Ghana has an annual birth rate of 26.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.1 for Lesotho. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.4 in Ghana and 2.69 in Lesotho — 20.7% difference.
1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -50.7% in Ghana and by -53.4% in Lesotho — in 1960, it was 6.89 and 5.78, respectively.
Birth rates facts compared:
- Ghana is ranked 47/196 by birth rate compared to 56/196 for Lesotho.
- The mean age for first-time mothers is 22.1 years in Ghana, compared to 20.9 years in Lesotho.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.5 in Ghana — it's 27.9 in Lesotho.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 58.2 in Ghana vs 70.6 in Lesotho.
- In Ghana, 25.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in Lesotho.
- 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.
Birth rate data compared
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 3.4 | 2.69 |
| Birth rate | 26.3 | 24.1 |
| Birth rate rank | 47/196 | 56/196 |
| Age at first childbirth | 22.1 years | 20.9 years |
| Average age at childbearing | 29.5 years | 27.9 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 56.7 | 69.1 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 148.4 | 134.4 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 53.2 | 38.1 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 25.6% | 27.8% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 27.8% | 65.3% |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 78.9% | 86.6% |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.23% | 0.48% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 2.12% | 2.87% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 2.82% | 5.54% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | 3.71% | 5.89% |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +651,094 | +31,115 |
| Natural population change rank | 30/196 | 103/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +1.93% | +1.35% |
| Population growth | +1.89% | +1.12% |
| Population growth rank | 59/197 | 96/197 |
| Life expectancy | 65.9 years | 58.2 years |
Fertility rate in Ghana vs Lesotho chart
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.
The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.
Ghana
Factual
UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
Births per woman
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 6.89 | 5.78 |
| 1961 | 6.91 | 5.79 |
| 1962 | 6.94 | 5.79 |
| 1963 | 6.94 | 5.78 |
| 1964 | 6.9 | 5.77 |
| 1965 | 6.88 | 5.77 |
| 1966 | 6.86 | 5.76 |
| 1967 | 6.89 | 5.75 |
| 1968 | 6.89 | 5.73 |
| 1969 | 6.95 | 5.7 |
| 1970 | 6.95 | 5.7 |
| 1971 | 6.95 | 5.7 |
| 1972 | 6.92 | 5.69 |
| 1973 | 6.87 | 5.69 |
| 1974 | 6.82 | 5.75 |
| 1975 | 6.76 | 5.83 |
| 1976 | 6.7 | 5.87 |
| 1977 | 6.64 | 5.85 |
| 1978 | 6.56 | 5.82 |
| 1979 | 6.51 | 5.79 |
| 1980 | 6.47 | 5.75 |
| 1981 | 6.42 | 5.69 |
| 1982 | 6.31 | 5.63 |
| 1983 | 6.23 | 5.56 |
| 1984 | 6.15 | 5.48 |
| 1985 | 6.12 | 5.4 |
| 1986 | 6.08 | 5.32 |
| 1987 | 6.02 | 5.22 |
| 1988 | 5.92 | 5.1 |
| 1989 | 5.82 | 4.96 |
| 1990 | 5.74 | 4.81 |
| 1991 | 5.63 | 4.68 |
| 1992 | 5.52 | 4.54 |
| 1993 | 5.41 | 4.37 |
| 1994 | 5.25 | 4.21 |
| 1995 | 5.11 | 4.13 |
| 1996 | 4.96 | 4.06 |
| 1997 | 4.88 | 3.98 |
| 1998 | 4.83 | 3.82 |
| 1999 | 4.82 | 3.67 |
| 2000 | 4.83 | 3.61 |
| 2001 | 4.77 | 3.63 |
| 2002 | 4.69 | 3.68 |
| 2003 | 4.6 | 3.62 |
| 2004 | 4.5 | 3.51 |
| 2005 | 4.5 | 3.43 |
| 2006 | 4.4 | 3.41 |
| 2007 | 4.29 | 3.44 |
| 2008 | 4.22 | 3.39 |
| 2009 | 4.18 | 3.31 |
| 2010 | 4.18 | 3.25 |
| 2011 | 4.18 | 3.34 |
| 2012 | 4.15 | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 4.11 | 3.28 |
| 2014 | 4.03 | 3.24 |
| 2015 | 3.98 | 3.22 |
| 2016 | 3.87 | 3.18 |
| 2017 | 3.72 | 3.11 |
| 2018 | 3.65 | 3.02 |
| 2019 | 3.59 | 2.92 |
| 2020 | 3.54 | 2.85 |
| 2021 | 3.49 | 2.77 |
| 2022 | 3.43 | 2.72 |
| 2023 | 3.4 | 2.69 |
| 2024 | 3.34 | 2.66 |
| 2025 | 3.3 | 2.64 |
| 2026 | 3.26 | 2.61 |
| 2027 | 3.22 | 2.58 |
| 2028 | 3.18 | 2.55 |
| 2029 | 3.14 | 2.53 |
| 2030 | 3.1 | 2.5 |
| 2031 | 3.06 | 2.47 |
| 2032 | 3.03 | 2.45 |
| 2033 | 2.99 | 2.43 |
| 2034 | 2.96 | 2.41 |
| 2035 | 2.93 | 2.38 |
| 2036 | 2.9 | 2.37 |
| 2037 | 2.87 | 2.34 |
| 2038 | 2.84 | 2.32 |
| 2039 | 2.81 | 2.3 |
| 2040 | 2.78 | 2.29 |
| 2041 | 2.76 | 2.27 |
| 2042 | 2.73 | 2.25 |
| 2043 | 2.71 | 2.24 |
| 2044 | 2.68 | 2.22 |
| 2045 | 2.66 | 2.21 |
| 2046 | 2.64 | 2.19 |
| 2047 | 2.62 | 2.18 |
| 2048 | 2.59 | 2.17 |
| 2049 | 2.57 | 2.16 |
| 2050 | 2.55 | 2.14 |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
Ghana
Factual
UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
| Year | Share of people 0-14 years old | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 45.4% | 45.1% |
| 1961 | 45.9% | 45.2% |
| 1962 | 46.4% | 45.3% |
| 1963 | 46.8% | 45.2% |
| 1964 | 47.1% | 44.9% |
| 1965 | 47.4% | 44.8% |
| 1966 | 47.6% | 44.9% |
| 1967 | 47.8% | 44.8% |
| 1968 | 47.9% | 44.4% |
| 1969 | 48.1% | 44% |
| 1970 | 48.2% | 43.6% |
| 1971 | 48.4% | 43.1% |
| 1972 | 48.4% | 42.7% |
| 1973 | 48.4% | 42.3% |
| 1974 | 48.3% | 41.9% |
| 1975 | 48.2% | 41.6% |
| 1976 | 47.9% | 41.4% |
| 1977 | 47.5% | 41.5% |
| 1978 | 47% | 41.7% |
| 1979 | 46.5% | 41.9% |
| 1980 | 46.2% | 42.1% |
| 1981 | 45.9% | 42.3% |
| 1982 | 45.7% | 42.5% |
| 1983 | 45.4% | 42.7% |
| 1984 | 45.2% | 42.8% |
| 1985 | 45.3% | 43% |
| 1986 | 45.4% | 42.7% |
| 1987 | 45.5% | 42.5% |
| 1988 | 45.4% | 42.7% |
| 1989 | 45.4% | 42.8% |
| 1990 | 45.3% | 42.9% |
| 1991 | 45.2% | 42.9% |
| 1992 | 45% | 42.8% |
| 1993 | 44.8% | 42.6% |
| 1994 | 44.5% | 42.3% |
| 1995 | 44.2% | 42% |
| 1996 | 43.9% | 41.7% |
| 1997 | 43.5% | 41.2% |
| 1998 | 43.1% | 40.7% |
| 1999 | 42.7% | 40.2% |
| 2000 | 42.3% | 39.6% |
| 2001 | 41.9% | 39.1% |
| 2002 | 41.5% | 38.6% |
| 2003 | 41.1% | 38.1% |
| 2004 | 40.7% | 37.7% |
| 2005 | 40.4% | 37.4% |
| 2006 | 40.1% | 37.1% |
| 2007 | 39.8% | 36.8% |
| 2008 | 39.5% | 36.7% |
| 2009 | 39.3% | 36.6% |
| 2010 | 39.1% | 36.5% |
| 2011 | 39% | 36.5% |
| 2012 | 38.9% | 36.5% |
| 2013 | 38.9% | 36.5% |
| 2014 | 38.8% | 36.6% |
| 2015 | 38.6% | 36.6% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | 36.6% |
| 2017 | 38.1% | 36.5% |
| 2018 | 37.8% | 36.3% |
| 2019 | 37.6% | 36.1% |
| 2020 | 37.2% | 35.8% |
| 2021 | 36.9% | 35.6% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | 35.3% |
| 2023 | 36.2% | 34.9% |
| 2024 | 35.8% | 34.5% |
| 2025 | 35.4% | 34.1% |
| 2026 | 35% | 33.6% |
| 2027 | 34.6% | 33.1% |
| 2028 | 34.1% | 32.6% |
| 2029 | 33.7% | 32% |
| 2030 | 33.3% | 31.5% |
| 2031 | 32.8% | 31% |
| 2032 | 32.5% | 30.5% |
| 2033 | 32.2% | 30.1% |
| 2034 | 31.9% | 29.7% |
| 2035 | 31.6% | 29.3% |
| 2036 | 31.4% | 29% |
| 2037 | 31.2% | 28.8% |
| 2038 | 30.9% | 28.5% |
| 2039 | 30.7% | 28.3% |
| 2040 | 30.5% | 28.1% |
| 2041 | 30.3% | 27.8% |
| 2042 | 30.1% | 27.6% |
| 2043 | 29.8% | 27.4% |
| 2044 | 29.6% | 27.1% |
| 2045 | 29.4% | 26.9% |
| 2046 | 29.2% | 26.7% |
| 2047 | 29% | 26.4% |
| 2048 | 28.8% | 26.2% |
| 2049 | 28.5% | 25.9% |
| 2050 | 28.3% | 25.7% |
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.
Natural population change in Ghana vs Lesotho by year
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.1% in Ghana and +1.44% in Lesotho. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.
Ghana
Lesotho
Natural population change
| Year | Population change due to births and deaths | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 217,134 | 19,981 |
| 1961 | 222,372 | 20,581 |
| 1962 | 223,842 | 21,132 |
| 1963 | 225,367 | 21,585 |
| 1964 | 226,685 | 22,116 |
| 1965 | 229,061 | 22,755 |
| 1966 | 231,440 | 23,326 |
| 1967 | 237,156 | 23,911 |
| 1968 | 242,821 | 24,490 |
| 1969 | 251,925 | 25,137 |
| 1970 | 257,938 | 25,935 |
| 1971 | 265,442 | 26,838 |
| 1972 | 275,236 | 27,841 |
| 1973 | 283,385 | 28,859 |
| 1974 | 290,796 | 30,444 |
| 1975 | 298,267 | 32,311 |
| 1976 | 305,769 | 34,117 |
| 1977 | 315,429 | 35,654 |
| 1978 | 324,428 | 37,084 |
| 1979 | 334,848 | 38,440 |
| 1980 | 346,816 | 39,617 |
| 1981 | 359,572 | 40,808 |
| 1982 | 369,061 | 41,941 |
| 1983 | 379,846 | 42,899 |
| 1984 | 392,053 | 43,785 |
| 1985 | 401,722 | 44,575 |
| 1986 | 411,191 | 45,232 |
| 1987 | 419,328 | 47,718 |
| 1988 | 425,031 | 47,158 |
| 1989 | 432,541 | 46,264 |
| 1990 | 442,211 | 45,060 |
| 1991 | 448,159 | 44,026 |
| 1992 | 452,156 | 42,579 |
| 1993 | 454,669 | 40,505 |
| 1994 | 449,589 | 38,629 |
| 1995 | 451,748 | 37,370 |
| 1996 | 450,259 | 36,228 |
| 1997 | 459,822 | 34,637 |
| 1998 | 471,313 | 30,889 |
| 1999 | 487,210 | 27,393 |
| 2000 | 508,738 | 24,786 |
| 2001 | 519,382 | 23,190 |
| 2002 | 528,620 | 22,274 |
| 2003 | 536,656 | 20,133 |
| 2004 | 543,339 | 17,271 |
| 2005 | 563,234 | 15,831 |
| 2006 | 569,474 | 15,234 |
| 2007 | 572,332 | 17,763 |
| 2008 | 579,695 | 19,349 |
| 2009 | 592,825 | 20,335 |
| 2010 | 613,133 | 21,877 |
| 2011 | 631,501 | 25,647 |
| 2012 | 646,595 | 27,592 |
| 2013 | 658,638 | 29,789 |
| 2014 | 660,829 | 30,922 |
| 2015 | 667,729 | 32,087 |
| 2016 | 659,910 | 33,390 |
| 2017 | 641,218 | 33,601 |
| 2018 | 641,551 | 33,112 |
| 2019 | 642,403 | 32,279 |
| 2020 | 637,469 | 30,721 |
| 2021 | 635,805 | 27,806 |
| 2022 | 646,441 | 30,803 |
| 2023 | 651,094 | 31,115 |
Fertility rates around the globe
Fertility rate
Maternal mortality chart: Ghana vs Lesotho
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.
Ghana
Lesotho
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1985 | 943 | 711 |
| 1986 | 908 | 680 |
| 1987 | 873 | 686 |
| 1988 | 834 | 680 |
| 1989 | 799 | 680 |
| 1990 | 769 | 665 |
| 1991 | 745 | 641 |
| 1992 | 718 | 601 |
| 1993 | 696 | 542 |
| 1994 | 670 | 423 |
| 1995 | 630 | 357 |
| 1996 | 591 | 319 |
| 1997 | 553 | 312 |
| 1998 | 521 | 332 |
| 1999 | 490 | 371 |
| 2000 | 472 | 413 |
| 2001 | 460 | 465 |
| 2002 | 434 | 484 |
| 2003 | 410 | 508 |
| 2004 | 403 | 499 |
| 2005 | 390 | 549 |
| 2006 | 385 | 696 |
| 2007 | 377 | 891 |
| 2008 | 380 | 1,205 |
| 2009 | 369 | 1,387 |
| 2010 | 363 | 1,311 |
| 2011 | 356 | 1,210 |
| 2012 | 351 | 1,000 |
| 2013 | 338 | 855 |
| 2014 | 317 | 707 |
| 2015 | 310 | 594 |
| 2016 | 296 | 518 |
| 2017 | 287 | 468 |
| 2018 | 276 | 491 |
| 2019 | 260 | 467 |
| 2020 | 253 | 529 |
| 2021 | 264 | 577 |
| 2022 | 239 | 477 |
| 2023 | 234 | 478 |
Under-five mortality rates
The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.71% in Ghana and 5.89% in Lesotho. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.
Ghana
Lesotho
Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five
| Year | Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ghana
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 20.9% | 18.6% |
| 1961 | 20.7% | 18.5% |
| 1962 | 20.5% | 18.5% |
| 1963 | 20.4% | 18.6% |
| 1964 | 20.3% | 18.6% |
| 1965 | 20.3% | 18.7% |
| 1966 | 20.3% | 18.6% |
| 1967 | 20.3% | 18.5% |
| 1968 | 20.3% | 18.3% |
| 1969 | 20.3% | 18% |
| 1970 | 20.2% | 17.7% |
| 1971 | 20.1% | 17.3% |
| 1972 | 19.9% | 16.9% |
| 1973 | 19.6% | 16.5% |
| 1974 | 19.2% | 16% |
| 1975 | 18.7% | 15.5% |
| 1976 | 18.2% | 14.9% |
| 1977 | 17.7% | 14.2% |
| 1978 | 17.2% | 13.6% |
| 1979 | 16.9% | 12.9% |
| 1980 | 16.7% | 12.3% |
| 1981 | 16.6% | 11.7% |
| 1982 | 16.4% | 11.1% |
| 1983 | 16.2% | 10.6% |
| 1984 | 15.9% | 10.1% |
| 1985 | 15.5% | 9.72% |
| 1986 | 15% | 9.36% |
| 1987 | 14.4% | 9.06% |
| 1988 | 13.8% | 8.8% |
| 1989 | 13.3% | 8.6% |
| 1990 | 12.8% | 8.47% |
| 1991 | 12.3% | 8.43% |
| 1992 | 12% | 8.51% |
| 1993 | 11.8% | 8.73% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | 9.07% |
| 1995 | 11.5% | 9.45% |
| 1996 | 11.3% | 9.83% |
| 1997 | 11.1% | 10.2% |
| 1998 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | 10.7% |
| 2000 | 10% | 10.9% |
| 2001 | 9.61% | 11.1% |
| 2002 | 9.21% | 11.2% |
| 2003 | 8.85% | 11.4% |
| 2004 | 8.52% | 11.5% |
| 2005 | 8.22% | 11.6% |
| 2006 | 7.93% | 11.5% |
| 2007 | 7.63% | 11.2% |
| 2008 | 7.31% | 10.9% |
| 2009 | 6.99% | 9.64% |
| 2010 | 6.65% | 9.01% |
| 2011 | 6.33% | 8.59% |
| 2012 | 6.02% | 8.26% |
| 2013 | 5.74% | 8.02% |
| 2014 | 5.48% | 7.82% |
| 2015 | 5.25% | 7.51% |
| 2016 | 5.02% | 7.18% |
| 2017 | 4.81% | 7.12% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | 6.91% |
| 2019 | 4.39% | 6.87% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | 6.68% |
| 2021 | 4.02% | 6.44% |
| 2022 | 3.85% | 6.15% |
| 2023 | 3.71% | 5.89% |
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