Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2023	2.69	3.72
2022	2.72	3.77
2021	2.77	3.77
2020	2.85	3.75
2019	2.92	3.75
2018	3.02	3.74
2017	3.11	3.77
2016	3.18	3.83
2015	3.22	3.91
2014	3.24	4.01
2013	3.28	4.11
2012	3.3	4.13
2011	3.34	4.13
2010	3.25	4.04
2009	3.31	3.95
2008	3.39	3.78
2007	3.44	3.68
2006	3.41	3.64
2005	3.43	3.69
2004	3.51	3.78
2003	3.62	3.86
2002	3.68	3.93
2001	3.63	3.98
2000	3.61	4.01
1999	3.67	4.06
1998	3.82	4.07
1997	3.98	4.08
1996	4.06	4.11
1995	4.13	4.15
1994	4.21	4.28
1993	4.37	4.39
1992	4.54	4.57
1991	4.68	4.72
1990	4.81	4.88
1989	4.96	5.07
1988	5.1	5.28
1987	5.22	5.5
1986	5.32	5.69
1985	5.4	5.87
1984	5.48	6.04
1983	5.56	6.2
1982	5.63	6.33
1981	5.69	6.45
1980	5.75	6.52
1979	5.79	6.59
1978	5.82	6.66
1977	5.85	6.71
1976	5.87	6.77
1975	5.83	6.83
1974	5.75	6.88
1973	5.69	6.94
1972	5.69	6.94
1971	5.7	6.94
1970	5.7	6.98
1969	5.7	7.04
1968	5.73	7.11
1967	5.75	7.16
1966	5.76	7.2
1965	5.77	7.23
1964	5.77	7.23
1963	5.78	7.23
1962	5.79	7.23
1961	5.79	7.21
1960	5.78	7.2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2023	31,115	372,505
2022	30,803	371,243
2021	27,806	349,908
2020	30,721	354,790
2019	32,279	348,798
2018	33,112	345,883
2017	33,601	344,035
2016	33,390	348,772
2015	32,087	356,203
2014	30,922	366,350
2013	29,789	374,757
2012	27,592	371,135
2011	25,647	359,572
2010	21,877	335,570
2009	20,335	309,316
2008	19,349	280,527
2007	17,763	261,805
2006	15,234	248,963
2005	15,831	248,545
2004	17,271	248,307
2003	20,133	243,057
2002	22,274	244,170
2001	23,190	227,909
2000	24,786	236,343
1999	27,393	232,393
1998	30,889	225,614
1997	34,637	216,288
1996	36,228	205,269
1995	37,370	206,695
1994	38,629	216,343
1993	40,505	228,045
1992	42,579	255,291
1991	44,026	260,943
1990	45,060	265,444
1989	46,264	270,838
1988	47,158	277,498
1987	47,718	286,766
1986	45,232	289,894
1985	44,575	290,756
1984	43,785	290,052
1983	42,899	286,545
1982	41,941	279,934
1981	40,808	271,361
1980	39,617	241,179
1979	38,440	223,657
1978	37,084	222,979
1977	35,654	225,139
1976	34,117	221,419
1975	32,311	216,947
1974	30,444	208,806
1973	28,859	201,885
1972	27,841	193,725
1971	26,838	185,427
1970	25,935	178,979
1969	25,137	172,626
1968	24,490	166,865
1967	23,911	161,205
1966	23,326	156,014
1965	22,755	151,164
1964	22,116	145,848
1963	21,585	140,984
1962	21,132	136,317
1961	20,581	131,531
1960	19,981	126,959

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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2023	24.1	30.4
2022	24.4	30.9
2021	24.9	30.9
2020	25.6	31
2019	26.4	31.1
2018	27.4	31.3
2017	28.2	31.8
2016	28.9	32.7
2015	29.2	33.9
2014	29.5	35.4
2013	30	37
2012	30	37.8
2011	30.2	38.1
2010	29.2	37.9
2009	29.4	37.5
2008	29.6	36.4
2007	29.5	35.7
2006	28.6	35.2
2005	28.6	35.8
2004	28.7	36.3
2003	29.3	36.6
2002	29.4	36.5
2001	28.7	36.5
2000	28.2	36.1
1999	28.5	35.6
1998	29.2	34.5
1997	30.2	33.4
1996	30.4	32.4
1995	30.6	31.7
1994	31	32
1993	32	32.4
1992	33.2	34.3
1991	34.2	34.9
1990	35.1	35.5
1989	36.3	36.4
1988	37.4	37.7
1987	38.3	39.5
1986	37.5	40.9
1985	37.9	42.3
1984	38.4	43.7
1983	38.9	45
1982	39.5	45.7
1981	39.9	46.3
1980	40.4	44.8
1979	40.8	46.3
1978	41	46.8
1977	41.1	46.5
1976	41	46.5
1975	40.6	46.6
1974	40.2	46.4
1973	39.9	46.4
1972	40.2	46
1971	40.5	45.6
1970	40.8	45.5
1969	41.3	45.5
1968	41.9	45.7
1967	42.5	45.8
1966	43	46.1
1965	43.3	46.4
1964	43.5	46.6
1963	43.7	46.8
1962	44.1	47.1
1961	44.3	47.3
1960	44.6	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 44.6 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2100	18%	20.3%
2099	18.1%	20.5%
2098	18.2%	20.6%
2097	18.3%	20.8%
2096	18.3%	20.9%
2095	18.4%	21.1%
2094	18.5%	21.3%
2093	18.6%	21.4%
2092	18.7%	21.6%
2091	18.9%	21.8%
2090	19%	22%
2089	19.1%	22.2%
2088	19.2%	22.4%
2087	19.3%	22.6%
2086	19.4%	22.8%
2085	19.6%	23%
2084	19.7%	23.2%
2083	19.8%	23.4%
2082	19.9%	23.6%
2081	20%	23.8%
2080	20.2%	24%
2079	20.3%	24.2%
2078	20.4%	24.4%
2077	20.5%	24.6%
2076	20.6%	24.9%
2075	20.7%	25.1%
2074	20.9%	25.3%
2073	21%	25.5%
2072	21.1%	25.7%
2071	21.3%	25.9%
2070	21.4%	26.2%
2069	21.5%	26.4%
2068	21.7%	26.6%
2067	21.9%	26.8%
2066	22%	27.1%
2065	22.2%	27.3%
2064	22.4%	27.6%
2063	22.6%	27.8%
2062	22.8%	28.1%
2061	23%	28.4%
2060	23.3%	28.7%
2059	23.5%	29%
2058	23.7%	29.3%
2057	24%	29.6%
2056	24.2%	30%
2055	24.5%	30.3%
2054	24.7%	30.6%
2053	25%	31%
2052	25.3%	31.3%
2051	25.5%	31.7%
2050	25.8%	32%
2049	26.1%	32.4%
2048	26.3%	32.7%
2047	26.5%	33.1%
2046	26.8%	33.4%
2045	27%	33.7%
2044	27.3%	34%
2043	27.5%	34.2%
2042	27.7%	34.5%
2041	28%	34.7%
2040	28.2%	34.9%
2039	28.4%	35.2%
2038	28.7%	35.4%
2037	28.9%	35.7%
2036	29.2%	35.9%
2035	29.5%	36.2%
2034	29.9%	36.4%
2033	30.3%	36.6%
2032	30.8%	36.9%
2031	31.3%	37.2%
2030	31.8%	37.6%
2029	32.3%	38.1%
2028	32.8%	38.7%
2027	33.4%	39.3%
2026	33.9%	40%
2025	34.3%	40.6%
2024	34.5%	40.9%
2023	34.9%	41.3%
2022	35.3%	41.6%
2021	35.6%	41.9%
2020	35.8%	42.2%
2019	36.1%	42.5%
2018	36.3%	42.9%
2017	36.5%	43.3%
2016	36.6%	43.6%
2015	36.6%	43.8%
2014	36.6%	43.9%
2013	36.5%	43.9%
2012	36.5%	43.7%
2011	36.5%	43.4%
2010	36.5%	43%
2009	36.6%	42.7%
2008	36.7%	42.4%
2007	36.8%	42.1%
2006	37.1%	42%
2005	37.4%	41.9%
2004	37.7%	41.7%
2003	38.1%	41.5%
2002	38.6%	41.4%
2001	39.1%	41.5%
2000	39.6%	41.9%
1999	40.2%	42.4%
1998	40.7%	43.1%
1997	41.2%	44%
1996	41.7%	45%
1995	42%	45.9%
1994	42.3%	46.6%
1993	42.6%	47.1%
1992	42.8%	46.8%
1991	42.9%	46.6%
1990	42.9%	47.1%
1989	42.8%	47.6%
1988	42.7%	47.9%
1987	42.5%	47.9%
1986	42.7%	47.9%
1985	43%	48%
1984	42.8%	48.1%
1983	42.7%	48.2%
1982	42.5%	48.3%
1981	42.3%	48.4%
1980	42.1%	48.7%
1979	41.9%	48.8%
1978	41.7%	48.5%
1977	41.5%	48.3%
1976	41.4%	48.2%
1975	41.6%	48.1%
1974	41.9%	48.1%
1973	42.3%	48.1%
1972	42.7%	48.2%
1971	43.1%	48.2%
1970	43.6%	48.3%
1969	44%	48.4%
1968	44.4%	48.5%
1967	44.8%	48.5%
1966	44.9%	48.6%
1965	44.8%	48.7%
1964	44.9%	48.8%
1963	45.2%	48.5%
1962	45.3%	48.1%
1961	45.2%	47.7%
1960	45.1%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2023	478	358
2022	477	368
2021	577	446
2020	529	380
2019	467	388
2018	491	386
2017	468	389
2016	518	411
2015	594	428
2014	707	468
2013	855	525
2012	1,000	558
2011	1,210	564
2010	1,311	567
2009	1,387	540
2008	1,205	526
2007	891	519
2006	696	480
2005	549	454
2004	499	451
2003	508	455
2002	484	418
2001	465	467
2000	413	405
1999	371	399
1998	332	368
1997	312	357
1996	319	352
1995	357	332
1994	423	332
1993	542	331
1992	601	333
1991	641	332
1990	665	353
1989	680	382
1988	680	431
1987	686	480
1986	680	525
1985	711	573

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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	Zimbabwe
2023	5.89%	4.42%
2022	6.15%	4.6%
2021	6.44%	4.76%
2020	6.68%	5.01%
2019	6.87%	5.11%
2018	6.91%	5.23%
2017	7.12%	5.5%
2016	7.18%	5.69%
2015	7.51%	5.98%
2014	7.82%	6.18%
2013	8.02%	6.55%
2012	8.26%	7.14%
2011	8.59%	7.88%
2010	9.01%	8.5%
2009	9.64%	9.03%
2008	10.9%	9.34%
2007	11.2%	9.47%
2006	11.5%	9.4%
2005	11.6%	9.23%
2004	11.5%	9.17%
2003	11.4%	8.85%
2002	11.2%	8.48%
2001	11.1%	9.79%
2000	10.9%	9.83%
1999	10.7%	9.92%
1998	10.5%	10%
1997	10.2%	10.1%
1996	9.83%	10%
1995	9.45%	9.83%
1994	9.07%	9.52%
1993	8.73%	9.16%
1992	8.51%	8.73%
1991	8.43%	8.33%
1990	8.47%	7.97%
1989	8.6%	7.69%
1988	8.8%	7.55%
1987	9.06%	7.61%
1986	9.36%	7.86%
1985	9.72%	8.31%
1984	10.1%	8.87%
1983	10.6%	9.5%
1982	11.1%	10.1%
1981	11.7%	10.7%
1980	12.3%	11.1%
1979	12.9%	11.3%
1978	13.6%	11.5%
1977	14.2%	11.5%
1976	14.9%	11.5%
1975	15.5%	11.4%
1974	16%	11.4%
1973	16.5%	11.4%
1972	16.9%	11.5%
1971	17.3%	11.5%
1970	17.7%	11.7%
1969	18%	11.8%
1968	18.3%	12.1%
1967	18.5%	12.4%
1966	18.6%	12.7%
1965	18.7%	13.1%
1964	18.6%	13.5%
1963	18.6%	14%
1962	18.5%	14.4%
1961	18.5%	14.8%
1960	18.6%	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.