Fertility & birth rates in El Salvador and Nicaragua

Fertility rate in El Salvador vs Nicaragua by year

Chart Table

El Salvador

Nicaragua

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2023	1.78	2.22
2022	1.79	2.24
2021	1.8	2.27
2020	1.82	2.3
2019	1.84	2.32
2018	1.85	2.35
2017	1.9	2.38
2016	1.97	2.41
2015	2.07	2.43
2014	2.13	2.46
2013	2.15	2.49
2012	2.19	2.53
2011	2.22	2.56
2010	2.24	2.6
2009	2.26	2.63
2008	2.29	2.66
2007	2.35	2.7
2006	2.4	2.73
2005	2.44	2.77
2004	2.52	2.78
2003	2.64	2.83
2002	2.78	2.89
2001	2.93	3
2000	3.08	3.12
1999	3.22	3.22
1998	3.34	3.34
1997	3.38	3.47
1996	3.48	3.62
1995	3.57	3.78
1994	3.61	3.94
1993	3.69	4.1
1992	3.8	4.27
1991	3.89	4.43
1990	3.96	4.6
1989	4.03	4.76
1988	4.1	4.93
1987	4.18	5.07
1986	4.19	5.22
1985	4.32	5.36
1984	4.48	5.49
1983	4.65	5.61
1982	4.83	5.74
1981	4.99	5.84
1980	5.11	5.96
1979	5.23	6.07
1978	5.36	6.16
1977	5.47	6.28
1976	5.59	6.37
1975	5.71	6.45
1974	5.82	6.52
1973	5.93	6.59
1972	6.03	6.65
1971	6.13	6.71
1970	6.18	6.77
1969	6.28	6.83
1968	6.39	6.89
1967	6.49	6.94
1966	6.57	6.99
1965	6.64	7.03
1964	6.68	7.06
1963	6.69	7.08
1962	6.68	7.1
1961	6.64	7.11
1960	6.62	7.16

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 2.22 in Nicaragua in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

El Salvador

Nicaragua

1x

Year	Natural population change
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2023	51,985	100,921
2022	53,138	100,987
2021	46,530	89,213
2020	48,244	90,515
2019	56,816	102,817
2018	57,509	104,814
2017	59,824	105,468
2016	63,751	106,585
2015	69,263	107,344
2014	72,581	108,420
2013	73,869	109,032
2012	75,495	110,065
2011	76,182	110,026
2010	75,695	110,475
2009	74,908	110,213
2008	75,107	110,395
2007	76,776	110,341
2006	80,887	110,073
2005	84,883	108,984
2004	90,905	106,904
2003	97,849	106,142
2002	106,137	105,805
2001	114,313	107,109
2000	122,315	109,192
1999	128,947	110,217
1998	134,065	108,862
1997	134,448	114,415
1996	136,929	116,849
1995	138,268	118,325
1994	137,974	119,565
1993	138,432	120,469
1992	139,221	121,204
1991	140,691	121,787
1990	140,311	120,677
1989	139,093	120,128
1988	136,230	117,299
1987	133,667	112,885
1986	130,177	113,054
1985	127,248	110,949
1984	125,036	110,133
1983	121,700	110,618
1982	120,938	112,468
1981	117,346	110,421
1980	111,771	108,604
1979	123,838	96,429
1978	124,468	98,419
1977	121,446	100,498
1976	120,511	98,100
1975	116,737	95,230
1974	113,846	92,505
1973	111,546	89,662
1972	107,604	76,906
1971	104,714	84,139
1970	100,499	81,127
1969	99,848	78,237
1968	98,851	75,458
1967	98,424	72,722
1966	97,156	69,883
1965	95,341	67,056
1964	93,328	64,227
1963	90,794	61,738
1962	88,237	59,547
1961	84,614	57,499
1960	81,544	55,664

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 +1.48% in Nicaragua.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.93% in El Salvador and +1.58% in Nicaragua.

Birth rate in El Salvador vs Nicaragua by year

Chart Table

El Salvador

Nicaragua

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2023	15.8	19.4
2022	15.9	19.7
2021	16.2	20
2020	16.3	20.5
2019	16.6	20.8
2018	16.7	21.2
2017	17.1	21.6
2016	17.7	22.1
2015	18.6	22.4
2014	19	22.8
2013	19.2	23.2
2012	19.4	23.6
2011	19.6	24
2010	19.7	24.3
2009	19.8	24.6
2008	20	24.9
2007	20.6	25.2
2006	21	25.4
2005	21.4	25.6
2004	22.1	25.7
2003	23.1	25.9
2002	24.4	26.3
2001	25.8	27
2000	27.1	27.9
1999	28.3	28.5
1998	29.4	29.2
1997	29.6	30
1996	30.3	31
1995	30.8	31.9
1994	31	32.9
1993	31.3	33.9
1992	32.2	34.9
1991	33.1	35.8
1990	33.7	36.6
1989	34.4	37.5
1988	34.9	38.4
1987	35.2	39.1
1986	35.1	39.8
1985	35.7	40.6
1984	36.7	41.3
1983	37.7	42.1
1982	38.6	42.8
1981	39.6	43.4
1980	39.8	44.1
1979	40.1	44.6
1978	40.4	44.9
1977	40.8	45.3
1976	41.2	45.6
1975	41.5	45.9
1974	41.9	46.2
1973	42.2	46.4
1972	42.5	46.7
1971	42.8	46.8
1970	42.8	46.8
1969	43.5	47
1968	44.3	47.2
1967	45.1	47.4
1966	45.7	47.6
1965	46.3	47.9
1964	46.8	48.2
1963	47	48.5
1962	47.1	48.9
1961	47	49.3
1960	47	50

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 15.8 in El Salvador and 19.4 in Nicaragua, compared with 47 and 50, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

El Salvador

Factual

UN forecast

Nicaragua

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2100	12.6%	14.2%
2099	12.6%	14.3%
2098	12.7%	14.3%
2097	12.7%	14.4%
2096	12.7%	14.4%
2095	12.7%	14.5%
2094	12.8%	14.5%
2093	12.8%	14.6%
2092	12.8%	14.7%
2091	12.9%	14.7%
2090	12.9%	14.8%
2089	12.9%	14.9%
2088	13%	14.9%
2087	13%	15%
2086	13.1%	15.1%
2085	13.1%	15.2%
2084	13.2%	15.2%
2083	13.2%	15.3%
2082	13.3%	15.4%
2081	13.3%	15.5%
2080	13.4%	15.6%
2079	13.5%	15.7%
2078	13.6%	15.8%
2077	13.6%	15.9%
2076	13.7%	16%
2075	13.8%	16.1%
2074	13.9%	16.2%
2073	14%	16.3%
2072	14%	16.4%
2071	14.1%	16.5%
2070	14.2%	16.7%
2069	14.3%	16.8%
2068	14.5%	16.9%
2067	14.6%	17.1%
2066	14.7%	17.2%
2065	14.8%	17.4%
2064	14.9%	17.6%
2063	15%	17.7%
2062	15.2%	17.9%
2061	15.3%	18.1%
2060	15.5%	18.2%
2059	15.6%	18.4%
2058	15.8%	18.6%
2057	15.9%	18.8%
2056	16.1%	19%
2055	16.3%	19.2%
2054	16.4%	19.4%
2053	16.6%	19.7%
2052	16.8%	19.9%
2051	17%	20.1%
2050	17.2%	20.3%
2049	17.5%	20.6%
2048	17.7%	20.8%
2047	17.9%	21.1%
2046	18.2%	21.3%
2045	18.4%	21.6%
2044	18.7%	21.8%
2043	18.9%	22.1%
2042	19.2%	22.4%
2041	19.4%	22.7%
2040	19.7%	23%
2039	19.9%	23.3%
2038	20.2%	23.6%
2037	20.5%	23.9%
2036	20.7%	24.2%
2035	21%	24.5%
2034	21.2%	24.9%
2033	21.5%	25.2%
2032	21.8%	25.6%
2031	22.1%	26%
2030	22.5%	26.4%
2029	22.9%	26.8%
2028	23.3%	27.2%
2027	23.7%	27.7%
2026	24.2%	28.1%
2025	24.6%	28.5%
2024	24.8%	28.8%
2023	25.2%	29.2%
2022	25.6%	29.6%
2021	26%	30.1%
2020	26.3%	30.4%
2019	26.7%	30.8%
2018	27%	31.1%
2017	27.5%	31.5%
2016	28%	31.8%
2015	28.6%	32.2%
2014	29.2%	32.6%
2013	29.9%	32.9%
2012	30.6%	33.3%
2011	31.3%	33.8%
2010	32%	34.2%
2009	32.7%	34.7%
2008	33.4%	35.2%
2007	33.9%	35.7%
2006	34.4%	36.2%
2005	34.9%	36.8%
2004	35.4%	37.5%
2003	35.9%	38.2%
2002	36.3%	38.9%
2001	36.7%	39.6%
2000	37.1%	40.3%
1999	37.5%	41%
1998	38%	41.7%
1997	38.5%	42.4%
1996	39.1%	43.1%
1995	39.8%	43.7%
1994	40.5%	44.3%
1993	41.1%	44.8%
1992	41.5%	45.2%
1991	41.7%	45.7%
1990	41.7%	46.1%
1989	41.8%	46.4%
1988	41.9%	46.7%
1987	42.1%	46.9%
1986	42.4%	47%
1985	42.7%	47.1%
1984	43.1%	47.2%
1983	43.4%	47.2%
1982	43.7%	47.3%
1981	43.9%	47.3%
1980	44.2%	47.3%
1979	44.5%	47.3%
1978	44.9%	47.3%
1977	45.3%	47.2%
1976	45.6%	47.3%
1975	45.9%	47.3%
1974	46.2%	47.3%
1973	46.4%	47.4%
1972	46.6%	47.4%
1971	46.7%	47.5%
1970	46.8%	47.5%
1969	46.8%	47.6%
1968	46.6%	47.7%
1967	46.5%	47.8%
1966	46.3%	47.9%
1965	46.2%	48.1%
1964	46.1%	48.2%
1963	46%	48.2%
1962	45.8%	48%
1961	45.7%	47.8%
1960	45.5%	47.6%

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.8% of the population in El Salvador and 28.8% in Nicaragua in 2024, compared to 41.7% and 46.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of El Salvador and Nicaragua compared.

Maternal mortality chart: El Salvador vs Nicaragua

Chart Table

El Salvador

Nicaragua

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2023	39	60
2022	39	61
2021	58	124
2020	48	87
2019	40	69
2018	43	67
2017	44	72
2016	43	77
2015	43	81
2014	41	83
2013	39	86
2012	36	88
2011	35	93
2010	34	96
2009	35	99
2008	33	101
2007	33	106
2006	33	113
2005	34	124
2004	35	140
2003	38	154
2002	40	170
2001	45	194
2000	48	213
1999	53	228
1998	61	239
1997	67	236
1996	78	244
1995	89	251
1994	101	256
1993	114	265
1992	121	272
1991	129	273
1990	145	281
1989	155	286
1988	173	301
1987	178	316
1986	169	313
1985	193	319

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 60 deaths in Nicaragua.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

El Salvador

Nicaragua

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	El Salvador	Nicaragua
2023	1.04%	1.34%
2022	1.08%	1.39%
2021	1.12%	1.45%
2020	1.17%	1.51%
2019	1.22%	1.57%
2018	1.27%	1.64%
2017	1.33%	1.71%
2016	1.39%	1.78%
2015	1.45%	1.86%
2014	1.52%	1.94%
2013	1.59%	2.03%
2012	1.67%	2.13%
2011	1.75%	2.22%
2010	1.84%	2.33%
2009	1.94%	2.44%
2008	2.04%	2.55%
2007	2.15%	2.68%
2006	2.27%	2.81%
2005	2.4%	2.95%
2004	2.55%	3.1%
2003	2.7%	3.26%
2002	2.86%	3.43%
2001	3.04%	3.62%
2000	3.23%	3.82%
1999	3.43%	4.04%
1998	3.65%	5.01%
1997	3.89%	4.54%
1996	4.15%	4.81%
1995	4.42%	5.09%
1994	4.71%	5.39%
1993	5%	5.69%
1992	5.3%	6%
1991	5.61%	6.31%
1990	5.94%	6.62%
1989	6.28%	6.92%
1988	6.65%	7.22%
1987	7.04%	7.53%
1986	7.47%	7.85%
1985	7.93%	8.21%
1984	8.42%	8.62%
1983	8.94%	9.07%
1982	9.46%	9.58%
1981	10%	10.2%
1980	12.5%	10.8%
1979	11.1%	11.5%
1978	11.6%	12.2%
1977	12.1%	12.9%
1976	12.6%	13.7%
1975	13.1%	14.4%
1974	13.5%	15%
1973	13.9%	15.6%
1972	14.3%	18.7%
1971	14.6%	16.6%
1970	15%	17.1%
1969	15.3%	17.4%
1968	15.6%	17.8%
1967	16%	18.1%
1966	16.3%	18.4%
1965	16.6%	18.7%
1964	17%	19%
1963	17.3%	19.2%
1962	17.7%	19.4%
1961	18.1%	19.6%
1960	18.5%	19.8%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.04% in El Salvador and 1.34% in Nicaragua. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.