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Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and Syria

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has an annual birth rate of 33 births per 1,000 people, compared to 22.1 for Syria. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.48 in Nigeria and 2.71 in Syria — 39.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 29.6% in Nigeria and by 63.9% in Syria — in 1960, it was 6.36 and 7.51, respectively.

  • Nigeria is ranked 20/196 by birth rate compared to 61/196 for Syria.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1 in Nigeria — it's 28.8 in Syria.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 86.4 in Nigeria vs 38.9 in Syria.
  • In Nigeria, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.7% in Syria.

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs Syria by year

Nigeria
Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nigeria Syria
2023 4.48 2.71
2022 4.55 2.75
2021 4.64 2.8
2020 4.7 2.84
2019 4.86 2.88
2018 5.02 2.93
2017 5.18 2.97
2016 5.34 3.01
2015 5.5 3.07
2014 5.62 3.12
2013 5.69 3.17
2012 5.8 3.22
2011 5.89 3.29
2010 5.95 3.36
2009 5.99 3.42
2008 6.02 3.48
2007 6.03 3.54
2006 6.05 3.56
2005 6.06 3.61
2004 6.09 3.68
2003 6.1 3.76
2002 6.12 3.87
2001 6.13 3.98
2000 6.12 4.07
1999 6.08 4.14
1998 6.07 4.25
1997 6.14 4.37
1996 6.22 4.54
1995 6.27 4.7
1994 6.32 4.86
1993 6.35 4.99
1992 6.39 5.14
1991 6.43 5.34
1990 6.46 5.56
1989 6.49 5.78
1988 6.5 6
1987 6.5 6.2
1986 6.56 6.37
1985 6.62 6.48
1984 6.7 6.59
1983 6.78 6.69
1982 6.8 6.81
1981 6.82 6.97
1980 6.85 7.12
1979 6.89 7.25
1978 6.92 7.35
1977 6.86 7.42
1976 6.81 7.45
1975 6.77 7.49
1974 6.7 7.52
1973 6.63 7.55
1972 6.58 7.57
1971 6.53 7.6
1970 6.47 7.62
1969 6.44 7.59
1968 6.42 7.57
1967 6.4 7.56
1966 6.39 7.55
1965 6.37 7.53
1964 6.36 7.53
1963 6.35 7.51
1962 6.36 7.51
1961 6.35 7.5
1960 6.36 7.51

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/syria | 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 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Nigeria
Syria
1x
Year Natural population change
Nigeria Syria
2023 4,834,309 402,713
2022 4,739,502 369,750
2021 4,641,562 350,560
2020 4,525,164 327,992
2019 4,609,941 293,762
2018 4,659,898 242,530
2017 4,706,183 237,214
2016 4,761,594 236,007
2015 4,823,045 253,977
2014 4,862,319 333,116
2013 4,811,751 419,341
2012 4,774,508 475,520
2011 4,728,363 543,950
2010 4,629,173 558,666
2009 4,528,149 559,314
2008 4,412,976 576,593
2007 4,265,428 529,162
2006 4,135,703 480,616
2005 4,013,788 468,960
2004 3,877,376 461,209
2003 3,751,120 457,000
2002 3,606,814 453,967
2001 3,478,370 451,503
2000 3,343,196 446,211
1999 3,155,425 439,261
1998 3,003,946 433,447
1997 2,936,500 429,887
1996 2,882,205 430,765
1995 2,830,771 430,172
1994 2,735,198 426,996
1993 2,673,675 420,244
1992 2,596,173 412,878
1991 2,527,807 410,830
1990 2,491,928 409,177
1989 2,452,324 406,111
1988 2,376,419 404,285
1987 2,322,397 399,159
1986 2,295,003 390,821
1985 2,289,784 379,231
1984 2,278,060 366,768
1983 2,292,089 355,375
1982 2,233,401 319,664
1981 2,179,884 330,237
1980 2,121,618 332,464
1979 2,074,807 324,943
1978 2,019,621 316,724
1977 1,923,917 306,630
1976 1,827,289 294,267
1975 1,718,623 282,299
1974 1,624,813 270,735
1973 1,525,485 254,687
1972 1,448,928 249,027
1971 1,373,896 239,610
1970 1,295,507 230,117
1969 1,213,484 219,114
1968 1,168,254 209,454
1967 1,082,884 199,223
1966 1,095,582 191,122
1965 1,061,840 182,560
1964 1,028,272 174,549
1963 995,116 166,555
1962 966,452 159,155
1961 932,111 151,485
1960 901,301 143,687

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/syria | 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 +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs Syria by year

Nigeria
Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Nigeria Syria
2023 33 22.1
2022 33.2 21.2
2021 33.5 21.2
2020 33.7 20.6
2019 34.7 19.7
2018 35.7 18.9
2017 36.7 19.6
2016 37.8 19.6
2015 39 21.3
2014 39.9 23.8
2013 40.4 26.9
2012 41.1 27.7
2011 41.8 28.1
2010 42.1 28.7
2009 42.5 29.2
2008 42.8 30.5
2007 42.9 29.1
2006 43.2 28.3
2005 43.4 28.8
2004 43.5 29.1
2003 43.7 29.6
2002 43.8 30.1
2001 43.9 30.7
2000 43.9 31.2
1999 43.4 31.5
1998 43.2 32
1997 43.5 32.5
1996 43.9 33.3
1995 44.1 34
1994 44 34.6
1993 44.1 35
1992 44.2 35.4
1991 44.3 36.3
1990 44.5 37.3
1989 44.8 38.3
1988 44.7 39.4
1987 44.8 40.3
1986 45.3 41
1985 45.9 41.3
1984 46.5 41.5
1983 47.5 41.9
1982 47.5 42.2
1981 47.9 43
1980 48.3 43.7
1979 48.8 44.4
1978 49.3 44.9
1977 49.1 45.3
1976 49 45.4
1975 49 45.5
1974 48.7 45.6
1973 48.2 45.7
1972 48 45.9
1971 47.8 46.2
1970 47.4 46.5
1969 47.3 46.4
1968 47.2 46.5
1967 47.1 46.5
1966 47 46.7
1965 46.9 46.7
1964 46.9 46.9
1963 46.8 47
1962 46.7 47.2
1961 46.6 47.3
1960 46.5 47.4

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 46.5 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Nigeria Syria
Fertility rate 4.48 2.71
Fertility rate rank 15/196 64/196
Birth rate 33 22.1
Birth rate rank 20/196 61/196
Population change due to births and deaths +4,834,309 +402,713
Natural population change rank 3/196 44/196
Natural population change rate +2.12% +1.71%
Population growth +2.1% +4.57%
Population growth rank 48/197 6/197
Age at first childbirth 20.4 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 29.1 years 28.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 80.7 37.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 200.4 136.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 67.2 36.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 27.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.2% 37.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 50.7% 96.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.99% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.37% 1%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 6.01% 1.9%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 10.5% 2.06%
Life expectancy 55 years 73.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
Syria
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Nigeria Syria
2100 20.4% 15.9%
2099 20.5% 16%
2098 20.6% 16%
2097 20.7% 16.1%
2096 20.8% 16.1%
2095 20.9% 16.1%
2094 21% 16.2%
2093 21.1% 16.2%
2092 21.2% 16.2%
2091 21.4% 16.2%
2090 21.5% 16.2%
2089 21.6% 16.2%
2088 21.8% 16.2%
2087 21.9% 16.3%
2086 22.1% 16.4%
2085 22.2% 16.4%
2084 22.4% 16.5%
2083 22.6% 16.7%
2082 22.7% 16.8%
2081 22.9% 17%
2080 23.1% 17.2%
2079 23.3% 17.4%
2078 23.5% 17.6%
2077 23.7% 17.8%
2076 23.9% 18.1%
2075 24.1% 18.3%
2074 24.3% 18.6%
2073 24.5% 18.8%
2072 24.7% 19.1%
2071 25% 19.3%
2070 25.2% 19.5%
2069 25.4% 19.6%
2068 25.7% 19.8%
2067 25.9% 19.9%
2066 26.1% 20%
2065 26.4% 20.1%
2064 26.6% 20.1%
2063 26.9% 20.1%
2062 27.2% 20.2%
2061 27.4% 20.2%
2060 27.7% 20.2%
2059 28% 20.2%
2058 28.3% 20.3%
2057 28.6% 20.4%
2056 29% 20.5%
2055 29.3% 20.7%
2054 29.6% 21%
2053 30% 21.3%
2052 30.3% 21.6%
2051 30.7% 22%
2050 31.1% 22.5%
2049 31.5% 23%
2048 31.8% 23.6%
2047 32.2% 24.2%
2046 32.6% 24.8%
2045 32.9% 25.5%
2044 33.3% 26.1%
2043 33.7% 26.7%
2042 34% 27.2%
2041 34.4% 27.8%
2040 34.7% 28.2%
2039 35% 28.6%
2038 35.4% 28.9%
2037 35.7% 29%
2036 36% 29%
2035 36.3% 28.9%
2034 36.6% 28.7%
2033 37% 28.5%
2032 37.4% 28.1%
2031 37.8% 27.7%
2030 38.3% 27.4%
2029 38.8% 27.3%
2028 39.3% 27.4%
2027 39.8% 27.7%
2026 40.3% 28.1%
2025 40.8% 28.8%
2024 41% 29.2%
2023 41.5% 30.3%
2022 42% 31.9%
2021 42.4% 33.4%
2020 42.8% 34.6%
2019 43.2% 36.1%
2018 43.6% 37.9%
2017 43.9% 39.3%
2016 44.1% 40.2%
2015 44.3% 40.6%
2014 44.4% 39.8%
2013 44.5% 38%
2012 44.5% 36.5%
2011 44.5% 36.1%
2010 44.4% 36.1%
2009 44.4% 36.3%
2008 44.3% 36.3%
2007 44.2% 36.7%
2006 44.1% 38.1%
2005 44% 39.1%
2004 43.9% 39.6%
2003 43.8% 40.2%
2002 43.8% 40.8%
2001 43.7% 41.3%
2000 43.7% 41.9%
1999 43.8% 42.4%
1998 43.9% 42.9%
1997 44.1% 43.3%
1996 44.2% 43.8%
1995 44.4% 44.2%
1994 44.6% 44.7%
1993 44.8% 45.2%
1992 45% 45.7%
1991 45.2% 46.1%
1990 45.3% 46.6%
1989 45.5% 46.9%
1988 45.5% 47.2%
1987 45.6% 47.5%
1986 45.6% 47.7%
1985 45.5% 48%
1984 45.4% 48.2%
1983 45.2% 48.4%
1982 45% 48.5%
1981 44.8% 48.7%
1980 44.6% 48.7%
1979 44.4% 48.7%
1978 44.2% 48.7%
1977 43.9% 48.7%
1976 43.7% 48.6%
1975 43.4% 48.6%
1974 43.2% 48.5%
1973 43% 48.5%
1972 42.8% 48.4%
1971 42.5% 48.3%
1970 42.4% 48.2%
1969 42.2% 48%
1968 42% 47.8%
1967 41.8% 47.5%
1966 41.7% 47.3%
1965 41.5% 46.9%
1964 41.4% 46.6%
1963 41.2% 46.3%
1962 41.1% 46.1%
1961 41.1% 45.7%
1960 41.1% 45.3%

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/syria | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and Syria compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs Syria

Nigeria
Syria
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Nigeria Syria
2023 993 20
2022 1,016 21
2021 1,046 30
2020 1,065 23
2019 1,091 24
2018 1,118 21
2017 1,142 23
2016 1,155 23
2015 1,168 24
2014 1,155 25
2013 1,146 25
2012 1,124 22
2011 1,108 21
2010 1,094 19
2009 1,088 19
2008 1,081 20
2007 1,063 19
2006 1,067 20
2005 1,060 21
2004 1,075 22
2003 1,090 24
2002 1,117 26
2001 1,130 29
2000 1,136 31
1999 1,165 32
1998 1,189 34
1997 1,184 34
1996 1,185 34
1995 1,186 33
1994 1,193 32
1993 1,200 32
1992 1,246 33
1991 1,282 35
1990 1,285 37
1989 1,304 41
1988 1,332 44
1987 1,351 48
1986 1,363 52
1985 1,344 55

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/syria | 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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Nigeria
Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Nigeria Syria
2023 10.5% 2.06%
2022 10.8% 2.11%
2021 11.1% 2.1%
2020 11.4% 2.24%
2019 11.8% 2.5%
2018 12% 3.26%
2017 12.3% 3.3%
2016 12.5% 3.22%
2015 12.6% 3.7%
2014 12.8% 3.53%
2013 12.9% 3.65%
2012 13.1% 3.39%
2011 13.3% 2.17%
2010 13.5% 1.9%
2009 13.8% 1.9%
2008 14.1% 1.9%
2007 14.5% 1.92%
2006 15% 1.95%
2005 15.5% 1.98%
2004 16% 2.03%
2003 16.5% 2.09%
2002 17.1% 2.15%
2001 17.7% 2.23%
2000 18.2% 2.32%
1999 18.8% 2.42%
1998 19.3% 2.53%
1997 19.7% 2.66%
1996 20.1% 2.8%
1995 20.4% 2.94%
1994 20.6% 3.09%
1993 20.7% 3.24%
1992 20.8% 3.4%
1991 20.9% 3.55%
1990 21% 3.7%
1989 21% 3.85%
1988 21% 4.02%
1987 20.9% 4.19%
1986 20.9% 4.39%
1985 20.8% 4.6%
1984 20.7% 4.84%
1983 20.7% 5.1%
1982 20.8% 7.06%
1981 21% 6.33%
1980 21.3% 6.03%
1979 21.8% 6.4%
1978 22.3% 6.79%
1977 22.9% 7.19%
1976 23.6% 7.61%
1975 24.4% 8.03%
1974 25.2% 8.47%
1973 26.1% 8.92%
1972 26.9% 9.4%
1971 27.7% 9.91%
1970 28.5% 10.5%
1969 29.3% 11.1%
1968 30% 11.7%
1967 30.7% 12.3%
1966 31.3% 12.9%
1965 32% 13.5%
1964 32.7% 14.1%
1963 - 14.7%
1962 - 15.3%
1961 - 16.1%
1960 - 16.9%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 2.06% in Syria. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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