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Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Norway

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has an annual birth rate of 41.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.4 for Norway. 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 1.4 in Norway — 76.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 0.88% in the DR Congo and by 50.9% in Norway — in 1960, it was 6.11 and 2.85, respectively.

  • The DR Congo is ranked 5/196 by birth rate compared to 156/196 for Norway.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.9 years in the DR Congo, compared to 30.1 years in Norway.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1 in the DR Congo — it's 31.8 in Norway.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 106.9 in the DR Congo vs 1.41 in Norway.
  • In the DR Congo, 22.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in Norway.

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Norway by year

DR Congo
Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo Norway
2023 6.05 1.4
2022 6.11 1.41
2021 6.16 1.55
2020 6.21 1.48
2019 6.25 1.53
2018 6.3 1.56
2017 6.35 1.62
2016 6.39 1.71
2015 6.44 1.72
2014 6.48 1.75
2013 6.53 1.78
2012 6.56 1.85
2011 6.58 1.88
2010 6.59 1.95
2009 6.59 1.98
2008 6.58 1.96
2007 6.56 1.9
2006 6.55 1.9
2005 6.53 1.84
2004 6.53 1.83
2003 6.55 1.8
2002 6.61 1.75
2001 6.66 1.78
2000 6.7 1.85
1999 6.69 1.85
1998 6.7 1.81
1997 6.69 1.86
1996 6.67 1.89
1995 6.68 1.87
1994 6.64 1.87
1993 6.64 1.86
1992 6.64 1.88
1991 6.65 1.92
1990 6.65 1.93
1989 6.65 1.89
1988 6.66 1.84
1987 6.65 1.74
1986 6.63 1.71
1985 6.61 1.68
1984 6.59 1.66
1983 6.56 1.66
1982 6.54 1.71
1981 6.52 1.7
1980 6.5 1.72
1979 6.48 1.75
1978 6.46 1.77
1977 6.45 1.75
1976 6.44 1.86
1975 6.42 1.98
1974 6.4 2.13
1973 6.39 2.23
1972 6.37 2.38
1971 6.34 2.49
1970 6.33 2.5
1969 6.3 2.7
1968 6.29 2.75
1967 6.27 2.81
1966 6.24 2.9
1965 6.21 2.94
1964 6.19 2.98
1963 6.16 2.93
1962 6.14 2.91
1961 6.12 2.94
1960 6.11 2.85

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/norway | 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 1.4 in Norway in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

DR Congo
Norway
1x
Year Natural population change
DR Congo Norway
2023 3,467,787 8,280
2022 3,347,664 5,457
2021 3,227,992 14,062
2020 3,156,152 12,372
2019 3,075,538 13,904
2018 2,993,184 14,342
2017 2,883,245 15,831
2016 2,753,687 17,797
2015 2,665,016 18,160
2014 2,580,251 18,494
2013 2,489,378 17,779
2012 2,405,462 18,066
2011 2,310,679 18,822
2010 2,212,255 20,046
2009 2,126,912 20,280
2008 2,044,210 19,073
2007 1,963,738 16,482
2006 1,889,398 17,244
2005 1,800,300 15,719
2004 1,731,022 15,612
2003 1,679,188 14,151
2002 1,631,597 10,892
2001 1,594,999 13,090
2000 1,549,518 15,269
1999 1,450,318 14,278
1998 1,375,130 14,181
1997 1,392,037 15,418
1996 1,380,490 17,087
1995 1,395,440 14,821
1994 1,259,539 16,045
1993 1,209,242 12,936
1992 1,152,781 15,431
1991 1,114,033 16,194
1990 1,063,508 14,845
1989 1,027,238 13,949
1988 995,278 12,207
1987 959,875 9,212
1986 925,334 8,751
1985 885,670 6,644
1984 844,956 7,452
1983 807,122 7,844
1982 774,823 9,875
1981 748,371 9,020
1980 724,111 9,806
1979 691,773 10,181
1978 646,411 11,364
1977 638,242 11,321
1976 624,147 13,286
1975 608,655 16,430
1974 593,539 20,324
1973 578,280 21,387
1972 564,495 24,777
1971 549,343 26,541
1970 533,300 25,968
1969 514,800 28,858
1968 497,682 29,387
1967 479,552 30,276
1966 463,397 31,150
1965 429,002 31,275
1964 406,334 30,293
1963 398,972 26,766
1962 383,406 28,020
1961 368,207 29,239
1960 363,517 29,366

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/norway | 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 +0.15% in Norway.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +0.26% in Norway.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Norway by year

DR Congo
Norway

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
DR Congo Norway
2023 41.3 9.4
2022 41.6 9.4
2021 41.9 10.4
2020 42.2 9.8
2019 42.5 10.2
2018 42.9 10.4
2017 43 10.7
2016 42.9 11.2
2015 43.2 11.3
2014 43.5 11.5
2013 43.7 11.6
2012 44 12
2011 44 12.2
2010 43.9 12.6
2009 44 12.8
2008 44 12.7
2007 44 12.4
2006 44 12.6
2005 43.7 12.3
2004 43.8 12.4
2003 44.2 12.4
2002 44.6 12.2
2001 45 12.6
2000 45.3 13.2
1999 45.2 13.3
1998 44.9 13.2
1997 46 13.6
1996 47 13.9
1995 47.2 13.8
1994 45.3 13.9
1993 45.9 13.8
1992 45.7 14
1991 46 14.3
1990 45.9 14.4
1989 46.1 14
1988 46.4 13.7
1987 46.5 12.9
1986 46.6 12.6
1985 46.5 12.3
1984 46.2 12.1
1983 46.1 12.1
1982 46 12.5
1981 46.1 12.4
1980 46.1 12.5
1979 45.8 12.7
1978 45.4 12.8
1977 45.9 12.6
1976 46.2 13.3
1975 46.4 14.1
1974 46.6 15
1973 46.9 15.5
1972 47.1 16.3
1971 47.4 16.8
1970 47.6 16.7
1969 47.7 17.6
1968 47.8 17.6
1967 47.9 17.6
1966 47.9 17.9
1965 47.8 17.8
1964 47.7 17.7
1963 47.5 17.3
1962 47.4 17.1
1961 47.2 17.3
1960 47.1 17.3

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 9.4 in Norway, compared with 47.1 and 17.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

DR Congo Norway
Fertility rate 6.05 1.4
Fertility rate rank 4/196 162/196
Birth rate 41.3 9.4
Birth rate rank 5/196 156/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,467,787 +8,280
Natural population change rank 4/196 118/196
Natural population change rate +3.28% +0.15%
Population growth +3.3% +0.95%
Population growth rank 11/197 105/197
Age at first childbirth 19.9 years 30.1 years
Average age at childbearing 30.1 years 31.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 103.3 1.11
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 244.2 52.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 106.7 18.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 22.3% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 17.6% 69.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 85.2% 99.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.43% 0.001%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.53% 0.13%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.45% 0.19%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.32% 0.24%
Life expectancy 62.4 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

DR Congo
Factual

UN forecast
Norway
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
DR Congo Norway
2100 23.4% 12.8%
2099 23.6% 12.8%
2098 23.8% 12.8%
2097 24% 12.8%
2096 24.2% 12.8%
2095 24.4% 12.9%
2094 24.6% 12.9%
2093 24.8% 12.9%
2092 25% 12.9%
2091 25.2% 13%
2090 25.4% 13%
2089 25.6% 13%
2088 25.8% 13%
2087 26.1% 13%
2086 26.3% 13.1%
2085 26.5% 13.1%
2084 26.8% 13.1%
2083 27% 13.1%
2082 27.2% 13.1%
2081 27.5% 13.1%
2080 27.8% 13%
2079 28% 13%
2078 28.3% 13%
2077 28.6% 13%
2076 28.9% 13%
2075 29.2% 13%
2074 29.5% 12.9%
2073 29.8% 12.9%
2072 30.1% 12.9%
2071 30.4% 12.9%
2070 30.7% 12.9%
2069 31.1% 12.9%
2068 31.4% 12.9%
2067 31.7% 13%
2066 32.1% 13%
2065 32.4% 13%
2064 32.8% 13.1%
2063 33.1% 13.1%
2062 33.5% 13.2%
2061 33.8% 13.2%
2060 34.1% 13.3%
2059 34.5% 13.4%
2058 34.8% 13.4%
2057 35.1% 13.5%
2056 35.5% 13.6%
2055 35.8% 13.6%
2054 36.1% 13.7%
2053 36.5% 13.8%
2052 36.8% 13.8%
2051 37.1% 13.8%
2050 37.5% 13.9%
2049 37.8% 13.9%
2048 38.2% 13.9%
2047 38.6% 13.9%
2046 39% 13.9%
2045 39.4% 13.9%
2044 39.8% 13.9%
2043 40.2% 13.9%
2042 40.6% 13.9%
2041 41.1% 13.9%
2040 41.5% 14%
2039 42% 14%
2038 42.4% 14%
2037 42.8% 14%
2036 43.2% 14.1%
2035 43.6% 14.2%
2034 44% 14.3%
2033 44.3% 14.4%
2032 44.6% 14.6%
2031 44.9% 14.7%
2030 45.2% 14.9%
2029 45.4% 15.1%
2028 45.6% 15.3%
2027 45.8% 15.6%
2026 45.9% 15.8%
2025 46% 16.1%
2024 46% 16.2%
2023 46.1% 16.5%
2022 46.1% 16.8%
2021 46.1% 17%
2020 46.1% 17.2%
2019 46% 17.4%
2018 45.9% 17.6%
2017 45.8% 17.8%
2016 45.9% 17.9%
2015 46% 18%
2014 46% 18.1%
2013 46% 18.3%
2012 46% 18.4%
2011 46% 18.6%
2010 46.1% 18.8%
2009 46.1% 18.9%
2008 46% 19.1%
2007 46% 19.3%
2006 45.9% 19.4%
2005 45.9% 19.6%
2004 45.9% 19.8%
2003 45.8% 19.9%
2002 45.7% 20%
2001 45.7% 20%
2000 45.7% 20%
1999 45.6% 19.9%
1998 45.6% 19.8%
1997 45.4% 19.7%
1996 44.7% 19.6%
1995 44% 19.5%
1994 44.1% 19.4%
1993 44.5% 19.3%
1992 44.5% 19.1%
1991 44.4% 19%
1990 44.4% 18.9%
1989 44.3% 19%
1988 44.3% 19.1%
1987 44.2% 19.3%
1986 44.1% 19.6%
1985 44.1% 20%
1984 44.1% 20.4%
1983 44.2% 20.9%
1982 44.3% 21.3%
1981 44.3% 21.8%
1980 44.2% 22.2%
1979 44.3% 22.6%
1978 44.5% 22.9%
1977 44.6% 23.3%
1976 44.5% 23.5%
1975 44.3% 23.8%
1974 44.2% 24%
1973 44% 24.2%
1972 43.8% 24.3%
1971 43.6% 24.4%
1970 43.4% 24.5%
1969 43.3% 24.5%
1968 43.2% 24.6%
1967 43% 24.7%
1966 42.9% 24.7%
1965 42.8% 24.8%
1964 42.7% 24.8%
1963 42.7% 25%
1962 42.7% 25.2%
1961 42.8% 25.6%
1960 42.9% 25.9%

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/norway | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 16.2% in Norway in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 18.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Norway compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Norway

DR Congo
Norway
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
DR Congo Norway
2023 427 1
2022 456 3
2021 507 2
2020 489 2
2019 493 2
2018 508 2
2017 519 2
2016 526 2
2015 545 2
2014 558 2
2013 567 3
2012 578 3
2011 589 4
2010 601 4
2009 608 4
2008 620 5
2007 631 5
2006 619 5
2005 613 6
2004 607 6
2003 605 5
2002 601 5
2001 588 5
2000 585 5
1999 601 5
1998 605 5
1997 617 5
1996 661 6
1995 644 6
1994 656 7
1993 683 7
1992 709 8
1991 735 8
1990 755 9
1989 791 9
1988 824 9
1987 863 9
1986 902 9
1985 934 9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/norway | 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 1 deaths in Norway.

Under-five mortality rates

DR Congo
Norway

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
DR Congo Norway
2023 7.32% 0.24%
2022 7.57% 0.23%
2021 7.81% 0.23%
2020 8.07% 0.24%
2019 8.35% 0.24%
2018 8.63% 0.25%
2017 8.93% 0.25%
2016 9.23% 0.26%
2015 9.56% 0.27%
2014 9.9% 0.28%
2013 10.3% 0.29%
2012 10.6% 0.3%
2011 11% 0.31%
2010 11.4% 0.33%
2009 11.8% 0.34%
2008 12.2% 0.36%
2007 12.7% 0.37%
2006 13.1% 0.39%
2005 13.6% 0.41%
2004 14.1% 0.42%
2003 14.6% 0.44%
2002 15% 0.46%
2001 15.5% 0.47%
2000 15.9% 0.49%
1999 16.3% 0.5%
1998 16.7% 0.51%
1997 17% 0.52%
1996 17.3% 0.54%
1995 17.5% 0.57%
1994 17.7% 0.61%
1993 17.9% 0.66%
1992 18.1% 0.72%
1991 18.3% 0.79%
1990 18.5% 0.87%
1989 18.8% 0.93%
1988 19% 0.98%
1987 19.2% 1.01%
1986 19.5% 1.02%
1985 19.7% 1.02%
1984 20% 1.01%
1983 20.3% 1%
1982 20.6% 0.99%
1981 20.9% 0.99%
1980 21.2% 1.01%
1979 21.5% 1.04%
1978 21.9% 1.09%
1977 22.3% 1.15%
1976 22.6% 1.22%
1975 23% 1.29%
1974 23.4% 1.36%
1973 23.7% 1.43%
1972 24% 1.5%
1971 24.3% 1.56%
1970 24.7% 1.62%
1969 25.1% 1.69%
1968 - 1.75%
1967 - 1.82%
1966 - 1.9%
1965 - 1.97%
1964 - 2.04%
1963 - 2.1%
1962 - 2.15%
1961 - 2.21%
1960 - 2.26%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 0.24% in Norway. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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