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Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Senegal

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 29.4 for Senegal. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.69 in Lesotho and 3.82 in Senegal — 41.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -53.4% in Lesotho and by -45.4% in Senegal — in 1960, it was 5.78 and 7, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate compared to 34/196 for Senegal.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.9 years in Lesotho, compared to 21.9 years in Senegal.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.9 in Lesotho — it's 29.9 in Senegal.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 70.6 in Lesotho vs 60.2 in Senegal.
  • In Lesotho, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Senegal.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.35% in Lesotho and +2.38% in Senegal.

Birth rate data compared

Lesotho Senegal
Fertility rate 2.69 3.82
Birth rate 24.1 29.4
Birth rate rank 56/196 34/196
Age at first childbirth 20.9 years 21.9 years
Average age at childbearing 27.9 years 29.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 69.1 58.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 134.4 165.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 38.1 65.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.8% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.3% 25.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.6% 74.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.48% 0.24%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.87% 2.23%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.54% 3.02%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 5.89% 3.85%
Population change due to births and deaths +31,115 +431,006
Natural population change rank 103/196 39/196
Natural population change rate +1.35% +2.38%
Population growth +1.12% +2.35%
Population growth rank 96/197 37/197
Life expectancy 58.2 years 69.2 years

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Senegal 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 3.82 in Senegal in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Senegal
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Senegal
1960 5.78 7
1961 5.79 7.04
1962 5.79 7.08
1963 5.78 7.12
1964 5.77 7.16
1965 5.77 7.19
1966 5.76 7.22
1967 5.75 7.24
1968 5.73 7.25
1969 5.7 7.26
1970 5.7 7.26
1971 5.7 7.26
1972 5.69 7.26
1973 5.69 7.26
1974 5.75 7.25
1975 5.83 7.25
1976 5.87 7.26
1977 5.85 7.27
1978 5.82 7.28
1979 5.79 7.29
1980 5.75 7.29
1981 5.69 7.28
1982 5.63 7.25
1983 5.56 7.19
1984 5.48 7.11
1985 5.4 7.01
1986 5.32 6.9
1987 5.22 6.79
1988 5.1 6.58
1989 4.96 6.48
1990 4.81 6.4
1991 4.68 6.27
1992 4.54 6.15
1993 4.37 6.05
1994 4.21 5.92
1995 4.13 5.82
1996 4.06 5.72
1997 3.98 5.64
1998 3.82 5.58
1999 3.67 5.57
2000 3.61 5.5
2001 3.63 5.4
2002 3.68 5.3
2003 3.62 5.25
2004 3.51 5.19
2005 3.43 5.13
2006 3.41 5.06
2007 3.44 5.02
2008 3.39 5.02
2009 3.31 5.03
2010 3.25 5.06
2011 3.34 5.1
2012 3.3 5.13
2013 3.28 5.05
2014 3.24 4.88
2015 3.22 4.75
2016 3.18 4.65
2017 3.11 4.49
2018 3.02 4.29
2019 2.92 4.1
2020 2.85 4
2021 2.77 3.94
2022 2.72 3.86
2023 2.69 3.82
2024 2.66 3.76
2025 2.64 3.71
2026 2.61 3.66
2027 2.58 3.61
2028 2.55 3.57
2029 2.53 3.53
2030 2.5 3.49
2031 2.47 3.44
2032 2.45 3.4
2033 2.43 3.35
2034 2.41 3.32
2035 2.38 3.28
2036 2.37 3.24
2037 2.34 3.22
2038 2.32 3.17
2039 2.3 3.15
2040 2.29 3.11
2041 2.27 3.08
2042 2.25 3.05
2043 2.24 3.02
2044 2.22 2.99
2045 2.21 2.96
2046 2.19 2.93
2047 2.18 2.9
2048 2.17 2.87
2049 2.16 2.85
2050 2.14 2.82

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Lesotho Senegal
1960 45.1% 44.2%
1961 45.2% 44.3%
1962 45.3% 44.3%
1963 45.2% 44.3%
1964 44.9% 44.3%
1965 44.8% 44.3%
1966 44.9% 44.3%
1967 44.8% 44.3%
1968 44.4% 44.2%
1969 44% 44.2%
1970 43.6% 44.2%
1971 43.1% 44.2%
1972 42.7% 44.2%
1973 42.3% 44.3%
1974 41.9% 44.4%
1975 41.6% 44.6%
1976 41.4% 44.8%
1977 41.5% 45.2%
1978 41.7% 45.6%
1979 41.9% 46%
1980 42.1% 46.4%
1981 42.3% 46.7%
1982 42.5% 46.9%
1983 42.7% 47.1%
1984 42.8% 47.2%
1985 43% 47.3%
1986 42.7% 47.3%
1987 42.5% 47.2%
1988 42.7% 47%
1989 42.8% 46.9%
1990 42.9% 46.6%
1991 42.9% 46.4%
1992 42.8% 46.1%
1993 42.6% 45.8%
1994 42.3% 45.4%
1995 42% 45.1%
1996 41.7% 44.9%
1997 41.2% 44.6%
1998 40.7% 44.4%
1999 40.2% 44.2%
2000 39.6% 43.9%
2001 39.1% 43.7%
2002 38.6% 43.5%
2003 38.1% 43.2%
2004 37.7% 43.1%
2005 37.4% 42.9%
2006 37.1% 42.8%
2007 36.8% 42.7%
2008 36.7% 42.7%
2009 36.6% 42.7%
2010 36.5% 42.7%
2011 36.5% 42.7%
2012 36.5% 42.7%
2013 36.5% 42.7%
2014 36.6% 42.6%
2015 36.6% 42.4%
2016 36.6% 42.1%
2017 36.5% 41.8%
2018 36.3% 41.3%
2019 36.1% 40.9%
2020 35.8% 40.3%
2021 35.6% 39.8%
2022 35.3% 39.2%
2023 34.9% 38.6%
2024 34.5% 38.2%
2025 34.1% 37.7%
2026 33.6% 37.3%
2027 33.1% 36.9%
2028 32.6% 36.6%
2029 32% 36.2%
2030 31.5% 35.9%
2031 31% 35.6%
2032 30.5% 35.4%
2033 30.1% 35.1%
2034 29.7% 34.9%
2035 29.3% 34.6%
2036 29% 34.4%
2037 28.8% 34.1%
2038 28.5% 33.9%
2039 28.3% 33.5%
2040 28.1% 33.2%
2041 27.8% 32.9%
2042 27.6% 32.6%
2043 27.4% 32.2%
2044 27.1% 31.9%
2045 26.9% 31.5%
2046 26.7% 31.2%
2047 26.4% 30.8%
2048 26.2% 30.5%
2049 25.9% 30.2%
2050 25.7% 29.8%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 38.2% in Senegal in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Senegal compared.

Natural population change in Lesotho vs Senegal by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +2.55% in Senegal. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Lesotho
Senegal

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Lesotho Senegal
1960 19,981 84,735
1961 20,581 87,322
1962 21,132 89,937
1963 21,585 92,264
1964 22,116 94,797
1965 22,755 97,912
1966 23,326 101,359
1967 23,911 104,824
1968 24,490 108,240
1969 25,137 112,393
1970 25,935 117,264
1971 26,838 122,511
1972 27,841 128,024
1973 28,859 133,834
1974 30,444 139,974
1975 32,311 147,311
1976 34,117 154,776
1977 35,654 161,636
1978 37,084 167,744
1979 38,440 173,425
1980 39,617 179,707
1981 40,808 185,917
1982 41,941 191,309
1983 42,899 197,673
1984 43,785 203,125
1985 44,575 208,218
1986 45,232 212,887
1987 47,718 218,522
1988 47,158 221,772
1989 46,264 227,797
1990 45,060 234,155
1991 44,026 237,713
1992 42,579 241,482
1993 40,505 245,742
1994 38,629 249,115
1995 37,370 252,552
1996 36,228 255,418
1997 34,637 261,200
1998 30,889 267,404
1999 27,393 277,944
2000 24,786 283,946
2001 23,190 289,690
2002 22,274 298,842
2003 20,133 308,856
2004 17,271 317,286
2005 15,831 323,908
2006 15,234 331,364
2007 17,763 339,963
2008 19,349 351,661
2009 20,335 362,238
2010 21,877 372,934
2011 25,647 387,290
2012 27,592 402,243
2013 29,789 406,582
2014 30,922 405,019
2015 32,087 407,008
2016 33,390 411,480
2017 33,601 410,366
2018 33,112 405,454
2019 32,279 399,436
2020 30,721 400,910
2021 27,806 403,019
2022 30,803 415,507
2023 31,115 431,006

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Senegal

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 237 deaths in Senegal.

Lesotho
Senegal
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Lesotho Senegal
1985 711 899
1986 680 820
1987 686 760
1988 680 709
1989 680 662
1990 665 640
1991 641 616
1992 601 598
1993 542 589
1994 423 579
1995 357 586
1996 319 601
1997 312 599
1998 332 605
1999 371 602
2000 413 581
2001 465 560
2002 484 531
2003 508 520
2004 499 501
2005 549 488
2006 696 462
2007 891 457
2008 1,205 463
2009 1,387 441
2010 1,311 436
2011 1,210 415
2012 1,000 405
2013 855 385
2014 707 373
2015 594 357
2016 518 345
2017 468 325
2018 491 305
2019 467 286
2020 529 252
2021 577 263
2022 477 228
2023 478 237

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 3.85% in Senegal. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Lesotho
Senegal

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 Senegal
1960 18.6% 29.3%
1961 18.5% 29.4%
1962 18.5% 29.5%
1963 18.6% 29.6%
1964 18.6% 29.7%
1965 18.7% 29.7%
1966 18.6% 29.7%
1967 18.5% 29.6%
1968 18.3% 29.4%
1969 18% 29.2%
1970 17.7% 28.8%
1971 17.3% 28.4%
1972 16.9% 27.8%
1973 16.5% 27%
1974 16% 26.2%
1975 15.5% 25.3%
1976 14.9% 24.2%
1977 14.2% 23.1%
1978 13.6% 22.1%
1979 12.9% 21.2%
1980 12.3% 20.4%
1981 11.7% 19.7%
1982 11.1% 19.1%
1983 10.6% 18.5%
1984 10.1% 17.9%
1985 9.72% 17.1%
1986 9.36% 16.3%
1987 9.06% 15.4%
1988 8.8% 14.7%
1989 8.6% 14.1%
1990 8.47% 13.7%
1991 8.43% 13.6%
1992 8.51% 13.5%
1993 8.73% 13.6%
1994 9.07% 13.7%
1995 9.45% 13.8%
1996 9.83% 13.8%
1997 10.2% 13.9%
1998 10.5% 13.7%
1999 10.7% 13.4%
2000 10.9% 12.9%
2001 11.1% 12.2%
2002 11.2% 11.4%
2003 11.4% 10.5%
2004 11.5% 9.59%
2005 11.6% 8.8%
2006 11.5% 8.11%
2007 11.2% 7.52%
2008 10.9% 7.03%
2009 9.64% 6.63%
2010 9.01% 6.3%
2011 8.59% 6.01%
2012 8.26% 5.77%
2013 8.02% 5.57%
2014 7.82% 5.39%
2015 7.51% 5.24%
2016 7.18% 5.11%
2017 7.12% 4.97%
2018 6.91% 4.82%
2019 6.87% 4.65%
2020 6.68% 4.46%
2021 6.44% 4.25%
2022 6.15% 4.04%
2023 5.89% 3.85%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Lesotho vs Senegal
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