Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Mali and Mauritania

Updated on by Georank team

Mali has an annual birth rate of 40 births per 1,000 people, compared to 34.4 for Mauritania. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 5.61 in Mali and 4.7 in Mauritania — 16.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 20% in Mali and by 23.6% in Mauritania — in 1960, it was 7.02 and 6.15, respectively.

  • Mali is ranked 6/196 by birth rate compared to 13/196 for Mauritania.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.2 years in Mali, compared to 21.8 years in Mauritania.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.8 in Mali — it's 30.2 in Mauritania.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 138.6 in Mali vs 88.9 in Mauritania.
  • In Mali, 22.6% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.3% in Mauritania.

Fertility rate in Mali vs Mauritania by year

Mali
Mauritania
1x
Year Fertility rate
Mali Mauritania
2023 5.61 4.7
2022 5.69 4.77
2021 5.78 4.85
2020 5.85 4.91
2019 5.89 4.98
2018 6.12 5.04
2017 6.25 5.11
2016 6.32 5.16
2015 6.39 5.21
2014 6.44 5.26
2013 6.49 5.32
2012 6.52 5.35
2011 6.55 5.38
2010 6.58 5.38
2009 6.59 5.41
2008 6.62 5.44
2007 6.65 5.43
2006 6.68 5.4
2005 6.71 5.38
2004 6.74 5.37
2003 6.78 5.36
2002 6.82 5.37
2001 6.85 5.41
2000 6.89 5.46
1999 6.91 5.52
1998 6.94 5.62
1997 6.97 5.74
1996 7.01 5.86
1995 7.05 5.96
1994 7.12 6.06
1993 7.18 6.09
1992 7.24 6.13
1991 7.28 6.16
1990 7.31 6.18
1989 7.33 6.2
1988 7.32 6.21
1987 7.31 6.27
1986 7.31 6.34
1985 7.26 6.42
1984 7.26 6.48
1983 7.28 6.54
1982 7.32 6.59
1981 7.37 6.64
1980 7.37 6.67
1979 7.35 6.7
1978 7.32 6.73
1977 7.3 6.74
1976 7.27 6.73
1975 7.25 6.71
1974 7.23 6.73
1973 7.22 6.72
1972 7.22 6.71
1971 7.2 6.7
1970 7.18 6.68
1969 7.18 6.64
1968 7.16 6.6
1967 7.14 6.57
1966 7.11 6.52
1965 7.08 6.44
1964 7.06 6.37
1963 7.05 6.31
1962 7.04 6.24
1961 7.03 6.2
1960 7.02 6.15

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Mali was 5.61 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.7 in Mauritania in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Mali vs Mauritania population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Mali
Mauritania
1x
Year Natural population change
Mali Mauritania
2023 746,398 145,164
2022 726,465 142,451
2021 703,674 137,557
2020 683,053 134,899
2019 667,110 134,460
2018 670,723 131,584
2017 661,973 128,562
2016 645,652 125,342
2015 630,006 122,092
2014 614,419 118,792
2013 597,887 115,558
2012 588,748 113,489
2011 570,899 111,165
2010 554,447 108,121
2009 533,730 105,273
2008 514,665 102,432
2007 495,800 98,895
2006 477,665 94,991
2005 460,964 90,940
2004 439,717 87,578
2003 417,766 83,804
2002 396,732 80,993
2001 376,472 78,769
2000 359,159 75,929
1999 343,705 73,554
1998 323,940 72,045
1997 308,429 71,327
1996 293,953 71,939
1995 285,598 72,244
1994 282,356 70,570
1993 274,480 68,167
1992 267,605 63,501
1991 261,656 61,782
1990 252,308 59,934
1989 249,929 58,666
1988 245,682 56,654
1987 238,871 55,037
1986 233,799 53,313
1985 224,734 52,125
1984 218,078 50,705
1983 211,795 49,187
1982 204,892 47,947
1981 198,227 46,641
1980 190,560 45,026
1979 182,449 43,537
1978 172,652 42,539
1977 165,071 41,352
1976 157,778 40,149
1975 150,222 38,975
1974 142,448 38,106
1973 135,801 37,122
1972 129,687 36,184
1971 123,591 35,279
1970 118,952 34,382
1969 114,361 33,252
1968 111,403 32,029
1967 107,650 30,853
1966 103,684 29,502
1965 100,451 28,028
1964 97,166 26,565
1963 95,055 25,250
1962 93,101 23,927
1961 91,115 22,781
1960 88,802 21,604

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | 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 +3.14% in Mali and +2.89% in Mauritania.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.25% in Mali and +3% in Mauritania.

Birth rate in Mali vs Mauritania by year

Mali
Mauritania

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Mali Mauritania
2023 40 34.4
2022 40.3 34.8
2021 40.7 35.3
2020 41 35.7
2019 41.1 36.2
2018 42.6 36.6
2017 43.4 37
2016 43.9 37.4
2015 44.5 37.8
2014 45 38.1
2013 45.5 38.5
2012 46.3 38.7
2011 46.5 38.9
2010 46.9 38.9
2009 47 39
2008 47.2 39.1
2007 47.4 39
2006 47.6 38.8
2005 47.9 38.4
2004 47.8 38.3
2003 47.6 37.9
2002 47.3 37.9
2001 47.1 38
2000 47.1 37.9
1999 47 38.1
1998 46.4 38.6
1997 46.1 39.4
1996 45.8 40.7
1995 45.9 41.5
1994 46.5 41.7
1993 46.7 41.7
1992 46.9 40.7
1991 47.2 41.3
1990 47 41.4
1989 47.7 41.8
1988 48.2 41.6
1987 48.4 41.9
1986 48.8 42.2
1985 48.8 42.8
1984 49 43.2
1983 49.4 43.6
1982 50 44
1981 50.4 44.4
1980 50.6 44.5
1979 50.7 44.7
1978 50.4 45.2
1977 50.5 45.4
1976 50.6 45.6
1975 50.6 45.8
1974 50.5 46.1
1973 50.5 46.4
1972 50.4 46.6
1971 50.5 47
1970 50.4 47.3
1969 50.5 47.5
1968 50.6 47.6
1967 50.6 47.8
1966 50.6 47.8
1965 50.5 47.6
1964 50.5 47.3
1963 50.6 47.1
1962 50.7 46.8
1961 50.8 46.6
1960 50.8 46.2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 40 in Mali and 34.4 in Mauritania, compared with 50.8 and 46.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Mali Mauritania
Fertility rate 5.61 4.7
Fertility rate rank 6/196 11/196
Birth rate 40 34.4
Birth rate rank 6/196 13/196
Population change due to births and deaths +746,398 +145,164
Natural population change rank 26/196 70/196
Natural population change rate +3.14% +2.89%
Population growth +2.98% +2.93%
Population growth rank 15/197 17/197
Age at first childbirth 19.2 years 21.8 years
Average age at childbearing 28.8 years 30.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 133.2 86.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 243.6 175.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 88.4 81.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 22.6% 24.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 16.4% 12.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 67.3% 70.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.37% 0.38%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.24% 2.15%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.76% 3.1%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 9.13% 3.78%
Life expectancy 61.1 years 69.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Mali
Factual

UN forecast
Mauritania
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Mali Mauritania
2100 22.4% 21.5%
2099 22.6% 21.6%
2098 22.8% 21.8%
2097 23% 22%
2096 23.1% 22.1%
2095 23.3% 22.3%
2094 23.5% 22.5%
2093 23.7% 22.7%
2092 23.9% 22.9%
2091 24.1% 23.1%
2090 24.3% 23.3%
2089 24.5% 23.5%
2088 24.8% 23.7%
2087 25% 23.9%
2086 25.2% 24.1%
2085 25.5% 24.3%
2084 25.7% 24.5%
2083 25.9% 24.7%
2082 26.2% 25%
2081 26.5% 25.2%
2080 26.7% 25.4%
2079 27% 25.7%
2078 27.3% 25.9%
2077 27.6% 26.1%
2076 27.9% 26.4%
2075 28.1% 26.6%
2074 28.4% 26.8%
2073 28.7% 27.1%
2072 29% 27.3%
2071 29.3% 27.6%
2070 29.6% 27.9%
2069 30% 28.1%
2068 30.3% 28.4%
2067 30.6% 28.7%
2066 30.9% 29%
2065 31.2% 29.3%
2064 31.6% 29.6%
2063 31.9% 29.8%
2062 32.2% 30.1%
2061 32.6% 30.4%
2060 33% 30.7%
2059 33.3% 31.1%
2058 33.7% 31.4%
2057 34.1% 31.7%
2056 34.4% 32%
2055 34.8% 32.3%
2054 35.2% 32.6%
2053 35.7% 33%
2052 36.1% 33.3%
2051 36.5% 33.6%
2050 36.9% 33.9%
2049 37.3% 34.3%
2048 37.8% 34.6%
2047 38.2% 35%
2046 38.6% 35.3%
2045 39% 35.7%
2044 39.4% 36%
2043 39.8% 36.4%
2042 40.2% 36.7%
2041 40.6% 37.1%
2040 41% 37.4%
2039 41.3% 37.8%
2038 41.6% 38.1%
2037 42% 38.5%
2036 42.3% 38.8%
2035 42.6% 39.2%
2034 42.9% 39.5%
2033 43.2% 39.9%
2032 43.5% 40.2%
2031 43.9% 40.5%
2030 44.2% 40.8%
2029 44.5% 41.2%
2028 44.9% 41.5%
2027 45.3% 41.9%
2026 45.6% 42.2%
2025 46% 42.6%
2024 46.1% 42.7%
2023 46.5% 43%
2022 46.8% 43.4%
2021 47% 43.6%
2020 47.3% 43.8%
2019 47.6% 44%
2018 47.8% 44.1%
2017 47.9% 44.2%
2016 48% 44.2%
2015 48% 44.3%
2014 48% 44.2%
2013 47.9% 44.2%
2012 47.6% 44.1%
2011 47.3% 43.9%
2010 47.1% 43.9%
2009 46.9% 43.9%
2008 46.8% 44.1%
2007 46.6% 44.3%
2006 46.5% 44.2%
2005 46.4% 44.2%
2004 46.4% 44.2%
2003 46.4% 44.2%
2002 46.4% 44.2%
2001 46.5% 44.1%
2000 46.6% 44.2%
1999 46.7% 44.4%
1998 46.8% 44.6%
1997 47% 44.7%
1996 47% 44.6%
1995 47.1% 44.4%
1994 47.1% 44.3%
1993 47.1% 44.4%
1992 47.1% 44.9%
1991 47% 45.3%
1990 46.8% 45.4%
1989 46.7% 45.4%
1988 46.4% 45.3%
1987 46% 45.4%
1986 45.7% 45.5%
1985 45.3% 45.6%
1984 45% 45.7%
1983 44.7% 45.8%
1982 44.5% 45.8%
1981 44.2% 45.9%
1980 43.9% 45.9%
1979 43.6% 45.9%
1978 43.2% 45.8%
1977 43% 45.7%
1976 42.7% 45.6%
1975 42.4% 45.5%
1974 42.1% 45.4%
1973 41.9% 45.2%
1972 41.7% 44.9%
1971 41.5% 44.7%
1970 41.3% 44.4%
1969 41.2% 44%
1968 41% 43.6%
1967 40.9% 43.2%
1966 40.8% 42.8%
1965 40.7% 42.4%
1964 40.6% 42%
1963 40.5% 41.8%
1962 40.4% 41.8%
1961 40.4% 41.8%
1960 40.3% 41.8%

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/mali/mauritania | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 46.1% of the population in Mali and 42.7% in Mauritania in 2024, compared to 46.8% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Mali and Mauritania compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Mali vs Mauritania

Mali
Mauritania
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Mali Mauritania
2023 367 381
2022 381 385
2021 415 425
2020 405 413
2019 416 424
2018 434 437
2017 453 450
2016 472 456
2015 490 469
2014 507 484
2013 525 496
2012 549 496
2011 553 494
2010 558 499
2009 565 500
2008 573 506
2007 574 516
2006 568 521
2005 577 536
2004 592 557
2003 616 571
2002 649 590
2001 694 616
2000 741 644
1999 749 669
1998 781 698
1997 820 752
1996 875 813
1995 895 815
1994 935 809
1993 988 813
1992 1,024 811
1991 1,063 845
1990 1,087 858
1989 1,106 883
1988 1,128 887
1987 1,142 914
1986 1,184 961
1985 1,217 998

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 367 deaths per 100,000 live births in Mali, compared to 381 deaths in Mauritania.

Under-five mortality rates

Mali
Mauritania

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Mali Mauritania
2023 9.13% 3.78%
2022 9.4% 3.91%
2021 9.69% 4.03%
2020 10% 4.17%
2019 10.3% 4.3%
2018 10.6% 4.45%
2017 10.9% 4.59%
2016 11.2% 4.74%
2015 11.6% 4.89%
2014 11.9% 5.04%
2013 12.2% 5.17%
2012 12.6% 5.31%
2011 13% 5.45%
2010 13.4% 5.61%
2009 13.8% 5.79%
2008 14.3% 6.04%
2007 14.7% 6.35%
2006 15.2% 6.73%
2005 15.7% 7.18%
2004 16.3% 7.7%
2003 16.9% 8.25%
2002 17.5% 8.81%
2001 18.2% 9.35%
2000 18.8% 9.82%
1999 19.4% 10.2%
1998 19.9% 10.6%
1997 20.4% 10.8%
1996 20.8% 11%
1995 21.2% 11.1%
1994 21.5% 11.2%
1993 21.9% 11.2%
1992 22.3% 11.3%
1991 22.7% 11.4%
1990 23.1% 11.5%
1989 23.6% 11.8%
1988 24.2% 12.1%
1987 24.8% 12.6%
1986 25.4% 13.2%
1985 26.1% 13.8%
1984 26.9% 14.5%
1983 27.7% 15.1%
1982 28.5% 15.6%
1981 29.3% 16.1%
1980 30.2% 16.6%
1979 31% 17.1%
1978 31.8% 17.6%
1977 32.7% 18.2%
1976 33.6% 18.6%
1975 34.4% 18.9%
1974 35.2% 19%
1973 36% 19%
1972 36.7% 18.9%
1971 37.3% 18.9%
1970 38% 19%
1969 38.6% 19.4%
1968 39.2% 19.9%
1967 39.8% 20.6%
1966 40.5% 21.3%
1965 41.2% 22%
1964 41.9% 22.7%
1963 42.6% 23.4%
1962 - 24%
1961 - 24.7%
1960 - 25.3%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mali/mauritania | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.13% in Mali and 3.78% in Mauritania. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.