9%
2090 25.4% 12.9%
2089 25.6% 12.9%
2088 25.8% 13%
2087 26.1% 13%
2086 26.3% 13.1%
2085 26.5% 13.1%
2084 26.8% 13.2%
2083 27% 13.2%
2082 27.2% 13.3%
2081 27.5% 13.3%
2080 27.8% 13.4%
2079 28% 13.5%
2078 28.3% 13.6%
2077 28.6% 13.6%
2076 28.9% 13.7%
2075 29.2% 13.8%
2074 29.5% 13.9%
2073 29.8% 14%
2072 30.1% 14%
2071 30.4% 14.1%
2070 30.7% 14.2%
2069 31.1% 14.3%
2068 31.4% 14.5%
2067 31.7% 14.6%
2066 32.1% 14.7%
2065 32.4% 14.8%
2064 32.8% 14.9%
2063 33.1% 15%
2062 33.5% 15.2%
2061 33.8% 15.3%
2060 34.1% 15.5%
2059 34.5% 15.6%
2058 34.8% 15.8%
2057 35.1% 15.9%
2056 35.5% 16.1%
2055 35.8% 16.3%
2054 36.1% 16.4%
2053 36.5% 16.6%
2052 36.8% 16.8%
2051 37.1% 17%
2050 37.5% 17.2%
2049 37.8% 17.5%
2048 38.2% 17.7%
2047 38.6% 17.9%
2046 39% 18.2%
2045 39.4% 18.4%
2044 39.8% 18.7%
2043 40.2% 18.9%
2042 40.6% 19.2%
2041 41.1% 19.4%
2040 41.5% 19.7%
2039 42% 19.9%
2038 42.4% 20.2%
2037 42.8% 20.5%
2036 43.2% 20.7%
2035 43.6% 21%
2034 44% 21.2%
2033 44.3% 21.5%
2032 44.6% 21.8%
2031 44.9% 22.1%
2030 45.2% 22.5%
2029 45.4% 22.9%
2028 45.6% 23.3%
2027 45.8% 23.7%
2026 45.9% 24.2%
2025 46% 24.6%
2024 46% 24.8%
2023 46.1% 25.2%
2022 46.1% 25.6%
2021 46.1% 26%
2020 46.1% 26.3%
2019 46% 26.7%
2018 45.9% 27%
2017 45.8% 27.5%
2016 45.9% 28%
2015 46% 28.6%
2014 46% 29.2%
2013 46% 29.9%
2012 46% 30.6%
2011 46% 31.3%
2010 46.1% 32%
2009 46.1% 32.7%
2008 46% 33.4%
2007 46% 33.9%
2006 45.9% 34.4%
2005 45.9% 34.9%
2004 45.9% 35.4%
2003 45.8% 35.9%
2002 45.7% 36.3%
2001 45.7% 36.7%
2000 45.7% 37.1%
1999 45.6% 37.5%
1998 45.6% 38%
1997 45.4% 38.5%
1996 44.7% 39.1%
1995 44% 39.8%
1994 44.1% 40.5%
1993 44.5% 41.1%
1992 44.5% 41.5%
1991 44.4% 41.7%
1990 44.4% 41.7%
1989 44.3% 41.8%
1988 44.3% 41.9%
1987 44.2% 42.1%
1986 44.1% 42.4%
1985 44.1% 42.7%
1984 44.1% 43.1%
1983 44.2% 43.4%
1982 44.3% 43.7%
1981 44.3% 43.9%
1980 44.2% 44.2%
1979 44.3% 44.5%
1978 44.5% 44.9%
1977 44.6% 45.3%
1976 44.5% 45.6%
1975 44.3% 45.9%
1974 44.2% 46.2%
1973 44% 46.4%
1972 43.8% 46.6%
1971 43.6% 46.7%
1970 43.4% 46.8%
1969 43.3% 46.8%
1968 43.2% 46.6%
1967 43% 46.5%
1966 42.9% 46.3%
1965 42.8% 46.2%
1964 42.7% 46.1%
1963 42.7% 46%
1962 42.7% 45.8%
1961 42.8% 45.7%
1960 42.9% 45.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 24.8% in El Salvador in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 41.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and El Salvador compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs El Salvador

DR Congo
El Salvador
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
DR Congo El Salvador
2023 427 39
2022 456 39
2021 507 58
2020 489 48
2019 493 40
2018 508 43
2017 519 44
2016 526 43
2015 545 43
2014 558 41
2013 567 39
2012 578 36
2011 589 35
2010 601 34
2009 608 35
2008 620 33
2007 631 33
2006 619 33
2005 613 34
2004 607 35
2003 605 38
2002 601 40
2001 588 45
2000 585 48
1999 601 53
1998 605 61
1997 617 67
1996 661 78
1995 644 89
1994 656 101
1993 683 114
1992 709 121
1991 735 129
1990 755 145
1989 791 155
1988 824 173
1987 863 178
1986 902 169
1985 934 193

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 427 deaths per 100,000 live births in the DR Congo, compared to 39 deaths in El Salvador.

Under-five mortality rates

DR Congo
El Salvador

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
DR Congo El Salvador
2023 7.32% 1.04%
2022 7.57% 1.08%
2021 7.81% 1.12%
2020 8.07% 1.17%
2019 8.35% 1.22%
2018 8.63% 1.27%
2017 8.93% 1.33%
2016 9.23% 1.39%
2015 9.56% 1.45%
2014 9.9% 1.52%
2013 10.3% 1.59%
2012 10.6% 1.67%
2011 11% 1.75%
2010 11.4% 1.84%
2009 11.8% 1.94%
2008 12.2% 2.04%
2007 12.7% 2.15%
2006 13.1% 2.27%
2005 13.6% 2.4%
2004 14.1% 2.55%
2003 14.6% 2.7%
2002 15% 2.86%
2001 15.5% 3.04%
2000 15.9% 3.23%
1999 16.3% 3.43%
1998 16.7% 3.65%
1997 17% 3.89%
1996 17.3% 4.15%
1995 17.5% 4.42%
1994 17.7% 4.71%
1993 17.9% 5%
1992 18.1% 5.3%
1991 18.3% 5.61%
1990 18.5% 5.94%
1989 18.8% 6.28%
1988 19% 6.65%
1987 19.2% 7.04%
1986 19.5% 7.47%
1985 19.7% 7.93%
1984 20% 8.42%
1983 20.3% 8.94%
1982 20.6% 9.46%
1981 20.9% 10%
1980 21.2% 12.5%
1979 21.5% 11.1%
1978 21.9% 11.6%
1977 22.3% 12.1%
1976 22.6% 12.6%
1975 23% 13.1%
1974 23.4% 13.5%
1973 23.7% 13.9%
1972 24% 14.3%
1971 24.3% 14.6%
1970 24.7% 15%
1969 25.1% 15.3%
1968 - 15.6%
1967 - 16%
1966 - 16.3%
1965 - 16.6%
1964 - 17%
1963 - 17.3%
1962 - 17.7%
1961 - 18.1%
1960 - 18.5%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/el-salvador | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 1.04% in El Salvador. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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