Namibia birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Namibia has a birth rate of 25.9 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.21 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Namibia was 6.24 children per woman — 1.94 times higher than in 2023.

Namibia birth rate statistics:

Namibia is ranked 49/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 111/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Namibia is 21.6 — it was 21.5 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.9, a change from 30.3 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 85.6 in 1960 to 66 in 2023.
25.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Namibia by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.21	50
2022	3.25	51
2021	3.3	51
2020	3.35	50
2019	3.4	50
2018	3.46	50
2017	3.51	50
2016	3.57	51
2015	3.6	51
2014	3.64	51
2013	3.65	53
2012	3.68	54
2011	3.66	55
2010	3.66	56
2009	3.63	56
2008	3.62	58
2007	3.61	58
2006	3.6	59
2005	3.57	62
2004	3.55	64
2003	3.58	65
2002	3.69	64
2001	3.83	63
2000	3.99	63
1999	4.14	60
1998	4.18	62
1997	4.17	66
1996	4.2	68
1995	4.42	68
1994	4.68	66
1993	4.91	65
1992	5.11	61
1991	5.29	58
1990	5.4	59
1989	5.52	57
1988	5.61	58
1987	5.7	57
1986	5.79	58
1985	5.88	59
1984	5.94	59
1983	6	59
1982	6.08	60
1981	6.16	60
1980	6.24	60
1979	6.31	61
1978	6.38	59
1977	6.44	57
1976	6.49	55
1975	6.53	56
1974	6.55	54
1973	6.54	55
1972	6.53	57
1971	6.52	59
1970	6.52	59
1969	6.51	61
1968	6.5	66
1967	6.49	71
1966	6.47	74
1965	6.45	74
1964	6.43	76
1963	6.41	79
1962	6.35	83
1961	6.29	88
1960	6.24	96

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Namibia is 3.21, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.91 — a 34.5% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	58,435	76,714	18,279
2022	54,534	76,122	21,588
2021	50,160	75,946	25,786
2020	55,034	75,551	20,517
2019	54,769	75,236	20,467
2018	53,970	74,915	20,945
2017	52,975	74,333	21,358
2016	52,228	73,932	21,704
2015	50,846	72,815	21,969
2014	49,581	71,701	22,120
2013	47,801	70,226	22,425
2012	46,204	68,806	22,602
2011	43,557	66,840	23,283
2010	42,046	65,416	23,370
2009	39,942	63,601	23,659
2008	38,147	61,954	23,807
2007	36,430	60,515	24,085
2006	34,690	59,226	24,536
2005	32,909	57,652	24,743
2004	31,478	56,161	24,683
2003	31,115	55,660	24,545
2002	31,947	56,011	24,064
2001	32,942	56,604	23,662
2000	35,280	57,491	22,211
1999	37,233	57,961	20,728
1998	37,500	57,007	19,507
1997	37,256	55,358	18,102
1996	37,177	54,232	17,055
1995	39,119	55,199	16,080
1994	41,316	56,451	15,135
1993	42,861	57,143	14,282
1992	43,945	57,393	13,448
1991	44,523	57,302	12,779
1990	43,956	56,082	12,126
1989	37,715	49,271	11,556
1988	34,798	46,857	12,059
1987	33,340	45,036	11,696
1986	31,764	43,359	11,595
1985	30,575	42,032	11,457
1984	29,395	40,812	11,417
1983	28,307	39,717	11,410
1982	27,474	38,844	11,370
1981	27,938	39,523	11,585
1980	28,142	39,849	11,707
1979	28,930	39,325	10,395
1978	29,821	40,400	10,579
1977	29,241	39,863	10,622
1976	28,785	39,456	10,671
1975	27,882	38,516	10,634
1974	26,844	37,481	10,637
1973	25,754	36,351	10,597
1972	24,606	35,173	10,567
1971	23,467	33,995	10,528
1970	22,414	32,926	10,512
1969	21,387	31,863	10,476
1968	20,470	30,923	10,453
1967	19,498	29,941	10,443
1966	18,635	29,083	10,448
1965	17,902	28,250	10,348
1964	17,134	27,504	10,370
1963	16,430	26,847	10,417
1962	15,656	26,105	10,449
1961	14,936	25,451	10,515
1960	14,307	24,894	10,587

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Namibia (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.04% annually. On average, 53,253 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.97% — 58,435 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Namibia ranks 90/196 for absolute natural population change and 48/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Namibia compared to other countries

	Namibia	Rank
Fertility rate	3.21	50/196
Birth rate	25.9	49/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+58,435	90/196
Natural population change rate	+1.97%	48/196
Population growth	+2.26%	41/197
Age at first childbirth	21.6 years	90/137
Average age at childbearing	28.9 years	114/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	64.8	46/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	145.8	59/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	50.1	40/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	25.7%	55/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	55.3%	55/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	88.2%	139/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.14%	54/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.41%	28/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	3.84%	29/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	4.07%	36/192
Life expectancy	67.8 years	153/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	48.6	64.8	145.8	50.1
2025	49.4	66	147.5	51.2
2024	50.3	66.9	149	52.2
2023	50.3	67.1	148.6	52.3
2022	51.2	67.8	149.9	52.9
2021	52.5	68.8	152.3	53.6
2020	53.8	70.1	154.5	54.3
2019	55.1	71.7	157.2	54.9
2018	56.4	72.9	159.9	55.7
2017	57.5	73.5	162.1	56.4
2016	58.7	74.3	164.9	57.3
2015	59.3	75.4	166.2	57.7
2014	59.9	76.9	168.1	58.1
2013	60.2	78.3	169	58.4
2012	60.4	79.6	170.4	58.8
2011	60	78.2	169.5	59.1
2010	59.7	78	169.4	59.7
2009	59	77.6	167.7	59.7
2008	58.3	77	166.3	59.9
2007	57.7	76.7	165.5	60.1
2006	57.2	77.1	164.7	60.4
2005	56.4	76.6	163.4	60.2
2004	55.6	75.5	161.5	60.3
2003	55.8	76.8	161.6	61.3
2002	56.9	77.6	164	64.3
2001	58.5	81.1	167.4	67.2
2000	60.6	84.8	171.8	70.9
1999	62.6	86.8	175.6	74.6
1998	63.2	87.4	176.9	75.4
1997	63	86.4	176.1	75.4
1996	63.3	86.1	177.1	76.2
1995	66.3	87.3	186.2	80.2
1994	69.8	88.6	196.8	85.1
1993	72.9	89.3	206.7	89.3
1992	75.6	90.4	215.9	92.3
1991	77.9	91.1	224.4	94.8
1990	78.8	94.6	228.7	95.3
1989	73.3	96.7	234	92.5
1988	74.2	92.8	235.4	94.3
1987	73.9	91.5	235.6	96.4
1986	73.5	88.4	238.5	98.1
1985	73.5	92.1	239.7	99
1984	73.4	96.1	239.2	99.8
1983	73.4	100	240.9	99.8
1982	73.7	102.6	244.1	100.4
1981	76.4	105	246	102.7
1980	78	104.7	248.9	104.7
1979	78.5	103.5	252.5	105.4
1978	82	100.8	257.3	107.6
1977	82.2	102.8	261.2	107.2
1976	83.5	104.7	265.3	106.6
1975	83.8	105.2	268.1	105.9
1974	84	105.4	269.1	105.1
1973	83.9	105.2	269.2	104
1972	83.6	103.7	269.1	103.2
1971	83.2	101.6	268.9	102.6
1970	82.9	99.7	269.2	102.3
1969	82.6	98.3	269.9	101.8
1968	82.4	97.4	269.9	101.6
1967	82.1	95.6	269.9	101.4
1966	81.8	93	270.4	101.6
1965	81.5	90.4	270	101.6
1964	81.3	89.1	269.8	101.8
1963	81.2	88.9	268.8	101.9
1962	80.7	88.2	266.1	101.5
1961	80.4	87.7	263.5	101.1
1960	80.2	87.2	261.1	100.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Namibia by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 12.3% will be to women under age 20, 48.2% to women ages 20-29, and 39.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 13.5%, 51.7%, and 34.8%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Namibia	World
2100	18.7%	16.5%
2099	18.8%	16.6%
2098	18.9%	16.6%
2097	19.1%	16.7%
2096	19.2%	16.8%
2095	19.3%	16.8%
2094	19.5%	16.9%
2093	19.6%	17%
2092	19.7%	17%
2091	19.9%	17.1%
2090	20%	17.2%
2089	20.2%	17.2%
2088	20.3%	17.3%
2087	20.4%	17.4%
2086	20.6%	17.4%
2085	20.7%	17.5%
2084	20.8%	17.5%
2083	21%	17.6%
2082	21.1%	17.7%
2081	21.2%	17.7%
2080	21.4%	17.8%
2079	21.5%	17.8%
2078	21.6%	17.9%
2077	21.8%	17.9%
2076	21.9%	18%
2075	22.1%	18%
2074	22.2%	18.1%
2073	22.4%	18.2%
2072	22.6%	18.2%
2071	22.8%	18.3%
2070	23%	18.3%
2069	23.2%	18.4%
2068	23.4%	18.5%
2067	23.6%	18.6%
2066	23.8%	18.6%
2065	24.1%	18.7%
2064	24.3%	18.8%
2063	24.6%	18.9%
2062	24.8%	19.1%
2061	25.1%	19.2%
2060	25.3%	19.3%
2059	25.6%	19.4%
2058	25.8%	19.5%
2057	26.1%	19.6%
2056	26.3%	19.8%
2055	26.5%	19.9%
2054	26.8%	20%
2053	27%	20.1%
2052	27.2%	20.2%
2051	27.4%	20.3%
2050	27.6%	20.4%
2049	27.8%	20.5%
2048	28%	20.6%
2047	28.2%	20.7%
2046	28.4%	20.8%
2045	28.6%	20.9%
2044	28.9%	20.9%
2043	29.1%	21%
2042	29.3%	21.1%
2041	29.6%	21.2%
2040	29.8%	21.2%
2039	30.1%	21.3%
2038	30.4%	21.4%
2037	30.8%	21.5%
2036	31.5%	21.6%
2035	32.2%	21.8%
2034	32.7%	22%
2033	33.2%	22.2%
2032	33.8%	22.4%
2031	34.3%	22.7%
2030	34.9%	23%
2029	35.3%	23.3%
2028	35.8%	23.6%
2027	36.1%	23.9%
2026	36.5%	24.2%
2025	36.8%	24.6%
2024	37%	24.7%
2023	37.3%	25%
2022	37.5%	25.3%
2021	37.4%	25.6%
2020	37.1%	25.8%
2019	37%	26%
2018	36.8%	26.2%
2017	36.7%	26.4%
2016	36.5%	26.5%
2015	36.5%	26.6%
2014	36.5%	26.8%
2013	36.6%	26.9%
2012	36.6%	27%
2011	36.7%	27.1%
2010	36.8%	27.3%
2009	37.1%	27.5%
2008	37.5%	27.6%
2007	38.1%	27.9%
2006	38.7%	28.1%
2005	39.4%	28.5%
2004	40%	28.8%
2003	40.5%	29.2%
2002	41%	29.6%
2001	41.3%	30%
2000	41.5%	30.4%
1999	41.7%	30.8%
1998	41.8%	31.1%
1997	41.9%	31.5%
1996	42%	31.8%
1995	42.1%	32.1%
1994	42.2%	32.3%
1993	42.2%	32.5%
1992	42.2%	32.7%
1991	42.2%	32.9%
1990	42.3%	33%
1989	43.4%	33.2%
1988	44.8%	33.4%
1987	45.3%	33.6%
1986	45.8%	33.8%
1985	46.2%	34%
1984	46.6%	34.3%
1983	46.9%	34.6%
1982	47.2%	34.9%
1981	47.1%	35.2%
1980	46.6%	35.5%
1979	46.3%	35.9%
1978	45.9%	36.3%
1977	45.3%	36.7%
1976	45%	36.9%
1975	44.8%	37.1%
1974	44.6%	37.2%
1973	44.3%	37.3%
1972	44.1%	37.5%
1971	43.9%	37.6%
1970	43.8%	37.7%
1969	43.6%	37.8%
1968	43.5%	37.9%
1967	43.3%	38%
1966	43.2%	38%
1965	43%	38%
1964	42.9%	38%
1963	42.7%	37.8%
1962	42.6%	37.6%
1961	42.4%	37.5%
1960	42.2%	37.4%

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/namibia | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Namibia was 42.2% in 1960, 42.2% in 1992, and 37% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Namibia.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Namibia	World
2023	139	197
2022	127	203
2021	254	242
2020	143	211
2019	175	207
2018	198	211
2017	213	215
2016	250	220
2015	307	228
2014	369	231
2013	402	235
2012	439	239
2011	498	247
2010	531	253
2009	547	258
2008	537	264
2007	489	269
2006	408	276
2005	344	283
2004	282	291
2003	290	301
2002	313	311
2001	376	321
2000	384	328
1999	371	340
1998	396	360
1997	383	358
1996	387	366
1995	369	371
1994	367	382
1993	354	389
1992	346	395
1991	337	395
1990	325	391
1989	306	401
1988	342	414
1987	336	429
1986	348	438
1985	354	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Namibia was 139 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.14% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 63.8% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Namibia	World
2023	4.07%	2.49%
2022	4.2%	2.59%
2021	4.38%	2.66%
2020	4.57%	2.75%
2019	4.78%	2.86%
2018	5.01%	2.97%
2017	5.19%	3.11%
2016	5.42%	3.22%
2015	5.5%	3.35%
2014	5.31%	3.48%
2013	5.4%	3.61%
2012	5.51%	3.77%
2011	5.16%	3.97%
2010	5.08%	4.11%
2009	5.29%	4.31%
2008	5.64%	4.5%
2007	6.06%	4.7%
2006	6.49%	4.92%
2005	7.05%	5.16%
2004	7.41%	5.43%
2003	7.51%	5.65%
2002	7.61%	5.94%
2001	7.71%	6.21%
2000	7.79%	6.48%
1999	7.79%	6.75%
1998	7.7%	7.05%
1997	7.56%	7.28%
1996	7.39%	7.52%
1995	7.24%	7.76%
1994	7.13%	7.98%
1993	7.1%	8.19%
1992	7.14%	8.46%
1991	7.24%	8.66%
1990	7.39%	8.81%
1989	7.57%	9.02%
1988	7.81%	9.31%
1987	8.09%	9.47%
1986	8.43%	9.81%
1985	8.81%	10.1%
1984	9.22%	10.4%
1983	9.61%	10.6%
1982	9.93%	10.8%
1981	10.2%	11%
1980	10.3%	11.4%
1979	10.3%	11.7%
1978	10.3%	12.2%
1977	10.2%	12.6%
1976	10%	13%
1975	9.89%	13.4%
1974	9.79%	13.8%
1973	9.73%	14.1%
1972	9.68%	14.5%
1971	9.67%	15.1%
1970	9.65%	15.2%
1969	9.65%	15.4%
1968	9.64%	15.6%
1967	9.66%	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/namibia | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Namibia was 40.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 4.07% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 77.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.