Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2023	6.05	3.79
2022	6.11	3.88
2021	6.16	3.98
2020	6.21	4.08
2019	6.25	4.19
2018	6.3	4.29
2017	6.35	4.39
2016	6.39	4.47
2015	6.44	4.55
2014	6.48	4.7
2013	6.53	4.87
2012	6.56	5.06
2011	6.58	5.21
2010	6.59	5.33
2009	6.59	5.45
2008	6.58	5.56
2007	6.56	5.64
2006	6.55	5.74
2005	6.53	5.81
2004	6.53	5.92
2003	6.55	6.09
2002	6.61	6.23
2001	6.66	6.31
2000	6.7	6.36
1999	6.69	6.42
1998	6.7	6.5
1997	6.69	6.53
1996	6.67	6.55
1995	6.68	6.56
1994	6.64	6.56
1993	6.64	6.57
1992	6.64	6.56
1991	6.65	6.55
1990	6.65	6.57
1989	6.65	6.57
1988	6.66	6.59
1987	6.65	6.61
1986	6.63	6.6
1985	6.61	6.59
1984	6.59	6.59
1983	6.56	6.57
1982	6.54	6.56
1981	6.52	6.55
1980	6.5	6.56
1979	6.48	6.58
1978	6.46	6.59
1977	6.45	6.57
1976	6.44	6.55
1975	6.42	6.55
1974	6.4	6.53
1973	6.39	6.47
1972	6.37	6.45
1971	6.34	6.43
1970	6.33	6.41
1969	6.3	6.39
1968	6.29	6.39
1967	6.27	6.38
1966	6.24	6.35
1965	6.21	6.31
1964	6.19	6.29
1963	6.16	6.26
1962	6.14	6.22
1961	6.12	6.21
1960	6.11	6.18

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 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2023	3,467,787	188,788
2022	3,347,664	186,625
2021	3,227,992	183,326
2020	3,156,152	181,015
2019	3,075,538	181,068
2018	2,993,184	178,772
2017	2,883,245	173,259
2016	2,753,687	168,784
2015	2,665,016	162,275
2014	2,580,251	160,137
2013	2,489,378	161,265
2012	2,405,462	160,915
2011	2,310,679	158,858
2010	2,212,255	155,338
2009	2,126,912	152,669
2008	2,044,210	149,855
2007	1,963,738	145,740
2006	1,889,398	144,127
2005	1,800,300	137,234
2004	1,731,022	132,661
2003	1,679,188	130,312
2002	1,631,597	126,429
2001	1,594,999	116,647
2000	1,549,518	110,754
1999	1,450,318	102,295
1998	1,375,130	103,906
1997	1,392,037	105,433
1996	1,380,490	104,140
1995	1,395,440	100,885
1994	1,259,539	101,486
1993	1,209,242	103,317
1992	1,152,781	103,251
1991	1,114,033	105,477
1990	1,063,508	100,778
1989	1,027,238	98,298
1988	995,278	96,344
1987	959,875	94,235
1986	925,334	90,902
1985	885,670	88,869
1984	844,956	87,072
1983	807,122	84,628
1982	774,823	82,457
1981	748,371	80,111
1980	724,111	77,932
1979	691,773	75,992
1978	646,411	74,130
1977	638,242	71,663
1976	624,147	69,506
1975	608,655	67,560
1974	593,539	65,357
1973	578,280	62,443
1972	564,495	60,279
1971	549,343	58,484
1970	533,300	56,513
1969	514,800	54,768
1968	497,682	53,126
1967	479,552	51,734
1966	463,397	49,486
1965	429,002	47,223
1964	406,334	45,487
1963	398,972	43,569
1962	383,406	41,603
1961	368,207	40,022
1960	363,517	38,192

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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

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

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2023	41.3	30.6
2022	41.6	31.1
2021	41.9	31.6
2020	42.2	32.2
2019	42.5	32.8
2018	42.9	33.3
2017	43	33.8
2016	42.9	34.2
2015	43.2	34.7
2014	43.5	35.6
2013	43.7	36.6
2012	44	37.8
2011	44	38.5
2010	43.9	39.1
2009	44	39.9
2008	44	40.6
2007	44	41.1
2006	44	41.8
2005	43.7	42
2004	43.8	42.5
2003	44.2	43.5
2002	44.6	44.3
2001	45	44
2000	45.3	45
1999	45.2	46.1
1998	44.9	46.3
1997	46	46.3
1996	47	46.5
1995	47.2	46.8
1994	45.3	46.8
1993	45.9	46.9
1992	45.7	47
1991	46	47.5
1990	45.9	45.5
1989	46.1	46.3
1988	46.4	46.4
1987	46.5	46.6
1986	46.6	46.6
1985	46.5	46.7
1984	46.2	46.8
1983	46.1	46.7
1982	46	46.8
1981	46.1	46.8
1980	46.1	46.8
1979	45.8	47
1978	45.4	47.2
1977	45.9	47.1
1976	46.2	47.2
1975	46.4	47.3
1974	46.6	47.4
1973	46.9	47.2
1972	47.1	47.2
1971	47.4	47.3
1970	47.6	47.4
1969	47.7	47.5
1968	47.8	47.7
1967	47.9	47.9
1966	47.9	48
1965	47.8	48
1964	47.7	48.2
1963	47.5	48.2
1962	47.4	48.1
1961	47.2	48.1
1960	47.1	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 47.1 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2100	23.4%	19%
2099	23.6%	19%
2098	23.8%	19.1%
2097	24%	19.2%
2096	24.2%	19.3%
2095	24.4%	19.5%
2094	24.6%	19.6%
2093	24.8%	19.7%
2092	25%	19.8%
2091	25.2%	19.9%
2090	25.4%	20%
2089	25.6%	20.1%
2088	25.8%	20.3%
2087	26.1%	20.4%
2086	26.3%	20.5%
2085	26.5%	20.7%
2084	26.8%	20.8%
2083	27%	20.9%
2082	27.2%	21.1%
2081	27.5%	21.2%
2080	27.8%	21.4%
2079	28%	21.6%
2078	28.3%	21.7%
2077	28.6%	21.9%
2076	28.9%	22.1%
2075	29.2%	22.2%
2074	29.5%	22.4%
2073	29.8%	22.6%
2072	30.1%	22.8%
2071	30.4%	23%
2070	30.7%	23.2%
2069	31.1%	23.4%
2068	31.4%	23.6%
2067	31.7%	23.8%
2066	32.1%	24%
2065	32.4%	24.3%
2064	32.8%	24.5%
2063	33.1%	24.7%
2062	33.5%	25%
2061	33.8%	25.2%
2060	34.1%	25.5%
2059	34.5%	25.7%
2058	34.8%	26%
2057	35.1%	26.3%
2056	35.5%	26.6%
2055	35.8%	26.9%
2054	36.1%	27.1%
2053	36.5%	27.4%
2052	36.8%	27.7%
2051	37.1%	28.1%
2050	37.5%	28.4%
2049	37.8%	28.7%
2048	38.2%	29%
2047	38.6%	29.3%
2046	39%	29.7%
2045	39.4%	30%
2044	39.8%	30.3%
2043	40.2%	30.7%
2042	40.6%	31.1%
2041	41.1%	31.4%
2040	41.5%	31.8%
2039	42%	32.2%
2038	42.4%	32.6%
2037	42.8%	33%
2036	43.2%	33.4%
2035	43.6%	33.8%
2034	44%	34.2%
2033	44.3%	34.6%
2032	44.6%	35%
2031	44.9%	35.4%
2030	45.2%	35.7%
2029	45.4%	36.1%
2028	45.6%	36.5%
2027	45.8%	37%
2026	45.9%	37.4%
2025	46%	37.9%
2024	46%	38.1%
2023	46.1%	38.5%
2022	46.1%	39%
2021	46.1%	39.4%
2020	46.1%	39.8%
2019	46%	40.2%
2018	45.9%	40.6%
2017	45.8%	41%
2016	45.9%	41.4%
2015	46%	41.8%
2014	46%	42.2%
2013	46%	42.5%
2012	46%	42.8%
2011	46%	43%
2010	46.1%	43.2%
2009	46.1%	43.4%
2008	46%	43.5%
2007	46%	43.6%
2006	45.9%	43.7%
2005	45.9%	43.8%
2004	45.9%	43.9%
2003	45.8%	43.9%
2002	45.7%	43.9%
2001	45.7%	43.9%
2000	45.7%	43.8%
1999	45.6%	43.7%
1998	45.6%	43.6%
1997	45.4%	43.5%
1996	44.7%	43.5%
1995	44%	43.4%
1994	44.1%	43.3%
1993	44.5%	43.2%
1992	44.5%	43.1%
1991	44.4%	43%
1990	44.4%	42.9%
1989	44.3%	42.9%
1988	44.3%	42.8%
1987	44.2%	42.7%
1986	44.1%	42.6%
1985	44.1%	42.5%
1984	44.1%	42.3%
1983	44.2%	42.2%
1982	44.3%	42.1%
1981	44.3%	42%
1980	44.2%	41.9%
1979	44.3%	41.8%
1978	44.5%	41.7%
1977	44.6%	41.6%
1976	44.5%	41.4%
1975	44.3%	41.3%
1974	44.2%	41.1%
1973	44%	40.9%
1972	43.8%	40.7%
1971	43.6%	40.6%
1970	43.4%	40.3%
1969	43.3%	40.1%
1968	43.2%	39.9%
1967	43%	39.6%
1966	42.9%	39.4%
1965	42.8%	39.1%
1964	42.7%	38.8%
1963	42.7%	38.5%
1962	42.7%	38.3%
1961	42.8%	38.3%
1960	42.9%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

DR Congo

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2023	427	354
2022	456	370
2021	507	403
2020	489	422
2019	493	464
2018	508	491
2017	519	578
2016	526	633
2015	545	730
2014	558	821
2013	567	842
2012	578	915
2011	589	967
2010	601	1,018
2009	608	1,054
2008	620	1,093
2007	631	1,132
2006	619	1,168
2005	613	1,294
2004	607	1,366
2003	605	1,433
2002	601	1,492
2001	588	1,518
2000	585	1,603
1999	601	1,731
1998	605	1,753
1997	617	1,721
1996	661	1,726
1995	644	1,777
1994	656	1,755
1993	683	1,696
1992	709	1,681
1991	735	1,699
1990	755	1,572
1989	791	1,575
1988	824	1,549
1987	863	1,533
1986	902	1,530
1985	934	1,506

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 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	Sierra Leone
2023	7.32%	9.43%
2022	7.57%	9.77%
2021	7.81%	10.1%
2020	8.07%	10.5%
2019	8.35%	10.9%
2018	8.63%	11.3%
2017	8.93%	11.8%
2016	9.23%	12.3%
2015	9.56%	13.8%
2014	9.9%	13.7%
2013	10.3%	13.9%
2012	10.6%	14.5%
2011	11%	15.2%
2010	11.4%	15.9%
2009	11.8%	16.6%
2008	12.2%	17.3%
2007	12.7%	18.1%
2006	13.1%	18.8%
2005	13.6%	19.4%
2004	14.1%	20.1%
2003	14.6%	20.7%
2002	15%	21.3%
2001	15.5%	21.8%
2000	15.9%	22.4%
1999	16.3%	22.9%
1998	16.7%	23.4%
1997	17%	23.9%
1996	17.3%	24.3%
1995	17.5%	24.7%
1994	17.7%	25%
1993	17.9%	25.3%
1992	18.1%	25.5%
1991	18.3%	25.7%
1990	18.5%	25.9%
1989	18.8%	26.2%
1988	19%	26.4%
1987	19.2%	26.6%
1986	19.5%	26.9%
1985	19.7%	27.2%
1984	20%	27.5%
1983	20.3%	27.8%
1982	20.6%	28.1%
1981	20.9%	28.5%
1980	21.2%	28.9%
1979	21.5%	29.2%
1978	21.9%	29.6%
1977	22.3%	30%
1976	22.6%	30.5%
1975	23%	30.9%
1974	23.4%	31.4%
1973	23.7%	31.9%
1972	24%	32.3%
1971	24.3%	32.9%
1970	24.7%	33.4%
1969	25.1%	33.9%
1968	-	34.5%
1967	-	35%
1966	-	35.6%
1965	-	36.2%
1964	-	36.8%
1963	-	37.4%
1962	-	38%
1961	-	38.5%
1960	-	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.