Lesotho has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 31.4 for Malawi. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.69 in Lesotho and 3.65 in Malawi — 35.4% difference.
1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -53.4% in Lesotho and by -48.2% in Malawi — in 1960, it was 5.78 and 7.04, respectively.
Birth rates facts compared:
- Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate compared to 25/196 for Malawi.
- The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.9 years in Lesotho, compared to 19.1 years in Malawi.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.9 in Lesotho — it's 27.6 in Malawi.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 70.6 in Lesotho vs 113.6 in Malawi.
- In Lesotho, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.2% in Malawi.
- Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.35% in Lesotho and +2.6% in Malawi.
Birth rate data compared
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 2.69 | 3.65 |
| Birth rate | 24.1 | 31.4 |
| Birth rate rank | 56/196 | 25/196 |
| Age at first childbirth | 20.9 years | 19.1 years |
| Average age at childbearing | 27.9 years | 27.6 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 69.1 | 112.9 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 134.4 | 171.4 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 38.1 | 51.6 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 27.8% | 26.2% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 65.3% | 64.7% |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 86.6% | 96.4% |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.48% | 0.23% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 2.87% | 1.88% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 5.54% | 2.94% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births | 5.89% | 3.83% |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +31,115 | +549,096 |
| Natural population change rank | 103/196 | 35/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +1.35% | +2.6% |
| Population growth | +1.12% | +2.61% |
| Population growth rank | 96/197 | 27/197 |
| Life expectancy | 58.2 years | 67.7 years |
Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Malawi chart
According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 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 Lesotho vs Malawi population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.
The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
Malawi
Factual
UN forecast
Births per woman
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
| 1960 | 5.78 | 7.04 |
| 1961 | 5.79 | 7.07 |
| 1962 | 5.79 | 7.1 |
| 1963 | 5.78 | 7.13 |
| 1964 | 5.77 | 7.11 |
| 1965 | 5.77 | 7.13 |
| 1966 | 5.76 | 7.17 |
| 1967 | 5.75 | 7.21 |
| 1968 | 5.73 | 7.26 |
| 1969 | 5.7 | 7.27 |
| 1970 | 5.7 | 7.3 |
| 1971 | 5.7 | 7.31 |
| 1972 | 5.69 | 7.33 |
| 1973 | 5.69 | 7.34 |
| 1974 | 5.75 | 7.34 |
| 1975 | 5.83 | 7.36 |
| 1976 | 5.87 | 7.39 |
| 1977 | 5.85 | 7.41 |
| 1978 | 5.82 | 7.43 |
| 1979 | 5.79 | 7.47 |
| 1980 | 5.75 | 7.52 |
| 1981 | 5.69 | 7.49 |
| 1982 | 5.63 | 7.45 |
| 1983 | 5.56 | 7.36 |
| 1984 | 5.48 | 7.27 |
| 1985 | 5.4 | 7.17 |
| 1986 | 5.32 | 7.07 |
| 1987 | 5.22 | 6.97 |
| 1988 | 5.1 | 6.88 |
| 1989 | 4.96 | 6.8 |
| 1990 | 4.81 | 6.74 |
| 1991 | 4.68 | 6.68 |
| 1992 | 4.54 | 6.63 |
| 1993 | 4.37 | 6.57 |
| 1994 | 4.21 | 6.49 |
| 1995 | 4.13 | 6.39 |
| 1996 | 4.06 | 6.29 |
| 1997 | 3.98 | 6.23 |
| 1998 | 3.82 | 6.21 |
| 1999 | 3.67 | 6.12 |
| 2000 | 3.61 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3.63 | 5.94 |
| 2002 | 3.68 | 5.9 |
| 2003 | 3.62 | 5.88 |
| 2004 | 3.51 | 5.86 |
| 2005 | 3.43 | 5.85 |
| 2006 | 3.41 | 5.8 |
| 2007 | 3.44 | 5.72 |
| 2008 | 3.39 | 5.61 |
| 2009 | 3.31 | 5.45 |
| 2010 | 3.25 | 5.26 |
| 2011 | 3.34 | 5.08 |
| 2012 | 3.3 | 4.9 |
| 2013 | 3.28 | 4.76 |
| 2014 | 3.24 | 4.57 |
| 2015 | 3.22 | 4.38 |
| 2016 | 3.18 | 4.22 |
| 2017 | 3.11 | 4.11 |
| 2018 | 3.02 | 4.02 |
| 2019 | 2.92 | 3.95 |
| 2020 | 2.85 | 3.88 |
| 2021 | 2.77 | 3.79 |
| 2022 | 2.72 | 3.72 |
| 2023 | 2.69 | 3.65 |
| 2024 | 2.66 | 3.59 |
| 2025 | 2.64 | 3.53 |
| 2026 | 2.61 | 3.45 |
| 2027 | 2.58 | 3.39 |
| 2028 | 2.55 | 3.33 |
| 2029 | 2.53 | 3.29 |
| 2030 | 2.5 | 3.23 |
| 2031 | 2.47 | 3.18 |
| 2032 | 2.45 | 3.13 |
| 2033 | 2.43 | 3.09 |
| 2034 | 2.41 | 3.05 |
| 2035 | 2.38 | 3.01 |
| 2036 | 2.37 | 2.97 |
| 2037 | 2.34 | 2.93 |
| 2038 | 2.32 | 2.89 |
| 2039 | 2.3 | 2.86 |
| 2040 | 2.29 | 2.82 |
| 2041 | 2.27 | 2.79 |
| 2042 | 2.25 | 2.76 |
| 2043 | 2.24 | 2.73 |
| 2044 | 2.22 | 2.7 |
| 2045 | 2.21 | 2.67 |
| 2046 | 2.19 | 2.64 |
| 2047 | 2.18 | 2.61 |
| 2048 | 2.17 | 2.59 |
| 2049 | 2.16 | 2.57 |
| 2050 | 2.14 | 2.54 |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
Lesotho
Factual
UN forecast
Malawi
Factual
UN forecast
| Year | Share of people 0-14 years old | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
| 1960 | 45.1% | 43.1% |
| 1961 | 45.2% | 42.9% |
| 1962 | 45.3% | 42.8% |
| 1963 | 45.2% | 42.9% |
| 1964 | 44.9% | 43% |
| 1965 | 44.8% | 43.2% |
| 1966 | 44.9% | 43.4% |
| 1967 | 44.8% | 43.7% |
| 1968 | 44.4% | 43.9% |
| 1969 | 44% | 44.2% |
| 1970 | 43.6% | 44.4% |
| 1971 | 43.1% | 44.6% |
| 1972 | 42.7% | 44.8% |
| 1973 | 42.3% | 44.9% |
| 1974 | 41.9% | 45.1% |
| 1975 | 41.6% | 45.2% |
| 1976 | 41.4% | 45.2% |
| 1977 | 41.5% | 45.3% |
| 1978 | 41.7% | 45.3% |
| 1979 | 41.9% | 45.3% |
| 1980 | 42.1% | 45.4% |
| 1981 | 42.3% | 45.4% |
| 1982 | 42.5% | 45.4% |
| 1983 | 42.7% | 45.5% |
| 1984 | 42.8% | 45.5% |
| 1985 | 43% | 45.4% |
| 1986 | 42.7% | 45.4% |
| 1987 | 42.5% | 45.1% |
| 1988 | 42.7% | 45% |
| 1989 | 42.8% | 45.2% |
| 1990 | 42.9% | 45.4% |
| 1991 | 42.9% | 45.6% |
| 1992 | 42.8% | 45.8% |
| 1993 | 42.6% | 46% |
| 1994 | 42.3% | 46.1% |
| 1995 | 42% | 46.1% |
| 1996 | 41.7% | 46.2% |
| 1997 | 41.2% | 46.2% |
| 1998 | 40.7% | 46.2% |
| 1999 | 40.2% | 46.2% |
| 2000 | 39.6% | 46.2% |
| 2001 | 39.1% | 46.1% |
| 2002 | 38.6% | 46.1% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | 46.1% |
| 2004 | 37.7% | 46% |
| 2005 | 37.4% | 46% |
| 2006 | 37.1% | 46.1% |
| 2007 | 36.8% | 46.1% |
| 2008 | 36.7% | 46.1% |
| 2009 | 36.6% | 46.2% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | 46.2% |
| 2011 | 36.5% | 46.2% |
| 2012 | 36.5% | 46.1% |
| 2013 | 36.5% | 46% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | 45.7% |
| 2015 | 36.6% | 45.4% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | 45.1% |
| 2017 | 36.5% | 44.6% |
| 2018 | 36.3% | 44.2% |
| 2019 | 36.1% | 43.7% |
| 2020 | 35.8% | 43.1% |
| 2021 | 35.6% | 42.5% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | 41.9% |
| 2023 | 34.9% | 41.3% |
| 2024 | 34.5% | 40.7% |
| 2025 | 34.1% | 40.1% |
| 2026 | 33.6% | 39.6% |
| 2027 | 33.1% | 39.1% |
| 2028 | 32.6% | 38.6% |
| 2029 | 32% | 38.1% |
| 2030 | 31.5% | 37.7% |
| 2031 | 31% | 37.4% |
| 2032 | 30.5% | 37% |
| 2033 | 30.1% | 36.7% |
| 2034 | 29.7% | 36.4% |
| 2035 | 29.3% | 36% |
| 2036 | 29% | 35.7% |
| 2037 | 28.8% | 35.3% |
| 2038 | 28.5% | 35% |
| 2039 | 28.3% | 34.6% |
| 2040 | 28.1% | 34.2% |
| 2041 | 27.8% | 33.9% |
| 2042 | 27.6% | 33.5% |
| 2043 | 27.4% | 33.1% |
| 2044 | 27.1% | 32.7% |
| 2045 | 26.9% | 32.3% |
| 2046 | 26.7% | 31.9% |
| 2047 | 26.4% | 31.5% |
| 2048 | 26.2% | 31.2% |
| 2049 | 25.9% | 30.8% |
| 2050 | 25.7% | 30.5% |
Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 40.7% in Malawi in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.
Natural population change in Lesotho vs Malawi by year
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +2.67% in Malawi. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.
Lesotho
Malawi
Natural population change
| Year | Population change due to births and deaths | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
| 1960 | 19,981 | 85,718 |
| 1961 | 20,581 | 89,091 |
| 1962 | 21,132 | 92,463 |
| 1963 | 21,585 | 95,933 |
| 1964 | 22,116 | 97,658 |
| 1965 | 22,755 | 100,040 |
| 1966 | 23,326 | 103,512 |
| 1967 | 23,911 | 106,668 |
| 1968 | 24,490 | 110,329 |
| 1969 | 25,137 | 113,120 |
| 1970 | 25,935 | 116,822 |
| 1971 | 26,838 | 121,015 |
| 1972 | 27,841 | 125,728 |
| 1973 | 28,859 | 131,529 |
| 1974 | 30,444 | 137,819 |
| 1975 | 32,311 | 145,254 |
| 1976 | 34,117 | 153,422 |
| 1977 | 35,654 | 161,930 |
| 1978 | 37,084 | 172,503 |
| 1979 | 38,440 | 182,123 |
| 1980 | 39,617 | 192,746 |
| 1981 | 40,808 | 199,436 |
| 1982 | 41,941 | 205,386 |
| 1983 | 42,899 | 209,422 |
| 1984 | 43,785 | 212,146 |
| 1985 | 44,575 | 216,179 |
| 1986 | 45,232 | 218,519 |
| 1987 | 47,718 | 220,566 |
| 1988 | 47,158 | 226,911 |
| 1989 | 46,264 | 237,967 |
| 1990 | 45,060 | 250,159 |
| 1991 | 44,026 | 260,193 |
| 1992 | 42,579 | 269,066 |
| 1993 | 40,505 | 276,538 |
| 1994 | 38,629 | 275,439 |
| 1995 | 37,370 | 266,745 |
| 1996 | 36,228 | 270,048 |
| 1997 | 34,637 | 277,433 |
| 1998 | 30,889 | 285,407 |
| 1999 | 27,393 | 295,629 |
| 2000 | 24,786 | 300,439 |
| 2001 | 23,190 | 310,833 |
| 2002 | 22,274 | 322,863 |
| 2003 | 20,133 | 341,133 |
| 2004 | 17,271 | 361,133 |
| 2005 | 15,831 | 381,130 |
| 2006 | 15,234 | 397,123 |
| 2007 | 17,763 | 410,290 |
| 2008 | 19,349 | 421,781 |
| 2009 | 20,335 | 434,811 |
| 2010 | 21,877 | 444,468 |
| 2011 | 25,647 | 454,149 |
| 2012 | 27,592 | 460,684 |
| 2013 | 29,789 | 470,293 |
| 2014 | 30,922 | 472,418 |
| 2015 | 32,087 | 472,484 |
| 2016 | 33,390 | 474,779 |
| 2017 | 33,601 | 484,655 |
| 2018 | 33,112 | 494,348 |
| 2019 | 32,279 | 506,104 |
| 2020 | 30,721 | 514,659 |
| 2021 | 27,806 | 517,400 |
| 2022 | 30,803 | 533,450 |
| 2023 | 31,115 | 549,096 |
Fertility rates around the globe
Fertility rate
Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Malawi
The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 478 deaths per 100,000 live births in Lesotho, compared to 225 deaths in Malawi.
Lesotho
Malawi
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
| 1985 | 711 | 1,115 |
| 1986 | 680 | 1,118 |
| 1987 | 686 | 1,123 |
| 1988 | 680 | 1,154 |
| 1989 | 680 | 1,136 |
| 1990 | 665 | 1,112 |
| 1991 | 641 | 1,080 |
| 1992 | 601 | 1,042 |
| 1993 | 542 | 1,000 |
| 1994 | 423 | 912 |
| 1995 | 357 | 782 |
| 1996 | 319 | 713 |
| 1997 | 312 | 672 |
| 1998 | 332 | 658 |
| 1999 | 371 | 576 |
| 2000 | 413 | 506 |
| 2001 | 465 | 447 |
| 2002 | 484 | 404 |
| 2003 | 508 | 346 |
| 2004 | 499 | 304 |
| 2005 | 549 | 283 |
| 2006 | 696 | 286 |
| 2007 | 891 | 333 |
| 2008 | 1,205 | 430 |
| 2009 | 1,387 | 512 |
| 2010 | 1,311 | 517 |
| 2011 | 1,210 | 486 |
| 2012 | 1,000 | 447 |
| 2013 | 855 | 410 |
| 2014 | 707 | 367 |
| 2015 | 594 | 354 |
| 2016 | 518 | 312 |
| 2017 | 468 | 284 |
| 2018 | 491 | 267 |
| 2019 | 467 | 260 |
| 2020 | 529 | 256 |
| 2021 | 577 | 286 |
| 2022 | 477 | 239 |
| 2023 | 478 | 225 |
Under-five mortality rates
The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 3.83% in Malawi. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.
Lesotho
Malawi
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 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Lesotho
|
Malawi
|
|
| 1960 | 18.6% | - |
| 1961 | 18.5% | 35.9% |
| 1962 | 18.5% | 35.8% |
| 1963 | 18.6% | 35.7% |
| 1964 | 18.6% | 35.5% |
| 1965 | 18.7% | 35.4% |
| 1966 | 18.6% | 35.3% |
| 1967 | 18.5% | 35.1% |
| 1968 | 18.3% | 35% |
| 1969 | 18% | 34.7% |
| 1970 | 17.7% | 34.4% |
| 1971 | 17.3% | 33.9% |
| 1972 | 16.9% | 33.2% |
| 1973 | 16.5% | 32.4% |
| 1974 | 16% | 31.5% |
| 1975 | 15.5% | 30.6% |
| 1976 | 14.9% | 29.7% |
| 1977 | 14.2% | 28.7% |
| 1978 | 13.6% | 27.6% |
| 1979 | 12.9% | 26.5% |
| 1980 | 12.3% | 25.6% |
| 1981 | 11.7% | 24.9% |
| 1982 | 11.1% | 24.5% |
| 1983 | 10.6% | 24.5% |
| 1984 | 10.1% | 24.8% |
| 1985 | 9.72% | 25.1% |
| 1986 | 9.36% | 25.4% |
| 1987 | 9.06% | 25.5% |
| 1988 | 8.8% | 25.3% |
| 1989 | 8.6% | 24.9% |
| 1990 | 8.47% | 24.3% |
| 1991 | 8.43% | 23.6% |
| 1992 | 8.51% | 22.8% |
| 1993 | 8.73% | 22% |
| 1994 | 9.07% | 21.3% |
| 1995 | 9.45% | 20.7% |
| 1996 | 9.83% | 20.2% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | 19.7% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | 19.2% |
| 1999 | 10.7% | 18.4% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | 17.3% |
| 2001 | 11.1% | 16% |
| 2002 | 11.2% | 14.6% |
| 2003 | 11.4% | 13.2% |
| 2004 | 11.5% | 11.9% |
| 2005 | 11.6% | 11% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | 10.3% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | 9.83% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | 9.31% |
| 2009 | 9.64% | 8.81% |
| 2010 | 9.01% | 8.3% |
| 2011 | 8.59% | 7.67% |
| 2012 | 8.26% | 6.98% |
| 2013 | 8.02% | 6.4% |
| 2014 | 7.82% | 6.02% |
| 2015 | 7.51% | 5.67% |
| 2016 | 7.18% | 5.35% |
| 2017 | 7.12% | 5.06% |
| 2018 | 6.91% | 4.75% |
| 2019 | 6.87% | 4.55% |
| 2020 | 6.68% | 4.31% |
| 2021 | 6.44% | 4.15% |
| 2022 | 6.15% | 3.99% |
| 2023 | 5.89% | 3.83% |
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