Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Nigeria

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Nigeria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2024	5.98	4.38
2023	6.05	4.48
2022	6.11	4.55
2021	6.16	4.64
2020	6.21	4.7
2019	6.25	4.86
2018	6.3	5.02
2017	6.35	5.18
2016	6.39	5.34
2015	6.44	5.5
2014	6.48	5.62
2013	6.53	5.69
2012	6.56	5.8
2011	6.58	5.89
2010	6.59	5.95
2009	6.59	5.99
2008	6.58	6.02
2007	6.56	6.03
2006	6.55	6.05
2005	6.53	6.06
2004	6.53	6.09
2003	6.55	6.1
2002	6.61	6.12
2001	6.66	6.13
2000	6.7	6.12
1999	6.69	6.08
1998	6.7	6.07
1997	6.69	6.14
1996	6.67	6.22
1995	6.68	6.27
1994	6.64	6.32
1993	6.64	6.35
1992	6.64	6.39
1991	6.65	6.43
1990	6.65	6.46
1989	6.65	6.49
1988	6.66	6.5
1987	6.65	6.5
1986	6.63	6.56
1985	6.61	6.62
1984	6.59	6.7
1983	6.56	6.78
1982	6.54	6.8
1981	6.52	6.82
1980	6.5	6.85
1979	6.48	6.89
1978	6.46	6.92
1977	6.45	6.86
1976	6.44	6.81
1975	6.42	6.77
1974	6.4	6.7
1973	6.39	6.63
1972	6.37	6.58
1971	6.34	6.53
1970	6.33	6.47
1969	6.3	6.44
1968	6.29	6.42
1967	6.27	6.4
1966	6.24	6.39
1965	6.21	6.37
1964	6.19	6.36
1963	6.16	6.35
1962	6.14	6.36
1961	6.12	6.35
1960	6.11	6.36

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the DR Congo was 5.98 children per woman in 2024, compared to 4.38 in Nigeria in 2024. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Nigeria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2024	3,547,217	4,851,833
2023	3,467,787	4,834,309
2022	3,347,664	4,739,502
2021	3,227,992	4,641,562
2020	3,156,152	4,525,164
2019	3,075,538	4,609,941
2018	2,993,184	4,659,898
2017	2,883,245	4,706,183
2016	2,753,687	4,761,594
2015	2,665,016	4,823,045
2014	2,580,251	4,862,319
2013	2,489,378	4,811,751
2012	2,405,462	4,774,508
2011	2,310,679	4,728,363
2010	2,212,255	4,629,173
2009	2,126,912	4,528,149
2008	2,044,210	4,412,976
2007	1,963,738	4,265,428
2006	1,889,398	4,135,703
2005	1,800,300	4,013,788
2004	1,731,022	3,877,376
2003	1,679,188	3,751,120
2002	1,631,597	3,606,814
2001	1,594,999	3,478,370
2000	1,549,518	3,343,196
1999	1,450,318	3,155,425
1998	1,375,130	3,003,946
1997	1,392,037	2,936,500
1996	1,380,490	2,882,205
1995	1,395,440	2,830,771
1994	1,259,539	2,735,198
1993	1,209,242	2,673,675
1992	1,152,781	2,596,173
1991	1,114,033	2,527,807
1990	1,063,508	2,491,928
1989	1,027,238	2,452,324
1988	995,278	2,376,419
1987	959,875	2,322,397
1986	925,334	2,295,003
1985	885,670	2,289,784
1984	844,956	2,278,060
1983	807,122	2,292,089
1982	774,823	2,233,401
1981	748,371	2,179,884
1980	724,111	2,121,618
1979	691,773	2,074,807
1978	646,411	2,019,621
1977	638,242	1,923,917
1976	624,147	1,827,289
1975	608,655	1,718,623
1974	593,539	1,624,813
1973	578,280	1,525,485
1972	564,495	1,448,928
1971	549,343	1,373,896
1970	533,300	1,295,507
1969	514,800	1,213,484
1968	497,682	1,168,254
1967	479,552	1,082,884
1966	463,397	1,095,582
1965	429,002	1,061,840
1964	406,334	1,028,272
1963	398,972	995,116
1962	383,406	966,452
1961	368,207	932,111
1960	363,517	901,301

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 2023 to 2024 was +3.25% in the DR Congo and +2.09% in Nigeria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.28% in the DR Congo and +2.24% in Nigeria.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Nigeria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2024	40.9	32.5
2023	41.3	33
2022	41.6	33.2
2021	41.9	33.5
2020	42.2	33.7
2019	42.5	34.7
2018	42.9	35.7
2017	43	36.7
2016	42.9	37.8
2015	43.2	39
2014	43.5	39.9
2013	43.7	40.4
2012	44	41.1
2011	44	41.8
2010	43.9	42.1
2009	44	42.5
2008	44	42.8
2007	44	42.9
2006	44	43.2
2005	43.7	43.4
2004	43.8	43.5
2003	44.2	43.7
2002	44.6	43.8
2001	45	43.9
2000	45.3	43.9
1999	45.2	43.4
1998	44.9	43.2
1997	46	43.5
1996	47	43.9
1995	47.2	44.1
1994	45.3	44
1993	45.9	44.1
1992	45.7	44.2
1991	46	44.3
1990	45.9	44.5
1989	46.1	44.8
1988	46.4	44.7
1987	46.5	44.8
1986	46.6	45.3
1985	46.5	45.9
1984	46.2	46.5
1983	46.1	47.5
1982	46	47.5
1981	46.1	47.9
1980	46.1	48.3
1979	45.8	48.8
1978	45.4	49.3
1977	45.9	49.1
1976	46.2	49
1975	46.4	49
1974	46.6	48.7
1973	46.9	48.2
1972	47.1	48
1971	47.4	47.8
1970	47.6	47.4
1969	47.7	47.3
1968	47.8	47.2
1967	47.9	47.1
1966	47.9	47
1965	47.8	46.9
1964	47.7	46.9
1963	47.5	46.8
1962	47.4	46.7
1961	47.2	46.6
1960	47.1	46.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2024 was 40.9 in the DR Congo and 32.5 in Nigeria, compared with 47.1 and 46.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2100	23.4%	20.4%
2099	23.6%	20.5%
2098	23.8%	20.6%
2097	24%	20.7%
2096	24.2%	20.8%
2095	24.4%	20.9%
2094	24.6%	21%
2093	24.8%	21.1%
2092	25%	21.2%
2091	25.2%	21.4%
2090	25.4%	21.5%
2089	25.6%	21.6%
2088	25.8%	21.8%
2087	26.1%	21.9%
2086	26.3%	22.1%
2085	26.5%	22.2%
2084	26.8%	22.4%
2083	27%	22.6%
2082	27.2%	22.7%
2081	27.5%	22.9%
2080	27.8%	23.1%
2079	28%	23.3%
2078	28.3%	23.5%
2077	28.6%	23.7%
2076	28.9%	23.9%
2075	29.2%	24.1%
2074	29.5%	24.3%
2073	29.8%	24.5%
2072	30.1%	24.7%
2071	30.4%	25%
2070	30.7%	25.2%
2069	31.1%	25.4%
2068	31.4%	25.7%
2067	31.7%	25.9%
2066	32.1%	26.1%
2065	32.4%	26.4%
2064	32.8%	26.6%
2063	33.1%	26.9%
2062	33.5%	27.2%
2061	33.8%	27.4%
2060	34.1%	27.7%
2059	34.5%	28%
2058	34.8%	28.3%
2057	35.1%	28.6%
2056	35.5%	29%
2055	35.8%	29.3%
2054	36.1%	29.6%
2053	36.5%	30%
2052	36.8%	30.3%
2051	37.1%	30.7%
2050	37.5%	31.1%
2049	37.8%	31.5%
2048	38.2%	31.8%
2047	38.6%	32.2%
2046	39%	32.6%
2045	39.4%	32.9%
2044	39.8%	33.3%
2043	40.2%	33.7%
2042	40.6%	34%
2041	41.1%	34.4%
2040	41.5%	34.7%
2039	42%	35%
2038	42.4%	35.4%
2037	42.8%	35.7%
2036	43.2%	36%
2035	43.6%	36.3%
2034	44%	36.6%
2033	44.3%	37%
2032	44.6%	37.4%
2031	44.9%	37.8%
2030	45.2%	38.3%
2029	45.4%	38.8%
2028	45.6%	39.3%
2027	45.8%	39.8%
2026	45.9%	40.3%
2025	45.9%	40.5%
2024	46%	41%
2023	46.1%	41.5%
2022	46.1%	42%
2021	46.1%	42.4%
2020	46.1%	42.8%
2019	46%	43.2%
2018	45.9%	43.6%
2017	45.8%	43.9%
2016	45.9%	44.1%
2015	46%	44.3%
2014	46%	44.4%
2013	46%	44.5%
2012	46%	44.5%
2011	46%	44.5%
2010	46.1%	44.4%
2009	46.1%	44.4%
2008	46%	44.3%
2007	46%	44.2%
2006	45.9%	44.1%
2005	45.9%	44%
2004	45.9%	43.9%
2003	45.8%	43.8%
2002	45.7%	43.8%
2001	45.7%	43.7%
2000	45.7%	43.7%
1999	45.6%	43.8%
1998	45.6%	43.9%
1997	45.4%	44.1%
1996	44.7%	44.2%
1995	44%	44.4%
1994	44.1%	44.6%
1993	44.5%	44.8%
1992	44.5%	45%
1991	44.4%	45.2%
1990	44.4%	45.3%
1989	44.3%	45.5%
1988	44.3%	45.5%
1987	44.2%	45.6%
1986	44.1%	45.6%
1985	44.1%	45.5%
1984	44.1%	45.4%
1983	44.2%	45.2%
1982	44.3%	45%
1981	44.3%	44.8%
1980	44.2%	44.6%
1979	44.3%	44.4%
1978	44.5%	44.2%
1977	44.6%	43.9%
1976	44.5%	43.7%
1975	44.3%	43.4%
1974	44.2%	43.2%
1973	44%	43%
1972	43.8%	42.8%
1971	43.6%	42.5%
1970	43.4%	42.4%
1969	43.3%	42.2%
1968	43.2%	42%
1967	43%	41.8%
1966	42.9%	41.7%
1965	42.8%	41.5%
1964	42.7%	41.4%
1963	42.7%	41.2%
1962	42.7%	41.1%
1961	42.8%	41.1%
1960	42.9%	41.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 45.9% of the population in the DR Congo and 40.5% in Nigeria in 2025, compared to 44.4% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Nigeria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Nigeria

Chart Table

DR Congo

Nigeria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2023	427	993
2022	456	1,016
2021	507	1,046
2020	489	1,065
2019	493	1,091
2018	508	1,118
2017	519	1,142
2016	526	1,155
2015	545	1,168
2014	558	1,155
2013	567	1,146
2012	578	1,124
2011	589	1,108
2010	601	1,094
2009	608	1,088
2008	620	1,081
2007	631	1,063
2006	619	1,067
2005	613	1,060
2004	607	1,075
2003	605	1,090
2002	601	1,117
2001	588	1,130
2000	585	1,136
1999	601	1,165
1998	605	1,189
1997	617	1,184
1996	661	1,185
1995	644	1,186
1994	656	1,193
1993	683	1,200
1992	709	1,246
1991	735	1,282
1990	755	1,285
1989	791	1,304
1988	824	1,332
1987	863	1,351
1986	902	1,363
1985	934	1,344

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 993 deaths in Nigeria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

Nigeria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	Nigeria
2024	8.97%	11.6%
2023	9.13%	11.7%
2022	9.25%	11.8%
2021	9.29%	11.8%
2020	9.27%	11.7%
2019	9.22%	11.7%
2018	9.17%	11.7%
2017	9.15%	11.7%
2016	9.15%	11.7%
2015	9.19%	11.8%
2014	9.27%	11.9%
2013	9.41%	12%
2012	9.59%	12.2%
2011	9.83%	12.4%
2010	10.1%	12.6%
2009	10.5%	12.9%
2008	10.9%	13.3%
2007	11.4%	13.7%
2006	11.9%	14.1%
2005	12.4%	14.6%
2004	15.9%	15.1%
2003	16.6%	15.7%
2002	17.2%	16.4%
2001	17.8%	17.1%
2000	18.5%	17.7%
1999	19%	18.4%
1998	19.6%	18.9%
1997	20.7%	19.4%
1996	21%	19.8%
1995	16.9%	20.1%
1994	17.1%	20.3%
1993	17.3%	20.5%
1992	17.5%	20.6%
1991	17.8%	20.7%
1990	18%	20.8%
1989	18.2%	20.8%
1988	18.5%	20.8%
1987	18.7%	20.8%
1986	18.9%	20.8%
1985	19.2%	20.7%
1984	19.4%	20.7%
1983	19.7%	20.7%
1982	20%	20.8%
1981	20.3%	21%
1980	20.7%	21.3%
1979	21%	21.7%
1978	21.4%	22.3%
1977	21.8%	22.9%
1976	22.2%	23.6%
1975	22.6%	24.3%
1974	23%	25.2%
1973	23.4%	26%
1972	23.8%	26.8%
1971	24.1%	27.6%
1970	24.5%	38.7%
1969	24.8%	39.7%
1968	-	40.7%
1967	-	30.5%
1966	-	31.2%
1965	-	31.9%
1964	-	32.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 8.97% in the DR Congo and 11.6% in Nigeria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.