Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Lesotho

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2023	6.05	2.69
2022	6.11	2.72
2021	6.16	2.77
2020	6.21	2.85
2019	6.25	2.92
2018	6.3	3.02
2017	6.35	3.11
2016	6.39	3.18
2015	6.44	3.22
2014	6.48	3.24
2013	6.53	3.28
2012	6.56	3.3
2011	6.58	3.34
2010	6.59	3.25
2009	6.59	3.31
2008	6.58	3.39
2007	6.56	3.44
2006	6.55	3.41
2005	6.53	3.43
2004	6.53	3.51
2003	6.55	3.62
2002	6.61	3.68
2001	6.66	3.63
2000	6.7	3.61
1999	6.69	3.67
1998	6.7	3.82
1997	6.69	3.98
1996	6.67	4.06
1995	6.68	4.13
1994	6.64	4.21
1993	6.64	4.37
1992	6.64	4.54
1991	6.65	4.68
1990	6.65	4.81
1989	6.65	4.96
1988	6.66	5.1
1987	6.65	5.22
1986	6.63	5.32
1985	6.61	5.4
1984	6.59	5.48
1983	6.56	5.56
1982	6.54	5.63
1981	6.52	5.69
1980	6.5	5.75
1979	6.48	5.79
1978	6.46	5.82
1977	6.45	5.85
1976	6.44	5.87
1975	6.42	5.83
1974	6.4	5.75
1973	6.39	5.69
1972	6.37	5.69
1971	6.34	5.7
1970	6.33	5.7
1969	6.3	5.7
1968	6.29	5.73
1967	6.27	5.75
1966	6.24	5.76
1965	6.21	5.77
1964	6.19	5.77
1963	6.16	5.78
1962	6.14	5.79
1961	6.12	5.79
1960	6.11	5.78

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 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2023	3,467,787	31,115
2022	3,347,664	30,803
2021	3,227,992	27,806
2020	3,156,152	30,721
2019	3,075,538	32,279
2018	2,993,184	33,112
2017	2,883,245	33,601
2016	2,753,687	33,390
2015	2,665,016	32,087
2014	2,580,251	30,922
2013	2,489,378	29,789
2012	2,405,462	27,592
2011	2,310,679	25,647
2010	2,212,255	21,877
2009	2,126,912	20,335
2008	2,044,210	19,349
2007	1,963,738	17,763
2006	1,889,398	15,234
2005	1,800,300	15,831
2004	1,731,022	17,271
2003	1,679,188	20,133
2002	1,631,597	22,274
2001	1,594,999	23,190
2000	1,549,518	24,786
1999	1,450,318	27,393
1998	1,375,130	30,889
1997	1,392,037	34,637
1996	1,380,490	36,228
1995	1,395,440	37,370
1994	1,259,539	38,629
1993	1,209,242	40,505
1992	1,152,781	42,579
1991	1,114,033	44,026
1990	1,063,508	45,060
1989	1,027,238	46,264
1988	995,278	47,158
1987	959,875	47,718
1986	925,334	45,232
1985	885,670	44,575
1984	844,956	43,785
1983	807,122	42,899
1982	774,823	41,941
1981	748,371	40,808
1980	724,111	39,617
1979	691,773	38,440
1978	646,411	37,084
1977	638,242	35,654
1976	624,147	34,117
1975	608,655	32,311
1974	593,539	30,444
1973	578,280	28,859
1972	564,495	27,841
1971	549,343	26,838
1970	533,300	25,935
1969	514,800	25,137
1968	497,682	24,490
1967	479,552	23,911
1966	463,397	23,326
1965	429,002	22,755
1964	406,334	22,116
1963	398,972	21,585
1962	383,406	21,132
1961	368,207	20,581
1960	363,517	19,981

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 +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2023	41.3	24.1
2022	41.6	24.4
2021	41.9	24.9
2020	42.2	25.6
2019	42.5	26.4
2018	42.9	27.4
2017	43	28.2
2016	42.9	28.9
2015	43.2	29.2
2014	43.5	29.5
2013	43.7	30
2012	44	30
2011	44	30.2
2010	43.9	29.2
2009	44	29.4
2008	44	29.6
2007	44	29.5
2006	44	28.6
2005	43.7	28.6
2004	43.8	28.7
2003	44.2	29.3
2002	44.6	29.4
2001	45	28.7
2000	45.3	28.2
1999	45.2	28.5
1998	44.9	29.2
1997	46	30.2
1996	47	30.4
1995	47.2	30.6
1994	45.3	31
1993	45.9	32
1992	45.7	33.2
1991	46	34.2
1990	45.9	35.1
1989	46.1	36.3
1988	46.4	37.4
1987	46.5	38.3
1986	46.6	37.5
1985	46.5	37.9
1984	46.2	38.4
1983	46.1	38.9
1982	46	39.5
1981	46.1	39.9
1980	46.1	40.4
1979	45.8	40.8
1978	45.4	41
1977	45.9	41.1
1976	46.2	41
1975	46.4	40.6
1974	46.6	40.2
1973	46.9	39.9
1972	47.1	40.2
1971	47.4	40.5
1970	47.6	40.8
1969	47.7	41.3
1968	47.8	41.9
1967	47.9	42.5
1966	47.9	43
1965	47.8	43.3
1964	47.7	43.5
1963	47.5	43.7
1962	47.4	44.1
1961	47.2	44.3
1960	47.1	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 47.1 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2100	23.4%	18%
2099	23.6%	18.1%
2098	23.8%	18.2%
2097	24%	18.3%
2096	24.2%	18.3%
2095	24.4%	18.4%
2094	24.6%	18.5%
2093	24.8%	18.6%
2092	25%	18.7%
2091	25.2%	18.9%
2090	25.4%	19%
2089	25.6%	19.1%
2088	25.8%	19.2%
2087	26.1%	19.3%
2086	26.3%	19.4%
2085	26.5%	19.6%
2084	26.8%	19.7%
2083	27%	19.8%
2082	27.2%	19.9%
2081	27.5%	20%
2080	27.8%	20.2%
2079	28%	20.3%
2078	28.3%	20.4%
2077	28.6%	20.5%
2076	28.9%	20.6%
2075	29.2%	20.7%
2074	29.5%	20.9%
2073	29.8%	21%
2072	30.1%	21.1%
2071	30.4%	21.3%
2070	30.7%	21.4%
2069	31.1%	21.5%
2068	31.4%	21.7%
2067	31.7%	21.9%
2066	32.1%	22%
2065	32.4%	22.2%
2064	32.8%	22.4%
2063	33.1%	22.6%
2062	33.5%	22.8%
2061	33.8%	23%
2060	34.1%	23.3%
2059	34.5%	23.5%
2058	34.8%	23.7%
2057	35.1%	24%
2056	35.5%	24.2%
2055	35.8%	24.5%
2054	36.1%	24.7%
2053	36.5%	25%
2052	36.8%	25.3%
2051	37.1%	25.5%
2050	37.5%	25.8%
2049	37.8%	26.1%
2048	38.2%	26.3%
2047	38.6%	26.5%
2046	39%	26.8%
2045	39.4%	27%
2044	39.8%	27.3%
2043	40.2%	27.5%
2042	40.6%	27.7%
2041	41.1%	28%
2040	41.5%	28.2%
2039	42%	28.4%
2038	42.4%	28.7%
2037	42.8%	28.9%
2036	43.2%	29.2%
2035	43.6%	29.5%
2034	44%	29.9%
2033	44.3%	30.3%
2032	44.6%	30.8%
2031	44.9%	31.3%
2030	45.2%	31.8%
2029	45.4%	32.3%
2028	45.6%	32.8%
2027	45.8%	33.4%
2026	45.9%	33.9%
2025	46%	34.3%
2024	46%	34.5%
2023	46.1%	34.9%
2022	46.1%	35.3%
2021	46.1%	35.6%
2020	46.1%	35.8%
2019	46%	36.1%
2018	45.9%	36.3%
2017	45.8%	36.5%
2016	45.9%	36.6%
2015	46%	36.6%
2014	46%	36.6%
2013	46%	36.5%
2012	46%	36.5%
2011	46%	36.5%
2010	46.1%	36.5%
2009	46.1%	36.6%
2008	46%	36.7%
2007	46%	36.8%
2006	45.9%	37.1%
2005	45.9%	37.4%
2004	45.9%	37.7%
2003	45.8%	38.1%
2002	45.7%	38.6%
2001	45.7%	39.1%
2000	45.7%	39.6%
1999	45.6%	40.2%
1998	45.6%	40.7%
1997	45.4%	41.2%
1996	44.7%	41.7%
1995	44%	42%
1994	44.1%	42.3%
1993	44.5%	42.6%
1992	44.5%	42.8%
1991	44.4%	42.9%
1990	44.4%	42.9%
1989	44.3%	42.8%
1988	44.3%	42.7%
1987	44.2%	42.5%
1986	44.1%	42.7%
1985	44.1%	43%
1984	44.1%	42.8%
1983	44.2%	42.7%
1982	44.3%	42.5%
1981	44.3%	42.3%
1980	44.2%	42.1%
1979	44.3%	41.9%
1978	44.5%	41.7%
1977	44.6%	41.5%
1976	44.5%	41.4%
1975	44.3%	41.6%
1974	44.2%	41.9%
1973	44%	42.3%
1972	43.8%	42.7%
1971	43.6%	43.1%
1970	43.4%	43.6%
1969	43.3%	44%
1968	43.2%	44.4%
1967	43%	44.8%
1966	42.9%	44.9%
1965	42.8%	44.8%
1964	42.7%	44.9%
1963	42.7%	45.2%
1962	42.7%	45.3%
1961	42.8%	45.2%
1960	42.9%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Lesotho

Chart Table

DR Congo

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2023	427	478
2022	456	477
2021	507	577
2020	489	529
2019	493	467
2018	508	491
2017	519	468
2016	526	518
2015	545	594
2014	558	707
2013	567	855
2012	578	1,000
2011	589	1,210
2010	601	1,311
2009	608	1,387
2008	620	1,205
2007	631	891
2006	619	696
2005	613	549
2004	607	499
2003	605	508
2002	601	484
2001	588	465
2000	585	413
1999	601	371
1998	605	332
1997	617	312
1996	661	319
1995	644	357
1994	656	423
1993	683	542
1992	709	601
1991	735	641
1990	755	665
1989	791	680
1988	824	680
1987	863	686
1986	902	680
1985	934	711

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 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	Lesotho
2023	7.32%	5.89%
2022	7.57%	6.15%
2021	7.81%	6.44%
2020	8.07%	6.68%
2019	8.35%	6.87%
2018	8.63%	6.91%
2017	8.93%	7.12%
2016	9.23%	7.18%
2015	9.56%	7.51%
2014	9.9%	7.82%
2013	10.3%	8.02%
2012	10.6%	8.26%
2011	11%	8.59%
2010	11.4%	9.01%
2009	11.8%	9.64%
2008	12.2%	10.9%
2007	12.7%	11.2%
2006	13.1%	11.5%
2005	13.6%	11.6%
2004	14.1%	11.5%
2003	14.6%	11.4%
2002	15%	11.2%
2001	15.5%	11.1%
2000	15.9%	10.9%
1999	16.3%	10.7%
1998	16.7%	10.5%
1997	17%	10.2%
1996	17.3%	9.83%
1995	17.5%	9.45%
1994	17.7%	9.07%
1993	17.9%	8.73%
1992	18.1%	8.51%
1991	18.3%	8.43%
1990	18.5%	8.47%
1989	18.8%	8.6%
1988	19%	8.8%
1987	19.2%	9.06%
1986	19.5%	9.36%
1985	19.7%	9.72%
1984	20%	10.1%
1983	20.3%	10.6%
1982	20.6%	11.1%
1981	20.9%	11.7%
1980	21.2%	12.3%
1979	21.5%	12.9%
1978	21.9%	13.6%
1977	22.3%	14.2%
1976	22.6%	14.9%
1975	23%	15.5%
1974	23.4%	16%
1973	23.7%	16.5%
1972	24%	16.9%
1971	24.3%	17.3%
1970	24.7%	17.7%
1969	25.1%	18%
1968	-	18.3%
1967	-	18.5%
1966	-	18.6%
1965	-	18.7%
1964	-	18.6%
1963	-	18.6%
1962	-	18.5%
1961	-	18.5%
1960	-	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.