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Fertility & birth rates in Gambia and Japan

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has an annual birth rate of 30.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 6 for Japan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.01 in the Gambia and 1.2 in Japan — 70% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 35.9% in the Gambia and by 40% in Japan — in 1960, it was 6.25 and 2, respectively.

  • The Gambia is ranked 30/196 by birth rate compared to 192/196 for Japan.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.7 years in the Gambia, compared to 30.7 years in Japan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.8 in the Gambia — it's 32.2 in Japan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58.1 in the Gambia vs 1.74 in Japan.
  • In the Gambia, 24.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 18.6% in Japan.

Fertility rate in Gambia vs Japan by year

Gambia
Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Gambia Japan
2023 4.01 1.2
2022 4.08 1.26
2021 4.17 1.3
2020 4.25 1.33
2019 4.33 1.36
2018 4.42 1.42
2017 4.61 1.43
2016 4.81 1.44
2015 5 1.45
2014 5.2 1.42
2013 5.39 1.43
2012 5.52 1.41
2011 5.54 1.39
2010 5.56 1.39
2009 5.57 1.37
2008 5.63 1.37
2007 5.69 1.34
2006 5.74 1.32
2005 5.71 1.26
2004 5.68 1.29
2003 5.66 1.29
2002 5.66 1.32
2001 5.67 1.33
2000 5.72 1.36
1999 5.77 1.34
1998 5.82 1.38
1997 5.85 1.39
1996 5.93 1.43
1995 5.99 1.42
1994 6.04 1.5
1993 6.03 1.46
1992 6.11 1.5
1991 6.19 1.53
1990 6.25 1.54
1989 6.25 1.57
1988 6.26 1.66
1987 6.3 1.69
1986 6.34 1.72
1985 6.36 1.76
1984 6.39 1.81
1983 6.39 1.8
1982 6.4 1.77
1981 6.4 1.74
1980 6.41 1.75
1979 6.41 1.77
1978 6.42 1.79
1977 6.43 1.8
1976 6.43 1.85
1975 6.43 1.91
1974 6.42 2.05
1973 6.41 2.14
1972 6.37 2.14
1971 6.33 2.16
1970 6.26 2.13
1969 6.25 2.13
1968 6.22 2.13
1967 6.21 2.23
1966 6.18 1.58
1965 6.19 2.14
1964 6.2 2.05
1963 6.2 2
1962 6.21 1.98
1961 6.23 1.96
1960 6.25 2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

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 1.2 in Japan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Gambia vs Japan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Gambia
Japan
1x
Year Natural population change
Gambia Japan
2023 65,118 -871,617
2022 63,634 -825,825
2021 62,239 -640,976
2020 62,209 -542,923
2019 61,701 -531,858
2018 60,854 -456,520
2017 61,665 -406,310
2016 62,358 -343,106
2015 62,832 -292,424
2014 63,185 -267,279
2013 63,510 -242,146
2012 62,745 -229,733
2011 60,571 -204,533
2010 58,554 -128,070
2009 56,575 -76,828
2008 55,032 -51,225
2007 53,653 -25,600
2006 52,335 12,785
2005 50,010 -25,554
2004 48,276 76,656
2003 46,473 114,946
2002 45,156 178,423
2001 44,154 203,438
2000 43,249 228,317
1999 42,533 202,610
1998 41,842 265,440
1997 40,742 277,325
1996 40,253 314,392
1995 39,681 276,039
1994 38,880 363,017
1993 37,302 312,073
1992 35,951 360,833
1991 34,584 396,685
1990 33,163 407,478
1989 31,504 467,662
1988 29,938 527,085
1987 28,452 598,138
1986 27,195 631,706
1985 25,795 676,687
1984 24,586 756,523
1983 23,175 775,495
1982 21,894 805,664
1981 20,156 811,861
1980 19,566 864,372
1979 18,543 950,298
1978 17,424 1,011,234
1977 16,773 1,070,397
1976 16,032 1,127,750
1975 15,256 1,204,989
1974 14,628 1,332,960
1973 14,046 1,391,449
1972 13,432 1,372,006
1971 12,842 1,331,782
1970 12,128 1,230,496
1969 11,670 1,195,962
1968 11,215 1,191,930
1967 10,823 1,258,475
1966 10,422 682,072
1965 10,162 1,126,448
1964 9,825 1,046,553
1963 9,493 987,770
1962 9,150 901,864
1961 8,778 893,522
1960 8,420 894,874

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

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 -0.7% in Japan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Gambia and -0.41% in Japan.

Birth rate in Gambia vs Japan by year

Gambia
Japan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Gambia Japan
2023 30.4 6
2022 30.8 6.3
2021 31.2 6.6
2020 31.5 6.8
2019 31.9 7
2018 32.3 7.4
2017 33.5 7.6
2016 34.6 7.8
2015 35.7 8
2014 36.9 8
2013 38.1 8.2
2012 38.8 8.2
2011 38.8 8.3
2010 38.9 8.5
2009 38.9 8.5
2008 39.2 8.7
2007 39.5 8.6
2006 39.9 8.7
2005 39.7 8.4
2004 39.7 8.8
2003 39.7 8.9
2002 40 9.2
2001 40.5 9.3
2000 41.1 9.5
1999 41.8 9.4
1998 42.5 9.6
1997 43.2 9.5
1996 44.1 9.7
1995 45.1 9.6
1994 45.9 10
1993 46.1 9.6
1992 46.6 9.8
1991 47.2 9.9
1990 47.7 10
1989 47.9 10.2
1988 48.1 10.8
1987 48.5 11.1
1986 48.8 11.4
1985 49 11.9
1984 49.3 12.5
1983 49 12.7
1982 48.8 12.8
1981 48.5 13
1980 48.2 13.6
1979 47.8 14.2
1978 47.6 14.9
1977 47.5 15.5
1976 47.4 16.3
1975 47.3 17.1
1974 47.3 18.6
1973 47.5 19.4
1972 47.5 19.3
1971 47.6 19.2
1970 47.4 18.8
1969 47.6 18.5
1968 47.9 18.6
1967 48.2 19.4
1966 48.5 13.7
1965 49 18.6
1964 49.4 17.7
1963 49.8 17.3
1962 50 17
1961 50.3 16.9
1960 50.4 17.2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.4 in the Gambia and 6 in Japan, compared with 50.4 and 17.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Gambia Japan
Fertility rate 4.01 1.2
Fertility rate rank 26/196 183/196
Birth rate 30.4 6
Birth rate rank 30/196 192/196
Population change due to births and deaths +65,118 -871,617
Natural population change rank 88/196 195/196
Natural population change rate +2.41% -0.7%
Population growth +2.3% -0.43%
Population growth rank 37/197 185/197
Age at first childbirth 20.7 years 30.7 years
Average age at childbearing 29.8 years 32.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 52.8 1.46
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 170.7 40.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 67.5 10.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.5% 18.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 17.1% 52.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 83.8% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.35% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.37% 0.08%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.38% 0.18%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4.41% 0.24%
Life expectancy 66.5 years 85.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Gambia
Factual

UN forecast
Japan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Gambia Japan
2100 18.1% 11.5%
2099 18.2% 11.5%
2098 18.3% 11.5%
2097 18.4% 11.5%
2096 18.5% 11.6%
2095 18.6% 11.6%
2094 18.7% 11.6%
2093 18.9% 11.7%
2092 19% 11.7%
2091 19.1% 11.8%
2090 19.3% 11.8%
2089 19.4% 11.8%
2088 19.6% 11.8%
2087 19.7% 11.9%
2086 19.9% 11.9%
2085 20% 11.8%
2084 20.2% 11.8%
2083 20.3% 11.8%
2082 20.5% 11.8%
2081 20.6% 11.7%
2080 20.8% 11.6%
2079 21% 11.6%
2078 21.2% 11.5%
2077 21.3% 11.4%
2076 21.5% 11.3%
2075 21.7% 11.2%
2074 21.9% 11.1%
2073 22.1% 11.1%
2072 22.3% 11%
2071 22.6% 10.9%
2070 22.8% 10.9%
2069 23% 10.8%
2068 23.2% 10.8%
2067 23.5% 10.8%
2066 23.7% 10.8%
2065 24% 10.8%
2064 24.3% 10.8%
2063 24.5% 10.8%
2062 24.8% 10.9%
2061 25.1% 10.9%
2060 25.4% 11%
2059 25.7% 11%
2058 26% 11.1%
2057 26.3% 11.1%
2056 26.7% 11.2%
2055 27% 11.2%
2054 27.3% 11.3%
2053 27.6% 11.3%
2052 28% 11.3%
2051 28.3% 11.3%
2050 28.6% 11.2%
2049 28.9% 11.2%
2048 29.3% 11.1%
2047 29.6% 11.1%
2046 30% 11%
2045 30.3% 10.9%
2044 30.7% 10.8%
2043 31.1% 10.7%
2042 31.5% 10.6%
2041 31.9% 10.5%
2040 32.3% 10.4%
2039 32.7% 10.3%
2038 33.2% 10.2%
2037 33.6% 10.1%
2036 34.1% 10.1%
2035 34.5% 10.1%
2034 35% 10.1%
2033 35.4% 10.1%
2032 35.9% 10.2%
2031 36.4% 10.3%
2030 37% 10.5%
2029 37.6% 10.6%
2028 38.2% 10.8%
2027 38.9% 11%
2026 39.5% 11.1%
2025 40% 11.3%
2024 40.2% 11.4%
2023 40.7% 11.6%
2022 41.2% 11.9%
2021 41.6% 12%
2020 42% 12.2%
2019 42.4% 12.4%
2018 42.8% 12.5%
2017 43.1% 12.6%
2016 43.3% 12.7%
2015 43.6% 12.8%
2014 43.7% 13%
2013 43.9% 13.1%
2012 44.1% 13.2%
2011 44.3% 13.3%
2010 44.5% 13.4%
2009 44.8% 13.5%
2008 45.1% 13.5%
2007 45.3% 13.6%
2006 45.6% 13.7%
2005 45.9% 13.8%
2004 46.1% 13.8%
2003 46.4% 13.9%
2002 46.6% 14.1%
2001 46.7% 14.2%
2000 46.8% 14.4%
1999 46.9% 14.6%
1998 46.9% 14.8%
1997 46.9% 15.1%
1996 46.7% 15.3%
1995 46.5% 15.6%
1994 46.3% 16%
1993 46% 16.4%
1992 45.9% 16.9%
1991 45.8% 17.4%
1990 45.7% 18%
1989 45.6% 18.8%
1988 45.5% 19.5%
1987 45.4% 20.3%
1986 45.2% 21%
1985 45% 21.7%
1984 44.9% 22.2%
1983 44.6% 22.6%
1982 44.3% 23.1%
1981 44% 23.3%
1980 43.7% 23.4%
1979 43.5% 23.7%
1978 43.3% 23.8%
1977 43% 23.9%
1976 42.8% 23.9%
1975 42.6% 23.8%
1974 42.4% 23.8%
1973 42.3% 23.6%
1972 42.2% 23.4%
1971 42.1% 23.3%
1970 42% 23.3%
1969 41.9% 23.4%
1968 41.8% 23.5%
1967 41.6% 23.8%
1966 41.5% 24.4%
1965 41.3% 25.1%
1964 41% 25.8%
1963 40.8% 26.8%
1962 40.7% 28%
1961 40.8% 29.1%
1960 41% 29.8%

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/gambia/japan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.2% of the population in the Gambia and 11.4% in Japan in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 18% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Gambia and Japan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Gambia vs Japan

Gambia
Japan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Gambia Japan
2023 354 3
2022 365 5
2021 420 4
2020 400 4
2019 422 5
2018 450 5
2017 469 5
2016 490 5
2015 527 5
2014 561 5
2013 606 5
2012 628 6
2011 634 6
2010 632 6
2009 634 6
2008 653 6
2007 675 6
2006 682 7
2005 707 7
2004 719 7
2003 749 8
2002 772 8
2001 794 8
2000 810 9
1999 830 9
1998 867 10
1997 928 10
1996 956 11
1995 999 11
1994 1,039 11
1993 1,072 12
1992 1,115 13
1991 1,167 13
1990 1,207 14
1989 1,258 15
1988 1,302 16
1987 1,360 17
1986 1,401 18
1985 1,454 19

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

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 3 deaths in Japan.

Under-five mortality rates

Gambia
Japan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Gambia Japan
2023 4.41% 0.24%
2022 4.56% 0.24%
2021 4.72% 0.24%
2020 4.89% 0.24%
2019 5.07% 0.25%
2018 5.27% 0.25%
2017 5.47% 0.26%
2016 5.7% 0.27%
2015 5.93% 0.28%
2014 6.18% 0.29%
2013 6.45% 0.3%
2012 6.73% 0.31%
2011 7.01% 0.33%
2010 7.31% 0.33%
2009 7.64% 0.34%
2008 7.98% 0.34%
2007 8.33% 0.35%
2006 8.71% 0.36%
2005 9.11% 0.37%
2004 9.52% 0.39%
2003 9.95% 0.4%
2002 10.4% 0.41%
2001 10.9% 0.43%
2000 11.3% 0.45%
1999 11.8% 0.47%
1998 12.3% 0.5%
1997 12.8% 0.52%
1996 13.3% 0.55%
1995 13.9% 0.57%
1994 14.4% 0.59%
1993 14.9% 0.6%
1992 15.5% 0.61%
1991 16% 0.62%
1990 16.6% 0.63%
1989 17.2% 0.64%
1988 17.8% 0.66%
1987 18.4% 0.68%
1986 19.1% 0.71%
1985 19.7% 0.75%
1984 20.4% 0.79%
1983 21% 0.83%
1982 21.7% 0.88%
1981 22.3% 0.93%
1980 23% 0.99%
1979 23.6% 1.05%
1978 24.2% 1.11%
1977 24.9% 1.18%
1976 25.5% 1.25%
1975 26.2% 1.33%
1974 26.9% 1.41%
1973 27.5% 1.49%
1972 28.2% 1.57%
1971 28.9% 1.65%
1970 29.5% 1.75%
1969 30.2% 1.85%
1968 30.9% 1.96%
1967 31.5% 2.1%
1966 32.1% 2.26%
1965 32.8% 2.46%
1964 33.5% 2.7%
1963 34.1% 2.98%
1962 34.8% 3.29%
1961 35.5% 3.62%
1960 36.2% 3.97%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/japan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.41% in the Gambia and 0.24% in Japan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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