Fertility & birth rates in Eswatini and Zambia

Fertility rate in Eswatini vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Eswatini	Zambia
2023	2.75	4.1
2022	2.8	4.18
2021	2.84	4.25
2020	2.89	4.32
2019	2.93	4.42
2018	2.97	4.49
2017	3.02	4.57
2016	3.07	4.67
2015	3.12	4.78
2014	3.18	4.89
2013	3.24	5.01
2012	3.27	5.14
2011	3.32	5.26
2010	3.38	5.36
2009	3.5	5.45
2008	3.57	5.53
2007	3.58	5.61
2006	3.63	5.68
2005	3.7	5.7
2004	3.76	5.7
2003	3.8	5.71
2002	3.85	5.77
2001	3.94	5.85
2000	4.03	5.92
1999	4.09	6
1998	4.13	6.07
1997	4.24	6.12
1996	4.38	6.18
1995	4.52	6.23
1994	4.66	6.26
1993	4.82	6.3
1992	4.98	6.35
1991	5.13	6.46
1990	5.3	6.57
1989	5.48	6.64
1988	5.69	6.7
1987	5.9	6.8
1986	6.11	6.87
1985	6.28	6.93
1984	6.36	6.97
1983	6.43	7.01
1982	6.49	7.04
1981	6.54	7.07
1980	6.57	7.14
1979	6.61	7.22
1978	6.65	7.29
1977	6.68	7.35
1976	6.7	7.39
1975	6.71	7.42
1974	6.71	7.36
1973	6.72	7.34
1972	6.72	7.3
1971	6.74	7.26
1970	6.75	7.22
1969	6.76	7.18
1968	6.76	7.18
1967	6.77	7.15
1966	6.8	7.14
1965	6.79	7.12
1964	6.79	7.09
1963	6.8	7.06
1962	6.79	7.01
1961	6.77	6.98
1960	6.75	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Eswatini was 2.75 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Eswatini	Zambia
2023	20,147	577,660
2022	20,125	563,456
2021	17,314	535,629
2020	18,899	536,484
2019	19,488	528,089
2018	19,392	515,644
2017	19,278	504,630
2016	19,233	497,521
2015	19,223	491,021
2014	19,107	483,663
2013	18,903	476,846
2012	18,308	469,406
2011	17,645	459,743
2010	17,652	448,337
2009	17,656	434,458
2008	17,275	419,560
2007	16,595	403,729
2006	16,133	387,891
2005	15,945	368,756
2004	15,979	349,352
2003	16,396	331,189
2002	16,924	316,041
2001	17,824	302,682
2000	18,830	293,186
1999	19,420	283,297
1998	19,762	275,568
1997	20,686	268,198
1996	21,858	262,468
1995	23,029	257,897
1994	26,703	252,023
1993	28,046	245,917
1992	28,446	239,953
1991	28,497	237,957
1990	28,349	235,835
1989	28,257	233,429
1988	27,396	230,118
1987	27,285	227,813
1986	27,096	224,768
1985	26,835	221,351
1984	26,149	216,695
1983	24,883	212,712
1982	24,742	207,621
1981	23,973	202,822
1980	23,153	198,817
1979	22,299	197,578
1978	21,466	194,933
1977	20,609	191,557
1976	19,734	186,762
1975	18,849	182,258
1974	17,971	174,484
1973	17,145	168,258
1972	16,353	161,648
1971	15,615	155,249
1970	14,873	149,380
1969	14,164	142,660
1968	13,449	137,315
1967	12,773	131,938
1966	12,282	127,164
1965	11,719	122,814
1964	11,266	117,197
1963	10,929	114,555
1962	10,601	110,173
1961	10,262	106,318
1960	9,947	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.63% in Eswatini and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Eswatini vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Eswatini

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Eswatini	Zambia
2023	24.1	33.1
2022	24.6	33.5
2021	25	33.9
2020	25.4	34.4
2019	25.9	35
2018	26.4	35.5
2017	26.9	35.9
2016	27.6	36.6
2015	28.3	37.3
2014	29	38.1
2013	29.6	39
2012	30	39.9
2011	30.4	40.7
2010	30.9	41.4
2009	31.9	42
2008	32.3	42.6
2007	32.2	43.2
2006	32.2	43.7
2005	32.5	43.8
2004	32.6	43.9
2003	32.3	43.9
2002	32.2	44.3
2001	32.4	44.8
2000	32.6	45.5
1999	32.5	45.9
1998	32.2	46.2
1997	32.4	46.3
1996	33.1	46.6
1995	34	46.8
1994	37.3	46.7
1993	37.9	46.6
1992	38.7	46.6
1991	39.5	46.9
1990	40.4	47
1989	41.6	47.1
1988	42.2	47.1
1987	43.9	47.3
1986	45.4	47.4
1985	46.9	47.4
1984	47.8	47.3
1983	48.4	47.3
1982	48.9	47.3
1981	49.5	47.3
1980	49.8	47.5
1979	50.1	48.2
1978	50.4	48.7
1977	50.6	49.2
1976	50.7	49.5
1975	50.6	50
1974	50.3	49.7
1973	50.1	49.7
1972	49.8	49.6
1971	49.5	49.4
1970	49.1	49.3
1969	48.6	48.9
1968	48.1	48.9
1967	47.5	48.8
1966	47.4	48.8
1965	47.2	48.8
1964	47.1	48.9
1963	47.3	48.9
1962	47.3	48.9
1961	47.4	48.9
1960	47.4	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Eswatini and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 47.4 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Eswatini

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Eswatini	Zambia
2100	17.1%	21.6%
2099	17.2%	21.7%
2098	17.3%	21.9%
2097	17.4%	22%
2096	17.4%	22.2%
2095	17.5%	22.3%
2094	17.6%	22.5%
2093	17.7%	22.7%
2092	17.8%	22.8%
2091	17.9%	23%
2090	18%	23.1%
2089	18.1%	23.3%
2088	18.2%	23.5%
2087	18.3%	23.6%
2086	18.4%	23.8%
2085	18.5%	24%
2084	18.6%	24.2%
2083	18.7%	24.3%
2082	18.8%	24.5%
2081	19%	24.7%
2080	19.1%	24.9%
2079	19.2%	25.1%
2078	19.3%	25.3%
2077	19.4%	25.5%
2076	19.6%	25.7%
2075	19.7%	25.9%
2074	19.8%	26.1%
2073	20%	26.4%
2072	20.1%	26.6%
2071	20.3%	26.8%
2070	20.4%	27%
2069	20.6%	27.2%
2068	20.7%	27.5%
2067	20.9%	27.7%
2066	21.1%	27.9%
2065	21.2%	28.1%
2064	21.4%	28.4%
2063	21.6%	28.6%
2062	21.8%	28.9%
2061	22%	29.1%
2060	22.3%	29.3%
2059	22.5%	29.6%
2058	22.7%	29.8%
2057	23%	30.1%
2056	23.2%	30.4%
2055	23.5%	30.6%
2054	23.7%	30.9%
2053	24%	31.2%
2052	24.2%	31.5%
2051	24.5%	31.8%
2050	24.7%	32.2%
2049	25%	32.5%
2048	25.3%	32.8%
2047	25.5%	33.2%
2046	25.8%	33.5%
2045	26.1%	33.9%
2044	26.4%	34.2%
2043	26.7%	34.6%
2042	27%	34.9%
2041	27.3%	35.3%
2040	27.6%	35.6%
2039	27.9%	36%
2038	28.2%	36.3%
2037	28.6%	36.6%
2036	28.9%	37%
2035	29.3%	37.3%
2034	29.7%	37.6%
2033	30.1%	38%
2032	30.5%	38.3%
2031	30.8%	38.7%
2030	31.2%	39%
2029	31.6%	39.4%
2028	32%	39.8%
2027	32.4%	40.3%
2026	32.8%	40.7%
2025	33.2%	41.2%
2024	33.4%	41.5%
2023	33.7%	42%
2022	34%	42.4%
2021	34.3%	42.9%
2020	34.7%	43.3%
2019	35.1%	43.8%
2018	35.6%	44.1%
2017	36%	44.5%
2016	36.4%	44.9%
2015	36.8%	45.2%
2014	37.2%	45.5%
2013	37.6%	45.7%
2012	38%	45.9%
2011	38.4%	46.1%
2010	38.8%	46.3%
2009	39.3%	46.4%
2008	39.9%	46.6%
2007	40.4%	46.8%
2006	40.8%	47%
2005	41.1%	47.1%
2004	41.4%	47.3%
2003	41.8%	47.4%
2002	42.3%	47.6%
2001	42.9%	47.8%
2000	43.6%	48%
1999	44.4%	48.1%
1998	45.3%	48.2%
1997	46.2%	48.2%
1996	46.9%	48.2%
1995	47.4%	48.2%
1994	47%	48.2%
1993	46.4%	48.2%
1992	46.6%	48.2%
1991	47.1%	48.3%
1990	47.6%	48.4%
1989	48.1%	48.5%
1988	48.7%	48.6%
1987	49.3%	48.7%
1986	49.4%	48.8%
1985	49.5%	48.9%
1984	49.4%	49%
1983	49.3%	49.1%
1982	49.2%	49.3%
1981	48.9%	49.4%
1980	48.7%	49.5%
1979	48.5%	49.5%
1978	48.3%	49.4%
1977	48.1%	49.2%
1976	47.9%	49.1%
1975	47.7%	48.8%
1974	47.5%	48.6%
1973	47.4%	48.3%
1972	47.3%	48%
1971	47.2%	47.7%
1970	47.2%	47.4%
1969	47.2%	47.2%
1968	47.3%	47.1%
1967	47.5%	47%
1966	47.7%	46.9%
1965	47.7%	46.9%
1964	47.8%	46.7%
1963	47.7%	46.5%
1962	47.4%	46.3%
1961	47.2%	46.2%
1960	46.9%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 33.4% of the population in Eswatini and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 47.6% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Eswatini and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Eswatini vs Zambia

Chart Table

Eswatini

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Eswatini	Zambia
2023	118	85
2022	112	89
2021	219	140
2020	102	99
2019	96	103
2018	133	117
2017	151	141
2016	213	158
2015	283	154
2014	369	174
2013	491	213
2012	613	256
2011	765	291
2010	752	332
2009	855	406
2008	766	394
2007	647	324
2006	511	262
2005	529	264
2004	451	260
2003	392	250
2002	331	274
2001	307	306
2000	361	340
1999	409	378
1998	475	392
1997	550	403
1996	604	433
1995	612	466
1994	645	507
1993	609	532
1992	580	581
1991	545	611
1990	520	625
1989	505	635
1988	494	635
1987	521	630
1986	548	619
1985	580	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Eswatini

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Eswatini	Zambia
2023	4.5%	4.47%
2022	4.62%	4.67%
2021	4.76%	4.92%
2020	4.98%	5.24%
2019	5.16%	5.41%
2018	5.1%	5.52%
2017	5.43%	5.61%
2016	5.53%	5.9%
2015	5.86%	6.15%
2014	6.17%	6.38%
2013	6.16%	6.72%
2012	6.38%	7.04%
2011	6.81%	7.31%
2010	8.18%	7.57%
2009	9.25%	8%
2008	9.82%	8.62%
2007	10%	9.14%
2006	10.5%	9.71%
2005	11.6%	10.5%
2004	11.6%	11.4%
2003	11.6%	12.4%
2002	11.4%	13.4%
2001	11.3%	14.4%
2000	10.9%	15.3%
1999	10.4%	15.9%
1998	9.87%	16.3%
1997	9.3%	16.7%
1996	8.71%	17%
1995	8.12%	17.3%
1994	7.62%	17.7%
1993	7.17%	17.9%
1992	6.85%	18.1%
1991	6.72%	18.1%
1990	6.75%	18.1%
1989	6.93%	17.9%
1988	7.2%	17.7%
1987	7.54%	17.3%
1986	7.93%	17%
1985	8.37%	16.6%
1984	8.85%	16.2%
1983	10.4%	15.9%
1982	9.89%	15.7%
1981	10.4%	15.6%
1980	10.9%	15.5%
1979	11.5%	15.4%
1978	12%	15.3%
1977	12.6%	15.3%
1976	13.2%	15.4%
1975	13.7%	15.5%
1974	14.3%	15.9%
1973	14.9%	16.3%
1972	15.4%	16.9%
1971	16%	17.4%
1970	16.5%	17.9%
1969	17%	18.3%
1968	17.4%	18.5%
1967	17.9%	18.7%
1966	18.3%	18.9%
1965	18.8%	19%
1964	19.2%	19.2%
1963	19.6%	19.5%
1962	20%	19.8%
1961	20.4%	20.1%
1960	20.7%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.5% in Eswatini and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.