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Fertility & birth rates in India and Sierra Leone

Updated on by Georank team

India has an annual birth rate of 16.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.6 for Sierra Leone. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.98 in India and 3.79 in Sierra Leone — 91.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 66.6% in India and by 38.6% in Sierra Leone — in 1960, it was 5.92 and 6.18, respectively.

  • India is ranked 93/196 by birth rate compared to 29/196 for Sierra Leone.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 21.2 years in India, compared to 19.6 years in Sierra Leone.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8 in India — it's 28.5 in Sierra Leone.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 14.1 in India vs 93.6 in Sierra Leone.
  • In India, 26.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.4% in Sierra Leone.

Fertility rate in India vs Sierra Leone by year

India
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Fertility rate
India Sierra Leone
2023 1.98 3.79
2022 1.99 3.88
2021 2.01 3.98
2020 2.05 4.08
2019 2.12 4.19
2018 2.18 4.29
2017 2.19 4.39
2016 2.28 4.47
2015 2.29 4.55
2014 2.29 4.7
2013 2.4 4.87
2012 2.47 5.06
2011 2.53 5.21
2010 2.6 5.33
2009 2.67 5.45
2008 2.71 5.56
2007 2.78 5.64
2006 2.87 5.74
2005 2.96 5.81
2004 3.05 5.92
2003 3.12 6.09
2002 3.22 6.23
2001 3.3 6.31
2000 3.35 6.36
1999 3.38 6.42
1998 3.45 6.5
1997 3.51 6.53
1996 3.58 6.55
1995 3.65 6.56
1994 3.72 6.56
1993 3.8 6.57
1992 3.88 6.56
1991 3.96 6.55
1990 4.05 6.57
1989 4.13 6.57
1988 4.22 6.59
1987 4.31 6.61
1986 4.4 6.6
1985 4.43 6.59
1984 4.52 6.59
1983 4.57 6.57
1982 4.62 6.56
1981 4.7 6.55
1980 4.78 6.56
1979 4.81 6.58
1978 4.89 6.59
1977 5.01 6.57
1976 5.13 6.55
1975 5.2 6.55
1974 5.33 6.53
1973 5.4 6.47
1972 5.48 6.45
1971 5.57 6.43
1970 5.62 6.41
1969 5.68 6.39
1968 5.76 6.39
1967 5.83 6.38
1966 5.88 6.35
1965 5.94 6.31
1964 5.98 6.29
1963 5.97 6.26
1962 5.95 6.22
1961 5.94 6.21
1960 5.92 6.18

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in India was 1.98 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check India vs Sierra Leone population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

India
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Natural population change
India Sierra Leone
2023 13,711,993 188,788
2022 13,912,130 186,625
2021 10,227,523 183,326
2020 13,366,946 181,015
2019 14,859,846 181,068
2018 15,451,168 178,772
2017 15,394,041 173,259
2016 16,202,593 168,784
2015 16,211,195 162,275
2014 16,165,943 160,137
2013 17,107,541 161,265
2012 17,552,365 160,915
2011 17,793,362 158,858
2010 17,991,935 155,338
2009 18,286,055 152,669
2008 18,234,926 149,855
2007 18,331,648 145,740
2006 18,641,737 144,127
2005 19,034,839 137,234
2004 19,469,758 132,661
2003 19,720,507 130,312
2002 20,024,621 126,429
2001 20,182,573 116,647
2000 19,984,160 110,754
1999 19,648,424 102,295
1998 19,569,575 103,906
1997 19,494,098 105,433
1996 19,442,699 104,140
1995 19,396,161 100,885
1994 19,310,798 101,486
1993 19,152,399 103,317
1992 19,132,757 103,251
1991 19,049,524 105,477
1990 18,893,588 100,778
1989 18,848,915 98,298
1988 18,702,916 96,344
1987 18,496,213 94,235
1986 18,455,495 90,902
1985 17,968,697 88,869
1984 17,698,810 87,072
1983 17,219,127 84,628
1982 16,790,507 82,457
1981 16,422,159 80,111
1980 16,018,786 77,932
1979 15,392,957 75,992
1978 14,898,145 74,130
1977 14,575,662 71,663
1976 14,435,504 69,506
1975 13,958,642 67,560
1974 13,795,836 65,357
1973 13,412,707 62,443
1972 13,041,792 60,279
1971 12,787,104 58,484
1970 12,417,866 56,513
1969 12,167,671 54,768
1968 12,006,807 53,126
1967 11,279,897 51,734
1966 11,089,894 49,486
1965 10,925,714 47,223
1964 11,285,378 45,487
1963 11,016,705 43,569
1962 10,743,409 41,603
1961 10,468,816 40,022
1960 10,237,489 38,192

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

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 +0.95% in India and +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.06% in India and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in India vs Sierra Leone by year

India
Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
India Sierra Leone
2023 16.1 30.6
2022 16.3 31.1
2021 16.5 31.6
2020 16.7 32.2
2019 17.4 32.8
2018 17.9 33.3
2017 18 33.8
2016 18.8 34.2
2015 18.9 34.7
2014 19.1 35.6
2013 20.1 36.6
2012 20.7 37.8
2011 21.2 38.5
2010 21.6 39.1
2009 22.2 39.9
2008 22.5 40.6
2007 22.9 41.1
2006 23.6 41.8
2005 24.3 42
2004 25.1 42.5
2003 25.8 43.5
2002 26.5 44.3
2001 27.2 44
2000 27.5 45
1999 27.7 46.1
1998 28.2 46.3
1997 28.7 46.3
1996 29.2 46.5
1995 29.8 46.8
1994 30.3 46.8
1993 30.8 46.9
1992 31.4 47
1991 32 47.5
1990 32.6 45.5
1989 33.3 46.3
1988 33.9 46.4
1987 34.4 46.6
1986 35.2 46.6
1985 35.4 46.7
1984 35.9 46.8
1983 36.1 46.7
1982 36.4 46.8
1981 36.8 46.8
1980 37.1 46.8
1979 37 47
1978 37.1 47.2
1977 37.6 47.1
1976 38.2 47.2
1975 38.4 47.3
1974 39 47.4
1973 39.3 47.2
1972 39.5 47.2
1971 39.7 47.3
1970 39.8 47.4
1969 40.1 47.5
1968 40.5 47.7
1967 40.8 47.9
1966 41.2 48
1965 41.7 48
1964 42.1 48.2
1963 42.3 48.2
1962 42.5 48.1
1961 42.7 48.1
1960 42.9 48

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.1 in India and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 42.9 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

India Sierra Leone
Fertility rate 1.98 3.79
Fertility rate rank 100/196 35/196
Birth rate 16.1 30.6
Birth rate rank 93/196 29/196
Population change due to births and deaths +13,711,993 +188,788
Natural population change rank 1/196 62/196
Natural population change rate +0.95% +2.23%
Population growth +0.89% +2.15%
Population growth rank 107/197 47/197
Age at first childbirth 21.2 years 19.6 years
Average age at childbearing 27.8 years 28.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 11.2 87.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 129.8 169.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.1 53.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.3% 25.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 56.4% 20.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 89.4% 86.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.08% 0.35%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.73% 2.93%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.45% 5.62%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 2.77% 9.43%
Life expectancy 72.7 years 62.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

India
Factual

UN forecast
Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
India Sierra Leone
2100 13.8% 19%
2099 13.8% 19%
2098 13.8% 19.1%
2097 13.9% 19.2%
2096 13.9% 19.3%
2095 13.9% 19.5%
2094 13.9% 19.6%
2093 14% 19.7%
2092 14% 19.8%
2091 14% 19.9%
2090 14.1% 20%
2089 14.1% 20.1%
2088 14.2% 20.3%
2087 14.2% 20.4%
2086 14.2% 20.5%
2085 14.3% 20.7%
2084 14.4% 20.8%
2083 14.4% 20.9%
2082 14.5% 21.1%
2081 14.6% 21.2%
2080 14.6% 21.4%
2079 14.7% 21.6%
2078 14.8% 21.7%
2077 14.8% 21.9%
2076 14.9% 22.1%
2075 15% 22.2%
2074 15.1% 22.4%
2073 15.2% 22.6%
2072 15.2% 22.8%
2071 15.3% 23%
2070 15.4% 23.2%
2069 15.5% 23.4%
2068 15.6% 23.6%
2067 15.6% 23.8%
2066 15.7% 24%
2065 15.8% 24.3%
2064 15.9% 24.5%
2063 16% 24.7%
2062 16.1% 25%
2061 16.2% 25.2%
2060 16.3% 25.5%
2059 16.4% 25.7%
2058 16.6% 26%
2057 16.7% 26.3%
2056 16.8% 26.6%
2055 17% 26.9%
2054 17.2% 27.1%
2053 17.3% 27.4%
2052 17.5% 27.7%
2051 17.7% 28.1%
2050 17.9% 28.4%
2049 18.1% 28.7%
2048 18.3% 29%
2047 18.5% 29.3%
2046 18.7% 29.7%
2045 18.9% 30%
2044 19.2% 30.3%
2043 19.4% 30.7%
2042 19.6% 31.1%
2041 19.8% 31.4%
2040 20% 31.8%
2039 20.3% 32.2%
2038 20.5% 32.6%
2037 20.7% 33%
2036 20.9% 33.4%
2035 21.1% 33.8%
2034 21.4% 34.2%
2033 21.7% 34.6%
2032 21.9% 35%
2031 22.2% 35.4%
2030 22.5% 35.7%
2029 22.8% 36.1%
2028 23.2% 36.5%
2027 23.6% 37%
2026 24% 37.4%
2025 24.4% 37.9%
2024 24.6% 38.1%
2023 25.1% 38.5%
2022 25.5% 39%
2021 25.9% 39.4%
2020 26.3% 39.8%
2019 26.8% 40.2%
2018 27.3% 40.6%
2017 27.8% 41%
2016 28.4% 41.4%
2015 28.9% 41.8%
2014 29.4% 42.2%
2013 29.9% 42.5%
2012 30.4% 42.8%
2011 30.9% 43%
2010 31.3% 43.2%
2009 31.8% 43.4%
2008 32.2% 43.5%
2007 32.7% 43.6%
2006 33.1% 43.7%
2005 33.6% 43.8%
2004 34% 43.9%
2003 34.4% 43.9%
2002 34.8% 43.9%
2001 35.2% 43.9%
2000 35.6% 43.8%
1999 35.9% 43.7%
1998 36.3% 43.6%
1997 36.7% 43.5%
1996 37% 43.5%
1995 37.3% 43.4%
1994 37.6% 43.3%
1993 37.9% 43.2%
1992 38.1% 43.1%
1991 38.4% 43%
1990 38.6% 42.9%
1989 38.8% 42.9%
1988 38.9% 42.8%
1987 39.1% 42.7%
1986 39.2% 42.6%
1985 39.3% 42.5%
1984 39.4% 42.3%
1983 39.5% 42.2%
1982 39.6% 42.1%
1981 39.7% 42%
1980 39.8% 41.9%
1979 40% 41.8%
1978 40.1% 41.7%
1977 40.3% 41.6%
1976 40.5% 41.4%
1975 40.7% 41.3%
1974 40.8% 41.1%
1973 41% 40.9%
1972 41.1% 40.7%
1971 41.2% 40.6%
1970 41.4% 40.3%
1969 41.5% 40.1%
1968 41.5% 39.9%
1967 41.6% 39.6%
1966 41.7% 39.4%
1965 41.7% 39.1%
1964 41.6% 38.8%
1963 41.5% 38.5%
1962 41.2% 38.3%
1961 40.9% 38.3%
1960 40.6% 38.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.6% of the population in India and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 38.6% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of India and Sierra Leone compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: India vs Sierra Leone

India
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
India Sierra Leone
2023 80 354
2022 90 370
2021 155 403
2020 101 422
2019 101 464
2018 107 491
2017 113 578
2016 121 633
2015 129 730
2014 137 821
2013 148 842
2012 160 915
2011 173 967
2010 188 1,018
2009 205 1,054
2008 223 1,093
2007 240 1,132
2006 258 1,168
2005 277 1,294
2004 296 1,366
2003 313 1,433
2002 330 1,492
2001 349 1,518
2000 362 1,603
1999 378 1,731
1998 393 1,753
1997 407 1,721
1996 422 1,726
1995 437 1,777
1994 451 1,755
1993 467 1,696
1992 482 1,681
1991 498 1,699
1990 516 1,572
1989 538 1,575
1988 562 1,549
1987 592 1,533
1986 624 1,530
1985 658 1,506

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 80 deaths per 100,000 live births in India, compared to 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

India
Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
India Sierra Leone
2023 2.77% 9.43%
2022 2.91% 9.77%
2021 3.06% 10.1%
2020 3.24% 10.5%
2019 3.43% 10.9%
2018 3.64% 11.3%
2017 3.87% 11.8%
2016 4.11% 12.3%
2015 4.36% 13.8%
2014 4.63% 13.7%
2013 4.91% 13.9%
2012 5.2% 14.5%
2011 5.5% 15.2%
2010 5.82% 15.9%
2009 6.14% 16.6%
2008 6.46% 17.3%
2007 6.79% 18.1%
2006 7.11% 18.8%
2005 7.44% 19.4%
2004 7.77% 20.1%
2003 8.11% 20.7%
2002 8.45% 21.3%
2001 8.8% 21.8%
2000 9.16% 22.4%
1999 9.53% 22.9%
1998 9.89% 23.4%
1997 10.3% 23.9%
1996 10.6% 24.3%
1995 11% 24.7%
1994 11.3% 25%
1993 11.6% 25.3%
1992 12% 25.5%
1991 12.3% 25.7%
1990 12.7% 25.9%
1989 13% 26.2%
1988 13.4% 26.4%
1987 13.8% 26.6%
1986 14.2% 26.9%
1985 14.6% 27.2%
1984 15% 27.5%
1983 15.5% 27.8%
1982 15.9% 28.1%
1981 16.4% 28.5%
1980 16.9% 28.9%
1979 17.5% 29.2%
1978 18% 29.6%
1977 18.6% 30%
1976 19.1% 30.5%
1975 19.6% 30.9%
1974 20.1% 31.4%
1973 20.5% 31.9%
1972 20.8% 32.3%
1971 21.2% 32.9%
1970 21.5% 33.4%
1969 21.7% 33.9%
1968 22% 34.5%
1967 22.2% 35%
1966 22.4% 35.6%
1965 22.7% 36.2%
1964 22.9% 36.8%
1963 23.2% 37.4%
1962 23.5% 38%
1961 23.8% 38.5%
1960 24.1% 39.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/india/sierra-leone | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.77% in India and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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