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Fertility & birth rates in Malawi and Nepal

Updated on by Georank team

Malawi has an annual birth rate of 31.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 19.3 for Nepal. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.65 in Malawi and 1.98 in Nepal — 45.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 48.2% in Malawi and by 67.3% in Nepal — in 1960, it was 7.04 and 6.07, respectively.

  • Malawi is ranked 25/196 by birth rate compared to 80/196 for Nepal.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.1 years in Malawi, compared to 20.4 years in Nepal.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.5 in Malawi — it's 25.2 in Nepal.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 113.6 in Malawi vs 67.2 in Nepal.
  • In Malawi, 26.2% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 28.9% in Nepal.

Fertility rate in Malawi vs Nepal by year

Malawi
Nepal
1x
Year Fertility rate
Malawi Nepal
2023 3.65 1.98
2022 3.72 2
2021 3.79 2.03
2020 3.88 2.05
2019 3.95 2.08
2018 4.02 2.12
2017 4.11 2.17
2016 4.22 2.23
2015 4.38 2.27
2014 4.57 2.32
2013 4.76 2.36
2012 4.9 2.42
2011 5.08 2.46
2010 5.26 2.54
2009 5.45 2.63
2008 5.61 2.74
2007 5.72 2.86
2006 5.8 2.97
2005 5.85 3.12
2004 5.86 3.28
2003 5.88 3.44
2002 5.9 3.6
2001 5.94 3.79
2000 6 3.98
1999 6.12 4.13
1998 6.21 4.28
1997 6.23 4.44
1996 6.29 4.67
1995 6.39 4.87
1994 6.49 4.96
1993 6.57 5.04
1992 6.63 5.07
1991 6.68 5.15
1990 6.74 5.21
1989 6.8 5.26
1988 6.88 5.31
1987 6.97 5.35
1986 7.07 5.4
1985 7.17 5.46
1984 7.27 5.51
1983 7.36 5.54
1982 7.45 5.55
1981 7.49 5.58
1980 7.52 5.6
1979 7.47 5.64
1978 7.43 5.68
1977 7.41 5.69
1976 7.39 5.72
1975 7.36 5.73
1974 7.34 5.75
1973 7.34 5.7
1972 7.33 5.8
1971 7.31 5.85
1970 7.3 5.87
1969 7.27 5.89
1968 7.26 5.94
1967 7.21 5.95
1966 7.17 5.98
1965 7.13 6.01
1964 7.11 6.04
1963 7.13 6.06
1962 7.1 6.08
1961 7.07 6.09
1960 7.04 6.07

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Malawi was 3.65 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.98 in Nepal in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Malawi vs Nepal population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Malawi
Nepal
1x
Year Natural population change
Malawi Nepal
2023 549,096 368,450
2022 533,450 379,021
2021 517,400 351,165
2020 514,659 373,553
2019 506,104 387,113
2018 494,348 394,576
2017 484,655 406,219
2016 474,779 415,921
2015 472,484 410,565
2014 472,418 423,166
2013 470,293 424,804
2012 460,684 430,151
2011 454,149 429,957
2010 444,468 432,631
2009 434,811 441,290
2008 421,781 452,353
2007 410,290 464,780
2006 397,123 475,335
2005 381,130 489,093
2004 361,133 504,853
2003 341,133 516,575
2002 322,863 525,045
2001 310,833 542,118
2000 300,439 554,506
1999 295,629 557,847
1998 285,407 562,787
1997 277,433 565,882
1996 270,048 580,099
1995 266,745 591,283
1994 275,439 578,293
1993 276,538 561,549
1992 269,066 533,029
1991 260,193 512,233
1990 250,159 495,202
1989 237,967 478,771
1988 226,911 463,581
1987 220,566 449,400
1986 218,519 434,802
1985 216,179 423,240
1984 212,146 411,122
1983 209,422 399,103
1982 205,386 385,741
1981 199,436 374,145
1980 192,746 364,254
1979 182,123 355,597
1978 172,503 345,765
1977 161,930 332,843
1976 153,422 323,222
1975 145,254 312,479
1974 137,819 303,078
1973 131,529 288,750
1972 125,728 286,708
1971 121,015 280,752
1970 116,822 272,439
1969 113,120 264,560
1968 110,329 258,259
1967 106,668 249,240
1966 103,512 241,716
1965 100,040 233,726
1964 97,658 227,948
1963 95,933 219,586
1962 92,463 215,368
1961 89,091 209,917
1960 85,718 203,374

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | 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 +2.6% in Malawi and +1.24% in Nepal.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.67% in Malawi and +1.37% in Nepal.

Birth rate in Malawi vs Nepal by year

Malawi
Nepal

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Malawi Nepal
2023 31.4 19.3
2022 31.7 19.6
2021 32.1 19.7
2020 32.5 20.2
2019 32.9 20.6
2018 33.2 21.1
2017 33.7 21.6
2016 34.2 21.9
2015 35.3 22.1
2014 36.5 22.4
2013 37.7 22.5
2012 38.6 22.7
2011 39.7 22.7
2010 40.7 22.9
2009 41.7 23.2
2008 42.6 23.7
2007 43.3 24.4
2006 43.8 24.9
2005 44 25.8
2004 44 26.8
2003 43.9 27.7
2002 44 28.6
2001 44.2 29.8
2000 44.6 31
1999 45.4 31.8
1998 45.9 32.7
1997 46 33.7
1996 46.2 35.3
1995 46.8 36.8
1994 48.4 37.3
1993 48.4 37.7
1992 48.1 37.5
1991 48.4 37.8
1990 48.4 38.1
1989 48.5 38.4
1988 48.8 38.7
1987 48.6 38.9
1986 49.8 39.1
1985 50.4 39.4
1984 50.8 39.7
1983 51.4 40
1982 52 40.1
1981 52.4 40.3
1980 52.7 40.4
1979 52.4 40.8
1978 52.4 41.1
1977 52.4 41.2
1976 52.6 41.5
1975 52.7 41.6
1974 52.9 41.8
1973 53.2 41.6
1972 53.5 42.3
1971 53.7 42.7
1970 54 42.9
1969 54.1 43.1
1968 54.4 43.5
1967 54.3 43.5
1966 54.3 43.7
1965 54.1 43.9
1964 54.2 44.2
1963 54.4 44.4
1962 54.2 44.6
1961 54 44.8
1960 53.7 44.8

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31.4 in Malawi and 19.3 in Nepal, compared with 53.7 and 44.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Malawi Nepal
Fertility rate 3.65 1.98
Fertility rate rank 39/196 98/196
Birth rate 31.4 19.3
Birth rate rank 25/196 80/196
Population change due to births and deaths +549,096 +368,450
Natural population change rank 35/196 47/196
Natural population change rate +2.6% +1.24%
Population growth +2.61% -0.15%
Population growth rank 26/197 174/197
Age at first childbirth 19.1 years 20.4 years
Average age at childbearing 27.5 years 25.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 112.7 64.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 171.5 123.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 50.4 12.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.2% 28.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 64.7% 42.7%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 96.4% 77.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.23% 0.14%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.88% 1.66%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.94% 2.33%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.83% 2.65%
Life expectancy 67.9 years 71.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Malawi
Factual

UN forecast
Nepal
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Malawi Nepal
2100 19.9% 13.8%
2099 20% 13.8%
2098 20.2% 13.8%
2097 20.3% 13.9%
2096 20.4% 13.9%
2095 20.6% 14%
2094 20.7% 14%
2093 20.9% 14.1%
2092 21% 14.1%
2091 21.2% 14.2%
2090 21.3% 14.2%
2089 21.5% 14.3%
2088 21.6% 14.3%
2087 21.8% 14.4%
2086 22% 14.5%
2085 22.1% 14.5%
2084 22.3% 14.6%
2083 22.5% 14.7%
2082 22.7% 14.8%
2081 22.9% 14.8%
2080 23.1% 14.9%
2079 23.2% 15%
2078 23.4% 15.1%
2077 23.6% 15.2%
2076 23.8% 15.3%
2075 24.1% 15.4%
2074 24.3% 15.5%
2073 24.5% 15.6%
2072 24.7% 15.7%
2071 24.9% 15.9%
2070 25.2% 16%
2069 25.4% 16.1%
2068 25.6% 16.3%
2067 25.9% 16.4%
2066 26.1% 16.6%
2065 26.3% 16.7%
2064 26.6% 16.9%
2063 26.8% 17.1%
2062 27.1% 17.2%
2061 27.3% 17.4%
2060 27.6% 17.6%
2059 27.9% 17.8%
2058 28.1% 17.9%
2057 28.4% 18.1%
2056 28.7% 18.3%
2055 29% 18.5%
2054 29.3% 18.7%
2053 29.6% 18.9%
2052 29.9% 19.2%
2051 30.3% 19.4%
2050 30.6% 19.6%
2049 31% 19.9%
2048 31.4% 20.1%
2047 31.7% 20.4%
2046 32.1% 20.7%
2045 32.5% 21%
2044 32.9% 21.3%
2043 33.3% 21.6%
2042 33.7% 21.9%
2041 34% 22.2%
2040 34.4% 22.5%
2039 34.8% 22.9%
2038 35.1% 23.2%
2037 35.5% 23.6%
2036 35.9% 23.9%
2035 36.2% 24.3%
2034 36.5% 24.6%
2033 36.9% 25%
2032 37.2% 25.4%
2031 37.5% 25.8%
2030 37.9% 26.2%
2029 38.3% 26.6%
2028 38.8% 27.1%
2027 39.3% 27.5%
2026 39.9% 27.9%
2025 40.4% 28.2%
2024 40.7% 28.4%
2023 41.3% 28.7%
2022 41.9% 28.9%
2021 42.5% 29.4%
2020 43.1% 30.1%
2019 43.7% 30.9%
2018 44.2% 31.6%
2017 44.6% 32.1%
2016 45.1% 32.5%
2015 45.4% 33%
2014 45.7% 33.6%
2013 46% 34.2%
2012 46.1% 34.7%
2011 46.2% 35.3%
2010 46.2% 36%
2009 46.2% 36.7%
2008 46.1% 37.5%
2007 46.1% 38.1%
2006 46.1% 38.7%
2005 46% 39.2%
2004 46% 39.6%
2003 46.1% 40%
2002 46.1% 40.4%
2001 46.1% 40.7%
2000 46.2% 40.9%
1999 46.2% 41.1%
1998 46.2% 41.3%
1997 46.2% 41.4%
1996 46.2% 41.5%
1995 46.1% 41.4%
1994 46.1% 41.4%
1993 46% 41.3%
1992 45.8% 41.4%
1991 45.6% 41.5%
1990 45.4% 41.5%
1989 45.2% 41.5%
1988 45% 41.4%
1987 45.1% 41.3%
1986 45.4% 41.2%
1985 45.4% 41.1%
1984 45.5% 41%
1983 45.5% 41%
1982 45.4% 40.9%
1981 45.4% 40.9%
1980 45.4% 40.9%
1979 45.3% 40.8%
1978 45.3% 40.8%
1977 45.3% 40.7%
1976 45.2% 40.7%
1975 45.2% 40.6%
1974 45.1% 40.5%
1973 44.9% 40.5%
1972 44.8% 40.4%
1971 44.6% 40.4%
1970 44.4% 40.3%
1969 44.2% 40.3%
1968 43.9% 40.3%
1967 43.7% 40.3%
1966 43.4% 40.4%
1965 43.2% 40.4%
1964 43% 40.4%
1963 42.9% 40.5%
1962 42.8% 40.6%
1961 42.9% 40.7%
1960 43.1% 40.7%

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/malawi/nepal | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.7% of the population in Malawi and 28.4% in Nepal in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 41.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Malawi and Nepal compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Malawi vs Nepal

Malawi
Nepal
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Malawi Nepal
2023 225 142
2022 239 139
2021 286 173
2020 256 153
2019 260 170
2018 267 183
2017 284 197
2016 312 214
2015 354 236
2014 367 245
2013 410 258
2012 447 272
2011 486 286
2010 517 297
2009 512 299
2008 430 302
2007 333 309
2006 286 318
2005 283 344
2004 304 364
2003 346 387
2002 404 414
2001 447 443
2000 506 480
1999 576 512
1998 658 522
1997 672 550
1996 713 584
1995 782 625
1994 912 657
1993 1,000 703
1992 1,042 768
1991 1,080 850
1990 1,112 920
1989 1,136 973
1988 1,154 1,038
1987 1,123 1,088
1986 1,118 1,143
1985 1,115 1,186

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 225 deaths per 100,000 live births in Malawi, compared to 142 deaths in Nepal.

Under-five mortality rates

Malawi
Nepal

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Malawi Nepal
2023 3.83% 2.65%
2022 3.99% 2.75%
2021 4.15% 2.86%
2020 4.31% 2.99%
2019 4.55% 3.14%
2018 4.75% 3.3%
2017 5.06% 3.46%
2016 5.35% 3.64%
2015 5.67% 3.82%
2014 6.02% 4.01%
2013 6.4% 4.21%
2012 6.98% 4.41%
2011 7.67% 4.62%
2010 8.3% 4.83%
2009 8.81% 5.05%
2008 9.31% 5.27%
2007 9.83% 5.51%
2006 10.3% 5.76%
2005 11% 6.04%
2004 11.9% 6.35%
2003 13.2% 6.69%
2002 14.6% 7.06%
2001 16% 7.48%
2000 17.3% 7.92%
1999 18.4% 8.4%
1998 19.2% 8.91%
1997 19.7% 9.44%
1996 20.2% 10%
1995 20.7% 10.6%
1994 21.3% 11.2%
1993 22% 11.8%
1992 22.8% 12.5%
1991 23.6% 13.2%
1990 24.3% 13.9%
1989 24.9% 14.6%
1988 25.3% 15.3%
1987 25.5% 16.1%
1986 25.4% 16.8%
1985 25.1% 17.5%
1984 24.8% 18.2%
1983 24.5% 18.8%
1982 24.5% 19.5%
1981 24.9% 20.2%
1980 25.6% 20.8%
1979 26.5% 21.5%
1978 27.6% 22.1%
1977 28.7% 22.7%
1976 29.7% 23.3%
1975 30.6% 23.9%
1974 31.5% 24.5%
1973 32.4% 25%
1972 33.2% 25.6%
1971 33.9% 26.2%
1970 34.4% 26.7%
1969 34.7% 27.3%
1968 35% 28%
1967 35.1% 28.7%
1966 35.3% 29.4%
1965 35.4% 30%
1964 35.5% 30.7%
1963 35.7% 31.3%
1962 35.8% 31.9%
1961 35.9% 32.4%
1960 - 32.8%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/malawi/nepal | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.83% in Malawi and 2.65% in Nepal. 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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