The Gambia has an annual birth rate of 30.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 26.3 for Ghana. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.01 in the Gambia and 3.4 in Ghana — 15.2% difference.
1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -35.9% in the Gambia and by -50.7% in Ghana — in 1960, it was 6.25 and 6.89, respectively.
Birth rates facts compared:
- The Gambia is ranked 30/196 by birth rate compared to 47/196 for Ghana.
- The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.7 years in the Gambia, compared to 22.1 years in Ghana.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.8 in the Gambia — it's 29.5 in Ghana.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58.1 in the Gambia vs 58.2 in Ghana.
- In the Gambia, 24.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.6% in Ghana.
- 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.
Birth rate data compared
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 4.01 | 3.4 |
| Birth rate | 30.4 | 26.3 |
| Birth rate rank | 30/196 | 47/196 |
| Age at first childbirth | 20.7 years | 22.1 years |
| Average age at childbearing | 29.8 years | 29.5 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 54.1 | 56.7 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 173 | 148.4 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 68.1 | 53.2 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 24.5% | 25.6% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 17.1% | 27.8% |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 83.8% | 78.9% |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.35% | 0.23% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 2.37% | 2.12% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 3.38% | 2.82% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | 4.41% | 3.71% |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +65,118 | +651,094 |
| Natural population change rank | 88/196 | 30/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +2.41% | +1.93% |
| Population growth | +2.3% | +1.89% |
| Population growth rank | 39/197 | 59/197 |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 years | 65.9 years |
Fertility rate in Gambia vs Ghana chart
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.
The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.
Gambia
Factual
UN forecast
Ghana
Factual
UN forecast
Births per woman
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
| 1960 | 6.25 | 6.89 |
| 1961 | 6.23 | 6.91 |
| 1962 | 6.21 | 6.94 |
| 1963 | 6.2 | 6.94 |
| 1964 | 6.2 | 6.9 |
| 1965 | 6.19 | 6.88 |
| 1966 | 6.18 | 6.86 |
| 1967 | 6.21 | 6.89 |
| 1968 | 6.22 | 6.89 |
| 1969 | 6.25 | 6.95 |
| 1970 | 6.26 | 6.95 |
| 1971 | 6.33 | 6.95 |
| 1972 | 6.37 | 6.92 |
| 1973 | 6.41 | 6.87 |
| 1974 | 6.42 | 6.82 |
| 1975 | 6.43 | 6.76 |
| 1976 | 6.43 | 6.7 |
| 1977 | 6.43 | 6.64 |
| 1978 | 6.42 | 6.56 |
| 1979 | 6.41 | 6.51 |
| 1980 | 6.41 | 6.47 |
| 1981 | 6.4 | 6.42 |
| 1982 | 6.4 | 6.31 |
| 1983 | 6.39 | 6.23 |
| 1984 | 6.39 | 6.15 |
| 1985 | 6.36 | 6.12 |
| 1986 | 6.34 | 6.08 |
| 1987 | 6.3 | 6.02 |
| 1988 | 6.26 | 5.92 |
| 1989 | 6.25 | 5.82 |
| 1990 | 6.25 | 5.74 |
| 1991 | 6.19 | 5.63 |
| 1992 | 6.11 | 5.52 |
| 1993 | 6.03 | 5.41 |
| 1994 | 6.04 | 5.25 |
| 1995 | 5.99 | 5.11 |
| 1996 | 5.93 | 4.96 |
| 1997 | 5.85 | 4.88 |
| 1998 | 5.82 | 4.83 |
| 1999 | 5.77 | 4.82 |
| 2000 | 5.72 | 4.83 |
| 2001 | 5.67 | 4.77 |
| 2002 | 5.66 | 4.69 |
| 2003 | 5.66 | 4.6 |
| 2004 | 5.68 | 4.5 |
| 2005 | 5.71 | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 5.74 | 4.4 |
| 2007 | 5.69 | 4.29 |
| 2008 | 5.63 | 4.22 |
| 2009 | 5.57 | 4.18 |
| 2010 | 5.56 | 4.18 |
| 2011 | 5.54 | 4.18 |
| 2012 | 5.52 | 4.15 |
| 2013 | 5.39 | 4.11 |
| 2014 | 5.2 | 4.03 |
| 2015 | 5 | 3.98 |
| 2016 | 4.81 | 3.87 |
| 2017 | 4.61 | 3.72 |
| 2018 | 4.42 | 3.65 |
| 2019 | 4.33 | 3.59 |
| 2020 | 4.25 | 3.54 |
| 2021 | 4.17 | 3.49 |
| 2022 | 4.08 | 3.43 |
| 2023 | 4.01 | 3.4 |
| 2024 | 3.91 | 3.34 |
| 2025 | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| 2026 | 3.7 | 3.26 |
| 2027 | 3.6 | 3.22 |
| 2028 | 3.51 | 3.18 |
| 2029 | 3.41 | 3.14 |
| 2030 | 3.33 | 3.1 |
| 2031 | 3.24 | 3.06 |
| 2032 | 3.17 | 3.03 |
| 2033 | 3.1 | 2.99 |
| 2034 | 3.03 | 2.96 |
| 2035 | 2.97 | 2.93 |
| 2036 | 2.91 | 2.9 |
| 2037 | 2.86 | 2.87 |
| 2038 | 2.81 | 2.84 |
| 2039 | 2.76 | 2.81 |
| 2040 | 2.71 | 2.78 |
| 2041 | 2.67 | 2.76 |
| 2042 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2043 | 2.59 | 2.71 |
| 2044 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2045 | 2.52 | 2.66 |
| 2046 | 2.49 | 2.64 |
| 2047 | 2.46 | 2.62 |
| 2048 | 2.43 | 2.59 |
| 2049 | 2.4 | 2.57 |
| 2050 | 2.38 | 2.55 |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
Gambia
Factual
UN forecast
Ghana
Factual
UN forecast
| Year | Share of people 0-14 years old | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
| 1960 | 41% | 45.4% |
| 1961 | 40.8% | 45.9% |
| 1962 | 40.7% | 46.4% |
| 1963 | 40.8% | 46.8% |
| 1964 | 41% | 47.1% |
| 1965 | 41.3% | 47.4% |
| 1966 | 41.5% | 47.6% |
| 1967 | 41.6% | 47.8% |
| 1968 | 41.8% | 47.9% |
| 1969 | 41.9% | 48.1% |
| 1970 | 42% | 48.2% |
| 1971 | 42.1% | 48.4% |
| 1972 | 42.2% | 48.4% |
| 1973 | 42.3% | 48.4% |
| 1974 | 42.4% | 48.3% |
| 1975 | 42.6% | 48.2% |
| 1976 | 42.8% | 47.9% |
| 1977 | 43% | 47.5% |
| 1978 | 43.3% | 47% |
| 1979 | 43.5% | 46.5% |
| 1980 | 43.7% | 46.2% |
| 1981 | 44% | 45.9% |
| 1982 | 44.3% | 45.7% |
| 1983 | 44.6% | 45.4% |
| 1984 | 44.9% | 45.2% |
| 1985 | 45% | 45.3% |
| 1986 | 45.2% | 45.4% |
| 1987 | 45.4% | 45.5% |
| 1988 | 45.5% | 45.4% |
| 1989 | 45.6% | 45.4% |
| 1990 | 45.7% | 45.3% |
| 1991 | 45.8% | 45.2% |
| 1992 | 45.9% | 45% |
| 1993 | 46% | 44.8% |
| 1994 | 46.3% | 44.5% |
| 1995 | 46.5% | 44.2% |
| 1996 | 46.7% | 43.9% |
| 1997 | 46.9% | 43.5% |
| 1998 | 46.9% | 43.1% |
| 1999 | 46.9% | 42.7% |
| 2000 | 46.8% | 42.3% |
| 2001 | 46.7% | 41.9% |
| 2002 | 46.6% | 41.5% |
| 2003 | 46.4% | 41.1% |
| 2004 | 46.1% | 40.7% |
| 2005 | 45.9% | 40.4% |
| 2006 | 45.6% | 40.1% |
| 2007 | 45.3% | 39.8% |
| 2008 | 45.1% | 39.5% |
| 2009 | 44.8% | 39.3% |
| 2010 | 44.5% | 39.1% |
| 2011 | 44.3% | 39% |
| 2012 | 44.1% | 38.9% |
| 2013 | 43.9% | 38.9% |
| 2014 | 43.7% | 38.8% |
| 2015 | 43.6% | 38.6% |
| 2016 | 43.3% | 38.4% |
| 2017 | 43.1% | 38.1% |
| 2018 | 42.8% | 37.8% |
| 2019 | 42.4% | 37.6% |
| 2020 | 42% | 37.2% |
| 2021 | 41.6% | 36.9% |
| 2022 | 41.2% | 36.5% |
| 2023 | 40.7% | 36.2% |
| 2024 | 40.2% | 35.8% |
| 2025 | 39.7% | 35.4% |
| 2026 | 39.2% | 35% |
| 2027 | 38.5% | 34.6% |
| 2028 | 37.9% | 34.1% |
| 2029 | 37.3% | 33.7% |
| 2030 | 36.7% | 33.3% |
| 2031 | 36.2% | 32.8% |
| 2032 | 35.7% | 32.5% |
| 2033 | 35.2% | 32.2% |
| 2034 | 34.8% | 31.9% |
| 2035 | 34.3% | 31.6% |
| 2036 | 33.9% | 31.4% |
| 2037 | 33.4% | 31.2% |
| 2038 | 33% | 30.9% |
| 2039 | 32.5% | 30.7% |
| 2040 | 32.1% | 30.5% |
| 2041 | 31.7% | 30.3% |
| 2042 | 31.3% | 30.1% |
| 2043 | 30.9% | 29.8% |
| 2044 | 30.5% | 29.6% |
| 2045 | 30.2% | 29.4% |
| 2046 | 29.8% | 29.2% |
| 2047 | 29.5% | 29% |
| 2048 | 29.1% | 28.8% |
| 2049 | 28.8% | 28.5% |
| 2050 | 28.4% | 28.3% |
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.
Natural population change in Gambia vs Ghana by year
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.59% in the Gambia and +2.1% in Ghana. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.
Gambia
Ghana
Natural population change
| Year | Population change due to births and deaths | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
| 1960 | 8,420 | 217,134 |
| 1961 | 8,778 | 222,372 |
| 1962 | 9,150 | 223,842 |
| 1963 | 9,493 | 225,367 |
| 1964 | 9,825 | 226,685 |
| 1965 | 10,162 | 229,061 |
| 1966 | 10,422 | 231,440 |
| 1967 | 10,823 | 237,156 |
| 1968 | 11,215 | 242,821 |
| 1969 | 11,670 | 251,925 |
| 1970 | 12,128 | 257,938 |
| 1971 | 12,842 | 265,442 |
| 1972 | 13,432 | 275,236 |
| 1973 | 14,046 | 283,385 |
| 1974 | 14,628 | 290,796 |
| 1975 | 15,256 | 298,267 |
| 1976 | 16,032 | 305,769 |
| 1977 | 16,773 | 315,429 |
| 1978 | 17,424 | 324,428 |
| 1979 | 18,543 | 334,848 |
| 1980 | 19,566 | 346,816 |
| 1981 | 20,156 | 359,572 |
| 1982 | 21,894 | 369,061 |
| 1983 | 23,175 | 379,846 |
| 1984 | 24,586 | 392,053 |
| 1985 | 25,795 | 401,722 |
| 1986 | 27,195 | 411,191 |
| 1987 | 28,452 | 419,328 |
| 1988 | 29,938 | 425,031 |
| 1989 | 31,504 | 432,541 |
| 1990 | 33,163 | 442,211 |
| 1991 | 34,584 | 448,159 |
| 1992 | 35,951 | 452,156 |
| 1993 | 37,302 | 454,669 |
| 1994 | 38,880 | 449,589 |
| 1995 | 39,681 | 451,748 |
| 1996 | 40,253 | 450,259 |
| 1997 | 40,742 | 459,822 |
| 1998 | 41,842 | 471,313 |
| 1999 | 42,533 | 487,210 |
| 2000 | 43,249 | 508,738 |
| 2001 | 44,154 | 519,382 |
| 2002 | 45,156 | 528,620 |
| 2003 | 46,473 | 536,656 |
| 2004 | 48,276 | 543,339 |
| 2005 | 50,010 | 563,234 |
| 2006 | 52,335 | 569,474 |
| 2007 | 53,653 | 572,332 |
| 2008 | 55,032 | 579,695 |
| 2009 | 56,575 | 592,825 |
| 2010 | 58,554 | 613,133 |
| 2011 | 60,571 | 631,501 |
| 2012 | 62,745 | 646,595 |
| 2013 | 63,510 | 658,638 |
| 2014 | 63,185 | 660,829 |
| 2015 | 62,832 | 667,729 |
| 2016 | 62,358 | 659,910 |
| 2017 | 61,665 | 641,218 |
| 2018 | 60,854 | 641,551 |
| 2019 | 61,701 | 642,403 |
| 2020 | 62,209 | 637,469 |
| 2021 | 62,239 | 635,805 |
| 2022 | 63,634 | 646,441 |
| 2023 | 65,118 | 651,094 |
Fertility rates around the globe
Fertility rate
Maternal mortality chart: Gambia vs Ghana
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.
Gambia
Ghana
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
| 1985 | 1,454 | 943 |
| 1986 | 1,401 | 908 |
| 1987 | 1,360 | 873 |
| 1988 | 1,302 | 834 |
| 1989 | 1,258 | 799 |
| 1990 | 1,207 | 769 |
| 1991 | 1,167 | 745 |
| 1992 | 1,115 | 718 |
| 1993 | 1,072 | 696 |
| 1994 | 1,039 | 670 |
| 1995 | 999 | 630 |
| 1996 | 956 | 591 |
| 1997 | 928 | 553 |
| 1998 | 867 | 521 |
| 1999 | 830 | 490 |
| 2000 | 810 | 472 |
| 2001 | 794 | 460 |
| 2002 | 772 | 434 |
| 2003 | 749 | 410 |
| 2004 | 719 | 403 |
| 2005 | 707 | 390 |
| 2006 | 682 | 385 |
| 2007 | 675 | 377 |
| 2008 | 653 | 380 |
| 2009 | 634 | 369 |
| 2010 | 632 | 363 |
| 2011 | 634 | 356 |
| 2012 | 628 | 351 |
| 2013 | 606 | 338 |
| 2014 | 561 | 317 |
| 2015 | 527 | 310 |
| 2016 | 490 | 296 |
| 2017 | 469 | 287 |
| 2018 | 450 | 276 |
| 2019 | 422 | 260 |
| 2020 | 400 | 253 |
| 2021 | 420 | 264 |
| 2022 | 365 | 239 |
| 2023 | 354 | 234 |
Under-five mortality rates
The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.41% in the Gambia and 3.71% in Ghana. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.
Gambia
Ghana
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 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Gambia
|
Ghana
|
|
| 1960 | 36.2% | 20.9% |
| 1961 | 35.5% | 20.7% |
| 1962 | 34.8% | 20.5% |
| 1963 | 34.1% | 20.4% |
| 1964 | 33.5% | 20.3% |
| 1965 | 32.8% | 20.3% |
| 1966 | 32.1% | 20.3% |
| 1967 | 31.5% | 20.3% |
| 1968 | 30.9% | 20.3% |
| 1969 | 30.2% | 20.3% |
| 1970 | 29.5% | 20.2% |
| 1971 | 28.9% | 20.1% |
| 1972 | 28.2% | 19.9% |
| 1973 | 27.5% | 19.6% |
| 1974 | 26.9% | 19.2% |
| 1975 | 26.2% | 18.7% |
| 1976 | 25.5% | 18.2% |
| 1977 | 24.9% | 17.7% |
| 1978 | 24.2% | 17.2% |
| 1979 | 23.6% | 16.9% |
| 1980 | 23% | 16.7% |
| 1981 | 22.3% | 16.6% |
| 1982 | 21.7% | 16.4% |
| 1983 | 21% | 16.2% |
| 1984 | 20.4% | 15.9% |
| 1985 | 19.7% | 15.5% |
| 1986 | 19.1% | 15% |
| 1987 | 18.4% | 14.4% |
| 1988 | 17.8% | 13.8% |
| 1989 | 17.2% | 13.3% |
| 1990 | 16.6% | 12.8% |
| 1991 | 16% | 12.3% |
| 1992 | 15.5% | 12% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | 11.8% |
| 1994 | 14.4% | 11.6% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | 11.5% |
| 1996 | 13.3% | 11.3% |
| 1997 | 12.8% | 11.1% |
| 1998 | 12.3% | 10.8% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | 10.4% |
| 2000 | 11.3% | 10% |
| 2001 | 10.9% | 9.61% |
| 2002 | 10.4% | 9.21% |
| 2003 | 9.95% | 8.85% |
| 2004 | 9.52% | 8.52% |
| 2005 | 9.11% | 8.22% |
| 2006 | 8.71% | 7.93% |
| 2007 | 8.33% | 7.63% |
| 2008 | 7.98% | 7.31% |
| 2009 | 7.64% | 6.99% |
| 2010 | 7.31% | 6.65% |
| 2011 | 7.01% | 6.33% |
| 2012 | 6.73% | 6.02% |
| 2013 | 6.45% | 5.74% |
| 2014 | 6.18% | 5.48% |
| 2015 | 5.93% | 5.25% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | 5.02% |
| 2017 | 5.47% | 4.81% |
| 2018 | 5.27% | 4.6% |
| 2019 | 5.07% | 4.39% |
| 2020 | 4.89% | 4.2% |
| 2021 | 4.72% | 4.02% |
| 2022 | 4.56% | 3.85% |
| 2023 | 4.41% | 3.71% |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Relevant pages:
By topic
vs
comparisons:
Birth rate comparisons
