Fertility & birth rates in Ghana and Nigeria

Fertility rate in Ghana vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Nigeria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ghana	Nigeria
2023	3.4	4.48
2022	3.43	4.55
2021	3.49	4.64
2020	3.54	4.7
2019	3.59	4.86
2018	3.65	5.02
2017	3.72	5.18
2016	3.87	5.34
2015	3.98	5.5
2014	4.03	5.62
2013	4.11	5.69
2012	4.15	5.8
2011	4.18	5.89
2010	4.18	5.95
2009	4.18	5.99
2008	4.22	6.02
2007	4.29	6.03
2006	4.4	6.05
2005	4.5	6.06
2004	4.5	6.09
2003	4.6	6.1
2002	4.69	6.12
2001	4.77	6.13
2000	4.83	6.12
1999	4.82	6.08
1998	4.83	6.07
1997	4.88	6.14
1996	4.96	6.22
1995	5.11	6.27
1994	5.25	6.32
1993	5.41	6.35
1992	5.52	6.39
1991	5.63	6.43
1990	5.74	6.46
1989	5.82	6.49
1988	5.92	6.5
1987	6.02	6.5
1986	6.08	6.56
1985	6.12	6.62
1984	6.15	6.7
1983	6.23	6.78
1982	6.31	6.8
1981	6.42	6.82
1980	6.47	6.85
1979	6.51	6.89
1978	6.56	6.92
1977	6.64	6.86
1976	6.7	6.81
1975	6.76	6.77
1974	6.82	6.7
1973	6.87	6.63
1972	6.92	6.58
1971	6.95	6.53
1970	6.95	6.47
1969	6.95	6.44
1968	6.89	6.42
1967	6.89	6.4
1966	6.86	6.39
1965	6.88	6.37
1964	6.9	6.36
1963	6.94	6.35
1962	6.94	6.36
1961	6.91	6.35
1960	6.89	6.36

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ghana was 3.4 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.48 in Nigeria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Nigeria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ghana	Nigeria
2023	651,094	4,834,309
2022	646,441	4,739,502
2021	635,805	4,641,562
2020	637,469	4,525,164
2019	642,403	4,609,941
2018	641,551	4,659,898
2017	641,218	4,706,183
2016	659,910	4,761,594
2015	667,729	4,823,045
2014	660,829	4,862,319
2013	658,638	4,811,751
2012	646,595	4,774,508
2011	631,501	4,728,363
2010	613,133	4,629,173
2009	592,825	4,528,149
2008	579,695	4,412,976
2007	572,332	4,265,428
2006	569,474	4,135,703
2005	563,234	4,013,788
2004	543,339	3,877,376
2003	536,656	3,751,120
2002	528,620	3,606,814
2001	519,382	3,478,370
2000	508,738	3,343,196
1999	487,210	3,155,425
1998	471,313	3,003,946
1997	459,822	2,936,500
1996	450,259	2,882,205
1995	451,748	2,830,771
1994	449,589	2,735,198
1993	454,669	2,673,675
1992	452,156	2,596,173
1991	448,159	2,527,807
1990	442,211	2,491,928
1989	432,541	2,452,324
1988	425,031	2,376,419
1987	419,328	2,322,397
1986	411,191	2,295,003
1985	401,722	2,289,784
1984	392,053	2,278,060
1983	379,846	2,292,089
1982	369,061	2,233,401
1981	359,572	2,179,884
1980	346,816	2,121,618
1979	334,848	2,074,807
1978	324,428	2,019,621
1977	315,429	1,923,917
1976	305,769	1,827,289
1975	298,267	1,718,623
1974	290,796	1,624,813
1973	283,385	1,525,485
1972	275,236	1,448,928
1971	265,442	1,373,896
1970	257,938	1,295,507
1969	251,925	1,213,484
1968	242,821	1,168,254
1967	237,156	1,082,884
1966	231,440	1,095,582
1965	229,061	1,061,840
1964	226,685	1,028,272
1963	225,367	995,116
1962	223,842	966,452
1961	222,372	932,111
1960	217,134	901,301

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 +2.12% in Nigeria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.1% in Ghana and +2.29% in Nigeria.

Birth rate in Ghana vs Nigeria by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Nigeria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ghana	Nigeria
2023	26.3	33
2022	26.6	33.2
2021	27	33.5
2020	27.4	33.7
2019	27.9	34.7
2018	28.4	35.7
2017	28.9	36.7
2016	30.2	37.8
2015	31.1	39
2014	31.5	39.9
2013	32.2	40.4
2012	32.5	41.1
2011	32.7	41.8
2010	32.7	42.1
2009	32.6	42.5
2008	32.8	42.8
2007	33.2	42.9
2006	33.9	43.2
2005	34.4	43.4
2004	34.3	43.5
2003	34.8	43.7
2002	35.2	43.8
2001	35.6	43.9
2000	35.9	43.9
1999	35.6	43.4
1998	35.5	43.2
1997	35.6	43.5
1996	35.8	43.9
1995	36.7	44.1
1994	37.5	44
1993	38.5	44.1
1992	39.2	44.2
1991	39.9	44.3
1990	40.5	44.5
1989	40.9	44.8
1988	41.5	44.7
1987	42.2	44.8
1986	42.7	45.3
1985	43.1	45.9
1984	43.4	46.5
1983	43.4	47.5
1982	43.6	47.5
1981	43.9	47.9
1980	44.1	48.3
1979	44	48.8
1978	44.1	49.3
1977	44.4	49.1
1976	44.7	49
1975	45.3	49
1974	45.9	48.7
1973	46.4	48.2
1972	46.9	48
1971	47.4	47.8
1970	47.7	47.4
1969	47.9	47.3
1968	47.7	47.2
1967	47.7	47.1
1966	47.8	47
1965	48.2	46.9
1964	48.7	46.9
1963	49.2	46.8
1962	49.7	46.7
1961	50	46.6
1960	50.4	46.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 26.3 in Ghana and 33 in Nigeria, compared with 50.4 and 46.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ghana

Factual

UN forecast

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ghana	Nigeria
2100	19.3%	20.4%
2099	19.5%	20.5%
2098	19.6%	20.6%
2097	19.7%	20.7%
2096	19.8%	20.8%
2095	20%	20.9%
2094	20.1%	21%
2093	20.2%	21.1%
2092	20.4%	21.2%
2091	20.5%	21.4%
2090	20.7%	21.5%
2089	20.8%	21.6%
2088	21%	21.8%
2087	21.1%	21.9%
2086	21.3%	22.1%
2085	21.4%	22.2%
2084	21.6%	22.4%
2083	21.7%	22.6%
2082	21.9%	22.7%
2081	22.1%	22.9%
2080	22.2%	23.1%
2079	22.4%	23.3%
2078	22.5%	23.5%
2077	22.7%	23.7%
2076	22.9%	23.9%
2075	23%	24.1%
2074	23.2%	24.3%
2073	23.4%	24.5%
2072	23.5%	24.7%
2071	23.7%	25%
2070	23.9%	25.2%
2069	24.1%	25.4%
2068	24.2%	25.7%
2067	24.4%	25.9%
2066	24.6%	26.1%
2065	24.8%	26.4%
2064	25.1%	26.6%
2063	25.3%	26.9%
2062	25.5%	27.2%
2061	25.7%	27.4%
2060	26%	27.7%
2059	26.2%	28%
2058	26.4%	28.3%
2057	26.7%	28.6%
2056	26.9%	29%
2055	27.2%	29.3%
2054	27.4%	29.6%
2053	27.7%	30%
2052	27.9%	30.3%
2051	28.2%	30.7%
2050	28.4%	31.1%
2049	28.6%	31.5%
2048	28.9%	31.8%
2047	29.1%	32.2%
2046	29.3%	32.6%
2045	29.5%	32.9%
2044	29.7%	33.3%
2043	29.9%	33.7%
2042	30.2%	34%
2041	30.4%	34.4%
2040	30.6%	34.7%
2039	30.8%	35%
2038	31%	35.4%
2037	31.3%	35.7%
2036	31.5%	36%
2035	31.8%	36.3%
2034	32%	36.6%
2033	32.3%	37%
2032	32.7%	37.4%
2031	33%	37.8%
2030	33.5%	38.3%
2029	33.9%	38.8%
2028	34.3%	39.3%
2027	34.8%	39.8%
2026	35.2%	40.3%
2025	35.6%	40.8%
2024	35.8%	41%
2023	36.2%	41.5%
2022	36.5%	42%
2021	36.9%	42.4%
2020	37.2%	42.8%
2019	37.6%	43.2%
2018	37.8%	43.6%
2017	38.1%	43.9%
2016	38.4%	44.1%
2015	38.6%	44.3%
2014	38.8%	44.4%
2013	38.9%	44.5%
2012	38.9%	44.5%
2011	39%	44.5%
2010	39.1%	44.4%
2009	39.3%	44.4%
2008	39.5%	44.3%
2007	39.8%	44.2%
2006	40.1%	44.1%
2005	40.4%	44%
2004	40.7%	43.9%
2003	41.1%	43.8%
2002	41.5%	43.8%
2001	41.9%	43.7%
2000	42.3%	43.7%
1999	42.7%	43.8%
1998	43.1%	43.9%
1997	43.5%	44.1%
1996	43.9%	44.2%
1995	44.2%	44.4%
1994	44.5%	44.6%
1993	44.8%	44.8%
1992	45%	45%
1991	45.2%	45.2%
1990	45.3%	45.3%
1989	45.4%	45.5%
1988	45.4%	45.5%
1987	45.5%	45.6%
1986	45.4%	45.6%
1985	45.3%	45.5%
1984	45.2%	45.4%
1983	45.4%	45.2%
1982	45.7%	45%
1981	45.9%	44.8%
1980	46.2%	44.6%
1979	46.5%	44.4%
1978	47%	44.2%
1977	47.5%	43.9%
1976	47.9%	43.7%
1975	48.2%	43.4%
1974	48.3%	43.2%
1973	48.4%	43%
1972	48.4%	42.8%
1971	48.4%	42.5%
1970	48.2%	42.4%
1969	48.1%	42.2%
1968	47.9%	42%
1967	47.8%	41.8%
1966	47.6%	41.7%
1965	47.4%	41.5%
1964	47.1%	41.4%
1963	46.8%	41.2%
1962	46.4%	41.1%
1961	45.9%	41.1%
1960	45.4%	41.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 35.8% of the population in Ghana and 41% in Nigeria in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ghana and Nigeria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ghana vs Nigeria

Chart Table

Ghana

Nigeria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ghana	Nigeria
2023	234	993
2022	239	1,016
2021	264	1,046
2020	253	1,065
2019	260	1,091
2018	276	1,118
2017	287	1,142
2016	296	1,155
2015	310	1,168
2014	317	1,155
2013	338	1,146
2012	351	1,124
2011	356	1,108
2010	363	1,094
2009	369	1,088
2008	380	1,081
2007	377	1,063
2006	385	1,067
2005	390	1,060
2004	403	1,075
2003	410	1,090
2002	434	1,117
2001	460	1,130
2000	472	1,136
1999	490	1,165
1998	521	1,189
1997	553	1,184
1996	591	1,185
1995	630	1,186
1994	670	1,193
1993	696	1,200
1992	718	1,246
1991	745	1,282
1990	769	1,285
1989	799	1,304
1988	834	1,332
1987	873	1,351
1986	908	1,363
1985	943	1,344

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 993 deaths in Nigeria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ghana

Nigeria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ghana	Nigeria
2023	3.71%	10.5%
2022	3.85%	10.8%
2021	4.02%	11.1%
2020	4.2%	11.4%
2019	4.39%	11.8%
2018	4.6%	12%
2017	4.81%	12.3%
2016	5.02%	12.5%
2015	5.25%	12.6%
2014	5.48%	12.8%
2013	5.74%	12.9%
2012	6.02%	13.1%
2011	6.33%	13.3%
2010	6.65%	13.5%
2009	6.99%	13.8%
2008	7.31%	14.1%
2007	7.63%	14.5%
2006	7.93%	15%
2005	8.22%	15.5%
2004	8.52%	16%
2003	8.85%	16.5%
2002	9.21%	17.1%
2001	9.61%	17.7%
2000	10%	18.2%
1999	10.4%	18.8%
1998	10.8%	19.3%
1997	11.1%	19.7%
1996	11.3%	20.1%
1995	11.5%	20.4%
1994	11.6%	20.6%
1993	11.8%	20.7%
1992	12%	20.8%
1991	12.3%	20.9%
1990	12.8%	21%
1989	13.3%	21%
1988	13.8%	21%
1987	14.4%	20.9%
1986	15%	20.9%
1985	15.5%	20.8%
1984	15.9%	20.7%
1983	16.2%	20.7%
1982	16.4%	20.8%
1981	16.6%	21%
1980	16.7%	21.3%
1979	16.9%	21.8%
1978	17.2%	22.3%
1977	17.7%	22.9%
1976	18.2%	23.6%
1975	18.7%	24.4%
1974	19.2%	25.2%
1973	19.6%	26.1%
1972	19.9%	26.9%
1971	20.1%	27.7%
1970	20.2%	28.5%
1969	20.3%	29.3%
1968	20.3%	30%
1967	20.3%	30.7%
1966	20.3%	31.3%
1965	20.3%	32%
1964	20.3%	32.7%
1963	20.4%	-
1962	20.5%	-
1961	20.7%	-
1960	20.9%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.71% in Ghana and 10.5% in Nigeria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.