Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and United States

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs United States by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Nigeria	United States
2023	4.48	1.62
2022	4.55	1.66
2021	4.64	1.66
2020	4.7	1.64
2019	4.86	1.71
2018	5.02	1.73
2017	5.18	1.77
2016	5.34	1.82
2015	5.5	1.84
2014	5.62	1.86
2013	5.69	1.86
2012	5.8	1.88
2011	5.89	1.89
2010	5.95	1.93
2009	5.99	2
2008	6.02	2.07
2007	6.03	2.12
2006	6.05	2.11
2005	6.06	2.06
2004	6.09	2.05
2003	6.1	2.05
2002	6.12	2.02
2001	6.13	2.03
2000	6.12	2.06
1999	6.08	2.01
1998	6.07	2
1997	6.14	1.97
1996	6.22	1.98
1995	6.27	1.98
1994	6.32	2
1993	6.35	2.02
1992	6.39	2.05
1991	6.43	2.06
1990	6.46	2.08
1989	6.49	2.01
1988	6.5	1.93
1987	6.5	1.87
1986	6.56	1.84
1985	6.62	1.84
1984	6.7	1.81
1983	6.78	1.8
1982	6.8	1.83
1981	6.82	1.81
1980	6.85	1.84
1979	6.89	1.81
1978	6.92	1.76
1977	6.86	1.79
1976	6.81	1.74
1975	6.77	1.77
1974	6.7	1.84
1973	6.63	1.88
1972	6.58	2.01
1971	6.53	2.27
1970	6.47	2.48
1969	6.44	2.46
1968	6.42	2.46
1967	6.4	2.56
1966	6.39	2.72
1965	6.37	2.91
1964	6.36	3.19
1963	6.35	3.32
1962	6.36	3.46
1961	6.35	3.62
1960	6.36	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Nigeria	United States
2023	4,834,309	502,372
2022	4,739,502	399,926
2021	4,641,562	199,137
2020	4,525,164	208,862
2019	4,609,941	887,476
2018	4,659,898	955,022
2017	4,706,183	1,028,037
2016	4,761,594	1,197,627
2015	4,823,045	1,270,126
2014	4,862,319	1,357,281
2013	4,811,751	1,322,711
2012	4,774,508	1,411,822
2011	4,728,363	1,441,697
2010	4,629,173	1,548,182
2009	4,528,149	1,717,920
2008	4,412,976	1,794,154
2007	4,265,428	1,897,757
2006	4,135,703	1,849,955
2005	4,013,788	1,684,445
2004	3,877,376	1,698,271
2003	3,751,120	1,653,615
2002	3,606,814	1,581,938
2001	3,478,370	1,595,826
2000	3,343,196	1,664,758
1999	3,155,425	1,564,050
1998	3,003,946	1,573,857
1997	2,936,500	1,501,014
1996	2,882,205	1,510,137
1995	2,830,771	1,546,031
1994	2,735,198	1,633,302
1993	2,673,675	1,717,685
1992	2,596,173	1,875,328
1991	2,527,807	1,926,543
1990	2,491,928	2,026,068
1989	2,452,324	1,875,826
1988	2,376,419	1,735,943
1987	2,322,397	1,720,252
1986	2,295,003	1,656,917
1985	2,289,784	1,689,258
1984	2,278,060	1,627,192
1983	2,292,089	1,636,544
1982	2,233,401	1,714,317
1981	2,179,884	1,652,153
1980	2,121,618	1,608,450
1979	2,074,807	1,597,894
1978	2,019,621	1,402,283
1977	1,923,917	1,431,556
1976	1,827,289	1,264,604
1975	1,718,623	1,252,644
1974	1,624,813	1,218,968
1973	1,525,485	1,165,499
1972	1,448,928	1,301,355
1971	1,373,896	1,640,519
1970	1,295,507	1,824,965
1969	1,213,484	1,702,487
1968	1,168,254	1,565,507
1967	1,082,884	1,669,181
1966	1,095,582	1,749,387
1965	1,061,840	1,943,030
1964	1,028,272	2,245,099
1963	995,116	2,289,826
1962	966,452	2,406,337
1961	932,111	2,571,681
1960	901,301	2,565,530

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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs United States by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Nigeria	United States
2023	33	10.7
2022	33.2	11
2021	33.5	11
2020	33.7	10.9
2019	34.7	11.4
2018	35.7	11.6
2017	36.7	11.8
2016	37.8	12.2
2015	39	12.4
2014	39.9	12.5
2013	40.4	12.4
2012	41.1	12.6
2011	41.8	12.7
2010	42.1	13
2009	42.5	13.5
2008	42.8	14
2007	42.9	14.3
2006	43.2	14.3
2005	43.4	14
2004	43.5	14
2003	43.7	14.1
2002	43.8	14
2001	43.9	14.1
2000	43.9	14.4
1999	43.4	14.2
1998	43.2	14.3
1997	43.5	14.2
1996	43.9	14.4
1995	44.1	14.6
1994	44	15
1993	44.1	15.4
1992	44.2	15.8
1991	44.3	16.2
1990	44.5	16.7
1989	44.8	16.4
1988	44.7	16
1987	44.8	15.7
1986	45.3	15.6
1985	45.9	15.8
1984	46.5	15.6
1983	47.5	15.6
1982	47.5	15.9
1981	47.9	15.8
1980	48.3	15.9
1979	48.8	15.6
1978	49.3	15
1977	49.1	15.1
1976	49	14.6
1975	49	14.6
1974	48.7	14.8
1973	48.2	14.8
1972	48	15.6
1971	47.8	17.2
1970	47.4	18.4
1969	47.3	17.9
1968	47.2	17.6
1967	47.1	17.8
1966	47	18.4
1965	46.9	19.4
1964	46.9	21.1
1963	46.8	21.7
1962	46.7	22.4
1961	46.6	23.3
1960	46.5	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 46.5 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Nigeria	United States
2100	20.4%	14.4%
2099	20.5%	14.4%
2098	20.6%	14.4%
2097	20.7%	14.4%
2096	20.8%	14.4%
2095	20.9%	14.5%
2094	21%	14.5%
2093	21.1%	14.5%
2092	21.2%	14.5%
2091	21.4%	14.6%
2090	21.5%	14.6%
2089	21.6%	14.7%
2088	21.8%	14.7%
2087	21.9%	14.7%
2086	22.1%	14.8%
2085	22.2%	14.8%
2084	22.4%	14.8%
2083	22.6%	14.9%
2082	22.7%	14.9%
2081	22.9%	14.9%
2080	23.1%	14.9%
2079	23.3%	14.9%
2078	23.5%	14.9%
2077	23.7%	14.9%
2076	23.9%	14.9%
2075	24.1%	14.9%
2074	24.3%	14.9%
2073	24.5%	14.9%
2072	24.7%	14.9%
2071	25%	14.9%
2070	25.2%	14.9%
2069	25.4%	14.9%
2068	25.7%	14.9%
2067	25.9%	14.9%
2066	26.1%	14.9%
2065	26.4%	15%
2064	26.6%	15%
2063	26.9%	15%
2062	27.2%	15.1%
2061	27.4%	15.1%
2060	27.7%	15.2%
2059	28%	15.3%
2058	28.3%	15.4%
2057	28.6%	15.5%
2056	29%	15.5%
2055	29.3%	15.6%
2054	29.6%	15.7%
2053	30%	15.8%
2052	30.3%	15.8%
2051	30.7%	15.9%
2050	31.1%	15.9%
2049	31.5%	16%
2048	31.8%	16%
2047	32.2%	16%
2046	32.6%	16%
2045	32.9%	16%
2044	33.3%	16%
2043	33.7%	16%
2042	34%	16%
2041	34.4%	15.9%
2040	34.7%	15.9%
2039	35%	15.9%
2038	35.4%	15.9%
2037	35.7%	15.9%
2036	36%	15.9%
2035	36.3%	15.9%
2034	36.6%	15.9%
2033	37%	16%
2032	37.4%	16.1%
2031	37.8%	16.2%
2030	38.3%	16.3%
2029	38.8%	16.5%
2028	39.3%	16.6%
2027	39.8%	16.8%
2026	40.3%	17%
2025	40.8%	17.2%
2024	41%	17.3%
2023	41.5%	17.6%
2022	42%	17.9%
2021	42.4%	18.1%
2020	42.8%	18.4%
2019	43.2%	18.6%
2018	43.6%	18.8%
2017	43.9%	18.9%
2016	44.1%	19.1%
2015	44.3%	19.2%
2014	44.4%	19.3%
2013	44.5%	19.4%
2012	44.5%	19.5%
2011	44.5%	19.6%
2010	44.4%	19.7%
2009	44.4%	19.8%
2008	44.3%	19.9%
2007	44.2%	20%
2006	44.1%	20.2%
2005	44%	20.3%
2004	43.9%	20.5%
2003	43.8%	20.7%
2002	43.8%	20.9%
2001	43.7%	21%
2000	43.7%	21.2%
1999	43.8%	21.3%
1998	43.9%	21.4%
1997	44.1%	21.5%
1996	44.2%	21.7%
1995	44.4%	21.8%
1994	44.6%	21.9%
1993	44.8%	21.9%
1992	45%	21.8%
1991	45.2%	21.7%
1990	45.3%	21.6%
1989	45.5%	21.5%
1988	45.5%	21.3%
1987	45.6%	21.3%
1986	45.6%	21.3%
1985	45.5%	21.5%
1984	45.4%	21.7%
1983	45.2%	21.8%
1982	45%	22%
1981	44.8%	22.1%
1980	44.6%	22.4%
1979	44.4%	22.8%
1978	44.2%	23.2%
1977	43.9%	23.8%
1976	43.7%	24.4%
1975	43.4%	25.2%
1974	43.2%	25.9%
1973	43%	26.6%
1972	42.8%	27.4%
1971	42.5%	28%
1970	42.4%	28.6%
1969	42.2%	29%
1968	42%	29.5%
1967	41.8%	30%
1966	41.7%	30.4%
1965	41.5%	30.7%
1964	41.4%	30.9%
1963	41.2%	31.1%
1962	41.1%	31.3%
1961	41.1%	31.4%
1960	41.1%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs United States

Chart Table

Nigeria

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Nigeria	United States
2023	993	17
2022	1,016	20
2021	1,046	31
2020	1,065	22
2019	1,091	18
2018	1,118	18
2017	1,142	18
2016	1,155	18
2015	1,168	17
2014	1,155	17
2013	1,146	16
2012	1,124	16
2011	1,108	15
2010	1,094	15
2009	1,088	15
2008	1,081	14
2007	1,063	13
2006	1,067	13
2005	1,060	13
2004	1,075	13
2003	1,090	13
2002	1,117	13
2001	1,130	13
2000	1,136	12
1999	1,165	12
1998	1,189	11
1997	1,184	11
1996	1,185	11
1995	1,186	12
1994	1,193	11
1993	1,200	12
1992	1,246	11
1991	1,282	12
1990	1,285	12
1989	1,304	12
1988	1,332	12
1987	1,351	11
1986	1,363	11
1985	1,344	11

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Nigeria

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Nigeria	United States
2023	10.5%	0.65%
2022	10.8%	0.65%
2021	11.1%	0.65%
2020	11.4%	0.65%
2019	11.8%	0.65%
2018	12%	0.65%
2017	12.3%	0.66%
2016	12.5%	0.67%
2015	12.6%	0.68%
2014	12.8%	0.68%
2013	12.9%	0.69%
2012	13.1%	0.7%
2011	13.3%	0.72%
2010	13.5%	0.73%
2009	13.8%	0.75%
2008	14.1%	0.76%
2007	14.5%	0.77%
2006	15%	0.79%
2005	15.5%	0.8%
2004	16%	0.81%
2003	16.5%	0.81%
2002	17.1%	0.82%
2001	17.7%	0.83%
2000	18.2%	0.84%
1999	18.8%	0.86%
1998	19.3%	0.87%
1997	19.7%	0.89%
1996	20.1%	0.92%
1995	20.4%	0.95%
1994	20.6%	0.98%
1993	20.7%	1.01%
1992	20.8%	1.05%
1991	20.9%	1.09%
1990	21%	1.12%
1989	21%	1.16%
1988	21%	1.19%
1987	20.9%	1.21%
1986	20.9%	1.24%
1985	20.8%	1.27%
1984	20.7%	1.3%
1983	20.7%	1.34%
1982	20.8%	1.39%
1981	21%	1.44%
1980	21.3%	1.5%
1979	21.8%	1.56%
1978	22.3%	1.63%
1977	22.9%	1.71%
1976	23.6%	1.79%
1975	24.4%	1.88%
1974	25.2%	1.97%
1973	26.1%	2.06%
1972	26.9%	2.15%
1971	27.7%	2.24%
1970	28.5%	2.32%
1969	29.3%	2.41%
1968	30%	2.49%
1967	30.7%	2.57%
1966	31.3%	2.64%
1965	32%	2.71%
1964	32.7%	2.77%
1963	-	2.83%
1962	-	2.89%
1961	-	2.95%
1960	-	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.