Fertility & birth rates in Eswatini and Gambia

Fertility rate in Eswatini vs Gambia by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Gambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Eswatini	Gambia
2023	2.75	4.01
2022	2.8	4.08
2021	2.84	4.17
2020	2.89	4.25
2019	2.93	4.33
2018	2.97	4.42
2017	3.02	4.61
2016	3.07	4.81
2015	3.12	5
2014	3.18	5.2
2013	3.24	5.39
2012	3.27	5.52
2011	3.32	5.54
2010	3.38	5.56
2009	3.5	5.57
2008	3.57	5.63
2007	3.58	5.69
2006	3.63	5.74
2005	3.7	5.71
2004	3.76	5.68
2003	3.8	5.66
2002	3.85	5.66
2001	3.94	5.67
2000	4.03	5.72
1999	4.09	5.77
1998	4.13	5.82
1997	4.24	5.85
1996	4.38	5.93
1995	4.52	5.99
1994	4.66	6.04
1993	4.82	6.03
1992	4.98	6.11
1991	5.13	6.19
1990	5.3	6.25
1989	5.48	6.25
1988	5.69	6.26
1987	5.9	6.3
1986	6.11	6.34
1985	6.28	6.36
1984	6.36	6.39
1983	6.43	6.39
1982	6.49	6.4
1981	6.54	6.4
1980	6.57	6.41
1979	6.61	6.41
1978	6.65	6.42
1977	6.68	6.43
1976	6.7	6.43
1975	6.71	6.43
1974	6.71	6.42
1973	6.72	6.41
1972	6.72	6.37
1971	6.74	6.33
1970	6.75	6.26
1969	6.76	6.25
1968	6.76	6.22
1967	6.77	6.21
1966	6.8	6.18
1965	6.79	6.19
1964	6.79	6.2
1963	6.8	6.2
1962	6.79	6.21
1961	6.77	6.23
1960	6.75	6.25

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Eswatini was 2.75 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 Eswatini vs the Gambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Gambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Eswatini	Gambia
2023	20,147	65,118
2022	20,125	63,634
2021	17,314	62,239
2020	18,899	62,209
2019	19,488	61,701
2018	19,392	60,854
2017	19,278	61,665
2016	19,233	62,358
2015	19,223	62,832
2014	19,107	63,185
2013	18,903	63,510
2012	18,308	62,745
2011	17,645	60,571
2010	17,652	58,554
2009	17,656	56,575
2008	17,275	55,032
2007	16,595	53,653
2006	16,133	52,335
2005	15,945	50,010
2004	15,979	48,276
2003	16,396	46,473
2002	16,924	45,156
2001	17,824	44,154
2000	18,830	43,249
1999	19,420	42,533
1998	19,762	41,842
1997	20,686	40,742
1996	21,858	40,253
1995	23,029	39,681
1994	26,703	38,880
1993	28,046	37,302
1992	28,446	35,951
1991	28,497	34,584
1990	28,349	33,163
1989	28,257	31,504
1988	27,396	29,938
1987	27,285	28,452
1986	27,096	27,195
1985	26,835	25,795
1984	26,149	24,586
1983	24,883	23,175
1982	24,742	21,894
1981	23,973	20,156
1980	23,153	19,566
1979	22,299	18,543
1978	21,466	17,424
1977	20,609	16,773
1976	19,734	16,032
1975	18,849	15,256
1974	17,971	14,628
1973	17,145	14,046
1972	16,353	13,432
1971	15,615	12,842
1970	14,873	12,128
1969	14,164	11,670
1968	13,449	11,215
1967	12,773	10,823
1966	12,282	10,422
1965	11,719	10,162
1964	11,266	9,825
1963	10,929	9,493
1962	10,601	9,150
1961	10,262	8,778
1960	9,947	8,420

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 +1.64% in Eswatini and +2.41% in the Gambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.63% in Eswatini and +2.59% in the Gambia.

Birth rate in Eswatini vs Gambia by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Gambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Eswatini	Gambia
2023	24.1	30.4
2022	24.6	30.8
2021	25	31.2
2020	25.4	31.5
2019	25.9	31.9
2018	26.4	32.3
2017	26.9	33.5
2016	27.6	34.6
2015	28.3	35.7
2014	29	36.9
2013	29.6	38.1
2012	30	38.8
2011	30.4	38.8
2010	30.9	38.9
2009	31.9	38.9
2008	32.3	39.2
2007	32.2	39.5
2006	32.2	39.9
2005	32.5	39.7
2004	32.6	39.7
2003	32.3	39.7
2002	32.2	40
2001	32.4	40.5
2000	32.6	41.1
1999	32.5	41.8
1998	32.2	42.5
1997	32.4	43.2
1996	33.1	44.1
1995	34	45.1
1994	37.3	45.9
1993	37.9	46.1
1992	38.7	46.6
1991	39.5	47.2
1990	40.4	47.7
1989	41.6	47.9
1988	42.2	48.1
1987	43.9	48.5
1986	45.4	48.8
1985	46.9	49
1984	47.8	49.3
1983	48.4	49
1982	48.9	48.8
1981	49.5	48.5
1980	49.8	48.2
1979	50.1	47.8
1978	50.4	47.6
1977	50.6	47.5
1976	50.7	47.4
1975	50.6	47.3
1974	50.3	47.3
1973	50.1	47.5
1972	49.8	47.5
1971	49.5	47.6
1970	49.1	47.4
1969	48.6	47.6
1968	48.1	47.9
1967	47.5	48.2
1966	47.4	48.5
1965	47.2	49
1964	47.1	49.4
1963	47.3	49.8
1962	47.3	50
1961	47.4	50.3
1960	47.4	50.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Eswatini and 30.4 in the Gambia, compared with 47.4 and 50.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Eswatini

Factual

UN forecast

Gambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Eswatini	Gambia
2100	17.1%	18.1%
2099	17.2%	18.2%
2098	17.3%	18.3%
2097	17.4%	18.4%
2096	17.4%	18.5%
2095	17.5%	18.6%
2094	17.6%	18.7%
2093	17.7%	18.9%
2092	17.8%	19%
2091	17.9%	19.1%
2090	18%	19.3%
2089	18.1%	19.4%
2088	18.2%	19.6%
2087	18.3%	19.7%
2086	18.4%	19.9%
2085	18.5%	20%
2084	18.6%	20.2%
2083	18.7%	20.3%
2082	18.8%	20.5%
2081	19%	20.6%
2080	19.1%	20.8%
2079	19.2%	21%
2078	19.3%	21.2%
2077	19.4%	21.3%
2076	19.6%	21.5%
2075	19.7%	21.7%
2074	19.8%	21.9%
2073	20%	22.1%
2072	20.1%	22.3%
2071	20.3%	22.6%
2070	20.4%	22.8%
2069	20.6%	23%
2068	20.7%	23.2%
2067	20.9%	23.5%
2066	21.1%	23.7%
2065	21.2%	24%
2064	21.4%	24.3%
2063	21.6%	24.5%
2062	21.8%	24.8%
2061	22%	25.1%
2060	22.3%	25.4%
2059	22.5%	25.7%
2058	22.7%	26%
2057	23%	26.3%
2056	23.2%	26.7%
2055	23.5%	27%
2054	23.7%	27.3%
2053	24%	27.6%
2052	24.2%	28%
2051	24.5%	28.3%
2050	24.7%	28.6%
2049	25%	28.9%
2048	25.3%	29.3%
2047	25.5%	29.6%
2046	25.8%	30%
2045	26.1%	30.3%
2044	26.4%	30.7%
2043	26.7%	31.1%
2042	27%	31.5%
2041	27.3%	31.9%
2040	27.6%	32.3%
2039	27.9%	32.7%
2038	28.2%	33.2%
2037	28.6%	33.6%
2036	28.9%	34.1%
2035	29.3%	34.5%
2034	29.7%	35%
2033	30.1%	35.4%
2032	30.5%	35.9%
2031	30.8%	36.4%
2030	31.2%	37%
2029	31.6%	37.6%
2028	32%	38.2%
2027	32.4%	38.9%
2026	32.8%	39.5%
2025	33.2%	40%
2024	33.4%	40.2%
2023	33.7%	40.7%
2022	34%	41.2%
2021	34.3%	41.6%
2020	34.7%	42%
2019	35.1%	42.4%
2018	35.6%	42.8%
2017	36%	43.1%
2016	36.4%	43.3%
2015	36.8%	43.6%
2014	37.2%	43.7%
2013	37.6%	43.9%
2012	38%	44.1%
2011	38.4%	44.3%
2010	38.8%	44.5%
2009	39.3%	44.8%
2008	39.9%	45.1%
2007	40.4%	45.3%
2006	40.8%	45.6%
2005	41.1%	45.9%
2004	41.4%	46.1%
2003	41.8%	46.4%
2002	42.3%	46.6%
2001	42.9%	46.7%
2000	43.6%	46.8%
1999	44.4%	46.9%
1998	45.3%	46.9%
1997	46.2%	46.9%
1996	46.9%	46.7%
1995	47.4%	46.5%
1994	47%	46.3%
1993	46.4%	46%
1992	46.6%	45.9%
1991	47.1%	45.8%
1990	47.6%	45.7%
1989	48.1%	45.6%
1988	48.7%	45.5%
1987	49.3%	45.4%
1986	49.4%	45.2%
1985	49.5%	45%
1984	49.4%	44.9%
1983	49.3%	44.6%
1982	49.2%	44.3%
1981	48.9%	44%
1980	48.7%	43.7%
1979	48.5%	43.5%
1978	48.3%	43.3%
1977	48.1%	43%
1976	47.9%	42.8%
1975	47.7%	42.6%
1974	47.5%	42.4%
1973	47.4%	42.3%
1972	47.3%	42.2%
1971	47.2%	42.1%
1970	47.2%	42%
1969	47.2%	41.9%
1968	47.3%	41.8%
1967	47.5%	41.6%
1966	47.7%	41.5%
1965	47.7%	41.3%
1964	47.8%	41%
1963	47.7%	40.8%
1962	47.4%	40.7%
1961	47.2%	40.8%
1960	46.9%	41%

Children aged 0-14 make up 33.4% of the population in Eswatini and 40.2% in the Gambia in 2024, compared to 47.6% and 45.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Eswatini and the Gambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Eswatini vs Gambia

Chart Table

Eswatini

Gambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Eswatini	Gambia
2023	118	354
2022	112	365
2021	219	420
2020	102	400
2019	96	422
2018	133	450
2017	151	469
2016	213	490
2015	283	527
2014	369	561
2013	491	606
2012	613	628
2011	765	634
2010	752	632
2009	855	634
2008	766	653
2007	647	675
2006	511	682
2005	529	707
2004	451	719
2003	392	749
2002	331	772
2001	307	794
2000	361	810
1999	409	830
1998	475	867
1997	550	928
1996	604	956
1995	612	999
1994	645	1,039
1993	609	1,072
1992	580	1,115
1991	545	1,167
1990	520	1,207
1989	505	1,258
1988	494	1,302
1987	521	1,360
1986	548	1,401
1985	580	1,454

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 118 deaths per 100,000 live births in Eswatini, compared to 354 deaths in the Gambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Eswatini

Gambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Eswatini	Gambia
2023	4.5%	4.41%
2022	4.62%	4.56%
2021	4.76%	4.72%
2020	4.98%	4.89%
2019	5.16%	5.07%
2018	5.1%	5.27%
2017	5.43%	5.47%
2016	5.53%	5.7%
2015	5.86%	5.93%
2014	6.17%	6.18%
2013	6.16%	6.45%
2012	6.38%	6.73%
2011	6.81%	7.01%
2010	8.18%	7.31%
2009	9.25%	7.64%
2008	9.82%	7.98%
2007	10%	8.33%
2006	10.5%	8.71%
2005	11.6%	9.11%
2004	11.6%	9.52%
2003	11.6%	9.95%
2002	11.4%	10.4%
2001	11.3%	10.9%
2000	10.9%	11.3%
1999	10.4%	11.8%
1998	9.87%	12.3%
1997	9.3%	12.8%
1996	8.71%	13.3%
1995	8.12%	13.9%
1994	7.62%	14.4%
1993	7.17%	14.9%
1992	6.85%	15.5%
1991	6.72%	16%
1990	6.75%	16.6%
1989	6.93%	17.2%
1988	7.2%	17.8%
1987	7.54%	18.4%
1986	7.93%	19.1%
1985	8.37%	19.7%
1984	8.85%	20.4%
1983	10.4%	21%
1982	9.89%	21.7%
1981	10.4%	22.3%
1980	10.9%	23%
1979	11.5%	23.6%
1978	12%	24.2%
1977	12.6%	24.9%
1976	13.2%	25.5%
1975	13.7%	26.2%
1974	14.3%	26.9%
1973	14.9%	27.5%
1972	15.4%	28.2%
1971	16%	28.9%
1970	16.5%	29.5%
1969	17%	30.2%
1968	17.4%	30.9%
1967	17.9%	31.5%
1966	18.3%	32.1%
1965	18.8%	32.8%
1964	19.2%	33.5%
1963	19.6%	34.1%
1962	20%	34.8%
1961	20.4%	35.5%
1960	20.7%	36.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.5% in Eswatini and 4.41% in the Gambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.