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Fertility & birth rates in Kenya and Sri Lanka

Updated on by Georank team

Kenya has an annual birth rate of 27.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 11.2 for Sri Lanka. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.21 in Kenya and 1.97 in Sri Lanka — 38.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 58.1% in Kenya and by 63.1% in Sri Lanka — in 1960, it was 7.65 and 5.35, respectively.

  • Kenya is ranked 43/196 by birth rate compared to 125/196 for Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.3 years in Kenya, compared to 25.6 years in Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.2 in Kenya — it's 29.7 in Sri Lanka.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 56.3 in Kenya vs 15.1 in Sri Lanka.
  • In Kenya, 26.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Sri Lanka.

Fertility rate in Kenya vs Sri Lanka by year

Kenya
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kenya Sri Lanka
2023 3.21 1.97
2022 3.26 1.98
2021 3.31 2
2020 3.36 2.01
2019 3.43 2.02
2018 3.54 2.03
2017 3.61 2.04
2016 3.69 2.06
2015 3.77 2.09
2014 3.84 2.13
2013 3.96 2.18
2012 4.12 2.17
2011 4.28 2.14
2010 4.45 2.13
2009 4.57 2.18
2008 4.66 2.23
2007 4.72 2.3
2006 4.75 2.29
2005 4.8 2.26
2004 4.86 2.27
2003 4.94 2.3
2002 5.03 2.31
2001 5.09 2.28
2000 5.14 2.21
1999 5.18 2.14
1998 5.24 2.14
1997 5.27 2.22
1996 5.31 2.29
1995 5.37 2.35
1994 5.44 2.4
1993 5.57 2.44
1992 5.74 2.49
1991 5.94 2.51
1990 6.14 2.54
1989 6.33 2.58
1988 6.52 2.57
1987 6.69 2.64
1986 6.84 2.74
1985 6.96 2.9
1984 7.08 3.01
1983 7.22 3.11
1982 7.35 3.32
1981 7.45 3.65
1980 7.53 3.73
1979 7.6 3.82
1978 7.67 3.81
1977 7.73 3.74
1976 7.77 3.78
1975 7.8 3.82
1974 7.82 3.86
1973 7.86 4
1972 7.89 4.16
1971 7.92 4.27
1970 7.94 4.39
1969 7.95 4.5
1968 7.95 4.66
1967 7.95 4.79
1966 7.96 4.83
1965 7.92 4.93
1964 7.87 5.06
1963 7.82 5.12
1962 7.77 5.18
1961 7.72 5.24
1960 7.65 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | 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 1.97 in Sri Lanka in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Kenya
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Natural population change
Kenya Sri Lanka
2023 1,100,970 66,111
2022 1,092,102 95,378
2021 1,037,082 121,858
2020 1,036,253 170,968
2019 1,071,777 172,243
2018 1,097,075 183,610
2017 1,105,769 187,993
2016 1,108,801 194,232
2015 1,119,200 201,815
2014 1,123,333 211,541
2013 1,136,006 221,021
2012 1,161,548 229,138
2011 1,185,863 224,461
2010 1,199,786 224,325
2009 1,193,598 200,175
2008 1,174,818 232,225
2007 1,147,063 248,287
2006 1,113,357 248,706
2005 1,080,446 248,683
2004 1,048,590 212,527
2003 1,018,182 252,008
2002 992,044 252,840
2001 963,721 244,377
2000 928,357 227,060
1999 898,484 206,876
1998 875,511 201,059
1997 847,493 208,193
1996 827,326 215,290
1995 812,391 221,957
1994 792,702 228,904
1993 788,579 226,257
1992 785,018 222,230
1991 790,030 218,117
1990 789,087 224,454
1989 795,622 212,401
1988 785,652 219,184
1987 775,124 226,414
1986 755,606 233,782
1985 732,739 247,836
1984 709,639 263,175
1983 684,587 277,768
1982 663,109 300,030
1981 642,379 328,096
1980 616,390 328,155
1979 595,390 329,791
1978 574,695 317,055
1977 554,124 300,038
1976 536,740 291,816
1975 517,579 282,496
1974 500,008 275,521
1973 485,556 278,577
1972 472,557 282,494
1971 459,897 281,200
1970 443,065 286,719
1969 427,819 286,218
1968 411,948 286,642
1967 396,920 284,738
1966 382,891 275,549
1965 366,444 272,422
1964 349,322 269,584
1963 332,763 262,880
1962 315,797 256,719
1961 298,463 251,087
1960 280,032 247,631

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | 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 +0.3% in Sri Lanka.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.16% in Kenya and +0.75% in Sri Lanka.

Birth rate in Kenya vs Sri Lanka by year

Kenya
Sri Lanka

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Kenya Sri Lanka
2023 27.1 11.2
2022 27.3 12.4
2021 27.6 12.9
2020 27.8 13.8
2019 28.2 14.6
2018 29 15.2
2017 29.6 15.4
2016 30.2 15.7
2015 30.9 16
2014 31.5 16.5
2013 32.4 17
2012 33.7 17.1
2011 35 17.1
2010 36.3 17.1
2009 37.2 17.6
2008 37.9 18.2
2007 38.3 18.8
2006 38.5 18.9
2005 38.8 18.7
2004 39.1 18.8
2003 39.5 19.1
2002 39.9 19.2
2001 40.2 19
2000 40.2 18.4
1999 40.3 17.9
1998 40.6 17.8
1997 40.5 18.5
1996 40.6 19
1995 40.8 19.6
1994 40.9 20
1993 41.4 20
1992 42.1 20.1
1991 43.1 20.2
1990 43.9 20.5
1989 44.9 20.6
1988 45.6 20.3
1987 46.3 20.8
1986 46.6 21.4
1985 46.9 22.4
1984 47.2 23.5
1983 47.4 24.4
1982 47.8 26
1981 48.2 28.1
1980 48.2 28.6
1979 48.6 29.3
1978 48.9 29
1977 49.2 28.3
1976 49.6 28.3
1975 49.8 28.2
1974 50.2 28.2
1973 50.8 28.9
1972 51.5 29.7
1971 52.2 30.2
1970 52.5 31.2
1969 53.1 31.8
1968 53.5 32.6
1967 54.1 33.2
1966 54.6 33.2
1965 54.9 33.8
1964 55.1 34.5
1963 55.3 34.7
1962 55.4 35.1
1961 55.4 35.6
1960 55.2 36.3

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 27.1 in Kenya and 11.2 in Sri Lanka, compared with 55.2 and 36.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Kenya Sri Lanka
Fertility rate 3.21 1.97
Fertility rate rank 51/196 101/196
Birth rate 27.1 11.2
Birth rate rank 43/196 125/196
Population change due to births and deaths +1,100,970 +66,111
Natural population change rank 18/196 87/196
Natural population change rate +1.99% +0.3%
Population growth +1.98% -0.55%
Population growth rank 53/197 188/197
Age at first childbirth 20.3 years 25.6 years
Average age at childbearing 28.2 years 29.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 51.6 14.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 168.5 94.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 46.4 20.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.4% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 56.9% 53.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 70.2% 99.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.15% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.15% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.47% 0.53%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.99% 0.61%
Life expectancy 64.2 years 78 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Kenya
Factual

UN forecast
Sri Lanka
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Kenya Sri Lanka
2100 18.9% 13.1%
2099 19% 13.1%
2098 19.1% 13.2%
2097 19.2% 13.2%
2096 19.3% 13.2%
2095 19.5% 13.3%
2094 19.6% 13.3%
2093 19.7% 13.4%
2092 19.8% 13.4%
2091 19.9% 13.5%
2090 20% 13.6%
2089 20.1% 13.7%
2088 20.2% 13.7%
2087 20.4% 13.8%
2086 20.5% 13.9%
2085 20.7% 14%
2084 20.8% 14%
2083 21% 14.1%
2082 21.1% 14.2%
2081 21.3% 14.3%
2080 21.5% 14.3%
2079 21.7% 14.4%
2078 21.9% 14.5%
2077 22.1% 14.5%
2076 22.3% 14.6%
2075 22.5% 14.6%
2074 22.7% 14.7%
2073 22.9% 14.7%
2072 23.1% 14.8%
2071 23.3% 14.9%
2070 23.5% 14.9%
2069 23.7% 15%
2068 23.8% 15%
2067 24% 15.1%
2066 24.2% 15.2%
2065 24.4% 15.3%
2064 24.6% 15.4%
2063 24.8% 15.5%
2062 25% 15.6%
2061 25.2% 15.7%
2060 25.4% 15.8%
2059 25.6% 16%
2058 25.9% 16.1%
2057 26.1% 16.3%
2056 26.4% 16.4%
2055 26.7% 16.6%
2054 27% 16.8%
2053 27.3% 16.9%
2052 27.6% 17.1%
2051 28% 17.2%
2050 28.4% 17.4%
2049 28.7% 17.5%
2048 29.1% 17.7%
2047 29.5% 17.8%
2046 29.8% 17.9%
2045 30.2% 18%
2044 30.6% 18.2%
2043 30.9% 18.3%
2042 31.2% 18.4%
2041 31.5% 18.5%
2040 31.8% 18.6%
2039 32.1% 18.7%
2038 32.4% 18.9%
2037 32.6% 19%
2036 32.8% 19.1%
2035 33% 19.3%
2034 33.3% 19.5%
2033 33.5% 19.7%
2032 33.8% 19.9%
2031 34% 20.1%
2030 34.4% 20.3%
2029 34.7% 20.6%
2028 35% 20.9%
2027 35.5% 21.2%
2026 36% 21.5%
2025 36.5% 21.9%
2024 36.8% 22%
2023 37.4% 22.4%
2022 38.1% 22.7%
2021 38.7% 23%
2020 39.3% 23.3%
2019 39.9% 23.7%
2018 40.5% 24%
2017 41% 24.2%
2016 41.5% 24.5%
2015 42% 24.7%
2014 42.4% 24.9%
2013 42.8% 25%
2012 43.2% 25.2%
2011 43.4% 25.3%
2010 43.6% 25.4%
2009 43.8% 25.5%
2008 43.9% 25.6%
2007 44% 25.7%
2006 44.2% 25.7%
2005 44.4% 25.8%
2004 44.6% 26%
2003 45% 26.1%
2002 45.3% 26.3%
2001 45.7% 26.6%
2000 46.1% 27%
1999 46.5% 27.4%
1998 46.8% 27.8%
1997 47.1% 28.2%
1996 47.4% 28.6%
1995 47.7% 29.2%
1994 48% 29.9%
1993 48.4% 30.6%
1992 48.7% 31.4%
1991 48.9% 32.1%
1990 49.2% 32.5%
1989 49.5% 33%
1988 49.7% 33.5%
1987 49.9% 34%
1986 50.1% 34.6%
1985 50.3% 35.2%
1984 50.6% 35.5%
1983 50.8% 35.8%
1982 51.1% 36%
1981 51.3% 36.2%
1980 51.5% 36.4%
1979 51.7% 36.7%
1978 51.9% 36.9%
1977 52% 37.2%
1976 52.1% 37.6%
1975 52% 38%
1974 52% 38.4%
1973 52% 38.8%
1972 51.9% 39.2%
1971 51.7% 39.5%
1970 51.6% 39.7%
1969 51.4% 39.9%
1968 51.2% 40.1%
1967 50.9% 40.3%
1966 50.6% 40.4%
1965 50.2% 40.5%
1964 49.8% 40.6%
1963 49.7% 40.7%
1962 49.4% 40.8%
1961 49.1% 40.9%
1960 48.7% 41%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.8% of the population in Kenya and 22% in Sri Lanka in 2024, compared to 49.2% and 32.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Kenya and Sri Lanka compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Kenya vs Sri Lanka

Kenya
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Kenya Sri Lanka
2023 149 18
2022 155 22
2021 183 34
2020 184 23
2019 176 20
2018 183 21
2017 186 21
2016 196 22
2015 203 22
2014 203 23
2013 206 23
2012 214 24
2011 209 25
2010 210 26
2009 208 28
2008 197 30
2007 198 31
2006 188 32
2005 178 32
2004 177 37
2003 177 35
2002 182 36
2001 188 37
2000 206 39
1999 217 41
1998 250 43
1997 253 45
1996 275 47
1995 308 48
1994 342 49
1993 363 51
1992 419 54
1991 493 57
1990 586 59
1989 663 61
1988 756 62
1987 960 64
1986 1,059 66
1985 1,375 68

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | 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 18 deaths in Sri Lanka.

Under-five mortality rates

Kenya
Sri Lanka

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Kenya Sri Lanka
2023 3.99% 0.61%
2022 4.11% 0.64%
2021 4.19% 0.66%
2020 4.28% 0.69%
2019 4.33% 0.72%
2018 4.43% 0.76%
2017 4.53% 0.79%
2016 4.6% 0.83%
2015 4.74% 0.87%
2014 4.88% 0.92%
2013 5% 0.98%
2012 5.12% 1.03%
2011 5.22% 1.08%
2010 5.35% 1.12%
2009 5.54% 2.08%
2008 5.82% 1.2%
2007 6.32% 1.26%
2006 6.71% 1.33%
2005 7.15% 1.4%
2004 7.66% 2.88%
2003 8.16% 1.52%
2002 8.66% 1.55%
2001 9.16% 1.58%
2000 9.63% 1.63%
1999 10.1% 1.69%
1998 10.4% 1.76%
1997 10.7% 1.86%
1996 10.9% 1.95%
1995 11% 2.05%
1994 11% 2.14%
1993 10.9% 2.22%
1992 10.7% 2.29%
1991 10.5% 2.32%
1990 10.1% 2.33%
1989 9.85% 2.74%
1988 9.63% 2.41%
1987 9.51% 2.54%
1986 9.49% 2.74%
1985 9.57% 3.02%
1984 9.74% 3.35%
1983 9.98% 3.67%
1982 10.3% 3.98%
1981 10.6% 4.29%
1980 11% 4.63%
1979 11.4% 4.99%
1978 11.8% 5.38%
1977 12.2% 5.77%
1976 12.7% 6.12%
1975 13.1% 6.41%
1974 13.5% 6.62%
1973 14% 6.77%
1972 14.3% 6.86%
1971 14.7% 6.94%
1970 15% 7.02%
1969 15.4% 7.14%
1968 15.7% 7.32%
1967 16% 7.55%
1966 16.3% 7.81%
1965 16.6% 8.07%
1964 17% 8.3%
1963 17.5% 8.48%
1962 18.1% 8.66%
1961 18.8% 8.95%
1960 19.6% 9.41%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/kenya/sri-lanka | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.99% in Kenya and 0.61% in Sri Lanka. 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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