Eritrea birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Eritrea has a birth rate of 28.5 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.71 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Eritrea was 6.48 children per woman — 1.75 times higher than in 2023.

Eritrea birth rate statistics:

Eritrea is ranked 37/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 45/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Eritrea is 21.3 — it was 21.3 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1, a change from 30.8 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 117.3 in 1960 to 65.2 in 2023.
24.8% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 24.6% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Eritrea by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.71	37
2022	3.79	36
2021	3.87	36
2020	3.93	36
2019	4	36
2018	4.06	36
2017	4.11	37
2016	4.16	39
2015	4.22	39
2014	4.27	40
2013	4.34	39
2012	4.41	39
2011	4.49	40
2010	4.57	38
2009	4.66	39
2008	4.74	38
2007	4.81	38
2006	4.88	38
2005	4.93	38
2004	5.04	36
2003	5.14	35
2002	5.23	35
2001	5.31	36
2000	5.4	36
1999	5.52	36
1998	5.63	34
1997	5.74	32
1996	5.84	32
1995	5.94	31
1994	6.01	31
1993	6.07	29
1992	6.16	29
1991	6.24	30
1990	6.34	30
1989	6.41	29
1988	6.47	31
1987	6.52	30
1986	6.56	30
1985	6.59	31
1984	6.62	30
1983	6.65	32
1982	6.63	37
1981	6.62	37
1980	6.61	39
1979	6.62	40
1978	6.61	44
1977	6.61	48
1976	6.6	50
1975	6.59	53
1974	6.57	53
1973	6.55	54
1972	6.54	56
1971	6.54	57
1970	6.54	56
1969	6.5	62
1968	6.5	65
1967	6.5	69
1966	6.5	72
1965	6.49	72
1964	6.49	73
1963	6.48	75
1962	6.5	72
1961	6.47	75
1960	6.48	75

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Eritrea is 3.71, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 6.07 — a 38.8% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	78,073	99,058	20,985
2022	76,221	97,765	21,544
2021	74,394	96,545	22,151
2020	73,362	95,025	21,663
2019	73,572	94,351	20,779
2018	72,511	93,212	20,701
2017	72,291	93,095	20,804
2016	73,002	94,028	21,026
2015	73,682	94,886	21,204
2014	75,729	97,361	21,632
2013	75,562	97,463	21,901
2012	76,416	98,428	22,012
2011	76,806	99,045	22,239
2010	76,098	98,525	22,427
2009	76,206	98,803	22,597
2008	73,391	96,138	22,747
2007	73,101	95,916	22,815
2006	74,470	97,809	23,339
2005	72,930	96,785	23,855
2004	72,147	96,136	23,989
2003	66,291	89,516	23,225
2002	65,436	88,734	23,298
2001	61,180	84,051	22,871
2000	60,274	85,317	25,043
1999	45,120	85,023	39,903
1998	55,332	87,020	31,688
1997	63,953	88,706	24,753
1996	66,557	92,113	25,556
1995	56,157	79,935	23,778
1994	56,288	80,661	24,373
1993	51,679	75,823	24,144
1992	51,443	76,094	24,651
1991	57,741	88,434	30,693
1990	56,903	88,050	31,147
1989	54,299	87,245	32,946
1988	54,163	85,936	31,773
1987	52,229	84,030	31,801
1986	39,470	82,471	43,001
1985	37,362	81,038	43,676
1984	35,101	79,532	44,431
1983	33,420	78,042	44,622
1982	44,146	75,954	31,808
1981	42,924	73,847	30,923
1980	41,392	71,910	30,518
1979	39,577	70,237	30,660
1978	38,353	68,715	30,362
1977	37,295	67,367	30,072
1976	36,250	66,005	29,755
1975	30,971	64,532	33,561
1974	30,111	63,112	33,001
1973	31,969	61,706	29,737
1972	30,951	60,518	29,567
1971	31,490	59,472	27,982
1970	30,686	58,413	27,727
1969	29,535	56,999	27,464
1968	28,777	55,939	27,162
1967	27,992	54,844	26,852
1966	24,713	53,685	28,972
1965	26,285	52,537	26,252
1964	25,327	51,309	25,982
1963	24,393	50,064	25,671
1962	23,478	48,954	25,476
1961	22,351	47,561	25,210
1960	21,424	46,418	24,994

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Eritrea (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.29% annually. On average, 74,283 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.25% — 78,073 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Eritrea ranks 84/196 for absolute natural population change and 34/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Eritrea compared to other countries

	Eritrea	Rank
Fertility rate	3.71	37/196
Birth rate	28.5	37/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+78,073	84/196
Natural population change rate	+2.25%	34/196
Population growth	+1.88%	58/197
Age at first childbirth	21.3 years	92/137
Average age at childbearing	29.1 years	102/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	63.4	49/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	171	39/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	52.7	34/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	24.8%	86/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	7.1%	175/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	34.1%	190/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.29%	24/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	1.64%	59/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	2.55%	56/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.54%	54/192
Life expectancy	69.4 years	142/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	56.4	63.4	171	52.7
2025	56.4	64.4	174.4	52.6
2024	56.5	65.6	177.3	53.1
2023	56.2	65.8	178.4	53.4
2022	56.4	66.5	181.5	54.4
2021	56.7	67.7	184.3	55.7
2020	56.8	68.5	186.9	56.8
2019	57.2	69.8	188.8	58.3
2018	57.4	70.6	191.1	59.6
2017	58	71.9	193.2	61.2
2016	59.1	72.6	196	63
2015	60	73.8	196.8	65.1
2014	61.7	73.4	199	67.7
2013	62.2	73.7	200.8	70
2012	63.6	74.1	202.8	72.8
2011	64.7	76.1	205.2	75.3
2010	65.5	76.7	207.7	77.7
2009	67	78.1	210.4	80.2
2008	66.8	78.7	212.9	81.9
2007	68.4	80.7	214.8	83.9
2006	70.7	82.8	215.6	86.5
2005	71	84.4	215.7	87.9
2004	72.2	85.2	217.3	90.6
2003	69.9	85.9	218.7	91.9
2002	72.1	87.1	220	94.4
2001	70.6	86.8	221.4	95.2
2000	73.7	87.1	223.4	98.1
1999	74.7	90	226	100.3
1998	77.8	94.3	229.2	103
1997	80.4	98.4	231.7	105.5
1996	84.4	103.3	236	107.6
1995	76.8	107.4	239.7	104.2
1994	81.8	111.2	241.8	105.6
1993	79.2	105	243.6	106.4
1992	82	100.8	244.5	110.2
1991	89.2	99.8	246	112.5
1990	83.8	99.2	246.8	115.9
1989	85	101.2	247.7	118.1
1988	85.8	102.9	248.5	119.8
1987	86.2	95.6	246.5	124.2
1986	86.5	97.2	245.3	125.9
1985	86.8	98.7	244.2	127.8
1984	86.9	97.7	244.7	129.8
1983	87.1	100.4	245.4	130.6
1982	86.8	98.2	245	132
1981	86.7	95	244.2	133.5
1980	86.7	92.7	243.6	135.2
1979	87	90.6	242.8	137.2
1978	87.5	94.3	243.8	136.6
1977	88	96.2	244.5	136.7
1976	88.6	97.6	245.7	136.3
1975	88.8	96.8	245.9	136.2
1974	88.9	96.6	245.6	136
1973	89.1	94.9	246.1	135.8
1972	89.7	99.7	245.1	135
1971	90.5	104.9	244.3	134.5
1970	91.2	110.4	243	134
1969	91.4	111.9	242.1	132.9
1968	92.1	115.6	241.2	132.6
1967	92.7	115.1	242	132.6
1966	92.9	115.8	241.7	132
1965	93.2	115.9	241.4	131.6
1964	93.3	116.6	241.7	131.1
1963	93.3	116.8	241.5	130.5
1962	93.5	118	242.1	130.2
1961	93.1	118	241.3	129.2
1960	93.1	118.2	241.7	128.7

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Eritrea by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 12.9% will be to women under age 20, 56.5% to women ages 20-29, and 30.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 12%, 46.8%, and 41.2%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Eritrea	World
2100	19%	16.5%
2099	19.1%	16.6%
2098	19.2%	16.6%
2097	19.4%	16.7%
2096	19.5%	16.8%
2095	19.6%	16.8%
2094	19.8%	16.9%
2093	19.9%	17%
2092	20%	17%
2091	20.2%	17.1%
2090	20.3%	17.2%
2089	20.5%	17.2%
2088	20.6%	17.3%
2087	20.8%	17.4%
2086	21%	17.4%
2085	21.1%	17.5%
2084	21.3%	17.5%
2083	21.5%	17.6%
2082	21.7%	17.7%
2081	22%	17.7%
2080	22.2%	17.8%
2079	22.4%	17.8%
2078	22.6%	17.9%
2077	22.9%	17.9%
2076	23.1%	18%
2075	23.3%	18%
2074	23.6%	18.1%
2073	23.8%	18.2%
2072	24%	18.2%
2071	24.3%	18.3%
2070	24.5%	18.3%
2069	24.7%	18.4%
2068	25%	18.5%
2067	25.2%	18.6%
2066	25.4%	18.6%
2065	25.6%	18.7%
2064	25.9%	18.8%
2063	26.1%	18.9%
2062	26.3%	19.1%
2061	26.6%	19.2%
2060	26.8%	19.3%
2059	27.1%	19.4%
2058	27.4%	19.5%
2057	27.6%	19.6%
2056	27.9%	19.8%
2055	28.3%	19.9%
2054	28.6%	20%
2053	29%	20.1%
2052	29.3%	20.2%
2051	29.7%	20.3%
2050	30.1%	20.4%
2049	30.5%	20.5%
2048	30.9%	20.6%
2047	31.3%	20.7%
2046	31.7%	20.8%
2045	32.1%	20.9%
2044	32.5%	20.9%
2043	32.9%	21%
2042	33.2%	21.1%
2041	33.6%	21.2%
2040	33.8%	21.2%
2039	34.1%	21.3%
2038	34.3%	21.4%
2037	34.6%	21.5%
2036	34.8%	21.6%
2035	34.9%	21.8%
2034	35.1%	22%
2033	35.2%	22.2%
2032	35.4%	22.4%
2031	35.6%	22.7%
2030	35.8%	23%
2029	36.1%	23.3%
2028	36.4%	23.6%
2027	36.9%	23.9%
2026	37.3%	24.2%
2025	37.9%	24.6%
2024	38.1%	24.7%
2023	38.7%	25%
2022	39.2%	25.3%
2021	39.8%	25.6%
2020	40.4%	25.8%
2019	41%	26%
2018	41.5%	26.2%
2017	41.9%	26.4%
2016	42.1%	26.5%
2015	42.1%	26.6%
2014	42%	26.8%
2013	42%	26.9%
2012	42.1%	27%
2011	42.3%	27.1%
2010	42.6%	27.3%
2009	42.7%	27.5%
2008	43%	27.6%
2007	43.3%	27.9%
2006	43.1%	28.1%
2005	42.9%	28.5%
2004	43%	28.8%
2003	43.7%	29.2%
2002	44.4%	29.6%
2001	45%	30%
2000	45.2%	30.4%
1999	44.9%	30.8%
1998	44.4%	31.1%
1997	43.7%	31.5%
1996	42.9%	31.8%
1995	43.5%	32.1%
1994	44.4%	32.3%
1993	44.5%	32.5%
1992	44.7%	32.7%
1991	44.6%	32.9%
1990	44.5%	33%
1989	44.3%	33.2%
1988	44.2%	33.4%
1987	44%	33.6%
1986	44%	33.8%
1985	44.1%	34%
1984	44.2%	34.3%
1983	44.4%	34.6%
1982	44.4%	34.9%
1981	44.4%	35.2%
1980	44.4%	35.5%
1979	44.4%	35.9%
1978	44.3%	36.3%
1977	44.3%	36.7%
1976	44.2%	36.9%
1975	44.1%	37.1%
1974	44.1%	37.2%
1973	44%	37.3%
1972	43.8%	37.5%
1971	43.6%	37.6%
1970	43.3%	37.7%
1969	43%	37.8%
1968	42.8%	37.9%
1967	42.4%	38%
1966	42.1%	38%
1965	41.8%	38%
1964	41.6%	38%
1963	41.5%	37.8%
1962	41.4%	37.6%
1961	41.4%	37.5%
1960	41.5%	37.4%

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/eritrea | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Eritrea was 41.5% in 1960, 44.7% in 1992, and 38.1% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Eritrea.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Eritrea	World
2023	291	197
2022	301	203
2021	338	242
2020	334	211
2019	351	207
2018	363	211
2017	379	215
2016	395	220
2015	413	228
2014	430	231
2013	443	235
2012	458	239
2011	478	247
2010	498	253
2009	515	258
2008	530	264
2007	541	269
2006	555	276
2005	567	283
2004	588	291
2003	588	301
2002	636	311
2001	651	321
2000	741	328
1999	734	340
1998	865	360
1997	817	358
1996	878	366
1995	854	371
1994	998	382
1993	1,040	389
1992	1,149	395
1991	1,384	395
1990	1,352	391
1989	1,473	401
1988	1,499	414
1987	1,555	429
1986	1,625	438
1985	1,678	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Eritrea was 291 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.29% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 60.7% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Eritrea	World
2023	3.54%	2.49%
2022	3.66%	2.59%
2021	3.79%	2.66%
2020	3.91%	2.75%
2019	4.03%	2.86%
2018	4.17%	2.97%
2017	4.32%	3.11%
2016	4.46%	3.22%
2015	4.61%	3.35%
2014	4.78%	3.48%
2013	4.94%	3.61%
2012	5.12%	3.77%
2011	5.31%	3.97%
2010	5.5%	4.11%
2009	5.71%	4.31%
2008	5.94%	4.5%
2007	6.19%	4.7%
2006	6.46%	4.92%
2005	6.75%	5.16%
2004	7.05%	5.43%
2003	7.38%	5.65%
2002	7.73%	5.94%
2001	8.11%	6.21%
2000	8.53%	6.48%
1999	10.9%	6.75%
1998	9.51%	7.05%
1997	10.1%	7.28%
1996	10.8%	7.52%
1995	11.5%	7.76%
1994	12.3%	7.98%
1993	13.1%	8.19%
1992	13.9%	8.46%
1991	14.7%	8.66%
1990	15.4%	8.81%
1989	16%	9.02%
1988	16.6%	9.31%
1987	17.1%	9.47%
1986	25.6%	9.81%
1985	26.2%	10.1%
1984	27.2%	10.4%
1983	27.8%	10.6%
1982	18.8%	10.8%
1981	19.1%	11%
1980	19.4%	11.4%
1979	19.7%	11.7%
1978	20%	12.2%
1977	20.4%	12.6%
1976	20.8%	13%
1975	25%	13.4%
1974	25.6%	13.8%
1973	-	14.1%
1972	-	14.5%
1971	-	15.1%
1970	-	15.2%
1969	-	15.4%
1968	-	15.6%
1967	-	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Eritrea was 35.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.54% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 85.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.