Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Ghana and Iraq

Updated on by Georank team

Ghana has an annual birth rate of 26.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 25.7 for Iraq. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.4 in Ghana and 3.25 in Iraq — 4.36% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 50.7% in Ghana and by 38.7% in Iraq — in 1960, it was 6.89 and 5.3, respectively.

  • Ghana is ranked 47/196 by birth rate compared to 51/196 for Iraq.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.4 in Ghana — it's 28.6 in Iraq.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58.2 in Ghana vs 58 in Iraq.
  • In Ghana, 25.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.3% in Iraq.

Fertility rate in Ghana vs Iraq by year

Ghana
Iraq
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ghana Iraq
2023 3.4 3.25
2022 3.43 3.29
2021 3.49 3.36
2020 3.54 3.42
2019 3.59 3.48
2018 3.65 3.55
2017 3.72 3.64
2016 3.87 3.84
2015 3.98 4.08
2014 4.03 4.31
2013 4.11 4.44
2012 4.15 4.54
2011 4.18 4.59
2010 4.18 4.46
2009 4.18 4.38
2008 4.22 4.37
2007 4.29 4.4
2006 4.4 4.46
2005 4.5 4.45
2004 4.5 4.53
2003 4.6 4.58
2002 4.69 4.67
2001 4.77 4.8
2000 4.83 4.92
1999 4.82 5.04
1998 4.83 5.11
1997 4.88 5.19
1996 4.96 5.25
1995 5.11 5.36
1994 5.25 5.49
1993 5.41 5.61
1992 5.52 5.72
1991 5.63 5.83
1990 5.74 5.93
1989 5.82 5.99
1988 5.92 6.05
1987 6.02 6.11
1986 6.08 6.18
1985 6.12 6.25
1984 6.15 6.32
1983 6.23 6.39
1982 6.31 6.46
1981 6.42 6.53
1980 6.47 6.59
1979 6.51 6.66
1978 6.56 6.73
1977 6.64 6.8
1976 6.7 6.86
1975 6.76 6.91
1974 6.82 6.95
1973 6.87 6.99
1972 6.92 7.02
1971 6.95 7.06
1970 6.95 7.07
1969 6.95 7.08
1968 6.89 7.06
1967 6.89 7.03
1966 6.86 7.02
1965 6.88 7.02
1964 6.9 7.01
1963 6.94 7.01
1962 6.94 6.99
1961 6.91 5.8
1960 6.89 5.3

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ghana was 3.4 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.25 in Iraq in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Ghana vs Iraq population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Ghana
Iraq
1x
Year Natural population change
Ghana Iraq
2023 651,094 973,420
2022 646,441 962,501
2021 635,805 941,924
2020 637,469 919,953
2019 642,403 942,972
2018 641,551 938,310
2017 641,218 924,507
2016 659,910 946,968
2015 667,729 1,007,561
2014 660,829 1,040,726
2013 658,638 1,026,036
2012 646,595 999,987
2011 631,501 971,082
2010 613,133 906,369
2009 592,825 855,096
2008 579,695 802,382
2007 572,332 784,119
2006 569,474 797,342
2005 563,234 776,603
2004 543,339 761,563
2003 536,656 746,159
2002 528,620 739,419
2001 519,382 729,704
2000 508,738 715,771
1999 487,210 702,170
1998 471,313 684,152
1997 459,822 667,582
1996 450,259 652,866
1995 451,748 642,977
1994 449,589 634,344
1993 454,669 606,700
1992 452,156 591,886
1991 448,159 550,146
1990 442,211 518,575
1989 432,541 496,852
1988 425,031 476,778
1987 419,328 488,742
1986 411,191 474,348
1985 401,722 467,445
1984 392,053 455,740
1983 379,846 439,800
1982 369,061 428,336
1981 359,572 416,998
1980 346,816 419,653
1979 334,848 428,458
1978 324,428 418,756
1977 315,429 410,229
1976 305,769 402,260
1975 298,267 385,916
1974 290,796 376,197
1973 283,385 373,191
1972 275,236 362,334
1971 265,442 351,464
1970 257,938 338,030
1969 251,925 324,792
1968 242,821 310,644
1967 237,156 298,192
1966 231,440 285,507
1965 229,061 274,551
1964 226,685 262,825
1963 225,367 254,046
1962 223,842 247,520
1961 222,372 184,792
1960 217,134 155,651

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | 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 +1.93% in Ghana and +2.16% in Iraq.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.1% in Ghana and +2.37% in Iraq.

Birth rate in Ghana vs Iraq by year

Ghana
Iraq

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Ghana Iraq
2023 26.3 25.7
2022 26.6 26
2021 27 26.4
2020 27.4 26.8
2019 27.9 27.3
2018 28.4 27.7
2017 28.9 28.3
2016 30.2 29.8
2015 31.1 31.6
2014 31.5 33.3
2013 32.2 34.1
2012 32.5 34.8
2011 32.7 35.5
2010 32.7 34.6
2009 32.6 33.9
2008 32.8 33.6
2007 33.2 34.5
2006 33.9 35
2005 34.4 33.9
2004 34.3 34.3
2003 34.8 34.5
2002 35.2 34.8
2001 35.6 35.5
2000 35.9 36.1
1999 35.6 36.7
1998 35.5 37
1997 35.6 37.3
1996 35.8 37.5
1995 36.7 38
1994 37.5 38.6
1993 38.5 38.6
1992 39.2 39.5
1991 39.9 40
1990 40.5 40.6
1989 40.9 39.6
1988 41.5 39.4
1987 42.2 39
1986 42.7 39
1985 43.1 39.5
1984 43.4 39.6
1983 43.4 39.6
1982 43.6 39.9
1981 43.9 40.2
1980 44.1 40.5
1979 44 41
1978 44.1 41.4
1977 44.4 42.1
1976 44.7 42.8
1975 45.3 43.4
1974 45.9 44
1973 46.4 44.4
1972 46.9 44.9
1971 47.4 45.4
1970 47.7 45.6
1969 47.9 45.9
1968 47.7 46
1967 47.7 46.1
1966 47.8 46.4
1965 48.2 46.7
1964 48.7 47.1
1963 49.2 47.5
1962 49.7 47.9
1961 50 40
1960 50.4 36.7

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 26.3 in Ghana and 25.7 in Iraq, compared with 50.4 and 36.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Ghana Iraq
Fertility rate 3.4 3.25
Fertility rate rank 46/196 49/196
Birth rate 26.3 25.7
Birth rate rank 47/196 51/196
Population change due to births and deaths +651,094 +973,420
Natural population change rank 30/196 20/196
Natural population change rate +1.93% +2.16%
Population growth +1.89% +2.15%
Population growth rank 57/197 46/197
Age at first childbirth 22.1 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 29.4 years 28.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 56.3 56
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 148.6 162.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 52.5 44.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.6% 25.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 27.8% 36.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 78.9% 95.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.23% 0.07%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.12% 1.29%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.82% 2.08%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.71% 2.26%
Life expectancy 66.1 years 72.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ghana
Factual

UN forecast
Iraq
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Ghana Iraq
2100 19.3% 18.2%
2099 19.5% 18.3%
2098 19.6% 18.4%
2097 19.7% 18.5%
2096 19.8% 18.6%
2095 20% 18.8%
2094 20.1% 18.9%
2093 20.2% 19%
2092 20.4% 19.1%
2091 20.5% 19.2%
2090 20.7% 19.4%
2089 20.8% 19.5%
2088 21% 19.7%
2087 21.1% 19.8%
2086 21.3% 19.9%
2085 21.4% 20.1%
2084 21.6% 20.3%
2083 21.7% 20.4%
2082 21.9% 20.6%
2081 22.1% 20.8%
2080 22.2% 20.9%
2079 22.4% 21.1%
2078 22.5% 21.3%
2077 22.7% 21.5%
2076 22.9% 21.6%
2075 23% 21.8%
2074 23.2% 22%
2073 23.4% 22.2%
2072 23.5% 22.3%
2071 23.7% 22.5%
2070 23.9% 22.7%
2069 24.1% 22.8%
2068 24.2% 23%
2067 24.4% 23.2%
2066 24.6% 23.4%
2065 24.8% 23.6%
2064 25.1% 23.8%
2063 25.3% 24%
2062 25.5% 24.2%
2061 25.7% 24.4%
2060 26% 24.6%
2059 26.2% 24.9%
2058 26.4% 25.1%
2057 26.7% 25.4%
2056 26.9% 25.7%
2055 27.2% 26%
2054 27.4% 26.3%
2053 27.7% 26.6%
2052 27.9% 26.9%
2051 28.2% 27.2%
2050 28.4% 27.5%
2049 28.6% 27.8%
2048 28.9% 28.1%
2047 29.1% 28.4%
2046 29.3% 28.7%
2045 29.5% 29%
2044 29.7% 29.3%
2043 29.9% 29.5%
2042 30.2% 29.8%
2041 30.4% 30%
2040 30.6% 30.3%
2039 30.8% 30.5%
2038 31% 30.7%
2037 31.3% 31%
2036 31.5% 31.2%
2035 31.8% 31.5%
2034 32% 31.7%
2033 32.3% 32%
2032 32.7% 32.3%
2031 33% 32.7%
2030 33.5% 33.2%
2029 33.9% 33.7%
2028 34.3% 34.4%
2027 34.8% 35.1%
2026 35.2% 35.7%
2025 35.6% 36.3%
2024 35.8% 36.6%
2023 36.2% 37.1%
2022 36.5% 37.6%
2021 36.9% 38.1%
2020 37.2% 38.5%
2019 37.6% 38.9%
2018 37.8% 39.3%
2017 38.1% 39.7%
2016 38.4% 40.1%
2015 38.6% 40.4%
2014 38.8% 40.6%
2013 38.9% 40.8%
2012 38.9% 41%
2011 39% 41.1%
2010 39.1% 41.2%
2009 39.3% 41.5%
2008 39.5% 41.8%
2007 39.8% 42.1%
2006 40.1% 42.3%
2005 40.4% 42.6%
2004 40.7% 42.9%
2003 41.1% 43.1%
2002 41.5% 43.3%
2001 41.9% 43.5%
2000 42.3% 43.7%
1999 42.7% 43.8%
1998 43.1% 44%
1997 43.5% 44.1%
1996 43.9% 44.3%
1995 44.2% 44.4%
1994 44.5% 44.6%
1993 44.8% 44.7%
1992 45% 44.9%
1991 45.2% 45%
1990 45.3% 45.2%
1989 45.4% 45.4%
1988 45.4% 45.6%
1987 45.5% 45.8%
1986 45.4% 46%
1985 45.3% 46.2%
1984 45.2% 46.3%
1983 45.4% 46.5%
1982 45.7% 46.6%
1981 45.9% 46.7%
1980 46.2% 46.8%
1979 46.5% 47%
1978 47% 47.1%
1977 47.5% 47.3%
1976 47.9% 47.2%
1975 48.2% 46.7%
1974 48.3% 46.2%
1973 48.4% 45.5%
1972 48.4% 44.7%
1971 48.4% 44.1%
1970 48.2% 43.6%
1969 48.1% 43.3%
1968 47.9% 43%
1967 47.8% 42.8%
1966 47.6% 42.5%
1965 47.4% 42.1%
1964 47.1% 41.5%
1963 46.8% 41%
1962 46.4% 40.4%
1961 45.9% 39.9%
1960 45.4% 39.8%

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/ghana/iraq | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 35.8% of the population in Ghana and 36.6% in Iraq in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 45.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ghana and Iraq compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Ghana vs Iraq

Ghana
Iraq
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Ghana Iraq
2023 234 66
2022 239 59
2021 264 77
2020 253 63
2019 260 74
2018 276 76
2017 287 81
2016 296 87
2015 310 86
2014 317 90
2013 338 96
2012 351 100
2011 356 105
2010 363 107
2009 369 107
2008 380 109
2007 377 117
2006 385 120
2005 390 118
2004 403 122
2003 410 125
2002 434 128
2001 460 137
2000 472 146
1999 490 156
1998 521 163
1997 553 165
1996 591 158
1995 630 152
1994 670 142
1993 696 132
1992 718 126
1991 745 157
1990 769 195
1989 799 190
1988 834 174
1987 873 145
1986 908 147
1985 943 152

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 234 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ghana, compared to 66 deaths in Iraq.

Under-five mortality rates

Ghana
Iraq

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Ghana Iraq
2023 3.71% 2.26%
2022 3.85% 2.33%
2021 4.02% 2.41%
2020 4.2% 2.49%
2019 4.39% 2.57%
2018 4.6% 2.66%
2017 4.81% 2.75%
2016 5.02% 2.84%
2015 5.25% 2.94%
2014 5.48% 3.04%
2013 5.74% 3.14%
2012 6.02% 3.24%
2011 6.33% 3.35%
2010 6.65% 3.46%
2009 6.99% 3.56%
2008 7.31% 3.67%
2007 7.63% 3.78%
2006 7.93% 3.88%
2005 8.22% 3.97%
2004 8.52% 4.07%
2003 8.85% 4.16%
2002 9.21% 4.24%
2001 9.61% 4.33%
2000 10% 4.43%
1999 10.4% 4.52%
1998 10.8% 4.61%
1997 11.1% 4.71%
1996 11.3% 4.8%
1995 11.5% 4.89%
1994 11.6% 4.98%
1993 11.8% 5.07%
1992 12% 5.17%
1991 12.3% 6.49%
1990 12.8% 7.97%
1989 13.3% 8.12%
1988 13.8% 6.92%
1987 14.4% 5.75%
1986 15% 5.91%
1985 15.5% 6.09%
1984 15.9% 6.28%
1983 16.2% 6.49%
1982 16.4% 6.71%
1981 16.6% 6.96%
1980 16.7% 7.23%
1979 16.9% 7.52%
1978 17.2% 7.83%
1977 17.7% 8.17%
1976 18.2% 8.54%
1975 18.7% 8.93%
1974 19.2% 9.35%
1973 19.6% 9.79%
1972 19.9% 10.3%
1971 20.1% 10.7%
1970 20.2% 11.2%
1969 20.3% 11.8%
1968 20.3% 12.4%
1967 20.3% 13%
1966 20.3% 13.6%
1965 20.3% 14.4%
1964 20.3% 15.1%
1963 20.4% 16%
1962 20.5% 16.9%
1961 20.7% 17.9%
1960 20.9% 19%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana/iraq | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.71% in Ghana and 2.26% in Iraq. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.