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Fertility & birth rates in Eswatini and Ghana

Updated on by Georank team

Eswatini has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 26.3 for Ghana. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.75 in Eswatini and 3.4 in Ghana — 23.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 59.2% in Eswatini and by 50.7% in Ghana — in 1960, it was 6.75 and 6.89, respectively.

  • Eswatini is ranked 57/196 by birth rate compared to 47/196 for Ghana.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.5 years in Eswatini, compared to 22.1 years in Ghana.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8 in Eswatini — it's 29.4 in Ghana.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 68.7 in Eswatini vs 58.2 in Ghana.
  • In Eswatini, 27.1% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.6% in Ghana.

Fertility rate in Eswatini vs Ghana by year

Eswatini
Ghana
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eswatini Ghana
2023 2.75 3.4
2022 2.8 3.43
2021 2.84 3.49
2020 2.89 3.54
2019 2.93 3.59
2018 2.97 3.65
2017 3.02 3.72
2016 3.07 3.87
2015 3.12 3.98
2014 3.18 4.03
2013 3.24 4.11
2012 3.27 4.15
2011 3.32 4.18
2010 3.38 4.18
2009 3.5 4.18
2008 3.57 4.22
2007 3.58 4.29
2006 3.63 4.4
2005 3.7 4.5
2004 3.76 4.5
2003 3.8 4.6
2002 3.85 4.69
2001 3.94 4.77
2000 4.03 4.83
1999 4.09 4.82
1998 4.13 4.83
1997 4.24 4.88
1996 4.38 4.96
1995 4.52 5.11
1994 4.66 5.25
1993 4.82 5.41
1992 4.98 5.52
1991 5.13 5.63
1990 5.3 5.74
1989 5.48 5.82
1988 5.69 5.92
1987 5.9 6.02
1986 6.11 6.08
1985 6.28 6.12
1984 6.36 6.15
1983 6.43 6.23
1982 6.49 6.31
1981 6.54 6.42
1980 6.57 6.47
1979 6.61 6.51
1978 6.65 6.56
1977 6.68 6.64
1976 6.7 6.7
1975 6.71 6.76
1974 6.71 6.82
1973 6.72 6.87
1972 6.72 6.92
1971 6.74 6.95
1970 6.75 6.95
1969 6.76 6.95
1968 6.76 6.89
1967 6.77 6.89
1966 6.8 6.86
1965 6.79 6.88
1964 6.79 6.9
1963 6.8 6.94
1962 6.79 6.94
1961 6.77 6.91
1960 6.75 6.89

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Eswatini was 2.75 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.4 in Ghana in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Eswatini vs Ghana population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Eswatini
Ghana
1x
Year Natural population change
Eswatini Ghana
2023 20,147 651,094
2022 20,125 646,441
2021 17,314 635,805
2020 18,899 637,469
2019 19,488 642,403
2018 19,392 641,551
2017 19,278 641,218
2016 19,233 659,910
2015 19,223 667,729
2014 19,107 660,829
2013 18,903 658,638
2012 18,308 646,595
2011 17,645 631,501
2010 17,652 613,133
2009 17,656 592,825
2008 17,275 579,695
2007 16,595 572,332
2006 16,133 569,474
2005 15,945 563,234
2004 15,979 543,339
2003 16,396 536,656
2002 16,924 528,620
2001 17,824 519,382
2000 18,830 508,738
1999 19,420 487,210
1998 19,762 471,313
1997 20,686 459,822
1996 21,858 450,259
1995 23,029 451,748
1994 26,703 449,589
1993 28,046 454,669
1992 28,446 452,156
1991 28,497 448,159
1990 28,349 442,211
1989 28,257 432,541
1988 27,396 425,031
1987 27,285 419,328
1986 27,096 411,191
1985 26,835 401,722
1984 26,149 392,053
1983 24,883 379,846
1982 24,742 369,061
1981 23,973 359,572
1980 23,153 346,816
1979 22,299 334,848
1978 21,466 324,428
1977 20,609 315,429
1976 19,734 305,769
1975 18,849 298,267
1974 17,971 290,796
1973 17,145 283,385
1972 16,353 275,236
1971 15,615 265,442
1970 14,873 257,938
1969 14,164 251,925
1968 13,449 242,821
1967 12,773 237,156
1966 12,282 231,440
1965 11,719 229,061
1964 11,266 226,685
1963 10,929 225,367
1962 10,601 223,842
1961 10,262 222,372
1960 9,947 217,134

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | 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 +1.64% in Eswatini and +1.93% in Ghana.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.63% in Eswatini and +2.1% in Ghana.

Birth rate in Eswatini vs Ghana by year

Eswatini
Ghana

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Eswatini Ghana
2023 24.1 26.3
2022 24.6 26.6
2021 25 27
2020 25.4 27.4
2019 25.9 27.9
2018 26.4 28.4
2017 26.9 28.9
2016 27.6 30.2
2015 28.3 31.1
2014 29 31.5
2013 29.6 32.2
2012 30 32.5
2011 30.4 32.7
2010 30.9 32.7
2009 31.9 32.6
2008 32.3 32.8
2007 32.2 33.2
2006 32.2 33.9
2005 32.5 34.4
2004 32.6 34.3
2003 32.3 34.8
2002 32.2 35.2
2001 32.4 35.6
2000 32.6 35.9
1999 32.5 35.6
1998 32.2 35.5
1997 32.4 35.6
1996 33.1 35.8
1995 34 36.7
1994 37.3 37.5
1993 37.9 38.5
1992 38.7 39.2
1991 39.5 39.9
1990 40.4 40.5
1989 41.6 40.9
1988 42.2 41.5
1987 43.9 42.2
1986 45.4 42.7
1985 46.9 43.1
1984 47.8 43.4
1983 48.4 43.4
1982 48.9 43.6
1981 49.5 43.9
1980 49.8 44.1
1979 50.1 44
1978 50.4 44.1
1977 50.6 44.4
1976 50.7 44.7
1975 50.6 45.3
1974 50.3 45.9
1973 50.1 46.4
1972 49.8 46.9
1971 49.5 47.4
1970 49.1 47.7
1969 48.6 47.9
1968 48.1 47.7
1967 47.5 47.7
1966 47.4 47.8
1965 47.2 48.2
1964 47.1 48.7
1963 47.3 49.2
1962 47.3 49.7
1961 47.4 50
1960 47.4 50.4

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Eswatini and 26.3 in Ghana, compared with 47.4 and 50.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Eswatini Ghana
Fertility rate 2.75 3.4
Fertility rate rank 61/196 46/196
Birth rate 24.1 26.3
Birth rate rank 57/196 47/196
Population change due to births and deaths +20,147 +651,094
Natural population change rank 108/196 30/196
Natural population change rate +1.64% +1.93%
Population growth +1% +1.89%
Population growth rank 101/197 57/197
Age at first childbirth 19.5 years 22.1 years
Average age at childbearing 27.8 years 29.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 67.1 56.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 134.3 148.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 36.5 52.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.1% 25.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 57% 27.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 88.3% 78.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.12% 0.23%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.45% 2.12%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 4.35% 2.82%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4.5% 3.71%
Life expectancy 64.5 years 66.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Eswatini
Factual

UN forecast
Ghana
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Eswatini Ghana
2100 17.1% 19.3%
2099 17.2% 19.5%
2098 17.3% 19.6%
2097 17.4% 19.7%
2096 17.4% 19.8%
2095 17.5% 20%
2094 17.6% 20.1%
2093 17.7% 20.2%
2092 17.8% 20.4%
2091 17.9% 20.5%
2090 18% 20.7%
2089 18.1% 20.8%
2088 18.2% 21%
2087 18.3% 21.1%
2086 18.4% 21.3%
2085 18.5% 21.4%
2084 18.6% 21.6%
2083 18.7% 21.7%
2082 18.8% 21.9%
2081 19% 22.1%
2080 19.1% 22.2%
2079 19.2% 22.4%
2078 19.3% 22.5%
2077 19.4% 22.7%
2076 19.6% 22.9%
2075 19.7% 23%
2074 19.8% 23.2%
2073 20% 23.4%
2072 20.1% 23.5%
2071 20.3% 23.7%
2070 20.4% 23.9%
2069 20.6% 24.1%
2068 20.7% 24.2%
2067 20.9% 24.4%
2066 21.1% 24.6%
2065 21.2% 24.8%
2064 21.4% 25.1%
2063 21.6% 25.3%
2062 21.8% 25.5%
2061 22% 25.7%
2060 22.3% 26%
2059 22.5% 26.2%
2058 22.7% 26.4%
2057 23% 26.7%
2056 23.2% 26.9%
2055 23.5% 27.2%
2054 23.7% 27.4%
2053 24% 27.7%
2052 24.2% 27.9%
2051 24.5% 28.2%
2050 24.7% 28.4%
2049 25% 28.6%
2048 25.3% 28.9%
2047 25.5% 29.1%
2046 25.8% 29.3%
2045 26.1% 29.5%
2044 26.4% 29.7%
2043 26.7% 29.9%
2042 27% 30.2%
2041 27.3% 30.4%
2040 27.6% 30.6%
2039 27.9% 30.8%
2038 28.2% 31%
2037 28.6% 31.3%
2036 28.9% 31.5%
2035 29.3% 31.8%
2034 29.7% 32%
2033 30.1% 32.3%
2032 30.5% 32.7%
2031 30.8% 33%
2030 31.2% 33.5%
2029 31.6% 33.9%
2028 32% 34.3%
2027 32.4% 34.8%
2026 32.8% 35.2%
2025 33.2% 35.6%
2024 33.4% 35.8%
2023 33.7% 36.2%
2022 34% 36.5%
2021 34.3% 36.9%
2020 34.7% 37.2%
2019 35.1% 37.6%
2018 35.6% 37.8%
2017 36% 38.1%
2016 36.4% 38.4%
2015 36.8% 38.6%
2014 37.2% 38.8%
2013 37.6% 38.9%
2012 38% 38.9%
2011 38.4% 39%
2010 38.8% 39.1%
2009 39.3% 39.3%
2008 39.9% 39.5%
2007 40.4% 39.8%
2006 40.8% 40.1%
2005 41.1% 40.4%
2004 41.4% 40.7%
2003 41.8% 41.1%
2002 42.3% 41.5%
2001 42.9% 41.9%
2000 43.6% 42.3%
1999 44.4% 42.7%
1998 45.3% 43.1%
1997 46.2% 43.5%
1996 46.9% 43.9%
1995 47.4% 44.2%
1994 47% 44.5%
1993 46.4% 44.8%
1992 46.6% 45%
1991 47.1% 45.2%
1990 47.6% 45.3%
1989 48.1% 45.4%
1988 48.7% 45.4%
1987 49.3% 45.5%
1986 49.4% 45.4%
1985 49.5% 45.3%
1984 49.4% 45.2%
1983 49.3% 45.4%
1982 49.2% 45.7%
1981 48.9% 45.9%
1980 48.7% 46.2%
1979 48.5% 46.5%
1978 48.3% 47%
1977 48.1% 47.5%
1976 47.9% 47.9%
1975 47.7% 48.2%
1974 47.5% 48.3%
1973 47.4% 48.4%
1972 47.3% 48.4%
1971 47.2% 48.4%
1970 47.2% 48.2%
1969 47.2% 48.1%
1968 47.3% 47.9%
1967 47.5% 47.8%
1966 47.7% 47.6%
1965 47.7% 47.4%
1964 47.8% 47.1%
1963 47.7% 46.8%
1962 47.4% 46.4%
1961 47.2% 45.9%
1960 46.9% 45.4%

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/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 33.4% of the population in Eswatini and 35.8% in Ghana in 2024, compared to 47.6% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Eswatini and Ghana compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Eswatini vs Ghana

Eswatini
Ghana
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Eswatini Ghana
2023 118 234
2022 112 239
2021 219 264
2020 102 253
2019 96 260
2018 133 276
2017 151 287
2016 213 296
2015 283 310
2014 369 317
2013 491 338
2012 613 351
2011 765 356
2010 752 363
2009 855 369
2008 766 380
2007 647 377
2006 511 385
2005 529 390
2004 451 403
2003 392 410
2002 331 434
2001 307 460
2000 361 472
1999 409 490
1998 475 521
1997 550 553
1996 604 591
1995 612 630
1994 645 670
1993 609 696
1992 580 718
1991 545 745
1990 520 769
1989 505 799
1988 494 834
1987 521 873
1986 548 908
1985 580 943

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

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 234 deaths in Ghana.

Under-five mortality rates

Eswatini
Ghana

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Eswatini Ghana
2023 4.5% 3.71%
2022 4.62% 3.85%
2021 4.76% 4.02%
2020 4.98% 4.2%
2019 5.16% 4.39%
2018 5.1% 4.6%
2017 5.43% 4.81%
2016 5.53% 5.02%
2015 5.86% 5.25%
2014 6.17% 5.48%
2013 6.16% 5.74%
2012 6.38% 6.02%
2011 6.81% 6.33%
2010 8.18% 6.65%
2009 9.25% 6.99%
2008 9.82% 7.31%
2007 10% 7.63%
2006 10.5% 7.93%
2005 11.6% 8.22%
2004 11.6% 8.52%
2003 11.6% 8.85%
2002 11.4% 9.21%
2001 11.3% 9.61%
2000 10.9% 10%
1999 10.4% 10.4%
1998 9.87% 10.8%
1997 9.3% 11.1%
1996 8.71% 11.3%
1995 8.12% 11.5%
1994 7.62% 11.6%
1993 7.17% 11.8%
1992 6.85% 12%
1991 6.72% 12.3%
1990 6.75% 12.8%
1989 6.93% 13.3%
1988 7.2% 13.8%
1987 7.54% 14.4%
1986 7.93% 15%
1985 8.37% 15.5%
1984 8.85% 15.9%
1983 10.4% 16.2%
1982 9.89% 16.4%
1981 10.4% 16.6%
1980 10.9% 16.7%
1979 11.5% 16.9%
1978 12% 17.2%
1977 12.6% 17.7%
1976 13.2% 18.2%
1975 13.7% 18.7%
1974 14.3% 19.2%
1973 14.9% 19.6%
1972 15.4% 19.9%
1971 16% 20.1%
1970 16.5% 20.2%
1969 17% 20.3%
1968 17.4% 20.3%
1967 17.9% 20.3%
1966 18.3% 20.3%
1965 18.8% 20.3%
1964 19.2% 20.3%
1963 19.6% 20.4%
1962 20% 20.5%
1961 20.4% 20.7%
1960 20.7% 20.9%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/eswatini/ghana | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.5% in Eswatini and 3.71% in Ghana. 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) (2017–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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