Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Somalia

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Somalia by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Somalia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	Somalia
2023	2.69	6.13
2022	2.72	6.26
2021	2.77	6.35
2020	2.85	6.45
2019	2.92	6.56
2018	3.02	6.66
2017	3.11	6.77
2016	3.18	6.88
2015	3.22	6.98
2014	3.24	7.06
2013	3.28	7.14
2012	3.3	7.21
2011	3.34	7.27
2010	3.25	7.32
2009	3.31	7.38
2008	3.39	7.42
2007	3.44	7.46
2006	3.41	7.49
2005	3.43	7.53
2004	3.51	7.57
2003	3.62	7.6
2002	3.68	7.63
2001	3.63	7.64
2000	3.61	7.65
1999	3.67	7.66
1998	3.82	7.66
1997	3.98	7.66
1996	4.06	7.62
1995	4.13	7.58
1994	4.21	7.54
1993	4.37	7.53
1992	4.54	7.5
1991	4.68	7.47
1990	4.81	7.44
1989	4.96	7.42
1988	5.1	7.4
1987	5.22	7.37
1986	5.32	7.35
1985	5.4	7.33
1984	5.48	7.3
1983	5.56	7.28
1982	5.63	7.25
1981	5.69	7.23
1980	5.75	7.18
1979	5.79	7.16
1978	5.82	7.13
1977	5.85	7
1976	5.87	7.02
1975	5.83	7.03
1974	5.75	7.06
1973	5.69	7.09
1972	5.69	7.12
1971	5.7	7.15
1970	5.7	7.18
1969	5.7	7.21
1968	5.73	7.23
1967	5.75	7.25
1966	5.76	7.26
1965	5.77	7.26
1964	5.77	7.26
1963	5.78	7.26
1962	5.79	7.26
1961	5.79	7.25
1960	5.78	7.25

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 children per woman in 2023, compared to 6.13 in Somalia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Somalia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	Somalia
2023	31,115	608,203
2022	30,803	551,450
2021	27,806	566,399
2020	30,721	561,311
2019	32,279	548,756
2018	33,112	514,244
2017	33,601	478,556
2016	33,390	495,132
2015	32,087	481,573
2014	30,922	464,481
2013	29,789	448,518
2012	27,592	399,468
2011	25,647	203,213
2010	21,877	385,571
2009	20,335	405,784
2008	19,349	394,258
2007	17,763	380,303
2006	15,234	372,597
2005	15,831	363,117
2004	17,271	351,959
2003	20,133	341,192
2002	22,274	331,215
2001	23,190	319,059
2000	24,786	306,651
1999	27,393	295,523
1998	30,889	284,779
1997	34,637	271,894
1996	36,228	264,807
1995	37,370	254,509
1994	38,629	246,950
1993	40,505	232,960
1992	42,579	57,495
1991	44,026	53,052
1990	45,060	225,162
1989	46,264	225,255
1988	47,158	215,599
1987	47,718	231,580
1986	45,232	218,416
1985	44,575	207,960
1984	43,785	199,017
1983	42,899	190,775
1982	41,941	182,793
1981	40,808	185,211
1980	39,617	174,790
1979	38,440	151,016
1978	37,084	132,689
1977	35,654	124,818
1976	34,117	113,319
1975	32,311	108,998
1974	30,444	104,813
1973	28,859	108,038
1972	27,841	104,493
1971	26,838	101,196
1970	25,935	98,025
1969	25,137	95,045
1968	24,490	92,208
1967	23,911	89,497
1966	23,326	86,930
1965	22,755	84,448
1964	22,116	82,042
1963	21,585	79,859
1962	21,132	77,737
1961	20,581	75,513
1960	19,981	73,850

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 +3.31% in Somalia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +3.34% in Somalia.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs Somalia by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Somalia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	Somalia
2023	24.1	43
2022	24.4	43.8
2021	24.9	44.1
2020	25.6	44.5
2019	26.4	45.1
2018	27.4	45.7
2017	28.2	46.2
2016	28.9	46.6
2015	29.2	47.2
2014	29.5	47.5
2013	30	47.7
2012	30	48.2
2011	30.2	48.6
2010	29.2	48.1
2009	29.4	48.4
2008	29.6	48.8
2007	29.5	48.9
2006	28.6	49.4
2005	28.6	49.6
2004	28.7	49.9
2003	29.3	50.1
2002	29.4	50.4
2001	28.7	50.4
2000	28.2	50.4
1999	28.5	50.7
1998	29.2	50.7
1997	30.2	50.8
1996	30.4	51
1995	30.6	50.6
1994	31	51.1
1993	32	50.1
1992	33.2	51.5
1991	34.2	51.9
1990	35.1	50.3
1989	36.3	50.4
1988	37.4	50.8
1987	38.3	49.3
1986	37.5	48.9
1985	37.9	48.7
1984	38.4	48.5
1983	38.9	48.5
1982	39.5	48.3
1981	39.9	49.5
1980	40.4	47.4
1979	40.8	44.9
1978	41	45.2
1977	41.1	46.2
1976	41	46
1975	40.6	45.9
1974	40.2	45.7
1973	39.9	45.6
1972	40.2	45.6
1971	40.5	45.5
1970	40.8	45.5
1969	41.3	45.6
1968	41.9	45.6
1967	42.5	45.7
1966	43	45.8
1965	43.3	45.9
1964	43.5	46
1963	43.7	46.2
1962	44.1	46.3
1961	44.3	46.5
1960	44.6	46.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 43 in Somalia, compared with 44.6 and 46.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

Somalia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	Somalia
2100	18%	23.1%
2099	18.1%	23.3%
2098	18.2%	23.4%
2097	18.3%	23.6%
2096	18.3%	23.8%
2095	18.4%	24%
2094	18.5%	24.2%
2093	18.6%	24.4%
2092	18.7%	24.6%
2091	18.9%	24.8%
2090	19%	25%
2089	19.1%	25.2%
2088	19.2%	25.5%
2087	19.3%	25.7%
2086	19.4%	25.9%
2085	19.6%	26.1%
2084	19.7%	26.4%
2083	19.8%	26.6%
2082	19.9%	26.8%
2081	20%	27.1%
2080	20.2%	27.3%
2079	20.3%	27.6%
2078	20.4%	27.9%
2077	20.5%	28.1%
2076	20.6%	28.4%
2075	20.7%	28.7%
2074	20.9%	29%
2073	21%	29.3%
2072	21.1%	29.6%
2071	21.3%	29.9%
2070	21.4%	30.2%
2069	21.5%	30.6%
2068	21.7%	30.9%
2067	21.9%	31.2%
2066	22%	31.5%
2065	22.2%	31.9%
2064	22.4%	32.2%
2063	22.6%	32.5%
2062	22.8%	32.9%
2061	23%	33.2%
2060	23.3%	33.6%
2059	23.5%	33.9%
2058	23.7%	34.2%
2057	24%	34.6%
2056	24.2%	34.9%
2055	24.5%	35.3%
2054	24.7%	35.7%
2053	25%	36.1%
2052	25.3%	36.4%
2051	25.5%	36.8%
2050	25.8%	37.2%
2049	26.1%	37.6%
2048	26.3%	38%
2047	26.5%	38.4%
2046	26.8%	38.8%
2045	27%	39.2%
2044	27.3%	39.7%
2043	27.5%	40.1%
2042	27.7%	40.5%
2041	28%	41%
2040	28.2%	41.5%
2039	28.4%	41.9%
2038	28.7%	42.4%
2037	28.9%	42.8%
2036	29.2%	43.3%
2035	29.5%	43.7%
2034	29.9%	44.1%
2033	30.3%	44.5%
2032	30.8%	44.9%
2031	31.3%	45.2%
2030	31.8%	45.6%
2029	32.3%	46%
2028	32.8%	46.2%
2027	33.4%	46.5%
2026	33.9%	46.6%
2025	34.3%	46.6%
2024	34.5%	46.6%
2023	34.9%	46.7%
2022	35.3%	46.8%
2021	35.6%	47%
2020	35.8%	47%
2019	36.1%	47.1%
2018	36.3%	47.3%
2017	36.5%	47.4%
2016	36.6%	47.5%
2015	36.6%	47.6%
2014	36.6%	47.7%
2013	36.5%	47.8%
2012	36.5%	47.9%
2011	36.5%	48.3%
2010	36.5%	48.7%
2009	36.6%	48.8%
2008	36.7%	48.9%
2007	36.8%	48.9%
2006	37.1%	48.6%
2005	37.4%	48.2%
2004	37.7%	47.9%
2003	38.1%	47.7%
2002	38.6%	47.6%
2001	39.1%	47.5%
2000	39.6%	47.4%
1999	40.2%	47.2%
1998	40.7%	47.1%
1997	41.2%	47%
1996	41.7%	46.9%
1995	42%	46.7%
1994	42.3%	46.5%
1993	42.6%	46.4%
1992	42.8%	46.5%
1991	42.9%	47%
1990	42.9%	47%
1989	42.8%	46.7%
1988	42.7%	46.3%
1987	42.5%	46%
1986	42.7%	45.8%
1985	43%	45.6%
1984	42.8%	45.4%
1983	42.7%	45.2%
1982	42.5%	45%
1981	42.3%	44.8%
1980	42.1%	44.6%
1979	41.9%	44.5%
1978	41.7%	44.4%
1977	41.5%	44.3%
1976	41.4%	44.3%
1975	41.6%	44.3%
1974	41.9%	44.4%
1973	42.3%	44.4%
1972	42.7%	44.4%
1971	43.1%	44.5%
1970	43.6%	44.5%
1969	44%	44.6%
1968	44.4%	44.7%
1967	44.8%	44.8%
1966	44.9%	44.9%
1965	44.8%	45.1%
1964	44.9%	45.1%
1963	45.2%	45%
1962	45.3%	44.8%
1961	45.2%	44.7%
1960	45.1%	44.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 46.6% in Somalia in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 47% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Somalia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Somalia

Chart Table

Lesotho

Somalia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	Somalia
2023	478	563
2022	477	622
2021	577	726
2020	529	655
2019	467	656
2018	491	727
2017	468	716
2016	518	754
2015	594	784
2014	707	816
2013	855	855
2012	1,000	894
2011	1,210	972
2010	1,311	1,062
2009	1,387	995
2008	1,205	1,035
2007	891	1,074
2006	696	1,085
2005	549	1,086
2004	499	1,104
2003	508	1,111
2002	484	1,121
2001	465	1,129
2000	413	1,150
1999	371	1,170
1998	332	1,177
1997	312	1,206
1996	319	1,225
1995	357	1,210
1994	423	1,254
1993	542	1,195
1992	601	1,339
1991	641	1,431
1990	665	1,358
1989	680	1,395
1988	680	1,423
1987	686	1,393
1986	680	1,452
1985	711	1,465

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 563 deaths in Somalia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

Somalia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	Somalia
2023	5.89%	10.4%
2022	6.15%	14.3%
2021	6.44%	11.1%
2020	6.68%	11.4%
2019	6.87%	11.8%
2018	6.91%	13.6%
2017	7.12%	15.5%
2016	7.18%	13%
2015	7.51%	13.4%
2014	7.82%	13.8%
2013	8.02%	14.3%
2012	8.26%	18.4%
2011	8.59%	35.9%
2010	9.01%	18.6%
2009	9.64%	16.2%
2008	10.9%	16.6%
2007	11.2%	17%
2006	11.5%	17.2%
2005	11.6%	17.2%
2004	11.5%	17.2%
2003	11.4%	17.2%
2002	11.2%	17.2%
2001	11.1%	17.2%
2000	10.9%	17.2%
1999	10.7%	17.2%
1998	10.5%	17.2%
1997	10.2%	17.2%
1996	9.83%	17.2%
1995	9.45%	17.2%
1994	9.07%	17.2%
1993	8.73%	17.3%
1992	8.51%	45.6%
1991	8.43%	44.3%
1990	8.47%	18%
1989	8.6%	18.3%
1988	8.8%	18.6%
1987	9.06%	18.8%
1986	9.36%	19%
1985	9.72%	19.3%
1984	10.1%	19.5%
1983	10.6%	19.8%
1982	11.1%	20.1%
1981	11.7%	-
1980	12.3%	-
1979	12.9%	-
1978	13.6%	-
1977	14.2%	-
1976	14.9%	-
1975	15.5%	-
1974	16%	-
1973	16.5%	-
1972	16.9%	-
1971	17.3%	-
1970	17.7%	-
1969	18%	-
1968	18.3%	-
1967	18.5%	-
1966	18.6%	-
1965	18.7%	-
1964	18.6%	-
1963	18.6%	-
1962	18.5%	-
1961	18.5%	-
1960	18.6%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 10.4% in Somalia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.