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Fertility & birth rates in Kenya and Papua New Guinea

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has an annual birth rate of 27.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 24.6 for Papua New Guinea. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.21 in Kenya and 3.1 in Papua New Guinea — 3.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 58.1% in Kenya and by 48.5% in Papua New Guinea — in 1960, it was 7.65 and 6.02, respectively.

  • Kenya is ranked 43/196 by birth rate compared to 55/196 for Papua New Guinea.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.3 years in Kenya, compared to 21.9 years in Papua New Guinea.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.2 in Kenya — it's 29.2 in Papua New Guinea.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 56.3 in Kenya vs 54.1 in Papua New Guinea.
  • In Kenya, 26.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.9% in Papua New Guinea.

Fertility rate in Kenya vs Papua New Guinea by year

Kenya
Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2023 3.21 3.1
2022 3.26 3.17
2021 3.31 3.22
2020 3.36 3.27
2019 3.43 3.32
2018 3.54 3.38
2017 3.61 3.43
2016 3.69 3.5
2015 3.77 3.56
2014 3.84 3.63
2013 3.96 3.68
2012 4.12 3.75
2011 4.28 3.82
2010 4.45 3.88
2009 4.57 3.94
2008 4.66 4.01
2007 4.72 4.08
2006 4.75 4.15
2005 4.8 4.22
2004 4.86 4.28
2003 4.94 4.36
2002 5.03 4.42
2001 5.09 4.47
2000 5.14 4.53
1999 5.18 4.59
1998 5.24 4.63
1997 5.27 4.68
1996 5.31 4.73
1995 5.37 4.78
1994 5.44 4.87
1993 5.57 4.96
1992 5.74 5.03
1991 5.94 5.11
1990 6.14 5.18
1989 6.33 5.24
1988 6.52 5.3
1987 6.69 5.36
1986 6.84 5.42
1985 6.96 5.47
1984 7.08 5.51
1983 7.22 5.56
1982 7.35 5.59
1981 7.45 5.65
1980 7.53 5.71
1979 7.6 5.79
1978 7.67 5.88
1977 7.73 5.96
1976 7.77 6.02
1975 7.8 6.07
1974 7.82 6.11
1973 7.86 6.16
1972 7.89 6.2
1971 7.92 6.23
1970 7.94 6.25
1969 7.95 6.26
1968 7.95 6.25
1967 7.95 6.24
1966 7.96 6.23
1965 7.92 6.2
1964 7.87 6.19
1963 7.82 6.15
1962 7.77 6.14
1961 7.72 6.07
1960 7.65 6.02

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Kenya was 3.21 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.1 in Papua New Guinea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Kenya vs Papua New Guinea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Kenya
Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Natural population change
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2023 1,100,970 187,637
2022 1,092,102 186,861
2021 1,037,082 183,766
2020 1,036,253 189,130
2019 1,071,777 190,662
2018 1,097,075 190,662
2017 1,105,769 189,715
2016 1,108,801 189,281
2015 1,119,200 188,600
2014 1,123,333 187,592
2013 1,136,006 185,790
2012 1,161,548 183,658
2011 1,185,863 181,842
2010 1,199,786 178,998
2009 1,193,598 175,421
2008 1,174,818 172,823
2007 1,147,063 169,306
2006 1,113,357 166,540
2005 1,080,446 163,888
2004 1,048,590 161,023
2003 1,018,182 158,611
2002 992,044 155,091
2001 963,721 151,431
2000 928,357 147,496
1999 898,484 143,592
1998 875,511 136,677
1997 847,493 134,458
1996 827,326 129,802
1995 812,391 125,410
1994 792,702 122,113
1993 788,579 118,668
1992 785,018 114,818
1991 790,030 111,453
1990 789,087 110,033
1989 795,622 108,199
1988 785,652 106,256
1987 775,124 104,367
1986 755,606 102,346
1985 732,739 100,333
1984 709,639 98,103
1983 684,587 95,982
1982 663,109 93,522
1981 642,379 91,767
1980 616,390 90,266
1979 595,390 89,330
1978 574,695 88,747
1977 554,124 87,954
1976 536,740 86,965
1975 517,579 85,809
1974 500,008 84,829
1973 485,556 83,821
1972 472,557 82,672
1971 459,897 80,599
1970 443,065 78,712
1969 427,819 76,454
1968 411,948 73,983
1967 396,920 71,519
1966 382,891 69,206
1965 366,444 66,693
1964 349,322 64,558
1963 332,763 62,260
1962 315,797 59,974
1961 298,463 58,151
1960 280,032 56,326

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | 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 +1.99% in Kenya and +1.81% in Papua New Guinea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.16% in Kenya and +2% in Papua New Guinea.

Birth rate in Kenya vs Papua New Guinea by year

Kenya
Papua New Guinea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2023 27.1 24.6
2022 27.3 25.2
2021 27.6 25.6
2020 27.8 26.1
2019 28.2 26.5
2018 29 27
2017 29.6 27.4
2016 30.2 27.9
2015 30.9 28.4
2014 31.5 28.9
2013 32.4 29.4
2012 33.7 29.8
2011 35 30.3
2010 36.3 30.7
2009 37.2 31.1
2008 37.9 31.5
2007 38.3 31.9
2006 38.5 32.4
2005 38.8 32.8
2004 39.1 33.2
2003 39.5 33.7
2002 39.9 34
2001 40.2 34.2
2000 40.2 34.4
1999 40.3 34.7
1998 40.6 34.8
1997 40.5 34.8
1996 40.6 34.9
1995 40.8 35
1994 40.9 35.3
1993 41.4 35.6
1992 42.1 35.8
1991 43.1 36.1
1990 43.9 36.7
1989 44.9 37.1
1988 45.6 37.3
1987 46.3 37.4
1986 46.6 37.5
1985 46.9 37.7
1984 47.2 37.7
1983 47.4 37.8
1982 47.8 37.7
1981 48.2 37.9
1980 48.2 38.1
1979 48.6 38.7
1978 48.9 39.3
1977 49.2 39.9
1976 49.6 40.5
1975 49.8 41.1
1974 50.2 41.8
1973 50.8 42.6
1972 51.5 43.3
1971 52.2 43.7
1970 52.5 44
1969 53.1 44.2
1968 53.5 44.4
1967 54.1 44.5
1966 54.6 44.6
1965 54.9 44.6
1964 55.1 44.7
1963 55.3 44.7
1962 55.4 44.9
1961 55.4 44.9
1960 55.2 45.1

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 27.1 in Kenya and 24.6 in Papua New Guinea, compared with 55.2 and 45.1, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Kenya Papua New Guinea
Fertility rate 3.21 3.1
Fertility rate rank 51/196 55/196
Birth rate 27.1 24.6
Birth rate rank 43/196 55/196
Population change due to births and deaths +1,100,970 +187,637
Natural population change rank 18/196 63/196
Natural population change rate +1.99% +1.81%
Population growth +1.98% +1.8%
Population growth rank 53/197 59/197
Age at first childbirth 20.3 years 21.9 years
Average age at childbearing 28.2 years 29.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 51.6 52.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 168.5 144.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 46.4 46.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.4% 25.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 56.9% 30.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 70.2% 56.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.15% 0.19%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.15% 2.05%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.47% 3.2%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.99% 4.03%
Life expectancy 64.2 years 66.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Kenya
Factual

UN forecast
Papua New Guinea
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2100 18.9% 19%
2099 19% 19.1%
2098 19.1% 19.2%
2097 19.2% 19.3%
2096 19.3% 19.4%
2095 19.5% 19.5%
2094 19.6% 19.6%
2093 19.7% 19.7%
2092 19.8% 19.8%
2091 19.9% 19.9%
2090 20% 20%
2089 20.1% 20.1%
2088 20.2% 20.2%
2087 20.4% 20.4%
2086 20.5% 20.5%
2085 20.7% 20.6%
2084 20.8% 20.7%
2083 21% 20.8%
2082 21.1% 20.9%
2081 21.3% 21%
2080 21.5% 21.2%
2079 21.7% 21.3%
2078 21.9% 21.4%
2077 22.1% 21.5%
2076 22.3% 21.7%
2075 22.5% 21.8%
2074 22.7% 21.9%
2073 22.9% 22.1%
2072 23.1% 22.2%
2071 23.3% 22.4%
2070 23.5% 22.5%
2069 23.7% 22.7%
2068 23.8% 22.8%
2067 24% 23%
2066 24.2% 23.2%
2065 24.4% 23.3%
2064 24.6% 23.5%
2063 24.8% 23.7%
2062 25% 23.9%
2061 25.2% 24.1%
2060 25.4% 24.3%
2059 25.6% 24.5%
2058 25.9% 24.6%
2057 26.1% 24.8%
2056 26.4% 25%
2055 26.7% 25.2%
2054 27% 25.4%
2053 27.3% 25.6%
2052 27.6% 25.8%
2051 28% 26%
2050 28.4% 26.2%
2049 28.7% 26.4%
2048 29.1% 26.6%
2047 29.5% 26.8%
2046 29.8% 27%
2045 30.2% 27.2%
2044 30.6% 27.4%
2043 30.9% 27.6%
2042 31.2% 27.9%
2041 31.5% 28.1%
2040 31.8% 28.4%
2039 32.1% 28.7%
2038 32.4% 28.9%
2037 32.6% 29.2%
2036 32.8% 29.6%
2035 33% 29.9%
2034 33.3% 30.2%
2033 33.5% 30.6%
2032 33.8% 30.9%
2031 34% 31.2%
2030 34.4% 31.6%
2029 34.7% 31.9%
2028 35% 32.3%
2027 35.5% 32.6%
2026 36% 33%
2025 36.5% 33.3%
2024 36.8% 33.5%
2023 37.4% 33.8%
2022 38.1% 34.1%
2021 38.7% 34.4%
2020 39.3% 34.7%
2019 39.9% 35%
2018 40.5% 35.3%
2017 41% 35.6%
2016 41.5% 35.9%
2015 42% 36.2%
2014 42.4% 36.5%
2013 42.8% 36.7%
2012 43.2% 37%
2011 43.4% 37.2%
2010 43.6% 37.5%
2009 43.8% 37.7%
2008 43.9% 38%
2007 44% 38.3%
2006 44.2% 38.5%
2005 44.4% 38.8%
2004 44.6% 39%
2003 45% 39.3%
2002 45.3% 39.5%
2001 45.7% 39.8%
2000 46.1% 40%
1999 46.5% 40.2%
1998 46.8% 40.4%
1997 47.1% 40.6%
1996 47.4% 40.8%
1995 47.7% 41%
1994 48% 41.2%
1993 48.4% 41.5%
1992 48.7% 41.7%
1991 48.9% 41.9%
1990 49.2% 42.1%
1989 49.5% 42.3%
1988 49.7% 42.4%
1987 49.9% 42.4%
1986 50.1% 42.5%
1985 50.3% 42.6%
1984 50.6% 42.8%
1983 50.8% 42.9%
1982 51.1% 43%
1981 51.3% 43.2%
1980 51.5% 43.5%
1979 51.7% 44%
1978 51.9% 44.4%
1977 52% 44.9%
1976 52.1% 45.2%
1975 52% 45.5%
1974 52% 45.8%
1973 52% 45.9%
1972 51.9% 46%
1971 51.7% 46%
1970 51.6% 45.8%
1969 51.4% 45.6%
1968 51.2% 45.3%
1967 50.9% 45.1%
1966 50.6% 44.9%
1965 50.2% 44.6%
1964 49.8% 44.4%
1963 49.7% 44.2%
1962 49.4% 43.9%
1961 49.1% 43.7%
1960 48.7% 43.4%

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/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.8% of the population in Kenya and 33.5% in Papua New Guinea in 2024, compared to 49.2% and 42.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Kenya and Papua New Guinea compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Kenya vs Papua New Guinea

Kenya
Papua New Guinea
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2023 149 189
2022 155 189
2021 183 223
2020 184 194
2019 176 199
2018 183 205
2017 186 207
2016 196 214
2015 203 221
2014 203 232
2013 206 243
2012 214 257
2011 209 271
2010 210 289
2009 208 302
2008 197 315
2007 198 326
2006 188 325
2005 178 326
2004 177 326
2003 177 328
2002 182 329
2001 188 325
2000 206 323
1999 217 321
1998 250 325
1997 253 316
1996 275 316
1995 308 318
1994 342 324
1993 363 333
1992 419 340
1991 493 354
1990 586 360
1989 663 369
1988 756 377
1987 960 379
1986 1,059 386
1985 1,375 393

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

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 189 deaths in Papua New Guinea.

Under-five mortality rates

Kenya
Papua New Guinea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Kenya Papua New Guinea
2023 3.99% 4.03%
2022 4.11% 4.17%
2021 4.19% 4.31%
2020 4.28% 4.45%
2019 4.33% 4.59%
2018 4.43% 4.72%
2017 4.53% 4.87%
2016 4.6% 5.02%
2015 4.74% 5.17%
2014 4.88% 5.3%
2013 5% 5.44%
2012 5.12% 5.59%
2011 5.22% 5.73%
2010 5.35% 5.88%
2009 5.54% 6.02%
2008 5.82% 6.16%
2007 6.32% 6.31%
2006 6.71% 6.44%
2005 7.15% 6.58%
2004 7.66% 6.71%
2003 8.16% 6.84%
2002 8.66% 6.96%
2001 9.16% 7.08%
2000 9.63% 7.19%
1999 10.1% 7.3%
1998 10.4% 7.41%
1997 10.7% 7.52%
1996 10.9% 7.64%
1995 11% 7.77%
1994 11% 7.89%
1993 10.9% 8.03%
1992 10.7% 8.17%
1991 10.5% 8.31%
1990 10.1% 8.47%
1989 9.85% 8.63%
1988 9.63% 8.78%
1987 9.51% 8.96%
1986 9.49% 9.12%
1985 9.57% 9.3%
1984 9.74% 9.5%
1983 9.98% 9.71%
1982 10.3% 9.94%
1981 10.6% 10.2%
1980 11% 10.4%
1979 11.4% 10.7%
1978 11.8% 11%
1977 12.2% 11.3%
1976 12.7% 11.7%
1975 13.1% 12.1%
1974 13.5% 12.4%
1973 14% 12.9%
1972 14.3% 13.3%
1971 14.7% 13.7%
1970 15% 14.2%
1969 15.4% 14.7%
1968 15.7% 15.2%
1967 16% 15.8%
1966 16.3% 16.3%
1965 16.6% 16.9%
1964 17% 17.4%
1963 17.5% 18%
1962 18.1% 18.6%
1961 18.8% 19.2%
1960 19.6% 19.8%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.99% in Kenya and 4.03% in Papua New Guinea. 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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