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Fertility & birth rates in Eritrea and Gabon

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has an annual birth rate of 28.5 births per 1,000 people, compared to 27.7 for Gabon. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.71 in Eritrea and 3.65 in Gabon — 1.78% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.7% in Eritrea and by 17.5% in Gabon — in 1960, it was 6.48 and 4.42, respectively.

  • Eritrea is ranked 37/196 by birth rate compared to 42/196 for Gabon.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 21.3 years in Eritrea, compared to 19.6 years in Gabon.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1 in Eritrea — it's 28.5 in Gabon.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 65.2 in Eritrea vs 91.7 in Gabon.
  • In Eritrea, 24.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.6% in Gabon.

Fertility rate in Eritrea vs Gabon by year

Eritrea
Gabon
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Gabon
2023 3.71 3.65
2022 3.79 3.71
2021 3.87 3.78
2020 3.93 3.83
2019 4 3.88
2018 4.06 3.91
2017 4.11 3.91
2016 4.16 3.92
2015 4.22 3.92
2014 4.27 3.95
2013 4.34 4.02
2012 4.41 4.09
2011 4.49 4.15
2010 4.57 4.15
2009 4.66 4.14
2008 4.74 4.12
2007 4.81 4.14
2006 4.88 4.17
2005 4.93 4.21
2004 5.04 4.25
2003 5.14 4.3
2002 5.23 4.36
2001 5.31 4.42
2000 5.4 4.47
1999 5.52 4.5
1998 5.63 4.58
1997 5.74 4.66
1996 5.84 4.74
1995 5.94 4.88
1994 6.01 5.04
1993 6.07 5.19
1992 6.16 5.29
1991 6.24 5.37
1990 6.34 5.46
1989 6.41 5.55
1988 6.47 5.62
1987 6.52 5.67
1986 6.56 5.69
1985 6.59 5.71
1984 6.62 5.73
1983 6.65 5.76
1982 6.63 5.74
1981 6.62 5.73
1980 6.61 5.66
1979 6.62 5.61
1978 6.61 5.57
1977 6.61 5.52
1976 6.6 5.46
1975 6.59 5.39
1974 6.57 5.33
1973 6.55 5.29
1972 6.54 5.24
1971 6.54 5.16
1970 6.54 5.1
1969 6.5 5.05
1968 6.5 4.98
1967 6.5 4.92
1966 6.5 4.86
1965 6.49 4.79
1964 6.49 4.71
1963 6.48 4.65
1962 6.5 4.59
1961 6.47 4.5
1960 6.48 4.42

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Eritrea was 3.71 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.65 in Gabon in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Eritrea vs Gabon population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Eritrea
Gabon
1x
Year Natural population change
Eritrea Gabon
2023 78,073 53,167
2022 76,221 52,944
2021 74,394 52,611
2020 73,362 52,745
2019 73,572 53,185
2018 72,511 52,476
2017 72,291 51,455
2016 73,002 50,321
2015 73,682 48,876
2014 75,729 47,704
2013 75,562 46,829
2012 76,416 45,941
2011 76,806 44,922
2010 76,098 43,061
2009 76,206 41,037
2008 73,391 39,002
2007 73,101 37,394
2006 74,470 35,984
2005 72,930 34,766
2004 72,147 33,615
2003 66,291 32,633
2002 65,436 31,777
2001 61,180 30,941
2000 60,274 30,210
1999 45,120 29,330
1998 55,332 28,697
1997 63,953 28,053
1996 66,557 27,450
1995 56,157 27,290
1994 56,288 27,271
1993 51,679 27,235
1992 51,443 26,810
1991 57,741 26,334
1990 56,903 25,858
1989 54,299 25,359
1988 54,163 24,888
1987 52,229 24,212
1986 39,470 23,362
1985 37,362 22,617
1984 35,101 21,851
1983 33,420 21,162
1982 44,146 20,292
1981 42,924 19,528
1980 41,392 18,503
1979 39,577 17,553
1978 38,353 16,714
1977 37,295 15,842
1976 36,250 14,998
1975 30,971 14,162
1974 30,111 13,381
1973 31,969 12,731
1972 30,951 12,095
1971 31,490 11,357
1970 30,686 10,635
1969 29,535 9,969
1968 28,777 9,417
1967 27,992 8,883
1966 24,713 8,410
1965 26,285 7,902
1964 25,327 7,402
1963 24,393 7,001
1962 23,478 6,609
1961 22,351 6,161
1960 21,424 5,732

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/gabon | 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 +2.25% in Eritrea and +2.14% in Gabon.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Eritrea and +2.31% in Gabon.

Birth rate in Eritrea vs Gabon by year

Eritrea
Gabon

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Eritrea Gabon
2023 28.5 27.7
2022 28.7 28.3
2021 28.8 28.9
2020 28.9 29.5
2019 29.1 30.1
2018 29.2 30.5
2017 29.6 30.8
2016 30.1 31
2015 30.6 31.1
2014 31.5 31.4
2013 31.7 31.9
2012 32.4 32.5
2011 33 33
2010 33.5 33
2009 34.2 32.9
2008 34.1 32.6
2007 35 32.6
2006 36.2 32.6
2005 36.4 32.7
2004 37 32.7
2003 35.9 32.9
2002 37.1 33.1
2001 36.4 33.2
2000 38 33.4
1999 38.4 33.5
1998 39.9 33.7
1997 41.2 33.9
1996 43.3 34.1
1995 39.5 34.7
1994 42.1 35.5
1993 40.9 36.3
1992 42.3 36.7
1991 46.1 37.2
1990 43.3 37.6
1989 43.9 38
1988 44.3 38.5
1987 44.5 38.7
1986 44.7 38.7
1985 44.8 38.9
1984 44.9 39
1983 45 39.1
1982 44.8 39
1981 44.8 39
1980 44.8 38.6
1979 44.9 38.2
1978 45.1 38
1977 45.4 37.7
1976 45.7 37.3
1975 45.8 36.9
1974 45.9 36.5
1973 46 36.3
1972 46.2 36
1971 46.6 35.5
1970 47 35.1
1969 47 34.7
1968 47.3 34.4
1967 47.6 34.1
1966 47.7 33.8
1965 47.8 33.5
1964 47.9 33.1
1963 47.9 32.9
1962 48 32.6
1961 47.8 32.3
1960 47.7 31.9

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.5 in Eritrea and 27.7 in Gabon, compared with 47.7 and 31.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Eritrea Gabon
Fertility rate 3.71 3.65
Fertility rate rank 37/196 40/196
Birth rate 28.5 27.7
Birth rate rank 37/196 42/196
Population change due to births and deaths +78,073 +53,167
Natural population change rank 84/196 91/196
Natural population change rate +2.25% +2.14%
Population growth +1.88% +2.18%
Population growth rank 58/197 44/197
Age at first childbirth 21.3 years 19.6 years
Average age at childbearing 29.1 years 28.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 63.4 86.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 171 160.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 52.7 51.8
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.8% 24.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 7.1% 17.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 34.1% 89.3%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.29% 0.23%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.64% 1.68%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.55% 2.65%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.54% 3.32%
Life expectancy 69.4 years 68.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Eritrea
Factual

UN forecast
Gabon
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Eritrea Gabon
2100 19% 20.4%
2099 19.1% 20.5%
2098 19.2% 20.7%
2097 19.4% 20.8%
2096 19.5% 21%
2095 19.6% 21.1%
2094 19.8% 21.3%
2093 19.9% 21.4%
2092 20% 21.6%
2091 20.2% 21.7%
2090 20.3% 21.9%
2089 20.5% 22%
2088 20.6% 22.2%
2087 20.8% 22.4%
2086 21% 22.5%
2085 21.1% 22.7%
2084 21.3% 22.9%
2083 21.5% 23%
2082 21.7% 23.2%
2081 22% 23.3%
2080 22.2% 23.5%
2079 22.4% 23.7%
2078 22.6% 23.8%
2077 22.9% 24%
2076 23.1% 24.1%
2075 23.3% 24.3%
2074 23.6% 24.5%
2073 23.8% 24.6%
2072 24% 24.8%
2071 24.3% 25%
2070 24.5% 25.2%
2069 24.7% 25.4%
2068 25% 25.6%
2067 25.2% 25.8%
2066 25.4% 26%
2065 25.6% 26.2%
2064 25.9% 26.5%
2063 26.1% 26.7%
2062 26.3% 26.9%
2061 26.6% 27.2%
2060 26.8% 27.4%
2059 27.1% 27.7%
2058 27.4% 28%
2057 27.6% 28.2%
2056 27.9% 28.5%
2055 28.3% 28.7%
2054 28.6% 28.9%
2053 29% 29.1%
2052 29.3% 29.4%
2051 29.7% 29.6%
2050 30.1% 29.7%
2049 30.5% 29.9%
2048 30.9% 30.1%
2047 31.3% 30.2%
2046 31.7% 30.4%
2045 32.1% 30.6%
2044 32.5% 30.7%
2043 32.9% 30.9%
2042 33.2% 31%
2041 33.6% 31.2%
2040 33.8% 31.4%
2039 34.1% 31.7%
2038 34.3% 31.9%
2037 34.6% 32.2%
2036 34.8% 32.5%
2035 34.9% 32.9%
2034 35.1% 33.2%
2033 35.2% 33.6%
2032 35.4% 34%
2031 35.6% 34.4%
2030 35.8% 34.7%
2029 36.1% 35.1%
2028 36.4% 35.4%
2027 36.9% 35.8%
2026 37.3% 36.1%
2025 37.9% 36.4%
2024 38.1% 36.5%
2023 38.7% 36.7%
2022 39.2% 36.8%
2021 39.8% 36.8%
2020 40.4% 36.8%
2019 41% 36.8%
2018 41.5% 36.7%
2017 41.9% 36.6%
2016 42.1% 36.6%
2015 42.1% 36.6%
2014 42% 36.7%
2013 42% 36.8%
2012 42.1% 37%
2011 42.3% 37.1%
2010 42.6% 37.3%
2009 42.7% 37.6%
2008 43% 37.9%
2007 43.3% 38.2%
2006 43.1% 38.6%
2005 42.9% 39%
2004 43% 39.4%
2003 43.7% 39.7%
2002 44.4% 40.1%
2001 45% 40.5%
2000 45.2% 40.8%
1999 44.9% 41.2%
1998 44.4% 41.5%
1997 43.7% 41.8%
1996 42.9% 42%
1995 43.5% 42.3%
1994 44.4% 42.4%
1993 44.5% 42.5%
1992 44.7% 42.5%
1991 44.6% 42.5%
1990 44.5% 42.4%
1989 44.3% 42.3%
1988 44.2% 42.1%
1987 44% 41.9%
1986 44% 41.6%
1985 44.1% 41.4%
1984 44.2% 41%
1983 44.4% 40.7%
1982 44.4% 40.3%
1981 44.4% 39.9%
1980 44.4% 39.6%
1979 44.4% 39.2%
1978 44.3% 38.8%
1977 44.3% 38.4%
1976 44.2% 38%
1975 44.1% 37.6%
1974 44.1% 37.1%
1973 44% 36.7%
1972 43.8% 36.3%
1971 43.6% 35.8%
1970 43.3% 35.4%
1969 43% 35.1%
1968 42.8% 34.7%
1967 42.4% 34.3%
1966 42.1% 33.9%
1965 41.8% 33.5%
1964 41.6% 33%
1963 41.5% 32.6%
1962 41.4% 32.2%
1961 41.4% 31.8%
1960 41.5% 31.4%

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/gabon | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Eritrea and 36.5% in Gabon in 2024, compared to 44.5% and 42.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Eritrea and Gabon compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Eritrea vs Gabon

Eritrea
Gabon
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Eritrea Gabon
2023 291 233
2022 301 216
2021 338 249
2020 334 194
2019 351 179
2018 363 176
2017 379 184
2016 395 215
2015 413 239
2014 430 273
2013 443 235
2012 458 173
2011 478 149
2010 498 144
2009 515 158
2008 530 158
2007 541 173
2006 555 186
2005 567 175
2004 588 142
2003 588 134
2002 636 151
2001 651 160
2000 741 178
1999 734 216
1998 865 258
1997 817 290
1996 878 321
1995 854 341
1994 998 357
1993 1,040 364
1992 1,149 371
1991 1,384 369
1990 1,352 368
1989 1,473 366
1988 1,499 367
1987 1,555 366
1986 1,625 369
1985 1,678 373

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 291 deaths per 100,000 live births in Eritrea, compared to 233 deaths in Gabon.

Under-five mortality rates

Eritrea
Gabon

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Eritrea Gabon
2023 3.54% 3.32%
2022 3.66% 3.41%
2021 3.79% 3.52%
2020 3.91% 3.62%
2019 4.03% 3.8%
2018 4.17% 3.96%
2017 4.32% 4.1%
2016 4.46% 4.24%
2015 4.61% 4.42%
2014 4.78% 4.57%
2013 4.94% 4.73%
2012 5.12% 4.94%
2011 5.31% 5.14%
2010 5.5% 5.35%
2009 5.71% 5.57%
2008 5.94% 5.77%
2007 6.19% 5.99%
2006 6.46% 6.21%
2005 6.75% 6.39%
2004 7.05% 6.6%
2003 7.38% 6.81%
2002 7.73% 7.01%
2001 8.11% 7.19%
2000 8.53% 7.37%
1999 10.9% 7.53%
1998 9.51% 7.67%
1997 10.1% 7.79%
1996 10.8% 7.89%
1995 11.5% 7.98%
1994 12.3% 8.06%
1993 13.1% 8.14%
1992 13.9% 8.24%
1991 14.7% 8.35%
1990 15.4% 8.49%
1989 16% 8.64%
1988 16.6% 8.82%
1987 17.1% 9.03%
1986 25.6% 9.26%
1985 26.2% 9.52%
1984 27.2% 9.81%
1983 27.8% 10.1%
1982 18.8% 10.5%
1981 19.1% 10.8%
1980 19.4% 11.2%
1979 19.7% 11.6%
1978 20% 12%
1977 20.4% 12.4%
1976 20.8% 12.8%
1975 25% 13.3%
1974 25.6% 13.7%
1973 - 14.2%
1972 - 14.7%
1971 - 15.2%
1970 - 15.7%
1969 - 16.2%
1968 - 16.8%
1967 - 17.4%
1966 - 17.9%
1965 - 18.6%
1964 - 19.2%
1963 - 19.8%
1962 - 20.5%
1961 - 21.2%
1960 - 21.9%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.54% in Eritrea and 3.32% in Gabon. 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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