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Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and Portugal

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has an annual birth rate of 33 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.1 for Portugal. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.48 in Nigeria and 1.44 in Portugal — 67.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 29.6% in Nigeria and by 54.4% in Portugal — in 1960, it was 6.36 and 3.16, respectively.

  • Nigeria is ranked 20/196 by birth rate compared to 175/196 for Portugal.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.4 years in Nigeria, compared to 30.2 years in Portugal.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1 in Nigeria — it's 32.1 in Portugal.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 86.4 in Nigeria vs 6.99 in Portugal.
  • In Nigeria, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 20.6% in Portugal.

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs Portugal by year

Nigeria
Portugal
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nigeria Portugal
2023 4.48 1.44
2022 4.55 1.43
2021 4.64 1.35
2020 4.7 1.42
2019 4.86 1.44
2018 5.02 1.42
2017 5.18 1.38
2016 5.34 1.37
2015 5.5 1.31
2014 5.62 1.24
2013 5.69 1.21
2012 5.8 1.28
2011 5.89 1.35
2010 5.95 1.39
2009 5.99 1.34
2008 6.02 1.39
2007 6.03 1.35
2006 6.05 1.37
2005 6.06 1.41
2004 6.09 1.4
2003 6.1 1.44
2002 6.12 1.46
2001 6.13 1.45
2000 6.12 1.55
1999 6.08 1.5
1998 6.07 1.47
1997 6.14 1.47
1996 6.22 1.44
1995 6.27 1.41
1994 6.32 1.45
1993 6.35 1.52
1992 6.39 1.54
1991 6.43 1.56
1990 6.46 1.56
1989 6.49 1.57
1988 6.5 1.61
1987 6.5 1.62
1986 6.56 1.66
1985 6.62 1.72
1984 6.7 1.9
1983 6.78 1.95
1982 6.8 2.07
1981 6.82 2.13
1980 6.85 2.25
1979 6.89 2.31
1978 6.92 2.45
1977 6.86 2.69
1976 6.81 2.82
1975 6.77 2.75
1974 6.7 2.7
1973 6.63 2.77
1972 6.58 2.86
1971 6.53 3
1970 6.47 3.01
1969 6.44 3.12
1968 6.42 3.12
1967 6.4 3.16
1966 6.39 3.16
1965 6.37 3.15
1964 6.36 3.21
1963 6.35 3.12
1962 6.36 3.23
1961 6.35 3.21
1960 6.36 3.16

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.44 in Portugal in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Nigeria vs Portugal population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Nigeria
Portugal
1x
Year Natural population change
Nigeria Portugal
2023 4,834,309 -32,792
2022 4,739,502 -40,694
2021 4,641,562 -45,592
2020 4,525,164 -39,129
2019 4,609,941 -24,687
2018 4,659,898 -25,709
2017 4,706,183 -23,691
2016 4,761,594 -23,749
2015 4,823,045 -23,823
2014 4,862,319 -22,882
2013 4,811,751 -24,052
2012 4,774,508 -17,875
2011 4,728,363 -5,279
2010 4,629,173 -4,230
2009 4,528,149 -5,284
2008 4,412,976 0
2007 4,265,428 -1,055
2006 4,135,703 3,156
2005 4,013,788 2,101
2004 3,877,376 7,339
2003 3,751,120 4,184
2002 3,606,814 8,335
2001 3,478,370 8,290
2000 3,343,196 15,435
1999 3,155,425 8,175
1998 3,003,946 7,112
1997 2,936,500 8,087
1996 2,882,205 4,026
1995 2,830,771 4,011
1994 2,735,198 9,991
1993 2,673,675 7,972
1992 2,596,173 13,933
1991 2,527,807 12,948
1990 2,491,928 13,976
1989 2,452,324 22,011
1988 2,376,419 24,047
1987 2,322,397 28,084
1986 2,295,003 31,102
1985 2,289,784 33,077
1984 2,278,060 45,983
1983 2,292,089 47,798
1982 2,233,401 58,479
1981 2,179,884 56,152
1980 2,121,618 63,481
1979 2,074,807 67,628
1978 2,019,621 70,731
1977 1,923,917 84,156
1976 1,827,289 85,138
1975 1,718,623 81,841
1974 1,624,813 74,412
1973 1,525,485 76,835
1972 1,448,928 83,715
1971 1,373,896 82,980
1970 1,295,507 87,672
1969 1,213,484 89,329
1968 1,168,254 100,737
1967 1,082,884 106,495
1966 1,095,582 107,171
1965 1,061,840 115,182
1964 1,028,272 120,170
1963 995,116 113,783
1962 966,452 123,217
1961 932,111 117,867
1960 901,301 118,693

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | 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 +2.12% in Nigeria and -0.31% in Portugal.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and -0.29% in Portugal.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs Portugal by year

Nigeria
Portugal

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Nigeria Portugal
2023 33 8.1
2022 33.2 8
2021 33.5 7.6
2020 33.7 8.1
2019 34.7 8.4
2018 35.7 8.4
2017 36.7 8.3
2016 37.8 8.4
2015 39 8.2
2014 39.9 7.9
2013 40.4 7.9
2012 41.1 8.5
2011 41.8 9.2
2010 42.1 9.6
2009 42.5 9.4
2008 42.8 9.9
2007 42.9 9.7
2006 43.2 10
2005 43.4 10.4
2004 43.5 10.4
2003 43.7 10.8
2002 43.8 11
2001 43.9 10.9
2000 43.9 11.7
1999 43.4 11.4
1998 43.2 11.2
1997 43.5 11.2
1996 43.9 11
1995 44.1 10.7
1994 44 10.9
1993 44.1 11.4
1992 44.2 11.5
1991 44.3 11.7
1990 44.5 11.7
1989 44.8 11.8
1988 44.7 12.2
1987 44.8 12.3
1986 45.3 12.6
1985 45.9 13
1984 46.5 14.3
1983 47.5 14.5
1982 47.5 15.2
1981 47.9 15.4
1980 48.3 16.2
1979 48.8 16.6
1978 49.3 17.5
1977 49.1 19.1
1976 49 20
1975 49 19.8
1974 48.7 19.6
1973 48.2 20
1972 48 20.2
1971 47.8 21
1970 47.4 20.8
1969 47.3 21.7
1968 47.2 22.1
1967 47.1 22.8
1966 47 23.2
1965 46.9 23.4
1964 46.9 24
1963 46.8 23.5
1962 46.7 24.5
1961 46.6 24.4
1960 46.5 24.1

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 8.1 in Portugal, compared with 46.5 and 24.1, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Nigeria Portugal
Fertility rate 4.48 1.44
Fertility rate rank 15/196 157/196
Birth rate 33 8.1
Birth rate rank 20/196 175/196
Population change due to births and deaths +4,834,309 -32,792
Natural population change rank 3/196 179/196
Natural population change rate +2.12% -0.31%
Population growth +2.1% +1.1%
Population growth rank 48/197 94/197
Age at first childbirth 20.4 years 30.2 years
Average age at childbearing 29.1 years 32.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 80.7 5.74
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 200.4 48.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 67.2 14.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 20.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.2% 37.7%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 50.7% 98.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.99% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.37% 0.16%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 6.01% 0.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 10.5% 0.32%
Life expectancy 55 years 82.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
Portugal
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Nigeria Portugal
2100 20.4% 13.8%
2099 20.5% 13.8%
2098 20.6% 13.8%
2097 20.7% 13.8%
2096 20.8% 13.9%
2095 20.9% 13.9%
2094 21% 13.9%
2093 21.1% 14%
2092 21.2% 14%
2091 21.4% 14%
2090 21.5% 14.1%
2089 21.6% 14.1%
2088 21.8% 14.1%
2087 21.9% 14.1%
2086 22.1% 14.2%
2085 22.2% 14.2%
2084 22.4% 14.2%
2083 22.6% 14.2%
2082 22.7% 14.2%
2081 22.9% 14.2%
2080 23.1% 14.2%
2079 23.3% 14.2%
2078 23.5% 14.2%
2077 23.7% 14.1%
2076 23.9% 14.1%
2075 24.1% 14.1%
2074 24.3% 14%
2073 24.5% 14%
2072 24.7% 13.9%
2071 25% 13.9%
2070 25.2% 13.8%
2069 25.4% 13.8%
2068 25.7% 13.7%
2067 25.9% 13.7%
2066 26.1% 13.6%
2065 26.4% 13.6%
2064 26.6% 13.5%
2063 26.9% 13.5%
2062 27.2% 13.5%
2061 27.4% 13.5%
2060 27.7% 13.5%
2059 28% 13.5%
2058 28.3% 13.5%
2057 28.6% 13.5%
2056 29% 13.5%
2055 29.3% 13.5%
2054 29.6% 13.5%
2053 30% 13.5%
2052 30.3% 13.5%
2051 30.7% 13.5%
2050 31.1% 13.5%
2049 31.5% 13.5%
2048 31.8% 13.4%
2047 32.2% 13.4%
2046 32.6% 13.4%
2045 32.9% 13.3%
2044 33.3% 13.3%
2043 33.7% 13.2%
2042 34% 13.1%
2041 34.4% 13.1%
2040 34.7% 13%
2039 35% 13%
2038 35.4% 13%
2037 35.7% 12.9%
2036 36% 12.8%
2035 36.3% 12.8%
2034 36.6% 12.7%
2033 37% 12.7%
2032 37.4% 12.7%
2031 37.8% 12.7%
2030 38.3% 12.7%
2029 38.8% 12.6%
2028 39.3% 12.6%
2027 39.8% 12.6%
2026 40.3% 12.7%
2025 40.8% 12.8%
2024 41% 12.8%
2023 41.5% 12.9%
2022 42% 13%
2021 42.4% 13.1%
2020 42.8% 13.3%
2019 43.2% 13.5%
2018 43.6% 13.7%
2017 43.9% 13.9%
2016 44.1% 14.1%
2015 44.3% 14.3%
2014 44.4% 14.6%
2013 44.5% 14.8%
2012 44.5% 14.9%
2011 44.5% 15%
2010 44.4% 15.2%
2009 44.4% 15.4%
2008 44.3% 15.5%
2007 44.2% 15.6%
2006 44.1% 15.8%
2005 44% 15.9%
2004 43.9% 16%
2003 43.8% 16.1%
2002 43.8% 16.1%
2001 43.7% 16.2%
2000 43.7% 16.4%
1999 43.8% 16.6%
1998 43.9% 16.8%
1997 44.1% 17.1%
1996 44.2% 17.4%
1995 44.4% 17.8%
1994 44.6% 18.2%
1993 44.8% 18.6%
1992 45% 19.1%
1991 45.2% 19.7%
1990 45.3% 20.5%
1989 45.5% 21.2%
1988 45.5% 21.9%
1987 45.6% 22.5%
1986 45.6% 23.1%
1985 45.5% 23.7%
1984 45.4% 24.1%
1983 45.2% 24.5%
1982 45% 25%
1981 44.8% 25.4%
1980 44.6% 25.9%
1979 44.4% 26.4%
1978 44.2% 26.8%
1977 43.9% 27.1%
1976 43.7% 27.2%
1975 43.4% 27.4%
1974 43.2% 27.7%
1973 43% 27.9%
1972 42.8% 28.2%
1971 42.5% 28.4%
1970 42.4% 28.7%
1969 42.2% 29.1%
1968 42% 29.2%
1967 41.8% 29.2%
1966 41.7% 29.2%
1965 41.5% 29.1%
1964 41.4% 29.1%
1963 41.2% 29.1%
1962 41.1% 29.1%
1961 41.1% 29.1%
1960 41.1% 29.3%

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/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 12.8% in Portugal in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 20.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and Portugal compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs Portugal

Nigeria
Portugal
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Nigeria Portugal
2023 993 15
2022 1,016 16
2021 1,046 19
2020 1,065 14
2019 1,091 15
2018 1,118 14
2017 1,142 13
2016 1,155 12
2015 1,168 11
2014 1,155 11
2013 1,146 10
2012 1,124 10
2011 1,108 10
2010 1,094 10
2009 1,088 9
2008 1,081 9
2007 1,063 8
2006 1,067 8
2005 1,060 8
2004 1,075 8
2003 1,090 8
2002 1,117 9
2001 1,130 9
2000 1,136 9
1999 1,165 10
1998 1,189 11
1997 1,184 12
1996 1,185 12
1995 1,186 12
1994 1,193 13
1993 1,200 15
1992 1,246 16
1991 1,282 17
1990 1,285 17
1989 1,304 18
1988 1,332 18
1987 1,351 19
1986 1,363 19
1985 1,344 20

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 993 deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria, compared to 15 deaths in Portugal.

Under-five mortality rates

Nigeria
Portugal

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Nigeria Portugal
2023 10.5% 0.32%
2022 10.8% 0.32%
2021 11.1% 0.33%
2020 11.4% 0.34%
2019 11.8% 0.35%
2018 12% 0.35%
2017 12.3% 0.36%
2016 12.5% 0.36%
2015 12.6% 0.36%
2014 12.8% 0.36%
2013 12.9% 0.36%
2012 13.1% 0.37%
2011 13.3% 0.37%
2010 13.5% 0.38%
2009 13.8% 0.39%
2008 14.1% 0.4%
2007 14.5% 0.42%
2006 15% 0.44%
2005 15.5% 0.47%
2004 16% 0.5%
2003 16.5% 0.55%
2002 17.1% 0.61%
2001 17.7% 0.66%
2000 18.2% 0.72%
1999 18.8% 0.77%
1998 19.3% 0.82%
1997 19.7% 0.86%
1996 20.1% 0.92%
1995 20.4% 0.98%
1994 20.6% 1.05%
1993 20.7% 1.14%
1992 20.8% 1.25%
1991 20.9% 1.36%
1990 21% 1.47%
1989 21% 1.59%
1988 21% 1.7%
1987 20.9% 1.82%
1986 20.9% 1.93%
1985 20.8% 2.04%
1984 20.7% 2.16%
1983 20.7% 2.29%
1982 20.8% 2.43%
1981 21% 2.58%
1980 21.3% 2.75%
1979 21.8% 2.97%
1978 22.3% 3.24%
1977 22.9% 3.57%
1976 23.6% 3.94%
1975 24.4% 4.35%
1974 25.2% 4.79%
1973 26.1% 5.27%
1972 26.9% 5.78%
1971 27.7% 6.3%
1970 28.5% 6.81%
1969 29.3% 7.22%
1968 30% 7.51%
1967 30.7% 7.76%
1966 31.3% 8.09%
1965 32% 8.53%
1964 32.7% 9.1%
1963 - 9.76%
1962 - 10.4%
1961 - 11%
1960 - 11.4%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/portugal | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 0.32% in Portugal. 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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