Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and Zambia

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	Zambia
2023	6.05	4.1
2022	6.11	4.18
2021	6.16	4.25
2020	6.21	4.32
2019	6.25	4.42
2018	6.3	4.49
2017	6.35	4.57
2016	6.39	4.67
2015	6.44	4.78
2014	6.48	4.89
2013	6.53	5.01
2012	6.56	5.14
2011	6.58	5.26
2010	6.59	5.36
2009	6.59	5.45
2008	6.58	5.53
2007	6.56	5.61
2006	6.55	5.68
2005	6.53	5.7
2004	6.53	5.7
2003	6.55	5.71
2002	6.61	5.77
2001	6.66	5.85
2000	6.7	5.92
1999	6.69	6
1998	6.7	6.07
1997	6.69	6.12
1996	6.67	6.18
1995	6.68	6.23
1994	6.64	6.26
1993	6.64	6.3
1992	6.64	6.35
1991	6.65	6.46
1990	6.65	6.57
1989	6.65	6.64
1988	6.66	6.7
1987	6.65	6.8
1986	6.63	6.87
1985	6.61	6.93
1984	6.59	6.97
1983	6.56	7.01
1982	6.54	7.04
1981	6.52	7.07
1980	6.5	7.14
1979	6.48	7.22
1978	6.46	7.29
1977	6.45	7.35
1976	6.44	7.39
1975	6.42	7.42
1974	6.4	7.36
1973	6.39	7.34
1972	6.37	7.3
1971	6.34	7.26
1970	6.33	7.22
1969	6.3	7.18
1968	6.29	7.18
1967	6.27	7.15
1966	6.24	7.14
1965	6.21	7.12
1964	6.19	7.09
1963	6.16	7.06
1962	6.14	7.01
1961	6.12	6.98
1960	6.11	6.95

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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	Zambia
2023	3,467,787	577,660
2022	3,347,664	563,456
2021	3,227,992	535,629
2020	3,156,152	536,484
2019	3,075,538	528,089
2018	2,993,184	515,644
2017	2,883,245	504,630
2016	2,753,687	497,521
2015	2,665,016	491,021
2014	2,580,251	483,663
2013	2,489,378	476,846
2012	2,405,462	469,406
2011	2,310,679	459,743
2010	2,212,255	448,337
2009	2,126,912	434,458
2008	2,044,210	419,560
2007	1,963,738	403,729
2006	1,889,398	387,891
2005	1,800,300	368,756
2004	1,731,022	349,352
2003	1,679,188	331,189
2002	1,631,597	316,041
2001	1,594,999	302,682
2000	1,549,518	293,186
1999	1,450,318	283,297
1998	1,375,130	275,568
1997	1,392,037	268,198
1996	1,380,490	262,468
1995	1,395,440	257,897
1994	1,259,539	252,023
1993	1,209,242	245,917
1992	1,152,781	239,953
1991	1,114,033	237,957
1990	1,063,508	235,835
1989	1,027,238	233,429
1988	995,278	230,118
1987	959,875	227,813
1986	925,334	224,768
1985	885,670	221,351
1984	844,956	216,695
1983	807,122	212,712
1982	774,823	207,621
1981	748,371	202,822
1980	724,111	198,817
1979	691,773	197,578
1978	646,411	194,933
1977	638,242	191,557
1976	624,147	186,762
1975	608,655	182,258
1974	593,539	174,484
1973	578,280	168,258
1972	564,495	161,648
1971	549,343	155,249
1970	533,300	149,380
1969	514,800	142,660
1968	497,682	137,315
1967	479,552	131,938
1966	463,397	127,164
1965	429,002	122,814
1964	406,334	117,197
1963	398,972	114,555
1962	383,406	110,173
1961	368,207	106,318
1960	363,517	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	Zambia
2023	41.3	33.1
2022	41.6	33.5
2021	41.9	33.9
2020	42.2	34.4
2019	42.5	35
2018	42.9	35.5
2017	43	35.9
2016	42.9	36.6
2015	43.2	37.3
2014	43.5	38.1
2013	43.7	39
2012	44	39.9
2011	44	40.7
2010	43.9	41.4
2009	44	42
2008	44	42.6
2007	44	43.2
2006	44	43.7
2005	43.7	43.8
2004	43.8	43.9
2003	44.2	43.9
2002	44.6	44.3
2001	45	44.8
2000	45.3	45.5
1999	45.2	45.9
1998	44.9	46.2
1997	46	46.3
1996	47	46.6
1995	47.2	46.8
1994	45.3	46.7
1993	45.9	46.6
1992	45.7	46.6
1991	46	46.9
1990	45.9	47
1989	46.1	47.1
1988	46.4	47.1
1987	46.5	47.3
1986	46.6	47.4
1985	46.5	47.4
1984	46.2	47.3
1983	46.1	47.3
1982	46	47.3
1981	46.1	47.3
1980	46.1	47.5
1979	45.8	48.2
1978	45.4	48.7
1977	45.9	49.2
1976	46.2	49.5
1975	46.4	50
1974	46.6	49.7
1973	46.9	49.7
1972	47.1	49.6
1971	47.4	49.4
1970	47.6	49.3
1969	47.7	48.9
1968	47.8	48.9
1967	47.9	48.8
1966	47.9	48.8
1965	47.8	48.8
1964	47.7	48.9
1963	47.5	48.9
1962	47.4	48.9
1961	47.2	48.9
1960	47.1	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 47.1 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	Zambia
2100	23.4%	21.6%
2099	23.6%	21.7%
2098	23.8%	21.9%
2097	24%	22%
2096	24.2%	22.2%
2095	24.4%	22.3%
2094	24.6%	22.5%
2093	24.8%	22.7%
2092	25%	22.8%
2091	25.2%	23%
2090	25.4%	23.1%
2089	25.6%	23.3%
2088	25.8%	23.5%
2087	26.1%	23.6%
2086	26.3%	23.8%
2085	26.5%	24%
2084	26.8%	24.2%
2083	27%	24.3%
2082	27.2%	24.5%
2081	27.5%	24.7%
2080	27.8%	24.9%
2079	28%	25.1%
2078	28.3%	25.3%
2077	28.6%	25.5%
2076	28.9%	25.7%
2075	29.2%	25.9%
2074	29.5%	26.1%
2073	29.8%	26.4%
2072	30.1%	26.6%
2071	30.4%	26.8%
2070	30.7%	27%
2069	31.1%	27.2%
2068	31.4%	27.5%
2067	31.7%	27.7%
2066	32.1%	27.9%
2065	32.4%	28.1%
2064	32.8%	28.4%
2063	33.1%	28.6%
2062	33.5%	28.9%
2061	33.8%	29.1%
2060	34.1%	29.3%
2059	34.5%	29.6%
2058	34.8%	29.8%
2057	35.1%	30.1%
2056	35.5%	30.4%
2055	35.8%	30.6%
2054	36.1%	30.9%
2053	36.5%	31.2%
2052	36.8%	31.5%
2051	37.1%	31.8%
2050	37.5%	32.2%
2049	37.8%	32.5%
2048	38.2%	32.8%
2047	38.6%	33.2%
2046	39%	33.5%
2045	39.4%	33.9%
2044	39.8%	34.2%
2043	40.2%	34.6%
2042	40.6%	34.9%
2041	41.1%	35.3%
2040	41.5%	35.6%
2039	42%	36%
2038	42.4%	36.3%
2037	42.8%	36.6%
2036	43.2%	37%
2035	43.6%	37.3%
2034	44%	37.6%
2033	44.3%	38%
2032	44.6%	38.3%
2031	44.9%	38.7%
2030	45.2%	39%
2029	45.4%	39.4%
2028	45.6%	39.8%
2027	45.8%	40.3%
2026	45.9%	40.7%
2025	46%	41.2%
2024	46%	41.5%
2023	46.1%	42%
2022	46.1%	42.4%
2021	46.1%	42.9%
2020	46.1%	43.3%
2019	46%	43.8%
2018	45.9%	44.1%
2017	45.8%	44.5%
2016	45.9%	44.9%
2015	46%	45.2%
2014	46%	45.5%
2013	46%	45.7%
2012	46%	45.9%
2011	46%	46.1%
2010	46.1%	46.3%
2009	46.1%	46.4%
2008	46%	46.6%
2007	46%	46.8%
2006	45.9%	47%
2005	45.9%	47.1%
2004	45.9%	47.3%
2003	45.8%	47.4%
2002	45.7%	47.6%
2001	45.7%	47.8%
2000	45.7%	48%
1999	45.6%	48.1%
1998	45.6%	48.2%
1997	45.4%	48.2%
1996	44.7%	48.2%
1995	44%	48.2%
1994	44.1%	48.2%
1993	44.5%	48.2%
1992	44.5%	48.2%
1991	44.4%	48.3%
1990	44.4%	48.4%
1989	44.3%	48.5%
1988	44.3%	48.6%
1987	44.2%	48.7%
1986	44.1%	48.8%
1985	44.1%	48.9%
1984	44.1%	49%
1983	44.2%	49.1%
1982	44.3%	49.3%
1981	44.3%	49.4%
1980	44.2%	49.5%
1979	44.3%	49.5%
1978	44.5%	49.4%
1977	44.6%	49.2%
1976	44.5%	49.1%
1975	44.3%	48.8%
1974	44.2%	48.6%
1973	44%	48.3%
1972	43.8%	48%
1971	43.6%	47.7%
1970	43.4%	47.4%
1969	43.3%	47.2%
1968	43.2%	47.1%
1967	43%	47%
1966	42.9%	46.9%
1965	42.8%	46.9%
1964	42.7%	46.7%
1963	42.7%	46.5%
1962	42.7%	46.3%
1961	42.8%	46.2%
1960	42.9%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs Zambia

Chart Table

DR Congo

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	Zambia
2023	427	85
2022	456	89
2021	507	140
2020	489	99
2019	493	103
2018	508	117
2017	519	141
2016	526	158
2015	545	154
2014	558	174
2013	567	213
2012	578	256
2011	589	291
2010	601	332
2009	608	406
2008	620	394
2007	631	324
2006	619	262
2005	613	264
2004	607	260
2003	605	250
2002	601	274
2001	588	306
2000	585	340
1999	601	378
1998	605	392
1997	617	403
1996	661	433
1995	644	466
1994	656	507
1993	683	532
1992	709	581
1991	735	611
1990	755	625
1989	791	635
1988	824	635
1987	863	630
1986	902	619
1985	934	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	Zambia
2023	7.32%	4.47%
2022	7.57%	4.67%
2021	7.81%	4.92%
2020	8.07%	5.24%
2019	8.35%	5.41%
2018	8.63%	5.52%
2017	8.93%	5.61%
2016	9.23%	5.9%
2015	9.56%	6.15%
2014	9.9%	6.38%
2013	10.3%	6.72%
2012	10.6%	7.04%
2011	11%	7.31%
2010	11.4%	7.57%
2009	11.8%	8%
2008	12.2%	8.62%
2007	12.7%	9.14%
2006	13.1%	9.71%
2005	13.6%	10.5%
2004	14.1%	11.4%
2003	14.6%	12.4%
2002	15%	13.4%
2001	15.5%	14.4%
2000	15.9%	15.3%
1999	16.3%	15.9%
1998	16.7%	16.3%
1997	17%	16.7%
1996	17.3%	17%
1995	17.5%	17.3%
1994	17.7%	17.7%
1993	17.9%	17.9%
1992	18.1%	18.1%
1991	18.3%	18.1%
1990	18.5%	18.1%
1989	18.8%	17.9%
1988	19%	17.7%
1987	19.2%	17.3%
1986	19.5%	17%
1985	19.7%	16.6%
1984	20%	16.2%
1983	20.3%	15.9%
1982	20.6%	15.7%
1981	20.9%	15.6%
1980	21.2%	15.5%
1979	21.5%	15.4%
1978	21.9%	15.3%
1977	22.3%	15.3%
1976	22.6%	15.4%
1975	23%	15.5%
1974	23.4%	15.9%
1973	23.7%	16.3%
1972	24%	16.9%
1971	24.3%	17.4%
1970	24.7%	17.9%
1969	25.1%	18.3%
1968	-	18.5%
1967	-	18.7%
1966	-	18.9%
1965	-	19%
1964	-	19.2%
1963	-	19.5%
1962	-	19.8%
1961	-	20.1%
1960	-	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.