Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2023	4.48	3.79
2022	4.55	3.88
2021	4.64	3.98
2020	4.7	4.08
2019	4.86	4.19
2018	5.02	4.29
2017	5.18	4.39
2016	5.34	4.47
2015	5.5	4.55
2014	5.62	4.7
2013	5.69	4.87
2012	5.8	5.06
2011	5.89	5.21
2010	5.95	5.33
2009	5.99	5.45
2008	6.02	5.56
2007	6.03	5.64
2006	6.05	5.74
2005	6.06	5.81
2004	6.09	5.92
2003	6.1	6.09
2002	6.12	6.23
2001	6.13	6.31
2000	6.12	6.36
1999	6.08	6.42
1998	6.07	6.5
1997	6.14	6.53
1996	6.22	6.55
1995	6.27	6.56
1994	6.32	6.56
1993	6.35	6.57
1992	6.39	6.56
1991	6.43	6.55
1990	6.46	6.57
1989	6.49	6.57
1988	6.5	6.59
1987	6.5	6.61
1986	6.56	6.6
1985	6.62	6.59
1984	6.7	6.59
1983	6.78	6.57
1982	6.8	6.56
1981	6.82	6.55
1980	6.85	6.56
1979	6.89	6.58
1978	6.92	6.59
1977	6.86	6.57
1976	6.81	6.55
1975	6.77	6.55
1974	6.7	6.53
1973	6.63	6.47
1972	6.58	6.45
1971	6.53	6.43
1970	6.47	6.41
1969	6.44	6.39
1968	6.42	6.39
1967	6.4	6.38
1966	6.39	6.35
1965	6.37	6.31
1964	6.36	6.29
1963	6.35	6.26
1962	6.36	6.22
1961	6.35	6.21
1960	6.36	6.18

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2023	4,834,309	188,788
2022	4,739,502	186,625
2021	4,641,562	183,326
2020	4,525,164	181,015
2019	4,609,941	181,068
2018	4,659,898	178,772
2017	4,706,183	173,259
2016	4,761,594	168,784
2015	4,823,045	162,275
2014	4,862,319	160,137
2013	4,811,751	161,265
2012	4,774,508	160,915
2011	4,728,363	158,858
2010	4,629,173	155,338
2009	4,528,149	152,669
2008	4,412,976	149,855
2007	4,265,428	145,740
2006	4,135,703	144,127
2005	4,013,788	137,234
2004	3,877,376	132,661
2003	3,751,120	130,312
2002	3,606,814	126,429
2001	3,478,370	116,647
2000	3,343,196	110,754
1999	3,155,425	102,295
1998	3,003,946	103,906
1997	2,936,500	105,433
1996	2,882,205	104,140
1995	2,830,771	100,885
1994	2,735,198	101,486
1993	2,673,675	103,317
1992	2,596,173	103,251
1991	2,527,807	105,477
1990	2,491,928	100,778
1989	2,452,324	98,298
1988	2,376,419	96,344
1987	2,322,397	94,235
1986	2,295,003	90,902
1985	2,289,784	88,869
1984	2,278,060	87,072
1983	2,292,089	84,628
1982	2,233,401	82,457
1981	2,179,884	80,111
1980	2,121,618	77,932
1979	2,074,807	75,992
1978	2,019,621	74,130
1977	1,923,917	71,663
1976	1,827,289	69,506
1975	1,718,623	67,560
1974	1,624,813	65,357
1973	1,525,485	62,443
1972	1,448,928	60,279
1971	1,373,896	58,484
1970	1,295,507	56,513
1969	1,213,484	54,768
1968	1,168,254	53,126
1967	1,082,884	51,734
1966	1,095,582	49,486
1965	1,061,840	47,223
1964	1,028,272	45,487
1963	995,116	43,569
1962	966,452	41,603
1961	932,111	40,022
1960	901,301	38,192

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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2023	33	30.6
2022	33.2	31.1
2021	33.5	31.6
2020	33.7	32.2
2019	34.7	32.8
2018	35.7	33.3
2017	36.7	33.8
2016	37.8	34.2
2015	39	34.7
2014	39.9	35.6
2013	40.4	36.6
2012	41.1	37.8
2011	41.8	38.5
2010	42.1	39.1
2009	42.5	39.9
2008	42.8	40.6
2007	42.9	41.1
2006	43.2	41.8
2005	43.4	42
2004	43.5	42.5
2003	43.7	43.5
2002	43.8	44.3
2001	43.9	44
2000	43.9	45
1999	43.4	46.1
1998	43.2	46.3
1997	43.5	46.3
1996	43.9	46.5
1995	44.1	46.8
1994	44	46.8
1993	44.1	46.9
1992	44.2	47
1991	44.3	47.5
1990	44.5	45.5
1989	44.8	46.3
1988	44.7	46.4
1987	44.8	46.6
1986	45.3	46.6
1985	45.9	46.7
1984	46.5	46.8
1983	47.5	46.7
1982	47.5	46.8
1981	47.9	46.8
1980	48.3	46.8
1979	48.8	47
1978	49.3	47.2
1977	49.1	47.1
1976	49	47.2
1975	49	47.3
1974	48.7	47.4
1973	48.2	47.2
1972	48	47.2
1971	47.8	47.3
1970	47.4	47.4
1969	47.3	47.5
1968	47.2	47.7
1967	47.1	47.9
1966	47	48
1965	46.9	48
1964	46.9	48.2
1963	46.8	48.2
1962	46.7	48.1
1961	46.6	48.1
1960	46.5	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 46.5 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2100	20.4%	19%
2099	20.5%	19%
2098	20.6%	19.1%
2097	20.7%	19.2%
2096	20.8%	19.3%
2095	20.9%	19.5%
2094	21%	19.6%
2093	21.1%	19.7%
2092	21.2%	19.8%
2091	21.4%	19.9%
2090	21.5%	20%
2089	21.6%	20.1%
2088	21.8%	20.3%
2087	21.9%	20.4%
2086	22.1%	20.5%
2085	22.2%	20.7%
2084	22.4%	20.8%
2083	22.6%	20.9%
2082	22.7%	21.1%
2081	22.9%	21.2%
2080	23.1%	21.4%
2079	23.3%	21.6%
2078	23.5%	21.7%
2077	23.7%	21.9%
2076	23.9%	22.1%
2075	24.1%	22.2%
2074	24.3%	22.4%
2073	24.5%	22.6%
2072	24.7%	22.8%
2071	25%	23%
2070	25.2%	23.2%
2069	25.4%	23.4%
2068	25.7%	23.6%
2067	25.9%	23.8%
2066	26.1%	24%
2065	26.4%	24.3%
2064	26.6%	24.5%
2063	26.9%	24.7%
2062	27.2%	25%
2061	27.4%	25.2%
2060	27.7%	25.5%
2059	28%	25.7%
2058	28.3%	26%
2057	28.6%	26.3%
2056	29%	26.6%
2055	29.3%	26.9%
2054	29.6%	27.1%
2053	30%	27.4%
2052	30.3%	27.7%
2051	30.7%	28.1%
2050	31.1%	28.4%
2049	31.5%	28.7%
2048	31.8%	29%
2047	32.2%	29.3%
2046	32.6%	29.7%
2045	32.9%	30%
2044	33.3%	30.3%
2043	33.7%	30.7%
2042	34%	31.1%
2041	34.4%	31.4%
2040	34.7%	31.8%
2039	35%	32.2%
2038	35.4%	32.6%
2037	35.7%	33%
2036	36%	33.4%
2035	36.3%	33.8%
2034	36.6%	34.2%
2033	37%	34.6%
2032	37.4%	35%
2031	37.8%	35.4%
2030	38.3%	35.7%
2029	38.8%	36.1%
2028	39.3%	36.5%
2027	39.8%	37%
2026	40.3%	37.4%
2025	40.8%	37.9%
2024	41%	38.1%
2023	41.5%	38.5%
2022	42%	39%
2021	42.4%	39.4%
2020	42.8%	39.8%
2019	43.2%	40.2%
2018	43.6%	40.6%
2017	43.9%	41%
2016	44.1%	41.4%
2015	44.3%	41.8%
2014	44.4%	42.2%
2013	44.5%	42.5%
2012	44.5%	42.8%
2011	44.5%	43%
2010	44.4%	43.2%
2009	44.4%	43.4%
2008	44.3%	43.5%
2007	44.2%	43.6%
2006	44.1%	43.7%
2005	44%	43.8%
2004	43.9%	43.9%
2003	43.8%	43.9%
2002	43.8%	43.9%
2001	43.7%	43.9%
2000	43.7%	43.8%
1999	43.8%	43.7%
1998	43.9%	43.6%
1997	44.1%	43.5%
1996	44.2%	43.5%
1995	44.4%	43.4%
1994	44.6%	43.3%
1993	44.8%	43.2%
1992	45%	43.1%
1991	45.2%	43%
1990	45.3%	42.9%
1989	45.5%	42.9%
1988	45.5%	42.8%
1987	45.6%	42.7%
1986	45.6%	42.6%
1985	45.5%	42.5%
1984	45.4%	42.3%
1983	45.2%	42.2%
1982	45%	42.1%
1981	44.8%	42%
1980	44.6%	41.9%
1979	44.4%	41.8%
1978	44.2%	41.7%
1977	43.9%	41.6%
1976	43.7%	41.4%
1975	43.4%	41.3%
1974	43.2%	41.1%
1973	43%	40.9%
1972	42.8%	40.7%
1971	42.5%	40.6%
1970	42.4%	40.3%
1969	42.2%	40.1%
1968	42%	39.9%
1967	41.8%	39.6%
1966	41.7%	39.4%
1965	41.5%	39.1%
1964	41.4%	38.8%
1963	41.2%	38.5%
1962	41.1%	38.3%
1961	41.1%	38.3%
1960	41.1%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2023	993	354
2022	1,016	370
2021	1,046	403
2020	1,065	422
2019	1,091	464
2018	1,118	491
2017	1,142	578
2016	1,155	633
2015	1,168	730
2014	1,155	821
2013	1,146	842
2012	1,124	915
2011	1,108	967
2010	1,094	1,018
2009	1,088	1,054
2008	1,081	1,093
2007	1,063	1,132
2006	1,067	1,168
2005	1,060	1,294
2004	1,075	1,366
2003	1,090	1,433
2002	1,117	1,492
2001	1,130	1,518
2000	1,136	1,603
1999	1,165	1,731
1998	1,189	1,753
1997	1,184	1,721
1996	1,185	1,726
1995	1,186	1,777
1994	1,193	1,755
1993	1,200	1,696
1992	1,246	1,681
1991	1,282	1,699
1990	1,285	1,572
1989	1,304	1,575
1988	1,332	1,549
1987	1,351	1,533
1986	1,363	1,530
1985	1,344	1,506

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 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Nigeria	Sierra Leone
2023	10.5%	9.43%
2022	10.8%	9.77%
2021	11.1%	10.1%
2020	11.4%	10.5%
2019	11.8%	10.9%
2018	12%	11.3%
2017	12.3%	11.8%
2016	12.5%	12.3%
2015	12.6%	13.8%
2014	12.8%	13.7%
2013	12.9%	13.9%
2012	13.1%	14.5%
2011	13.3%	15.2%
2010	13.5%	15.9%
2009	13.8%	16.6%
2008	14.1%	17.3%
2007	14.5%	18.1%
2006	15%	18.8%
2005	15.5%	19.4%
2004	16%	20.1%
2003	16.5%	20.7%
2002	17.1%	21.3%
2001	17.7%	21.8%
2000	18.2%	22.4%
1999	18.8%	22.9%
1998	19.3%	23.4%
1997	19.7%	23.9%
1996	20.1%	24.3%
1995	20.4%	24.7%
1994	20.6%	25%
1993	20.7%	25.3%
1992	20.8%	25.5%
1991	20.9%	25.7%
1990	21%	25.9%
1989	21%	26.2%
1988	21%	26.4%
1987	20.9%	26.6%
1986	20.9%	26.9%
1985	20.8%	27.2%
1984	20.7%	27.5%
1983	20.7%	27.8%
1982	20.8%	28.1%
1981	21%	28.5%
1980	21.3%	28.9%
1979	21.8%	29.2%
1978	22.3%	29.6%
1977	22.9%	30%
1976	23.6%	30.5%
1975	24.4%	30.9%
1974	25.2%	31.4%
1973	26.1%	31.9%
1972	26.9%	32.3%
1971	27.7%	32.9%
1970	28.5%	33.4%
1969	29.3%	33.9%
1968	30%	34.5%
1967	30.7%	35%
1966	31.3%	35.6%
1965	32%	36.2%
1964	32.7%	36.8%
1963	-	37.4%
1962	-	38%
1961	-	38.5%
1960	-	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.