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Fertility & birth rates in Liberia and South Sudan

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has an annual birth rate of 31 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.6 for South Sudan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.95 in Liberia and 3.86 in South Sudan — 2.18% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 38.2% in Liberia and by 46% in South Sudan — in 1960, it was 6.39 and 7.16, respectively.

  • Liberia is ranked 27/196 by birth rate compared to 36/196 for South Sudan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.2 in Liberia — it's 28.4 in South Sudan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 126 in Liberia vs 97.1 in South Sudan.
  • In Liberia, 24.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in South Sudan.

Fertility rate in Liberia vs South Sudan by year

Liberia
South Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Liberia South Sudan
2023 3.95 3.86
2022 4.02 3.96
2021 4.09 4.05
2020 4.17 4.16
2019 4.26 4.26
2018 4.34 4.37
2017 4.4 4.48
2016 4.46 4.58
2015 4.52 4.7
2014 4.62 4.82
2013 4.75 4.94
2012 4.88 5.06
2011 4.97 5.19
2010 5.06 5.32
2009 5.17 5.45
2008 5.33 5.57
2007 5.46 5.7
2006 5.53 5.85
2005 5.52 6.02
2004 5.51 6.19
2003 5.55 6.35
2002 5.65 6.52
2001 5.77 6.65
2000 5.88 6.8
1999 5.95 6.94
1998 6.02 7.08
1997 6.08 7.2
1996 6.13 7.32
1995 6.17 7.34
1994 6.21 7.35
1993 6.25 7.36
1992 6.28 7.37
1991 6.32 7.38
1990 6.37 7.38
1989 6.43 7.37
1988 6.51 7.38
1987 6.57 7.39
1986 6.64 7.38
1985 6.69 7.36
1984 6.73 7.35
1983 6.76 7.34
1982 6.79 7.34
1981 6.83 7.33
1980 6.87 7.33
1979 6.92 7.32
1978 6.88 7.33
1977 6.84 7.33
1976 6.79 7.33
1975 6.74 7.33
1974 6.69 7.31
1973 6.65 7.31
1972 6.6 7.31
1971 6.54 7.3
1970 6.58 7.29
1969 6.64 7.28
1968 6.66 7.26
1967 6.65 7.26
1966 6.63 7.25
1965 6.62 7.22
1964 6.59 7.22
1963 6.56 7.2
1962 6.5 7.2
1961 6.45 7.18
1960 6.39 7.16

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Liberia was 3.95 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Liberia vs South Sudan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Liberia
South Sudan
1x
Year Natural population change
Liberia South Sudan
2023 125,730 217,966
2022 123,747 211,166
2021 121,038 213,567
2020 120,632 212,332
2019 120,635 209,708
2018 120,231 168,497
2017 119,376 72,193
2016 118,852 110,553
2015 115,479 148,542
2014 116,667 227,611
2013 120,138 315,983
2012 121,973 312,974
2011 115,496 303,181
2010 114,249 287,409
2009 113,429 278,859
2008 112,032 268,268
2007 109,165 256,546
2006 104,099 246,706
2005 96,478 239,272
2004 91,755 231,877
2003 87,534 225,822
2002 88,643 212,014
2001 86,217 204,108
2000 83,143 196,055
1999 78,130 180,721
1998 72,146 -12,157
1997 61,444 121,454
1996 56,392 116,728
1995 53,407 110,417
1994 52,101 165,407
1993 51,609 32,779
1992 50,204 28,874
1991 47,426 87,873
1990 52,770 82,900
1989 63,238 83,735
1988 62,703 -125,447
1987 62,147 5,756
1986 61,924 99,502
1985 59,988 95,342
1984 59,460 90,970
1983 57,562 104,107
1982 56,127 118,641
1981 55,003 115,163
1980 53,452 112,307
1979 52,125 109,540
1978 49,813 107,352
1977 47,582 104,886
1976 45,528 102,346
1975 43,478 99,882
1974 41,499 97,181
1973 39,694 94,765
1972 37,860 74,803
1971 36,015 72,308
1970 35,196 44,776
1969 34,677 42,015
1968 33,536 44,213
1967 32,519 41,357
1966 31,454 38,523
1965 30,618 51,682
1964 29,592 64,786
1963 28,708 46,333
1962 27,679 47,406
1961 26,670 45,186
1960 25,713 42,945

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | 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 +2.29% in Liberia and +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.41% in Liberia and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Liberia vs South Sudan by year

Liberia
South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Liberia South Sudan
2023 31 28.6
2022 31.2 29.1
2021 31.5 29.7
2020 31.9 29.4
2019 32.4 29.4
2018 33 29.1
2017 33.4 32.8
2016 33.9 35.1
2015 34.3 35.4
2014 35.2 38.2
2013 36.2 38.3
2012 37.4 39.1
2011 36.9 39.8
2010 38 39.9
2009 38.8 41
2008 39.7 41.6
2007 40.4 42.3
2006 40.8 43.2
2005 40.6 44.3
2004 41.1 45.5
2003 42 46.8
2002 42 48
2001 42.6 48.9
2000 43.2 49.8
1999 43.3 50.7
1998 43.2 51.2
1997 41.7 51.6
1996 45 52.6
1995 44.2 52.7
1994 46.2 52.7
1993 45 52.7
1992 44.6 52.5
1991 44.6 52.4
1990 52.9 52.3
1989 45.8 53.1
1988 46.2 51.9
1987 46.7 50.6
1986 47.2 50.6
1985 47.6 50.7
1984 47.7 50.8
1983 47.7 51.1
1982 48 51.4
1981 48.4 51.7
1980 48.6 52
1979 48.9 52.3
1978 48.7 52.7
1977 48.5 53
1976 48.3 53.4
1975 48.1 53.7
1974 47.9 53.9
1973 47.8 54.3
1972 47.6 54.5
1971 47.4 54.6
1970 47.9 54.5
1969 48.6 54.3
1968 48.8 54
1967 49 53.7
1966 49.1 53.5
1965 49.3 53.1
1964 49.3 53
1963 49.2 52.7
1962 49 52.5
1961 48.7 52.3
1960 48.4 52

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31 in Liberia and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 48.4 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Liberia South Sudan
Fertility rate 3.95 3.86
Fertility rate rank 29/196 31/196
Birth rate 31 28.6
Birth rate rank 27/196 36/196
Population change due to births and deaths +125,730 +217,966
Natural population change rank 73/196 58/196
Natural population change rate +2.29% +1.9%
Population growth +2.18% +4.01%
Population growth rank 43/197 7/197
Age at first childbirth 19.1 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 28.2 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 123.2 95.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 163.9 173.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 53 43.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.7% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 23.9% 1.59%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 84.4% 39.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.63% 0.69%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.96% 4.02%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.26% 7.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.29% 9.87%
Life expectancy 62.6 years 58 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Liberia
Factual

UN forecast
South Sudan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Liberia South Sudan
2100 20.5% 20.1%
2099 20.6% 20.2%
2098 20.7% 20.3%
2097 20.8% 20.3%
2096 21% 20.4%
2095 21.1% 20.5%
2094 21.2% 20.6%
2093 21.4% 20.7%
2092 21.5% 20.9%
2091 21.6% 21%
2090 21.8% 21.1%
2089 21.9% 21.2%
2088 22.1% 21.3%
2087 22.3% 21.5%
2086 22.4% 21.6%
2085 22.6% 21.8%
2084 22.7% 21.9%
2083 22.9% 22.1%
2082 23% 22.3%
2081 23.2% 22.4%
2080 23.4% 22.6%
2079 23.5% 22.8%
2078 23.7% 23%
2077 23.9% 23.2%
2076 24.1% 23.3%
2075 24.2% 23.5%
2074 24.4% 23.7%
2073 24.6% 23.9%
2072 24.8% 24.1%
2071 25% 24.3%
2070 25.2% 24.5%
2069 25.4% 24.7%
2068 25.6% 25%
2067 25.8% 25.2%
2066 26% 25.4%
2065 26.2% 25.6%
2064 26.5% 25.8%
2063 26.7% 26%
2062 27% 26.3%
2061 27.2% 26.5%
2060 27.5% 26.7%
2059 27.8% 27%
2058 28.1% 27.2%
2057 28.4% 27.5%
2056 28.7% 27.8%
2055 29% 28.1%
2054 29.3% 28.5%
2053 29.6% 28.8%
2052 29.9% 29.2%
2051 30.2% 29.5%
2050 30.5% 29.9%
2049 30.8% 30.3%
2048 31.2% 30.8%
2047 31.5% 31.2%
2046 31.8% 31.6%
2045 32.1% 32%
2044 32.4% 32.4%
2043 32.7% 32.7%
2042 33.1% 33%
2041 33.4% 33.3%
2040 33.7% 33.6%
2039 34.1% 33.8%
2038 34.4% 33.9%
2037 34.7% 34.1%
2036 35% 34.2%
2035 35.4% 34.3%
2034 35.7% 34.4%
2033 36% 34.3%
2032 36.4% 34.4%
2031 36.7% 34.6%
2030 37.1% 34.8%
2029 37.4% 35.2%
2028 37.9% 35.8%
2027 38.4% 36.6%
2026 38.9% 37.5%
2025 39.3% 38.4%
2024 39.5% 38.9%
2023 40% 39.9%
2022 40.5% 40.9%
2021 41% 41.6%
2020 41.4% 42.4%
2019 41.7% 43.6%
2018 42% 44.9%
2017 42.1% 45%
2016 42.3% 43.7%
2015 42.4% 43.1%
2014 42.5% 42.5%
2013 42.5% 41.9%
2012 42.4% 41.9%
2011 42.7% 42.2%
2010 43.1% 42.8%
2009 43.1% 43.4%
2008 43.2% 43.8%
2007 43.2% 44.3%
2006 43.1% 44.8%
2005 43% 45.3%
2004 42.9% 45.8%
2003 42.9% 45.9%
2002 42.9% 45.7%
2001 43% 45.5%
2000 43% 45.5%
1999 43.1% 45.6%
1998 43.2% 45.8%
1997 43.3% 46%
1996 43.4% 46%
1995 43.6% 45.8%
1994 43.8% 45.8%
1993 43.9% 45.7%
1992 44.1% 45.6%
1991 44.2% 45.5%
1990 44.1% 45.4%
1989 44.1% 45.4%
1988 44.2% 46.2%
1987 44.3% 46.9%
1986 44.3% 46.7%
1985 44.2% 46.6%
1984 44.2% 46.5%
1983 44.2% 46.3%
1982 44.2% 46.2%
1981 44.1% 46%
1980 44% 45.8%
1979 43.9% 45.7%
1978 43.8% 45.5%
1977 43.7% 45.4%
1976 43.6% 45.3%
1975 43.5% 45.2%
1974 43.4% 45.1%
1973 43.3% 45%
1972 43.2% 44.8%
1971 43% 44.7%
1970 42.9% 44.5%
1969 42.8% 44.3%
1968 42.6% 44%
1967 42.4% 43.8%
1966 42.2% 43.5%
1965 42% 43.3%
1964 41.7% 43%
1963 41.4% 42.8%
1962 41.2% 42.6%
1961 41.1% 42.6%
1960 41.1% 42.5%

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/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 39.5% of the population in Liberia and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 44.1% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Liberia and South Sudan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Liberia vs South Sudan

Liberia
South Sudan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Liberia South Sudan
2023 628 692
2022 634 704
2021 667 749
2020 664 729
2019 689 745
2018 707 913
2017 703 1,662
2016 690 1,629
2015 784 1,436
2014 801 1,216
2013 725 771
2012 728 755
2011 726 770
2010 712 776
2009 674 823
2008 663 858
2007 659 933
2006 647 1,005
2005 619 1,074
2004 645 1,150
2003 759 1,199
2002 700 1,521
2001 720 1,580
2000 786 1,658
1999 852 2,048
1998 962 7,514
1997 1,043 4,172
1996 1,438 4,357
1995 1,530 4,430
1994 1,811 1,666
1993 1,709 7,537
1992 1,643 7,597
1991 1,627 4,764
1990 2,146 4,877
1989 1,633 5,103
1988 1,647 5,535
1987 1,655 8,045
1986 1,678 3,720
1985 1,749 3,845

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 628 deaths per 100,000 live births in Liberia, compared to 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Liberia
South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Liberia South Sudan
2023 7.29% 9.87%
2022 7.51% 9.87%
2021 7.74% 9.87%
2020 7.97% 9.87%
2019 8.19% 9.87%
2018 8.4% 13.2%
2017 8.6% 27.8%
2016 8.83% 26.4%
2015 9.08% 23.7%
2014 9.5% 18.2%
2013 9.54% 9.92%
2012 9.82% 10.1%
2011 10.1% 10.5%
2010 10.4% 10.9%
2009 10.8% 11.5%
2008 11.3% 12.1%
2007 11.8% 12.7%
2006 12.5% 13.4%
2005 13.3% 14.1%
2004 14.3% 14.8%
2003 15.4% 15.7%
2002 16.7% 16.5%
2001 17.9% 17.4%
2000 19.2% 18.3%
1999 20.5% 19.2%
1998 21.8% 42.6%
1997 23% 25.2%
1996 24.1% 26.1%
1995 25.1% 27%
1994 25.9% 23%
1993 26.6% 33.1%
1992 26.9% 33.8%
1991 27% 29.7%
1990 26.8% 30.3%
1989 26.4% 30.7%
1988 25.8% 76.7%
1987 25.2% 36%
1986 24.7% 26.7%
1985 24.3% 27.1%
1984 24.1% 27.5%
1983 24% 27.8%
1982 24.1% 28.2%
1981 24.3% 28.5%
1980 24.6% 28.9%
1979 24.9% 29.2%
1978 25.3% 29.5%
1977 25.6% 29.9%
1976 26% 30.2%
1975 26.5% 30.6%
1974 26.9% 30.9%
1973 27.4% 31.3%
1972 27.8% 31.6%
1971 28.3% 31.9%
1970 28.8% 32.3%
1969 29.3% 32.6%
1968 29.8% 32.9%
1967 30.2% 33.3%
1966 30.6% 33.6%
1965 30.8% 34%
1964 31.1% 34.3%
1963 31.2% 34.6%
1962 31.3% 34.9%
1961 31.3% 35.2%
1960 31.3% 35.5%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/south-sudan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.29% in Liberia and 9.87% in South Sudan. 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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