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Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Norway

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.4 for Norway. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.69 in Lesotho and 1.4 in Norway — 48% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 53.4% in Lesotho and by 50.9% in Norway — in 1960, it was 5.78 and 2.85, respectively.

  • Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate compared to 156/196 for Norway.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.9 years in Lesotho, compared to 30.1 years in Norway.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8 in Lesotho — it's 31.8 in Norway.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 70.6 in Lesotho vs 1.41 in Norway.
  • In Lesotho, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in Norway.

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Norway by year

Lesotho
Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Norway
2023 2.69 1.4
2022 2.72 1.41
2021 2.77 1.55
2020 2.85 1.48
2019 2.92 1.53
2018 3.02 1.56
2017 3.11 1.62
2016 3.18 1.71
2015 3.22 1.72
2014 3.24 1.75
2013 3.28 1.78
2012 3.3 1.85
2011 3.34 1.88
2010 3.25 1.95
2009 3.31 1.98
2008 3.39 1.96
2007 3.44 1.9
2006 3.41 1.9
2005 3.43 1.84
2004 3.51 1.83
2003 3.62 1.8
2002 3.68 1.75
2001 3.63 1.78
2000 3.61 1.85
1999 3.67 1.85
1998 3.82 1.81
1997 3.98 1.86
1996 4.06 1.89
1995 4.13 1.87
1994 4.21 1.87
1993 4.37 1.86
1992 4.54 1.88
1991 4.68 1.92
1990 4.81 1.93
1989 4.96 1.89
1988 5.1 1.84
1987 5.22 1.74
1986 5.32 1.71
1985 5.4 1.68
1984 5.48 1.66
1983 5.56 1.66
1982 5.63 1.71
1981 5.69 1.7
1980 5.75 1.72
1979 5.79 1.75
1978 5.82 1.77
1977 5.85 1.75
1976 5.87 1.86
1975 5.83 1.98
1974 5.75 2.13
1973 5.69 2.23
1972 5.69 2.38
1971 5.7 2.49
1970 5.7 2.5
1969 5.7 2.7
1968 5.73 2.75
1967 5.75 2.81
1966 5.76 2.9
1965 5.77 2.94
1964 5.77 2.98
1963 5.78 2.93
1962 5.79 2.91
1961 5.79 2.94
1960 5.78 2.85

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.4 in Norway in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Lesotho vs Norway population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Lesotho
Norway
1x
Year Natural population change
Lesotho Norway
2023 31,115 8,280
2022 30,803 5,457
2021 27,806 14,062
2020 30,721 12,372
2019 32,279 13,904
2018 33,112 14,342
2017 33,601 15,831
2016 33,390 17,797
2015 32,087 18,160
2014 30,922 18,494
2013 29,789 17,779
2012 27,592 18,066
2011 25,647 18,822
2010 21,877 20,046
2009 20,335 20,280
2008 19,349 19,073
2007 17,763 16,482
2006 15,234 17,244
2005 15,831 15,719
2004 17,271 15,612
2003 20,133 14,151
2002 22,274 10,892
2001 23,190 13,090
2000 24,786 15,269
1999 27,393 14,278
1998 30,889 14,181
1997 34,637 15,418
1996 36,228 17,087
1995 37,370 14,821
1994 38,629 16,045
1993 40,505 12,936
1992 42,579 15,431
1991 44,026 16,194
1990 45,060 14,845
1989 46,264 13,949
1988 47,158 12,207
1987 47,718 9,212
1986 45,232 8,751
1985 44,575 6,644
1984 43,785 7,452
1983 42,899 7,844
1982 41,941 9,875
1981 40,808 9,020
1980 39,617 9,806
1979 38,440 10,181
1978 37,084 11,364
1977 35,654 11,321
1976 34,117 13,286
1975 32,311 16,430
1974 30,444 20,324
1973 28,859 21,387
1972 27,841 24,777
1971 26,838 26,541
1970 25,935 25,968
1969 25,137 28,858
1968 24,490 29,387
1967 23,911 30,276
1966 23,326 31,150
1965 22,755 31,275
1964 22,116 30,293
1963 21,585 26,766
1962 21,132 28,020
1961 20,581 29,239
1960 19,981 29,366

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | 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 +1.35% in Lesotho and +0.15% in Norway.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +0.26% in Norway.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs Norway by year

Lesotho
Norway

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Lesotho Norway
2023 24.1 9.4
2022 24.4 9.4
2021 24.9 10.4
2020 25.6 9.8
2019 26.4 10.2
2018 27.4 10.4
2017 28.2 10.7
2016 28.9 11.2
2015 29.2 11.3
2014 29.5 11.5
2013 30 11.6
2012 30 12
2011 30.2 12.2
2010 29.2 12.6
2009 29.4 12.8
2008 29.6 12.7
2007 29.5 12.4
2006 28.6 12.6
2005 28.6 12.3
2004 28.7 12.4
2003 29.3 12.4
2002 29.4 12.2
2001 28.7 12.6
2000 28.2 13.2
1999 28.5 13.3
1998 29.2 13.2
1997 30.2 13.6
1996 30.4 13.9
1995 30.6 13.8
1994 31 13.9
1993 32 13.8
1992 33.2 14
1991 34.2 14.3
1990 35.1 14.4
1989 36.3 14
1988 37.4 13.7
1987 38.3 12.9
1986 37.5 12.6
1985 37.9 12.3
1984 38.4 12.1
1983 38.9 12.1
1982 39.5 12.5
1981 39.9 12.4
1980 40.4 12.5
1979 40.8 12.7
1978 41 12.8
1977 41.1 12.6
1976 41 13.3
1975 40.6 14.1
1974 40.2 15
1973 39.9 15.5
1972 40.2 16.3
1971 40.5 16.8
1970 40.8 16.7
1969 41.3 17.6
1968 41.9 17.6
1967 42.5 17.6
1966 43 17.9
1965 43.3 17.8
1964 43.5 17.7
1963 43.7 17.3
1962 44.1 17.1
1961 44.3 17.3
1960 44.6 17.3

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 9.4 in Norway, compared with 44.6 and 17.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Lesotho Norway
Fertility rate 2.69 1.4
Fertility rate rank 68/196 162/196
Birth rate 24.1 9.4
Birth rate rank 56/196 156/196
Population change due to births and deaths +31,115 +8,280
Natural population change rank 103/196 118/196
Natural population change rate +1.35% +0.15%
Population growth +1.12% +0.95%
Population growth rank 93/197 105/197
Age at first childbirth 20.9 years 30.1 years
Average age at childbearing 27.8 years 31.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 69.3 1.11
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 133.8 52.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 37.3 18.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.8% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.3% 69.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.6% 99.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.48% 0.001%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.87% 0.13%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.54% 0.19%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 5.89% 0.24%
Life expectancy 58.6 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Norway
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Lesotho Norway
2100 18% 12.8%
2099 18.1% 12.8%
2098 18.2% 12.8%
2097 18.3% 12.8%
2096 18.3% 12.8%
2095 18.4% 12.9%
2094 18.5% 12.9%
2093 18.6% 12.9%
2092 18.7% 12.9%
2091 18.9% 13%
2090 19% 13%
2089 19.1% 13%
2088 19.2% 13%
2087 19.3% 13%
2086 19.4% 13.1%
2085 19.6% 13.1%
2084 19.7% 13.1%
2083 19.8% 13.1%
2082 19.9% 13.1%
2081 20% 13.1%
2080 20.2% 13%
2079 20.3% 13%
2078 20.4% 13%
2077 20.5% 13%
2076 20.6% 13%
2075 20.7% 13%
2074 20.9% 12.9%
2073 21% 12.9%
2072 21.1% 12.9%
2071 21.3% 12.9%
2070 21.4% 12.9%
2069 21.5% 12.9%
2068 21.7% 12.9%
2067 21.9% 13%
2066 22% 13%
2065 22.2% 13%
2064 22.4% 13.1%
2063 22.6% 13.1%
2062 22.8% 13.2%
2061 23% 13.2%
2060 23.3% 13.3%
2059 23.5% 13.4%
2058 23.7% 13.4%
2057 24% 13.5%
2056 24.2% 13.6%
2055 24.5% 13.6%
2054 24.7% 13.7%
2053 25% 13.8%
2052 25.3% 13.8%
2051 25.5% 13.8%
2050 25.8% 13.9%
2049 26.1% 13.9%
2048 26.3% 13.9%
2047 26.5% 13.9%
2046 26.8% 13.9%
2045 27% 13.9%
2044 27.3% 13.9%
2043 27.5% 13.9%
2042 27.7% 13.9%
2041 28% 13.9%
2040 28.2% 14%
2039 28.4% 14%
2038 28.7% 14%
2037 28.9% 14%
2036 29.2% 14.1%
2035 29.5% 14.2%
2034 29.9% 14.3%
2033 30.3% 14.4%
2032 30.8% 14.6%
2031 31.3% 14.7%
2030 31.8% 14.9%
2029 32.3% 15.1%
2028 32.8% 15.3%
2027 33.4% 15.6%
2026 33.9% 15.8%
2025 34.3% 16.1%
2024 34.5% 16.2%
2023 34.9% 16.5%
2022 35.3% 16.8%
2021 35.6% 17%
2020 35.8% 17.2%
2019 36.1% 17.4%
2018 36.3% 17.6%
2017 36.5% 17.8%
2016 36.6% 17.9%
2015 36.6% 18%
2014 36.6% 18.1%
2013 36.5% 18.3%
2012 36.5% 18.4%
2011 36.5% 18.6%
2010 36.5% 18.8%
2009 36.6% 18.9%
2008 36.7% 19.1%
2007 36.8% 19.3%
2006 37.1% 19.4%
2005 37.4% 19.6%
2004 37.7% 19.8%
2003 38.1% 19.9%
2002 38.6% 20%
2001 39.1% 20%
2000 39.6% 20%
1999 40.2% 19.9%
1998 40.7% 19.8%
1997 41.2% 19.7%
1996 41.7% 19.6%
1995 42% 19.5%
1994 42.3% 19.4%
1993 42.6% 19.3%
1992 42.8% 19.1%
1991 42.9% 19%
1990 42.9% 18.9%
1989 42.8% 19%
1988 42.7% 19.1%
1987 42.5% 19.3%
1986 42.7% 19.6%
1985 43% 20%
1984 42.8% 20.4%
1983 42.7% 20.9%
1982 42.5% 21.3%
1981 42.3% 21.8%
1980 42.1% 22.2%
1979 41.9% 22.6%
1978 41.7% 22.9%
1977 41.5% 23.3%
1976 41.4% 23.5%
1975 41.6% 23.8%
1974 41.9% 24%
1973 42.3% 24.2%
1972 42.7% 24.3%
1971 43.1% 24.4%
1970 43.6% 24.5%
1969 44% 24.5%
1968 44.4% 24.6%
1967 44.8% 24.7%
1966 44.9% 24.7%
1965 44.8% 24.8%
1964 44.9% 24.8%
1963 45.2% 25%
1962 45.3% 25.2%
1961 45.2% 25.6%
1960 45.1% 25.9%

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/lesotho/norway | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 16.2% in Norway in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 18.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Norway compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Norway

Lesotho
Norway
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Lesotho Norway
2023 478 1
2022 477 3
2021 577 2
2020 529 2
2019 467 2
2018 491 2
2017 468 2
2016 518 2
2015 594 2
2014 707 2
2013 855 3
2012 1,000 3
2011 1,210 4
2010 1,311 4
2009 1,387 4
2008 1,205 5
2007 891 5
2006 696 5
2005 549 6
2004 499 6
2003 508 5
2002 484 5
2001 465 5
2000 413 5
1999 371 5
1998 332 5
1997 312 5
1996 319 6
1995 357 6
1994 423 7
1993 542 7
1992 601 8
1991 641 8
1990 665 9
1989 680 9
1988 680 9
1987 686 9
1986 680 9
1985 711 9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | CC BY

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 1 deaths in Norway.

Under-five mortality rates

Lesotho
Norway

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Lesotho Norway
2023 5.89% 0.24%
2022 6.15% 0.23%
2021 6.44% 0.23%
2020 6.68% 0.24%
2019 6.87% 0.24%
2018 6.91% 0.25%
2017 7.12% 0.25%
2016 7.18% 0.26%
2015 7.51% 0.27%
2014 7.82% 0.28%
2013 8.02% 0.29%
2012 8.26% 0.3%
2011 8.59% 0.31%
2010 9.01% 0.33%
2009 9.64% 0.34%
2008 10.9% 0.36%
2007 11.2% 0.37%
2006 11.5% 0.39%
2005 11.6% 0.41%
2004 11.5% 0.42%
2003 11.4% 0.44%
2002 11.2% 0.46%
2001 11.1% 0.47%
2000 10.9% 0.49%
1999 10.7% 0.5%
1998 10.5% 0.51%
1997 10.2% 0.52%
1996 9.83% 0.54%
1995 9.45% 0.57%
1994 9.07% 0.61%
1993 8.73% 0.66%
1992 8.51% 0.72%
1991 8.43% 0.79%
1990 8.47% 0.87%
1989 8.6% 0.93%
1988 8.8% 0.98%
1987 9.06% 1.01%
1986 9.36% 1.02%
1985 9.72% 1.02%
1984 10.1% 1.01%
1983 10.6% 1%
1982 11.1% 0.99%
1981 11.7% 0.99%
1980 12.3% 1.01%
1979 12.9% 1.04%
1978 13.6% 1.09%
1977 14.2% 1.15%
1976 14.9% 1.22%
1975 15.5% 1.29%
1974 16% 1.36%
1973 16.5% 1.43%
1972 16.9% 1.5%
1971 17.3% 1.56%
1970 17.7% 1.62%
1969 18% 1.69%
1968 18.3% 1.75%
1967 18.5% 1.82%
1966 18.6% 1.9%
1965 18.7% 1.97%
1964 18.6% 2.04%
1963 18.6% 2.1%
1962 18.5% 2.15%
1961 18.5% 2.21%
1960 18.6% 2.26%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/norway | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 0.24% in Norway. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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