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Fertility & birth rates in Rwanda and Samoa

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has an annual birth rate of 28.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 25.4 for Samoa. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.7 in Rwanda and 3.83 in Samoa — 3.54% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 55.4% in Rwanda and by 50.8% in Samoa — in 1960, it was 8.28 and 7.78, respectively.

  • Rwanda is ranked 38/196 by birth rate compared to 53/196 for Samoa.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 23 years in Rwanda, compared to 23.6 years in Samoa.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.6 in Rwanda — it's 29.1 in Samoa.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 30.8 in Rwanda vs 43.5 in Samoa.
  • In Rwanda, 26.2% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.1% in Samoa.

Fertility rate in Rwanda vs Samoa by year

Rwanda
Samoa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Rwanda Samoa
2023 3.7 3.83
2022 3.78 3.88
2021 3.84 3.94
2020 3.91 4
2019 3.99 4.06
2018 4.05 4.14
2017 4.08 4.2
2016 4.11 4.26
2015 4.11 4.34
2014 4.12 4.42
2013 4.14 4.49
2012 4.2 4.55
2011 4.33 4.56
2010 4.52 4.52
2009 4.71 4.47
2008 4.92 4.42
2007 5.14 4.36
2006 5.34 4.32
2005 5.5 4.32
2004 5.64 4.34
2003 5.74 4.39
2002 5.82 4.44
2001 5.89 4.48
2000 5.97 4.52
1999 6.06 4.57
1998 6.17 4.64
1997 6.24 4.7
1996 6.29 4.74
1995 6.35 4.77
1994 6.42 4.79
1993 6.48 4.83
1992 6.54 4.87
1991 6.62 4.91
1990 6.8 5.01
1989 7.03 5.11
1988 7.23 5.21
1987 7.43 5.32
1986 7.61 5.42
1985 7.79 5.49
1984 7.91 5.55
1983 8 5.62
1982 8.06 5.68
1981 8.1 5.75
1980 8.12 5.86
1979 8.13 5.99
1978 8.16 6.15
1977 8.14 6.31
1976 8.12 6.47
1975 8.1 6.61
1974 8.1 6.75
1973 8.09 6.91
1972 8.09 7.07
1971 8.09 7.22
1970 8.15 7.34
1969 8.18 7.43
1968 8.19 7.5
1967 8.21 7.55
1966 8.23 7.6
1965 8.25 7.65
1964 8.27 7.7
1963 8.27 7.73
1962 8.27 7.76
1961 8.28 7.77
1960 8.28 7.78

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Rwanda was 3.7 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.83 in Samoa in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Rwanda vs Samoa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Rwanda
Samoa
1x
Year Natural population change
Rwanda Samoa
2023 312,762 4,170
2022 312,145 4,288
2021 309,895 4,379
2020 312,692 4,442
2019 313,525 4,495
2018 312,512 4,637
2017 310,323 4,661
2016 305,549 4,720
2015 299,114 4,795
2014 292,779 4,849
2013 286,331 4,875
2012 282,584 4,863
2011 282,922 4,860
2010 286,848 4,779
2009 287,034 4,525
2008 287,334 4,581
2007 285,791 4,480
2006 282,149 4,473
2005 275,121 4,503
2004 265,273 4,554
2003 251,243 4,622
2002 239,036 4,672
2001 230,845 4,759
2000 221,276 4,855
1999 210,518 4,937
1998 197,185 5,022
1997 174,687 5,053
1996 140,455 5,038
1995 121,137 4,976
1994 -719,479 4,880
1993 183,926 4,769
1992 188,025 4,652
1991 196,431 4,655
1990 207,895 4,759
1989 217,632 4,845
1988 223,759 4,889
1987 225,744 4,909
1986 225,526 4,983
1985 223,794 4,998
1984 219,337 4,979
1983 212,750 4,914
1982 205,147 4,808
1981 195,769 4,720
1980 184,988 4,672
1979 174,477 4,624
1978 163,779 4,587
1977 155,011 4,555
1976 147,665 4,519
1975 140,596 4,465
1974 135,743 4,411
1973 131,021 4,446
1972 126,403 4,487
1971 122,567 4,534
1970 119,273 4,567
1969 115,394 4,592
1968 111,422 4,605
1967 108,053 4,621
1966 105,128 4,593
1965 103,422 4,605
1964 102,562 4,326
1963 94,296 4,544
1962 102,548 4,498
1961 102,051 4,399
1960 100,627 4,298

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | 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 +2.24% in Rwanda and +1.92% in Samoa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.45% in Rwanda and +2.18% in Samoa.

Birth rate in Rwanda vs Samoa by year

Rwanda
Samoa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Rwanda Samoa
2023 28.3 25.4
2022 28.9 26.1
2021 29.4 26.9
2020 30 27.5
2019 30.7 28
2018 31.2 28.5
2017 31.7 28.8
2016 32 29.3
2015 32.1 29.8
2014 32.2 30.2
2013 32.4 30.5
2012 32.9 30.7
2011 33.8 30.8
2010 35.1 30.5
2009 36.3 30.1
2008 37.6 29.8
2007 38.8 29.3
2006 39.9 29.3
2005 40.6 29.5
2004 41.1 29.8
2003 41.4 30.2
2002 41.8 30.6
2001 42.1 31.3
2000 42.1 32.1
1999 42.1 32.8
1998 42.2 33.5
1997 40.5 33.9
1996 37.2 34.2
1995 39.5 34.1
1994 48 33.8
1993 41.5 33.5
1992 42.2 33
1991 42.8 33.4
1990 44.1 34.1
1989 45.3 34.7
1988 46.6 35.1
1987 47.8 35.5
1986 49 36.1
1985 50.2 36.2
1984 51.1 36.2
1983 51.8 35.8
1982 52.4 35.3
1981 52.7 35
1980 52.7 35.1
1979 52.5 35.2
1978 52.1 35.4
1977 51.6 35.6
1976 51.1 36
1975 50.4 36.6
1974 50 37.2
1973 49.4 38.3
1972 48.9 39.3
1971 48.5 40.3
1970 48.2 41.3
1969 47.9 42.3
1968 47.6 43.3
1967 47.4 44.3
1966 47.6 45.2
1965 48 46.5
1964 48.8 47.7
1963 49.8 48.8
1962 50.9 49.9
1961 52 50.5
1960 52.9 51

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.3 in Rwanda and 25.4 in Samoa, compared with 52.9 and 51, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Rwanda Samoa
Fertility rate 3.7 3.83
Fertility rate rank 38/196 33/196
Birth rate 28.3 25.4
Birth rate rank 38/196 53/196
Population change due to births and deaths +312,762 +4,170
Natural population change rank 51/196 131/196
Natural population change rate +2.24% +1.92%
Population growth +2.16% +0.63%
Population growth rank 45/197 125/197
Age at first childbirth 23 years 23.6 years
Average age at childbearing 30.6 years 29.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 29.6 44.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 156.2 191.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 65.7 46.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.2% 22.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 58.4% 15.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.2% 88.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.23% 0.1%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.81% 0.62%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.05% 1.28%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4% 1.57%
Life expectancy 68.5 years 72.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Rwanda
Factual

UN forecast
Samoa
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Rwanda Samoa
2100 18.7% 20.1%
2099 18.9% 20.2%
2098 19% 20.4%
2097 19.1% 20.5%
2096 19.3% 20.6%
2095 19.4% 20.8%
2094 19.6% 21%
2093 19.7% 21.2%
2092 19.9% 21.4%
2091 20% 21.6%
2090 20.2% 21.8%
2089 20.4% 22%
2088 20.5% 22.3%
2087 20.7% 22.6%
2086 20.9% 22.8%
2085 21.1% 23.1%
2084 21.3% 23.4%
2083 21.5% 23.6%
2082 21.7% 23.9%
2081 21.9% 24.2%
2080 22.1% 24.4%
2079 22.2% 24.7%
2078 22.4% 24.9%
2077 22.6% 25.1%
2076 22.8% 25.3%
2075 23% 25.5%
2074 23.2% 25.7%
2073 23.4% 25.8%
2072 23.6% 26%
2071 23.8% 26.1%
2070 24% 26.3%
2069 24.2% 26.5%
2068 24.4% 26.6%
2067 24.6% 26.8%
2066 24.9% 27%
2065 25.1% 27.3%
2064 25.3% 27.5%
2063 25.6% 27.8%
2062 25.8% 28.1%
2061 26.1% 28.5%
2060 26.4% 28.9%
2059 26.7% 29.3%
2058 27% 29.7%
2057 27.3% 30.1%
2056 27.6% 30.5%
2055 27.9% 31%
2054 28.3% 31.4%
2053 28.6% 31.7%
2052 28.9% 32.1%
2051 29.2% 32.4%
2050 29.5% 32.6%
2049 29.8% 32.8%
2048 30.1% 33%
2047 30.4% 33.1%
2046 30.7% 33.1%
2045 31% 33.1%
2044 31.2% 33.1%
2043 31.5% 33%
2042 31.8% 32.9%
2041 32.1% 32.8%
2040 32.4% 32.7%
2039 32.7% 32.6%
2038 33% 32.6%
2037 33.3% 32.7%
2036 33.6% 32.8%
2035 33.9% 33.1%
2034 34.2% 33.5%
2033 34.6% 34%
2032 34.9% 34.4%
2031 35.2% 34.9%
2030 35.6% 35.5%
2029 35.9% 36.1%
2028 36.2% 36.6%
2027 36.5% 37.3%
2026 36.9% 37.8%
2025 37.2% 38.3%
2024 37.4% 38.5%
2023 37.7% 38.7%
2022 38.2% 38.8%
2021 38.6% 38.7%
2020 39.2% 38.6%
2019 39.7% 38.5%
2018 40.1% 38.3%
2017 40.5% 38.2%
2016 40.9% 38.1%
2015 41.1% 38.1%
2014 41.4% 38.1%
2013 41.7% 38.1%
2012 41.9% 38.3%
2011 42.2% 38.4%
2010 42.4% 38.4%
2009 42.6% 38.5%
2008 42.8% 38.7%
2007 42.9% 39%
2006 42.9% 39.4%
2005 43.1% 39.6%
2004 43.3% 39.9%
2003 43.7% 40.2%
2002 44.3% 40.5%
2001 45.2% 40.7%
2000 46.4% 40.5%
1999 47.8% 40.3%
1998 49.2% 40.2%
1997 50.5% 40.1%
1996 51.4% 39.9%
1995 52.4% 39.9%
1994 50.1% 40%
1993 48.4% 40.3%
1992 48.7% 40.8%
1991 48.9% 41.2%
1990 49% 41.5%
1989 48.9% 41.8%
1988 48.9% 42%
1987 48.8% 42.2%
1986 48.6% 42.6%
1985 48.3% 43.1%
1984 48.1% 43.7%
1983 47.7% 44.4%
1982 47.4% 45.2%
1981 47.1% 45.9%
1980 46.8% 46.4%
1979 46.5% 46.9%
1978 46.4% 47.4%
1977 46.4% 48%
1976 46.4% 48.6%
1975 46.6% 49.3%
1974 46.9% 49.9%
1973 47.2% 50.4%
1972 47.5% 50.8%
1971 47.9% 51%
1970 48.2% 51.2%
1969 48.7% 51.4%
1968 49.2% 51.4%
1967 49.7% 51.4%
1966 50.2% 51.3%
1965 50.6% 51.3%
1964 50.8% 51.2%
1963 50.6% 50.9%
1962 50.2% 50.6%
1961 49.7% 50.2%
1960 49.2% 50.1%

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/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 37.4% of the population in Rwanda and 38.5% in Samoa in 2024, compared to 49% and 41.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Rwanda and Samoa compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Rwanda vs Samoa

Rwanda
Samoa
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Rwanda Samoa
2023 229 101
2022 234 110
2021 254 115
2020 252 114
2019 261 111
2018 269 110
2017 275 111
2016 278 108
2015 292 108
2014 301 106
2013 317 100
2012 331 101
2011 358 93
2010 393 92
2009 418 94
2008 454 87
2007 494 85
2006 494 86
2005 465 87
2004 460 86
2003 551 87
2002 677 89
2001 769 93
2000 885 93
1999 1,073 94
1998 1,268 96
1997 1,318 98
1996 1,295 103
1995 1,505 105
1994 5,721 112
1993 1,619 117
1992 1,530 124
1991 1,386 131
1990 1,309 135
1989 1,238 136
1988 1,188 143
1987 1,145 147
1986 1,126 153
1985 1,116 160

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 229 deaths per 100,000 live births in Rwanda, compared to 101 deaths in Samoa.

Under-five mortality rates

Rwanda
Samoa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Rwanda Samoa
2023 4% 1.57%
2022 4.08% 1.62%
2021 4.16% 1.66%
2020 4.25% 1.7%
2019 4.34% 2.02%
2018 4.43% 1.78%
2017 4.52% 1.81%
2016 4.63% 1.83%
2015 4.78% 1.85%
2014 4.96% 1.87%
2013 5.17% 1.89%
2012 5.45% 1.91%
2011 5.81% 1.92%
2010 6.33% 1.93%
2009 6.92% 2.54%
2008 7.62% 1.93%
2007 8.45% 1.93%
2006 9.37% 1.93%
2005 10.5% 1.93%
2004 11.8% 1.94%
2003 13.3% 1.97%
2002 14.9% 2%
2001 16.7% 2.06%
2000 18.5% 2.12%
1999 20.2% 2.19%
1998 21.5% 2.27%
1997 22.2% 2.35%
1996 22.2% 2.44%
1995 21.8% 2.52%
1994 38.9% 2.61%
1993 19.3% 2.7%
1992 17.5% 2.8%
1991 16% 2.89%
1990 15.1% 2.98%
1989 14.8% 3.08%
1988 14.8% 3.18%
1987 15.2% 3.3%
1986 15.6% 3.42%
1985 16.1% 3.56%
1984 16.6% 3.7%
1983 17.4% 3.85%
1982 18.6% 4.01%
1981 20.1% 4.19%
1980 21.8% 4.38%
1979 23.4% 4.59%
1978 24.6% 4.82%
1977 25.1% 5.07%
1976 25.1% 5.34%
1975 24.6% 5.62%
1974 24% 5.9%
1973 23.4% 6.2%
1972 23% 6.52%
1971 22.6% 6.85%
1970 22.3% 7.19%
1969 22% 7.53%
1968 21.7% 7.89%
1967 21.4% 8.23%
1966 21.2% 8.57%
1965 21.1% 8.9%
1964 21.1% 11.1%
1963 21.3% 9.56%
1962 21.5% 9.93%
1961 21.9% 10.3%
1960 22.4% 10.7%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/samoa | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4% in Rwanda and 1.57% in Samoa. 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) (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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