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Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Sudan

Updated on by Georank team

The DR Congo has an annual birth rate of 41.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 33.6 for Sudan. 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 4.32 in Sudan — 28.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 0.88% in the DR Congo and by 35.1% in Sudan — in 1960, it was 6.11 and 6.66, respectively.

  • The DR Congo is ranked 5/196 by birth rate compared to 18/196 for Sudan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1 in the DR Congo — it's 29.8 in Sudan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 106.9 in the DR Congo vs 66.1 in Sudan.
  • In the DR Congo, 22.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.8% in Sudan.

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Sudan by year

DR Congo
Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
DR Congo Sudan
2023 6.05 4.32
2022 6.11 4.38
2021 6.16 4.46
2020 6.21 4.54
2019 6.25 4.62
2018 6.3 4.68
2017 6.35 4.76
2016 6.39 4.83
2015 6.44 4.9
2014 6.48 4.91
2013 6.53 4.97
2012 6.56 5.03
2011 6.58 5.09
2010 6.59 5.14
2009 6.59 5.17
2008 6.58 5.21
2007 6.56 5.27
2006 6.55 5.33
2005 6.53 5.4
2004 6.53 5.46
2003 6.55 5.49
2002 6.61 5.53
2001 6.66 5.56
2000 6.7 5.6
1999 6.69 5.62
1998 6.7 5.65
1997 6.69 5.72
1996 6.67 5.79
1995 6.68 5.86
1994 6.64 5.91
1993 6.64 5.97
1992 6.64 6.02
1991 6.65 6.05
1990 6.65 6.07
1989 6.65 6.11
1988 6.66 6.13
1987 6.65 6.18
1986 6.63 6.23
1985 6.61 6.28
1984 6.59 6.34
1983 6.56 6.41
1982 6.54 6.47
1981 6.52 6.53
1980 6.5 6.59
1979 6.48 6.65
1978 6.46 6.72
1977 6.45 6.78
1976 6.44 6.82
1975 6.42 6.87
1974 6.4 6.91
1973 6.39 6.94
1972 6.37 6.98
1971 6.34 7.02
1970 6.33 6.99
1969 6.3 6.97
1968 6.29 6.95
1967 6.27 6.91
1966 6.24 6.88
1965 6.21 6.84
1964 6.19 6.8
1963 6.16 6.76
1962 6.14 6.7
1961 6.12 6.66
1960 6.11 6.66

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/sudan | 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 4.32 in Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

DR Congo
Sudan
1x
Year Natural population change
DR Congo Sudan
2023 3,467,787 1,361,564
2022 3,347,664 1,333,992
2021 3,227,992 1,293,817
2020 3,156,152 1,295,781
2019 3,075,538 1,291,747
2018 2,993,184 1,257,387
2017 2,883,245 1,208,046
2016 2,753,687 1,174,422
2015 2,665,016 1,145,259
2014 2,580,251 1,097,962
2013 2,489,378 1,078,446
2012 2,405,462 1,073,062
2011 2,310,679 1,070,888
2010 2,212,255 1,068,381
2009 2,126,912 1,041,810
2008 2,044,210 1,001,826
2007 1,963,738 992,819
2006 1,889,398 963,740
2005 1,800,300 907,017
2004 1,731,022 889,382
2003 1,679,188 898,226
2002 1,631,597 897,965
2001 1,594,999 880,284
2000 1,549,518 858,536
1999 1,450,318 835,840
1998 1,375,130 814,752
1997 1,392,037 802,245
1996 1,380,490 792,926
1995 1,395,440 780,700
1994 1,259,539 764,645
1993 1,209,242 743,249
1992 1,152,781 731,177
1991 1,114,033 714,612
1990 1,063,508 699,953
1989 1,027,238 683,743
1988 995,278 672,604
1987 959,875 658,416
1986 925,334 649,649
1985 885,670 583,382
1984 844,956 577,405
1983 807,122 570,198
1982 774,823 606,362
1981 748,371 585,087
1980 724,111 552,930
1979 691,773 524,942
1978 646,411 497,987
1977 638,242 483,089
1976 624,147 470,019
1975 608,655 454,813
1974 593,539 444,456
1973 578,280 439,201
1972 564,495 428,340
1971 549,343 417,641
1970 533,300 401,013
1969 514,800 385,712
1968 497,682 370,917
1967 479,552 356,599
1966 463,397 342,118
1965 429,002 327,799
1964 406,334 315,166
1963 398,972 302,132
1962 383,406 287,317
1961 368,207 272,562
1960 363,517 262,235

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/sudan | 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 +2.72% in Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +2.79% in Sudan.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Sudan by year

DR Congo
Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
DR Congo Sudan
2023 41.3 33.6
2022 41.6 33.5
2021 41.9 33.9
2020 42.2 34.5
2019 42.5 34.9
2018 42.9 35.1
2017 43 35
2016 42.9 35.4
2015 43.2 35.7
2014 43.5 35.5
2013 43.7 36
2012 44 36.6
2011 44 37.3
2010 43.9 38
2009 44 38.1
2008 44 38.4
2007 44 38.9
2006 44 39.2
2005 43.7 39.6
2004 43.8 40
2003 44.2 40.2
2002 44.6 40.4
2001 45 40.7
2000 45.3 40.8
1999 45.2 41
1998 44.9 41.2
1997 46 41.6
1996 47 42.2
1995 47.2 42.6
1994 45.3 43
1993 45.9 43.4
1992 45.7 43.7
1991 46 43.8
1990 45.9 43.8
1989 46.1 44
1988 46.4 44.1
1987 46.5 44.2
1986 46.6 44.5
1985 46.5 44.7
1984 46.2 45.1
1983 46.1 45.6
1982 46 45.4
1981 46.1 45.6
1980 46.1 45.2
1979 45.8 45.3
1978 45.4 45
1977 45.9 45.3
1976 46.2 45.7
1975 46.4 45.9
1974 46.6 46.5
1973 46.9 47.6
1972 47.1 48.4
1971 47.4 48.9
1970 47.6 48.8
1969 47.7 48.8
1968 47.8 48.8
1967 47.9 48.8
1966 47.9 48.7
1965 47.8 48.6
1964 47.7 48.5
1963 47.5 48.3
1962 47.4 48
1961 47.2 47.6
1960 47.1 47.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 33.6 in Sudan, compared with 47.1 and 47.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

DR Congo Sudan
Fertility rate 6.05 4.32
Fertility rate rank 4/196 16/196
Birth rate 41.3 33.6
Birth rate rank 5/196 18/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,467,787 +1,361,564
Natural population change rank 4/196 11/196
Natural population change rate +3.28% +2.72%
Population growth +3.3% +0.81%
Population growth rank 11/197 116/197
Age at first childbirth 19.9 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 30.1 years 29.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 103.3 61.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 244.2 189.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 106.7 73.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 22.3% 24.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 17.6% 12%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 85.2% 77.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.43% 0.26%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.53% 2.48%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.45% 3.92%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.32% 5.01%
Life expectancy 62.4 years 66.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

DR Congo
Factual

UN forecast
Sudan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
DR Congo Sudan
2100 23.4% 21.3%
2099 23.6% 21.4%
2098 23.8% 21.6%
2097 24% 21.8%
2096 24.2% 21.9%
2095 24.4% 22.1%
2094 24.6% 22.3%
2093 24.8% 22.4%
2092 25% 22.6%
2091 25.2% 22.8%
2090 25.4% 22.9%
2089 25.6% 23.1%
2088 25.8% 23.3%
2087 26.1% 23.4%
2086 26.3% 23.6%
2085 26.5% 23.7%
2084 26.8% 23.9%
2083 27% 24.1%
2082 27.2% 24.3%
2081 27.5% 24.4%
2080 27.8% 24.6%
2079 28% 24.8%
2078 28.3% 25%
2077 28.6% 25.2%
2076 28.9% 25.4%
2075 29.2% 25.6%
2074 29.5% 25.9%
2073 29.8% 26.1%
2072 30.1% 26.3%
2071 30.4% 26.6%
2070 30.7% 26.8%
2069 31.1% 27.1%
2068 31.4% 27.3%
2067 31.7% 27.6%
2066 32.1% 27.8%
2065 32.4% 28.1%
2064 32.8% 28.3%
2063 33.1% 28.6%
2062 33.5% 28.8%
2061 33.8% 29.1%
2060 34.1% 29.3%
2059 34.5% 29.5%
2058 34.8% 29.8%
2057 35.1% 30%
2056 35.5% 30.2%
2055 35.8% 30.5%
2054 36.1% 30.7%
2053 36.5% 31%
2052 36.8% 31.2%
2051 37.1% 31.5%
2050 37.5% 31.8%
2049 37.8% 32.1%
2048 38.2% 32.4%
2047 38.6% 32.7%
2046 39% 33%
2045 39.4% 33.4%
2044 39.8% 33.7%
2043 40.2% 34.1%
2042 40.6% 34.5%
2041 41.1% 34.9%
2040 41.5% 35.3%
2039 42% 35.7%
2038 42.4% 36.1%
2037 42.8% 36.5%
2036 43.2% 36.9%
2035 43.6% 37.3%
2034 44% 37.7%
2033 44.3% 38.1%
2032 44.6% 38.4%
2031 44.9% 38.7%
2030 45.2% 39%
2029 45.4% 39.2%
2028 45.6% 39.4%
2027 45.8% 39.6%
2026 45.9% 40%
2025 46% 40.4%
2024 46% 40.5%
2023 46.1% 40.6%
2022 46.1% 40.9%
2021 46.1% 41.2%
2020 46.1% 41.4%
2019 46% 41.7%
2018 45.9% 42%
2017 45.8% 42.6%
2016 45.9% 43.1%
2015 46% 43.6%
2014 46% 44%
2013 46% 44.4%
2012 46% 44.5%
2011 46% 44.6%
2010 46.1% 44.6%
2009 46.1% 44.7%
2008 46% 44.9%
2007 46% 45.1%
2006 45.9% 45.3%
2005 45.9% 45.4%
2004 45.9% 45.5%
2003 45.8% 45.6%
2002 45.7% 45.6%
2001 45.7% 45.7%
2000 45.7% 45.8%
1999 45.6% 45.9%
1998 45.6% 46.1%
1997 45.4% 46.2%
1996 44.7% 46.2%
1995 44% 46.3%
1994 44.1% 46.3%
1993 44.5% 46.3%
1992 44.5% 46.3%
1991 44.4% 46.2%
1990 44.4% 46.1%
1989 44.3% 46.1%
1988 44.3% 46%
1987 44.2% 46%
1986 44.1% 46.1%
1985 44.1% 46.1%
1984 44.1% 46.2%
1983 44.2% 46.3%
1982 44.3% 46.4%
1981 44.3% 46.6%
1980 44.2% 46.8%
1979 44.3% 47.1%
1978 44.5% 47.4%
1977 44.6% 47.7%
1976 44.5% 47.8%
1975 44.3% 48%
1974 44.2% 48.1%
1973 44% 47.9%
1972 43.8% 47.7%
1971 43.6% 47.6%
1970 43.4% 47.5%
1969 43.3% 47.4%
1968 43.2% 47.3%
1967 43% 47.2%
1966 42.9% 47.1%
1965 42.8% 47%
1964 42.7% 46.9%
1963 42.7% 46.7%
1962 42.7% 46.6%
1961 42.8% 46.6%
1960 42.9% 46.5%

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/sudan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 40.5% in Sudan in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 46.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Sudan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Sudan

DR Congo
Sudan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
DR Congo Sudan
2023 427 256
2022 456 263
2021 507 305
2020 489 273
2019 493 262
2018 508 268
2017 519 277
2016 526 288
2015 545 298
2014 558 309
2013 567 327
2012 578 340
2011 589 357
2010 601 370
2009 608 382
2008 620 426
2007 631 445
2006 619 485
2005 613 506
2004 607 536
2003 605 593
2002 601 588
2001 588 616
2000 585 645
1999 601 662
1998 605 669
1997 617 681
1996 661 712
1995 644 730
1994 656 775
1993 683 839
1992 709 863
1991 735 873
1990 755 840
1989 791 881
1988 824 877
1987 863 914
1986 902 938
1985 934 980

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/dr-congo/sudan | 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 256 deaths in Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

DR Congo
Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
DR Congo Sudan
2023 7.32% 5.01%
2022 7.57% 5.18%
2021 7.81% 5.36%
2020 8.07% 5.53%
2019 8.35% 5.71%
2018 8.63% 5.89%
2017 8.93% 6.07%
2016 9.23% 6.26%
2015 9.56% 6.45%
2014 9.9% 6.64%
2013 10.3% 6.83%
2012 10.6% 7.02%
2011 11% 7.22%
2010 11.4% 7.42%
2009 11.8% 7.64%
2008 12.2% 7.88%
2007 12.7% 8.13%
2006 13.1% 8.4%
2005 13.6% 10%
2004 14.1% 10.3%
2003 14.6% 9.31%
2002 15% 9.65%
2001 15.5% 9.99%
2000 15.9% 10.3%
1999 16.3% 10.7%
1998 16.7% 11%
1997 17% 11.3%
1996 17.3% 11.6%
1995 17.5% 11.9%
1994 17.7% 12.2%
1993 17.9% 12.5%
1992 18.1% 12.7%
1991 18.3% 13%
1990 18.5% 13.2%
1989 18.8% 13.4%
1988 19% 13.6%
1987 19.2% 13.8%
1986 19.5% 14%
1985 19.7% 17.8%
1984 20% 18%
1983 20.3% 18.2%
1982 20.6% 14.5%
1981 20.9% 14.6%
1980 21.2% 14.8%
1979 21.5% 14.9%
1978 21.9% 15%
1977 22.3% 15.1%
1976 22.6% 15.2%
1975 23% 15.3%
1974 23.4% 15.4%
1973 23.7% 15.5%
1972 24% 15.6%
1971 24.3% 15.7%
1970 24.7% 15.8%
1969 25.1% 15.9%
1968 - 16%
1967 - 16.2%
1966 - 16.3%
1965 - 16.5%
1964 - 16.7%
1963 - 17%
1962 - 17.2%
1961 - 17.5%
1960 - 17.8%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 5.01% in Sudan. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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