Fertility & birth rates in Namibia and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in Namibia vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2023	3.21	3.72
2022	3.25	3.77
2021	3.3	3.77
2020	3.35	3.75
2019	3.4	3.75
2018	3.46	3.74
2017	3.51	3.77
2016	3.57	3.83
2015	3.6	3.91
2014	3.64	4.01
2013	3.65	4.11
2012	3.68	4.13
2011	3.66	4.13
2010	3.66	4.04
2009	3.63	3.95
2008	3.62	3.78
2007	3.61	3.68
2006	3.6	3.64
2005	3.57	3.69
2004	3.55	3.78
2003	3.58	3.86
2002	3.69	3.93
2001	3.83	3.98
2000	3.99	4.01
1999	4.14	4.06
1998	4.18	4.07
1997	4.17	4.08
1996	4.2	4.11
1995	4.42	4.15
1994	4.68	4.28
1993	4.91	4.39
1992	5.11	4.57
1991	5.29	4.72
1990	5.4	4.88
1989	5.52	5.07
1988	5.61	5.28
1987	5.7	5.5
1986	5.79	5.69
1985	5.88	5.87
1984	5.94	6.04
1983	6	6.2
1982	6.08	6.33
1981	6.16	6.45
1980	6.24	6.52
1979	6.31	6.59
1978	6.38	6.66
1977	6.44	6.71
1976	6.49	6.77
1975	6.53	6.83
1974	6.55	6.88
1973	6.54	6.94
1972	6.53	6.94
1971	6.52	6.94
1970	6.52	6.98
1969	6.51	7.04
1968	6.5	7.11
1967	6.49	7.16
1966	6.47	7.2
1965	6.45	7.23
1964	6.43	7.23
1963	6.41	7.23
1962	6.35	7.23
1961	6.29	7.21
1960	6.24	7.2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Namibia was 3.21 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Namibia vs Zimbabwe population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2023	58,435	372,505
2022	54,534	371,243
2021	50,160	349,908
2020	55,034	354,790
2019	54,769	348,798
2018	53,970	345,883
2017	52,975	344,035
2016	52,228	348,772
2015	50,846	356,203
2014	49,581	366,350
2013	47,801	374,757
2012	46,204	371,135
2011	43,557	359,572
2010	42,046	335,570
2009	39,942	309,316
2008	38,147	280,527
2007	36,430	261,805
2006	34,690	248,963
2005	32,909	248,545
2004	31,478	248,307
2003	31,115	243,057
2002	31,947	244,170
2001	32,942	227,909
2000	35,280	236,343
1999	37,233	232,393
1998	37,500	225,614
1997	37,256	216,288
1996	37,177	205,269
1995	39,119	206,695
1994	41,316	216,343
1993	42,861	228,045
1992	43,945	255,291
1991	44,523	260,943
1990	43,956	265,444
1989	37,715	270,838
1988	34,798	277,498
1987	33,340	286,766
1986	31,764	289,894
1985	30,575	290,756
1984	29,395	290,052
1983	28,307	286,545
1982	27,474	279,934
1981	27,938	271,361
1980	28,142	241,179
1979	28,930	223,657
1978	29,821	222,979
1977	29,241	225,139
1976	28,785	221,419
1975	27,882	216,947
1974	26,844	208,806
1973	25,754	201,885
1972	24,606	193,725
1971	23,467	185,427
1970	22,414	178,979
1969	21,387	172,626
1968	20,470	166,865
1967	19,498	161,205
1966	18,635	156,014
1965	17,902	151,164
1964	17,134	145,848
1963	16,430	140,984
1962	15,656	136,317
1961	14,936	131,531
1960	14,307	126,959

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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.04% in Namibia and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Namibia vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Namibia

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2023	25.9	30.4
2022	26.3	30.9
2021	27	30.9
2020	27.7	31
2019	28.4	31.1
2018	29.1	31.3
2017	29.7	31.8
2016	30.3	32.7
2015	30.7	33.9
2014	31	35.4
2013	31.2	37
2012	31.4	37.8
2011	31.1	38.1
2010	31	37.9
2009	30.6	37.5
2008	30.3	36.4
2007	30	35.7
2006	29.7	35.2
2005	29.3	35.8
2004	28.9	36.3
2003	29	36.6
2002	29.6	36.5
2001	30.5	36.5
2000	31.6	36.1
1999	32.6	35.6
1998	32.9	34.5
1997	32.8	33.4
1996	32.9	32.4
1995	34.5	31.7
1994	36.3	32
1993	37.9	32.4
1992	39.3	34.3
1991	40.5	34.9
1990	41	35.5
1989	38.2	36.4
1988	38.7	37.7
1987	38.6	39.5
1986	38.3	40.9
1985	38.3	42.3
1984	38.3	43.7
1983	38.3	45
1982	38.4	45.7
1981	39.8	46.3
1980	40.6	44.8
1979	40.8	46.3
1978	42.6	46.8
1977	42.8	46.5
1976	43.5	46.5
1975	43.7	46.6
1974	43.9	46.4
1973	43.9	46.4
1972	43.7	46
1971	43.6	45.6
1970	43.4	45.5
1969	43.3	45.5
1968	43.2	45.7
1967	43	45.8
1966	42.9	46.1
1965	42.8	46.4
1964	42.7	46.6
1963	42.6	46.8
1962	42.4	47.1
1961	42.2	47.3
1960	42.1	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.9 in Namibia and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 42.1 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Namibia

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2100	18.7%	20.3%
2099	18.8%	20.5%
2098	18.9%	20.6%
2097	19.1%	20.8%
2096	19.2%	20.9%
2095	19.3%	21.1%
2094	19.5%	21.3%
2093	19.6%	21.4%
2092	19.7%	21.6%
2091	19.9%	21.8%
2090	20%	22%
2089	20.2%	22.2%
2088	20.3%	22.4%
2087	20.4%	22.6%
2086	20.6%	22.8%
2085	20.7%	23%
2084	20.8%	23.2%
2083	21%	23.4%
2082	21.1%	23.6%
2081	21.2%	23.8%
2080	21.4%	24%
2079	21.5%	24.2%
2078	21.6%	24.4%
2077	21.8%	24.6%
2076	21.9%	24.9%
2075	22.1%	25.1%
2074	22.2%	25.3%
2073	22.4%	25.5%
2072	22.6%	25.7%
2071	22.8%	25.9%
2070	23%	26.2%
2069	23.2%	26.4%
2068	23.4%	26.6%
2067	23.6%	26.8%
2066	23.8%	27.1%
2065	24.1%	27.3%
2064	24.3%	27.6%
2063	24.6%	27.8%
2062	24.8%	28.1%
2061	25.1%	28.4%
2060	25.3%	28.7%
2059	25.6%	29%
2058	25.8%	29.3%
2057	26.1%	29.6%
2056	26.3%	30%
2055	26.5%	30.3%
2054	26.8%	30.6%
2053	27%	31%
2052	27.2%	31.3%
2051	27.4%	31.7%
2050	27.6%	32%
2049	27.8%	32.4%
2048	28%	32.7%
2047	28.2%	33.1%
2046	28.4%	33.4%
2045	28.6%	33.7%
2044	28.9%	34%
2043	29.1%	34.2%
2042	29.3%	34.5%
2041	29.6%	34.7%
2040	29.8%	34.9%
2039	30.1%	35.2%
2038	30.4%	35.4%
2037	30.8%	35.7%
2036	31.5%	35.9%
2035	32.2%	36.2%
2034	32.7%	36.4%
2033	33.2%	36.6%
2032	33.8%	36.9%
2031	34.3%	37.2%
2030	34.9%	37.6%
2029	35.3%	38.1%
2028	35.8%	38.7%
2027	36.1%	39.3%
2026	36.5%	40%
2025	36.8%	40.6%
2024	37%	40.9%
2023	37.3%	41.3%
2022	37.5%	41.6%
2021	37.4%	41.9%
2020	37.1%	42.2%
2019	37%	42.5%
2018	36.8%	42.9%
2017	36.7%	43.3%
2016	36.5%	43.6%
2015	36.5%	43.8%
2014	36.5%	43.9%
2013	36.6%	43.9%
2012	36.6%	43.7%
2011	36.7%	43.4%
2010	36.8%	43%
2009	37.1%	42.7%
2008	37.5%	42.4%
2007	38.1%	42.1%
2006	38.7%	42%
2005	39.4%	41.9%
2004	40%	41.7%
2003	40.5%	41.5%
2002	41%	41.4%
2001	41.3%	41.5%
2000	41.5%	41.9%
1999	41.7%	42.4%
1998	41.8%	43.1%
1997	41.9%	44%
1996	42%	45%
1995	42.1%	45.9%
1994	42.2%	46.6%
1993	42.2%	47.1%
1992	42.2%	46.8%
1991	42.2%	46.6%
1990	42.3%	47.1%
1989	43.4%	47.6%
1988	44.8%	47.9%
1987	45.3%	47.9%
1986	45.8%	47.9%
1985	46.2%	48%
1984	46.6%	48.1%
1983	46.9%	48.2%
1982	47.2%	48.3%
1981	47.1%	48.4%
1980	46.6%	48.7%
1979	46.3%	48.8%
1978	45.9%	48.5%
1977	45.3%	48.3%
1976	45%	48.2%
1975	44.8%	48.1%
1974	44.6%	48.1%
1973	44.3%	48.1%
1972	44.1%	48.2%
1971	43.9%	48.2%
1970	43.8%	48.3%
1969	43.6%	48.4%
1968	43.5%	48.5%
1967	43.3%	48.5%
1966	43.2%	48.6%
1965	43%	48.7%
1964	42.9%	48.8%
1963	42.7%	48.5%
1962	42.6%	48.1%
1961	42.4%	47.7%
1960	42.2%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 37% of the population in Namibia and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 42.3% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Namibia and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Namibia vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

Namibia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2023	139	358
2022	127	368
2021	254	446
2020	143	380
2019	175	388
2018	198	386
2017	213	389
2016	250	411
2015	307	428
2014	369	468
2013	402	525
2012	439	558
2011	498	564
2010	531	567
2009	547	540
2008	537	526
2007	489	519
2006	408	480
2005	344	454
2004	282	451
2003	290	455
2002	313	418
2001	376	467
2000	384	405
1999	371	399
1998	396	368
1997	383	357
1996	387	352
1995	369	332
1994	367	332
1993	354	331
1992	346	333
1991	337	332
1990	325	353
1989	306	382
1988	342	431
1987	336	480
1986	348	525
1985	354	573

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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Namibia

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Namibia	Zimbabwe
2023	4.07%	4.42%
2022	4.2%	4.6%
2021	4.38%	4.76%
2020	4.57%	5.01%
2019	4.78%	5.11%
2018	5.01%	5.23%
2017	5.19%	5.5%
2016	5.42%	5.69%
2015	5.5%	5.98%
2014	5.31%	6.18%
2013	5.4%	6.55%
2012	5.51%	7.14%
2011	5.16%	7.88%
2010	5.08%	8.5%
2009	5.29%	9.03%
2008	5.64%	9.34%
2007	6.06%	9.47%
2006	6.49%	9.4%
2005	7.05%	9.23%
2004	7.41%	9.17%
2003	7.51%	8.85%
2002	7.61%	8.48%
2001	7.71%	9.79%
2000	7.79%	9.83%
1999	7.79%	9.92%
1998	7.7%	10%
1997	7.56%	10.1%
1996	7.39%	10%
1995	7.24%	9.83%
1994	7.13%	9.52%
1993	7.1%	9.16%
1992	7.14%	8.73%
1991	7.24%	8.33%
1990	7.39%	7.97%
1989	7.57%	7.69%
1988	7.81%	7.55%
1987	8.09%	7.61%
1986	8.43%	7.86%
1985	8.81%	8.31%
1984	9.22%	8.87%
1983	9.61%	9.5%
1982	9.93%	10.1%
1981	10.2%	10.7%
1980	10.3%	11.1%
1979	10.3%	11.3%
1978	10.3%	11.5%
1977	10.2%	11.5%
1976	10%	11.5%
1975	9.89%	11.4%
1974	9.79%	11.4%
1973	9.73%	11.4%
1972	9.68%	11.5%
1971	9.67%	11.5%
1970	9.65%	11.7%
1969	9.65%	11.8%
1968	9.64%	12.1%
1967	9.66%	12.4%
1966	-	12.7%
1965	-	13.1%
1964	-	13.5%
1963	-	14%
1962	-	14.4%
1961	-	14.8%
1960	-	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.07% in Namibia and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.