Fertility & birth rates in Iceland and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Iceland vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Iceland

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iceland	Lesotho
2023	1.59	2.69
2022	1.59	2.72
2021	1.82	2.77
2020	1.72	2.85
2019	1.74	2.92
2018	1.71	3.02
2017	1.71	3.11
2016	1.74	3.18
2015	1.8	3.22
2014	1.93	3.24
2013	1.93	3.28
2012	2.04	3.3
2011	2.02	3.34
2010	2.2	3.25
2009	2.23	3.31
2008	2.15	3.39
2007	2.09	3.44
2006	2.08	3.41
2005	2.05	3.43
2004	2.04	3.51
2003	1.99	3.62
2002	1.93	3.68
2001	1.95	3.63
2000	2.08	3.61
1999	1.99	3.67
1998	2.05	3.82
1997	2.04	3.98
1996	2.12	4.06
1995	2.08	4.13
1994	2.14	4.21
1993	2.22	4.37
1992	2.21	4.54
1991	2.18	4.68
1990	2.3	4.81
1989	2.19	4.96
1988	2.26	5.1
1987	2.06	5.22
1986	1.92	5.32
1985	1.93	5.4
1984	2.08	5.48
1983	2.24	5.56
1982	2.27	5.63
1981	2.33	5.69
1980	2.48	5.75
1979	2.49	5.79
1978	2.35	5.82
1977	2.31	5.85
1976	2.52	5.87
1975	2.65	5.83
1974	2.66	5.75
1973	2.94	5.69
1972	3.09	5.69
1971	2.92	5.7
1970	2.81	5.7
1969	2.99	5.7
1968	3.06	5.73
1967	3.28	5.75
1966	3.59	5.76
1965	3.73	5.77
1964	3.88	5.77
1963	3.99	5.78
1962	3.98	5.79
1961	3.88	5.79
1960	4.29	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 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 Iceland vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iceland

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iceland	Lesotho
2023	1,697	31,115
2022	1,719	30,803
2021	2,534	27,806
2020	2,199	30,721
2019	2,163	32,279
2018	1,975	33,112
2017	1,854	33,601
2016	1,711	33,390
2015	1,952	32,087
2014	2,324	30,922
2013	2,169	29,789
2012	2,566	27,592
2011	2,521	25,647
2010	2,862	21,877
2009	3,026	20,335
2008	2,825	19,349
2007	2,617	17,763
2006	2,491	15,234
2005	2,433	15,831
2004	2,425	17,271
2003	2,317	20,133
2002	2,243	22,274
2001	2,365	23,190
2000	2,475	24,786
1999	2,192	27,393
1998	2,357	30,889
1997	2,305	34,637
1996	2,447	36,228
1995	2,354	37,370
1994	2,713	38,629
1993	2,875	40,505
1992	2,898	42,579
1991	2,733	44,026
1990	3,058	45,060
1989	2,832	46,264
1988	2,847	47,158
1987	2,360	47,718
1986	2,384	45,232
1985	2,221	44,575
1984	2,539	43,785
1983	2,702	42,899
1982	2,736	41,941
1981	2,677	40,808
1980	2,966	39,617
1979	2,980	38,440
1978	2,727	37,084
1977	2,551	35,654
1976	2,951	34,117
1975	2,965	32,311
1974	2,776	30,444
1973	3,121	28,859
1972	3,241	27,841
1971	2,782	26,838
1970	2,576	25,935
1969	2,766	25,137
1968	2,841	24,490
1967	3,021	23,911
1966	3,305	23,326
1965	3,442	22,755
1964	3,459	22,116
1963	3,490	21,585
1962	3,465	21,132
1961	3,312	20,581
1960	3,758	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 +0.44% in Iceland and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.57% in Iceland and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Iceland vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Iceland

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iceland	Lesotho
2023	11	24.1
2022	11.5	24.4
2021	13.1	24.9
2020	12.3	25.6
2019	12.3	26.4
2018	12	27.4
2017	11.9	28.2
2016	12	28.9
2015	12.5	29.2
2014	13.4	29.5
2013	13.4	30
2012	14.1	30
2011	14.1	30.2
2010	15.4	29.2
2009	15.8	29.4
2008	15.2	29.6
2007	14.6	29.5
2006	14.5	28.6
2005	14.4	28.6
2004	14.5	28.7
2003	14.3	29.3
2002	14.1	29.4
2001	14.4	28.7
2000	15.3	28.2
1999	14.8	28.5
1998	15.2	29.2
1997	15.3	30.2
1996	16.1	30.4
1995	16	30.6
1994	16.7	31
1993	17.5	32
1992	17.7	33.2
1991	17.6	34.2
1990	18.7	35.1
1989	18	36.3
1988	18.7	37.4
1987	16.6	38.3
1986	16.4	37.5
1985	16	37.9
1984	17.2	38.4
1983	18.4	38.9
1982	18.5	39.5
1981	18.8	39.9
1980	19.8	40.4
1979	19.8	40.8
1978	18.6	41
1977	18	41.1
1976	19.5	41
1975	20.1	40.6
1974	19.9	40.2
1973	21.7	39.9
1972	22.4	40.2
1971	20.8	40.5
1970	19.7	40.8
1969	20.7	41.3
1968	21	41.9
1967	22.2	42.5
1966	24	43
1965	24.6	43.3
1964	25.3	43.5
1963	26	43.7
1962	25.8	44.1
1961	25.5	44.3
1960	28	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11 in Iceland and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 28 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iceland

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iceland	Lesotho
2100	11.8%	18%
2099	11.8%	18.1%
2098	11.8%	18.2%
2097	11.8%	18.3%
2096	11.9%	18.3%
2095	11.9%	18.4%
2094	11.9%	18.5%
2093	11.9%	18.6%
2092	11.9%	18.7%
2091	11.9%	18.9%
2090	11.9%	19%
2089	11.9%	19.1%
2088	11.9%	19.2%
2087	11.9%	19.3%
2086	11.9%	19.4%
2085	11.9%	19.6%
2084	11.9%	19.7%
2083	11.9%	19.8%
2082	11.9%	19.9%
2081	11.9%	20%
2080	11.9%	20.2%
2079	12%	20.3%
2078	12%	20.4%
2077	12%	20.5%
2076	12%	20.6%
2075	12.1%	20.7%
2074	12.1%	20.9%
2073	12.1%	21%
2072	12.2%	21.1%
2071	12.2%	21.3%
2070	12.3%	21.4%
2069	12.4%	21.5%
2068	12.4%	21.7%
2067	12.5%	21.9%
2066	12.6%	22%
2065	12.6%	22.2%
2064	12.7%	22.4%
2063	12.8%	22.6%
2062	12.8%	22.8%
2061	12.9%	23%
2060	13%	23.3%
2059	13%	23.5%
2058	13.1%	23.7%
2057	13.2%	24%
2056	13.2%	24.2%
2055	13.3%	24.5%
2054	13.4%	24.7%
2053	13.4%	25%
2052	13.5%	25.3%
2051	13.6%	25.5%
2050	13.7%	25.8%
2049	13.8%	26.1%
2048	13.8%	26.3%
2047	14%	26.5%
2046	14.1%	26.8%
2045	14.2%	27%
2044	14.3%	27.3%
2043	14.4%	27.5%
2042	14.6%	27.7%
2041	14.8%	28%
2040	14.9%	28.2%
2039	15.1%	28.4%
2038	15.3%	28.7%
2037	15.5%	28.9%
2036	15.8%	29.2%
2035	16%	29.5%
2034	16.2%	29.9%
2033	16.4%	30.3%
2032	16.5%	30.8%
2031	16.6%	31.3%
2030	16.7%	31.8%
2029	16.9%	32.3%
2028	17%	32.8%
2027	17.2%	33.4%
2026	17.4%	33.9%
2025	17.6%	34.3%
2024	17.8%	34.5%
2023	18.1%	34.9%
2022	18.4%	35.3%
2021	18.6%	35.6%
2020	18.7%	35.8%
2019	18.9%	36.1%
2018	19.2%	36.3%
2017	19.6%	36.5%
2016	19.9%	36.6%
2015	20.2%	36.6%
2014	20.4%	36.6%
2013	20.6%	36.5%
2012	20.7%	36.5%
2011	20.8%	36.5%
2010	20.9%	36.5%
2009	20.9%	36.6%
2008	20.9%	36.7%
2007	21.1%	36.8%
2006	21.5%	37.1%
2005	22.1%	37.4%
2004	22.5%	37.7%
2003	22.8%	38.1%
2002	23%	38.6%
2001	23.2%	39.1%
2000	23.3%	39.6%
1999	23.4%	40.2%
1998	23.6%	40.7%
1997	23.9%	41.2%
1996	24.1%	41.7%
1995	24.4%	42%
1994	24.7%	42.3%
1993	24.8%	42.6%
1992	24.8%	42.8%
1991	24.8%	42.9%
1990	25%	42.9%
1989	25%	42.8%
1988	25.2%	42.7%
1987	25.6%	42.5%
1986	25.9%	42.7%
1985	26.2%	43%
1984	26.5%	42.8%
1983	26.7%	42.7%
1982	26.9%	42.5%
1981	27.2%	42.3%
1980	27.5%	42.1%
1979	27.9%	41.9%
1978	28.4%	41.7%
1977	29%	41.5%
1976	29.5%	41.4%
1975	30.1%	41.6%
1974	30.7%	41.9%
1973	31.2%	42.3%
1972	31.6%	42.7%
1971	32.1%	43.1%
1970	32.6%	43.6%
1969	33.2%	44%
1968	33.6%	44.4%
1967	34%	44.8%
1966	34.3%	44.9%
1965	34.5%	44.8%
1964	34.7%	44.9%
1963	34.9%	45.2%
1962	34.9%	45.3%
1961	35%	45.2%
1960	34.9%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.8% of the population in Iceland and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 25% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iceland and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iceland vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Iceland

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iceland	Lesotho
2023	3	478
2022	5	477
2021	5	577
2020	12	529
2019	4	467
2018	4	491
2017	3	468
2016	3	518
2015	4	594
2014	4	707
2013	4	855
2012	4	1,000
2011	4	1,210
2010	5	1,311
2009	5	1,387
2008	4	1,205
2007	5	891
2006	5	696
2005	5	549
2004	6	499
2003	6	508
2002	7	484
2001	6	465
2000	7	413
1999	7	371
1998	8	332
1997	8	312
1996	7	319
1995	13	357
1994	9	423
1993	10	542
1992	12	601
1991	11	641
1990	13	665
1989	14	680
1988	11	680
1987	13	686
1986	15	680
1985	11	711

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iceland, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iceland

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iceland	Lesotho
2023	0.26%	5.89%
2022	0.26%	6.15%
2021	0.27%	6.44%
2020	0.27%	6.68%
2019	0.27%	6.87%
2018	0.27%	6.91%
2017	0.26%	7.12%
2016	0.26%	7.18%
2015	0.26%	7.51%
2014	0.26%	7.82%
2013	0.26%	8.02%
2012	0.26%	8.26%
2011	0.27%	8.59%
2010	0.27%	9.01%
2009	0.27%	9.64%
2008	0.28%	10.9%
2007	0.29%	11.2%
2006	0.3%	11.5%
2005	0.31%	11.6%
2004	0.33%	11.5%
2003	0.34%	11.4%
2002	0.36%	11.2%
2001	0.38%	11.1%
2000	0.4%	10.9%
1999	0.42%	10.7%
1998	0.45%	10.5%
1997	0.47%	10.2%
1996	0.49%	9.83%
1995	0.52%	9.45%
1994	0.54%	9.07%
1993	0.56%	8.73%
1992	0.58%	8.51%
1991	0.61%	8.43%
1990	0.63%	8.47%
1989	0.65%	8.6%
1988	0.67%	8.8%
1987	0.7%	9.06%
1986	0.73%	9.36%
1985	0.75%	9.72%
1984	0.79%	10.1%
1983	0.83%	10.6%
1982	0.87%	11.1%
1981	0.92%	11.7%
1980	0.97%	12.3%
1979	1.03%	12.9%
1978	1.09%	13.6%
1977	1.15%	14.2%
1976	1.22%	14.9%
1975	1.29%	15.5%
1974	1.35%	16%
1973	1.41%	16.5%
1972	1.48%	16.9%
1971	1.54%	17.3%
1970	1.6%	17.7%
1969	1.66%	18%
1968	1.72%	18.3%
1967	1.79%	18.5%
1966	1.85%	18.6%
1965	1.92%	18.7%
1964	1.97%	18.6%
1963	2.02%	18.6%
1962	2.07%	18.5%
1961	2.11%	18.5%
1960	2.14%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.26% in Iceland and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.