Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and United States

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs United States by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	United States
2023	2.69	1.62
2022	2.72	1.66
2021	2.77	1.66
2020	2.85	1.64
2019	2.92	1.71
2018	3.02	1.73
2017	3.11	1.77
2016	3.18	1.82
2015	3.22	1.84
2014	3.24	1.86
2013	3.28	1.86
2012	3.3	1.88
2011	3.34	1.89
2010	3.25	1.93
2009	3.31	2
2008	3.39	2.07
2007	3.44	2.12
2006	3.41	2.11
2005	3.43	2.06
2004	3.51	2.05
2003	3.62	2.05
2002	3.68	2.02
2001	3.63	2.03
2000	3.61	2.06
1999	3.67	2.01
1998	3.82	2
1997	3.98	1.97
1996	4.06	1.98
1995	4.13	1.98
1994	4.21	2
1993	4.37	2.02
1992	4.54	2.05
1991	4.68	2.06
1990	4.81	2.08
1989	4.96	2.01
1988	5.1	1.93
1987	5.22	1.87
1986	5.32	1.84
1985	5.4	1.84
1984	5.48	1.81
1983	5.56	1.8
1982	5.63	1.83
1981	5.69	1.81
1980	5.75	1.84
1979	5.79	1.81
1978	5.82	1.76
1977	5.85	1.79
1976	5.87	1.74
1975	5.83	1.77
1974	5.75	1.84
1973	5.69	1.88
1972	5.69	2.01
1971	5.7	2.27
1970	5.7	2.48
1969	5.7	2.46
1968	5.73	2.46
1967	5.75	2.56
1966	5.76	2.72
1965	5.77	2.91
1964	5.77	3.19
1963	5.78	3.32
1962	5.79	3.46
1961	5.79	3.62
1960	5.78	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	United States
2023	31,115	502,372
2022	30,803	399,926
2021	27,806	199,137
2020	30,721	208,862
2019	32,279	887,476
2018	33,112	955,022
2017	33,601	1,028,037
2016	33,390	1,197,627
2015	32,087	1,270,126
2014	30,922	1,357,281
2013	29,789	1,322,711
2012	27,592	1,411,822
2011	25,647	1,441,697
2010	21,877	1,548,182
2009	20,335	1,717,920
2008	19,349	1,794,154
2007	17,763	1,897,757
2006	15,234	1,849,955
2005	15,831	1,684,445
2004	17,271	1,698,271
2003	20,133	1,653,615
2002	22,274	1,581,938
2001	23,190	1,595,826
2000	24,786	1,664,758
1999	27,393	1,564,050
1998	30,889	1,573,857
1997	34,637	1,501,014
1996	36,228	1,510,137
1995	37,370	1,546,031
1994	38,629	1,633,302
1993	40,505	1,717,685
1992	42,579	1,875,328
1991	44,026	1,926,543
1990	45,060	2,026,068
1989	46,264	1,875,826
1988	47,158	1,735,943
1987	47,718	1,720,252
1986	45,232	1,656,917
1985	44,575	1,689,258
1984	43,785	1,627,192
1983	42,899	1,636,544
1982	41,941	1,714,317
1981	40,808	1,652,153
1980	39,617	1,608,450
1979	38,440	1,597,894
1978	37,084	1,402,283
1977	35,654	1,431,556
1976	34,117	1,264,604
1975	32,311	1,252,644
1974	30,444	1,218,968
1973	28,859	1,165,499
1972	27,841	1,301,355
1971	26,838	1,640,519
1970	25,935	1,824,965
1969	25,137	1,702,487
1968	24,490	1,565,507
1967	23,911	1,669,181
1966	23,326	1,749,387
1965	22,755	1,943,030
1964	22,116	2,245,099
1963	21,585	2,289,826
1962	21,132	2,406,337
1961	20,581	2,571,681
1960	19,981	2,565,530

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 the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs United States by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	United States
2023	24.1	10.7
2022	24.4	11
2021	24.9	11
2020	25.6	10.9
2019	26.4	11.4
2018	27.4	11.6
2017	28.2	11.8
2016	28.9	12.2
2015	29.2	12.4
2014	29.5	12.5
2013	30	12.4
2012	30	12.6
2011	30.2	12.7
2010	29.2	13
2009	29.4	13.5
2008	29.6	14
2007	29.5	14.3
2006	28.6	14.3
2005	28.6	14
2004	28.7	14
2003	29.3	14.1
2002	29.4	14
2001	28.7	14.1
2000	28.2	14.4
1999	28.5	14.2
1998	29.2	14.3
1997	30.2	14.2
1996	30.4	14.4
1995	30.6	14.6
1994	31	15
1993	32	15.4
1992	33.2	15.8
1991	34.2	16.2
1990	35.1	16.7
1989	36.3	16.4
1988	37.4	16
1987	38.3	15.7
1986	37.5	15.6
1985	37.9	15.8
1984	38.4	15.6
1983	38.9	15.6
1982	39.5	15.9
1981	39.9	15.8
1980	40.4	15.9
1979	40.8	15.6
1978	41	15
1977	41.1	15.1
1976	41	14.6
1975	40.6	14.6
1974	40.2	14.8
1973	39.9	14.8
1972	40.2	15.6
1971	40.5	17.2
1970	40.8	18.4
1969	41.3	17.9
1968	41.9	17.6
1967	42.5	17.8
1966	43	18.4
1965	43.3	19.4
1964	43.5	21.1
1963	43.7	21.7
1962	44.1	22.4
1961	44.3	23.3
1960	44.6	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 44.6 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	United States
2100	18%	14.4%
2099	18.1%	14.4%
2098	18.2%	14.4%
2097	18.3%	14.4%
2096	18.3%	14.4%
2095	18.4%	14.5%
2094	18.5%	14.5%
2093	18.6%	14.5%
2092	18.7%	14.5%
2091	18.9%	14.6%
2090	19%	14.6%
2089	19.1%	14.7%
2088	19.2%	14.7%
2087	19.3%	14.7%
2086	19.4%	14.8%
2085	19.6%	14.8%
2084	19.7%	14.8%
2083	19.8%	14.9%
2082	19.9%	14.9%
2081	20%	14.9%
2080	20.2%	14.9%
2079	20.3%	14.9%
2078	20.4%	14.9%
2077	20.5%	14.9%
2076	20.6%	14.9%
2075	20.7%	14.9%
2074	20.9%	14.9%
2073	21%	14.9%
2072	21.1%	14.9%
2071	21.3%	14.9%
2070	21.4%	14.9%
2069	21.5%	14.9%
2068	21.7%	14.9%
2067	21.9%	14.9%
2066	22%	14.9%
2065	22.2%	15%
2064	22.4%	15%
2063	22.6%	15%
2062	22.8%	15.1%
2061	23%	15.1%
2060	23.3%	15.2%
2059	23.5%	15.3%
2058	23.7%	15.4%
2057	24%	15.5%
2056	24.2%	15.5%
2055	24.5%	15.6%
2054	24.7%	15.7%
2053	25%	15.8%
2052	25.3%	15.8%
2051	25.5%	15.9%
2050	25.8%	15.9%
2049	26.1%	16%
2048	26.3%	16%
2047	26.5%	16%
2046	26.8%	16%
2045	27%	16%
2044	27.3%	16%
2043	27.5%	16%
2042	27.7%	16%
2041	28%	15.9%
2040	28.2%	15.9%
2039	28.4%	15.9%
2038	28.7%	15.9%
2037	28.9%	15.9%
2036	29.2%	15.9%
2035	29.5%	15.9%
2034	29.9%	15.9%
2033	30.3%	16%
2032	30.8%	16.1%
2031	31.3%	16.2%
2030	31.8%	16.3%
2029	32.3%	16.5%
2028	32.8%	16.6%
2027	33.4%	16.8%
2026	33.9%	17%
2025	34.3%	17.2%
2024	34.5%	17.3%
2023	34.9%	17.6%
2022	35.3%	17.9%
2021	35.6%	18.1%
2020	35.8%	18.4%
2019	36.1%	18.6%
2018	36.3%	18.8%
2017	36.5%	18.9%
2016	36.6%	19.1%
2015	36.6%	19.2%
2014	36.6%	19.3%
2013	36.5%	19.4%
2012	36.5%	19.5%
2011	36.5%	19.6%
2010	36.5%	19.7%
2009	36.6%	19.8%
2008	36.7%	19.9%
2007	36.8%	20%
2006	37.1%	20.2%
2005	37.4%	20.3%
2004	37.7%	20.5%
2003	38.1%	20.7%
2002	38.6%	20.9%
2001	39.1%	21%
2000	39.6%	21.2%
1999	40.2%	21.3%
1998	40.7%	21.4%
1997	41.2%	21.5%
1996	41.7%	21.7%
1995	42%	21.8%
1994	42.3%	21.9%
1993	42.6%	21.9%
1992	42.8%	21.8%
1991	42.9%	21.7%
1990	42.9%	21.6%
1989	42.8%	21.5%
1988	42.7%	21.3%
1987	42.5%	21.3%
1986	42.7%	21.3%
1985	43%	21.5%
1984	42.8%	21.7%
1983	42.7%	21.8%
1982	42.5%	22%
1981	42.3%	22.1%
1980	42.1%	22.4%
1979	41.9%	22.8%
1978	41.7%	23.2%
1977	41.5%	23.8%
1976	41.4%	24.4%
1975	41.6%	25.2%
1974	41.9%	25.9%
1973	42.3%	26.6%
1972	42.7%	27.4%
1971	43.1%	28%
1970	43.6%	28.6%
1969	44%	29%
1968	44.4%	29.5%
1967	44.8%	30%
1966	44.9%	30.4%
1965	44.8%	30.7%
1964	44.9%	30.9%
1963	45.2%	31.1%
1962	45.3%	31.3%
1961	45.2%	31.4%
1960	45.1%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs United States

Chart Table

Lesotho

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	United States
2023	478	17
2022	477	20
2021	577	31
2020	529	22
2019	467	18
2018	491	18
2017	468	18
2016	518	18
2015	594	17
2014	707	17
2013	855	16
2012	1,000	16
2011	1,210	15
2010	1,311	15
2009	1,387	15
2008	1,205	14
2007	891	13
2006	696	13
2005	549	13
2004	499	13
2003	508	13
2002	484	13
2001	465	13
2000	413	12
1999	371	12
1998	332	11
1997	312	11
1996	319	11
1995	357	12
1994	423	11
1993	542	12
1992	601	11
1991	641	12
1990	665	12
1989	680	12
1988	680	12
1987	686	11
1986	680	11
1985	711	11

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	United States
2023	5.89%	0.65%
2022	6.15%	0.65%
2021	6.44%	0.65%
2020	6.68%	0.65%
2019	6.87%	0.65%
2018	6.91%	0.65%
2017	7.12%	0.66%
2016	7.18%	0.67%
2015	7.51%	0.68%
2014	7.82%	0.68%
2013	8.02%	0.69%
2012	8.26%	0.7%
2011	8.59%	0.72%
2010	9.01%	0.73%
2009	9.64%	0.75%
2008	10.9%	0.76%
2007	11.2%	0.77%
2006	11.5%	0.79%
2005	11.6%	0.8%
2004	11.5%	0.81%
2003	11.4%	0.81%
2002	11.2%	0.82%
2001	11.1%	0.83%
2000	10.9%	0.84%
1999	10.7%	0.86%
1998	10.5%	0.87%
1997	10.2%	0.89%
1996	9.83%	0.92%
1995	9.45%	0.95%
1994	9.07%	0.98%
1993	8.73%	1.01%
1992	8.51%	1.05%
1991	8.43%	1.09%
1990	8.47%	1.12%
1989	8.6%	1.16%
1988	8.8%	1.19%
1987	9.06%	1.21%
1986	9.36%	1.24%
1985	9.72%	1.27%
1984	10.1%	1.3%
1983	10.6%	1.34%
1982	11.1%	1.39%
1981	11.7%	1.44%
1980	12.3%	1.5%
1979	12.9%	1.56%
1978	13.6%	1.63%
1977	14.2%	1.71%
1976	14.9%	1.79%
1975	15.5%	1.88%
1974	16%	1.97%
1973	16.5%	2.06%
1972	16.9%	2.15%
1971	17.3%	2.24%
1970	17.7%	2.32%
1969	18%	2.41%
1968	18.3%	2.49%
1967	18.5%	2.57%
1966	18.6%	2.64%
1965	18.7%	2.71%
1964	18.6%	2.77%
1963	18.6%	2.83%
1962	18.5%	2.89%
1961	18.5%	2.95%
1960	18.6%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.