Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and Lesotho

Fertility rate in Ireland vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Ireland

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ireland	Lesotho
2023	1.5	2.69
2022	1.54	2.72
2021	1.78	2.77
2020	1.63	2.85
2019	1.71	2.92
2018	1.75	3.02
2017	1.77	3.11
2016	1.81	3.18
2015	1.85	3.22
2014	1.89	3.24
2013	1.93	3.28
2012	1.98	3.3
2011	2.03	3.34
2010	2.05	3.25
2009	2.06	3.31
2008	2.06	3.39
2007	2.01	3.44
2006	1.91	3.41
2005	1.86	3.43
2004	1.93	3.51
2003	1.96	3.62
2002	1.97	3.68
2001	1.94	3.63
2000	1.89	3.61
1999	1.9	3.67
1998	1.94	3.82
1997	1.93	3.98
1996	1.88	4.06
1995	1.84	4.13
1994	1.85	4.21
1993	1.9	4.37
1992	1.99	4.54
1991	2.08	4.68
1990	2.11	4.81
1989	2.08	4.96
1988	2.17	5.1
1987	2.32	5.22
1986	2.44	5.32
1985	2.48	5.4
1984	2.58	5.48
1983	2.74	5.56
1982	2.94	5.63
1981	3.05	5.69
1980	3.21	5.75
1979	3.21	5.79
1978	3.21	5.82
1977	3.24	5.85
1976	3.29	5.87
1975	3.37	5.83
1974	3.59	5.75
1973	3.71	5.69
1972	3.84	5.69
1971	3.93	5.7
1970	3.85	5.7
1969	3.83	5.7
1968	3.77	5.73
1967	3.84	5.75
1966	3.94	5.76
1965	4.04	5.77
1964	4.07	5.77
1963	4.01	5.78
1962	3.92	5.79
1961	3.78	5.79
1960	3.78	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 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 Ireland vs Lesotho population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ireland

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ireland	Lesotho
2023	19,652	31,115
2022	19,287	30,803
2021	26,064	27,806
2020	23,687	30,721
2019	28,365	32,279
2018	29,878	33,112
2017	31,379	33,601
2016	33,339	33,390
2015	35,265	32,087
2014	37,728	30,922
2013	39,302	29,789
2012	42,775	27,592
2011	45,801	25,647
2010	47,426	21,877
2009	47,168	20,335
2008	46,691	19,349
2007	43,109	17,763
2006	36,752	15,234
2005	33,279	15,831
2004	33,376	17,271
2003	32,372	20,133
2002	31,062	22,274
2001	27,837	23,190
2000	23,592	24,786
1999	21,402	27,393
1998	22,277	30,889
1997	21,311	34,637
1996	18,915	36,228
1995	16,601	37,370
1994	17,234	38,629
1993	17,166	40,505
1992	20,283	42,579
1991	21,206	44,026
1990	21,787	45,060
1989	20,012	46,264
1988	22,912	47,158
1987	26,904	47,718
1986	27,963	45,232
1985	29,013	44,575
1984	31,791	43,785
1983	34,053	42,899
1982	38,344	41,941
1981	39,364	40,808
1980	40,612	39,617
1979	38,798	38,440
1978	36,288	37,084
1977	35,448	35,654
1976	33,676	34,117
1975	34,128	32,311
1974	34,199	30,444
1973	34,562	28,859
1972	34,316	27,841
1971	35,606	26,838
1970	30,756	25,935
1969	29,326	25,137
1968	27,697	24,490
1967	29,895	23,911
1966	26,866	23,326
1965	30,500	22,755
1964	31,532	22,116
1963	29,667	21,585
1962	28,077	21,132
1961	25,137	20,581
1960	28,286	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 +0.37% in Ireland and +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in Ireland vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

Ireland

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ireland	Lesotho
2023	10.3	24.1
2022	10.4	24.4
2021	11.8	24.9
2020	11.1	25.6
2019	11.9	26.4
2018	12.5	27.4
2017	12.8	28.2
2016	13.4	28.9
2015	13.9	29.2
2014	14.4	29.5
2013	14.9	30
2012	15.6	30
2011	16.2	30.2
2010	16.5	29.2
2009	16.7	29.4
2008	16.7	29.6
2007	16.2	29.5
2006	15.3	28.6
2005	14.8	28.6
2004	15.2	28.7
2003	15.4	29.3
2002	15.4	29.4
2001	15	28.7
2000	14.4	28.2
1999	14.4	28.5
1998	14.5	29.2
1997	14.4	30.2
1996	13.9	30.4
1995	13.5	30.6
1994	13.4	31
1993	13.8	32
1992	14.4	33.2
1991	14.9	34.2
1990	15.1	35.1
1989	14.8	36.3
1988	15.5	37.4
1987	16.5	38.3
1986	17.4	37.5
1985	17.6	37.9
1984	18.1	38.4
1983	19.1	38.9
1982	20.3	39.5
1981	20.9	39.9
1980	21.7	40.4
1979	21.5	40.8
1978	21.1	41
1977	21	41.1
1976	20.9	41
1975	21.1	40.6
1974	22	40.2
1973	22.3	39.9
1972	22.6	40.2
1971	22.6	40.5
1970	21.8	40.8
1969	21.5	41.3
1968	20.9	41.9
1967	21.1	42.5
1966	21.5	43
1965	22.1	43.3
1964	22.4	43.5
1963	22.2	43.7
1962	21.8	44.1
1961	21.2	44.3
1960	21.5	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 21.5 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ireland

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ireland	Lesotho
2100	12.7%	18%
2099	12.7%	18.1%
2098	12.8%	18.2%
2097	12.8%	18.3%
2096	12.9%	18.3%
2095	13%	18.4%
2094	13.1%	18.5%
2093	13.2%	18.6%
2092	13.3%	18.7%
2091	13.4%	18.9%
2090	13.4%	19%
2089	13.5%	19.1%
2088	13.6%	19.2%
2087	13.7%	19.3%
2086	13.7%	19.4%
2085	13.8%	19.6%
2084	13.8%	19.7%
2083	13.8%	19.8%
2082	13.8%	19.9%
2081	13.8%	20%
2080	13.7%	20.2%
2079	13.7%	20.3%
2078	13.6%	20.4%
2077	13.6%	20.5%
2076	13.5%	20.6%
2075	13.5%	20.7%
2074	13.4%	20.9%
2073	13.4%	21%
2072	13.4%	21.1%
2071	13.3%	21.3%
2070	13.3%	21.4%
2069	13.4%	21.5%
2068	13.4%	21.7%
2067	13.5%	21.9%
2066	13.5%	22%
2065	13.6%	22.2%
2064	13.8%	22.4%
2063	13.9%	22.6%
2062	14%	22.8%
2061	14.2%	23%
2060	14.4%	23.3%
2059	14.6%	23.5%
2058	14.7%	23.7%
2057	14.9%	24%
2056	15.1%	24.2%
2055	15.2%	24.5%
2054	15.3%	24.7%
2053	15.5%	25%
2052	15.6%	25.3%
2051	15.6%	25.5%
2050	15.7%	25.8%
2049	15.7%	26.1%
2048	15.7%	26.3%
2047	15.7%	26.5%
2046	15.6%	26.8%
2045	15.6%	27%
2044	15.5%	27.3%
2043	15.4%	27.5%
2042	15.3%	27.7%
2041	15.3%	28%
2040	15.2%	28.2%
2039	15.2%	28.4%
2038	15.1%	28.7%
2037	15.1%	28.9%
2036	15.3%	29.2%
2035	15.3%	29.5%
2034	15.5%	29.9%
2033	15.7%	30.3%
2032	15.9%	30.8%
2031	16.1%	31.3%
2030	16.4%	31.8%
2029	16.7%	32.3%
2028	17%	32.8%
2027	17.4%	33.4%
2026	17.9%	33.9%
2025	18.3%	34.3%
2024	18.6%	34.5%
2023	19%	34.9%
2022	19.5%	35.3%
2021	19.8%	35.6%
2020	20.1%	35.8%
2019	20.4%	36.1%
2018	20.7%	36.3%
2017	20.9%	36.5%
2016	21.2%	36.6%
2015	21.3%	36.6%
2014	21.4%	36.6%
2013	21.5%	36.5%
2012	21.5%	36.5%
2011	21.4%	36.5%
2010	21.1%	36.5%
2009	20.7%	36.6%
2008	20.5%	36.7%
2007	20.3%	36.8%
2006	20.4%	37.1%
2005	20.6%	37.4%
2004	20.8%	37.7%
2003	21%	38.1%
2002	21.1%	38.6%
2001	21.4%	39.1%
2000	21.8%	39.6%
1999	22.1%	40.2%
1998	22.5%	40.7%
1997	23%	41.2%
1996	23.6%	41.7%
1995	24.2%	42%
1994	24.9%	42.3%
1993	25.5%	42.6%
1992	26%	42.8%
1991	26.6%	42.9%
1990	27.1%	42.9%
1989	27.6%	42.8%
1988	28.1%	42.7%
1987	28.5%	42.5%
1986	28.9%	42.7%
1985	29.3%	43%
1984	29.6%	42.8%
1983	29.9%	42.7%
1982	30.1%	42.5%
1981	30.3%	42.3%
1980	30.4%	42.1%
1979	30.5%	41.9%
1978	30.7%	41.7%
1977	30.9%	41.5%
1976	31%	41.4%
1975	31.1%	41.6%
1974	31.2%	41.9%
1973	31.2%	42.3%
1972	31.2%	42.7%
1971	31.2%	43.1%
1970	31.1%	43.6%
1969	31.1%	44%
1968	31.1%	44.4%
1967	31.1%	44.8%
1966	31.1%	44.9%
1965	31.1%	44.8%
1964	30.9%	44.9%
1963	30.9%	45.2%
1962	30.9%	45.3%
1961	31%	45.2%
1960	30.9%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Lesotho

Chart Table

Ireland

Lesotho

1x

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ireland, compared to 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ireland

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ireland	Lesotho
2023	0.38%	5.89%
2022	0.37%	6.15%
2021	0.36%	6.44%
2020	0.35%	6.68%
2019	0.34%	6.87%
2018	0.34%	6.91%
2017	0.35%	7.12%
2016	0.36%	7.18%
2015	0.37%	7.51%
2014	0.38%	7.82%
2013	0.39%	8.02%
2012	0.4%	8.26%
2011	0.41%	8.59%
2010	0.42%	9.01%
2009	0.43%	9.64%
2008	0.44%	10.9%
2007	0.46%	11.2%
2006	0.49%	11.5%
2005	0.52%	11.6%
2004	0.56%	11.5%
2003	0.6%	11.4%
2002	0.65%	11.2%
2001	0.69%	11.1%
2000	0.72%	10.9%
1999	0.73%	10.7%
1998	0.73%	10.5%
1997	0.73%	10.2%
1996	0.73%	9.83%
1995	0.73%	9.45%
1994	0.74%	9.07%
1993	0.77%	8.73%
1992	0.81%	8.51%
1991	0.87%	8.43%
1990	0.92%	8.47%
1989	0.96%	8.6%
1988	0.99%	8.8%
1987	1.02%	9.06%
1986	1.04%	9.36%
1985	1.07%	9.72%
1984	1.11%	10.1%
1983	1.17%	10.6%
1982	1.23%	11.1%
1981	1.32%	11.7%
1980	1.43%	12.3%
1979	1.56%	12.9%
1978	1.69%	13.6%
1977	1.81%	14.2%
1976	1.91%	14.9%
1975	2%	15.5%
1974	2.06%	16%
1973	2.11%	16.5%
1972	2.14%	16.9%
1971	2.17%	17.3%
1970	2.22%	17.7%
1969	2.3%	18%
1968	2.41%	18.3%
1967	2.55%	18.5%
1966	2.71%	18.6%
1965	2.87%	18.7%
1964	3.01%	18.6%
1963	3.13%	18.6%
1962	3.25%	18.5%
1961	3.38%	18.5%
1960	3.53%	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.