Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Finland and Lesotho

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has an annual birth rate of 7.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.1 for Lesotho. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.26 in Finland and 2.69 in Lesotho — 113.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -53.7% in Finland and by -53.4% in Lesotho — in 1960, it was 2.72 and 5.78, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Finland is ranked 179/196 by birth rate compared to 56/196 for Lesotho.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30 years in Finland, compared to 20.9 years in Lesotho.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.6 in Finland — it's 27.9 in Lesotho.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.1 in Finland vs 70.6 in Lesotho.
  • In Finland, 20.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in Lesotho.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.32% in Finland and +1.35% in Lesotho.

Birth rate data compared

Finland Lesotho
Fertility rate 1.26 2.69
Birth rate 7.8 24.1
Birth rate rank 179/196 56/196
Age at first childbirth 30 years 20.9 years
Average age at childbearing 31.6 years 27.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 2.9 69.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 48.1 134.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 14.4 38.1
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.8% 27.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 81.6% 65.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.5% 86.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.008% 0.48%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.13% 2.87%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 5.54%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.23% 5.89%
Population change due to births and deaths -17,869 +31,115
Natural population change rank 175/196 103/196
Natural population change rate -0.32% +1.35%
Population growth +0.95% +1.12%
Population growth rank 106/197 96/197
Life expectancy 82.2 years 58.2 years

Fertility rate in Finland vs Lesotho chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Finland was 1.26 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Finland vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Finland
Factual

UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Finland Lesotho
1960 2.72 5.78
1961 2.72 5.79
1962 2.68 5.79
1963 2.68 5.78
1964 2.59 5.77
1965 2.48 5.77
1966 2.41 5.76
1967 2.32 5.75
1968 2.14 5.73
1969 1.93 5.7
1970 1.83 5.7
1971 1.68 5.7
1972 1.58 5.69
1973 1.49 5.69
1974 1.61 5.75
1975 1.68 5.83
1976 1.7 5.87
1977 1.68 5.85
1978 1.64 5.82
1979 1.64 5.79
1980 1.63 5.75
1981 1.64 5.69
1982 1.71 5.63
1983 1.74 5.56
1984 1.69 5.48
1985 1.64 5.4
1986 1.6 5.32
1987 1.59 5.22
1988 1.69 5.1
1989 1.71 4.96
1990 1.78 4.81
1991 1.79 4.68
1992 1.85 4.54
1993 1.81 4.37
1994 1.85 4.21
1995 1.81 4.13
1996 1.78 4.06
1997 1.75 3.98
1998 1.7 3.82
1999 1.73 3.67
2000 1.73 3.61
2001 1.73 3.63
2002 1.72 3.68
2003 1.76 3.62
2004 1.8 3.51
2005 1.8 3.43
2006 1.84 3.41
2007 1.83 3.44
2008 1.85 3.39
2009 1.86 3.31
2010 1.87 3.25
2011 1.83 3.34
2012 1.8 3.3
2013 1.75 3.28
2014 1.71 3.24
2015 1.65 3.22
2016 1.57 3.18
2017 1.49 3.11
2018 1.41 3.02
2019 1.35 2.92
2020 1.37 2.85
2021 1.46 2.77
2022 1.32 2.72
2023 1.26 2.69
2024 1.27 2.66
2025 1.28 2.64
2026 1.28 2.61
2027 1.29 2.58
2028 1.3 2.55
2029 1.3 2.53
2030 1.31 2.5
2031 1.31 2.47
2032 1.32 2.45
2033 1.32 2.43
2034 1.33 2.41
2035 1.34 2.38
2036 1.34 2.37
2037 1.35 2.34
2038 1.35 2.32
2039 1.35 2.3
2040 1.36 2.29
2041 1.36 2.27
2042 1.37 2.25
2043 1.37 2.24
2044 1.37 2.22
2045 1.37 2.21
2046 1.38 2.19
2047 1.38 2.18
2048 1.39 2.17
2049 1.39 2.16
2050 1.39 2.14

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Finland
Factual

UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Finland Lesotho
1960 30.4% 45.1%
1961 29.8% 45.2%
1962 29.1% 45.3%
1963 28.4% 45.2%
1964 27.7% 44.9%
1965 27.1% 44.8%
1966 26.6% 44.9%
1967 26.2% 44.8%
1968 25.7% 44.4%
1969 25.2% 44%
1970 24.6% 43.6%
1971 24% 43.1%
1972 23.4% 42.7%
1973 22.9% 42.3%
1974 22.4% 41.9%
1975 22% 41.6%
1976 21.7% 41.4%
1977 21.3% 41.5%
1978 21% 41.7%
1979 20.6% 41.9%
1980 20.3% 42.1%
1981 20% 42.3%
1982 19.8% 42.5%
1983 19.6% 42.7%
1984 19.5% 42.8%
1985 19.4% 43%
1986 19.3% 42.7%
1987 19.3% 42.5%
1988 19.3% 42.7%
1989 19.4% 42.8%
1990 19.3% 42.9%
1991 19.2% 42.9%
1992 19.2% 42.8%
1993 19.1% 42.6%
1994 19.1% 42.3%
1995 19% 42%
1996 18.9% 41.7%
1997 18.8% 41.2%
1998 18.6% 40.7%
1999 18.3% 40.2%
2000 18.2% 39.6%
2001 18% 39.1%
2002 17.9% 38.6%
2003 17.7% 38.1%
2004 17.5% 37.7%
2005 17.4% 37.4%
2006 17.2% 37.1%
2007 17% 36.8%
2008 16.8% 36.7%
2009 16.7% 36.6%
2010 16.6% 36.5%
2011 16.5% 36.5%
2012 16.4% 36.5%
2013 16.4% 36.5%
2014 16.4% 36.6%
2015 16.4% 36.6%
2016 16.3% 36.6%
2017 16.2% 36.5%
2018 16.1% 36.3%
2019 15.9% 36.1%
2020 15.7% 35.8%
2021 15.5% 35.6%
2022 15.2% 35.3%
2023 14.9% 34.9%
2024 14.6% 34.5%
2025 14.3% 34.1%
2026 14% 33.6%
2027 13.7% 33.1%
2028 13.4% 32.6%
2029 13.2% 32%
2030 12.9% 31.5%
2031 12.7% 31%
2032 12.6% 30.5%
2033 12.5% 30.1%
2034 12.4% 29.7%
2035 12.4% 29.3%
2036 12.4% 29%
2037 12.4% 28.8%
2038 12.4% 28.5%
2039 12.5% 28.3%
2040 12.5% 28.1%
2041 12.6% 27.8%
2042 12.7% 27.6%
2043 12.7% 27.4%
2044 12.8% 27.1%
2045 12.9% 26.9%
2046 13% 26.7%
2047 13% 26.4%
2048 13.1% 26.2%
2049 13.1% 25.9%
2050 13.1% 25.7%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.6% of the population in Finland and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 19.3% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Finland and Lesotho compared.

Natural population change in Finland vs Lesotho by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been -0.12% in Finland and +1.44% in Lesotho. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Finland
Lesotho

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Finland Lesotho
1960 42,082 19,981
1961 41,487 20,581
1962 38,627 21,132
1963 40,258 21,585
1964 38,208 22,116
1965 33,771 22,755
1966 34,356 23,326
1967 33,622 23,911
1968 28,684 24,490
1969 21,732 25,137
1970 20,268 25,935
1971 15,220 26,838
1972 14,847 27,841
1973 13,532 28,859
1974 17,824 30,444
1975 21,673 32,311
1976 21,738 34,117
1977 21,799 35,654
1978 20,436 37,084
1979 19,535 38,440
1980 18,640 39,617
1981 18,720 40,808
1982 22,686 41,941
1983 21,851 42,899
1984 20,015 43,785
1985 14,707 44,575
1986 13,279 45,232
1987 11,837 47,718
1988 14,344 47,158
1989 14,396 46,264
1990 15,458 45,060
1991 16,044 44,026
1992 16,639 42,579
1993 13,679 40,505
1994 17,300 38,629
1995 13,791 37,370
1996 11,274 36,228
1997 9,766 34,637
1998 7,730 30,889
1999 7,748 27,393
2000 7,765 24,786
2001 7,263 23,190
2002 6,241 22,274
2003 7,819 20,133
2004 9,933 17,271
2005 9,968 15,831
2006 11,059 15,234
2007 9,519 17,763
2008 10,627 19,349
2009 10,678 20,335
2010 10,191 21,877
2011 9,160 25,647
2012 7,579 27,592
2013 6,527 29,789
2014 4,915 30,922
2015 2,740 32,087
2016 -1,099 33,390
2017 -3,856 33,601
2018 -7,170 33,112
2019 -8,282 32,279
2020 -8,847 30,721
2021 -7,757 27,806
2022 -18,335 30,803
2023 -17,869 31,115

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Finland vs Lesotho

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 8 deaths per 100,000 live births in Finland, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Finland
Lesotho
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Finland Lesotho
1985 7 711
1986 8 680
1987 7 686
1988 8 680
1989 8 680
1990 8 665
1991 8 641
1992 8 601
1993 7 542
1994 7 423
1995 7 357
1996 7 319
1997 7 312
1998 7 332
1999 7 371
2000 7 413
2001 7 465
2002 7 484
2003 7 508
2004 7 499
2005 8 549
2006 7 696
2007 7 891
2008 7 1,205
2009 8 1,387
2010 8 1,311
2011 7 1,210
2012 8 1,000
2013 8 855
2014 7 707
2015 7 594
2016 7 518
2017 8 468
2018 8 491
2019 8 467
2020 9 529
2021 8 577
2022 8 477
2023 8 478

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.23% in Finland and 5.89% in Lesotho. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Finland
Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
Finland Lesotho
1960 2.68% 18.6%
1961 2.53% 18.5%
1962 2.38% 18.5%
1963 2.25% 18.6%
1964 2.13% 18.6%
1965 2.02% 18.7%
1966 1.92% 18.6%
1967 1.84% 18.5%
1968 1.76% 18.3%
1969 1.68% 18%
1970 1.61% 17.7%
1971 1.54% 17.3%
1972 1.46% 16.9%
1973 1.39% 16.5%
1974 1.31% 16%
1975 1.23% 15.5%
1976 1.14% 14.9%
1977 1.06% 14.2%
1978 0.99% 13.6%
1979 0.92% 12.9%
1980 0.87% 12.3%
1981 0.82% 11.7%
1982 0.79% 11.1%
1983 0.76% 10.6%
1984 0.75% 10.1%
1985 0.73% 9.72%
1986 0.73% 9.36%
1987 0.72% 9.06%
1988 0.71% 8.8%
1989 0.69% 8.6%
1990 0.67% 8.47%
1991 0.64% 8.43%
1992 0.61% 8.51%
1993 0.58% 8.73%
1994 0.55% 9.07%
1995 0.52% 9.45%
1996 0.49% 9.83%
1997 0.47% 10.2%
1998 0.46% 10.5%
1999 0.44% 10.7%
2000 0.43% 10.9%
2001 0.42% 11.1%
2002 0.41% 11.2%
2003 0.4% 11.4%
2004 0.39% 11.5%
2005 0.37% 11.6%
2006 0.36% 11.5%
2007 0.35% 11.2%
2008 0.33% 10.9%
2009 0.32% 9.64%
2010 0.3% 9.01%
2011 0.29% 8.59%
2012 0.28% 8.26%
2013 0.26% 8.02%
2014 0.26% 7.82%
2015 0.25% 7.51%
2016 0.24% 7.18%
2017 0.24% 7.12%
2018 0.24% 6.91%
2019 0.23% 6.87%
2020 0.23% 6.68%
2021 0.23% 6.44%
2022 0.23% 6.15%
2023 0.23% 5.89%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Finland vs Lesotho
Afghanistan Compare Compare
Albania Compare Compare
Algeria Compare Compare
Andorra Compare Compare
Angola Compare Compare
Antigua Compare Compare
Argentina Compare Compare
Armenia Compare Compare
Australia Compare Compare
Austria Compare Compare
Azerbaijan Compare Compare
Bahamas Compare Compare
Bahrain Compare Compare
Bangladesh Compare Compare
Barbados Compare Compare
Belarus Compare Compare
Belgium Compare Compare
Belize Compare Compare
Benin Compare Compare
Bhutan Compare Compare
Bolivia Compare Compare
Bosnia Compare Compare
Botswana Compare Compare
Brazil Compare Compare
Brunei Compare Compare
Bulgaria Compare Compare
Burkina Faso Compare Compare
Burundi Compare Compare
Cambodia Compare Compare
Cameroon Compare Compare
Canada Compare Compare
Cape Verde Compare Compare
Cayman Islands Compare Compare
CAR Compare Compare
Chad Compare Compare
Chile Compare Compare
China Compare Compare
Colombia Compare Compare
Comoros Compare Compare
Congo Compare Compare
Costa Rica Compare Compare
Croatia Compare Compare
Cuba Compare Compare
Curacao Compare Compare
Cyprus Compare Compare
Czech Republic Compare Compare
DR Congo Compare Compare
Denmark Compare Compare
Djibouti Compare Compare
Dominica Compare Compare
Dominican Republic Compare Compare
East Timor Compare Compare
Ecuador Compare Compare
Egypt Compare Compare
El Salvador Compare Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare Compare
Eritrea Compare Compare
Estonia Compare Compare
Eswatini Compare Compare
Ethiopia Compare Compare
Fiji Compare Compare
France Compare Compare
Gabon Compare Compare
Gambia Compare Compare
Georgia Compare Compare
Germany Compare Compare
Ghana Compare Compare
Greece Compare Compare
Grenada Compare Compare
Guatemala Compare Compare
Guinea Compare Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare Compare
Guyana Compare Compare
Haiti Compare Compare
Honduras Compare Compare
Hungary Compare Compare
Iceland Compare Compare
India Compare Compare
Indonesia Compare Compare
Iran Compare Compare
Iraq Compare Compare
Ireland Compare Compare
Israel Compare Compare
Italy Compare Compare
Ivory Coast Compare Compare
Jamaica Compare Compare
Japan Compare Compare
Jordan Compare Compare
Kazakhstan Compare Compare
Kenya Compare Compare
Kiribati Compare Compare
Kuwait Compare Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare Compare
Laos Compare Compare
Latvia Compare Compare
Lebanon Compare Compare
Liberia Compare Compare
Libya Compare Compare
Liechtenstein Compare Compare
Lithuania Compare Compare
Luxembourg Compare Compare
Madagascar Compare Compare
Malawi Compare Compare
Malaysia Compare Compare
Maldives Compare Compare
Mali Compare Compare
Malta Compare Compare
Marshall Islands Compare Compare
Mauritania Compare Compare
Mauritius Compare Compare
Mexico Compare Compare
Moldova Compare Compare
Monaco Compare Compare
Mongolia Compare Compare
Montenegro Compare Compare
Morocco Compare Compare
Mozambique Compare Compare
Myanmar Compare Compare
Namibia Compare Compare
Nauru Compare Compare
Nepal Compare Compare
Netherlands Compare Compare
New Zealand Compare Compare
Nicaragua Compare Compare
Niger Compare Compare
Nigeria Compare Compare
North Korea Compare Compare
North Macedonia Compare Compare
Norway Compare Compare
Oman Compare Compare
Pakistan Compare Compare
Palau Compare Compare
Palestine Compare Compare
Panama Compare Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare Compare
Paraguay Compare Compare
Peru Compare Compare
Philippines Compare Compare
Poland Compare Compare
Portugal Compare Compare
Qatar Compare Compare
Romania Compare Compare
Russia Compare Compare
Rwanda Compare Compare
Saint Kitts Compare Compare
Saint Lucia Compare Compare
Saint Vincent Compare Compare
Samoa Compare Compare
San Marino Compare Compare
Sao Tome Compare Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare Compare
Senegal Compare Compare
Serbia Compare Compare
Seychelles Compare Compare
Sierra Leone Compare Compare
Singapore Compare Compare
Slovakia Compare Compare
Slovenia Compare Compare
Solomon Islands Compare Compare
Somalia Compare Compare
South Africa Compare Compare
South Korea Compare Compare
South Sudan Compare Compare
Spain Compare Compare
Sri Lanka Compare Compare
Sudan Compare Compare
Suriname Compare Compare
Sweden Compare Compare
Switzerland Compare Compare
Syria Compare Compare
Taiwan Compare Compare
Tajikistan Compare Compare
Tanzania Compare Compare
Thailand Compare Compare
Togo Compare Compare
Tonga Compare Compare
Trinidad Compare Compare
Tunisia Compare Compare
Turkey Compare Compare
Turkmenistan Compare Compare
Tuvalu Compare Compare
Uganda Compare Compare
Ukraine Compare Compare
UAE Compare Compare
United Kingdom Compare Compare
United States Compare Compare
Uruguay Compare Compare
Uzbekistan Compare Compare
Vanuatu Compare Compare
Venezuela Compare Compare
Vietnam Compare Compare
Yemen Compare Compare
Zambia Compare Compare
Zimbabwe Compare Compare