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Fertility & birth rates in Netherlands and Rwanda

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has an annual birth rate of 9.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.3 for Rwanda. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.43 in the Netherlands and 3.7 in Rwanda — 158.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 54.2% in the Netherlands and by 55.4% in Rwanda — in 1960, it was 3.12 and 8.28, respectively.

  • The Netherlands is ranked 157/196 by birth rate compared to 38/196 for Rwanda.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.4 years in the Netherlands, compared to 23 years in Rwanda.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9 in the Netherlands — it's 30.6 in Rwanda.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.86 in the Netherlands vs 30.8 in Rwanda.
  • In the Netherlands, 21.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.2% in Rwanda.

Fertility rate in Netherlands vs Rwanda by year

Netherlands
Rwanda
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands Rwanda
2023 1.43 3.7
2022 1.49 3.78
2021 1.62 3.84
2020 1.54 3.91
2019 1.57 3.99
2018 1.59 4.05
2017 1.62 4.08
2016 1.66 4.11
2015 1.66 4.11
2014 1.71 4.12
2013 1.68 4.14
2012 1.72 4.2
2011 1.76 4.33
2010 1.79 4.52
2009 1.79 4.71
2008 1.77 4.92
2007 1.72 5.14
2006 1.72 5.34
2005 1.71 5.5
2004 1.72 5.64
2003 1.75 5.74
2002 1.73 5.82
2001 1.71 5.89
2000 1.72 5.97
1999 1.65 6.06
1998 1.63 6.17
1997 1.56 6.24
1996 1.53 6.29
1995 1.53 6.35
1994 1.57 6.42
1993 1.57 6.48
1992 1.59 6.54
1991 1.61 6.62
1990 1.62 6.8
1989 1.55 7.03
1988 1.55 7.23
1987 1.56 7.43
1986 1.55 7.61
1985 1.51 7.79
1984 1.49 7.91
1983 1.47 8
1982 1.5 8.06
1981 1.56 8.1
1980 1.6 8.12
1979 1.56 8.13
1978 1.58 8.16
1977 1.58 8.14
1976 1.63 8.12
1975 1.66 8.1
1974 1.77 8.1
1973 1.9 8.09
1972 2.15 8.09
1971 2.36 8.09
1970 2.57 8.15
1969 2.75 8.18
1968 2.72 8.19
1967 2.81 8.21
1966 2.9 8.23
1965 3.04 8.25
1964 3.17 8.27
1963 3.19 8.27
1962 3.18 8.27
1961 3.22 8.28
1960 3.12 8.28

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Netherlands was 1.43 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.7 in Rwanda in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Netherlands vs Rwanda population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Netherlands
Rwanda
1x
Year Natural population change
Netherlands Rwanda
2023 -5,363 312,762
2022 -1,770 312,145
2021 7,014 309,895
2020 0 312,692
2019 17,345 313,525
2018 15,508 312,512
2017 18,844 310,323
2016 23,843 305,549
2015 23,716 299,114
2014 35,417 292,779
2013 30,248 286,331
2012 35,186 282,584
2011 45,072 282,922
2010 48,184 286,848
2009 51,244 287,034
2008 49,337 287,334
2007 49,145 285,791
2006 49,038 282,149
2005 50,592 275,121
2004 56,987 265,273
2003 58,411 251,243
2002 59,751 239,036
2001 62,580 230,845
2000 66,887 221,276
1999 60,086 210,518
1998 61,258 197,185
1997 56,198 174,687
1996 51,251 140,455
1995 54,106 121,137
1994 61,532 -719,479
1993 58,103 183,926
1992 66,811 188,025
1991 69,321 196,431
1990 68,777 207,895
1989 59,396 217,632
1988 61,993 223,759
1987 64,526 225,744
1986 59,746 225,526
1985 55,069 223,794
1984 54,812 219,337
1983 51,722 212,750
1982 54,388 205,147
1981 62,688 195,769
1980 66,504 184,988
1979 63,172 174,477
1978 61,344 163,779
1977 63,739 155,011
1976 63,361 147,665
1975 64,232 140,596
1974 75,853 135,743
1973 84,668 131,021
1972 101,297 126,403
1971 116,112 122,567
1970 129,082 119,273
1969 139,082 115,394
1968 132,389 111,422
1967 138,580 108,053
1966 138,265 105,128
1965 146,308 103,422
1964 157,653 102,562
1963 154,361 94,296
1962 153,474 102,548
1961 159,450 102,051
1960 151,623 100,627

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | 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 -0.03% in the Netherlands and +2.24% in Rwanda.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.08% in the Netherlands and +2.45% in Rwanda.

Birth rate in Netherlands vs Rwanda by year

Netherlands
Rwanda

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Netherlands Rwanda
2023 9.2 28.3
2022 9.5 28.9
2021 10.2 29.4
2020 9.7 30
2019 9.8 30.7
2018 9.8 31.2
2017 9.9 31.7
2016 10.1 32
2015 10.1 32.1
2014 10.4 32.2
2013 10.2 32.4
2012 10.5 32.9
2011 10.8 33.8
2010 11.1 35.1
2009 11.2 36.3
2008 11.2 37.6
2007 11.1 38.8
2006 11.3 39.9
2005 11.5 40.6
2004 11.9 41.1
2003 12.3 41.4
2002 12.5 41.8
2001 12.6 42.1
2000 13 42.1
1999 12.7 42.1
1998 12.7 42.2
1997 12.3 40.5
1996 12.2 37.2
1995 12.3 39.5
1994 12.7 48
1993 12.8 41.5
1992 13 42.2
1991 13.2 42.8
1990 13.2 44.1
1989 12.7 45.3
1988 12.6 46.6
1987 12.7 47.8
1986 12.7 49
1985 12.3 50.2
1984 12.1 51.1
1983 11.8 51.8
1982 12 52.4
1981 12.5 52.7
1980 12.8 52.7
1979 12.5 52.5
1978 12.6 52.1
1977 12.5 51.6
1976 12.9 51.1
1975 13 50.4
1974 13.7 50
1973 14.5 49.4
1972 16.1 48.9
1971 17.2 48.5
1970 18.3 48.2
1969 19.2 47.9
1968 18.6 47.6
1967 18.9 47.4
1966 19.2 47.6
1965 19.9 48
1964 20.7 48.8
1963 20.9 49.8
1962 20.9 50.9
1961 21.3 52
1960 20.8 52.9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.2 in the Netherlands and 28.3 in Rwanda, compared with 20.8 and 52.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Netherlands Rwanda
Fertility rate 1.43 3.7
Fertility rate rank 159/196 38/196
Birth rate 9.2 28.3
Birth rate rank 157/196 38/196
Population change due to births and deaths -5,363 +312,762
Natural population change rank 168/196 51/196
Natural population change rate -0.03% +2.24%
Population growth +0.65% +2.16%
Population growth rank 121/197 45/197
Age at first childbirth 30.4 years 23 years
Average age at childbearing 31.9 years 30.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.61 29.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 48.8 156.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.8 65.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.7% 26.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 75.6% 58.4%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 100% 94.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.23%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 1.81%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.35% 3.05%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.4% 4%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 68.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Netherlands
Factual

UN forecast
Rwanda
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Netherlands Rwanda
2100 13.2% 18.7%
2099 13.2% 18.9%
2098 13.2% 19%
2097 13.2% 19.1%
2096 13.2% 19.3%
2095 13.2% 19.4%
2094 13.2% 19.6%
2093 13.1% 19.7%
2092 13.1% 19.9%
2091 13.1% 20%
2090 13.1% 20.2%
2089 13.1% 20.4%
2088 13.1% 20.5%
2087 13.1% 20.7%
2086 13.1% 20.9%
2085 13.2% 21.1%
2084 13.2% 21.3%
2083 13.2% 21.5%
2082 13.2% 21.7%
2081 13.3% 21.9%
2080 13.3% 22.1%
2079 13.3% 22.2%
2078 13.4% 22.4%
2077 13.4% 22.6%
2076 13.4% 22.8%
2075 13.5% 23%
2074 13.5% 23.2%
2073 13.5% 23.4%
2072 13.5% 23.6%
2071 13.6% 23.8%
2070 13.6% 24%
2069 13.6% 24.2%
2068 13.6% 24.4%
2067 13.6% 24.6%
2066 13.6% 24.9%
2065 13.6% 25.1%
2064 13.6% 25.3%
2063 13.6% 25.6%
2062 13.6% 25.8%
2061 13.6% 26.1%
2060 13.5% 26.4%
2059 13.5% 26.7%
2058 13.5% 27%
2057 13.6% 27.3%
2056 13.6% 27.6%
2055 13.6% 27.9%
2054 13.6% 28.3%
2053 13.7% 28.6%
2052 13.7% 28.9%
2051 13.8% 29.2%
2050 13.9% 29.5%
2049 13.9% 29.8%
2048 14% 30.1%
2047 14.1% 30.4%
2046 14.2% 30.7%
2045 14.3% 31%
2044 14.3% 31.2%
2043 14.4% 31.5%
2042 14.5% 31.8%
2041 14.5% 32.1%
2040 14.6% 32.4%
2039 14.6% 32.7%
2038 14.6% 33%
2037 14.6% 33.3%
2036 14.7% 33.6%
2035 14.7% 33.9%
2034 14.7% 34.2%
2033 14.7% 34.6%
2032 14.7% 34.9%
2031 14.8% 35.2%
2030 14.8% 35.6%
2029 14.8% 35.9%
2028 14.8% 36.2%
2027 14.8% 36.5%
2026 14.9% 36.9%
2025 15% 37.2%
2024 15% 37.4%
2023 15.2% 37.7%
2022 15.4% 38.2%
2021 15.5% 38.6%
2020 15.6% 39.2%
2019 15.8% 39.7%
2018 16% 40.1%
2017 16.2% 40.5%
2016 16.4% 40.9%
2015 16.6% 41.1%
2014 16.9% 41.4%
2013 17.1% 41.7%
2012 17.3% 41.9%
2011 17.4% 42.2%
2010 17.6% 42.4%
2009 17.7% 42.6%
2008 17.9% 42.8%
2007 18.1% 42.9%
2006 18.3% 42.9%
2005 18.5% 43.1%
2004 18.6% 43.3%
2003 18.7% 43.7%
2002 18.8% 44.3%
2001 18.8% 45.2%
2000 18.8% 46.4%
1999 18.7% 47.8%
1998 18.6% 49.2%
1997 18.6% 50.5%
1996 18.6% 51.4%
1995 18.6% 52.4%
1994 18.6% 50.1%
1993 18.5% 48.4%
1992 18.5% 48.7%
1991 18.4% 48.9%
1990 18.4% 49%
1989 18.4% 48.9%
1988 18.5% 48.9%
1987 18.7% 48.8%
1986 19.1% 48.6%
1985 19.5% 48.3%
1984 20.1% 48.1%
1983 20.7% 47.7%
1982 21.3% 47.4%
1981 21.8% 47.1%
1980 22.3% 46.8%
1979 22.9% 46.5%
1978 23.5% 46.4%
1977 24.2% 46.4%
1976 24.8% 46.4%
1975 25.3% 46.6%
1974 25.9% 46.9%
1973 26.4% 47.2%
1972 26.8% 47.5%
1971 27.1% 47.9%
1970 27.3% 48.2%
1969 27.5% 48.7%
1968 27.6% 49.2%
1967 27.8% 49.7%
1966 28.1% 50.2%
1965 28.3% 50.6%
1964 28.5% 50.8%
1963 28.7% 50.6%
1962 29.1% 50.2%
1961 29.7% 49.7%
1960 30% 49.2%

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/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 15% of the population in the Netherlands and 37.4% in Rwanda in 2024, compared to 18.4% and 49% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Netherlands and Rwanda compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Netherlands vs Rwanda

Netherlands
Rwanda
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Netherlands Rwanda
2023 4 229
2022 4 234
2021 5 254
2020 4 252
2019 5 261
2018 5 269
2017 5 275
2016 5 278
2015 5 292
2014 5 301
2013 6 317
2012 6 331
2011 7 358
2010 6 393
2009 7 418
2008 8 454
2007 8 494
2006 9 494
2005 10 465
2004 11 460
2003 12 551
2002 13 677
2001 13 769
2000 13 885
1999 13 1,073
1998 12 1,268
1997 13 1,318
1996 12 1,295
1995 12 1,505
1994 12 5,721
1993 12 1,619
1992 12 1,530
1991 12 1,386
1990 12 1,309
1989 12 1,238
1988 12 1,188
1987 12 1,145
1986 12 1,126
1985 12 1,116

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Netherlands, compared to 229 deaths in Rwanda.

Under-five mortality rates

Netherlands
Rwanda

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Netherlands Rwanda
2023 0.4% 4%
2022 0.4% 4.08%
2021 0.4% 4.16%
2020 0.4% 4.25%
2019 0.4% 4.34%
2018 0.4% 4.43%
2017 0.4% 4.52%
2016 0.41% 4.63%
2015 0.41% 4.78%
2014 0.41% 4.96%
2013 0.42% 5.17%
2012 0.42% 5.45%
2011 0.43% 5.81%
2010 0.44% 6.33%
2009 0.46% 6.92%
2008 0.47% 7.62%
2007 0.49% 8.45%
2006 0.51% 9.37%
2005 0.53% 10.5%
2004 0.55% 11.8%
2003 0.57% 13.3%
2002 0.59% 14.9%
2001 0.61% 16.7%
2000 0.62% 18.5%
1999 0.63% 20.2%
1998 0.64% 21.5%
1997 0.66% 22.2%
1996 0.67% 22.2%
1995 0.69% 21.8%
1994 0.71% 38.9%
1993 0.74% 19.3%
1992 0.77% 17.5%
1991 0.8% 16%
1990 0.83% 15.1%
1989 0.86% 14.8%
1988 0.89% 14.8%
1987 0.92% 15.2%
1986 0.95% 15.6%
1985 0.97% 16.1%
1984 0.99% 16.6%
1983 1.02% 17.4%
1982 1.04% 18.6%
1981 1.06% 20.1%
1980 1.09% 21.8%
1979 1.12% 23.4%
1978 1.16% 24.6%
1977 1.21% 25.1%
1976 1.26% 25.1%
1975 1.31% 24.6%
1974 1.36% 24%
1973 1.41% 23.4%
1972 1.47% 23%
1971 1.53% 22.6%
1970 1.58% 22.3%
1969 1.64% 22%
1968 1.69% 21.7%
1967 1.74% 21.4%
1966 1.79% 21.2%
1965 1.83% 21.1%
1964 1.88% 21.1%
1963 1.92% 21.3%
1962 1.97% 21.5%
1961 2.03% 21.9%
1960 2.08% 22.4%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/rwanda | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.4% in the Netherlands and 4% in Rwanda. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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