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Fertility & birth rates in Eritrea and Sao Tome and Principe

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has an annual birth rate of 28.5 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.2 for Sao Tome and Principe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.71 in Eritrea and 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe — 1.86% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.7% in Eritrea and by 41.6% in Sao Tome and Principe — in 1960, it was 6.48 and 6.24, respectively.

  • Eritrea is ranked 37/196 by birth rate compared to 39/196 for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 21.3 years in Eritrea, compared to 19.4 years in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1 in Eritrea — it's 28.4 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 65.2 in Eritrea vs 86.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • In Eritrea, 24.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.2% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Fertility rate in Eritrea vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Eritrea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea Sao Tome
2023 3.71 3.64
2022 3.79 3.7
2021 3.87 3.76
2020 3.93 3.83
2019 4 3.9
2018 4.06 3.98
2017 4.11 4.07
2016 4.16 4.2
2015 4.22 4.35
2014 4.27 4.49
2013 4.34 4.58
2012 4.41 4.66
2011 4.49 4.72
2010 4.57 4.77
2009 4.66 4.84
2008 4.74 4.91
2007 4.81 4.96
2006 4.88 4.93
2005 4.93 4.94
2004 5.04 4.96
2003 5.14 5.01
2002 5.23 5.06
2001 5.31 5.1
2000 5.4 5.16
1999 5.52 5.23
1998 5.63 5.3
1997 5.74 5.4
1996 5.84 5.47
1995 5.94 5.55
1994 6.01 5.56
1993 6.07 5.64
1992 6.16 5.7
1991 6.24 5.77
1990 6.34 5.83
1989 6.41 5.88
1988 6.47 5.94
1987 6.52 5.99
1986 6.56 6.05
1985 6.59 6.1
1984 6.62 6.16
1983 6.65 6.22
1982 6.63 6.28
1981 6.62 6.33
1980 6.61 6.39
1979 6.62 6.43
1978 6.61 6.47
1977 6.61 6.5
1976 6.6 6.52
1975 6.59 6.53
1974 6.57 6.53
1973 6.55 6.53
1972 6.54 6.51
1971 6.54 6.49
1970 6.54 6.47
1969 6.5 6.44
1968 6.5 6.42
1967 6.5 6.39
1966 6.5 6.37
1965 6.49 6.35
1964 6.49 6.33
1963 6.48 6.31
1962 6.5 6.28
1961 6.47 6.26
1960 6.48 6.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Eritrea vs Sao Tome and Principe population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Eritrea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Natural population change
Eritrea Sao Tome
2023 78,073 5,221
2022 76,221 5,102
2021 74,394 4,954
2020 73,362 4,874
2019 73,572 4,932
2018 72,511 4,957
2017 72,291 5,007
2016 73,002 5,125
2015 73,682 5,269
2014 75,729 5,381
2013 75,562 5,449
2012 76,416 5,501
2011 76,806 5,445
2010 76,098 5,391
2009 76,206 5,349
2008 73,391 5,297
2007 73,101 5,226
2006 74,470 5,057
2005 72,930 4,897
2004 72,147 4,810
2003 66,291 4,702
2002 65,436 4,591
2001 61,180 4,471
2000 60,274 4,334
1999 45,120 4,221
1998 55,332 4,120
1997 63,953 4,041
1996 66,557 3,993
1995 56,157 3,948
1994 56,288 3,860
1993 51,679 3,841
1992 51,443 3,822
1991 57,741 3,801
1990 56,903 3,719
1989 54,299 3,576
1988 54,163 3,544
1987 52,229 3,440
1986 39,470 3,180
1985 37,362 3,242
1984 35,101 3,163
1983 33,420 3,100
1982 44,146 3,047
1981 42,924 3,015
1980 41,392 2,965
1979 39,577 2,893
1978 38,353 2,800
1977 37,295 2,705
1976 36,250 2,608
1975 30,971 2,515
1974 30,111 2,422
1973 31,969 2,329
1972 30,951 2,232
1971 31,490 2,127
1970 30,686 1,980
1969 29,535 1,862
1968 28,777 1,767
1967 27,992 1,693
1966 24,713 1,642
1965 26,285 1,611
1964 25,327 1,600
1963 24,393 1,609
1962 23,478 1,625
1961 22,351 1,657
1960 21,424 1,547

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 +2.26% in Sao Tome and Principe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Eritrea and +2.4% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Birth rate in Eritrea vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

Eritrea
Sao Tome and Principe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Eritrea Sao Tome
2023 28.5 28.2
2022 28.7 28.3
2021 28.8 28.5
2020 28.9 28.6
2019 29.1 29.2
2018 29.2 29.8
2017 29.6 30.6
2016 30.1 31.7
2015 30.6 33
2014 31.5 34.3
2013 31.7 35.4
2012 32.4 36.4
2011 33 36.8
2010 33.5 37.3
2009 34.2 37.9
2008 34.1 38.5
2007 35 38.9
2006 36.2 38.9
2005 36.4 39
2004 37 39.2
2003 35.9 39.6
2002 37.1 39.8
2001 36.4 40
2000 38 39.7
1999 38.4 39.4
1998 39.9 39.2
1997 41.2 39.2
1996 43.3 39.3
1995 39.5 39.5
1994 42.1 39.4
1993 40.9 39.8
1992 42.3 40.2
1991 46.1 40.7
1990 43.3 40.7
1989 43.9 40.9
1988 44.3 40.9
1987 44.5 41
1986 44.7 41
1985 44.8 41
1984 44.9 41.1
1983 45 41.2
1982 44.8 41.3
1981 44.8 41.5
1980 44.8 41.6
1979 44.9 41.6
1978 45.1 41.4
1977 45.4 41.3
1976 45.7 41.1
1975 45.8 40.9
1974 45.9 40.6
1973 46 40.3
1972 46.2 39.9
1971 46.6 39.5
1970 47 38.8
1969 47 38.2
1968 47.3 37.8
1967 47.6 37.7
1966 47.7 38
1965 47.8 38.6
1964 47.9 39.7
1963 47.9 41.1
1962 48 42.7
1961 47.8 44.6
1960 47.7 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.5 in Eritrea and 28.2 in Sao Tome and Principe, compared with 47.7 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Eritrea Sao Tome
Fertility rate 3.71 3.64
Fertility rate rank 37/196 41/196
Birth rate 28.5 28.2
Birth rate rank 37/196 39/196
Population change due to births and deaths +78,073 +5,221
Natural population change rank 84/196 126/196
Natural population change rate +2.25% +2.26%
Population growth +1.88% +2.02%
Population growth rank 58/197 49/197
Age at first childbirth 21.3 years 19.4 years
Average age at childbearing 29.1 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 63.4 82.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 171 169.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 52.7 47.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.8% 25.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 7.1% 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 34.1% 96.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.29% 0.08%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.64% 0.68%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.55% 0.94%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.54% 1.39%
Life expectancy 69.4 years 70.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Eritrea
Factual

UN forecast
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Eritrea Sao Tome
2100 19% 19.5%
2099 19.1% 19.6%
2098 19.2% 19.8%
2097 19.4% 19.9%
2096 19.5% 20%
2095 19.6% 20.2%
2094 19.8% 20.3%
2093 19.9% 20.4%
2092 20% 20.6%
2091 20.2% 20.7%
2090 20.3% 20.9%
2089 20.5% 21.1%
2088 20.6% 21.2%
2087 20.8% 21.4%
2086 21% 21.6%
2085 21.1% 21.8%
2084 21.3% 22%
2083 21.5% 22.2%
2082 21.7% 22.4%
2081 22% 22.6%
2080 22.2% 22.9%
2079 22.4% 23.1%
2078 22.6% 23.3%
2077 22.9% 23.5%
2076 23.1% 23.7%
2075 23.3% 24%
2074 23.6% 24.2%
2073 23.8% 24.4%
2072 24% 24.6%
2071 24.3% 24.8%
2070 24.5% 25%
2069 24.7% 25.2%
2068 25% 25.4%
2067 25.2% 25.6%
2066 25.4% 25.9%
2065 25.6% 26.1%
2064 25.9% 26.3%
2063 26.1% 26.5%
2062 26.3% 26.8%
2061 26.6% 27%
2060 26.8% 27.3%
2059 27.1% 27.5%
2058 27.4% 27.8%
2057 27.6% 28.1%
2056 27.9% 28.4%
2055 28.3% 28.7%
2054 28.6% 29%
2053 29% 29.4%
2052 29.3% 29.7%
2051 29.7% 30.1%
2050 30.1% 30.4%
2049 30.5% 30.8%
2048 30.9% 31.1%
2047 31.3% 31.5%
2046 31.7% 31.8%
2045 32.1% 32.1%
2044 32.5% 32.5%
2043 32.9% 32.8%
2042 33.2% 33.1%
2041 33.6% 33.4%
2040 33.8% 33.6%
2039 34.1% 33.9%
2038 34.3% 34.1%
2037 34.6% 34.4%
2036 34.8% 34.6%
2035 34.9% 34.7%
2034 35.1% 34.9%
2033 35.2% 35.1%
2032 35.4% 35.3%
2031 35.6% 35.5%
2030 35.8% 35.8%
2029 36.1% 36.1%
2028 36.4% 36.6%
2027 36.9% 37%
2026 37.3% 37.3%
2025 37.9% 37.6%
2024 38.1% 37.8%
2023 38.7% 38.3%
2022 39.2% 38.8%
2021 39.8% 39.4%
2020 40.4% 39.9%
2019 41% 40.5%
2018 41.5% 40.9%
2017 41.9% 41.4%
2016 42.1% 41.7%
2015 42.1% 41.9%
2014 42% 42%
2013 42% 42%
2012 42.1% 42%
2011 42.3% 42%
2010 42.6% 42.1%
2009 42.7% 42.1%
2008 43% 42.1%
2007 43.3% 42%
2006 43.1% 42%
2005 42.9% 42%
2004 43% 42.1%
2003 43.7% 42.2%
2002 44.4% 42.3%
2001 45% 42.5%
2000 45.2% 42.8%
1999 44.9% 43.4%
1998 44.4% 43.9%
1997 43.7% 44.3%
1996 42.9% 44.7%
1995 43.5% 44.9%
1994 44.4% 45.1%
1993 44.5% 45.2%
1992 44.7% 45.2%
1991 44.6% 45.1%
1990 44.5% 45.1%
1989 44.3% 45%
1988 44.2% 45%
1987 44% 44.9%
1986 44% 44.7%
1985 44.1% 44.5%
1984 44.2% 44.4%
1983 44.4% 44.5%
1982 44.4% 44.5%
1981 44.4% 44.7%
1980 44.4% 44.9%
1979 44.4% 45.1%
1978 44.3% 45.2%
1977 44.3% 45.3%
1976 44.2% 45.4%
1975 44.1% 45.5%
1974 44.1% 45.6%
1973 44% 45.7%
1972 43.8% 45.9%
1971 43.6% 46.1%
1970 43.3% 46.2%
1969 43% 45.8%
1968 42.8% 44.9%
1967 42.4% 44%
1966 42.1% 42.9%
1965 41.8% 41.6%
1964 41.6% 40.2%
1963 41.5% 38.5%
1962 41.4% 36.6%
1961 41.4% 34.3%
1960 41.5% 32.9%

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Eritrea and 37.8% in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024, compared to 44.5% and 45.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Eritrea and Sao Tome and Principe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Eritrea vs Sao Tome and Principe

Eritrea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Eritrea Sao Tome
2023 291 75
2022 301 82
2021 338 98
2020 334 92
2019 351 95
2018 363 100
2017 379 110
2016 395 119
2015 413 128
2014 430 138
2013 443 150
2012 458 158
2011 478 164
2010 498 170
2009 515 172
2008 530 174
2007 541 174
2006 555 177
2005 567 181
2004 588 177
2003 588 178
2002 636 179
2001 651 178
2000 741 180
1999 734 179
1998 865 175
1997 817 173
1996 878 171
1995 854 172
1994 998 168
1993 1,040 166
1992 1,149 164
1991 1,384 166
1990 1,352 164
1989 1,473 167
1988 1,499 157
1987 1,555 161
1986 1,625 175
1985 1,678 159

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 75 deaths in Sao Tome and Principe.

Under-five mortality rates

Eritrea
Sao Tome and Principe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Eritrea Sao Tome
2023 3.54% 1.39%
2022 3.66% 1.46%
2021 3.79% 1.53%
2020 3.91% 1.6%
2019 4.03% 1.7%
2018 4.17% 1.81%
2017 4.32% 1.95%
2016 4.46% 2.11%
2015 4.61% 2.31%
2014 4.78% 2.54%
2013 4.94% 2.77%
2012 5.12% 3.04%
2011 5.31% 3.33%
2010 5.5% 3.63%
2009 5.71% 3.95%
2008 5.94% 4.3%
2007 6.19% 4.68%
2006 6.46% 5.11%
2005 6.75% 5.56%
2004 7.05% 6.05%
2003 7.38% 6.57%
2002 7.73% 7.1%
2001 8.11% 7.66%
2000 8.53% 8.21%
1999 10.9% 8.76%
1998 9.51% 9.26%
1997 10.1% 9.73%
1996 10.8% 10.1%
1995 11.5% 10.4%
1994 12.3% 10.7%
1993 13.1% 10.8%
1992 13.9% 10.9%
1991 14.7% 10.9%
1990 15.4% 10.8%
1989 16% 10.7%
1988 16.6% 10.6%
1987 17.1% 10.4%
1986 25.6% 11.4%
1985 26.2% 9.99%
1984 27.2% 9.77%
1983 27.8% 9.56%
1982 18.8% 9.37%
1981 19.1% 9.21%
1980 19.4% 9.1%
1979 19.7% 9.02%
1978 20% 8.96%
1977 20.4% 8.93%
1976 20.8% 8.89%
1975 25% 8.85%
1974 25.6% 8.79%
1973 - 8.73%
1972 - 8.67%
1971 - 8.63%
1970 - 8.64%
1969 - 8.71%
1968 - 8.85%
1967 - 9.04%
1966 - 9.29%
1965 - 9.56%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1965–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eritrea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.54% in Eritrea and 1.39% in Sao Tome and Principe. 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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