Fertility & birth rates in Ghana and Zambia

Fertility rate in Ghana vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ghana	Zambia
2023	3.4	4.1
2022	3.43	4.18
2021	3.49	4.25
2020	3.54	4.32
2019	3.59	4.42
2018	3.65	4.49
2017	3.72	4.57
2016	3.87	4.67
2015	3.98	4.78
2014	4.03	4.89
2013	4.11	5.01
2012	4.15	5.14
2011	4.18	5.26
2010	4.18	5.36
2009	4.18	5.45
2008	4.22	5.53
2007	4.29	5.61
2006	4.4	5.68
2005	4.5	5.7
2004	4.5	5.7
2003	4.6	5.71
2002	4.69	5.77
2001	4.77	5.85
2000	4.83	5.92
1999	4.82	6
1998	4.83	6.07
1997	4.88	6.12
1996	4.96	6.18
1995	5.11	6.23
1994	5.25	6.26
1993	5.41	6.3
1992	5.52	6.35
1991	5.63	6.46
1990	5.74	6.57
1989	5.82	6.64
1988	5.92	6.7
1987	6.02	6.8
1986	6.08	6.87
1985	6.12	6.93
1984	6.15	6.97
1983	6.23	7.01
1982	6.31	7.04
1981	6.42	7.07
1980	6.47	7.14
1979	6.51	7.22
1978	6.56	7.29
1977	6.64	7.35
1976	6.7	7.39
1975	6.76	7.42
1974	6.82	7.36
1973	6.87	7.34
1972	6.92	7.3
1971	6.95	7.26
1970	6.95	7.22
1969	6.95	7.18
1968	6.89	7.18
1967	6.89	7.15
1966	6.86	7.14
1965	6.88	7.12
1964	6.9	7.09
1963	6.94	7.06
1962	6.94	7.01
1961	6.91	6.98
1960	6.89	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ghana was 3.4 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ghana	Zambia
2023	651,094	577,660
2022	646,441	563,456
2021	635,805	535,629
2020	637,469	536,484
2019	642,403	528,089
2018	641,551	515,644
2017	641,218	504,630
2016	659,910	497,521
2015	667,729	491,021
2014	660,829	483,663
2013	658,638	476,846
2012	646,595	469,406
2011	631,501	459,743
2010	613,133	448,337
2009	592,825	434,458
2008	579,695	419,560
2007	572,332	403,729
2006	569,474	387,891
2005	563,234	368,756
2004	543,339	349,352
2003	536,656	331,189
2002	528,620	316,041
2001	519,382	302,682
2000	508,738	293,186
1999	487,210	283,297
1998	471,313	275,568
1997	459,822	268,198
1996	450,259	262,468
1995	451,748	257,897
1994	449,589	252,023
1993	454,669	245,917
1992	452,156	239,953
1991	448,159	237,957
1990	442,211	235,835
1989	432,541	233,429
1988	425,031	230,118
1987	419,328	227,813
1986	411,191	224,768
1985	401,722	221,351
1984	392,053	216,695
1983	379,846	212,712
1982	369,061	207,621
1981	359,572	202,822
1980	346,816	198,817
1979	334,848	197,578
1978	324,428	194,933
1977	315,429	191,557
1976	305,769	186,762
1975	298,267	182,258
1974	290,796	174,484
1973	283,385	168,258
1972	275,236	161,648
1971	265,442	155,249
1970	257,938	149,380
1969	251,925	142,660
1968	242,821	137,315
1967	237,156	131,938
1966	231,440	127,164
1965	229,061	122,814
1964	226,685	117,197
1963	225,367	114,555
1962	223,842	110,173
1961	222,372	106,318
1960	217,134	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.1% in Ghana and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Ghana vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Ghana

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ghana	Zambia
2023	26.3	33.1
2022	26.6	33.5
2021	27	33.9
2020	27.4	34.4
2019	27.9	35
2018	28.4	35.5
2017	28.9	35.9
2016	30.2	36.6
2015	31.1	37.3
2014	31.5	38.1
2013	32.2	39
2012	32.5	39.9
2011	32.7	40.7
2010	32.7	41.4
2009	32.6	42
2008	32.8	42.6
2007	33.2	43.2
2006	33.9	43.7
2005	34.4	43.8
2004	34.3	43.9
2003	34.8	43.9
2002	35.2	44.3
2001	35.6	44.8
2000	35.9	45.5
1999	35.6	45.9
1998	35.5	46.2
1997	35.6	46.3
1996	35.8	46.6
1995	36.7	46.8
1994	37.5	46.7
1993	38.5	46.6
1992	39.2	46.6
1991	39.9	46.9
1990	40.5	47
1989	40.9	47.1
1988	41.5	47.1
1987	42.2	47.3
1986	42.7	47.4
1985	43.1	47.4
1984	43.4	47.3
1983	43.4	47.3
1982	43.6	47.3
1981	43.9	47.3
1980	44.1	47.5
1979	44	48.2
1978	44.1	48.7
1977	44.4	49.2
1976	44.7	49.5
1975	45.3	50
1974	45.9	49.7
1973	46.4	49.7
1972	46.9	49.6
1971	47.4	49.4
1970	47.7	49.3
1969	47.9	48.9
1968	47.7	48.9
1967	47.7	48.8
1966	47.8	48.8
1965	48.2	48.8
1964	48.7	48.9
1963	49.2	48.9
1962	49.7	48.9
1961	50	48.9
1960	50.4	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 26.3 in Ghana and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 50.4 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ghana

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ghana	Zambia
2100	19.3%	21.6%
2099	19.5%	21.7%
2098	19.6%	21.9%
2097	19.7%	22%
2096	19.8%	22.2%
2095	20%	22.3%
2094	20.1%	22.5%
2093	20.2%	22.7%
2092	20.4%	22.8%
2091	20.5%	23%
2090	20.7%	23.1%
2089	20.8%	23.3%
2088	21%	23.5%
2087	21.1%	23.6%
2086	21.3%	23.8%
2085	21.4%	24%
2084	21.6%	24.2%
2083	21.7%	24.3%
2082	21.9%	24.5%
2081	22.1%	24.7%
2080	22.2%	24.9%
2079	22.4%	25.1%
2078	22.5%	25.3%
2077	22.7%	25.5%
2076	22.9%	25.7%
2075	23%	25.9%
2074	23.2%	26.1%
2073	23.4%	26.4%
2072	23.5%	26.6%
2071	23.7%	26.8%
2070	23.9%	27%
2069	24.1%	27.2%
2068	24.2%	27.5%
2067	24.4%	27.7%
2066	24.6%	27.9%
2065	24.8%	28.1%
2064	25.1%	28.4%
2063	25.3%	28.6%
2062	25.5%	28.9%
2061	25.7%	29.1%
2060	26%	29.3%
2059	26.2%	29.6%
2058	26.4%	29.8%
2057	26.7%	30.1%
2056	26.9%	30.4%
2055	27.2%	30.6%
2054	27.4%	30.9%
2053	27.7%	31.2%
2052	27.9%	31.5%
2051	28.2%	31.8%
2050	28.4%	32.2%
2049	28.6%	32.5%
2048	28.9%	32.8%
2047	29.1%	33.2%
2046	29.3%	33.5%
2045	29.5%	33.9%
2044	29.7%	34.2%
2043	29.9%	34.6%
2042	30.2%	34.9%
2041	30.4%	35.3%
2040	30.6%	35.6%
2039	30.8%	36%
2038	31%	36.3%
2037	31.3%	36.6%
2036	31.5%	37%
2035	31.8%	37.3%
2034	32%	37.6%
2033	32.3%	38%
2032	32.7%	38.3%
2031	33%	38.7%
2030	33.5%	39%
2029	33.9%	39.4%
2028	34.3%	39.8%
2027	34.8%	40.3%
2026	35.2%	40.7%
2025	35.6%	41.2%
2024	35.8%	41.5%
2023	36.2%	42%
2022	36.5%	42.4%
2021	36.9%	42.9%
2020	37.2%	43.3%
2019	37.6%	43.8%
2018	37.8%	44.1%
2017	38.1%	44.5%
2016	38.4%	44.9%
2015	38.6%	45.2%
2014	38.8%	45.5%
2013	38.9%	45.7%
2012	38.9%	45.9%
2011	39%	46.1%
2010	39.1%	46.3%
2009	39.3%	46.4%
2008	39.5%	46.6%
2007	39.8%	46.8%
2006	40.1%	47%
2005	40.4%	47.1%
2004	40.7%	47.3%
2003	41.1%	47.4%
2002	41.5%	47.6%
2001	41.9%	47.8%
2000	42.3%	48%
1999	42.7%	48.1%
1998	43.1%	48.2%
1997	43.5%	48.2%
1996	43.9%	48.2%
1995	44.2%	48.2%
1994	44.5%	48.2%
1993	44.8%	48.2%
1992	45%	48.2%
1991	45.2%	48.3%
1990	45.3%	48.4%
1989	45.4%	48.5%
1988	45.4%	48.6%
1987	45.5%	48.7%
1986	45.4%	48.8%
1985	45.3%	48.9%
1984	45.2%	49%
1983	45.4%	49.1%
1982	45.7%	49.3%
1981	45.9%	49.4%
1980	46.2%	49.5%
1979	46.5%	49.5%
1978	47%	49.4%
1977	47.5%	49.2%
1976	47.9%	49.1%
1975	48.2%	48.8%
1974	48.3%	48.6%
1973	48.4%	48.3%
1972	48.4%	48%
1971	48.4%	47.7%
1970	48.2%	47.4%
1969	48.1%	47.2%
1968	47.9%	47.1%
1967	47.8%	47%
1966	47.6%	46.9%
1965	47.4%	46.9%
1964	47.1%	46.7%
1963	46.8%	46.5%
1962	46.4%	46.3%
1961	45.9%	46.2%
1960	45.4%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 35.8% of the population in Ghana and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ghana and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ghana vs Zambia

Chart Table

Ghana

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ghana	Zambia
2023	234	85
2022	239	89
2021	264	140
2020	253	99
2019	260	103
2018	276	117
2017	287	141
2016	296	158
2015	310	154
2014	317	174
2013	338	213
2012	351	256
2011	356	291
2010	363	332
2009	369	406
2008	380	394
2007	377	324
2006	385	262
2005	390	264
2004	403	260
2003	410	250
2002	434	274
2001	460	306
2000	472	340
1999	490	378
1998	521	392
1997	553	403
1996	591	433
1995	630	466
1994	670	507
1993	696	532
1992	718	581
1991	745	611
1990	769	625
1989	799	635
1988	834	635
1987	873	630
1986	908	619
1985	943	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ghana

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ghana	Zambia
2023	3.71%	4.47%
2022	3.85%	4.67%
2021	4.02%	4.92%
2020	4.2%	5.24%
2019	4.39%	5.41%
2018	4.6%	5.52%
2017	4.81%	5.61%
2016	5.02%	5.9%
2015	5.25%	6.15%
2014	5.48%	6.38%
2013	5.74%	6.72%
2012	6.02%	7.04%
2011	6.33%	7.31%
2010	6.65%	7.57%
2009	6.99%	8%
2008	7.31%	8.62%
2007	7.63%	9.14%
2006	7.93%	9.71%
2005	8.22%	10.5%
2004	8.52%	11.4%
2003	8.85%	12.4%
2002	9.21%	13.4%
2001	9.61%	14.4%
2000	10%	15.3%
1999	10.4%	15.9%
1998	10.8%	16.3%
1997	11.1%	16.7%
1996	11.3%	17%
1995	11.5%	17.3%
1994	11.6%	17.7%
1993	11.8%	17.9%
1992	12%	18.1%
1991	12.3%	18.1%
1990	12.8%	18.1%
1989	13.3%	17.9%
1988	13.8%	17.7%
1987	14.4%	17.3%
1986	15%	17%
1985	15.5%	16.6%
1984	15.9%	16.2%
1983	16.2%	15.9%
1982	16.4%	15.7%
1981	16.6%	15.6%
1980	16.7%	15.5%
1979	16.9%	15.4%
1978	17.2%	15.3%
1977	17.7%	15.3%
1976	18.2%	15.4%
1975	18.7%	15.5%
1974	19.2%	15.9%
1973	19.6%	16.3%
1972	19.9%	16.9%
1971	20.1%	17.4%
1970	20.2%	17.9%
1969	20.3%	18.3%
1968	20.3%	18.5%
1967	20.3%	18.7%
1966	20.3%	18.9%
1965	20.3%	19%
1964	20.3%	19.2%
1963	20.4%	19.5%
1962	20.5%	19.8%
1961	20.7%	20.1%
1960	20.9%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.71% in Ghana and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.