Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and Zambia

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Nigeria	Zambia
2023	4.48	4.1
2022	4.55	4.18
2021	4.64	4.25
2020	4.7	4.32
2019	4.86	4.42
2018	5.02	4.49
2017	5.18	4.57
2016	5.34	4.67
2015	5.5	4.78
2014	5.62	4.89
2013	5.69	5.01
2012	5.8	5.14
2011	5.89	5.26
2010	5.95	5.36
2009	5.99	5.45
2008	6.02	5.53
2007	6.03	5.61
2006	6.05	5.68
2005	6.06	5.7
2004	6.09	5.7
2003	6.1	5.71
2002	6.12	5.77
2001	6.13	5.85
2000	6.12	5.92
1999	6.08	6
1998	6.07	6.07
1997	6.14	6.12
1996	6.22	6.18
1995	6.27	6.23
1994	6.32	6.26
1993	6.35	6.3
1992	6.39	6.35
1991	6.43	6.46
1990	6.46	6.57
1989	6.49	6.64
1988	6.5	6.7
1987	6.5	6.8
1986	6.56	6.87
1985	6.62	6.93
1984	6.7	6.97
1983	6.78	7.01
1982	6.8	7.04
1981	6.82	7.07
1980	6.85	7.14
1979	6.89	7.22
1978	6.92	7.29
1977	6.86	7.35
1976	6.81	7.39
1975	6.77	7.42
1974	6.7	7.36
1973	6.63	7.34
1972	6.58	7.3
1971	6.53	7.26
1970	6.47	7.22
1969	6.44	7.18
1968	6.42	7.18
1967	6.4	7.15
1966	6.39	7.14
1965	6.37	7.12
1964	6.36	7.09
1963	6.35	7.06
1962	6.36	7.01
1961	6.35	6.98
1960	6.36	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Nigeria	Zambia
2023	4,834,309	577,660
2022	4,739,502	563,456
2021	4,641,562	535,629
2020	4,525,164	536,484
2019	4,609,941	528,089
2018	4,659,898	515,644
2017	4,706,183	504,630
2016	4,761,594	497,521
2015	4,823,045	491,021
2014	4,862,319	483,663
2013	4,811,751	476,846
2012	4,774,508	469,406
2011	4,728,363	459,743
2010	4,629,173	448,337
2009	4,528,149	434,458
2008	4,412,976	419,560
2007	4,265,428	403,729
2006	4,135,703	387,891
2005	4,013,788	368,756
2004	3,877,376	349,352
2003	3,751,120	331,189
2002	3,606,814	316,041
2001	3,478,370	302,682
2000	3,343,196	293,186
1999	3,155,425	283,297
1998	3,003,946	275,568
1997	2,936,500	268,198
1996	2,882,205	262,468
1995	2,830,771	257,897
1994	2,735,198	252,023
1993	2,673,675	245,917
1992	2,596,173	239,953
1991	2,527,807	237,957
1990	2,491,928	235,835
1989	2,452,324	233,429
1988	2,376,419	230,118
1987	2,322,397	227,813
1986	2,295,003	224,768
1985	2,289,784	221,351
1984	2,278,060	216,695
1983	2,292,089	212,712
1982	2,233,401	207,621
1981	2,179,884	202,822
1980	2,121,618	198,817
1979	2,074,807	197,578
1978	2,019,621	194,933
1977	1,923,917	191,557
1976	1,827,289	186,762
1975	1,718,623	182,258
1974	1,624,813	174,484
1973	1,525,485	168,258
1972	1,448,928	161,648
1971	1,373,896	155,249
1970	1,295,507	149,380
1969	1,213,484	142,660
1968	1,168,254	137,315
1967	1,082,884	131,938
1966	1,095,582	127,164
1965	1,061,840	122,814
1964	1,028,272	117,197
1963	995,116	114,555
1962	966,452	110,173
1961	932,111	106,318
1960	901,301	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

Nigeria

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Nigeria	Zambia
2023	33	33.1
2022	33.2	33.5
2021	33.5	33.9
2020	33.7	34.4
2019	34.7	35
2018	35.7	35.5
2017	36.7	35.9
2016	37.8	36.6
2015	39	37.3
2014	39.9	38.1
2013	40.4	39
2012	41.1	39.9
2011	41.8	40.7
2010	42.1	41.4
2009	42.5	42
2008	42.8	42.6
2007	42.9	43.2
2006	43.2	43.7
2005	43.4	43.8
2004	43.5	43.9
2003	43.7	43.9
2002	43.8	44.3
2001	43.9	44.8
2000	43.9	45.5
1999	43.4	45.9
1998	43.2	46.2
1997	43.5	46.3
1996	43.9	46.6
1995	44.1	46.8
1994	44	46.7
1993	44.1	46.6
1992	44.2	46.6
1991	44.3	46.9
1990	44.5	47
1989	44.8	47.1
1988	44.7	47.1
1987	44.8	47.3
1986	45.3	47.4
1985	45.9	47.4
1984	46.5	47.3
1983	47.5	47.3
1982	47.5	47.3
1981	47.9	47.3
1980	48.3	47.5
1979	48.8	48.2
1978	49.3	48.7
1977	49.1	49.2
1976	49	49.5
1975	49	50
1974	48.7	49.7
1973	48.2	49.7
1972	48	49.6
1971	47.8	49.4
1970	47.4	49.3
1969	47.3	48.9
1968	47.2	48.9
1967	47.1	48.8
1966	47	48.8
1965	46.9	48.8
1964	46.9	48.9
1963	46.8	48.9
1962	46.7	48.9
1961	46.6	48.9
1960	46.5	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 46.5 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Nigeria

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Nigeria	Zambia
2100	20.4%	21.6%
2099	20.5%	21.7%
2098	20.6%	21.9%
2097	20.7%	22%
2096	20.8%	22.2%
2095	20.9%	22.3%
2094	21%	22.5%
2093	21.1%	22.7%
2092	21.2%	22.8%
2091	21.4%	23%
2090	21.5%	23.1%
2089	21.6%	23.3%
2088	21.8%	23.5%
2087	21.9%	23.6%
2086	22.1%	23.8%
2085	22.2%	24%
2084	22.4%	24.2%
2083	22.6%	24.3%
2082	22.7%	24.5%
2081	22.9%	24.7%
2080	23.1%	24.9%
2079	23.3%	25.1%
2078	23.5%	25.3%
2077	23.7%	25.5%
2076	23.9%	25.7%
2075	24.1%	25.9%
2074	24.3%	26.1%
2073	24.5%	26.4%
2072	24.7%	26.6%
2071	25%	26.8%
2070	25.2%	27%
2069	25.4%	27.2%
2068	25.7%	27.5%
2067	25.9%	27.7%
2066	26.1%	27.9%
2065	26.4%	28.1%
2064	26.6%	28.4%
2063	26.9%	28.6%
2062	27.2%	28.9%
2061	27.4%	29.1%
2060	27.7%	29.3%
2059	28%	29.6%
2058	28.3%	29.8%
2057	28.6%	30.1%
2056	29%	30.4%
2055	29.3%	30.6%
2054	29.6%	30.9%
2053	30%	31.2%
2052	30.3%	31.5%
2051	30.7%	31.8%
2050	31.1%	32.2%
2049	31.5%	32.5%
2048	31.8%	32.8%
2047	32.2%	33.2%
2046	32.6%	33.5%
2045	32.9%	33.9%
2044	33.3%	34.2%
2043	33.7%	34.6%
2042	34%	34.9%
2041	34.4%	35.3%
2040	34.7%	35.6%
2039	35%	36%
2038	35.4%	36.3%
2037	35.7%	36.6%
2036	36%	37%
2035	36.3%	37.3%
2034	36.6%	37.6%
2033	37%	38%
2032	37.4%	38.3%
2031	37.8%	38.7%
2030	38.3%	39%
2029	38.8%	39.4%
2028	39.3%	39.8%
2027	39.8%	40.3%
2026	40.3%	40.7%
2025	40.8%	41.2%
2024	41%	41.5%
2023	41.5%	42%
2022	42%	42.4%
2021	42.4%	42.9%
2020	42.8%	43.3%
2019	43.2%	43.8%
2018	43.6%	44.1%
2017	43.9%	44.5%
2016	44.1%	44.9%
2015	44.3%	45.2%
2014	44.4%	45.5%
2013	44.5%	45.7%
2012	44.5%	45.9%
2011	44.5%	46.1%
2010	44.4%	46.3%
2009	44.4%	46.4%
2008	44.3%	46.6%
2007	44.2%	46.8%
2006	44.1%	47%
2005	44%	47.1%
2004	43.9%	47.3%
2003	43.8%	47.4%
2002	43.8%	47.6%
2001	43.7%	47.8%
2000	43.7%	48%
1999	43.8%	48.1%
1998	43.9%	48.2%
1997	44.1%	48.2%
1996	44.2%	48.2%
1995	44.4%	48.2%
1994	44.6%	48.2%
1993	44.8%	48.2%
1992	45%	48.2%
1991	45.2%	48.3%
1990	45.3%	48.4%
1989	45.5%	48.5%
1988	45.5%	48.6%
1987	45.6%	48.7%
1986	45.6%	48.8%
1985	45.5%	48.9%
1984	45.4%	49%
1983	45.2%	49.1%
1982	45%	49.3%
1981	44.8%	49.4%
1980	44.6%	49.5%
1979	44.4%	49.5%
1978	44.2%	49.4%
1977	43.9%	49.2%
1976	43.7%	49.1%
1975	43.4%	48.8%
1974	43.2%	48.6%
1973	43%	48.3%
1972	42.8%	48%
1971	42.5%	47.7%
1970	42.4%	47.4%
1969	42.2%	47.2%
1968	42%	47.1%
1967	41.8%	47%
1966	41.7%	46.9%
1965	41.5%	46.9%
1964	41.4%	46.7%
1963	41.2%	46.5%
1962	41.1%	46.3%
1961	41.1%	46.2%
1960	41.1%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs Zambia

Chart Table

Nigeria

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Nigeria	Zambia
2023	993	85
2022	1,016	89
2021	1,046	140
2020	1,065	99
2019	1,091	103
2018	1,118	117
2017	1,142	141
2016	1,155	158
2015	1,168	154
2014	1,155	174
2013	1,146	213
2012	1,124	256
2011	1,108	291
2010	1,094	332
2009	1,088	406
2008	1,081	394
2007	1,063	324
2006	1,067	262
2005	1,060	264
2004	1,075	260
2003	1,090	250
2002	1,117	274
2001	1,130	306
2000	1,136	340
1999	1,165	378
1998	1,189	392
1997	1,184	403
1996	1,185	433
1995	1,186	466
1994	1,193	507
1993	1,200	532
1992	1,246	581
1991	1,282	611
1990	1,285	625
1989	1,304	635
1988	1,332	635
1987	1,351	630
1986	1,363	619
1985	1,344	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Nigeria

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Nigeria	Zambia
2023	10.5%	4.47%
2022	10.8%	4.67%
2021	11.1%	4.92%
2020	11.4%	5.24%
2019	11.8%	5.41%
2018	12%	5.52%
2017	12.3%	5.61%
2016	12.5%	5.9%
2015	12.6%	6.15%
2014	12.8%	6.38%
2013	12.9%	6.72%
2012	13.1%	7.04%
2011	13.3%	7.31%
2010	13.5%	7.57%
2009	13.8%	8%
2008	14.1%	8.62%
2007	14.5%	9.14%
2006	15%	9.71%
2005	15.5%	10.5%
2004	16%	11.4%
2003	16.5%	12.4%
2002	17.1%	13.4%
2001	17.7%	14.4%
2000	18.2%	15.3%
1999	18.8%	15.9%
1998	19.3%	16.3%
1997	19.7%	16.7%
1996	20.1%	17%
1995	20.4%	17.3%
1994	20.6%	17.7%
1993	20.7%	17.9%
1992	20.8%	18.1%
1991	20.9%	18.1%
1990	21%	18.1%
1989	21%	17.9%
1988	21%	17.7%
1987	20.9%	17.3%
1986	20.9%	17%
1985	20.8%	16.6%
1984	20.7%	16.2%
1983	20.7%	15.9%
1982	20.8%	15.7%
1981	21%	15.6%
1980	21.3%	15.5%
1979	21.8%	15.4%
1978	22.3%	15.3%
1977	22.9%	15.3%
1976	23.6%	15.4%
1975	24.4%	15.5%
1974	25.2%	15.9%
1973	26.1%	16.3%
1972	26.9%	16.9%
1971	27.7%	17.4%
1970	28.5%	17.9%
1969	29.3%	18.3%
1968	30%	18.5%
1967	30.7%	18.7%
1966	31.3%	18.9%
1965	32%	19%
1964	32.7%	19.2%
1963	-	19.5%
1962	-	19.8%
1961	-	20.1%
1960	-	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.