Fertility & birth rates in Ghana and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Ghana vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ghana	Lesotho
2023	3.4	2.69
2022	3.43	2.72
2021	3.49	2.77
2020	3.54	2.85
2019	3.59	2.92
2018	3.65	3.02
2017	3.72	3.11
2016	3.87	3.18
2015	3.98	3.22
2014	4.03	3.24
2013	4.11	3.28
2012	4.15	3.3
2011	4.18	3.34
2010	4.18	3.25
2009	4.18	3.31
2008	4.22	3.39
2007	4.29	3.44
2006	4.4	3.41
2005	4.5	3.43
2004	4.5	3.51
2003	4.6	3.62
2002	4.69	3.68
2001	4.77	3.63
2000	4.83	3.61
1999	4.82	3.67
1998	4.83	3.82
1997	4.88	3.98
1996	4.96	4.06
1995	5.11	4.13
1994	5.25	4.21
1993	5.41	4.37
1992	5.52	4.54
1991	5.63	4.68
1990	5.74	4.81
1989	5.82	4.96
1988	5.92	5.1
1987	6.02	5.22
1986	6.08	5.32
1985	6.12	5.4
1984	6.15	5.48
1983	6.23	5.56
1982	6.31	5.63
1981	6.42	5.69
1980	6.47	5.75
1979	6.51	5.79
1978	6.56	5.82
1977	6.64	5.85
1976	6.7	5.87
1975	6.76	5.83
1974	6.82	5.75
1973	6.87	5.69
1972	6.92	5.69
1971	6.95	5.7
1970	6.95	5.7
1969	6.95	5.7
1968	6.89	5.73
1967	6.89	5.75
1966	6.86	5.76
1965	6.88	5.77
1964	6.9	5.77
1963	6.94	5.78
1962	6.94	5.79
1961	6.91	5.79
1960	6.89	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ghana was 3.4 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 Ghana vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ghana	Lesotho
2023	651,094	31,115
2022	646,441	30,803
2021	635,805	27,806
2020	637,469	30,721
2019	642,403	32,279
2018	641,551	33,112
2017	641,218	33,601
2016	659,910	33,390
2015	667,729	32,087
2014	660,829	30,922
2013	658,638	29,789
2012	646,595	27,592
2011	631,501	25,647
2010	613,133	21,877
2009	592,825	20,335
2008	579,695	19,349
2007	572,332	17,763
2006	569,474	15,234
2005	563,234	15,831
2004	543,339	17,271
2003	536,656	20,133
2002	528,620	22,274
2001	519,382	23,190
2000	508,738	24,786
1999	487,210	27,393
1998	471,313	30,889
1997	459,822	34,637
1996	450,259	36,228
1995	451,748	37,370
1994	449,589	38,629
1993	454,669	40,505
1992	452,156	42,579
1991	448,159	44,026
1990	442,211	45,060
1989	432,541	46,264
1988	425,031	47,158
1987	419,328	47,718
1986	411,191	45,232
1985	401,722	44,575
1984	392,053	43,785
1983	379,846	42,899
1982	369,061	41,941
1981	359,572	40,808
1980	346,816	39,617
1979	334,848	38,440
1978	324,428	37,084
1977	315,429	35,654
1976	305,769	34,117
1975	298,267	32,311
1974	290,796	30,444
1973	283,385	28,859
1972	275,236	27,841
1971	265,442	26,838
1970	257,938	25,935
1969	251,925	25,137
1968	242,821	24,490
1967	237,156	23,911
1966	231,440	23,326
1965	229,061	22,755
1964	226,685	22,116
1963	225,367	21,585
1962	223,842	21,132
1961	222,372	20,581
1960	217,134	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 +1.93% in Ghana and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.1% in Ghana and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Ghana vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ghana	Lesotho
2023	26.3	24.1
2022	26.6	24.4
2021	27	24.9
2020	27.4	25.6
2019	27.9	26.4
2018	28.4	27.4
2017	28.9	28.2
2016	30.2	28.9
2015	31.1	29.2
2014	31.5	29.5
2013	32.2	30
2012	32.5	30
2011	32.7	30.2
2010	32.7	29.2
2009	32.6	29.4
2008	32.8	29.6
2007	33.2	29.5
2006	33.9	28.6
2005	34.4	28.6
2004	34.3	28.7
2003	34.8	29.3
2002	35.2	29.4
2001	35.6	28.7
2000	35.9	28.2
1999	35.6	28.5
1998	35.5	29.2
1997	35.6	30.2
1996	35.8	30.4
1995	36.7	30.6
1994	37.5	31
1993	38.5	32
1992	39.2	33.2
1991	39.9	34.2
1990	40.5	35.1
1989	40.9	36.3
1988	41.5	37.4
1987	42.2	38.3
1986	42.7	37.5
1985	43.1	37.9
1984	43.4	38.4
1983	43.4	38.9
1982	43.6	39.5
1981	43.9	39.9
1980	44.1	40.4
1979	44	40.8
1978	44.1	41
1977	44.4	41.1
1976	44.7	41
1975	45.3	40.6
1974	45.9	40.2
1973	46.4	39.9
1972	46.9	40.2
1971	47.4	40.5
1970	47.7	40.8
1969	47.9	41.3
1968	47.7	41.9
1967	47.7	42.5
1966	47.8	43
1965	48.2	43.3
1964	48.7	43.5
1963	49.2	43.7
1962	49.7	44.1
1961	50	44.3
1960	50.4	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 26.3 in Ghana 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

Ghana

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ghana	Lesotho
2100	19.3%	18%
2099	19.5%	18.1%
2098	19.6%	18.2%
2097	19.7%	18.3%
2096	19.8%	18.3%
2095	20%	18.4%
2094	20.1%	18.5%
2093	20.2%	18.6%
2092	20.4%	18.7%
2091	20.5%	18.9%
2090	20.7%	19%
2089	20.8%	19.1%
2088	21%	19.2%
2087	21.1%	19.3%
2086	21.3%	19.4%
2085	21.4%	19.6%
2084	21.6%	19.7%
2083	21.7%	19.8%
2082	21.9%	19.9%
2081	22.1%	20%
2080	22.2%	20.2%
2079	22.4%	20.3%
2078	22.5%	20.4%
2077	22.7%	20.5%
2076	22.9%	20.6%
2075	23%	20.7%
2074	23.2%	20.9%
2073	23.4%	21%
2072	23.5%	21.1%
2071	23.7%	21.3%
2070	23.9%	21.4%
2069	24.1%	21.5%
2068	24.2%	21.7%
2067	24.4%	21.9%
2066	24.6%	22%
2065	24.8%	22.2%
2064	25.1%	22.4%
2063	25.3%	22.6%
2062	25.5%	22.8%
2061	25.7%	23%
2060	26%	23.3%
2059	26.2%	23.5%
2058	26.4%	23.7%
2057	26.7%	24%
2056	26.9%	24.2%
2055	27.2%	24.5%
2054	27.4%	24.7%
2053	27.7%	25%
2052	27.9%	25.3%
2051	28.2%	25.5%
2050	28.4%	25.8%
2049	28.6%	26.1%
2048	28.9%	26.3%
2047	29.1%	26.5%
2046	29.3%	26.8%
2045	29.5%	27%
2044	29.7%	27.3%
2043	29.9%	27.5%
2042	30.2%	27.7%
2041	30.4%	28%
2040	30.6%	28.2%
2039	30.8%	28.4%
2038	31%	28.7%
2037	31.3%	28.9%
2036	31.5%	29.2%
2035	31.8%	29.5%
2034	32%	29.9%
2033	32.3%	30.3%
2032	32.7%	30.8%
2031	33%	31.3%
2030	33.5%	31.8%
2029	33.9%	32.3%
2028	34.3%	32.8%
2027	34.8%	33.4%
2026	35.2%	33.9%
2025	35.6%	34.3%
2024	35.8%	34.5%
2023	36.2%	34.9%
2022	36.5%	35.3%
2021	36.9%	35.6%
2020	37.2%	35.8%
2019	37.6%	36.1%
2018	37.8%	36.3%
2017	38.1%	36.5%
2016	38.4%	36.6%
2015	38.6%	36.6%
2014	38.8%	36.6%
2013	38.9%	36.5%
2012	38.9%	36.5%
2011	39%	36.5%
2010	39.1%	36.5%
2009	39.3%	36.6%
2008	39.5%	36.7%
2007	39.8%	36.8%
2006	40.1%	37.1%
2005	40.4%	37.4%
2004	40.7%	37.7%
2003	41.1%	38.1%
2002	41.5%	38.6%
2001	41.9%	39.1%
2000	42.3%	39.6%
1999	42.7%	40.2%
1998	43.1%	40.7%
1997	43.5%	41.2%
1996	43.9%	41.7%
1995	44.2%	42%
1994	44.5%	42.3%
1993	44.8%	42.6%
1992	45%	42.8%
1991	45.2%	42.9%
1990	45.3%	42.9%
1989	45.4%	42.8%
1988	45.4%	42.7%
1987	45.5%	42.5%
1986	45.4%	42.7%
1985	45.3%	43%
1984	45.2%	42.8%
1983	45.4%	42.7%
1982	45.7%	42.5%
1981	45.9%	42.3%
1980	46.2%	42.1%
1979	46.5%	41.9%
1978	47%	41.7%
1977	47.5%	41.5%
1976	47.9%	41.4%
1975	48.2%	41.6%
1974	48.3%	41.9%
1973	48.4%	42.3%
1972	48.4%	42.7%
1971	48.4%	43.1%
1970	48.2%	43.6%
1969	48.1%	44%
1968	47.9%	44.4%
1967	47.8%	44.8%
1966	47.6%	44.9%
1965	47.4%	44.8%
1964	47.1%	44.9%
1963	46.8%	45.2%
1962	46.4%	45.3%
1961	45.9%	45.2%
1960	45.4%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 35.8% of the population in Ghana and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ghana and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ghana vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Ghana

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ghana	Lesotho
2023	234	478
2022	239	477
2021	264	577
2020	253	529
2019	260	467
2018	276	491
2017	287	468
2016	296	518
2015	310	594
2014	317	707
2013	338	855
2012	351	1,000
2011	356	1,210
2010	363	1,311
2009	369	1,387
2008	380	1,205
2007	377	891
2006	385	696
2005	390	549
2004	403	499
2003	410	508
2002	434	484
2001	460	465
2000	472	413
1999	490	371
1998	521	332
1997	553	312
1996	591	319
1995	630	357
1994	670	423
1993	696	542
1992	718	601
1991	745	641
1990	769	665
1989	799	680
1988	834	680
1987	873	686
1986	908	680
1985	943	711

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 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ghana

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ghana	Lesotho
2023	3.71%	5.89%
2022	3.85%	6.15%
2021	4.02%	6.44%
2020	4.2%	6.68%
2019	4.39%	6.87%
2018	4.6%	6.91%
2017	4.81%	7.12%
2016	5.02%	7.18%
2015	5.25%	7.51%
2014	5.48%	7.82%
2013	5.74%	8.02%
2012	6.02%	8.26%
2011	6.33%	8.59%
2010	6.65%	9.01%
2009	6.99%	9.64%
2008	7.31%	10.9%
2007	7.63%	11.2%
2006	7.93%	11.5%
2005	8.22%	11.6%
2004	8.52%	11.5%
2003	8.85%	11.4%
2002	9.21%	11.2%
2001	9.61%	11.1%
2000	10%	10.9%
1999	10.4%	10.7%
1998	10.8%	10.5%
1997	11.1%	10.2%
1996	11.3%	9.83%
1995	11.5%	9.45%
1994	11.6%	9.07%
1993	11.8%	8.73%
1992	12%	8.51%
1991	12.3%	8.43%
1990	12.8%	8.47%
1989	13.3%	8.6%
1988	13.8%	8.8%
1987	14.4%	9.06%
1986	15%	9.36%
1985	15.5%	9.72%
1984	15.9%	10.1%
1983	16.2%	10.6%
1982	16.4%	11.1%
1981	16.6%	11.7%
1980	16.7%	12.3%
1979	16.9%	12.9%
1978	17.2%	13.6%
1977	17.7%	14.2%
1976	18.2%	14.9%
1975	18.7%	15.5%
1974	19.2%	16%
1973	19.6%	16.5%
1972	19.9%	16.9%
1971	20.1%	17.3%
1970	20.2%	17.7%
1969	20.3%	18%
1968	20.3%	18.3%
1967	20.3%	18.5%
1966	20.3%	18.6%
1965	20.3%	18.7%
1964	20.3%	18.6%
1963	20.4%	18.6%
1962	20.5%	18.5%
1961	20.7%	18.5%
1960	20.9%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.71% in Ghana and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.