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Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Tanzania

Updated on by Georank team

Lesotho has an annual birth rate of 24.1 births per 1,000 people, compared to 35.2 for Tanzania. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.69 in Lesotho and 4.61 in Tanzania — 71% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 53.4% in Lesotho and by 29.5% in Tanzania — in 1960, it was 5.78 and 6.54, respectively.

  • Lesotho is ranked 56/196 by birth rate compared to 10/196 for Tanzania.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.9 years in Lesotho, compared to 19.9 years in Tanzania.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.8 in Lesotho — it's 28.9 in Tanzania.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 70.6 in Lesotho vs 113.2 in Tanzania.
  • In Lesotho, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.2% in Tanzania.

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Tanzania by year

Lesotho
Tanzania
1x
Year Fertility rate
Lesotho Tanzania
2023 2.69 4.61
2022 2.72 4.67
2021 2.77 4.73
2020 2.85 4.8
2019 2.92 4.87
2018 3.02 4.93
2017 3.11 4.99
2016 3.18 5.01
2015 3.22 5.03
2014 3.24 5.12
2013 3.28 5.16
2012 3.3 5.14
2011 3.34 5.14
2010 3.25 5.23
2009 3.31 5.26
2008 3.39 5.32
2007 3.44 5.4
2006 3.41 5.51
2005 3.43 5.58
2004 3.51 5.6
2003 3.62 5.58
2002 3.68 5.57
2001 3.63 5.62
2000 3.61 5.67
1999 3.67 5.75
1998 3.82 5.81
1997 3.98 5.84
1996 4.06 5.83
1995 4.13 5.82
1994 4.21 5.89
1993 4.37 6
1992 4.54 6.08
1991 4.68 6.14
1990 4.81 6.2
1989 4.96 6.3
1988 5.1 6.38
1987 5.22 6.41
1986 5.32 6.49
1985 5.4 6.6
1984 5.48 6.72
1983 5.56 6.81
1982 5.63 6.87
1981 5.69 6.93
1980 5.75 6.99
1979 5.79 7.04
1978 5.82 7.06
1977 5.85 7.07
1976 5.87 7.09
1975 5.83 7.1
1974 5.75 7.12
1973 5.69 7.06
1972 5.69 7.05
1971 5.7 7.04
1970 5.7 7
1969 5.7 6.95
1968 5.73 6.9
1967 5.75 6.86
1966 5.76 6.8
1965 5.77 6.73
1964 5.77 6.68
1963 5.78 6.65
1962 5.79 6.61
1961 5.79 6.56
1960 5.78 6.54

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/tanzania | 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 4.61 in Tanzania in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Lesotho
Tanzania
1x
Year Natural population change
Lesotho Tanzania
2023 31,115 1,960,623
2022 30,803 1,927,960
2021 27,806 1,880,137
2020 30,721 1,861,377
2019 32,279 1,816,669
2018 33,112 1,777,852
2017 33,601 1,726,909
2016 33,390 1,659,502
2015 32,087 1,592,882
2014 30,922 1,565,630
2013 29,789 1,509,008
2012 27,592 1,439,325
2011 25,647 1,384,886
2010 21,877 1,363,477
2009 20,335 1,332,015
2008 19,349 1,303,728
2007 17,763 1,278,285
2006 15,234 1,257,927
2005 15,831 1,224,165
2004 17,271 1,175,379
2003 20,133 1,118,435
2002 22,274 1,063,195
2001 23,190 1,026,242
2000 24,786 985,185
1999 27,393 948,659
1998 30,889 920,806
1997 34,637 882,544
1996 36,228 868,524
1995 37,370 838,980
1994 38,629 803,953
1993 40,505 778,044
1992 42,579 767,961
1991 44,026 762,011
1990 45,060 750,825
1989 46,264 743,854
1988 47,158 736,551
1987 47,718 718,580
1986 45,232 705,677
1985 44,575 697,867
1984 43,785 687,435
1983 42,899 679,720
1982 41,941 662,627
1981 40,808 645,496
1980 39,617 629,444
1979 38,440 613,388
1978 37,084 595,024
1977 35,654 574,938
1976 34,117 553,617
1975 32,311 533,906
1974 30,444 515,152
1973 28,859 488,429
1972 27,841 467,305
1971 26,838 449,014
1970 25,935 427,988
1969 25,137 408,322
1968 24,490 389,467
1967 23,911 374,763
1966 23,326 360,229
1965 22,755 343,456
1964 22,116 328,527
1963 21,585 314,644
1962 21,132 300,663
1961 20,581 286,839
1960 19,981 275,814

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/tanzania | 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 +2.94% in Tanzania.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +3.05% in Tanzania.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs Tanzania by year

Lesotho
Tanzania

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Lesotho Tanzania
2023 24.1 35.2
2022 24.4 35.6
2021 24.9 36
2020 25.6 36.4
2019 26.4 36.9
2018 27.4 37.3
2017 28.2 37.6
2016 28.9 37.6
2015 29.2 37.6
2014 29.5 38.4
2013 30 38.4
2012 30 38.1
2011 30.2 38.1
2010 29.2 38.8
2009 29.4 39.2
2008 29.6 39.6
2007 29.5 40.2
2006 28.6 41
2005 28.6 41.5
2004 28.7 41.5
2003 29.3 41.3
2002 29.4 41.2
2001 28.7 41.4
2000 28.2 41.5
1999 28.5 41.8
1998 29.2 42.1
1997 30.2 42.1
1996 30.4 42.3
1995 30.6 41.9
1994 31 41.5
1993 32 41.7
1992 33.2 42.3
1991 34.2 42.7
1990 35.1 43
1989 36.3 43.5
1988 37.4 44
1987 38.3 44.3
1986 37.5 44.9
1985 37.9 45.7
1984 38.4 46.4
1983 38.9 47.1
1982 39.5 47.5
1981 39.9 47.9
1980 40.4 48.3
1979 40.8 48.8
1978 41 49.2
1977 41.1 49.5
1976 41 49.8
1975 40.6 50.2
1974 40.2 50.6
1973 39.9 50.3
1972 40.2 50.4
1971 40.5 50.6
1970 40.8 50.4
1969 41.3 50.3
1968 41.9 50.2
1967 42.5 50.3
1966 43 50.2
1965 43.3 49.9
1964 43.5 49.8
1963 43.7 49.7
1962 44.1 49.4
1961 44.3 49.1
1960 44.6 49

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 35.2 in Tanzania, compared with 44.6 and 49, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Lesotho Tanzania
Fertility rate 2.69 4.61
Fertility rate rank 68/196 12/196
Birth rate 24.1 35.2
Birth rate rank 56/196 10/196
Population change due to births and deaths +31,115 +1,960,623
Natural population change rank 103/196 8/196
Natural population change rate +1.35% +2.94%
Population growth +1.12% +2.92%
Population growth rank 93/197 18/197
Age at first childbirth 20.9 years 19.9 years
Average age at childbearing 27.8 years 28.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 69.3 111.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 133.8 199.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 37.3 71.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.8% 24.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.3% 31.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.6% 63.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.48% 0.28%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.87% 2.06%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.54% 2.99%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 5.89% 3.89%
Life expectancy 58.6 years 67.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Lesotho
Factual

UN forecast
Tanzania
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Lesotho Tanzania
2100 18% 23.4%
2099 18.1% 23.6%
2098 18.2% 23.8%
2097 18.3% 23.9%
2096 18.3% 24.1%
2095 18.4% 24.3%
2094 18.5% 24.5%
2093 18.6% 24.7%
2092 18.7% 24.8%
2091 18.9% 25%
2090 19% 25.2%
2089 19.1% 25.4%
2088 19.2% 25.6%
2087 19.3% 25.8%
2086 19.4% 26%
2085 19.6% 26.2%
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% 27.5%
2078 20.4% 27.7%
2077 20.5% 28%
2076 20.6% 28.2%
2075 20.7% 28.4%
2074 20.9% 28.7%
2073 21% 28.9%
2072 21.1% 29.1%
2071 21.3% 29.4%
2070 21.4% 29.6%
2069 21.5% 29.8%
2068 21.7% 30.1%
2067 21.9% 30.3%
2066 22% 30.6%
2065 22.2% 30.8%
2064 22.4% 31.1%
2063 22.6% 31.3%
2062 22.8% 31.6%
2061 23% 31.9%
2060 23.3% 32.1%
2059 23.5% 32.4%
2058 23.7% 32.7%
2057 24% 32.9%
2056 24.2% 33.2%
2055 24.5% 33.5%
2054 24.7% 33.8%
2053 25% 34.1%
2052 25.3% 34.3%
2051 25.5% 34.6%
2050 25.8% 34.9%
2049 26.1% 35.2%
2048 26.3% 35.5%
2047 26.5% 35.8%
2046 26.8% 36.1%
2045 27% 36.4%
2044 27.3% 36.7%
2043 27.5% 37%
2042 27.7% 37.3%
2041 28% 37.6%
2040 28.2% 37.9%
2039 28.4% 38.3%
2038 28.7% 38.6%
2037 28.9% 39%
2036 29.2% 39.3%
2035 29.5% 39.6%
2034 29.9% 40%
2033 30.3% 40.3%
2032 30.8% 40.7%
2031 31.3% 41%
2030 31.8% 41.3%
2029 32.3% 41.6%
2028 32.8% 41.8%
2027 33.4% 42.1%
2026 33.9% 42.2%
2025 34.3% 42.4%
2024 34.5% 42.5%
2023 34.9% 42.7%
2022 35.3% 42.9%
2021 35.6% 43.1%
2020 35.8% 43.4%
2019 36.1% 43.6%
2018 36.3% 43.8%
2017 36.5% 44%
2016 36.6% 44.2%
2015 36.6% 44.5%
2014 36.6% 44.8%
2013 36.5% 44.9%
2012 36.5% 45.1%
2011 36.5% 45.2%
2010 36.5% 45.3%
2009 36.6% 45.3%
2008 36.7% 45.1%
2007 36.8% 45%
2006 37.1% 44.9%
2005 37.4% 44.8%
2004 37.7% 44.7%
2003 38.1% 44.6%
2002 38.6% 44.6%
2001 39.1% 44.5%
2000 39.6% 44.6%
1999 40.2% 44.7%
1998 40.7% 44.7%
1997 41.2% 44.8%
1996 41.7% 44.7%
1995 42% 44.5%
1994 42.3% 44.9%
1993 42.6% 45.5%
1992 42.8% 46%
1991 42.9% 46.2%
1990 42.9% 46.3%
1989 42.8% 46.5%
1988 42.7% 46.7%
1987 42.5% 46.9%
1986 42.7% 47.2%
1985 43% 47.4%
1984 42.8% 47.5%
1983 42.7% 47.6%
1982 42.5% 47.5%
1981 42.3% 47.4%
1980 42.1% 47.2%
1979 41.9% 46.9%
1978 41.7% 46.7%
1977 41.5% 46.6%
1976 41.4% 46.5%
1975 41.6% 46.4%
1974 41.9% 46.3%
1973 42.3% 46.2%
1972 42.7% 46.1%
1971 43.1% 46.1%
1970 43.6% 46%
1969 44% 45.9%
1968 44.4% 45.8%
1967 44.8% 45.6%
1966 44.9% 45.4%
1965 44.8% 45.2%
1964 44.9% 45%
1963 45.2% 44.8%
1962 45.3% 44.8%
1961 45.2% 44.8%
1960 45.1% 44.9%

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/tanzania | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 42.5% in Tanzania in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 46.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Tanzania compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Tanzania

Lesotho
Tanzania
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Lesotho Tanzania
2023 478 276
2022 477 152
2021 577 162
2020 529 160
2019 467 292
2018 491 319
2017 468 345
2016 518 396
2015 594 433
2014 707 454
2013 855 479
2012 1,000 448
2011 1,210 475
2010 1,311 486
2009 1,387 502
2008 1,205 511
2007 891 453
2006 696 366
2005 549 350
2004 499 365
2003 508 397
2002 484 454
2001 465 493
2000 413 568
1999 371 635
1998 332 739
1997 312 777
1996 319 775
1995 357 797
1994 423 816
1993 542 851
1992 601 864
1991 641 873
1990 665 900
1989 680 927
1988 680 949
1987 686 964
1986 680 971
1985 711 980

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/lesotho/tanzania | 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 276 deaths in Tanzania.

Under-five mortality rates

Lesotho
Tanzania

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Lesotho Tanzania
2023 5.89% 3.89%
2022 6.15% 4.05%
2021 6.44% 4.22%
2020 6.68% 4.42%
2019 6.87% 4.6%
2018 6.91% 4.8%
2017 7.12% 5.02%
2016 7.18% 5.25%
2015 7.51% 5.48%
2014 7.82% 5.67%
2013 8.02% 5.95%
2012 8.26% 6.21%
2011 8.59% 6.5%
2010 9.01% 6.86%
2009 9.64% 7.24%
2008 10.9% 7.7%
2007 11.2% 8.16%
2006 11.5% 8.69%
2005 11.6% 9.24%
2004 11.5% 9.86%
2003 11.4% 10.5%
2002 11.2% 11.3%
2001 11.1% 12.1%
2000 10.9% 12.8%
1999 10.7% 13.6%
1998 10.5% 14.2%
1997 10.2% 14.8%
1996 9.83% 15.2%
1995 9.45% 15.6%
1994 9.07% 15.9%
1993 8.73% 16.1%
1992 8.51% 16.3%
1991 8.43% 16.5%
1990 8.47% 16.7%
1989 8.6% 16.9%
1988 8.8% 17.2%
1987 9.06% 17.4%
1986 9.36% 17.6%
1985 9.72% 17.7%
1984 10.1% 17.8%
1983 10.6% 17.8%
1982 11.1% 17.8%
1981 11.7% 17.8%
1980 12.3% 17.9%
1979 12.9% 18.1%
1978 13.6% 18.4%
1977 14.2% 18.8%
1976 14.9% 19.2%
1975 15.5% 19.6%
1974 16% 20.1%
1973 16.5% 20.5%
1972 16.9% 20.9%
1971 17.3% 21.2%
1970 17.7% 21.6%
1969 18% 21.9%
1968 18.3% 22.2%
1967 18.5% 22.5%
1966 18.6% 22.8%
1965 18.7% 23.1%
1964 18.6% 23.4%
1963 18.6% 23.6%
1962 18.5% 23.8%
1961 18.5% 24%
1960 18.6% 24.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 3.89% in Tanzania. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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