Fertility & birth rates in Gambia and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Gambia vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Gambia	Lesotho
2023	4.01	2.69
2022	4.08	2.72
2021	4.17	2.77
2020	4.25	2.85
2019	4.33	2.92
2018	4.42	3.02
2017	4.61	3.11
2016	4.81	3.18
2015	5	3.22
2014	5.2	3.24
2013	5.39	3.28
2012	5.52	3.3
2011	5.54	3.34
2010	5.56	3.25
2009	5.57	3.31
2008	5.63	3.39
2007	5.69	3.44
2006	5.74	3.41
2005	5.71	3.43
2004	5.68	3.51
2003	5.66	3.62
2002	5.66	3.68
2001	5.67	3.63
2000	5.72	3.61
1999	5.77	3.67
1998	5.82	3.82
1997	5.85	3.98
1996	5.93	4.06
1995	5.99	4.13
1994	6.04	4.21
1993	6.03	4.37
1992	6.11	4.54
1991	6.19	4.68
1990	6.25	4.81
1989	6.25	4.96
1988	6.26	5.1
1987	6.3	5.22
1986	6.34	5.32
1985	6.36	5.4
1984	6.39	5.48
1983	6.39	5.56
1982	6.4	5.63
1981	6.4	5.69
1980	6.41	5.75
1979	6.41	5.79
1978	6.42	5.82
1977	6.43	5.85
1976	6.43	5.87
1975	6.43	5.83
1974	6.42	5.75
1973	6.41	5.69
1972	6.37	5.69
1971	6.33	5.7
1970	6.26	5.7
1969	6.25	5.7
1968	6.22	5.73
1967	6.21	5.75
1966	6.18	5.76
1965	6.19	5.77
1964	6.2	5.77
1963	6.2	5.78
1962	6.21	5.79
1961	6.23	5.79
1960	6.25	5.78

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 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Gambia	Lesotho
2023	65,118	31,115
2022	63,634	30,803
2021	62,239	27,806
2020	62,209	30,721
2019	61,701	32,279
2018	60,854	33,112
2017	61,665	33,601
2016	62,358	33,390
2015	62,832	32,087
2014	63,185	30,922
2013	63,510	29,789
2012	62,745	27,592
2011	60,571	25,647
2010	58,554	21,877
2009	56,575	20,335
2008	55,032	19,349
2007	53,653	17,763
2006	52,335	15,234
2005	50,010	15,831
2004	48,276	17,271
2003	46,473	20,133
2002	45,156	22,274
2001	44,154	23,190
2000	43,249	24,786
1999	42,533	27,393
1998	41,842	30,889
1997	40,742	34,637
1996	40,253	36,228
1995	39,681	37,370
1994	38,880	38,629
1993	37,302	40,505
1992	35,951	42,579
1991	34,584	44,026
1990	33,163	45,060
1989	31,504	46,264
1988	29,938	47,158
1987	28,452	47,718
1986	27,195	45,232
1985	25,795	44,575
1984	24,586	43,785
1983	23,175	42,899
1982	21,894	41,941
1981	20,156	40,808
1980	19,566	39,617
1979	18,543	38,440
1978	17,424	37,084
1977	16,773	35,654
1976	16,032	34,117
1975	15,256	32,311
1974	14,628	30,444
1973	14,046	28,859
1972	13,432	27,841
1971	12,842	26,838
1970	12,128	25,935
1969	11,670	25,137
1968	11,215	24,490
1967	10,823	23,911
1966	10,422	23,326
1965	10,162	22,755
1964	9,825	22,116
1963	9,493	21,585
1962	9,150	21,132
1961	8,778	20,581
1960	8,420	19,981

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 +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Gambia and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Gambia vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Gambia

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Gambia	Lesotho
2023	30.4	24.1
2022	30.8	24.4
2021	31.2	24.9
2020	31.5	25.6
2019	31.9	26.4
2018	32.3	27.4
2017	33.5	28.2
2016	34.6	28.9
2015	35.7	29.2
2014	36.9	29.5
2013	38.1	30
2012	38.8	30
2011	38.8	30.2
2010	38.9	29.2
2009	38.9	29.4
2008	39.2	29.6
2007	39.5	29.5
2006	39.9	28.6
2005	39.7	28.6
2004	39.7	28.7
2003	39.7	29.3
2002	40	29.4
2001	40.5	28.7
2000	41.1	28.2
1999	41.8	28.5
1998	42.5	29.2
1997	43.2	30.2
1996	44.1	30.4
1995	45.1	30.6
1994	45.9	31
1993	46.1	32
1992	46.6	33.2
1991	47.2	34.2
1990	47.7	35.1
1989	47.9	36.3
1988	48.1	37.4
1987	48.5	38.3
1986	48.8	37.5
1985	49	37.9
1984	49.3	38.4
1983	49	38.9
1982	48.8	39.5
1981	48.5	39.9
1980	48.2	40.4
1979	47.8	40.8
1978	47.6	41
1977	47.5	41.1
1976	47.4	41
1975	47.3	40.6
1974	47.3	40.2
1973	47.5	39.9
1972	47.5	40.2
1971	47.6	40.5
1970	47.4	40.8
1969	47.6	41.3
1968	47.9	41.9
1967	48.2	42.5
1966	48.5	43
1965	49	43.3
1964	49.4	43.5
1963	49.8	43.7
1962	50	44.1
1961	50.3	44.3
1960	50.4	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.4 in the Gambia and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 50.4 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Gambia

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Gambia	Lesotho
2100	18.1%	18%
2099	18.2%	18.1%
2098	18.3%	18.2%
2097	18.4%	18.3%
2096	18.5%	18.3%
2095	18.6%	18.4%
2094	18.7%	18.5%
2093	18.9%	18.6%
2092	19%	18.7%
2091	19.1%	18.9%
2090	19.3%	19%
2089	19.4%	19.1%
2088	19.6%	19.2%
2087	19.7%	19.3%
2086	19.9%	19.4%
2085	20%	19.6%
2084	20.2%	19.7%
2083	20.3%	19.8%
2082	20.5%	19.9%
2081	20.6%	20%
2080	20.8%	20.2%
2079	21%	20.3%
2078	21.2%	20.4%
2077	21.3%	20.5%
2076	21.5%	20.6%
2075	21.7%	20.7%
2074	21.9%	20.9%
2073	22.1%	21%
2072	22.3%	21.1%
2071	22.6%	21.3%
2070	22.8%	21.4%
2069	23%	21.5%
2068	23.2%	21.7%
2067	23.5%	21.9%
2066	23.7%	22%
2065	24%	22.2%
2064	24.3%	22.4%
2063	24.5%	22.6%
2062	24.8%	22.8%
2061	25.1%	23%
2060	25.4%	23.3%
2059	25.7%	23.5%
2058	26%	23.7%
2057	26.3%	24%
2056	26.7%	24.2%
2055	27%	24.5%
2054	27.3%	24.7%
2053	27.6%	25%
2052	28%	25.3%
2051	28.3%	25.5%
2050	28.6%	25.8%
2049	28.9%	26.1%
2048	29.3%	26.3%
2047	29.6%	26.5%
2046	30%	26.8%
2045	30.3%	27%
2044	30.7%	27.3%
2043	31.1%	27.5%
2042	31.5%	27.7%
2041	31.9%	28%
2040	32.3%	28.2%
2039	32.7%	28.4%
2038	33.2%	28.7%
2037	33.6%	28.9%
2036	34.1%	29.2%
2035	34.5%	29.5%
2034	35%	29.9%
2033	35.4%	30.3%
2032	35.9%	30.8%
2031	36.4%	31.3%
2030	37%	31.8%
2029	37.6%	32.3%
2028	38.2%	32.8%
2027	38.9%	33.4%
2026	39.5%	33.9%
2025	40%	34.3%
2024	40.2%	34.5%
2023	40.7%	34.9%
2022	41.2%	35.3%
2021	41.6%	35.6%
2020	42%	35.8%
2019	42.4%	36.1%
2018	42.8%	36.3%
2017	43.1%	36.5%
2016	43.3%	36.6%
2015	43.6%	36.6%
2014	43.7%	36.6%
2013	43.9%	36.5%
2012	44.1%	36.5%
2011	44.3%	36.5%
2010	44.5%	36.5%
2009	44.8%	36.6%
2008	45.1%	36.7%
2007	45.3%	36.8%
2006	45.6%	37.1%
2005	45.9%	37.4%
2004	46.1%	37.7%
2003	46.4%	38.1%
2002	46.6%	38.6%
2001	46.7%	39.1%
2000	46.8%	39.6%
1999	46.9%	40.2%
1998	46.9%	40.7%
1997	46.9%	41.2%
1996	46.7%	41.7%
1995	46.5%	42%
1994	46.3%	42.3%
1993	46%	42.6%
1992	45.9%	42.8%
1991	45.8%	42.9%
1990	45.7%	42.9%
1989	45.6%	42.8%
1988	45.5%	42.7%
1987	45.4%	42.5%
1986	45.2%	42.7%
1985	45%	43%
1984	44.9%	42.8%
1983	44.6%	42.7%
1982	44.3%	42.5%
1981	44%	42.3%
1980	43.7%	42.1%
1979	43.5%	41.9%
1978	43.3%	41.7%
1977	43%	41.5%
1976	42.8%	41.4%
1975	42.6%	41.6%
1974	42.4%	41.9%
1973	42.3%	42.3%
1972	42.2%	42.7%
1971	42.1%	43.1%
1970	42%	43.6%
1969	41.9%	44%
1968	41.8%	44.4%
1967	41.6%	44.8%
1966	41.5%	44.9%
1965	41.3%	44.8%
1964	41%	44.9%
1963	40.8%	45.2%
1962	40.7%	45.3%
1961	40.8%	45.2%
1960	41%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.2% of the population in the Gambia and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Gambia and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Gambia vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Gambia

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Gambia	Lesotho
2023	354	478
2022	365	477
2021	420	577
2020	400	529
2019	422	467
2018	450	491
2017	469	468
2016	490	518
2015	527	594
2014	561	707
2013	606	855
2012	628	1,000
2011	634	1,210
2010	632	1,311
2009	634	1,387
2008	653	1,205
2007	675	891
2006	682	696
2005	707	549
2004	719	499
2003	749	508
2002	772	484
2001	794	465
2000	810	413
1999	830	371
1998	867	332
1997	928	312
1996	956	319
1995	999	357
1994	1,039	423
1993	1,072	542
1992	1,115	601
1991	1,167	641
1990	1,207	665
1989	1,258	680
1988	1,302	680
1987	1,360	686
1986	1,401	680
1985	1,454	711

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 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Gambia

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Gambia	Lesotho
2023	4.41%	5.89%
2022	4.56%	6.15%
2021	4.72%	6.44%
2020	4.89%	6.68%
2019	5.07%	6.87%
2018	5.27%	6.91%
2017	5.47%	7.12%
2016	5.7%	7.18%
2015	5.93%	7.51%
2014	6.18%	7.82%
2013	6.45%	8.02%
2012	6.73%	8.26%
2011	7.01%	8.59%
2010	7.31%	9.01%
2009	7.64%	9.64%
2008	7.98%	10.9%
2007	8.33%	11.2%
2006	8.71%	11.5%
2005	9.11%	11.6%
2004	9.52%	11.5%
2003	9.95%	11.4%
2002	10.4%	11.2%
2001	10.9%	11.1%
2000	11.3%	10.9%
1999	11.8%	10.7%
1998	12.3%	10.5%
1997	12.8%	10.2%
1996	13.3%	9.83%
1995	13.9%	9.45%
1994	14.4%	9.07%
1993	14.9%	8.73%
1992	15.5%	8.51%
1991	16%	8.43%
1990	16.6%	8.47%
1989	17.2%	8.6%
1988	17.8%	8.8%
1987	18.4%	9.06%
1986	19.1%	9.36%
1985	19.7%	9.72%
1984	20.4%	10.1%
1983	21%	10.6%
1982	21.7%	11.1%
1981	22.3%	11.7%
1980	23%	12.3%
1979	23.6%	12.9%
1978	24.2%	13.6%
1977	24.9%	14.2%
1976	25.5%	14.9%
1975	26.2%	15.5%
1974	26.9%	16%
1973	27.5%	16.5%
1972	28.2%	16.9%
1971	28.9%	17.3%
1970	29.5%	17.7%
1969	30.2%	18%
1968	30.9%	18.3%
1967	31.5%	18.5%
1966	32.1%	18.6%
1965	32.8%	18.7%
1964	33.5%	18.6%
1963	34.1%	18.6%
1962	34.8%	18.5%
1961	35.5%	18.5%
1960	36.2%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.41% in the Gambia and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.