Ireland has an annual birth rate of 10.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.1 for Lesotho. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Ireland and 2.69 in Lesotho — 79.6% difference.
1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -60.3% in Ireland and by -53.4% in Lesotho — in 1960, it was 3.78 and 5.78, respectively.
Birth rates facts compared:
- Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate compared to 56/196 for Lesotho.
- The mean age for first-time mothers is 31.6 years in Ireland, compared to 20.9 years in Lesotho.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7 in Ireland — it's 27.9 in Lesotho.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 4.07 in Ireland vs 70.6 in Lesotho.
- In Ireland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in Lesotho.
- 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.
Birth rate data compared
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 1.5 | 2.69 |
| Birth rate | 10.3 | 24.1 |
| Birth rate rank | 142/196 | 56/196 |
| Age at first childbirth | 31.6 years | 20.9 years |
| Average age at childbearing | 32.7 years | 27.9 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 4.02 | 69.1 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 42 | 134.4 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 22.3 | 38.1 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 23.7% | 27.8% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 70.9% | 65.3% |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 99.7% | 86.6% |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.004% | 0.48% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 0.25% | 2.87% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 0.34% | 5.54% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | 0.38% | 5.89% |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +19,638 | +31,115 |
| Natural population change rank | 109/196 | 103/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +0.37% | +1.35% |
| Population growth | +1.37% | +1.12% |
| Population growth rank | 78/197 | 96/197 |
| Life expectancy | 82.7 years | 58.2 years |
Fertility rate in Ireland vs Lesotho chart
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.
The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.
Ireland
Factual
UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
Births per woman
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 3.78 | 5.78 |
| 1961 | 3.78 | 5.79 |
| 1962 | 3.92 | 5.79 |
| 1963 | 4.01 | 5.78 |
| 1964 | 4.07 | 5.77 |
| 1965 | 4.04 | 5.77 |
| 1966 | 3.94 | 5.76 |
| 1967 | 3.84 | 5.75 |
| 1968 | 3.77 | 5.73 |
| 1969 | 3.83 | 5.7 |
| 1970 | 3.85 | 5.7 |
| 1971 | 3.93 | 5.7 |
| 1972 | 3.84 | 5.69 |
| 1973 | 3.71 | 5.69 |
| 1974 | 3.59 | 5.75 |
| 1975 | 3.37 | 5.83 |
| 1976 | 3.29 | 5.87 |
| 1977 | 3.24 | 5.85 |
| 1978 | 3.21 | 5.82 |
| 1979 | 3.21 | 5.79 |
| 1980 | 3.21 | 5.75 |
| 1981 | 3.05 | 5.69 |
| 1982 | 2.94 | 5.63 |
| 1983 | 2.74 | 5.56 |
| 1984 | 2.58 | 5.48 |
| 1985 | 2.48 | 5.4 |
| 1986 | 2.44 | 5.32 |
| 1987 | 2.32 | 5.22 |
| 1988 | 2.17 | 5.1 |
| 1989 | 2.08 | 4.96 |
| 1990 | 2.11 | 4.81 |
| 1991 | 2.08 | 4.68 |
| 1992 | 1.99 | 4.54 |
| 1993 | 1.9 | 4.37 |
| 1994 | 1.85 | 4.21 |
| 1995 | 1.84 | 4.13 |
| 1996 | 1.88 | 4.06 |
| 1997 | 1.93 | 3.98 |
| 1998 | 1.94 | 3.82 |
| 1999 | 1.9 | 3.67 |
| 2000 | 1.89 | 3.61 |
| 2001 | 1.94 | 3.63 |
| 2002 | 1.97 | 3.68 |
| 2003 | 1.96 | 3.62 |
| 2004 | 1.93 | 3.51 |
| 2005 | 1.86 | 3.43 |
| 2006 | 1.91 | 3.41 |
| 2007 | 2.01 | 3.44 |
| 2008 | 2.06 | 3.39 |
| 2009 | 2.06 | 3.31 |
| 2010 | 2.05 | 3.25 |
| 2011 | 2.03 | 3.34 |
| 2012 | 1.98 | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 1.93 | 3.28 |
| 2014 | 1.89 | 3.24 |
| 2015 | 1.85 | 3.22 |
| 2016 | 1.81 | 3.18 |
| 2017 | 1.77 | 3.11 |
| 2018 | 1.75 | 3.02 |
| 2019 | 1.71 | 2.92 |
| 2020 | 1.63 | 2.85 |
| 2021 | 1.78 | 2.77 |
| 2022 | 1.54 | 2.72 |
| 2023 | 1.5 | 2.69 |
| 2024 | 1.5 | 2.66 |
| 2025 | 1.5 | 2.64 |
| 2026 | 1.5 | 2.61 |
| 2027 | 1.5 | 2.58 |
| 2028 | 1.5 | 2.55 |
| 2029 | 1.5 | 2.53 |
| 2030 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| 2031 | 1.5 | 2.47 |
| 2032 | 1.5 | 2.45 |
| 2033 | 1.5 | 2.43 |
| 2034 | 1.5 | 2.41 |
| 2035 | 1.5 | 2.38 |
| 2036 | 1.5 | 2.37 |
| 2037 | 1.5 | 2.34 |
| 2038 | 1.5 | 2.32 |
| 2039 | 1.51 | 2.3 |
| 2040 | 1.51 | 2.29 |
| 2041 | 1.5 | 2.27 |
| 2042 | 1.5 | 2.25 |
| 2043 | 1.5 | 2.24 |
| 2044 | 1.51 | 2.22 |
| 2045 | 1.51 | 2.21 |
| 2046 | 1.5 | 2.19 |
| 2047 | 1.5 | 2.18 |
| 2048 | 1.5 | 2.17 |
| 2049 | 1.5 | 2.16 |
| 2050 | 1.5 | 2.14 |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
Ireland
Factual
UN forecast
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
| Year | Share of people 0-14 years old | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 30.9% | 45.1% |
| 1961 | 31% | 45.2% |
| 1962 | 30.9% | 45.3% |
| 1963 | 30.9% | 45.2% |
| 1964 | 30.9% | 44.9% |
| 1965 | 31.1% | 44.8% |
| 1966 | 31.1% | 44.9% |
| 1967 | 31.1% | 44.8% |
| 1968 | 31.1% | 44.4% |
| 1969 | 31.1% | 44% |
| 1970 | 31.1% | 43.6% |
| 1971 | 31.2% | 43.1% |
| 1972 | 31.2% | 42.7% |
| 1973 | 31.2% | 42.3% |
| 1974 | 31.2% | 41.9% |
| 1975 | 31.1% | 41.6% |
| 1976 | 31% | 41.4% |
| 1977 | 30.9% | 41.5% |
| 1978 | 30.7% | 41.7% |
| 1979 | 30.5% | 41.9% |
| 1980 | 30.4% | 42.1% |
| 1981 | 30.3% | 42.3% |
| 1982 | 30.1% | 42.5% |
| 1983 | 29.9% | 42.7% |
| 1984 | 29.6% | 42.8% |
| 1985 | 29.3% | 43% |
| 1986 | 28.9% | 42.7% |
| 1987 | 28.5% | 42.5% |
| 1988 | 28.1% | 42.7% |
| 1989 | 27.6% | 42.8% |
| 1990 | 27.1% | 42.9% |
| 1991 | 26.6% | 42.9% |
| 1992 | 26% | 42.8% |
| 1993 | 25.5% | 42.6% |
| 1994 | 24.9% | 42.3% |
| 1995 | 24.2% | 42% |
| 1996 | 23.6% | 41.7% |
| 1997 | 23% | 41.2% |
| 1998 | 22.5% | 40.7% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | 40.2% |
| 2000 | 21.8% | 39.6% |
| 2001 | 21.4% | 39.1% |
| 2002 | 21.1% | 38.6% |
| 2003 | 21% | 38.1% |
| 2004 | 20.8% | 37.7% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | 37.4% |
| 2006 | 20.4% | 37.1% |
| 2007 | 20.3% | 36.8% |
| 2008 | 20.5% | 36.7% |
| 2009 | 20.7% | 36.6% |
| 2010 | 21.1% | 36.5% |
| 2011 | 21.4% | 36.5% |
| 2012 | 21.5% | 36.5% |
| 2013 | 21.5% | 36.5% |
| 2014 | 21.4% | 36.6% |
| 2015 | 21.3% | 36.6% |
| 2016 | 21.2% | 36.6% |
| 2017 | 20.9% | 36.5% |
| 2018 | 20.7% | 36.3% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | 36.1% |
| 2020 | 20.1% | 35.8% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | 35.6% |
| 2022 | 19.5% | 35.3% |
| 2023 | 19% | 34.9% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | 34.5% |
| 2025 | 18.1% | 34.1% |
| 2026 | 17.6% | 33.6% |
| 2027 | 17.2% | 33.1% |
| 2028 | 16.9% | 32.6% |
| 2029 | 16.6% | 32% |
| 2030 | 16.3% | 31.5% |
| 2031 | 16% | 31% |
| 2032 | 15.8% | 30.5% |
| 2033 | 15.6% | 30.1% |
| 2034 | 15.4% | 29.7% |
| 2035 | 15.3% | 29.3% |
| 2036 | 15.2% | 29% |
| 2037 | 15.1% | 28.8% |
| 2038 | 15.1% | 28.5% |
| 2039 | 15.2% | 28.3% |
| 2040 | 15.2% | 28.1% |
| 2041 | 15.3% | 27.8% |
| 2042 | 15.4% | 27.6% |
| 2043 | 15.4% | 27.4% |
| 2044 | 15.5% | 27.1% |
| 2045 | 15.6% | 26.9% |
| 2046 | 15.6% | 26.7% |
| 2047 | 15.7% | 26.4% |
| 2048 | 15.7% | 26.2% |
| 2049 | 15.7% | 25.9% |
| 2050 | 15.6% | 25.7% |
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.
Natural population change in Ireland vs Lesotho by year
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +0.58% in Ireland and +1.44% in Lesotho. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.
Ireland
Lesotho
Natural population change
| Year | Population change due to births and deaths | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 28,286 | 19,981 |
| 1961 | 25,137 | 20,581 |
| 1962 | 28,077 | 21,132 |
| 1963 | 29,667 | 21,585 |
| 1964 | 31,532 | 22,116 |
| 1965 | 30,500 | 22,755 |
| 1966 | 26,866 | 23,326 |
| 1967 | 29,895 | 23,911 |
| 1968 | 27,697 | 24,490 |
| 1969 | 29,326 | 25,137 |
| 1970 | 30,756 | 25,935 |
| 1971 | 35,606 | 26,838 |
| 1972 | 34,316 | 27,841 |
| 1973 | 34,562 | 28,859 |
| 1974 | 34,199 | 30,444 |
| 1975 | 34,128 | 32,311 |
| 1976 | 33,676 | 34,117 |
| 1977 | 35,448 | 35,654 |
| 1978 | 36,288 | 37,084 |
| 1979 | 38,798 | 38,440 |
| 1980 | 40,612 | 39,617 |
| 1981 | 39,364 | 40,808 |
| 1982 | 38,344 | 41,941 |
| 1983 | 34,053 | 42,899 |
| 1984 | 31,791 | 43,785 |
| 1985 | 29,013 | 44,575 |
| 1986 | 27,963 | 45,232 |
| 1987 | 26,904 | 47,718 |
| 1988 | 22,912 | 47,158 |
| 1989 | 20,012 | 46,264 |
| 1990 | 21,787 | 45,060 |
| 1991 | 21,206 | 44,026 |
| 1992 | 20,283 | 42,579 |
| 1993 | 17,166 | 40,505 |
| 1994 | 17,234 | 38,629 |
| 1995 | 16,601 | 37,370 |
| 1996 | 18,915 | 36,228 |
| 1997 | 21,311 | 34,637 |
| 1998 | 22,277 | 30,889 |
| 1999 | 21,402 | 27,393 |
| 2000 | 23,592 | 24,786 |
| 2001 | 27,837 | 23,190 |
| 2002 | 31,062 | 22,274 |
| 2003 | 32,372 | 20,133 |
| 2004 | 33,376 | 17,271 |
| 2005 | 33,279 | 15,831 |
| 2006 | 36,752 | 15,234 |
| 2007 | 43,109 | 17,763 |
| 2008 | 46,691 | 19,349 |
| 2009 | 47,168 | 20,335 |
| 2010 | 47,426 | 21,877 |
| 2011 | 45,801 | 25,647 |
| 2012 | 42,775 | 27,592 |
| 2013 | 39,302 | 29,789 |
| 2014 | 37,728 | 30,922 |
| 2015 | 35,265 | 32,087 |
| 2016 | 33,339 | 33,390 |
| 2017 | 31,379 | 33,601 |
| 2018 | 29,878 | 33,112 |
| 2019 | 28,365 | 32,279 |
| 2020 | 23,687 | 30,721 |
| 2021 | 26,064 | 27,806 |
| 2022 | 19,287 | 30,803 |
| 2023 | 19,638 | 31,115 |
Fertility rates around the globe
Fertility rate
Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Lesotho
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.
Ireland
Lesotho
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1985 | 11 | 711 |
| 1986 | 11 | 680 |
| 1987 | 10 | 686 |
| 1988 | 11 | 680 |
| 1989 | 10 | 680 |
| 1990 | 11 | 665 |
| 1991 | 10 | 641 |
| 1992 | 10 | 601 |
| 1993 | 9 | 542 |
| 1994 | 9 | 423 |
| 1995 | 9 | 357 |
| 1996 | 8 | 319 |
| 1997 | 8 | 312 |
| 1998 | 8 | 332 |
| 1999 | 7 | 371 |
| 2000 | 8 | 413 |
| 2001 | 7 | 465 |
| 2002 | 7 | 484 |
| 2003 | 6 | 508 |
| 2004 | 6 | 499 |
| 2005 | 6 | 549 |
| 2006 | 6 | 696 |
| 2007 | 6 | 891 |
| 2008 | 6 | 1,205 |
| 2009 | 6 | 1,387 |
| 2010 | 6 | 1,311 |
| 2011 | 6 | 1,210 |
| 2012 | 6 | 1,000 |
| 2013 | 5 | 855 |
| 2014 | 5 | 707 |
| 2015 | 5 | 594 |
| 2016 | 4 | 518 |
| 2017 | 4 | 468 |
| 2018 | 5 | 491 |
| 2019 | 4 | 467 |
| 2020 | 6 | 529 |
| 2021 | 6 | 577 |
| 2022 | 7 | 477 |
| 2023 | 4 | 478 |
Under-five mortality rates
The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 5.89% in Lesotho. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.
Ireland
Lesotho
Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five
| Year | Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Lesotho
|
|
| 1960 | 3.53% | 18.6% |
| 1961 | 3.38% | 18.5% |
| 1962 | 3.25% | 18.5% |
| 1963 | 3.13% | 18.6% |
| 1964 | 3.01% | 18.6% |
| 1965 | 2.87% | 18.7% |
| 1966 | 2.71% | 18.6% |
| 1967 | 2.55% | 18.5% |
| 1968 | 2.41% | 18.3% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | 18% |
| 1970 | 2.22% | 17.7% |
| 1971 | 2.17% | 17.3% |
| 1972 | 2.14% | 16.9% |
| 1973 | 2.11% | 16.5% |
| 1974 | 2.06% | 16% |
| 1975 | 2% | 15.5% |
| 1976 | 1.91% | 14.9% |
| 1977 | 1.81% | 14.2% |
| 1978 | 1.69% | 13.6% |
| 1979 | 1.56% | 12.9% |
| 1980 | 1.43% | 12.3% |
| 1981 | 1.32% | 11.7% |
| 1982 | 1.23% | 11.1% |
| 1983 | 1.17% | 10.6% |
| 1984 | 1.11% | 10.1% |
| 1985 | 1.07% | 9.72% |
| 1986 | 1.04% | 9.36% |
| 1987 | 1.02% | 9.06% |
| 1988 | 0.99% | 8.8% |
| 1989 | 0.96% | 8.6% |
| 1990 | 0.92% | 8.47% |
| 1991 | 0.87% | 8.43% |
| 1992 | 0.81% | 8.51% |
| 1993 | 0.77% | 8.73% |
| 1994 | 0.74% | 9.07% |
| 1995 | 0.73% | 9.45% |
| 1996 | 0.73% | 9.83% |
| 1997 | 0.73% | 10.2% |
| 1998 | 0.73% | 10.5% |
| 1999 | 0.73% | 10.7% |
| 2000 | 0.72% | 10.9% |
| 2001 | 0.69% | 11.1% |
| 2002 | 0.65% | 11.2% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | 11.4% |
| 2004 | 0.56% | 11.5% |
| 2005 | 0.52% | 11.6% |
| 2006 | 0.49% | 11.5% |
| 2007 | 0.46% | 11.2% |
| 2008 | 0.44% | 10.9% |
| 2009 | 0.43% | 9.64% |
| 2010 | 0.42% | 9.01% |
| 2011 | 0.41% | 8.59% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | 8.26% |
| 2013 | 0.39% | 8.02% |
| 2014 | 0.38% | 7.82% |
| 2015 | 0.37% | 7.51% |
| 2016 | 0.36% | 7.18% |
| 2017 | 0.35% | 7.12% |
| 2018 | 0.34% | 6.91% |
| 2019 | 0.34% | 6.87% |
| 2020 | 0.35% | 6.68% |
| 2021 | 0.36% | 6.44% |
| 2022 | 0.37% | 6.15% |
| 2023 | 0.38% | 5.89% |
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