Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Gabon

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Gabon by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Gabon

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	Gabon
2023	6.05	3.65
2022	6.11	3.71
2021	6.16	3.78
2020	6.21	3.83
2019	6.25	3.88
2018	6.3	3.91
2017	6.35	3.91
2016	6.39	3.92
2015	6.44	3.92
2014	6.48	3.95
2013	6.53	4.02
2012	6.56	4.09
2011	6.58	4.15
2010	6.59	4.15
2009	6.59	4.14
2008	6.58	4.12
2007	6.56	4.14
2006	6.55	4.17
2005	6.53	4.21
2004	6.53	4.25
2003	6.55	4.3
2002	6.61	4.36
2001	6.66	4.42
2000	6.7	4.47
1999	6.69	4.5
1998	6.7	4.58
1997	6.69	4.66
1996	6.67	4.74
1995	6.68	4.88
1994	6.64	5.04
1993	6.64	5.19
1992	6.64	5.29
1991	6.65	5.37
1990	6.65	5.46
1989	6.65	5.55
1988	6.66	5.62
1987	6.65	5.67
1986	6.63	5.69
1985	6.61	5.71
1984	6.59	5.73
1983	6.56	5.76
1982	6.54	5.74
1981	6.52	5.73
1980	6.5	5.66
1979	6.48	5.61
1978	6.46	5.57
1977	6.45	5.52
1976	6.44	5.46
1975	6.42	5.39
1974	6.4	5.33
1973	6.39	5.29
1972	6.37	5.24
1971	6.34	5.16
1970	6.33	5.1
1969	6.3	5.05
1968	6.29	4.98
1967	6.27	4.92
1966	6.24	4.86
1965	6.21	4.79
1964	6.19	4.71
1963	6.16	4.65
1962	6.14	4.59
1961	6.12	4.5
1960	6.11	4.42

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 3.65 in Gabon in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Gabon

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	Gabon
2023	3,467,787	53,167
2022	3,347,664	52,944
2021	3,227,992	52,611
2020	3,156,152	52,745
2019	3,075,538	53,185
2018	2,993,184	52,476
2017	2,883,245	51,455
2016	2,753,687	50,321
2015	2,665,016	48,876
2014	2,580,251	47,704
2013	2,489,378	46,829
2012	2,405,462	45,941
2011	2,310,679	44,922
2010	2,212,255	43,061
2009	2,126,912	41,037
2008	2,044,210	39,002
2007	1,963,738	37,394
2006	1,889,398	35,984
2005	1,800,300	34,766
2004	1,731,022	33,615
2003	1,679,188	32,633
2002	1,631,597	31,777
2001	1,594,999	30,941
2000	1,549,518	30,210
1999	1,450,318	29,330
1998	1,375,130	28,697
1997	1,392,037	28,053
1996	1,380,490	27,450
1995	1,395,440	27,290
1994	1,259,539	27,271
1993	1,209,242	27,235
1992	1,152,781	26,810
1991	1,114,033	26,334
1990	1,063,508	25,858
1989	1,027,238	25,359
1988	995,278	24,888
1987	959,875	24,212
1986	925,334	23,362
1985	885,670	22,617
1984	844,956	21,851
1983	807,122	21,162
1982	774,823	20,292
1981	748,371	19,528
1980	724,111	18,503
1979	691,773	17,553
1978	646,411	16,714
1977	638,242	15,842
1976	624,147	14,998
1975	608,655	14,162
1974	593,539	13,381
1973	578,280	12,731
1972	564,495	12,095
1971	549,343	11,357
1970	533,300	10,635
1969	514,800	9,969
1968	497,682	9,417
1967	479,552	8,883
1966	463,397	8,410
1965	429,002	7,902
1964	406,334	7,402
1963	398,972	7,001
1962	383,406	6,609
1961	368,207	6,161
1960	363,517	5,732

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 +2.14% in Gabon.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +2.31% in Gabon.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Gabon by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Gabon

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	Gabon
2023	41.3	27.7
2022	41.6	28.3
2021	41.9	28.9
2020	42.2	29.5
2019	42.5	30.1
2018	42.9	30.5
2017	43	30.8
2016	42.9	31
2015	43.2	31.1
2014	43.5	31.4
2013	43.7	31.9
2012	44	32.5
2011	44	33
2010	43.9	33
2009	44	32.9
2008	44	32.6
2007	44	32.6
2006	44	32.6
2005	43.7	32.7
2004	43.8	32.7
2003	44.2	32.9
2002	44.6	33.1
2001	45	33.2
2000	45.3	33.4
1999	45.2	33.5
1998	44.9	33.7
1997	46	33.9
1996	47	34.1
1995	47.2	34.7
1994	45.3	35.5
1993	45.9	36.3
1992	45.7	36.7
1991	46	37.2
1990	45.9	37.6
1989	46.1	38
1988	46.4	38.5
1987	46.5	38.7
1986	46.6	38.7
1985	46.5	38.9
1984	46.2	39
1983	46.1	39.1
1982	46	39
1981	46.1	39
1980	46.1	38.6
1979	45.8	38.2
1978	45.4	38
1977	45.9	37.7
1976	46.2	37.3
1975	46.4	36.9
1974	46.6	36.5
1973	46.9	36.3
1972	47.1	36
1971	47.4	35.5
1970	47.6	35.1
1969	47.7	34.7
1968	47.8	34.4
1967	47.9	34.1
1966	47.9	33.8
1965	47.8	33.5
1964	47.7	33.1
1963	47.5	32.9
1962	47.4	32.6
1961	47.2	32.3
1960	47.1	31.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 27.7 in Gabon, compared with 47.1 and 31.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Gabon

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	Gabon
2100	23.4%	20.4%
2099	23.6%	20.5%
2098	23.8%	20.7%
2097	24%	20.8%
2096	24.2%	21%
2095	24.4%	21.1%
2094	24.6%	21.3%
2093	24.8%	21.4%
2092	25%	21.6%
2091	25.2%	21.7%
2090	25.4%	21.9%
2089	25.6%	22%
2088	25.8%	22.2%
2087	26.1%	22.4%
2086	26.3%	22.5%
2085	26.5%	22.7%
2084	26.8%	22.9%
2083	27%	23%
2082	27.2%	23.2%
2081	27.5%	23.3%
2080	27.8%	23.5%
2079	28%	23.7%
2078	28.3%	23.8%
2077	28.6%	24%
2076	28.9%	24.1%
2075	29.2%	24.3%
2074	29.5%	24.5%
2073	29.8%	24.6%
2072	30.1%	24.8%
2071	30.4%	25%
2070	30.7%	25.2%
2069	31.1%	25.4%
2068	31.4%	25.6%
2067	31.7%	25.8%
2066	32.1%	26%
2065	32.4%	26.2%
2064	32.8%	26.5%
2063	33.1%	26.7%
2062	33.5%	26.9%
2061	33.8%	27.2%
2060	34.1%	27.4%
2059	34.5%	27.7%
2058	34.8%	28%
2057	35.1%	28.2%
2056	35.5%	28.5%
2055	35.8%	28.7%
2054	36.1%	28.9%
2053	36.5%	29.1%
2052	36.8%	29.4%
2051	37.1%	29.6%
2050	37.5%	29.7%
2049	37.8%	29.9%
2048	38.2%	30.1%
2047	38.6%	30.2%
2046	39%	30.4%
2045	39.4%	30.6%
2044	39.8%	30.7%
2043	40.2%	30.9%
2042	40.6%	31%
2041	41.1%	31.2%
2040	41.5%	31.4%
2039	42%	31.7%
2038	42.4%	31.9%
2037	42.8%	32.2%
2036	43.2%	32.5%
2035	43.6%	32.9%
2034	44%	33.2%
2033	44.3%	33.6%
2032	44.6%	34%
2031	44.9%	34.4%
2030	45.2%	34.7%
2029	45.4%	35.1%
2028	45.6%	35.4%
2027	45.8%	35.8%
2026	45.9%	36.1%
2025	46%	36.4%
2024	46%	36.5%
2023	46.1%	36.7%
2022	46.1%	36.8%
2021	46.1%	36.8%
2020	46.1%	36.8%
2019	46%	36.8%
2018	45.9%	36.7%
2017	45.8%	36.6%
2016	45.9%	36.6%
2015	46%	36.6%
2014	46%	36.7%
2013	46%	36.8%
2012	46%	37%
2011	46%	37.1%
2010	46.1%	37.3%
2009	46.1%	37.6%
2008	46%	37.9%
2007	46%	38.2%
2006	45.9%	38.6%
2005	45.9%	39%
2004	45.9%	39.4%
2003	45.8%	39.7%
2002	45.7%	40.1%
2001	45.7%	40.5%
2000	45.7%	40.8%
1999	45.6%	41.2%
1998	45.6%	41.5%
1997	45.4%	41.8%
1996	44.7%	42%
1995	44%	42.3%
1994	44.1%	42.4%
1993	44.5%	42.5%
1992	44.5%	42.5%
1991	44.4%	42.5%
1990	44.4%	42.4%
1989	44.3%	42.3%
1988	44.3%	42.1%
1987	44.2%	41.9%
1986	44.1%	41.6%
1985	44.1%	41.4%
1984	44.1%	41%
1983	44.2%	40.7%
1982	44.3%	40.3%
1981	44.3%	39.9%
1980	44.2%	39.6%
1979	44.3%	39.2%
1978	44.5%	38.8%
1977	44.6%	38.4%
1976	44.5%	38%
1975	44.3%	37.6%
1974	44.2%	37.1%
1973	44%	36.7%
1972	43.8%	36.3%
1971	43.6%	35.8%
1970	43.4%	35.4%
1969	43.3%	35.1%
1968	43.2%	34.7%
1967	43%	34.3%
1966	42.9%	33.9%
1965	42.8%	33.5%
1964	42.7%	33%
1963	42.7%	32.6%
1962	42.7%	32.2%
1961	42.8%	31.8%
1960	42.9%	31.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 36.5% in Gabon in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 42.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Gabon compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Gabon

Chart Table

DR Congo

Gabon

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	Gabon
2023	427	233
2022	456	216
2021	507	249
2020	489	194
2019	493	179
2018	508	176
2017	519	184
2016	526	215
2015	545	239
2014	558	273
2013	567	235
2012	578	173
2011	589	149
2010	601	144
2009	608	158
2008	620	158
2007	631	173
2006	619	186
2005	613	175
2004	607	142
2003	605	134
2002	601	151
2001	588	160
2000	585	178
1999	601	216
1998	605	258
1997	617	290
1996	661	321
1995	644	341
1994	656	357
1993	683	364
1992	709	371
1991	735	369
1990	755	368
1989	791	366
1988	824	367
1987	863	366
1986	902	369
1985	934	373

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 233 deaths in Gabon.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

Gabon

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	Gabon
2023	7.32%	3.32%
2022	7.57%	3.41%
2021	7.81%	3.52%
2020	8.07%	3.62%
2019	8.35%	3.8%
2018	8.63%	3.96%
2017	8.93%	4.1%
2016	9.23%	4.24%
2015	9.56%	4.42%
2014	9.9%	4.57%
2013	10.3%	4.73%
2012	10.6%	4.94%
2011	11%	5.14%
2010	11.4%	5.35%
2009	11.8%	5.57%
2008	12.2%	5.77%
2007	12.7%	5.99%
2006	13.1%	6.21%
2005	13.6%	6.39%
2004	14.1%	6.6%
2003	14.6%	6.81%
2002	15%	7.01%
2001	15.5%	7.19%
2000	15.9%	7.37%
1999	16.3%	7.53%
1998	16.7%	7.67%
1997	17%	7.79%
1996	17.3%	7.89%
1995	17.5%	7.98%
1994	17.7%	8.06%
1993	17.9%	8.14%
1992	18.1%	8.24%
1991	18.3%	8.35%
1990	18.5%	8.49%
1989	18.8%	8.64%
1988	19%	8.82%
1987	19.2%	9.03%
1986	19.5%	9.26%
1985	19.7%	9.52%
1984	20%	9.81%
1983	20.3%	10.1%
1982	20.6%	10.5%
1981	20.9%	10.8%
1980	21.2%	11.2%
1979	21.5%	11.6%
1978	21.9%	12%
1977	22.3%	12.4%
1976	22.6%	12.8%
1975	23%	13.3%
1974	23.4%	13.7%
1973	23.7%	14.2%
1972	24%	14.7%
1971	24.3%	15.2%
1970	24.7%	15.7%
1969	25.1%	16.2%
1968	-	16.8%
1967	-	17.4%
1966	-	17.9%
1965	-	18.6%
1964	-	19.2%
1963	-	19.8%
1962	-	20.5%
1961	-	21.2%
1960	-	21.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 3.32% in Gabon. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.