Fertility & birth rates in Namibia and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in Namibia vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2023	3.21	3.79
2022	3.25	3.88
2021	3.3	3.98
2020	3.35	4.08
2019	3.4	4.19
2018	3.46	4.29
2017	3.51	4.39
2016	3.57	4.47
2015	3.6	4.55
2014	3.64	4.7
2013	3.65	4.87
2012	3.68	5.06
2011	3.66	5.21
2010	3.66	5.33
2009	3.63	5.45
2008	3.62	5.56
2007	3.61	5.64
2006	3.6	5.74
2005	3.57	5.81
2004	3.55	5.92
2003	3.58	6.09
2002	3.69	6.23
2001	3.83	6.31
2000	3.99	6.36
1999	4.14	6.42
1998	4.18	6.5
1997	4.17	6.53
1996	4.2	6.55
1995	4.42	6.56
1994	4.68	6.56
1993	4.91	6.57
1992	5.11	6.56
1991	5.29	6.55
1990	5.4	6.57
1989	5.52	6.57
1988	5.61	6.59
1987	5.7	6.61
1986	5.79	6.6
1985	5.88	6.59
1984	5.94	6.59
1983	6	6.57
1982	6.08	6.56
1981	6.16	6.55
1980	6.24	6.56
1979	6.31	6.58
1978	6.38	6.59
1977	6.44	6.57
1976	6.49	6.55
1975	6.53	6.55
1974	6.55	6.53
1973	6.54	6.47
1972	6.53	6.45
1971	6.52	6.43
1970	6.52	6.41
1969	6.51	6.39
1968	6.5	6.39
1967	6.49	6.38
1966	6.47	6.35
1965	6.45	6.31
1964	6.43	6.29
1963	6.41	6.26
1962	6.35	6.22
1961	6.29	6.21
1960	6.24	6.18

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Namibia was 3.21 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 Namibia vs Sierra Leone population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2023	58,435	188,788
2022	54,534	186,625
2021	50,160	183,326
2020	55,034	181,015
2019	54,769	181,068
2018	53,970	178,772
2017	52,975	173,259
2016	52,228	168,784
2015	50,846	162,275
2014	49,581	160,137
2013	47,801	161,265
2012	46,204	160,915
2011	43,557	158,858
2010	42,046	155,338
2009	39,942	152,669
2008	38,147	149,855
2007	36,430	145,740
2006	34,690	144,127
2005	32,909	137,234
2004	31,478	132,661
2003	31,115	130,312
2002	31,947	126,429
2001	32,942	116,647
2000	35,280	110,754
1999	37,233	102,295
1998	37,500	103,906
1997	37,256	105,433
1996	37,177	104,140
1995	39,119	100,885
1994	41,316	101,486
1993	42,861	103,317
1992	43,945	103,251
1991	44,523	105,477
1990	43,956	100,778
1989	37,715	98,298
1988	34,798	96,344
1987	33,340	94,235
1986	31,764	90,902
1985	30,575	88,869
1984	29,395	87,072
1983	28,307	84,628
1982	27,474	82,457
1981	27,938	80,111
1980	28,142	77,932
1979	28,930	75,992
1978	29,821	74,130
1977	29,241	71,663
1976	28,785	69,506
1975	27,882	67,560
1974	26,844	65,357
1973	25,754	62,443
1972	24,606	60,279
1971	23,467	58,484
1970	22,414	56,513
1969	21,387	54,768
1968	20,470	53,126
1967	19,498	51,734
1966	18,635	49,486
1965	17,902	47,223
1964	17,134	45,487
1963	16,430	43,569
1962	15,656	41,603
1961	14,936	40,022
1960	14,307	38,192

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 +1.97% in Namibia and +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.04% in Namibia and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in Namibia vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2023	25.9	30.6
2022	26.3	31.1
2021	27	31.6
2020	27.7	32.2
2019	28.4	32.8
2018	29.1	33.3
2017	29.7	33.8
2016	30.3	34.2
2015	30.7	34.7
2014	31	35.6
2013	31.2	36.6
2012	31.4	37.8
2011	31.1	38.5
2010	31	39.1
2009	30.6	39.9
2008	30.3	40.6
2007	30	41.1
2006	29.7	41.8
2005	29.3	42
2004	28.9	42.5
2003	29	43.5
2002	29.6	44.3
2001	30.5	44
2000	31.6	45
1999	32.6	46.1
1998	32.9	46.3
1997	32.8	46.3
1996	32.9	46.5
1995	34.5	46.8
1994	36.3	46.8
1993	37.9	46.9
1992	39.3	47
1991	40.5	47.5
1990	41	45.5
1989	38.2	46.3
1988	38.7	46.4
1987	38.6	46.6
1986	38.3	46.6
1985	38.3	46.7
1984	38.3	46.8
1983	38.3	46.7
1982	38.4	46.8
1981	39.8	46.8
1980	40.6	46.8
1979	40.8	47
1978	42.6	47.2
1977	42.8	47.1
1976	43.5	47.2
1975	43.7	47.3
1974	43.9	47.4
1973	43.9	47.2
1972	43.7	47.2
1971	43.6	47.3
1970	43.4	47.4
1969	43.3	47.5
1968	43.2	47.7
1967	43	47.9
1966	42.9	48
1965	42.8	48
1964	42.7	48.2
1963	42.6	48.2
1962	42.4	48.1
1961	42.2	48.1
1960	42.1	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.9 in Namibia and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 42.1 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Namibia

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2100	18.7%	19%
2099	18.8%	19%
2098	18.9%	19.1%
2097	19.1%	19.2%
2096	19.2%	19.3%
2095	19.3%	19.5%
2094	19.5%	19.6%
2093	19.6%	19.7%
2092	19.7%	19.8%
2091	19.9%	19.9%
2090	20%	20%
2089	20.2%	20.1%
2088	20.3%	20.3%
2087	20.4%	20.4%
2086	20.6%	20.5%
2085	20.7%	20.7%
2084	20.8%	20.8%
2083	21%	20.9%
2082	21.1%	21.1%
2081	21.2%	21.2%
2080	21.4%	21.4%
2079	21.5%	21.6%
2078	21.6%	21.7%
2077	21.8%	21.9%
2076	21.9%	22.1%
2075	22.1%	22.2%
2074	22.2%	22.4%
2073	22.4%	22.6%
2072	22.6%	22.8%
2071	22.8%	23%
2070	23%	23.2%
2069	23.2%	23.4%
2068	23.4%	23.6%
2067	23.6%	23.8%
2066	23.8%	24%
2065	24.1%	24.3%
2064	24.3%	24.5%
2063	24.6%	24.7%
2062	24.8%	25%
2061	25.1%	25.2%
2060	25.3%	25.5%
2059	25.6%	25.7%
2058	25.8%	26%
2057	26.1%	26.3%
2056	26.3%	26.6%
2055	26.5%	26.9%
2054	26.8%	27.1%
2053	27%	27.4%
2052	27.2%	27.7%
2051	27.4%	28.1%
2050	27.6%	28.4%
2049	27.8%	28.7%
2048	28%	29%
2047	28.2%	29.3%
2046	28.4%	29.7%
2045	28.6%	30%
2044	28.9%	30.3%
2043	29.1%	30.7%
2042	29.3%	31.1%
2041	29.6%	31.4%
2040	29.8%	31.8%
2039	30.1%	32.2%
2038	30.4%	32.6%
2037	30.8%	33%
2036	31.5%	33.4%
2035	32.2%	33.8%
2034	32.7%	34.2%
2033	33.2%	34.6%
2032	33.8%	35%
2031	34.3%	35.4%
2030	34.9%	35.7%
2029	35.3%	36.1%
2028	35.8%	36.5%
2027	36.1%	37%
2026	36.5%	37.4%
2025	36.8%	37.9%
2024	37%	38.1%
2023	37.3%	38.5%
2022	37.5%	39%
2021	37.4%	39.4%
2020	37.1%	39.8%
2019	37%	40.2%
2018	36.8%	40.6%
2017	36.7%	41%
2016	36.5%	41.4%
2015	36.5%	41.8%
2014	36.5%	42.2%
2013	36.6%	42.5%
2012	36.6%	42.8%
2011	36.7%	43%
2010	36.8%	43.2%
2009	37.1%	43.4%
2008	37.5%	43.5%
2007	38.1%	43.6%
2006	38.7%	43.7%
2005	39.4%	43.8%
2004	40%	43.9%
2003	40.5%	43.9%
2002	41%	43.9%
2001	41.3%	43.9%
2000	41.5%	43.8%
1999	41.7%	43.7%
1998	41.8%	43.6%
1997	41.9%	43.5%
1996	42%	43.5%
1995	42.1%	43.4%
1994	42.2%	43.3%
1993	42.2%	43.2%
1992	42.2%	43.1%
1991	42.2%	43%
1990	42.3%	42.9%
1989	43.4%	42.9%
1988	44.8%	42.8%
1987	45.3%	42.7%
1986	45.8%	42.6%
1985	46.2%	42.5%
1984	46.6%	42.3%
1983	46.9%	42.2%
1982	47.2%	42.1%
1981	47.1%	42%
1980	46.6%	41.9%
1979	46.3%	41.8%
1978	45.9%	41.7%
1977	45.3%	41.6%
1976	45%	41.4%
1975	44.8%	41.3%
1974	44.6%	41.1%
1973	44.3%	40.9%
1972	44.1%	40.7%
1971	43.9%	40.6%
1970	43.8%	40.3%
1969	43.6%	40.1%
1968	43.5%	39.9%
1967	43.3%	39.6%
1966	43.2%	39.4%
1965	43%	39.1%
1964	42.9%	38.8%
1963	42.7%	38.5%
1962	42.6%	38.3%
1961	42.4%	38.3%
1960	42.2%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 37% of the population in Namibia and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 42.3% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Namibia and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Namibia vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

Namibia

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2023	139	354
2022	127	370
2021	254	403
2020	143	422
2019	175	464
2018	198	491
2017	213	578
2016	250	633
2015	307	730
2014	369	821
2013	402	842
2012	439	915
2011	498	967
2010	531	1,018
2009	547	1,054
2008	537	1,093
2007	489	1,132
2006	408	1,168
2005	344	1,294
2004	282	1,366
2003	290	1,433
2002	313	1,492
2001	376	1,518
2000	384	1,603
1999	371	1,731
1998	396	1,753
1997	383	1,721
1996	387	1,726
1995	369	1,777
1994	367	1,755
1993	354	1,696
1992	346	1,681
1991	337	1,699
1990	325	1,572
1989	306	1,575
1988	342	1,549
1987	336	1,533
1986	348	1,530
1985	354	1,506

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 139 deaths per 100,000 live births in Namibia, compared to 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Namibia

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Namibia	Sierra Leone
2023	4.07%	9.43%
2022	4.2%	9.77%
2021	4.38%	10.1%
2020	4.57%	10.5%
2019	4.78%	10.9%
2018	5.01%	11.3%
2017	5.19%	11.8%
2016	5.42%	12.3%
2015	5.5%	13.8%
2014	5.31%	13.7%
2013	5.4%	13.9%
2012	5.51%	14.5%
2011	5.16%	15.2%
2010	5.08%	15.9%
2009	5.29%	16.6%
2008	5.64%	17.3%
2007	6.06%	18.1%
2006	6.49%	18.8%
2005	7.05%	19.4%
2004	7.41%	20.1%
2003	7.51%	20.7%
2002	7.61%	21.3%
2001	7.71%	21.8%
2000	7.79%	22.4%
1999	7.79%	22.9%
1998	7.7%	23.4%
1997	7.56%	23.9%
1996	7.39%	24.3%
1995	7.24%	24.7%
1994	7.13%	25%
1993	7.1%	25.3%
1992	7.14%	25.5%
1991	7.24%	25.7%
1990	7.39%	25.9%
1989	7.57%	26.2%
1988	7.81%	26.4%
1987	8.09%	26.6%
1986	8.43%	26.9%
1985	8.81%	27.2%
1984	9.22%	27.5%
1983	9.61%	27.8%
1982	9.93%	28.1%
1981	10.2%	28.5%
1980	10.3%	28.9%
1979	10.3%	29.2%
1978	10.3%	29.6%
1977	10.2%	30%
1976	10%	30.5%
1975	9.89%	30.9%
1974	9.79%	31.4%
1973	9.73%	31.9%
1972	9.68%	32.3%
1971	9.67%	32.9%
1970	9.65%	33.4%
1969	9.65%	33.9%
1968	9.64%	34.5%
1967	9.66%	35%
1966	-	35.6%
1965	-	36.2%
1964	-	36.8%
1963	-	37.4%
1962	-	38%
1961	-	38.5%
1960	-	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.07% in Namibia and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.