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Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and Senegal

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has an annual birth rate of 33 births per 1,000 people, compared to 29.4 for Senegal. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.48 in Nigeria and 3.82 in Senegal — 14.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -29.6% in Nigeria and by -45.4% in Senegal — in 1960, it was 6.36 and 7, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Nigeria is ranked 20/196 by birth rate compared to 34/196 for Senegal.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.4 years in Nigeria, compared to 21.9 years in Senegal.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.2 in Nigeria — it's 29.9 in Senegal.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 86.4 in Nigeria vs 60.2 in Senegal.
  • In Nigeria, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Senegal.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.12% in Nigeria and +2.38% in Senegal.

Birth rate data compared

Nigeria Senegal
Fertility rate 4.48 3.82
Birth rate 33 29.4
Birth rate rank 20/196 34/196
Age at first childbirth 20.4 years 21.9 years
Average age at childbearing 29.2 years 29.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 81.8 58.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 199.7 165.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 68.4 65.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.2% 25.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 50.7% 74.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.99% 0.24%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.37% 2.23%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 6.01% 3.02%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 10.5% 3.85%
Population change due to births and deaths +4,834,309 +431,006
Natural population change rank 3/196 39/196
Natural population change rate +2.12% +2.38%
Population growth +2.1% +2.35%
Population growth rank 50/197 37/197
Life expectancy 54.8 years 69.2 years

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs Senegal chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.82 in Senegal in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
Senegal
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Nigeria Senegal
1960 6.36 7
1961 6.35 7.04
1962 6.36 7.08
1963 6.35 7.12
1964 6.36 7.16
1965 6.37 7.19
1966 6.39 7.22
1967 6.4 7.24
1968 6.42 7.25
1969 6.44 7.26
1970 6.47 7.26
1971 6.53 7.26
1972 6.58 7.26
1973 6.63 7.26
1974 6.7 7.25
1975 6.77 7.25
1976 6.81 7.26
1977 6.86 7.27
1978 6.92 7.28
1979 6.89 7.29
1980 6.85 7.29
1981 6.82 7.28
1982 6.8 7.25
1983 6.78 7.19
1984 6.7 7.11
1985 6.62 7.01
1986 6.56 6.9
1987 6.5 6.79
1988 6.5 6.58
1989 6.49 6.48
1990 6.46 6.4
1991 6.43 6.27
1992 6.39 6.15
1993 6.35 6.05
1994 6.32 5.92
1995 6.27 5.82
1996 6.22 5.72
1997 6.14 5.64
1998 6.07 5.58
1999 6.08 5.57
2000 6.12 5.5
2001 6.13 5.4
2002 6.12 5.3
2003 6.1 5.25
2004 6.09 5.19
2005 6.06 5.13
2006 6.05 5.06
2007 6.03 5.02
2008 6.02 5.02
2009 5.99 5.03
2010 5.95 5.06
2011 5.89 5.1
2012 5.8 5.13
2013 5.69 5.05
2014 5.62 4.88
2015 5.5 4.75
2016 5.34 4.65
2017 5.18 4.49
2018 5.02 4.29
2019 4.86 4.1
2020 4.7 4
2021 4.64 3.94
2022 4.55 3.86
2023 4.48 3.82
2024 4.38 3.76
2025 4.3 3.71
2026 4.2 3.66
2027 4.1 3.61
2028 4.01 3.57
2029 3.92 3.53
2030 3.82 3.49
2031 3.73 3.44
2032 3.65 3.4
2033 3.56 3.35
2034 3.48 3.32
2035 3.41 3.28
2036 3.34 3.24
2037 3.27 3.22
2038 3.21 3.17
2039 3.16 3.15
2040 3.1 3.11
2041 3.04 3.08
2042 2.99 3.05
2043 2.94 3.02
2044 2.89 2.99
2045 2.85 2.96
2046 2.8 2.93
2047 2.76 2.9
2048 2.73 2.87
2049 2.69 2.85
2050 2.66 2.82

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
Senegal
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Nigeria Senegal
1960 41.1% 44.2%
1961 41.1% 44.3%
1962 41.1% 44.3%
1963 41.2% 44.3%
1964 41.4% 44.3%
1965 41.5% 44.3%
1966 41.7% 44.3%
1967 41.8% 44.3%
1968 42% 44.2%
1969 42.2% 44.2%
1970 42.4% 44.2%
1971 42.5% 44.2%
1972 42.8% 44.2%
1973 43% 44.3%
1974 43.2% 44.4%
1975 43.4% 44.6%
1976 43.7% 44.8%
1977 43.9% 45.2%
1978 44.2% 45.6%
1979 44.4% 46%
1980 44.6% 46.4%
1981 44.8% 46.7%
1982 45% 46.9%
1983 45.2% 47.1%
1984 45.4% 47.2%
1985 45.5% 47.3%
1986 45.6% 47.3%
1987 45.6% 47.2%
1988 45.5% 47%
1989 45.5% 46.9%
1990 45.3% 46.6%
1991 45.2% 46.4%
1992 45% 46.1%
1993 44.8% 45.8%
1994 44.6% 45.4%
1995 44.4% 45.1%
1996 44.2% 44.9%
1997 44.1% 44.6%
1998 43.9% 44.4%
1999 43.8% 44.2%
2000 43.7% 43.9%
2001 43.7% 43.7%
2002 43.8% 43.5%
2003 43.8% 43.2%
2004 43.9% 43.1%
2005 44% 42.9%
2006 44.1% 42.8%
2007 44.2% 42.7%
2008 44.3% 42.7%
2009 44.4% 42.7%
2010 44.4% 42.7%
2011 44.5% 42.7%
2012 44.5% 42.7%
2013 44.5% 42.7%
2014 44.4% 42.6%
2015 44.3% 42.4%
2016 44.1% 42.1%
2017 43.9% 41.8%
2018 43.6% 41.3%
2019 43.2% 40.9%
2020 42.8% 40.3%
2021 42.4% 39.8%
2022 42% 39.2%
2023 41.5% 38.6%
2024 41% 38.2%
2025 40.5% 37.7%
2026 40% 37.3%
2027 39.5% 36.9%
2028 39% 36.6%
2029 38.5% 36.2%
2030 38% 35.9%
2031 37.6% 35.6%
2032 37.2% 35.4%
2033 36.8% 35.1%
2034 36.5% 34.9%
2035 36.2% 34.6%
2036 35.9% 34.4%
2037 35.5% 34.1%
2038 35.2% 33.9%
2039 34.9% 33.5%
2040 34.5% 33.2%
2041 34.2% 32.9%
2042 33.8% 32.6%
2043 33.5% 32.2%
2044 33.1% 31.9%
2045 32.8% 31.5%
2046 32.4% 31.2%
2047 32% 30.8%
2048 31.6% 30.5%
2049 31.3% 30.2%
2050 30.9% 29.8%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 38.2% in Senegal in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and Senegal compared.

Natural population change in Nigeria vs Senegal by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +2.55% in Senegal. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Nigeria
Senegal

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Nigeria Senegal
1960 901,301 84,735
1961 932,111 87,322
1962 966,452 89,937
1963 995,116 92,264
1964 1,028,272 94,797
1965 1,061,840 97,912
1966 1,095,582 101,359
1967 1,082,884 104,824
1968 1,168,254 108,240
1969 1,213,484 112,393
1970 1,295,507 117,264
1971 1,373,896 122,511
1972 1,448,928 128,024
1973 1,525,485 133,834
1974 1,624,813 139,974
1975 1,718,623 147,311
1976 1,827,289 154,776
1977 1,923,917 161,636
1978 2,019,621 167,744
1979 2,074,807 173,425
1980 2,121,618 179,707
1981 2,179,884 185,917
1982 2,233,401 191,309
1983 2,292,089 197,673
1984 2,278,060 203,125
1985 2,289,784 208,218
1986 2,295,003 212,887
1987 2,322,397 218,522
1988 2,376,419 221,772
1989 2,452,324 227,797
1990 2,491,928 234,155
1991 2,527,807 237,713
1992 2,596,173 241,482
1993 2,673,675 245,742
1994 2,735,198 249,115
1995 2,830,771 252,552
1996 2,882,205 255,418
1997 2,936,500 261,200
1998 3,003,946 267,404
1999 3,155,425 277,944
2000 3,343,196 283,946
2001 3,478,370 289,690
2002 3,606,814 298,842
2003 3,751,120 308,856
2004 3,877,376 317,286
2005 4,013,788 323,908
2006 4,135,703 331,364
2007 4,265,428 339,963
2008 4,412,976 351,661
2009 4,528,149 362,238
2010 4,629,173 372,934
2011 4,728,363 387,290
2012 4,774,508 402,243
2013 4,811,751 406,582
2014 4,862,319 405,019
2015 4,823,045 407,008
2016 4,761,594 411,480
2017 4,706,183 410,366
2018 4,659,898 405,454
2019 4,609,941 399,436
2020 4,525,164 400,910
2021 4,641,562 403,019
2022 4,739,502 415,507
2023 4,834,309 431,006

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs Senegal

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 237 deaths in Senegal.

Nigeria
Senegal
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Nigeria Senegal
1985 1,344 899
1986 1,363 820
1987 1,351 760
1988 1,332 709
1989 1,304 662
1990 1,285 640
1991 1,282 616
1992 1,246 598
1993 1,200 589
1994 1,193 579
1995 1,186 586
1996 1,185 601
1997 1,184 599
1998 1,189 605
1999 1,165 602
2000 1,136 581
2001 1,130 560
2002 1,117 531
2003 1,090 520
2004 1,075 501
2005 1,060 488
2006 1,067 462
2007 1,063 457
2008 1,081 463
2009 1,088 441
2010 1,094 436
2011 1,108 415
2012 1,124 405
2013 1,146 385
2014 1,155 373
2015 1,168 357
2016 1,155 345
2017 1,142 325
2018 1,118 305
2019 1,091 286
2020 1,065 252
2021 1,046 263
2022 1,016 228
2023 993 237

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 3.85% in Senegal. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Nigeria
Senegal

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
Nigeria Senegal
1960 - 29.3%
1961 - 29.4%
1962 - 29.5%
1963 - 29.6%
1964 32.7% 29.7%
1965 32% 29.7%
1966 31.3% 29.7%
1967 30.7% 29.6%
1968 30% 29.4%
1969 29.3% 29.2%
1970 28.5% 28.8%
1971 27.7% 28.4%
1972 26.9% 27.8%
1973 26.1% 27%
1974 25.2% 26.2%
1975 24.4% 25.3%
1976 23.6% 24.2%
1977 22.9% 23.1%
1978 22.3% 22.1%
1979 21.8% 21.2%
1980 21.3% 20.4%
1981 21% 19.7%
1982 20.8% 19.1%
1983 20.7% 18.5%
1984 20.7% 17.9%
1985 20.8% 17.1%
1986 20.9% 16.3%
1987 20.9% 15.4%
1988 21% 14.7%
1989 21% 14.1%
1990 21% 13.7%
1991 20.9% 13.6%
1992 20.8% 13.5%
1993 20.7% 13.6%
1994 20.6% 13.7%
1995 20.4% 13.8%
1996 20.1% 13.8%
1997 19.7% 13.9%
1998 19.3% 13.7%
1999 18.8% 13.4%
2000 18.2% 12.9%
2001 17.7% 12.2%
2002 17.1% 11.4%
2003 16.5% 10.5%
2004 16% 9.59%
2005 15.5% 8.8%
2006 15% 8.11%
2007 14.5% 7.52%
2008 14.1% 7.03%
2009 13.8% 6.63%
2010 13.5% 6.3%
2011 13.3% 6.01%
2012 13.1% 5.77%
2013 12.9% 5.57%
2014 12.8% 5.39%
2015 12.6% 5.24%
2016 12.5% 5.11%
2017 12.3% 4.97%
2018 12% 4.82%
2019 11.8% 4.65%
2020 11.4% 4.46%
2021 11.1% 4.25%
2022 10.8% 4.04%
2023 10.5% 3.85%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Nigeria vs Senegal
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