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Fertility & birth rates in Gambia and Zimbabwe

Updated on by Georank team

The Gambia has an annual birth rate of 30.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.4 for Zimbabwe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.01 in the Gambia and 3.72 in Zimbabwe — 7.04% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 35.9% in the Gambia and by 48.2% in Zimbabwe — in 1960, it was 6.25 and 7.2, respectively.

  • The Gambia is ranked 30/196 by birth rate compared to 31/196 for Zimbabwe.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.7 years in the Gambia, compared to 20.3 years in Zimbabwe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.8 in the Gambia — it's 28.1 in Zimbabwe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58.1 in the Gambia vs 98.1 in Zimbabwe.
  • In the Gambia, 24.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.5% in Zimbabwe.

Fertility rate in Gambia vs Zimbabwe by year

Gambia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Gambia Zimbabwe
2023 4.01 3.72
2022 4.08 3.77
2021 4.17 3.77
2020 4.25 3.75
2019 4.33 3.75
2018 4.42 3.74
2017 4.61 3.77
2016 4.81 3.83
2015 5 3.91
2014 5.2 4.01
2013 5.39 4.11
2012 5.52 4.13
2011 5.54 4.13
2010 5.56 4.04
2009 5.57 3.95
2008 5.63 3.78
2007 5.69 3.68
2006 5.74 3.64
2005 5.71 3.69
2004 5.68 3.78
2003 5.66 3.86
2002 5.66 3.93
2001 5.67 3.98
2000 5.72 4.01
1999 5.77 4.06
1998 5.82 4.07
1997 5.85 4.08
1996 5.93 4.11
1995 5.99 4.15
1994 6.04 4.28
1993 6.03 4.39
1992 6.11 4.57
1991 6.19 4.72
1990 6.25 4.88
1989 6.25 5.07
1988 6.26 5.28
1987 6.3 5.5
1986 6.34 5.69
1985 6.36 5.87
1984 6.39 6.04
1983 6.39 6.2
1982 6.4 6.33
1981 6.4 6.45
1980 6.41 6.52
1979 6.41 6.59
1978 6.42 6.66
1977 6.43 6.71
1976 6.43 6.77
1975 6.43 6.83
1974 6.42 6.88
1973 6.41 6.94
1972 6.37 6.94
1971 6.33 6.94
1970 6.26 6.98
1969 6.25 7.04
1968 6.22 7.11
1967 6.21 7.16
1966 6.18 7.2
1965 6.19 7.23
1964 6.2 7.23
1963 6.2 7.23
1962 6.21 7.23
1961 6.23 7.21
1960 6.25 7.2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/zimbabwe | 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 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Gambia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Natural population change
Gambia Zimbabwe
2023 65,118 372,505
2022 63,634 371,243
2021 62,239 349,908
2020 62,209 354,790
2019 61,701 348,798
2018 60,854 345,883
2017 61,665 344,035
2016 62,358 348,772
2015 62,832 356,203
2014 63,185 366,350
2013 63,510 374,757
2012 62,745 371,135
2011 60,571 359,572
2010 58,554 335,570
2009 56,575 309,316
2008 55,032 280,527
2007 53,653 261,805
2006 52,335 248,963
2005 50,010 248,545
2004 48,276 248,307
2003 46,473 243,057
2002 45,156 244,170
2001 44,154 227,909
2000 43,249 236,343
1999 42,533 232,393
1998 41,842 225,614
1997 40,742 216,288
1996 40,253 205,269
1995 39,681 206,695
1994 38,880 216,343
1993 37,302 228,045
1992 35,951 255,291
1991 34,584 260,943
1990 33,163 265,444
1989 31,504 270,838
1988 29,938 277,498
1987 28,452 286,766
1986 27,195 289,894
1985 25,795 290,756
1984 24,586 290,052
1983 23,175 286,545
1982 21,894 279,934
1981 20,156 271,361
1980 19,566 241,179
1979 18,543 223,657
1978 17,424 222,979
1977 16,773 225,139
1976 16,032 221,419
1975 15,256 216,947
1974 14,628 208,806
1973 14,046 201,885
1972 13,432 193,725
1971 12,842 185,427
1970 12,128 178,979
1969 11,670 172,626
1968 11,215 166,865
1967 10,823 161,205
1966 10,422 156,014
1965 10,162 151,164
1964 9,825 145,848
1963 9,493 140,984
1962 9,150 136,317
1961 8,778 131,531
1960 8,420 126,959

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/zimbabwe | 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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.59% in the Gambia and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Gambia vs Zimbabwe by year

Gambia
Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Gambia Zimbabwe
2023 30.4 30.4
2022 30.8 30.9
2021 31.2 30.9
2020 31.5 31
2019 31.9 31.1
2018 32.3 31.3
2017 33.5 31.8
2016 34.6 32.7
2015 35.7 33.9
2014 36.9 35.4
2013 38.1 37
2012 38.8 37.8
2011 38.8 38.1
2010 38.9 37.9
2009 38.9 37.5
2008 39.2 36.4
2007 39.5 35.7
2006 39.9 35.2
2005 39.7 35.8
2004 39.7 36.3
2003 39.7 36.6
2002 40 36.5
2001 40.5 36.5
2000 41.1 36.1
1999 41.8 35.6
1998 42.5 34.5
1997 43.2 33.4
1996 44.1 32.4
1995 45.1 31.7
1994 45.9 32
1993 46.1 32.4
1992 46.6 34.3
1991 47.2 34.9
1990 47.7 35.5
1989 47.9 36.4
1988 48.1 37.7
1987 48.5 39.5
1986 48.8 40.9
1985 49 42.3
1984 49.3 43.7
1983 49 45
1982 48.8 45.7
1981 48.5 46.3
1980 48.2 44.8
1979 47.8 46.3
1978 47.6 46.8
1977 47.5 46.5
1976 47.4 46.5
1975 47.3 46.6
1974 47.3 46.4
1973 47.5 46.4
1972 47.5 46
1971 47.6 45.6
1970 47.4 45.5
1969 47.6 45.5
1968 47.9 45.7
1967 48.2 45.8
1966 48.5 46.1
1965 49 46.4
1964 49.4 46.6
1963 49.8 46.8
1962 50 47.1
1961 50.3 47.3
1960 50.4 47.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.4 in the Gambia and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 50.4 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Gambia Zimbabwe
Fertility rate 4.01 3.72
Fertility rate rank 26/196 36/196
Birth rate 30.4 30.4
Birth rate rank 30/196 31/196
Population change due to births and deaths +65,118 +372,505
Natural population change rank 88/196 45/196
Natural population change rate +2.41% +2.28%
Population growth +2.3% +1.8%
Population growth rank 37/197 60/197
Age at first childbirth 20.7 years 20.3 years
Average age at childbearing 29.8 years 28.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 52.8 93.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 170.7 176.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 67.5 47.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.5% 26.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 17.1% 65.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 83.8% 86%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.35% 0.36%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.37% 2.24%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.38% 4.06%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4.41% 4.42%
Life expectancy 66.5 years 63.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Gambia
Factual

UN forecast
Zimbabwe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Gambia Zimbabwe
2100 18.1% 20.3%
2099 18.2% 20.5%
2098 18.3% 20.6%
2097 18.4% 20.8%
2096 18.5% 20.9%
2095 18.6% 21.1%
2094 18.7% 21.3%
2093 18.9% 21.4%
2092 19% 21.6%
2091 19.1% 21.8%
2090 19.3% 22%
2089 19.4% 22.2%
2088 19.6% 22.4%
2087 19.7% 22.6%
2086 19.9% 22.8%
2085 20% 23%
2084 20.2% 23.2%
2083 20.3% 23.4%
2082 20.5% 23.6%
2081 20.6% 23.8%
2080 20.8% 24%
2079 21% 24.2%
2078 21.2% 24.4%
2077 21.3% 24.6%
2076 21.5% 24.9%
2075 21.7% 25.1%
2074 21.9% 25.3%
2073 22.1% 25.5%
2072 22.3% 25.7%
2071 22.6% 25.9%
2070 22.8% 26.2%
2069 23% 26.4%
2068 23.2% 26.6%
2067 23.5% 26.8%
2066 23.7% 27.1%
2065 24% 27.3%
2064 24.3% 27.6%
2063 24.5% 27.8%
2062 24.8% 28.1%
2061 25.1% 28.4%
2060 25.4% 28.7%
2059 25.7% 29%
2058 26% 29.3%
2057 26.3% 29.6%
2056 26.7% 30%
2055 27% 30.3%
2054 27.3% 30.6%
2053 27.6% 31%
2052 28% 31.3%
2051 28.3% 31.7%
2050 28.6% 32%
2049 28.9% 32.4%
2048 29.3% 32.7%
2047 29.6% 33.1%
2046 30% 33.4%
2045 30.3% 33.7%
2044 30.7% 34%
2043 31.1% 34.2%
2042 31.5% 34.5%
2041 31.9% 34.7%
2040 32.3% 34.9%
2039 32.7% 35.2%
2038 33.2% 35.4%
2037 33.6% 35.7%
2036 34.1% 35.9%
2035 34.5% 36.2%
2034 35% 36.4%
2033 35.4% 36.6%
2032 35.9% 36.9%
2031 36.4% 37.2%
2030 37% 37.6%
2029 37.6% 38.1%
2028 38.2% 38.7%
2027 38.9% 39.3%
2026 39.5% 40%
2025 40% 40.6%
2024 40.2% 40.9%
2023 40.7% 41.3%
2022 41.2% 41.6%
2021 41.6% 41.9%
2020 42% 42.2%
2019 42.4% 42.5%
2018 42.8% 42.9%
2017 43.1% 43.3%
2016 43.3% 43.6%
2015 43.6% 43.8%
2014 43.7% 43.9%
2013 43.9% 43.9%
2012 44.1% 43.7%
2011 44.3% 43.4%
2010 44.5% 43%
2009 44.8% 42.7%
2008 45.1% 42.4%
2007 45.3% 42.1%
2006 45.6% 42%
2005 45.9% 41.9%
2004 46.1% 41.7%
2003 46.4% 41.5%
2002 46.6% 41.4%
2001 46.7% 41.5%
2000 46.8% 41.9%
1999 46.9% 42.4%
1998 46.9% 43.1%
1997 46.9% 44%
1996 46.7% 45%
1995 46.5% 45.9%
1994 46.3% 46.6%
1993 46% 47.1%
1992 45.9% 46.8%
1991 45.8% 46.6%
1990 45.7% 47.1%
1989 45.6% 47.6%
1988 45.5% 47.9%
1987 45.4% 47.9%
1986 45.2% 47.9%
1985 45% 48%
1984 44.9% 48.1%
1983 44.6% 48.2%
1982 44.3% 48.3%
1981 44% 48.4%
1980 43.7% 48.7%
1979 43.5% 48.8%
1978 43.3% 48.5%
1977 43% 48.3%
1976 42.8% 48.2%
1975 42.6% 48.1%
1974 42.4% 48.1%
1973 42.3% 48.1%
1972 42.2% 48.2%
1971 42.1% 48.2%
1970 42% 48.3%
1969 41.9% 48.4%
1968 41.8% 48.5%
1967 41.6% 48.5%
1966 41.5% 48.6%
1965 41.3% 48.7%
1964 41% 48.8%
1963 40.8% 48.5%
1962 40.7% 48.1%
1961 40.8% 47.7%
1960 41% 47.3%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.2% of the population in the Gambia and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Gambia and Zimbabwe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Gambia vs Zimbabwe

Gambia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Gambia Zimbabwe
2023 354 358
2022 365 368
2021 420 446
2020 400 380
2019 422 388
2018 450 386
2017 469 389
2016 490 411
2015 527 428
2014 561 468
2013 606 525
2012 628 558
2011 634 564
2010 632 567
2009 634 540
2008 653 526
2007 675 519
2006 682 480
2005 707 454
2004 719 451
2003 749 455
2002 772 418
2001 794 467
2000 810 405
1999 830 399
1998 867 368
1997 928 357
1996 956 352
1995 999 332
1994 1,039 332
1993 1,072 331
1992 1,115 333
1991 1,167 332
1990 1,207 353
1989 1,258 382
1988 1,302 431
1987 1,360 480
1986 1,401 525
1985 1,454 573

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/gambia/zimbabwe | 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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Gambia
Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Gambia Zimbabwe
2023 4.41% 4.42%
2022 4.56% 4.6%
2021 4.72% 4.76%
2020 4.89% 5.01%
2019 5.07% 5.11%
2018 5.27% 5.23%
2017 5.47% 5.5%
2016 5.7% 5.69%
2015 5.93% 5.98%
2014 6.18% 6.18%
2013 6.45% 6.55%
2012 6.73% 7.14%
2011 7.01% 7.88%
2010 7.31% 8.5%
2009 7.64% 9.03%
2008 7.98% 9.34%
2007 8.33% 9.47%
2006 8.71% 9.4%
2005 9.11% 9.23%
2004 9.52% 9.17%
2003 9.95% 8.85%
2002 10.4% 8.48%
2001 10.9% 9.79%
2000 11.3% 9.83%
1999 11.8% 9.92%
1998 12.3% 10%
1997 12.8% 10.1%
1996 13.3% 10%
1995 13.9% 9.83%
1994 14.4% 9.52%
1993 14.9% 9.16%
1992 15.5% 8.73%
1991 16% 8.33%
1990 16.6% 7.97%
1989 17.2% 7.69%
1988 17.8% 7.55%
1987 18.4% 7.61%
1986 19.1% 7.86%
1985 19.7% 8.31%
1984 20.4% 8.87%
1983 21% 9.5%
1982 21.7% 10.1%
1981 22.3% 10.7%
1980 23% 11.1%
1979 23.6% 11.3%
1978 24.2% 11.5%
1977 24.9% 11.5%
1976 25.5% 11.5%
1975 26.2% 11.4%
1974 26.9% 11.4%
1973 27.5% 11.4%
1972 28.2% 11.5%
1971 28.9% 11.5%
1970 29.5% 11.7%
1969 30.2% 11.8%
1968 30.9% 12.1%
1967 31.5% 12.4%
1966 32.1% 12.7%
1965 32.8% 13.1%
1964 33.5% 13.5%
1963 34.1% 14%
1962 34.8% 14.4%
1961 35.5% 14.8%
1960 36.2% 15.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.41% in the Gambia and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. 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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