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Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Taiwan

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 5.76 for Taiwan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.69 in Lesotho and 0.89 in Taiwan — 67.1% difference.

1981 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 52.7% in Lesotho and by 64.8% in Taiwan — in 1981, it was 5.69 and 2.46, respectively.

  • Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate compared to 193/196 for Taiwan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8 in Lesotho — it's 32.3 in Taiwan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 70.6 in Lesotho vs 3 in Taiwan.
  • In Lesotho, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.9% in Taiwan.

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Taiwan by year

Lesotho
Taiwan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Taiwan
2024 - 0.89
2023 2.69 0.87
2022 2.72 0.87
2021 2.77 0.98
2020 2.85 0.99
2019 2.92 1.05
2018 3.02 1.06
2017 3.11 1.13
2016 3.18 1.17
2015 3.22 1.18
2014 3.24 -
2013 3.28 -
2012 3.3 -
2011 3.34 1.07
2010 3.25 -
2009 3.31 -
2008 3.39 -
2007 3.44 -
2006 3.41 -
2005 3.43 -
2004 3.51 -
2003 3.62 -
2002 3.68 -
2001 3.63 1.4
2000 3.61 -
1999 3.67 -
1998 3.82 -
1997 3.98 -
1996 4.06 -
1995 4.13 -
1994 4.21 -
1993 4.37 -
1992 4.54 -
1991 4.68 1.72
1990 4.81 -
1989 4.96 -
1988 5.1 -
1987 5.22 -
1986 5.32 -
1985 5.4 -
1984 5.48 -
1983 5.56 -
1982 5.63 -
1981 5.69 2.46
1980 5.75 -
1979 5.79 -
1978 5.82 -
1977 5.85 -
1976 5.87 -
1975 5.83 -
1974 5.75 -
1973 5.69 -
1972 5.69 -
1971 5.7 -
1970 5.7 -
1969 5.7 -
1968 5.73 -
1967 5.75 -
1966 5.76 -
1965 5.77 -
1964 5.77 -
1963 5.78 -
1962 5.79 -
1961 5.79 -
1960 5.78 -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/taiwan | 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 0.89 in Taiwan in 2024. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Lesotho
Taiwan
1x
Year Natural population change
Lesotho Taiwan
2024 - -67,188
2023 31,115 -69,794
2022 30,803 -68,327
2021 27,806 -30,039
2020 30,721 -7,782
2019 32,279 1,416
2018 33,112 8,725
2017 33,601 22,613
2016 33,390 35,980
2015 32,087 49,741
2014 30,922 -
2013 29,789 -
2012 27,592 -
2011 25,647 43,836
2010 21,877 -
2009 20,335 -
2008 19,349 -
2007 17,763 -
2006 15,234 -
2005 15,831 -
2004 17,271 -
2003 20,133 -
2002 22,274 -
2001 23,190 132,707
2000 24,786 -
1999 27,393 -
1998 30,889 -
1997 34,637 -
1996 36,228 -
1995 37,370 -
1994 38,629 -
1993 40,505 -
1992 42,579 -
1991 44,026 215,698
1990 45,060 -
1989 46,264 -
1988 47,158 -
1987 47,718 -
1986 45,232 -
1985 44,575 -
1984 43,785 -
1983 42,899 -
1982 41,941 -
1981 40,808 326,883
1980 39,617 -
1979 38,440 -
1978 37,084 -
1977 35,654 -
1976 34,117 -
1975 32,311 -
1974 30,444 -
1973 28,859 -
1972 27,841 -
1971 26,838 -
1970 25,935 -
1969 25,137 -
1968 24,490 -
1967 23,911 -
1966 23,326 346,958
1965 22,755 -
1964 22,116 -
1963 21,585 -
1962 21,132 -
1961 20,581 -
1960 19,981 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/taiwan | 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 -0.29% in Taiwan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and -0.05% in Taiwan.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs Taiwan by year

Lesotho
Taiwan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Lesotho Taiwan
2024 - 5.76
2023 24.1 5.81
2022 24.4 5.96
2021 24.9 6.55
2020 25.6 7.01
2019 26.4 7.53
2018 27.4 7.7
2017 28.2 8.23
2016 28.9 8.86
2015 29.2 9.1
2014 29.5 -
2013 30 -
2012 30 -
2011 30.2 8.48
2010 29.2 -
2009 29.4 -
2008 29.6 -
2007 29.5 -
2006 28.6 -
2005 28.6 -
2004 28.7 -
2003 29.3 -
2002 29.4 -
2001 28.7 11.7
2000 28.2 -
1999 28.5 -
1998 29.2 -
1997 30.2 -
1996 30.4 -
1995 30.6 -
1994 31 -
1993 32 -
1992 33.2 -
1991 34.2 15.7
1990 35.1 -
1989 36.3 -
1988 37.4 -
1987 38.3 -
1986 37.5 -
1985 37.9 -
1984 38.4 -
1983 38.9 -
1982 39.5 -
1981 39.9 23
1980 40.4 -
1979 40.8 -
1978 41 -
1977 41.1 -
1976 41 -
1975 40.6 -
1974 40.2 -
1973 39.9 -
1972 40.2 -
1971 40.5 -
1970 40.8 -
1969 41.3 -
1968 41.9 -
1967 42.5 -
1966 43 32.4
1965 43.3 -
1964 43.5 -
1963 43.7 -
1962 44.1 -
1961 44.3 -
1960 44.6 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 5.81 in Taiwan, compared with 43 and 32.4, respectively, in 1966.

Birth rate data compared

Lesotho Taiwan
Fertility rate 2.69 0.89
Fertility rate rank 68/196 195/196
Birth rate 24.1 5.76
Birth rate rank 56/196 193/196
Population change due to births and deaths +31,115 -67,188
Natural population change rank 103/196 186/196
Natural population change rate +1.35% -0.29%
Population growth +1.12% -0.34%
Population growth rank 93/197 180/197
Age at first childbirth 20.9 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 27.8 years 32.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 69.3 2.85
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 133.8 26.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 37.3 10.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.8% 22.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.3% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.6% n/a
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.48% 0.01%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.87% 0.28%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.54% 0.45%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 5.89% n/a
Life expectancy 58.6 years 81.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Taiwan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Lesotho Taiwan
2100 18% 9.81%
2099 18.1% 9.82%
2098 18.2% 9.83%
2097 18.3% 9.82%
2096 18.3% 9.8%
2095 18.4% 9.78%
2094 18.5% 9.74%
2093 18.6% 9.69%
2092 18.7% 9.63%
2091 18.9% 9.57%
2090 19% 9.49%
2089 19.1% 9.41%
2088 19.2% 9.32%
2087 19.3% 9.23%
2086 19.4% 9.13%
2085 19.6% 9.04%
2084 19.7% 8.94%
2083 19.8% 8.84%
2082 19.9% 8.74%
2081 20% 8.64%
2080 20.2% 8.55%
2079 20.3% 8.46%
2078 20.4% 8.39%
2077 20.5% 8.32%
2076 20.6% 8.26%
2075 20.7% 8.22%
2074 20.9% 8.19%
2073 21% 8.18%
2072 21.1% 8.18%
2071 21.3% 8.2%
2070 21.4% 8.23%
2069 21.5% 8.26%
2068 21.7% 8.31%
2067 21.9% 8.37%
2066 22% 8.42%
2065 22.2% 8.48%
2064 22.4% 8.53%
2063 22.6% 8.57%
2062 22.8% 8.61%
2061 23% 8.63%
2060 23.3% 8.64%
2059 23.5% 8.64%
2058 23.7% 8.62%
2057 24% 8.6%
2056 24.2% 8.55%
2055 24.5% 8.51%
2054 24.7% 8.45%
2053 25% 8.39%
2052 25.3% 8.33%
2051 25.5% 8.27%
2050 25.8% 8.22%
2049 26.1% 8.16%
2048 26.3% 8.12%
2047 26.5% 8.08%
2046 26.8% 8.04%
2045 27% 8.02%
2044 27.3% 8%
2043 27.5% 7.99%
2042 27.7% 7.99%
2041 28% 8%
2040 28.2% 8.01%
2039 28.4% 8.04%
2038 28.7% 8.09%
2037 28.9% 8.14%
2036 29.2% 8.25%
2035 29.5% 8.43%
2034 29.9% 8.66%
2033 30.3% 8.92%
2032 30.8% 9.2%
2031 31.3% 9.58%
2030 31.8% 10%
2029 32.3% 10.4%
2028 32.8% 10.7%
2027 33.4% 11.1%
2026 33.9% 11.4%
2025 34.3% 11.6%
2024 34.5% 11.7%
2023 34.9% 11.9%
2022 35.3% 12.1%
2021 35.6% 12.4%
2020 35.8% 12.6%
2019 36.1% 12.8%
2018 36.3% 12.9%
2017 36.5% 13.1%
2016 36.6% 13.3%
2015 36.6% 13.6%
2014 36.6% 14%
2013 36.5% 14.3%
2012 36.5% 14.6%
2011 36.5% 15.1%
2010 36.5% 15.6%
2009 36.6% 16.3%
2008 36.7% 17%
2007 36.8% 17.6%
2006 37.1% 18.1%
2005 37.4% 18.7%
2004 37.7% 19.3%
2003 38.1% 19.8%
2002 38.6% 20.4%
2001 39.1% 20.8%
2000 39.6% 21.1%
1999 40.2% 21.4%
1998 40.7% 22%
1997 41.2% 22.6%
1996 41.7% 23.1%
1995 42% 23.8%
1994 42.3% 24.4%
1993 42.6% 25.1%
1992 42.8% 25.8%
1991 42.9% 26.3%
1990 42.9% 27.1%
1989 42.8% 27.5%
1988 42.7% 28%
1987 42.5% 28.4%
1986 42.7% 29%
1985 43% 29.6%
1984 42.8% 30.2%
1983 42.7% 30.8%
1982 42.5% 31.2%
1981 42.3% 31.6%
1980 42.1% 32.1%
1979 41.9% 32.7%
1978 41.7% 33.3%
1977 41.5% 34%
1976 41.4% 34.7%
1975 41.6% 35.4%
1974 41.9% 36.2%
1973 42.3% -
1972 42.7% -
1971 43.1% -
1970 43.6% -
1969 44% -
1968 44.4% -
1967 44.8% -
1966 44.9% -
1965 44.8% -
1964 44.9% -
1963 45.2% -
1962 45.3% -
1961 45.2% -
1960 45.1% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

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

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 11.7% in Taiwan in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 27.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Taiwan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1981–2023, retrieved 2026-02-09).

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

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Taiwan

Lesotho
Taiwan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Lesotho Taiwan
2024 - 14
2023 478 14
2022 477 14
2021 577 14
2020 529 13
2019 467 15.4
2018 491 11.6
2017 468 11.6
2016 518 11.6
2015 594 11.3
2014 707 8.5
2013 855 8.5
2012 1,000 8.5
2011 1,210 7.8
2010 1,311 7.8
2009 1,387 7.8
2008 1,205 7.8
2007 891 7.8
2006 696 7.8
2005 549 7.8
2004 499 7.8
2003 508 7.8
2002 484 7.8
2001 465 7.8
2000 413 7.8
1999 371 8.4
1998 332 8.9
1997 312 9.2
1996 319 7.7
1995 357 7.7
1994 423 8
1993 542 9.2
1992 601 6.8
1991 641 8.1
1990 665 12.2
1989 680 12.7
1988 680 9
1987 686 8.9
1986 680 9.4
1985 711 -

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1986–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/taiwan | 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 14 deaths in Taiwan.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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