Nicaragua birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Nicaragua has a birth rate of 19.4 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.22 (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 Nicaragua was 7.16 children per woman — 3.23 times higher than in 2023.

Nicaragua birth rate statistics:

Nicaragua is ranked 79/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 23/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Nicaragua is 19.2 — it was 19.2 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 26, a change from 27.5 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 164.4 in 1960 to 93.5 in 2023.
27.6% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Nicaragua by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.22	88
2022	2.24	87
2021	2.27	88
2020	2.3	88
2019	2.32	90
2018	2.35	92
2017	2.38	90
2016	2.41	89
2015	2.43	88
2014	2.46	89
2013	2.49	87
2012	2.53	87
2011	2.56	88
2010	2.6	87
2009	2.63	87
2008	2.66	87
2007	2.7	85
2006	2.73	82
2005	2.77	83
2004	2.78	84
2003	2.83	86
2002	2.89	86
2001	3	84
2000	3.12	81
1999	3.22	81
1998	3.34	82
1997	3.47	81
1996	3.62	79
1995	3.78	79
1994	3.94	77
1993	4.1	76
1992	4.27	76
1991	4.43	77
1990	4.6	76
1989	4.76	74
1988	4.93	74
1987	5.07	75
1986	5.22	75
1985	5.36	74
1984	5.49	73
1983	5.61	69
1982	5.74	68
1981	5.84	67
1980	5.96	66
1979	6.07	66
1978	6.16	65
1977	6.28	63
1976	6.37	62
1975	6.45	57
1974	6.52	57
1973	6.59	53
1972	6.65	49
1971	6.71	46
1970	6.77	45
1969	6.83	42
1968	6.89	41
1967	6.94	38
1966	6.99	37
1965	7.03	34
1964	7.06	31
1963	7.08	30
1962	7.1	26
1961	7.11	28
1960	7.16	27

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

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

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Nicaragua is 2.22, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.1 — a 45.9% 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	100,921	132,214	31,293
2022	100,987	132,560	31,573
2021	89,213	133,187	43,974
2020	90,515	134,259	43,744
2019	102,817	134,911	32,094
2018	104,814	135,739	30,925
2017	105,468	136,727	31,259
2016	106,585	137,492	30,907
2015	107,344	138,048	30,704
2014	108,420	138,534	30,114
2013	109,032	138,843	29,811
2012	110,065	139,358	29,293
2011	110,026	139,418	29,392
2010	110,475	139,678	29,203
2009	110,213	139,214	29,001
2008	110,395	138,818	28,423
2007	110,341	138,398	28,057
2006	110,073	137,790	27,717
2005	108,984	136,816	27,832
2004	106,904	135,382	28,478
2003	106,142	135,094	28,952
2002	105,805	135,339	29,534
2001	107,109	137,544	30,435
2000	109,192	140,056	30,864
1999	110,217	141,100	30,883
1998	108,862	142,617	33,755
1997	114,415	144,373	29,958
1996	116,849	146,633	29,784
1995	118,325	148,253	29,928
1994	119,565	149,590	30,025
1993	120,469	150,865	30,396
1992	121,204	151,912	30,708
1991	121,787	152,690	30,903
1990	120,677	152,545	31,868
1989	120,128	152,586	32,458
1988	117,299	152,640	35,341
1987	112,885	151,819	38,934
1986	113,054	151,189	38,135
1985	110,949	150,497	39,548
1984	110,133	149,646	39,513
1983	110,618	148,529	37,911
1982	112,468	147,288	34,820
1981	110,421	145,242	34,821
1980	108,604	143,281	34,677
1979	96,429	141,077	44,648
1978	98,419	138,158	39,739
1977	100,498	135,612	35,114
1976	98,100	132,435	34,335
1975	95,230	129,176	33,946
1974	92,505	126,098	33,593
1973	89,662	122,881	33,219
1972	76,906	120,067	43,161
1971	84,139	116,879	32,740
1970	81,127	113,518	32,391
1969	78,237	110,374	32,137
1968	75,458	107,376	31,918
1967	72,722	104,473	31,751
1966	69,883	101,740	31,857
1965	67,056	99,217	32,161
1964	64,227	96,846	32,619
1963	61,738	94,580	32,842
1962	59,547	92,562	33,015
1961	57,499	90,608	33,109
1960	55,664	89,193	33,529

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

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

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Nicaragua (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.58% annually. On average, 101,708 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.48% — 100,921 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Nicaragua ranks 79/196 for absolute natural population change and 70/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Nicaragua compared to other countries

	Nicaragua	Rank
Fertility rate	2.22	88/196
Birth rate	19.4	79/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+100,921	79/196
Natural population change rate	+1.48%	70/196
Population growth	+1.36%	78/197
Age at first childbirth	19.2 years	130/137
Average age at childbearing	26 years	196/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	91.7	21/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	108.2	92/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	20.2	111/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.6%	10/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	77.4%	6/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	94.1%	128/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.06%	86/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.84%	99/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	1.03%	114/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	1.34%	104/192
Life expectancy	75.4 years	91/197

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	35.9	91.7	108.2	20.2
2025	36.5	92.6	109.4	20.7
2024	37.2	93.6	110.5	21.3
2023	37.6	94	111.1	21.7
2022	38.2	94.6	112.4	22.2
2021	38.9	95.5	113.8	22.6
2020	39.7	96.8	115.8	23.1
2019	40.4	97.8	117	23.5
2018	41.2	98.8	118.6	24
2017	42	99.9	120.3	24.5
2016	42.8	100.9	122.1	25
2015	43.5	102.2	123.6	25.4
2014	44.3	103.2	125.4	25.9
2013	45	104.2	127.1	26.3
2012	45.7	105.8	129.1	26.8
2011	46.4	107	130.8	27.2
2010	47.1	108.5	132.9	27.7
2009	47.6	108.6	135	28.2
2008	48.2	109	137.3	28.6
2007	48.7	109.6	139.8	29.1
2006	49.2	110.6	141.9	29.6
2005	49.5	111	143.4	30.3
2004	49.6	109.6	144.3	31.1
2003	50.1	109.7	146.4	32.1
2002	50.8	110.2	149.3	33.4
2001	52.3	112.6	154.4	35.4
2000	54	115.3	160.2	37.6
1999	55.1	117.8	164.3	39.5
1998	56.5	119.2	170.2	41.8
1997	58.1	121.1	177	44.3
1996	60	126.8	183.6	46.5
1995	61.7	132.2	190.3	48.9
1994	63.6	136.3	197.8	51.5
1993	65.5	141.1	205.3	54.1
1992	67.4	145.9	212.7	56.8
1991	69.2	150.6	219.8	59.5
1990	70.8	151.7	225.1	63.4
1989	72.5	152.9	232.1	66.8
1988	74.3	153.7	239.5	70
1987	75.7	154.2	245.1	72.8
1986	77.2	155.1	251	75.6
1985	78.8	156.1	257.1	78.1
1984	80.4	158.1	263.2	80
1983	81.9	160.6	269.3	81.4
1982	83.5	162.6	275.4	82.9
1981	84.7	164.4	279.4	84.1
1980	86	165.2	284.7	85.4
1979	87.1	165.8	289.7	86.4
1978	87.9	164.6	294.2	87.8
1977	88.9	165.2	298.6	90.2
1976	89.5	166.9	299.9	92.5
1975	90	167.5	302	94.7
1974	90.6	168.1	306	96.3
1973	91.1	168.6	309	97.7
1972	91.6	171.2	311	98.8
1971	91.8	169.4	315	100.8
1970	92.1	167.4	319	102.6
1969	92.4	169	321	104
1968	92.8	169.5	323	105.6
1967	93.2	168.2	325	107.3
1966	93.7	167.1	327	108.9
1965	94.2	167.2	329	110.4
1964	94.8	168.2	331	111.7
1963	95.5	168.1	332	112.8
1962	96.4	167.3	333	113.9
1961	97.2	166.6	333	114.8
1960	98.6	166.7	335	116.1

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/nicaragua | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Nicaragua by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 23% will be to women under age 20, 50.9% to women ages 20-29, and 26.1% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 24.3%, 51.9%, and 23.9%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Nicaragua	World
2100	14.2%	16.5%
2099	14.3%	16.6%
2098	14.3%	16.6%
2097	14.4%	16.7%
2096	14.4%	16.8%
2095	14.5%	16.8%
2094	14.5%	16.9%
2093	14.6%	17%
2092	14.7%	17%
2091	14.7%	17.1%
2090	14.8%	17.2%
2089	14.9%	17.2%
2088	14.9%	17.3%
2087	15%	17.4%
2086	15.1%	17.4%
2085	15.2%	17.5%
2084	15.2%	17.5%
2083	15.3%	17.6%
2082	15.4%	17.7%
2081	15.5%	17.7%
2080	15.6%	17.8%
2079	15.7%	17.8%
2078	15.8%	17.9%
2077	15.9%	17.9%
2076	16%	18%
2075	16.1%	18%
2074	16.2%	18.1%
2073	16.3%	18.2%
2072	16.4%	18.2%
2071	16.5%	18.3%
2070	16.7%	18.3%
2069	16.8%	18.4%
2068	16.9%	18.5%
2067	17.1%	18.6%
2066	17.2%	18.6%
2065	17.4%	18.7%
2064	17.6%	18.8%
2063	17.7%	18.9%
2062	17.9%	19.1%
2061	18.1%	19.2%
2060	18.2%	19.3%
2059	18.4%	19.4%
2058	18.6%	19.5%
2057	18.8%	19.6%
2056	19%	19.8%
2055	19.2%	19.9%
2054	19.4%	20%
2053	19.7%	20.1%
2052	19.9%	20.2%
2051	20.1%	20.3%
2050	20.3%	20.4%
2049	20.6%	20.5%
2048	20.8%	20.6%
2047	21.1%	20.7%
2046	21.3%	20.8%
2045	21.6%	20.9%
2044	21.8%	20.9%
2043	22.1%	21%
2042	22.4%	21.1%
2041	22.7%	21.2%
2040	23%	21.2%
2039	23.3%	21.3%
2038	23.6%	21.4%
2037	23.9%	21.5%
2036	24.2%	21.6%
2035	24.5%	21.8%
2034	24.9%	22%
2033	25.2%	22.2%
2032	25.6%	22.4%
2031	26%	22.7%
2030	26.4%	23%
2029	26.8%	23.3%
2028	27.2%	23.6%
2027	27.7%	23.9%
2026	28.1%	24.2%
2025	28.5%	24.6%
2024	28.8%	24.7%
2023	29.2%	25%
2022	29.6%	25.3%
2021	30.1%	25.6%
2020	30.4%	25.8%
2019	30.8%	26%
2018	31.1%	26.2%
2017	31.5%	26.4%
2016	31.8%	26.5%
2015	32.2%	26.6%
2014	32.6%	26.8%
2013	32.9%	26.9%
2012	33.3%	27%
2011	33.8%	27.1%
2010	34.2%	27.3%
2009	34.7%	27.5%
2008	35.2%	27.6%
2007	35.7%	27.9%
2006	36.2%	28.1%
2005	36.8%	28.5%
2004	37.5%	28.8%
2003	38.2%	29.2%
2002	38.9%	29.6%
2001	39.6%	30%
2000	40.3%	30.4%
1999	41%	30.8%
1998	41.7%	31.1%
1997	42.4%	31.5%
1996	43.1%	31.8%
1995	43.7%	32.1%
1994	44.3%	32.3%
1993	44.8%	32.5%
1992	45.2%	32.7%
1991	45.7%	32.9%
1990	46.1%	33%
1989	46.4%	33.2%
1988	46.7%	33.4%
1987	46.9%	33.6%
1986	47%	33.8%
1985	47.1%	34%
1984	47.2%	34.3%
1983	47.2%	34.6%
1982	47.3%	34.9%
1981	47.3%	35.2%
1980	47.3%	35.5%
1979	47.3%	35.9%
1978	47.3%	36.3%
1977	47.2%	36.7%
1976	47.3%	36.9%
1975	47.3%	37.1%
1974	47.3%	37.2%
1973	47.4%	37.3%
1972	47.4%	37.5%
1971	47.5%	37.6%
1970	47.5%	37.7%
1969	47.6%	37.8%
1968	47.7%	37.9%
1967	47.8%	38%
1966	47.9%	38%
1965	48.1%	38%
1964	48.2%	38%
1963	48.2%	37.8%
1962	48%	37.6%
1961	47.8%	37.5%
1960	47.6%	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/nicaragua | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Nicaragua was 47.6% in 1960, 45.2% in 1992, and 28.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Nicaragua.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Nicaragua	World
2023	60	197
2022	61	203
2021	124	242
2020	87	211
2019	69	207
2018	67	211
2017	72	215
2016	77	220
2015	81	228
2014	83	231
2013	86	235
2012	88	239
2011	93	247
2010	96	253
2009	99	258
2008	101	264
2007	106	269
2006	113	276
2005	124	283
2004	140	291
2003	154	301
2002	170	311
2001	194	321
2000	213	328
1999	228	340
1998	239	360
1997	236	358
1996	244	366
1995	251	371
1994	256	382
1993	265	389
1992	272	395
1991	273	395
1990	281	391
1989	286	401
1988	301	414
1987	316	429
1986	313	438
1985	319	460

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

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

The maternal mortality rate in Nicaragua was 60 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.06% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 71.8% 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	Nicaragua	World
2023	1.34%	2.49%
2022	1.39%	2.59%
2021	1.45%	2.66%
2020	1.51%	2.75%
2019	1.57%	2.86%
2018	1.64%	2.97%
2017	1.71%	3.11%
2016	1.78%	3.22%
2015	1.86%	3.35%
2014	1.94%	3.48%
2013	2.03%	3.61%
2012	2.13%	3.77%
2011	2.22%	3.97%
2010	2.33%	4.11%
2009	2.44%	4.31%
2008	2.55%	4.5%
2007	2.68%	4.7%
2006	2.81%	4.92%
2005	2.95%	5.16%
2004	3.1%	5.43%
2003	3.26%	5.65%
2002	3.43%	5.94%
2001	3.62%	6.21%
2000	3.82%	6.48%
1999	4.04%	6.75%
1998	5.01%	7.05%
1997	4.54%	7.28%
1996	4.81%	7.52%
1995	5.09%	7.76%
1994	5.39%	7.98%
1993	5.69%	8.19%
1992	6%	8.46%
1991	6.31%	8.66%
1990	6.62%	8.81%
1989	6.92%	9.02%
1988	7.22%	9.31%
1987	7.53%	9.47%
1986	7.85%	9.81%
1985	8.21%	10.1%
1984	8.62%	10.4%
1983	9.07%	10.6%
1982	9.58%	10.8%
1981	10.2%	11%
1980	10.8%	11.4%
1979	11.5%	11.7%
1978	12.2%	12.2%
1977	12.9%	12.6%
1976	13.7%	13%
1975	14.4%	13.4%
1974	15%	13.8%
1973	15.6%	14.1%
1972	18.7%	14.5%
1971	16.6%	15.1%
1970	17.1%	15.2%
1969	17.4%	15.4%
1968	17.8%	15.6%
1967	18.1%	15.9%
1966	18.4%	16.1%
1965	18.7%	16.4%
1964	19%	16.6%
1963	19.2%	16.5%
1962	19.4%	16.7%
1961	19.6%	17%
1960	19.8%	17.2%

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

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

The under-5 mortality rate in Nicaragua was 13.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1.34% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 38.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.