Fertility & birth rates in Malawi and Zambia

Fertility rate in Malawi vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Malawi	Zambia
2023	3.65	4.1
2022	3.72	4.18
2021	3.79	4.25
2020	3.88	4.32
2019	3.95	4.42
2018	4.02	4.49
2017	4.11	4.57
2016	4.22	4.67
2015	4.38	4.78
2014	4.57	4.89
2013	4.76	5.01
2012	4.9	5.14
2011	5.08	5.26
2010	5.26	5.36
2009	5.45	5.45
2008	5.61	5.53
2007	5.72	5.61
2006	5.8	5.68
2005	5.85	5.7
2004	5.86	5.7
2003	5.88	5.71
2002	5.9	5.77
2001	5.94	5.85
2000	6	5.92
1999	6.12	6
1998	6.21	6.07
1997	6.23	6.12
1996	6.29	6.18
1995	6.39	6.23
1994	6.49	6.26
1993	6.57	6.3
1992	6.63	6.35
1991	6.68	6.46
1990	6.74	6.57
1989	6.8	6.64
1988	6.88	6.7
1987	6.97	6.8
1986	7.07	6.87
1985	7.17	6.93
1984	7.27	6.97
1983	7.36	7.01
1982	7.45	7.04
1981	7.49	7.07
1980	7.52	7.14
1979	7.47	7.22
1978	7.43	7.29
1977	7.41	7.35
1976	7.39	7.39
1975	7.36	7.42
1974	7.34	7.36
1973	7.34	7.34
1972	7.33	7.3
1971	7.31	7.26
1970	7.3	7.22
1969	7.27	7.18
1968	7.26	7.18
1967	7.21	7.15
1966	7.17	7.14
1965	7.13	7.12
1964	7.11	7.09
1963	7.13	7.06
1962	7.1	7.01
1961	7.07	6.98
1960	7.04	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Malawi was 3.65 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 Malawi vs Zambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Malawi	Zambia
2023	549,096	577,660
2022	533,450	563,456
2021	517,400	535,629
2020	514,659	536,484
2019	506,104	528,089
2018	494,348	515,644
2017	484,655	504,630
2016	474,779	497,521
2015	472,484	491,021
2014	472,418	483,663
2013	470,293	476,846
2012	460,684	469,406
2011	454,149	459,743
2010	444,468	448,337
2009	434,811	434,458
2008	421,781	419,560
2007	410,290	403,729
2006	397,123	387,891
2005	381,130	368,756
2004	361,133	349,352
2003	341,133	331,189
2002	322,863	316,041
2001	310,833	302,682
2000	300,439	293,186
1999	295,629	283,297
1998	285,407	275,568
1997	277,433	268,198
1996	270,048	262,468
1995	266,745	257,897
1994	275,439	252,023
1993	276,538	245,917
1992	269,066	239,953
1991	260,193	237,957
1990	250,159	235,835
1989	237,967	233,429
1988	226,911	230,118
1987	220,566	227,813
1986	218,519	224,768
1985	216,179	221,351
1984	212,146	216,695
1983	209,422	212,712
1982	205,386	207,621
1981	199,436	202,822
1980	192,746	198,817
1979	182,123	197,578
1978	172,503	194,933
1977	161,930	191,557
1976	153,422	186,762
1975	145,254	182,258
1974	137,819	174,484
1973	131,529	168,258
1972	125,728	161,648
1971	121,015	155,249
1970	116,822	149,380
1969	113,120	142,660
1968	110,329	137,315
1967	106,668	131,938
1966	103,512	127,164
1965	100,040	122,814
1964	97,658	117,197
1963	95,933	114,555
1962	92,463	110,173
1961	89,091	106,318
1960	85,718	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.67% in Malawi and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Malawi vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Malawi

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Malawi	Zambia
2023	31.4	33.1
2022	31.7	33.5
2021	32.1	33.9
2020	32.5	34.4
2019	32.9	35
2018	33.2	35.5
2017	33.7	35.9
2016	34.2	36.6
2015	35.3	37.3
2014	36.5	38.1
2013	37.7	39
2012	38.6	39.9
2011	39.7	40.7
2010	40.7	41.4
2009	41.7	42
2008	42.6	42.6
2007	43.3	43.2
2006	43.8	43.7
2005	44	43.8
2004	44	43.9
2003	43.9	43.9
2002	44	44.3
2001	44.2	44.8
2000	44.6	45.5
1999	45.4	45.9
1998	45.9	46.2
1997	46	46.3
1996	46.2	46.6
1995	46.8	46.8
1994	48.4	46.7
1993	48.4	46.6
1992	48.1	46.6
1991	48.4	46.9
1990	48.4	47
1989	48.5	47.1
1988	48.8	47.1
1987	48.6	47.3
1986	49.8	47.4
1985	50.4	47.4
1984	50.8	47.3
1983	51.4	47.3
1982	52	47.3
1981	52.4	47.3
1980	52.7	47.5
1979	52.4	48.2
1978	52.4	48.7
1977	52.4	49.2
1976	52.6	49.5
1975	52.7	50
1974	52.9	49.7
1973	53.2	49.7
1972	53.5	49.6
1971	53.7	49.4
1970	54	49.3
1969	54.1	48.9
1968	54.4	48.9
1967	54.3	48.8
1966	54.3	48.8
1965	54.1	48.8
1964	54.2	48.9
1963	54.4	48.9
1962	54.2	48.9
1961	54	48.9
1960	53.7	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31.4 in Malawi and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 53.7 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Malawi

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Malawi	Zambia
2100	19.9%	21.6%
2099	20%	21.7%
2098	20.2%	21.9%
2097	20.3%	22%
2096	20.4%	22.2%
2095	20.6%	22.3%
2094	20.7%	22.5%
2093	20.9%	22.7%
2092	21%	22.8%
2091	21.2%	23%
2090	21.3%	23.1%
2089	21.5%	23.3%
2088	21.6%	23.5%
2087	21.8%	23.6%
2086	22%	23.8%
2085	22.1%	24%
2084	22.3%	24.2%
2083	22.5%	24.3%
2082	22.7%	24.5%
2081	22.9%	24.7%
2080	23.1%	24.9%
2079	23.2%	25.1%
2078	23.4%	25.3%
2077	23.6%	25.5%
2076	23.8%	25.7%
2075	24.1%	25.9%
2074	24.3%	26.1%
2073	24.5%	26.4%
2072	24.7%	26.6%
2071	24.9%	26.8%
2070	25.2%	27%
2069	25.4%	27.2%
2068	25.6%	27.5%
2067	25.9%	27.7%
2066	26.1%	27.9%
2065	26.3%	28.1%
2064	26.6%	28.4%
2063	26.8%	28.6%
2062	27.1%	28.9%
2061	27.3%	29.1%
2060	27.6%	29.3%
2059	27.9%	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	30.3%	31.8%
2050	30.6%	32.2%
2049	31%	32.5%
2048	31.4%	32.8%
2047	31.7%	33.2%
2046	32.1%	33.5%
2045	32.5%	33.9%
2044	32.9%	34.2%
2043	33.3%	34.6%
2042	33.7%	34.9%
2041	34%	35.3%
2040	34.4%	35.6%
2039	34.8%	36%
2038	35.1%	36.3%
2037	35.5%	36.6%
2036	35.9%	37%
2035	36.2%	37.3%
2034	36.5%	37.6%
2033	36.9%	38%
2032	37.2%	38.3%
2031	37.5%	38.7%
2030	37.9%	39%
2029	38.3%	39.4%
2028	38.8%	39.8%
2027	39.3%	40.3%
2026	39.9%	40.7%
2025	40.4%	41.2%
2024	40.7%	41.5%
2023	41.3%	42%
2022	41.9%	42.4%
2021	42.5%	42.9%
2020	43.1%	43.3%
2019	43.7%	43.8%
2018	44.2%	44.1%
2017	44.6%	44.5%
2016	45.1%	44.9%
2015	45.4%	45.2%
2014	45.7%	45.5%
2013	46%	45.7%
2012	46.1%	45.9%
2011	46.2%	46.1%
2010	46.2%	46.3%
2009	46.2%	46.4%
2008	46.1%	46.6%
2007	46.1%	46.8%
2006	46.1%	47%
2005	46%	47.1%
2004	46%	47.3%
2003	46.1%	47.4%
2002	46.1%	47.6%
2001	46.1%	47.8%
2000	46.2%	48%
1999	46.2%	48.1%
1998	46.2%	48.2%
1997	46.2%	48.2%
1996	46.2%	48.2%
1995	46.1%	48.2%
1994	46.1%	48.2%
1993	46%	48.2%
1992	45.8%	48.2%
1991	45.6%	48.3%
1990	45.4%	48.4%
1989	45.2%	48.5%
1988	45%	48.6%
1987	45.1%	48.7%
1986	45.4%	48.8%
1985	45.4%	48.9%
1984	45.5%	49%
1983	45.5%	49.1%
1982	45.4%	49.3%
1981	45.4%	49.4%
1980	45.4%	49.5%
1979	45.3%	49.5%
1978	45.3%	49.4%
1977	45.3%	49.2%
1976	45.2%	49.1%
1975	45.2%	48.8%
1974	45.1%	48.6%
1973	44.9%	48.3%
1972	44.8%	48%
1971	44.6%	47.7%
1970	44.4%	47.4%
1969	44.2%	47.2%
1968	43.9%	47.1%
1967	43.7%	47%
1966	43.4%	46.9%
1965	43.2%	46.9%
1964	43%	46.7%
1963	42.9%	46.5%
1962	42.8%	46.3%
1961	42.9%	46.2%
1960	43.1%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 40.7% of the population in Malawi and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Malawi and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Malawi vs Zambia

Chart Table

Malawi

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Malawi	Zambia
2023	225	85
2022	239	89
2021	286	140
2020	256	99
2019	260	103
2018	267	117
2017	284	141
2016	312	158
2015	354	154
2014	367	174
2013	410	213
2012	447	256
2011	486	291
2010	517	332
2009	512	406
2008	430	394
2007	333	324
2006	286	262
2005	283	264
2004	304	260
2003	346	250
2002	404	274
2001	447	306
2000	506	340
1999	576	378
1998	658	392
1997	672	403
1996	713	433
1995	782	466
1994	912	507
1993	1,000	532
1992	1,042	581
1991	1,080	611
1990	1,112	625
1989	1,136	635
1988	1,154	635
1987	1,123	630
1986	1,118	619
1985	1,115	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Malawi

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Malawi	Zambia
2023	3.83%	4.47%
2022	3.99%	4.67%
2021	4.15%	4.92%
2020	4.31%	5.24%
2019	4.55%	5.41%
2018	4.75%	5.52%
2017	5.06%	5.61%
2016	5.35%	5.9%
2015	5.67%	6.15%
2014	6.02%	6.38%
2013	6.4%	6.72%
2012	6.98%	7.04%
2011	7.67%	7.31%
2010	8.3%	7.57%
2009	8.81%	8%
2008	9.31%	8.62%
2007	9.83%	9.14%
2006	10.3%	9.71%
2005	11%	10.5%
2004	11.9%	11.4%
2003	13.2%	12.4%
2002	14.6%	13.4%
2001	16%	14.4%
2000	17.3%	15.3%
1999	18.4%	15.9%
1998	19.2%	16.3%
1997	19.7%	16.7%
1996	20.2%	17%
1995	20.7%	17.3%
1994	21.3%	17.7%
1993	22%	17.9%
1992	22.8%	18.1%
1991	23.6%	18.1%
1990	24.3%	18.1%
1989	24.9%	17.9%
1988	25.3%	17.7%
1987	25.5%	17.3%
1986	25.4%	17%
1985	25.1%	16.6%
1984	24.8%	16.2%
1983	24.5%	15.9%
1982	24.5%	15.7%
1981	24.9%	15.6%
1980	25.6%	15.5%
1979	26.5%	15.4%
1978	27.6%	15.3%
1977	28.7%	15.3%
1976	29.7%	15.4%
1975	30.6%	15.5%
1974	31.5%	15.9%
1973	32.4%	16.3%
1972	33.2%	16.9%
1971	33.9%	17.4%
1970	34.4%	17.9%
1969	34.7%	18.3%
1968	35%	18.5%
1967	35.1%	18.7%
1966	35.3%	18.9%
1965	35.4%	19%
1964	35.5%	19.2%
1963	35.7%	19.5%
1962	35.8%	19.8%
1961	35.9%	20.1%
1960	-	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.83% in Malawi and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.