Gabon birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Gabon has a birth rate of 27.7 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.65 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Gabon was 4.42 children per woman — 1.21 times higher than in 2023.

Gabon birth rate statistics:

Gabon is ranked 42/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 141/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Gabon is 19.6 — it was 20.3 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.5, a change from 28.6 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 123.3 in 1960 to 91.7 in 2023.
24.6% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 24.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Gabon by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.65	40
2022	3.71	40
2021	3.78	39
2020	3.83	39
2019	3.88	40
2018	3.91	41
2017	3.91	41
2016	3.92	42
2015	3.92	47
2014	3.95	49
2013	4.02	49
2012	4.09	49
2011	4.15	47
2010	4.15	47
2009	4.14	48
2008	4.12	48
2007	4.14	47
2006	4.17	48
2005	4.21	49
2004	4.25	49
2003	4.3	49
2002	4.36	52
2001	4.42	52
2000	4.47	52
1999	4.5	53
1998	4.58	53
1997	4.66	53
1996	4.74	55
1995	4.88	53
1994	5.04	53
1993	5.19	52
1992	5.29	53
1991	5.37	54
1990	5.46	56
1989	5.55	56
1988	5.62	56
1987	5.67	60
1986	5.69	60
1985	5.71	63
1984	5.73	63
1983	5.76	65
1982	5.74	67
1981	5.73	70
1980	5.66	76
1979	5.61	77
1978	5.57	82
1977	5.52	85
1976	5.46	90
1975	5.39	92
1974	5.33	96
1973	5.29	104
1972	5.24	106
1971	5.16	114
1970	5.1	119
1969	5.05	121
1968	4.98	126
1967	4.92	127
1966	4.86	128
1965	4.79	132
1964	4.71	134
1963	4.65	136
1962	4.59	137
1961	4.5	138
1960	4.42	141

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Gabon is 3.65, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.19 — a 29.7% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	53,167	68,744	15,577
2022	52,944	68,790	15,846
2021	52,611	68,777	16,166
2020	52,745	68,610	15,865
2019	53,185	68,362	15,177
2018	52,476	67,557	15,081
2017	51,455	66,376	14,921
2016	50,321	65,073	14,752
2015	48,876	63,444	14,568
2014	47,704	62,090	14,386
2013	46,829	61,062	14,233
2012	45,941	60,005	14,064
2011	44,922	58,825	13,903
2010	43,061	56,809	13,748
2009	41,037	54,613	13,576
2008	39,002	52,421	13,419
2007	37,394	50,709	13,315
2006	35,984	49,189	13,205
2005	34,766	47,829	13,063
2004	33,615	46,554	12,939
2003	32,633	45,436	12,803
2002	31,777	44,491	12,714
2001	30,941	43,515	12,574
2000	30,210	42,641	12,431
1999	29,330	41,613	12,283
1998	28,697	40,847	12,150
1997	28,053	40,057	12,004
1996	27,450	39,336	11,886
1995	27,290	39,006	11,716
1994	27,271	38,877	11,606
1993	27,235	38,705	11,470
1992	26,810	38,156	11,346
1991	26,334	37,561	11,227
1990	25,858	36,982	11,124
1989	25,359	36,377	11,018
1988	24,888	35,811	10,923
1987	24,212	35,030	10,818
1986	23,362	34,092	10,730
1985	22,617	33,283	10,666
1984	21,851	32,474	10,623
1983	21,162	31,729	10,567
1982	20,292	30,793	10,501
1981	19,528	29,932	10,404
1980	18,503	28,865	10,362
1979	17,553	27,883	10,330
1978	16,714	27,026	10,312
1977	15,842	26,130	10,288
1976	14,998	25,264	10,266
1975	14,162	24,421	10,259
1974	13,381	23,642	10,261
1973	12,731	23,009	10,278
1972	12,095	22,370	10,275
1971	11,357	21,624	10,267
1970	10,635	20,892	10,257
1969	9,969	20,212	10,243
1968	9,417	19,685	10,268
1967	8,883	19,190	10,307
1966	8,410	18,753	10,343
1965	7,902	18,278	10,376
1964	7,402	17,851	10,449
1963	7,001	17,474	10,473
1962	6,609	17,128	10,519
1961	6,161	16,725	10,564
1960	5,732	16,345	10,613

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Gabon (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.31% annually. On average, 51,548 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 2.14% — 53,167 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Gabon ranks 91/196 for absolute natural population change and 42/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Gabon compared to other countries

	Gabon	Rank
Fertility rate	3.65	40/196
Birth rate	27.7	42/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+53,167	91/196
Natural population change rate	+2.14%	42/196
Population growth	+2.18%	44/197
Age at first childbirth	19.6 years	119/137
Average age at childbearing	28.5 years	133/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	86.8	24/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	160.7	52/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	51.8	38/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	24.6%	96/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	17.3%	155/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	89.3%	136/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.23%	33/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	1.68%	57/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	2.65%	55/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.32%	56/192
Life expectancy	68.9 years	147/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	52.8	86.8	160.7	51.8
2025	53.7	88.8	162.3	53.5
2024	54.7	91	164	55.3
2023	55.8	93.1	165.7	57
2022	57.2	94.7	168.3	58.8
2021	58.5	96.2	170.9	60.4
2020	59.8	97.5	173.1	61.9
2019	61.1	98.7	175.1	63.2
2018	61.9	99.1	176	63.9
2017	62.4	99.8	175.8	64.2
2016	62.8	100.6	175.6	64.3
2015	63	102.4	174.8	64.2
2014	63.5	104.9	175.1	64.5
2013	64.4	108.5	176.9	65.2
2012	65.4	112.3	179.3	65.6
2011	66.2	115.6	181.3	66.1
2010	66.1	117.8	181	65.2
2009	65.5	117.8	180.6	64.1
2008	64.7	117.5	179.9	63
2007	64.4	117.9	180	62.8
2006	64.3	120.1	181	62.3
2005	64.3	122.3	182.3	62.1
2004	64.2	124.6	183.6	62
2003	64.3	124.9	187.5	61.6
2002	64.6	127.1	189.8	62.1
2001	64.8	128.9	191.9	62.5
2000	65.1	134.2	194.3	62.2
1999	65.1	139	195.8	61.6
1998	65.5	140.7	199.5	61.9
1997	65.7	140.7	202.6	62.8
1996	66	140.9	205.8	63.7
1995	67	138.2	212.3	65.7
1994	68.4	142.4	216.9	67.7
1993	69.8	151	220.1	68.9
1992	70.5	151.2	224.4	69.9
1991	71.3	155.4	227.6	70.2
1990	72.1	159.4	230.7	70.5
1989	72.9	158.9	235.7	71.2
1988	73.7	162.9	239.8	70.8
1987	74	163.6	242.8	70.4
1986	74	161.8	244.2	70.2
1985	74.2	164.1	245.1	69.6
1984	74.4	166.3	245.7	68.9
1983	74.6	168.4	246	68.6
1982	74.3	169.7	245.1	67.3
1981	74.1	171.3	244.4	66.1
1980	73.3	172.2	241.2	64.5
1979	72.6	173.1	238.6	63.1
1978	72	174.5	236.5	62
1977	71.3	171.9	234.2	61.1
1976	70.5	169	232	60.1
1975	69.5	165.9	229.3	59
1974	68.7	162.8	226.8	58.2
1973	68.2	160.4	225.3	57.7
1972	67.7	158	223.3	57.1
1971	66.7	154.6	220.3	56.2
1970	65.7	151.5	217.6	55.5
1969	64.9	149.5	215.2	54.8
1968	64.4	146.5	212.3	54.3
1967	63.9	143.1	209.9	53.7
1966	63.4	140.8	207.5	53.1
1965	62.7	138.3	204.3	52.4
1964	62.1	135.3	201.3	51.7
1963	61.6	132.2	198.6	51.1
1962	61.2	130	196.1	50.6
1961	60.5	127	192.7	49.8
1960	59.9	124.1	189.5	49

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Gabon by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 15.7% will be to women under age 20, 47.2% to women ages 20-29, and 37% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 20.6%, 46.1%, and 33.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Gabon	World
2100	20.4%	16.5%
2099	20.5%	16.6%
2098	20.7%	16.6%
2097	20.8%	16.7%
2096	21%	16.8%
2095	21.1%	16.8%
2094	21.3%	16.9%
2093	21.4%	17%
2092	21.6%	17%
2091	21.7%	17.1%
2090	21.9%	17.2%
2089	22%	17.2%
2088	22.2%	17.3%
2087	22.4%	17.4%
2086	22.5%	17.4%
2085	22.7%	17.5%
2084	22.9%	17.5%
2083	23%	17.6%
2082	23.2%	17.7%
2081	23.3%	17.7%
2080	23.5%	17.8%
2079	23.7%	17.8%
2078	23.8%	17.9%
2077	24%	17.9%
2076	24.1%	18%
2075	24.3%	18%
2074	24.5%	18.1%
2073	24.6%	18.2%
2072	24.8%	18.2%
2071	25%	18.3%
2070	25.2%	18.3%
2069	25.4%	18.4%
2068	25.6%	18.5%
2067	25.8%	18.6%
2066	26%	18.6%
2065	26.2%	18.7%
2064	26.5%	18.8%
2063	26.7%	18.9%
2062	26.9%	19.1%
2061	27.2%	19.2%
2060	27.4%	19.3%
2059	27.7%	19.4%
2058	28%	19.5%
2057	28.2%	19.6%
2056	28.5%	19.8%
2055	28.7%	19.9%
2054	28.9%	20%
2053	29.1%	20.1%
2052	29.4%	20.2%
2051	29.6%	20.3%
2050	29.7%	20.4%
2049	29.9%	20.5%
2048	30.1%	20.6%
2047	30.2%	20.7%
2046	30.4%	20.8%
2045	30.6%	20.9%
2044	30.7%	20.9%
2043	30.9%	21%
2042	31%	21.1%
2041	31.2%	21.2%
2040	31.4%	21.2%
2039	31.7%	21.3%
2038	31.9%	21.4%
2037	32.2%	21.5%
2036	32.5%	21.6%
2035	32.9%	21.8%
2034	33.2%	22%
2033	33.6%	22.2%
2032	34%	22.4%
2031	34.4%	22.7%
2030	34.7%	23%
2029	35.1%	23.3%
2028	35.4%	23.6%
2027	35.8%	23.9%
2026	36.1%	24.2%
2025	36.4%	24.6%
2024	36.5%	24.7%
2023	36.7%	25%
2022	36.8%	25.3%
2021	36.8%	25.6%
2020	36.8%	25.8%
2019	36.8%	26%
2018	36.7%	26.2%
2017	36.6%	26.4%
2016	36.6%	26.5%
2015	36.6%	26.6%
2014	36.7%	26.8%
2013	36.8%	26.9%
2012	37%	27%
2011	37.1%	27.1%
2010	37.3%	27.3%
2009	37.6%	27.5%
2008	37.9%	27.6%
2007	38.2%	27.9%
2006	38.6%	28.1%
2005	39%	28.5%
2004	39.4%	28.8%
2003	39.7%	29.2%
2002	40.1%	29.6%
2001	40.5%	30%
2000	40.8%	30.4%
1999	41.2%	30.8%
1998	41.5%	31.1%
1997	41.8%	31.5%
1996	42%	31.8%
1995	42.3%	32.1%
1994	42.4%	32.3%
1993	42.5%	32.5%
1992	42.5%	32.7%
1991	42.5%	32.9%
1990	42.4%	33%
1989	42.3%	33.2%
1988	42.1%	33.4%
1987	41.9%	33.6%
1986	41.6%	33.8%
1985	41.4%	34%
1984	41%	34.3%
1983	40.7%	34.6%
1982	40.3%	34.9%
1981	39.9%	35.2%
1980	39.6%	35.5%
1979	39.2%	35.9%
1978	38.8%	36.3%
1977	38.4%	36.7%
1976	38%	36.9%
1975	37.6%	37.1%
1974	37.1%	37.2%
1973	36.7%	37.3%
1972	36.3%	37.5%
1971	35.8%	37.6%
1970	35.4%	37.7%
1969	35.1%	37.8%
1968	34.7%	37.9%
1967	34.3%	38%
1966	33.9%	38%
1965	33.5%	38%
1964	33%	38%
1963	32.6%	37.8%
1962	32.2%	37.6%
1961	31.8%	37.5%
1960	31.4%	37.4%

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/gabon | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Gabon was 31.4% in 1960, 42.5% in 1992, and 36.5% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Gabon.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Gabon	World
2023	233	197
2022	216	203
2021	249	242
2020	194	211
2019	179	207
2018	176	211
2017	184	215
2016	215	220
2015	239	228
2014	273	231
2013	235	235
2012	173	239
2011	149	247
2010	144	253
2009	158	258
2008	158	264
2007	173	269
2006	186	276
2005	175	283
2004	142	291
2003	134	301
2002	151	311
2001	160	321
2000	178	328
1999	216	340
1998	258	360
1997	290	358
1996	321	366
1995	341	371
1994	357	382
1993	364	389
1992	371	395
1991	369	395
1990	368	391
1989	366	401
1988	367	414
1987	366	429
1986	369	438
1985	373	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Gabon was 233 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.23% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 30.9% increase compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Gabon	World
2023	3.32%	2.49%
2022	3.41%	2.59%
2021	3.52%	2.66%
2020	3.62%	2.75%
2019	3.8%	2.86%
2018	3.96%	2.97%
2017	4.1%	3.11%
2016	4.24%	3.22%
2015	4.42%	3.35%
2014	4.57%	3.48%
2013	4.73%	3.61%
2012	4.94%	3.77%
2011	5.14%	3.97%
2010	5.35%	4.11%
2009	5.57%	4.31%
2008	5.77%	4.5%
2007	5.99%	4.7%
2006	6.21%	4.92%
2005	6.39%	5.16%
2004	6.6%	5.43%
2003	6.81%	5.65%
2002	7.01%	5.94%
2001	7.19%	6.21%
2000	7.37%	6.48%
1999	7.53%	6.75%
1998	7.67%	7.05%
1997	7.79%	7.28%
1996	7.89%	7.52%
1995	7.98%	7.76%
1994	8.06%	7.98%
1993	8.14%	8.19%
1992	8.24%	8.46%
1991	8.35%	8.66%
1990	8.49%	8.81%
1989	8.64%	9.02%
1988	8.82%	9.31%
1987	9.03%	9.47%
1986	9.26%	9.81%
1985	9.52%	10.1%
1984	9.81%	10.4%
1983	10.1%	10.6%
1982	10.5%	10.8%
1981	10.8%	11%
1980	11.2%	11.4%
1979	11.6%	11.7%
1978	12%	12.2%
1977	12.4%	12.6%
1976	12.8%	13%
1975	13.3%	13.4%
1974	13.7%	13.8%
1973	14.2%	14.1%
1972	14.7%	14.5%
1971	15.2%	15.1%
1970	15.7%	15.2%
1969	16.2%	15.4%
1968	16.8%	15.6%
1967	17.4%	15.9%
1966	17.9%	16.1%
1965	18.6%	16.4%
1964	19.2%	16.6%
1963	19.8%	16.5%
1962	20.5%	16.7%
1961	21.2%	17%
1960	21.9%	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gabon | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Gabon was 33.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.32% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 73.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.