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Fertility & birth rates in Mauritania and Sierra Leone

Updated on by Georank team

Mauritania has an annual birth rate of 34.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.6 for Sierra Leone. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.7 in Mauritania and 3.79 in Sierra Leone — 19.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 23.6% in Mauritania and by 38.6% in Sierra Leone — in 1960, it was 6.15 and 6.18, respectively.

  • Mauritania is ranked 13/196 by birth rate compared to 29/196 for Sierra Leone.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 21.8 years in Mauritania, compared to 19.6 years in Sierra Leone.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.2 in Mauritania — it's 28.5 in Sierra Leone.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 88.9 in Mauritania vs 93.6 in Sierra Leone.
  • In Mauritania, 24.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.4% in Sierra Leone.

Fertility rate in Mauritania vs Sierra Leone by year

Mauritania
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Fertility rate
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2023 4.7 3.79
2022 4.77 3.88
2021 4.85 3.98
2020 4.91 4.08
2019 4.98 4.19
2018 5.04 4.29
2017 5.11 4.39
2016 5.16 4.47
2015 5.21 4.55
2014 5.26 4.7
2013 5.32 4.87
2012 5.35 5.06
2011 5.38 5.21
2010 5.38 5.33
2009 5.41 5.45
2008 5.44 5.56
2007 5.43 5.64
2006 5.4 5.74
2005 5.38 5.81
2004 5.37 5.92
2003 5.36 6.09
2002 5.37 6.23
2001 5.41 6.31
2000 5.46 6.36
1999 5.52 6.42
1998 5.62 6.5
1997 5.74 6.53
1996 5.86 6.55
1995 5.96 6.56
1994 6.06 6.56
1993 6.09 6.57
1992 6.13 6.56
1991 6.16 6.55
1990 6.18 6.57
1989 6.2 6.57
1988 6.21 6.59
1987 6.27 6.61
1986 6.34 6.6
1985 6.42 6.59
1984 6.48 6.59
1983 6.54 6.57
1982 6.59 6.56
1981 6.64 6.55
1980 6.67 6.56
1979 6.7 6.58
1978 6.73 6.59
1977 6.74 6.57
1976 6.73 6.55
1975 6.71 6.55
1974 6.73 6.53
1973 6.72 6.47
1972 6.71 6.45
1971 6.7 6.43
1970 6.68 6.41
1969 6.64 6.39
1968 6.6 6.39
1967 6.57 6.38
1966 6.52 6.35
1965 6.44 6.31
1964 6.37 6.29
1963 6.31 6.26
1962 6.24 6.22
1961 6.2 6.21
1960 6.15 6.18

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Mauritania was 4.7 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Mauritania
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Natural population change
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2023 145,164 188,788
2022 142,451 186,625
2021 137,557 183,326
2020 134,899 181,015
2019 134,460 181,068
2018 131,584 178,772
2017 128,562 173,259
2016 125,342 168,784
2015 122,092 162,275
2014 118,792 160,137
2013 115,558 161,265
2012 113,489 160,915
2011 111,165 158,858
2010 108,121 155,338
2009 105,273 152,669
2008 102,432 149,855
2007 98,895 145,740
2006 94,991 144,127
2005 90,940 137,234
2004 87,578 132,661
2003 83,804 130,312
2002 80,993 126,429
2001 78,769 116,647
2000 75,929 110,754
1999 73,554 102,295
1998 72,045 103,906
1997 71,327 105,433
1996 71,939 104,140
1995 72,244 100,885
1994 70,570 101,486
1993 68,167 103,317
1992 63,501 103,251
1991 61,782 105,477
1990 59,934 100,778
1989 58,666 98,298
1988 56,654 96,344
1987 55,037 94,235
1986 53,313 90,902
1985 52,125 88,869
1984 50,705 87,072
1983 49,187 84,628
1982 47,947 82,457
1981 46,641 80,111
1980 45,026 77,932
1979 43,537 75,992
1978 42,539 74,130
1977 41,352 71,663
1976 40,149 69,506
1975 38,975 67,560
1974 38,106 65,357
1973 37,122 62,443
1972 36,184 60,279
1971 35,279 58,484
1970 34,382 56,513
1969 33,252 54,768
1968 32,029 53,126
1967 30,853 51,734
1966 29,502 49,486
1965 28,028 47,223
1964 26,565 45,487
1963 25,250 43,569
1962 23,927 41,603
1961 22,781 40,022
1960 21,604 38,192

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | 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 +2.89% in Mauritania and +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3% in Mauritania and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in Mauritania vs Sierra Leone by year

Mauritania
Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2023 34.4 30.6
2022 34.8 31.1
2021 35.3 31.6
2020 35.7 32.2
2019 36.2 32.8
2018 36.6 33.3
2017 37 33.8
2016 37.4 34.2
2015 37.8 34.7
2014 38.1 35.6
2013 38.5 36.6
2012 38.7 37.8
2011 38.9 38.5
2010 38.9 39.1
2009 39 39.9
2008 39.1 40.6
2007 39 41.1
2006 38.8 41.8
2005 38.4 42
2004 38.3 42.5
2003 37.9 43.5
2002 37.9 44.3
2001 38 44
2000 37.9 45
1999 38.1 46.1
1998 38.6 46.3
1997 39.4 46.3
1996 40.7 46.5
1995 41.5 46.8
1994 41.7 46.8
1993 41.7 46.9
1992 40.7 47
1991 41.3 47.5
1990 41.4 45.5
1989 41.8 46.3
1988 41.6 46.4
1987 41.9 46.6
1986 42.2 46.6
1985 42.8 46.7
1984 43.2 46.8
1983 43.6 46.7
1982 44 46.8
1981 44.4 46.8
1980 44.5 46.8
1979 44.7 47
1978 45.2 47.2
1977 45.4 47.1
1976 45.6 47.2
1975 45.8 47.3
1974 46.1 47.4
1973 46.4 47.2
1972 46.6 47.2
1971 47 47.3
1970 47.3 47.4
1969 47.5 47.5
1968 47.6 47.7
1967 47.8 47.9
1966 47.8 48
1965 47.6 48
1964 47.3 48.2
1963 47.1 48.2
1962 46.8 48.1
1961 46.6 48.1
1960 46.2 48

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 34.4 in Mauritania and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 46.2 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Mauritania Sierra Leone
Fertility rate 4.7 3.79
Fertility rate rank 11/196 35/196
Birth rate 34.4 30.6
Birth rate rank 13/196 29/196
Population change due to births and deaths +145,164 +188,788
Natural population change rank 70/196 62/196
Natural population change rate +2.89% +2.23%
Population growth +2.93% +2.15%
Population growth rank 17/197 47/197
Age at first childbirth 21.8 years 19.6 years
Average age at childbearing 30.2 years 28.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 86.2 87.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 175.8 169.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 81.9 53.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24.3% 25.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 12.8% 20.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 70.4% 86.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.38% 0.35%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.15% 2.93%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.1% 5.62%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.78% 9.43%
Life expectancy 69.2 years 62.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Mauritania
Factual

UN forecast
Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2100 21.5% 19%
2099 21.6% 19%
2098 21.8% 19.1%
2097 22% 19.2%
2096 22.1% 19.3%
2095 22.3% 19.5%
2094 22.5% 19.6%
2093 22.7% 19.7%
2092 22.9% 19.8%
2091 23.1% 19.9%
2090 23.3% 20%
2089 23.5% 20.1%
2088 23.7% 20.3%
2087 23.9% 20.4%
2086 24.1% 20.5%
2085 24.3% 20.7%
2084 24.5% 20.8%
2083 24.7% 20.9%
2082 25% 21.1%
2081 25.2% 21.2%
2080 25.4% 21.4%
2079 25.7% 21.6%
2078 25.9% 21.7%
2077 26.1% 21.9%
2076 26.4% 22.1%
2075 26.6% 22.2%
2074 26.8% 22.4%
2073 27.1% 22.6%
2072 27.3% 22.8%
2071 27.6% 23%
2070 27.9% 23.2%
2069 28.1% 23.4%
2068 28.4% 23.6%
2067 28.7% 23.8%
2066 29% 24%
2065 29.3% 24.3%
2064 29.6% 24.5%
2063 29.8% 24.7%
2062 30.1% 25%
2061 30.4% 25.2%
2060 30.7% 25.5%
2059 31.1% 25.7%
2058 31.4% 26%
2057 31.7% 26.3%
2056 32% 26.6%
2055 32.3% 26.9%
2054 32.6% 27.1%
2053 33% 27.4%
2052 33.3% 27.7%
2051 33.6% 28.1%
2050 33.9% 28.4%
2049 34.3% 28.7%
2048 34.6% 29%
2047 35% 29.3%
2046 35.3% 29.7%
2045 35.7% 30%
2044 36% 30.3%
2043 36.4% 30.7%
2042 36.7% 31.1%
2041 37.1% 31.4%
2040 37.4% 31.8%
2039 37.8% 32.2%
2038 38.1% 32.6%
2037 38.5% 33%
2036 38.8% 33.4%
2035 39.2% 33.8%
2034 39.5% 34.2%
2033 39.9% 34.6%
2032 40.2% 35%
2031 40.5% 35.4%
2030 40.8% 35.7%
2029 41.2% 36.1%
2028 41.5% 36.5%
2027 41.9% 37%
2026 42.2% 37.4%
2025 42.6% 37.9%
2024 42.7% 38.1%
2023 43% 38.5%
2022 43.4% 39%
2021 43.6% 39.4%
2020 43.8% 39.8%
2019 44% 40.2%
2018 44.1% 40.6%
2017 44.2% 41%
2016 44.2% 41.4%
2015 44.3% 41.8%
2014 44.2% 42.2%
2013 44.2% 42.5%
2012 44.1% 42.8%
2011 43.9% 43%
2010 43.9% 43.2%
2009 43.9% 43.4%
2008 44.1% 43.5%
2007 44.3% 43.6%
2006 44.2% 43.7%
2005 44.2% 43.8%
2004 44.2% 43.9%
2003 44.2% 43.9%
2002 44.2% 43.9%
2001 44.1% 43.9%
2000 44.2% 43.8%
1999 44.4% 43.7%
1998 44.6% 43.6%
1997 44.7% 43.5%
1996 44.6% 43.5%
1995 44.4% 43.4%
1994 44.3% 43.3%
1993 44.4% 43.2%
1992 44.9% 43.1%
1991 45.3% 43%
1990 45.4% 42.9%
1989 45.4% 42.9%
1988 45.3% 42.8%
1987 45.4% 42.7%
1986 45.5% 42.6%
1985 45.6% 42.5%
1984 45.7% 42.3%
1983 45.8% 42.2%
1982 45.8% 42.1%
1981 45.9% 42%
1980 45.9% 41.9%
1979 45.9% 41.8%
1978 45.8% 41.7%
1977 45.7% 41.6%
1976 45.6% 41.4%
1975 45.5% 41.3%
1974 45.4% 41.1%
1973 45.2% 40.9%
1972 44.9% 40.7%
1971 44.7% 40.6%
1970 44.4% 40.3%
1969 44% 40.1%
1968 43.6% 39.9%
1967 43.2% 39.6%
1966 42.8% 39.4%
1965 42.4% 39.1%
1964 42% 38.8%
1963 41.8% 38.5%
1962 41.8% 38.3%
1961 41.8% 38.3%
1960 41.8% 38.2%

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/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.7% of the population in Mauritania and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Mauritania and Sierra Leone compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Mauritania vs Sierra Leone

Mauritania
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2023 381 354
2022 385 370
2021 425 403
2020 413 422
2019 424 464
2018 437 491
2017 450 578
2016 456 633
2015 469 730
2014 484 821
2013 496 842
2012 496 915
2011 494 967
2010 499 1,018
2009 500 1,054
2008 506 1,093
2007 516 1,132
2006 521 1,168
2005 536 1,294
2004 557 1,366
2003 571 1,433
2002 590 1,492
2001 616 1,518
2000 644 1,603
1999 669 1,731
1998 698 1,753
1997 752 1,721
1996 813 1,726
1995 815 1,777
1994 809 1,755
1993 813 1,696
1992 811 1,681
1991 845 1,699
1990 858 1,572
1989 883 1,575
1988 887 1,549
1987 914 1,533
1986 961 1,530
1985 998 1,506

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 381 deaths per 100,000 live births in Mauritania, compared to 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Mauritania
Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Mauritania Sierra Leone
2023 3.78% 9.43%
2022 3.91% 9.77%
2021 4.03% 10.1%
2020 4.17% 10.5%
2019 4.3% 10.9%
2018 4.45% 11.3%
2017 4.59% 11.8%
2016 4.74% 12.3%
2015 4.89% 13.8%
2014 5.04% 13.7%
2013 5.17% 13.9%
2012 5.31% 14.5%
2011 5.45% 15.2%
2010 5.61% 15.9%
2009 5.79% 16.6%
2008 6.04% 17.3%
2007 6.35% 18.1%
2006 6.73% 18.8%
2005 7.18% 19.4%
2004 7.7% 20.1%
2003 8.25% 20.7%
2002 8.81% 21.3%
2001 9.35% 21.8%
2000 9.82% 22.4%
1999 10.2% 22.9%
1998 10.6% 23.4%
1997 10.8% 23.9%
1996 11% 24.3%
1995 11.1% 24.7%
1994 11.2% 25%
1993 11.2% 25.3%
1992 11.3% 25.5%
1991 11.4% 25.7%
1990 11.5% 25.9%
1989 11.8% 26.2%
1988 12.1% 26.4%
1987 12.6% 26.6%
1986 13.2% 26.9%
1985 13.8% 27.2%
1984 14.5% 27.5%
1983 15.1% 27.8%
1982 15.6% 28.1%
1981 16.1% 28.5%
1980 16.6% 28.9%
1979 17.1% 29.2%
1978 17.6% 29.6%
1977 18.2% 30%
1976 18.6% 30.5%
1975 18.9% 30.9%
1974 19% 31.4%
1973 19% 31.9%
1972 18.9% 32.3%
1971 18.9% 32.9%
1970 19% 33.4%
1969 19.4% 33.9%
1968 19.9% 34.5%
1967 20.6% 35%
1966 21.3% 35.6%
1965 22% 36.2%
1964 22.7% 36.8%
1963 23.4% 37.4%
1962 24% 38%
1961 24.7% 38.5%
1960 25.3% 39.1%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/mauritania/sierra-leone | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.78% in Mauritania and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. 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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