Fertility & birth rates in Gambia and Ghana

Fertility rate in Gambia vs Ghana by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Ghana

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Gambia	Ghana
2023	4.01	3.4
2022	4.08	3.43
2021	4.17	3.49
2020	4.25	3.54
2019	4.33	3.59
2018	4.42	3.65
2017	4.61	3.72
2016	4.81	3.87
2015	5	3.98
2014	5.2	4.03
2013	5.39	4.11
2012	5.52	4.15
2011	5.54	4.18
2010	5.56	4.18
2009	5.57	4.18
2008	5.63	4.22
2007	5.69	4.29
2006	5.74	4.4
2005	5.71	4.5
2004	5.68	4.5
2003	5.66	4.6
2002	5.66	4.69
2001	5.67	4.77
2000	5.72	4.83
1999	5.77	4.82
1998	5.82	4.83
1997	5.85	4.88
1996	5.93	4.96
1995	5.99	5.11
1994	6.04	5.25
1993	6.03	5.41
1992	6.11	5.52
1991	6.19	5.63
1990	6.25	5.74
1989	6.25	5.82
1988	6.26	5.92
1987	6.3	6.02
1986	6.34	6.08
1985	6.36	6.12
1984	6.39	6.15
1983	6.39	6.23
1982	6.4	6.31
1981	6.4	6.42
1980	6.41	6.47
1979	6.41	6.51
1978	6.42	6.56
1977	6.43	6.64
1976	6.43	6.7
1975	6.43	6.76
1974	6.42	6.82
1973	6.41	6.87
1972	6.37	6.92
1971	6.33	6.95
1970	6.26	6.95
1969	6.25	6.95
1968	6.22	6.89
1967	6.21	6.89
1966	6.18	6.86
1965	6.19	6.88
1964	6.2	6.9
1963	6.2	6.94
1962	6.21	6.94
1961	6.23	6.91
1960	6.25	6.89

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Gambia was 4.01 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 the Gambia vs Ghana population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Ghana

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Gambia	Ghana
2023	65,118	651,094
2022	63,634	646,441
2021	62,239	635,805
2020	62,209	637,469
2019	61,701	642,403
2018	60,854	641,551
2017	61,665	641,218
2016	62,358	659,910
2015	62,832	667,729
2014	63,185	660,829
2013	63,510	658,638
2012	62,745	646,595
2011	60,571	631,501
2010	58,554	613,133
2009	56,575	592,825
2008	55,032	579,695
2007	53,653	572,332
2006	52,335	569,474
2005	50,010	563,234
2004	48,276	543,339
2003	46,473	536,656
2002	45,156	528,620
2001	44,154	519,382
2000	43,249	508,738
1999	42,533	487,210
1998	41,842	471,313
1997	40,742	459,822
1996	40,253	450,259
1995	39,681	451,748
1994	38,880	449,589
1993	37,302	454,669
1992	35,951	452,156
1991	34,584	448,159
1990	33,163	442,211
1989	31,504	432,541
1988	29,938	425,031
1987	28,452	419,328
1986	27,195	411,191
1985	25,795	401,722
1984	24,586	392,053
1983	23,175	379,846
1982	21,894	369,061
1981	20,156	359,572
1980	19,566	346,816
1979	18,543	334,848
1978	17,424	324,428
1977	16,773	315,429
1976	16,032	305,769
1975	15,256	298,267
1974	14,628	290,796
1973	14,046	283,385
1972	13,432	275,236
1971	12,842	265,442
1970	12,128	257,938
1969	11,670	251,925
1968	11,215	242,821
1967	10,823	237,156
1966	10,422	231,440
1965	10,162	229,061
1964	9,825	226,685
1963	9,493	225,367
1962	9,150	223,842
1961	8,778	222,372
1960	8,420	217,134

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 +2.41% in the Gambia and +1.93% in Ghana.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Gambia and +2.1% in Ghana.

Birth rate in Gambia vs Ghana by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Ghana

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Gambia	Ghana
2023	30.4	26.3
2022	30.8	26.6
2021	31.2	27
2020	31.5	27.4
2019	31.9	27.9
2018	32.3	28.4
2017	33.5	28.9
2016	34.6	30.2
2015	35.7	31.1
2014	36.9	31.5
2013	38.1	32.2
2012	38.8	32.5
2011	38.8	32.7
2010	38.9	32.7
2009	38.9	32.6
2008	39.2	32.8
2007	39.5	33.2
2006	39.9	33.9
2005	39.7	34.4
2004	39.7	34.3
2003	39.7	34.8
2002	40	35.2
2001	40.5	35.6
2000	41.1	35.9
1999	41.8	35.6
1998	42.5	35.5
1997	43.2	35.6
1996	44.1	35.8
1995	45.1	36.7
1994	45.9	37.5
1993	46.1	38.5
1992	46.6	39.2
1991	47.2	39.9
1990	47.7	40.5
1989	47.9	40.9
1988	48.1	41.5
1987	48.5	42.2
1986	48.8	42.7
1985	49	43.1
1984	49.3	43.4
1983	49	43.4
1982	48.8	43.6
1981	48.5	43.9
1980	48.2	44.1
1979	47.8	44
1978	47.6	44.1
1977	47.5	44.4
1976	47.4	44.7
1975	47.3	45.3
1974	47.3	45.9
1973	47.5	46.4
1972	47.5	46.9
1971	47.6	47.4
1970	47.4	47.7
1969	47.6	47.9
1968	47.9	47.7
1967	48.2	47.7
1966	48.5	47.8
1965	49	48.2
1964	49.4	48.7
1963	49.8	49.2
1962	50	49.7
1961	50.3	50
1960	50.4	50.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.4 in the Gambia and 26.3 in Ghana, compared with 50.4 and 50.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Gambia

Factual

UN forecast

Ghana

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Gambia	Ghana
2100	18.1%	19.3%
2099	18.2%	19.5%
2098	18.3%	19.6%
2097	18.4%	19.7%
2096	18.5%	19.8%
2095	18.6%	20%
2094	18.7%	20.1%
2093	18.9%	20.2%
2092	19%	20.4%
2091	19.1%	20.5%
2090	19.3%	20.7%
2089	19.4%	20.8%
2088	19.6%	21%
2087	19.7%	21.1%
2086	19.9%	21.3%
2085	20%	21.4%
2084	20.2%	21.6%
2083	20.3%	21.7%
2082	20.5%	21.9%
2081	20.6%	22.1%
2080	20.8%	22.2%
2079	21%	22.4%
2078	21.2%	22.5%
2077	21.3%	22.7%
2076	21.5%	22.9%
2075	21.7%	23%
2074	21.9%	23.2%
2073	22.1%	23.4%
2072	22.3%	23.5%
2071	22.6%	23.7%
2070	22.8%	23.9%
2069	23%	24.1%
2068	23.2%	24.2%
2067	23.5%	24.4%
2066	23.7%	24.6%
2065	24%	24.8%
2064	24.3%	25.1%
2063	24.5%	25.3%
2062	24.8%	25.5%
2061	25.1%	25.7%
2060	25.4%	26%
2059	25.7%	26.2%
2058	26%	26.4%
2057	26.3%	26.7%
2056	26.7%	26.9%
2055	27%	27.2%
2054	27.3%	27.4%
2053	27.6%	27.7%
2052	28%	27.9%
2051	28.3%	28.2%
2050	28.6%	28.4%
2049	28.9%	28.6%
2048	29.3%	28.9%
2047	29.6%	29.1%
2046	30%	29.3%
2045	30.3%	29.5%
2044	30.7%	29.7%
2043	31.1%	29.9%
2042	31.5%	30.2%
2041	31.9%	30.4%
2040	32.3%	30.6%
2039	32.7%	30.8%
2038	33.2%	31%
2037	33.6%	31.3%
2036	34.1%	31.5%
2035	34.5%	31.8%
2034	35%	32%
2033	35.4%	32.3%
2032	35.9%	32.7%
2031	36.4%	33%
2030	37%	33.5%
2029	37.6%	33.9%
2028	38.2%	34.3%
2027	38.9%	34.8%
2026	39.5%	35.2%
2025	40%	35.6%
2024	40.2%	35.8%
2023	40.7%	36.2%
2022	41.2%	36.5%
2021	41.6%	36.9%
2020	42%	37.2%
2019	42.4%	37.6%
2018	42.8%	37.8%
2017	43.1%	38.1%
2016	43.3%	38.4%
2015	43.6%	38.6%
2014	43.7%	38.8%
2013	43.9%	38.9%
2012	44.1%	38.9%
2011	44.3%	39%
2010	44.5%	39.1%
2009	44.8%	39.3%
2008	45.1%	39.5%
2007	45.3%	39.8%
2006	45.6%	40.1%
2005	45.9%	40.4%
2004	46.1%	40.7%
2003	46.4%	41.1%
2002	46.6%	41.5%
2001	46.7%	41.9%
2000	46.8%	42.3%
1999	46.9%	42.7%
1998	46.9%	43.1%
1997	46.9%	43.5%
1996	46.7%	43.9%
1995	46.5%	44.2%
1994	46.3%	44.5%
1993	46%	44.8%
1992	45.9%	45%
1991	45.8%	45.2%
1990	45.7%	45.3%
1989	45.6%	45.4%
1988	45.5%	45.4%
1987	45.4%	45.5%
1986	45.2%	45.4%
1985	45%	45.3%
1984	44.9%	45.2%
1983	44.6%	45.4%
1982	44.3%	45.7%
1981	44%	45.9%
1980	43.7%	46.2%
1979	43.5%	46.5%
1978	43.3%	47%
1977	43%	47.5%
1976	42.8%	47.9%
1975	42.6%	48.2%
1974	42.4%	48.3%
1973	42.3%	48.4%
1972	42.2%	48.4%
1971	42.1%	48.4%
1970	42%	48.2%
1969	41.9%	48.1%
1968	41.8%	47.9%
1967	41.6%	47.8%
1966	41.5%	47.6%
1965	41.3%	47.4%
1964	41%	47.1%
1963	40.8%	46.8%
1962	40.7%	46.4%
1961	40.8%	45.9%
1960	41%	45.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.2% of the population in the Gambia and 35.8% in Ghana in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Gambia and Ghana compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Gambia vs Ghana

Chart Table

Gambia

Ghana

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Gambia	Ghana
2023	354	234
2022	365	239
2021	420	264
2020	400	253
2019	422	260
2018	450	276
2017	469	287
2016	490	296
2015	527	310
2014	561	317
2013	606	338
2012	628	351
2011	634	356
2010	632	363
2009	634	369
2008	653	380
2007	675	377
2006	682	385
2005	707	390
2004	719	403
2003	749	410
2002	772	434
2001	794	460
2000	810	472
1999	830	490
1998	867	521
1997	928	553
1996	956	591
1995	999	630
1994	1,039	670
1993	1,072	696
1992	1,115	718
1991	1,167	745
1990	1,207	769
1989	1,258	799
1988	1,302	834
1987	1,360	873
1986	1,401	908
1985	1,454	943

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 354 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Gambia, compared to 234 deaths in Ghana.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Gambia

Ghana

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Gambia	Ghana
2023	4.41%	3.71%
2022	4.56%	3.85%
2021	4.72%	4.02%
2020	4.89%	4.2%
2019	5.07%	4.39%
2018	5.27%	4.6%
2017	5.47%	4.81%
2016	5.7%	5.02%
2015	5.93%	5.25%
2014	6.18%	5.48%
2013	6.45%	5.74%
2012	6.73%	6.02%
2011	7.01%	6.33%
2010	7.31%	6.65%
2009	7.64%	6.99%
2008	7.98%	7.31%
2007	8.33%	7.63%
2006	8.71%	7.93%
2005	9.11%	8.22%
2004	9.52%	8.52%
2003	9.95%	8.85%
2002	10.4%	9.21%
2001	10.9%	9.61%
2000	11.3%	10%
1999	11.8%	10.4%
1998	12.3%	10.8%
1997	12.8%	11.1%
1996	13.3%	11.3%
1995	13.9%	11.5%
1994	14.4%	11.6%
1993	14.9%	11.8%
1992	15.5%	12%
1991	16%	12.3%
1990	16.6%	12.8%
1989	17.2%	13.3%
1988	17.8%	13.8%
1987	18.4%	14.4%
1986	19.1%	15%
1985	19.7%	15.5%
1984	20.4%	15.9%
1983	21%	16.2%
1982	21.7%	16.4%
1981	22.3%	16.6%
1980	23%	16.7%
1979	23.6%	16.9%
1978	24.2%	17.2%
1977	24.9%	17.7%
1976	25.5%	18.2%
1975	26.2%	18.7%
1974	26.9%	19.2%
1973	27.5%	19.6%
1972	28.2%	19.9%
1971	28.9%	20.1%
1970	29.5%	20.2%
1969	30.2%	20.3%
1968	30.9%	20.3%
1967	31.5%	20.3%
1966	32.1%	20.3%
1965	32.8%	20.3%
1964	33.5%	20.3%
1963	34.1%	20.4%
1962	34.8%	20.5%
1961	35.5%	20.7%
1960	36.2%	20.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.41% in the Gambia and 3.71% in Ghana. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.