Fertility & birth rates in Kenya and Malawi

Fertility rate in Kenya vs Malawi by year

Chart Table

Kenya

Malawi

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Kenya	Malawi
2023	3.21	3.65
2022	3.26	3.72
2021	3.31	3.79
2020	3.36	3.88
2019	3.43	3.95
2018	3.54	4.02
2017	3.61	4.11
2016	3.69	4.22
2015	3.77	4.38
2014	3.84	4.57
2013	3.96	4.76
2012	4.12	4.9
2011	4.28	5.08
2010	4.45	5.26
2009	4.57	5.45
2008	4.66	5.61
2007	4.72	5.72
2006	4.75	5.8
2005	4.8	5.85
2004	4.86	5.86
2003	4.94	5.88
2002	5.03	5.9
2001	5.09	5.94
2000	5.14	6
1999	5.18	6.12
1998	5.24	6.21
1997	5.27	6.23
1996	5.31	6.29
1995	5.37	6.39
1994	5.44	6.49
1993	5.57	6.57
1992	5.74	6.63
1991	5.94	6.68
1990	6.14	6.74
1989	6.33	6.8
1988	6.52	6.88
1987	6.69	6.97
1986	6.84	7.07
1985	6.96	7.17
1984	7.08	7.27
1983	7.22	7.36
1982	7.35	7.45
1981	7.45	7.49
1980	7.53	7.52
1979	7.6	7.47
1978	7.67	7.43
1977	7.73	7.41
1976	7.77	7.39
1975	7.8	7.36
1974	7.82	7.34
1973	7.86	7.34
1972	7.89	7.33
1971	7.92	7.31
1970	7.94	7.3
1969	7.95	7.27
1968	7.95	7.26
1967	7.95	7.21
1966	7.96	7.17
1965	7.92	7.13
1964	7.87	7.11
1963	7.82	7.13
1962	7.77	7.1
1961	7.72	7.07
1960	7.65	7.04

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Kenya was 3.21 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.65 in Malawi in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Kenya vs Malawi population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Kenya

Malawi

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Kenya	Malawi
2023	1,100,970	549,096
2022	1,092,102	533,450
2021	1,037,082	517,400
2020	1,036,253	514,659
2019	1,071,777	506,104
2018	1,097,075	494,348
2017	1,105,769	484,655
2016	1,108,801	474,779
2015	1,119,200	472,484
2014	1,123,333	472,418
2013	1,136,006	470,293
2012	1,161,548	460,684
2011	1,185,863	454,149
2010	1,199,786	444,468
2009	1,193,598	434,811
2008	1,174,818	421,781
2007	1,147,063	410,290
2006	1,113,357	397,123
2005	1,080,446	381,130
2004	1,048,590	361,133
2003	1,018,182	341,133
2002	992,044	322,863
2001	963,721	310,833
2000	928,357	300,439
1999	898,484	295,629
1998	875,511	285,407
1997	847,493	277,433
1996	827,326	270,048
1995	812,391	266,745
1994	792,702	275,439
1993	788,579	276,538
1992	785,018	269,066
1991	790,030	260,193
1990	789,087	250,159
1989	795,622	237,967
1988	785,652	226,911
1987	775,124	220,566
1986	755,606	218,519
1985	732,739	216,179
1984	709,639	212,146
1983	684,587	209,422
1982	663,109	205,386
1981	642,379	199,436
1980	616,390	192,746
1979	595,390	182,123
1978	574,695	172,503
1977	554,124	161,930
1976	536,740	153,422
1975	517,579	145,254
1974	500,008	137,819
1973	485,556	131,529
1972	472,557	125,728
1971	459,897	121,015
1970	443,065	116,822
1969	427,819	113,120
1968	411,948	110,329
1967	396,920	106,668
1966	382,891	103,512
1965	366,444	100,040
1964	349,322	97,658
1963	332,763	95,933
1962	315,797	92,463
1961	298,463	89,091
1960	280,032	85,718

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 +1.99% in Kenya and +2.6% in Malawi.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.16% in Kenya and +2.67% in Malawi.

Birth rate in Kenya vs Malawi by year

Chart Table

Kenya

Malawi

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Kenya	Malawi
2023	27.1	31.4
2022	27.3	31.7
2021	27.6	32.1
2020	27.8	32.5
2019	28.2	32.9
2018	29	33.2
2017	29.6	33.7
2016	30.2	34.2
2015	30.9	35.3
2014	31.5	36.5
2013	32.4	37.7
2012	33.7	38.6
2011	35	39.7
2010	36.3	40.7
2009	37.2	41.7
2008	37.9	42.6
2007	38.3	43.3
2006	38.5	43.8
2005	38.8	44
2004	39.1	44
2003	39.5	43.9
2002	39.9	44
2001	40.2	44.2
2000	40.2	44.6
1999	40.3	45.4
1998	40.6	45.9
1997	40.5	46
1996	40.6	46.2
1995	40.8	46.8
1994	40.9	48.4
1993	41.4	48.4
1992	42.1	48.1
1991	43.1	48.4
1990	43.9	48.4
1989	44.9	48.5
1988	45.6	48.8
1987	46.3	48.6
1986	46.6	49.8
1985	46.9	50.4
1984	47.2	50.8
1983	47.4	51.4
1982	47.8	52
1981	48.2	52.4
1980	48.2	52.7
1979	48.6	52.4
1978	48.9	52.4
1977	49.2	52.4
1976	49.6	52.6
1975	49.8	52.7
1974	50.2	52.9
1973	50.8	53.2
1972	51.5	53.5
1971	52.2	53.7
1970	52.5	54
1969	53.1	54.1
1968	53.5	54.4
1967	54.1	54.3
1966	54.6	54.3
1965	54.9	54.1
1964	55.1	54.2
1963	55.3	54.4
1962	55.4	54.2
1961	55.4	54
1960	55.2	53.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 27.1 in Kenya and 31.4 in Malawi, compared with 55.2 and 53.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Kenya

Factual

UN forecast

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Kenya	Malawi
2100	18.9%	19.9%
2099	19%	20%
2098	19.1%	20.2%
2097	19.2%	20.3%
2096	19.3%	20.4%
2095	19.5%	20.6%
2094	19.6%	20.7%
2093	19.7%	20.9%
2092	19.8%	21%
2091	19.9%	21.2%
2090	20%	21.3%
2089	20.1%	21.5%
2088	20.2%	21.6%
2087	20.4%	21.8%
2086	20.5%	22%
2085	20.7%	22.1%
2084	20.8%	22.3%
2083	21%	22.5%
2082	21.1%	22.7%
2081	21.3%	22.9%
2080	21.5%	23.1%
2079	21.7%	23.2%
2078	21.9%	23.4%
2077	22.1%	23.6%
2076	22.3%	23.8%
2075	22.5%	24.1%
2074	22.7%	24.3%
2073	22.9%	24.5%
2072	23.1%	24.7%
2071	23.3%	24.9%
2070	23.5%	25.2%
2069	23.7%	25.4%
2068	23.8%	25.6%
2067	24%	25.9%
2066	24.2%	26.1%
2065	24.4%	26.3%
2064	24.6%	26.6%
2063	24.8%	26.8%
2062	25%	27.1%
2061	25.2%	27.3%
2060	25.4%	27.6%
2059	25.6%	27.9%
2058	25.9%	28.1%
2057	26.1%	28.4%
2056	26.4%	28.7%
2055	26.7%	29%
2054	27%	29.3%
2053	27.3%	29.6%
2052	27.6%	29.9%
2051	28%	30.3%
2050	28.4%	30.6%
2049	28.7%	31%
2048	29.1%	31.4%
2047	29.5%	31.7%
2046	29.8%	32.1%
2045	30.2%	32.5%
2044	30.6%	32.9%
2043	30.9%	33.3%
2042	31.2%	33.7%
2041	31.5%	34%
2040	31.8%	34.4%
2039	32.1%	34.8%
2038	32.4%	35.1%
2037	32.6%	35.5%
2036	32.8%	35.9%
2035	33%	36.2%
2034	33.3%	36.5%
2033	33.5%	36.9%
2032	33.8%	37.2%
2031	34%	37.5%
2030	34.4%	37.9%
2029	34.7%	38.3%
2028	35%	38.8%
2027	35.5%	39.3%
2026	36%	39.9%
2025	36.5%	40.4%
2024	36.8%	40.7%
2023	37.4%	41.3%
2022	38.1%	41.9%
2021	38.7%	42.5%
2020	39.3%	43.1%
2019	39.9%	43.7%
2018	40.5%	44.2%
2017	41%	44.6%
2016	41.5%	45.1%
2015	42%	45.4%
2014	42.4%	45.7%
2013	42.8%	46%
2012	43.2%	46.1%
2011	43.4%	46.2%
2010	43.6%	46.2%
2009	43.8%	46.2%
2008	43.9%	46.1%
2007	44%	46.1%
2006	44.2%	46.1%
2005	44.4%	46%
2004	44.6%	46%
2003	45%	46.1%
2002	45.3%	46.1%
2001	45.7%	46.1%
2000	46.1%	46.2%
1999	46.5%	46.2%
1998	46.8%	46.2%
1997	47.1%	46.2%
1996	47.4%	46.2%
1995	47.7%	46.1%
1994	48%	46.1%
1993	48.4%	46%
1992	48.7%	45.8%
1991	48.9%	45.6%
1990	49.2%	45.4%
1989	49.5%	45.2%
1988	49.7%	45%
1987	49.9%	45.1%
1986	50.1%	45.4%
1985	50.3%	45.4%
1984	50.6%	45.5%
1983	50.8%	45.5%
1982	51.1%	45.4%
1981	51.3%	45.4%
1980	51.5%	45.4%
1979	51.7%	45.3%
1978	51.9%	45.3%
1977	52%	45.3%
1976	52.1%	45.2%
1975	52%	45.2%
1974	52%	45.1%
1973	52%	44.9%
1972	51.9%	44.8%
1971	51.7%	44.6%
1970	51.6%	44.4%
1969	51.4%	44.2%
1968	51.2%	43.9%
1967	50.9%	43.7%
1966	50.6%	43.4%
1965	50.2%	43.2%
1964	49.8%	43%
1963	49.7%	42.9%
1962	49.4%	42.8%
1961	49.1%	42.9%
1960	48.7%	43.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.8% of the population in Kenya and 40.7% in Malawi in 2024, compared to 49.2% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Kenya and Malawi compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Kenya vs Malawi

Chart Table

Kenya

Malawi

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Kenya	Malawi
2023	149	225
2022	155	239
2021	183	286
2020	184	256
2019	176	260
2018	183	267
2017	186	284
2016	196	312
2015	203	354
2014	203	367
2013	206	410
2012	214	447
2011	209	486
2010	210	517
2009	208	512
2008	197	430
2007	198	333
2006	188	286
2005	178	283
2004	177	304
2003	177	346
2002	182	404
2001	188	447
2000	206	506
1999	217	576
1998	250	658
1997	253	672
1996	275	713
1995	308	782
1994	342	912
1993	363	1,000
1992	419	1,042
1991	493	1,080
1990	586	1,112
1989	663	1,136
1988	756	1,154
1987	960	1,123
1986	1,059	1,118
1985	1,375	1,115

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 149 deaths per 100,000 live births in Kenya, compared to 225 deaths in Malawi.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Kenya

Malawi

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Kenya	Malawi
2023	3.99%	3.83%
2022	4.11%	3.99%
2021	4.19%	4.15%
2020	4.28%	4.31%
2019	4.33%	4.55%
2018	4.43%	4.75%
2017	4.53%	5.06%
2016	4.6%	5.35%
2015	4.74%	5.67%
2014	4.88%	6.02%
2013	5%	6.4%
2012	5.12%	6.98%
2011	5.22%	7.67%
2010	5.35%	8.3%
2009	5.54%	8.81%
2008	5.82%	9.31%
2007	6.32%	9.83%
2006	6.71%	10.3%
2005	7.15%	11%
2004	7.66%	11.9%
2003	8.16%	13.2%
2002	8.66%	14.6%
2001	9.16%	16%
2000	9.63%	17.3%
1999	10.1%	18.4%
1998	10.4%	19.2%
1997	10.7%	19.7%
1996	10.9%	20.2%
1995	11%	20.7%
1994	11%	21.3%
1993	10.9%	22%
1992	10.7%	22.8%
1991	10.5%	23.6%
1990	10.1%	24.3%
1989	9.85%	24.9%
1988	9.63%	25.3%
1987	9.51%	25.5%
1986	9.49%	25.4%
1985	9.57%	25.1%
1984	9.74%	24.8%
1983	9.98%	24.5%
1982	10.3%	24.5%
1981	10.6%	24.9%
1980	11%	25.6%
1979	11.4%	26.5%
1978	11.8%	27.6%
1977	12.2%	28.7%
1976	12.7%	29.7%
1975	13.1%	30.6%
1974	13.5%	31.5%
1973	14%	32.4%
1972	14.3%	33.2%
1971	14.7%	33.9%
1970	15%	34.4%
1969	15.4%	34.7%
1968	15.7%	35%
1967	16%	35.1%
1966	16.3%	35.3%
1965	16.6%	35.4%
1964	17%	35.5%
1963	17.5%	35.7%
1962	18.1%	35.8%
1961	18.8%	35.9%
1960	19.6%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.99% in Kenya and 3.83% in Malawi. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.