Fertility & birth rates in Ethiopia and Malawi

Fertility rate in Ethiopia vs Malawi by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Malawi

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2023	3.99	3.65
2022	4.08	3.72
2021	4.18	3.79
2020	4.27	3.88
2019	4.35	3.95
2018	4.37	4.02
2017	4.4	4.11
2016	4.47	4.22
2015	4.53	4.38
2014	4.61	4.57
2013	4.71	4.76
2012	4.89	4.9
2011	5.08	5.08
2010	5.28	5.26
2009	5.49	5.45
2008	5.7	5.61
2007	5.89	5.72
2006	6.05	5.8
2005	6.19	5.85
2004	6.3	5.86
2003	6.4	5.88
2002	6.5	5.9
2001	6.58	5.94
2000	6.65	6
1999	6.72	6.12
1998	6.79	6.21
1997	6.87	6.23
1996	6.93	6.29
1995	7	6.39
1994	7.05	6.49
1993	7.09	6.57
1992	7.13	6.63
1991	7.16	6.68
1990	7.2	6.74
1989	7.23	6.8
1988	7.26	6.88
1987	7.29	6.97
1986	7.32	7.07
1985	7.34	7.17
1984	7.36	7.27
1983	7.35	7.36
1982	7.34	7.45
1981	7.31	7.49
1980	7.29	7.52
1979	7.25	7.47
1978	7.23	7.43
1977	7.19	7.41
1976	7.13	7.39
1975	7.08	7.36
1974	7.02	7.34
1973	6.96	7.34
1972	6.9	7.33
1971	6.84	7.31
1970	6.78	7.3
1969	6.72	7.27
1968	6.7	7.26
1967	6.68	7.21
1966	6.66	7.17
1965	6.63	7.13
1964	6.61	7.11
1963	6.59	7.13
1962	6.56	7.1
1961	6.53	7.07
1960	6.51	7.04

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ethiopia was 3.99 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.65 in Malawi in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Ethiopia vs Malawi population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Malawi

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2023	3,338,649	549,096
2022	3,300,114	533,450
2021	3,204,673	517,400
2020	3,199,718	514,659
2019	3,132,780	506,104
2018	3,015,231	494,348
2017	2,899,143	484,655
2016	2,809,889	474,779
2015	2,713,529	472,484
2014	2,623,647	472,418
2013	2,546,020	470,293
2012	2,533,398	460,684
2011	2,527,811	454,149
2010	2,498,048	444,468
2009	2,467,118	434,811
2008	2,465,283	421,781
2007	2,436,753	410,290
2006	2,393,585	397,123
2005	2,353,375	381,130
2004	2,296,999	361,133
2003	2,231,223	341,133
2002	2,189,683	322,863
2001	2,137,791	310,833
2000	2,083,622	300,439
1999	2,010,987	295,629
1998	1,984,989	285,407
1997	1,945,112	277,433
1996	1,896,364	270,048
1995	1,831,068	266,745
1994	1,788,133	275,439
1993	1,734,851	276,538
1992	1,673,839	269,066
1991	1,579,416	260,193
1990	1,479,663	250,159
1989	1,441,769	237,967
1988	1,393,356	226,911
1987	1,356,853	220,566
1986	1,050,277	218,519
1985	997,050	216,179
1984	920,670	212,146
1983	863,472	209,422
1982	1,080,853	205,386
1981	1,018,838	199,436
1980	1,007,516	192,746
1979	987,203	182,123
1978	943,388	172,503
1977	929,381	161,930
1976	899,577	153,422
1975	801,425	145,254
1974	777,306	137,819
1973	807,535	131,529
1972	779,808	125,728
1971	787,047	121,015
1970	760,821	116,822
1969	736,428	113,120
1968	715,602	110,329
1967	695,283	106,668
1966	616,281	103,512
1965	642,359	100,040
1964	618,667	97,658
1963	590,998	95,933
1962	563,650	92,463
1961	538,518	89,091
1960	511,694	85,718

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 +2.59% in Ethiopia and +2.6% in Malawi.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.64% in Ethiopia and +2.67% in Malawi.

Birth rate in Ethiopia vs Malawi by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Malawi

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2023	31.9	31.4
2022	32.4	31.7
2021	32.9	32.1
2020	33.3	32.5
2019	33.5	32.9
2018	33.4	33.2
2017	33.2	33.7
2016	33.3	34.2
2015	33.3	35.3
2014	33.4	36.5
2013	33.6	37.7
2012	34.6	38.6
2011	35.7	39.7
2010	36.6	40.7
2009	37.5	41.7
2008	38.9	42.6
2007	40.1	43.3
2006	41.1	43.8
2005	42.1	44
2004	42.7	44
2003	43.3	43.9
2002	44.3	44
2001	45	44.2
2000	45.6	44.6
1999	46.4	45.4
1998	47	45.9
1997	47.9	46
1996	48.6	46.2
1995	49	46.8
1994	49.6	48.4
1993	50.1	48.4
1992	50.4	48.1
1991	50.2	48.4
1990	50.8	48.4
1989	50.8	48.5
1988	50.9	48.8
1987	51.2	48.6
1986	51.5	49.8
1985	51.6	50.4
1984	51.4	50.8
1983	51.1	51.4
1982	50.8	52
1981	50.3	52.4
1980	51.4	52.7
1979	51.3	52.4
1978	51	52.4
1977	51.2	52.4
1976	50.7	52.6
1975	50.6	52.7
1974	50.4	52.9
1973	50.1	53.2
1972	50	53.5
1971	49.9	53.7
1970	49.7	54
1969	49.6	54.1
1968	49.5	54.4
1967	49.6	54.3
1966	49.5	54.3
1965	49.3	54.1
1964	49	54.2
1963	48.7	54.4
1962	48.5	54.2
1961	48.1	54
1960	47.9	53.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31.9 in Ethiopia and 31.4 in Malawi, compared with 47.9 and 53.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Factual

UN forecast

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2100	19.2%	19.9%
2099	19.4%	20%
2098	19.5%	20.2%
2097	19.6%	20.3%
2096	19.8%	20.4%
2095	19.9%	20.6%
2094	20.1%	20.7%
2093	20.2%	20.9%
2092	20.4%	21%
2091	20.5%	21.2%
2090	20.7%	21.3%
2089	20.9%	21.5%
2088	21%	21.6%
2087	21.2%	21.8%
2086	21.4%	22%
2085	21.5%	22.1%
2084	21.7%	22.3%
2083	21.9%	22.5%
2082	22.1%	22.7%
2081	22.3%	22.9%
2080	22.5%	23.1%
2079	22.6%	23.2%
2078	22.8%	23.4%
2077	23.1%	23.6%
2076	23.3%	23.8%
2075	23.5%	24.1%
2074	23.7%	24.3%
2073	23.9%	24.5%
2072	24.2%	24.7%
2071	24.4%	24.9%
2070	24.7%	25.2%
2069	24.9%	25.4%
2068	25.2%	25.6%
2067	25.4%	25.9%
2066	25.7%	26.1%
2065	26%	26.3%
2064	26.2%	26.6%
2063	26.5%	26.8%
2062	26.8%	27.1%
2061	27.1%	27.3%
2060	27.4%	27.6%
2059	27.6%	27.9%
2058	27.9%	28.1%
2057	28.2%	28.4%
2056	28.5%	28.7%
2055	28.8%	29%
2054	29%	29.3%
2053	29.3%	29.6%
2052	29.6%	29.9%
2051	29.9%	30.3%
2050	30.2%	30.6%
2049	30.5%	31%
2048	30.8%	31.4%
2047	31.1%	31.7%
2046	31.5%	32.1%
2045	31.9%	32.5%
2044	32.2%	32.9%
2043	32.6%	33.3%
2042	33%	33.7%
2041	33.4%	34%
2040	33.8%	34.4%
2039	34.3%	34.8%
2038	34.7%	35.1%
2037	35.1%	35.5%
2036	35.6%	35.9%
2035	36%	36.2%
2034	36.5%	36.5%
2033	36.8%	36.9%
2032	37.2%	37.2%
2031	37.5%	37.5%
2030	37.7%	37.9%
2029	37.9%	38.3%
2028	38.2%	38.8%
2027	38.4%	39.3%
2026	38.6%	39.9%
2025	38.9%	40.4%
2024	39.1%	40.7%
2023	39.4%	41.3%
2022	39.7%	41.9%
2021	40.1%	42.5%
2020	40.5%	43.1%
2019	40.9%	43.7%
2018	41.3%	44.2%
2017	41.8%	44.6%
2016	42.3%	45.1%
2015	42.9%	45.4%
2014	43.4%	45.7%
2013	44%	46%
2012	44.6%	46.1%
2011	45.2%	46.2%
2010	45.7%	46.2%
2009	46.2%	46.2%
2008	46.6%	46.1%
2007	46.9%	46.1%
2006	47.2%	46.1%
2005	47.4%	46%
2004	47.6%	46%
2003	47.7%	46.1%
2002	47.8%	46.1%
2001	47.8%	46.1%
2000	47.7%	46.2%
1999	47.6%	46.2%
1998	47.4%	46.2%
1997	47.1%	46.2%
1996	46.9%	46.2%
1995	46.7%	46.1%
1994	46.5%	46.1%
1993	46.4%	46%
1992	46.2%	45.8%
1991	46.2%	45.6%
1990	46.2%	45.4%
1989	46.1%	45.2%
1988	46%	45%
1987	46%	45.1%
1986	46%	45.4%
1985	46.1%	45.4%
1984	46.2%	45.5%
1983	46.4%	45.5%
1982	46.5%	45.4%
1981	46.4%	45.4%
1980	46.3%	45.4%
1979	46.2%	45.3%
1978	46.1%	45.3%
1977	45.9%	45.3%
1976	45.7%	45.2%
1975	45.6%	45.2%
1974	45.4%	45.1%
1973	45.2%	44.9%
1972	44.9%	44.8%
1971	44.5%	44.6%
1970	44.2%	44.4%
1969	43.8%	44.2%
1968	43.5%	43.9%
1967	43.2%	43.7%
1966	42.9%	43.4%
1965	42.5%	43.2%
1964	42.3%	43%
1963	42.2%	42.9%
1962	42.1%	42.8%
1961	42.2%	42.9%
1960	42.2%	43.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 39.1% of the population in Ethiopia and 40.7% in Malawi in 2024, compared to 46.2% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ethiopia and Malawi compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ethiopia vs Malawi

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Malawi

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2023	195	225
2022	207	239
2021	250	286
2020	244	256
2019	269	260
2018	297	267
2017	327	284
2016	364	312
2015	401	354
2014	444	367
2013	494	410
2012	545	447
2011	588	486
2010	619	517
2009	649	512
2008	678	430
2007	704	333
2006	729	286
2005	754	283
2004	764	304
2003	797	346
2002	826	404
2001	856	447
2000	870	506
1999	901	576
1998	911	658
1997	957	672
1996	1,008	713
1995	1,060	782
1994	1,113	912
1993	1,168	1,000
1992	1,218	1,042
1991	1,239	1,080
1990	1,320	1,112
1989	1,296	1,136
1988	1,306	1,154
1987	1,289	1,123
1986	1,317	1,118
1985	1,329	1,115

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 195 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ethiopia, compared to 225 deaths in Malawi.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Malawi

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ethiopia	Malawi
2023	4.65%	3.83%
2022	4.82%	3.99%
2021	5%	4.15%
2020	5.2%	4.31%
2019	5.41%	4.55%
2018	5.64%	4.75%
2017	5.89%	5.06%
2016	6.17%	5.35%
2015	6.49%	5.67%
2014	6.82%	6.02%
2013	7.16%	6.4%
2012	7.53%	6.98%
2011	7.91%	7.67%
2010	8.32%	8.3%
2009	8.76%	8.81%
2008	9.23%	9.31%
2007	9.74%	9.83%
2006	10.3%	10.3%
2005	10.9%	11%
2004	11.5%	11.9%
2003	12.1%	13.2%
2002	12.8%	14.6%
2001	13.4%	16%
2000	14%	17.3%
1999	14.7%	18.4%
1998	15.3%	19.2%
1997	15.9%	19.7%
1996	16.6%	20.2%
1995	17.2%	20.7%
1994	17.9%	21.3%
1993	18.5%	22%
1992	19.1%	22.8%
1991	19.7%	23.6%
1990	20.2%	24.3%
1989	20.6%	24.9%
1988	21%	25.3%
1987	21.5%	25.5%
1986	29.7%	25.4%
1985	30.3%	25.1%
1984	31.4%	24.8%
1983	32%	24.5%
1982	23.5%	24.5%
1981	23.8%	24.9%
1980	24%	25.6%
1979	24.2%	26.5%
1978	24.4%	27.6%
1977	24.5%	28.7%
1976	24.5%	29.7%
1975	28.2%	30.6%
1974	28.3%	31.5%
1973	24.6%	32.4%
1972	24.7%	33.2%
1971	24.7%	33.9%
1970	24.7%	34.4%
1969	24.8%	34.7%
1968	24.8%	35%
1967	24.9%	35.1%
1966	27.8%	35.3%
1965	-	35.4%
1964	-	35.5%
1963	-	35.7%
1962	-	35.8%
1961	-	35.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.65% in Ethiopia and 3.83% in Malawi. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.