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Fertility & birth rates in Liberia and Zambia

Updated on by Georank team

Liberia has an annual birth rate of 31 births per 1,000 people, compared to 33.1 for Zambia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.95 in Liberia and 4.1 in Zambia — 3.82% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 38.2% in Liberia and by 41% in Zambia — in 1960, it was 6.39 and 6.95, respectively.

  • Liberia is ranked 27/196 by birth rate compared to 19/196 for Zambia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.1 years in Liberia, compared to 19.2 years in Zambia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.2 in Liberia — it's 28.3 in Zambia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 126 in Liberia vs 115.9 in Zambia.
  • In Liberia, 24.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.3% in Zambia.

Fertility rate in Liberia vs Zambia by year

Liberia
Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Liberia Zambia
2023 3.95 4.1
2022 4.02 4.18
2021 4.09 4.25
2020 4.17 4.32
2019 4.26 4.42
2018 4.34 4.49
2017 4.4 4.57
2016 4.46 4.67
2015 4.52 4.78
2014 4.62 4.89
2013 4.75 5.01
2012 4.88 5.14
2011 4.97 5.26
2010 5.06 5.36
2009 5.17 5.45
2008 5.33 5.53
2007 5.46 5.61
2006 5.53 5.68
2005 5.52 5.7
2004 5.51 5.7
2003 5.55 5.71
2002 5.65 5.77
2001 5.77 5.85
2000 5.88 5.92
1999 5.95 6
1998 6.02 6.07
1997 6.08 6.12
1996 6.13 6.18
1995 6.17 6.23
1994 6.21 6.26
1993 6.25 6.3
1992 6.28 6.35
1991 6.32 6.46
1990 6.37 6.57
1989 6.43 6.64
1988 6.51 6.7
1987 6.57 6.8
1986 6.64 6.87
1985 6.69 6.93
1984 6.73 6.97
1983 6.76 7.01
1982 6.79 7.04
1981 6.83 7.07
1980 6.87 7.14
1979 6.92 7.22
1978 6.88 7.29
1977 6.84 7.35
1976 6.79 7.39
1975 6.74 7.42
1974 6.69 7.36
1973 6.65 7.34
1972 6.6 7.3
1971 6.54 7.26
1970 6.58 7.22
1969 6.64 7.18
1968 6.66 7.18
1967 6.65 7.15
1966 6.63 7.14
1965 6.62 7.12
1964 6.59 7.09
1963 6.56 7.06
1962 6.5 7.01
1961 6.45 6.98
1960 6.39 6.95

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | 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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Liberia
Zambia
1x
Year Natural population change
Liberia Zambia
2023 125,730 577,660
2022 123,747 563,456
2021 121,038 535,629
2020 120,632 536,484
2019 120,635 528,089
2018 120,231 515,644
2017 119,376 504,630
2016 118,852 497,521
2015 115,479 491,021
2014 116,667 483,663
2013 120,138 476,846
2012 121,973 469,406
2011 115,496 459,743
2010 114,249 448,337
2009 113,429 434,458
2008 112,032 419,560
2007 109,165 403,729
2006 104,099 387,891
2005 96,478 368,756
2004 91,755 349,352
2003 87,534 331,189
2002 88,643 316,041
2001 86,217 302,682
2000 83,143 293,186
1999 78,130 283,297
1998 72,146 275,568
1997 61,444 268,198
1996 56,392 262,468
1995 53,407 257,897
1994 52,101 252,023
1993 51,609 245,917
1992 50,204 239,953
1991 47,426 237,957
1990 52,770 235,835
1989 63,238 233,429
1988 62,703 230,118
1987 62,147 227,813
1986 61,924 224,768
1985 59,988 221,351
1984 59,460 216,695
1983 57,562 212,712
1982 56,127 207,621
1981 55,003 202,822
1980 53,452 198,817
1979 52,125 197,578
1978 49,813 194,933
1977 47,582 191,557
1976 45,528 186,762
1975 43,478 182,258
1974 41,499 174,484
1973 39,694 168,258
1972 37,860 161,648
1971 36,015 155,249
1970 35,196 149,380
1969 34,677 142,660
1968 33,536 137,315
1967 32,519 131,938
1966 31,454 127,164
1965 30,618 122,814
1964 29,592 117,197
1963 28,708 114,555
1962 27,679 110,173
1961 26,670 106,318
1960 25,713 102,335

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | 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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.41% in Liberia and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Liberia vs Zambia by year

Liberia
Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Liberia Zambia
2023 31 33.1
2022 31.2 33.5
2021 31.5 33.9
2020 31.9 34.4
2019 32.4 35
2018 33 35.5
2017 33.4 35.9
2016 33.9 36.6
2015 34.3 37.3
2014 35.2 38.1
2013 36.2 39
2012 37.4 39.9
2011 36.9 40.7
2010 38 41.4
2009 38.8 42
2008 39.7 42.6
2007 40.4 43.2
2006 40.8 43.7
2005 40.6 43.8
2004 41.1 43.9
2003 42 43.9
2002 42 44.3
2001 42.6 44.8
2000 43.2 45.5
1999 43.3 45.9
1998 43.2 46.2
1997 41.7 46.3
1996 45 46.6
1995 44.2 46.8
1994 46.2 46.7
1993 45 46.6
1992 44.6 46.6
1991 44.6 46.9
1990 52.9 47
1989 45.8 47.1
1988 46.2 47.1
1987 46.7 47.3
1986 47.2 47.4
1985 47.6 47.4
1984 47.7 47.3
1983 47.7 47.3
1982 48 47.3
1981 48.4 47.3
1980 48.6 47.5
1979 48.9 48.2
1978 48.7 48.7
1977 48.5 49.2
1976 48.3 49.5
1975 48.1 50
1974 47.9 49.7
1973 47.8 49.7
1972 47.6 49.6
1971 47.4 49.4
1970 47.9 49.3
1969 48.6 48.9
1968 48.8 48.9
1967 49 48.8
1966 49.1 48.8
1965 49.3 48.8
1964 49.3 48.9
1963 49.2 48.9
1962 49 48.9
1961 48.7 48.9
1960 48.4 48.9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31 in Liberia and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 48.4 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Liberia Zambia
Fertility rate 3.95 4.1
Fertility rate rank 29/196 24/196
Birth rate 31 33.1
Birth rate rank 27/196 19/196
Population change due to births and deaths +125,730 +577,660
Natural population change rank 73/196 34/196
Natural population change rate +2.29% +2.79%
Population growth +2.18% +2.85%
Population growth rank 43/197 21/197
Age at first childbirth 19.1 years 19.2 years
Average age at childbearing 28.2 years 28.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 123.2 115.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 163.9 176.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 53 64.8
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.7% 25.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 23.9% 47.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 84.4% 80.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.63% 0.09%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.96% 2.2%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.26% 3.09%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 7.29% 4.47%
Life expectancy 62.6 years 66.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Liberia
Factual

UN forecast
Zambia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Liberia Zambia
2100 20.5% 21.6%
2099 20.6% 21.7%
2098 20.7% 21.9%
2097 20.8% 22%
2096 21% 22.2%
2095 21.1% 22.3%
2094 21.2% 22.5%
2093 21.4% 22.7%
2092 21.5% 22.8%
2091 21.6% 23%
2090 21.8% 23.1%
2089 21.9% 23.3%
2088 22.1% 23.5%
2087 22.3% 23.6%
2086 22.4% 23.8%
2085 22.6% 24%
2084 22.7% 24.2%
2083 22.9% 24.3%
2082 23% 24.5%
2081 23.2% 24.7%
2080 23.4% 24.9%
2079 23.5% 25.1%
2078 23.7% 25.3%
2077 23.9% 25.5%
2076 24.1% 25.7%
2075 24.2% 25.9%
2074 24.4% 26.1%
2073 24.6% 26.4%
2072 24.8% 26.6%
2071 25% 26.8%
2070 25.2% 27%
2069 25.4% 27.2%
2068 25.6% 27.5%
2067 25.8% 27.7%
2066 26% 27.9%
2065 26.2% 28.1%
2064 26.5% 28.4%
2063 26.7% 28.6%
2062 27% 28.9%
2061 27.2% 29.1%
2060 27.5% 29.3%
2059 27.8% 29.6%
2058 28.1% 29.8%
2057 28.4% 30.1%
2056 28.7% 30.4%
2055 29% 30.6%
2054 29.3% 30.9%
2053 29.6% 31.2%
2052 29.9% 31.5%
2051 30.2% 31.8%
2050 30.5% 32.2%
2049 30.8% 32.5%
2048 31.2% 32.8%
2047 31.5% 33.2%
2046 31.8% 33.5%
2045 32.1% 33.9%
2044 32.4% 34.2%
2043 32.7% 34.6%
2042 33.1% 34.9%
2041 33.4% 35.3%
2040 33.7% 35.6%
2039 34.1% 36%
2038 34.4% 36.3%
2037 34.7% 36.6%
2036 35% 37%
2035 35.4% 37.3%
2034 35.7% 37.6%
2033 36% 38%
2032 36.4% 38.3%
2031 36.7% 38.7%
2030 37.1% 39%
2029 37.4% 39.4%
2028 37.9% 39.8%
2027 38.4% 40.3%
2026 38.9% 40.7%
2025 39.3% 41.2%
2024 39.5% 41.5%
2023 40% 42%
2022 40.5% 42.4%
2021 41% 42.9%
2020 41.4% 43.3%
2019 41.7% 43.8%
2018 42% 44.1%
2017 42.1% 44.5%
2016 42.3% 44.9%
2015 42.4% 45.2%
2014 42.5% 45.5%
2013 42.5% 45.7%
2012 42.4% 45.9%
2011 42.7% 46.1%
2010 43.1% 46.3%
2009 43.1% 46.4%
2008 43.2% 46.6%
2007 43.2% 46.8%
2006 43.1% 47%
2005 43% 47.1%
2004 42.9% 47.3%
2003 42.9% 47.4%
2002 42.9% 47.6%
2001 43% 47.8%
2000 43% 48%
1999 43.1% 48.1%
1998 43.2% 48.2%
1997 43.3% 48.2%
1996 43.4% 48.2%
1995 43.6% 48.2%
1994 43.8% 48.2%
1993 43.9% 48.2%
1992 44.1% 48.2%
1991 44.2% 48.3%
1990 44.1% 48.4%
1989 44.1% 48.5%
1988 44.2% 48.6%
1987 44.3% 48.7%
1986 44.3% 48.8%
1985 44.2% 48.9%
1984 44.2% 49%
1983 44.2% 49.1%
1982 44.2% 49.3%
1981 44.1% 49.4%
1980 44% 49.5%
1979 43.9% 49.5%
1978 43.8% 49.4%
1977 43.7% 49.2%
1976 43.6% 49.1%
1975 43.5% 48.8%
1974 43.4% 48.6%
1973 43.3% 48.3%
1972 43.2% 48%
1971 43% 47.7%
1970 42.9% 47.4%
1969 42.8% 47.2%
1968 42.6% 47.1%
1967 42.4% 47%
1966 42.2% 46.9%
1965 42% 46.9%
1964 41.7% 46.7%
1963 41.4% 46.5%
1962 41.2% 46.3%
1961 41.1% 46.2%
1960 41.1% 46%

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/zambia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 39.5% of the population in Liberia and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 44.1% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Liberia and Zambia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Liberia vs Zambia

Liberia
Zambia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Liberia Zambia
2023 628 85
2022 634 89
2021 667 140
2020 664 99
2019 689 103
2018 707 117
2017 703 141
2016 690 158
2015 784 154
2014 801 174
2013 725 213
2012 728 256
2011 726 291
2010 712 332
2009 674 406
2008 663 394
2007 659 324
2006 647 262
2005 619 264
2004 645 260
2003 759 250
2002 700 274
2001 720 306
2000 786 340
1999 852 378
1998 962 392
1997 1,043 403
1996 1,438 433
1995 1,530 466
1994 1,811 507
1993 1,709 532
1992 1,643 581
1991 1,627 611
1990 2,146 625
1989 1,633 635
1988 1,647 635
1987 1,655 630
1986 1,678 619
1985 1,749 596

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | 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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Liberia
Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Liberia Zambia
2023 7.29% 4.47%
2022 7.51% 4.67%
2021 7.74% 4.92%
2020 7.97% 5.24%
2019 8.19% 5.41%
2018 8.4% 5.52%
2017 8.6% 5.61%
2016 8.83% 5.9%
2015 9.08% 6.15%
2014 9.5% 6.38%
2013 9.54% 6.72%
2012 9.82% 7.04%
2011 10.1% 7.31%
2010 10.4% 7.57%
2009 10.8% 8%
2008 11.3% 8.62%
2007 11.8% 9.14%
2006 12.5% 9.71%
2005 13.3% 10.5%
2004 14.3% 11.4%
2003 15.4% 12.4%
2002 16.7% 13.4%
2001 17.9% 14.4%
2000 19.2% 15.3%
1999 20.5% 15.9%
1998 21.8% 16.3%
1997 23% 16.7%
1996 24.1% 17%
1995 25.1% 17.3%
1994 25.9% 17.7%
1993 26.6% 17.9%
1992 26.9% 18.1%
1991 27% 18.1%
1990 26.8% 18.1%
1989 26.4% 17.9%
1988 25.8% 17.7%
1987 25.2% 17.3%
1986 24.7% 17%
1985 24.3% 16.6%
1984 24.1% 16.2%
1983 24% 15.9%
1982 24.1% 15.7%
1981 24.3% 15.6%
1980 24.6% 15.5%
1979 24.9% 15.4%
1978 25.3% 15.3%
1977 25.6% 15.3%
1976 26% 15.4%
1975 26.5% 15.5%
1974 26.9% 15.9%
1973 27.4% 16.3%
1972 27.8% 16.9%
1971 28.3% 17.4%
1970 28.8% 17.9%
1969 29.3% 18.3%
1968 29.8% 18.5%
1967 30.2% 18.7%
1966 30.6% 18.9%
1965 30.8% 19%
1964 31.1% 19.2%
1963 31.2% 19.5%
1962 31.3% 19.8%
1961 31.3% 20.1%
1960 31.3% 20.5%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/liberia/zambia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.29% in Liberia and 4.47% in Zambia. 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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