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Fertility & birth rates in El Salvador and Gambia

Updated on by Georank team

El Salvador has an annual birth rate of 15.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.4 for the Gambia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.78 in El Salvador and 4.01 in the Gambia — 125.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 73.2% in El Salvador and by 35.9% in the Gambia — in 1960, it was 6.62 and 6.25, respectively.

  • El Salvador is ranked 99/196 by birth rate compared to 30/196 for the Gambia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.8 years in El Salvador, compared to 20.7 years in the Gambia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.2 in El Salvador — it's 29.8 in the Gambia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 54.2 in El Salvador vs 58.1 in the Gambia.
  • In El Salvador, 28% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.5% in the Gambia.

Fertility rate in El Salvador vs Gambia by year

El Salvador
Gambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
El Salvador Gambia
2023 1.78 4.01
2022 1.79 4.08
2021 1.8 4.17
2020 1.82 4.25
2019 1.84 4.33
2018 1.85 4.42
2017 1.9 4.61
2016 1.97 4.81
2015 2.07 5
2014 2.13 5.2
2013 2.15 5.39
2012 2.19 5.52
2011 2.22 5.54
2010 2.24 5.56
2009 2.26 5.57
2008 2.29 5.63
2007 2.35 5.69
2006 2.4 5.74
2005 2.44 5.71
2004 2.52 5.68
2003 2.64 5.66
2002 2.78 5.66
2001 2.93 5.67
2000 3.08 5.72
1999 3.22 5.77
1998 3.34 5.82
1997 3.38 5.85
1996 3.48 5.93
1995 3.57 5.99
1994 3.61 6.04
1993 3.69 6.03
1992 3.8 6.11
1991 3.89 6.19
1990 3.96 6.25
1989 4.03 6.25
1988 4.1 6.26
1987 4.18 6.3
1986 4.19 6.34
1985 4.32 6.36
1984 4.48 6.39
1983 4.65 6.39
1982 4.83 6.4
1981 4.99 6.4
1980 5.11 6.41
1979 5.23 6.41
1978 5.36 6.42
1977 5.47 6.43
1976 5.59 6.43
1975 5.71 6.43
1974 5.82 6.42
1973 5.93 6.41
1972 6.03 6.37
1971 6.13 6.33
1970 6.18 6.26
1969 6.28 6.25
1968 6.39 6.22
1967 6.49 6.21
1966 6.57 6.18
1965 6.64 6.19
1964 6.68 6.2
1963 6.69 6.2
1962 6.68 6.21
1961 6.64 6.23
1960 6.62 6.25

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in El Salvador was 1.78 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.01 in the Gambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check El Salvador vs the Gambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

El Salvador
Gambia
1x
Year Natural population change
El Salvador Gambia
2023 51,985 65,118
2022 53,138 63,634
2021 46,530 62,239
2020 48,244 62,209
2019 56,816 61,701
2018 57,509 60,854
2017 59,824 61,665
2016 63,751 62,358
2015 69,263 62,832
2014 72,581 63,185
2013 73,869 63,510
2012 75,495 62,745
2011 76,182 60,571
2010 75,695 58,554
2009 74,908 56,575
2008 75,107 55,032
2007 76,776 53,653
2006 80,887 52,335
2005 84,883 50,010
2004 90,905 48,276
2003 97,849 46,473
2002 106,137 45,156
2001 114,313 44,154
2000 122,315 43,249
1999 128,947 42,533
1998 134,065 41,842
1997 134,448 40,742
1996 136,929 40,253
1995 138,268 39,681
1994 137,974 38,880
1993 138,432 37,302
1992 139,221 35,951
1991 140,691 34,584
1990 140,311 33,163
1989 139,093 31,504
1988 136,230 29,938
1987 133,667 28,452
1986 130,177 27,195
1985 127,248 25,795
1984 125,036 24,586
1983 121,700 23,175
1982 120,938 21,894
1981 117,346 20,156
1980 111,771 19,566
1979 123,838 18,543
1978 124,468 17,424
1977 121,446 16,773
1976 120,511 16,032
1975 116,737 15,256
1974 113,846 14,628
1973 111,546 14,046
1972 107,604 13,432
1971 104,714 12,842
1970 100,499 12,128
1969 99,848 11,670
1968 98,851 11,215
1967 98,424 10,823
1966 97,156 10,422
1965 95,341 10,162
1964 93,328 9,825
1963 90,794 9,493
1962 88,237 9,150
1961 84,614 8,778
1960 81,544 8,420

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | 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 +0.82% in El Salvador and +2.41% in the Gambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.93% in El Salvador and +2.59% in the Gambia.

Birth rate in El Salvador vs Gambia by year

El Salvador
Gambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
El Salvador Gambia
2023 15.8 30.4
2022 15.9 30.8
2021 16.2 31.2
2020 16.3 31.5
2019 16.6 31.9
2018 16.7 32.3
2017 17.1 33.5
2016 17.7 34.6
2015 18.6 35.7
2014 19 36.9
2013 19.2 38.1
2012 19.4 38.8
2011 19.6 38.8
2010 19.7 38.9
2009 19.8 38.9
2008 20 39.2
2007 20.6 39.5
2006 21 39.9
2005 21.4 39.7
2004 22.1 39.7
2003 23.1 39.7
2002 24.4 40
2001 25.8 40.5
2000 27.1 41.1
1999 28.3 41.8
1998 29.4 42.5
1997 29.6 43.2
1996 30.3 44.1
1995 30.8 45.1
1994 31 45.9
1993 31.3 46.1
1992 32.2 46.6
1991 33.1 47.2
1990 33.7 47.7
1989 34.4 47.9
1988 34.9 48.1
1987 35.2 48.5
1986 35.1 48.8
1985 35.7 49
1984 36.7 49.3
1983 37.7 49
1982 38.6 48.8
1981 39.6 48.5
1980 39.8 48.2
1979 40.1 47.8
1978 40.4 47.6
1977 40.8 47.5
1976 41.2 47.4
1975 41.5 47.3
1974 41.9 47.3
1973 42.2 47.5
1972 42.5 47.5
1971 42.8 47.6
1970 42.8 47.4
1969 43.5 47.6
1968 44.3 47.9
1967 45.1 48.2
1966 45.7 48.5
1965 46.3 49
1964 46.8 49.4
1963 47 49.8
1962 47.1 50
1961 47 50.3
1960 47 50.4

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 15.8 in El Salvador and 30.4 in the Gambia, compared with 47 and 50.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

El Salvador Gambia
Fertility rate 1.78 4.01
Fertility rate rank 113/196 26/196
Birth rate 15.8 30.4
Birth rate rank 99/196 30/196
Population change due to births and deaths +51,985 +65,118
Natural population change rank 93/196 88/196
Natural population change rate +0.82% +2.41%
Population growth +0.45% +2.3%
Population growth rank 140/197 37/197
Age at first childbirth 20.8 years 20.7 years
Average age at childbearing 27.2 years 29.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 52 52.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 87.1 170.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18 67.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 28% 24.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 52.1% 17.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 83.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.35%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.44% 2.37%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.92% 3.38%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.04% 4.41%
Life expectancy 72.7 years 66.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

El Salvador
Factual

UN forecast
Gambia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
El Salvador Gambia
2100 12.6% 18.1%
2099 12.6% 18.2%
2098 12.7% 18.3%
2097 12.7% 18.4%
2096 12.7% 18.5%
2095 12.7% 18.6%
2094 12.8% 18.7%
2093 12.8% 18.9%
2092 12.8% 19%
2091 12.9% 19.1%
2090 12.9% 19.3%
2089 12.9% 19.4%
2088 13% 19.6%
2087 13% 19.7%
2086 13.1% 19.9%
2085 13.1% 20%
2084 13.2% 20.2%
2083 13.2% 20.3%
2082 13.3% 20.5%
2081 13.3% 20.6%
2080 13.4% 20.8%
2079 13.5% 21%
2078 13.6% 21.2%
2077 13.6% 21.3%
2076 13.7% 21.5%
2075 13.8% 21.7%
2074 13.9% 21.9%
2073 14% 22.1%
2072 14% 22.3%
2071 14.1% 22.6%
2070 14.2% 22.8%
2069 14.3% 23%
2068 14.5% 23.2%
2067 14.6% 23.5%
2066 14.7% 23.7%
2065 14.8% 24%
2064 14.9% 24.3%
2063 15% 24.5%
2062 15.2% 24.8%
2061 15.3% 25.1%
2060 15.5% 25.4%
2059 15.6% 25.7%
2058 15.8% 26%
2057 15.9% 26.3%
2056 16.1% 26.7%
2055 16.3% 27%
2054 16.4% 27.3%
2053 16.6% 27.6%
2052 16.8% 28%
2051 17% 28.3%
2050 17.2% 28.6%
2049 17.5% 28.9%
2048 17.7% 29.3%
2047 17.9% 29.6%
2046 18.2% 30%
2045 18.4% 30.3%
2044 18.7% 30.7%
2043 18.9% 31.1%
2042 19.2% 31.5%
2041 19.4% 31.9%
2040 19.7% 32.3%
2039 19.9% 32.7%
2038 20.2% 33.2%
2037 20.5% 33.6%
2036 20.7% 34.1%
2035 21% 34.5%
2034 21.2% 35%
2033 21.5% 35.4%
2032 21.8% 35.9%
2031 22.1% 36.4%
2030 22.5% 37%
2029 22.9% 37.6%
2028 23.3% 38.2%
2027 23.7% 38.9%
2026 24.2% 39.5%
2025 24.6% 40%
2024 24.8% 40.2%
2023 25.2% 40.7%
2022 25.6% 41.2%
2021 26% 41.6%
2020 26.3% 42%
2019 26.7% 42.4%
2018 27% 42.8%
2017 27.5% 43.1%
2016 28% 43.3%
2015 28.6% 43.6%
2014 29.2% 43.7%
2013 29.9% 43.9%
2012 30.6% 44.1%
2011 31.3% 44.3%
2010 32% 44.5%
2009 32.7% 44.8%
2008 33.4% 45.1%
2007 33.9% 45.3%
2006 34.4% 45.6%
2005 34.9% 45.9%
2004 35.4% 46.1%
2003 35.9% 46.4%
2002 36.3% 46.6%
2001 36.7% 46.7%
2000 37.1% 46.8%
1999 37.5% 46.9%
1998 38% 46.9%
1997 38.5% 46.9%
1996 39.1% 46.7%
1995 39.8% 46.5%
1994 40.5% 46.3%
1993 41.1% 46%
1992 41.5% 45.9%
1991 41.7% 45.8%
1990 41.7% 45.7%
1989 41.8% 45.6%
1988 41.9% 45.5%
1987 42.1% 45.4%
1986 42.4% 45.2%
1985 42.7% 45%
1984 43.1% 44.9%
1983 43.4% 44.6%
1982 43.7% 44.3%
1981 43.9% 44%
1980 44.2% 43.7%
1979 44.5% 43.5%
1978 44.9% 43.3%
1977 45.3% 43%
1976 45.6% 42.8%
1975 45.9% 42.6%
1974 46.2% 42.4%
1973 46.4% 42.3%
1972 46.6% 42.2%
1971 46.7% 42.1%
1970 46.8% 42%
1969 46.8% 41.9%
1968 46.6% 41.8%
1967 46.5% 41.6%
1966 46.3% 41.5%
1965 46.2% 41.3%
1964 46.1% 41%
1963 46% 40.8%
1962 45.8% 40.7%
1961 45.7% 40.8%
1960 45.5% 41%

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/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.8% of the population in El Salvador and 40.2% in the Gambia in 2024, compared to 41.7% and 45.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of El Salvador and the Gambia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: El Salvador vs Gambia

El Salvador
Gambia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
El Salvador Gambia
2023 39 354
2022 39 365
2021 58 420
2020 48 400
2019 40 422
2018 43 450
2017 44 469
2016 43 490
2015 43 527
2014 41 561
2013 39 606
2012 36 628
2011 35 634
2010 34 632
2009 35 634
2008 33 653
2007 33 675
2006 33 682
2005 34 707
2004 35 719
2003 38 749
2002 40 772
2001 45 794
2000 48 810
1999 53 830
1998 61 867
1997 67 928
1996 78 956
1995 89 999
1994 101 1,039
1993 114 1,072
1992 121 1,115
1991 129 1,167
1990 145 1,207
1989 155 1,258
1988 173 1,302
1987 178 1,360
1986 169 1,401
1985 193 1,454

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 39 deaths per 100,000 live births in El Salvador, compared to 354 deaths in the Gambia.

Under-five mortality rates

El Salvador
Gambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
El Salvador Gambia
2023 1.04% 4.41%
2022 1.08% 4.56%
2021 1.12% 4.72%
2020 1.17% 4.89%
2019 1.22% 5.07%
2018 1.27% 5.27%
2017 1.33% 5.47%
2016 1.39% 5.7%
2015 1.45% 5.93%
2014 1.52% 6.18%
2013 1.59% 6.45%
2012 1.67% 6.73%
2011 1.75% 7.01%
2010 1.84% 7.31%
2009 1.94% 7.64%
2008 2.04% 7.98%
2007 2.15% 8.33%
2006 2.27% 8.71%
2005 2.4% 9.11%
2004 2.55% 9.52%
2003 2.7% 9.95%
2002 2.86% 10.4%
2001 3.04% 10.9%
2000 3.23% 11.3%
1999 3.43% 11.8%
1998 3.65% 12.3%
1997 3.89% 12.8%
1996 4.15% 13.3%
1995 4.42% 13.9%
1994 4.71% 14.4%
1993 5% 14.9%
1992 5.3% 15.5%
1991 5.61% 16%
1990 5.94% 16.6%
1989 6.28% 17.2%
1988 6.65% 17.8%
1987 7.04% 18.4%
1986 7.47% 19.1%
1985 7.93% 19.7%
1984 8.42% 20.4%
1983 8.94% 21%
1982 9.46% 21.7%
1981 10% 22.3%
1980 12.5% 23%
1979 11.1% 23.6%
1978 11.6% 24.2%
1977 12.1% 24.9%
1976 12.6% 25.5%
1975 13.1% 26.2%
1974 13.5% 26.9%
1973 13.9% 27.5%
1972 14.3% 28.2%
1971 14.6% 28.9%
1970 15% 29.5%
1969 15.3% 30.2%
1968 15.6% 30.9%
1967 16% 31.5%
1966 16.3% 32.1%
1965 16.6% 32.8%
1964 17% 33.5%
1963 17.3% 34.1%
1962 17.7% 34.8%
1961 18.1% 35.5%
1960 18.5% 36.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/el-salvador/gambia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.04% in El Salvador and 4.41% in the Gambia. 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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