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Fertility & birth rates in Rwanda and South Sudan

Updated on by Georank team

Rwanda has an annual birth rate of 28.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.6 for South Sudan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.7 in Rwanda and 3.86 in South Sudan — 4.49% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 55.4% in Rwanda and by 46% in South Sudan — in 1960, it was 8.28 and 7.16, respectively.

  • Rwanda is ranked 38/196 by birth rate compared to 36/196 for South Sudan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.6 in Rwanda — it's 28.4 in South Sudan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 30.8 in Rwanda vs 97.1 in South Sudan.
  • In Rwanda, 26.2% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in South Sudan.

Fertility rate in Rwanda vs South Sudan by year

Rwanda
South Sudan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Rwanda South Sudan
2023 3.7 3.86
2022 3.78 3.96
2021 3.84 4.05
2020 3.91 4.16
2019 3.99 4.26
2018 4.05 4.37
2017 4.08 4.48
2016 4.11 4.58
2015 4.11 4.7
2014 4.12 4.82
2013 4.14 4.94
2012 4.2 5.06
2011 4.33 5.19
2010 4.52 5.32
2009 4.71 5.45
2008 4.92 5.57
2007 5.14 5.7
2006 5.34 5.85
2005 5.5 6.02
2004 5.64 6.19
2003 5.74 6.35
2002 5.82 6.52
2001 5.89 6.65
2000 5.97 6.8
1999 6.06 6.94
1998 6.17 7.08
1997 6.24 7.2
1996 6.29 7.32
1995 6.35 7.34
1994 6.42 7.35
1993 6.48 7.36
1992 6.54 7.37
1991 6.62 7.38
1990 6.8 7.38
1989 7.03 7.37
1988 7.23 7.38
1987 7.43 7.39
1986 7.61 7.38
1985 7.79 7.36
1984 7.91 7.35
1983 8 7.34
1982 8.06 7.34
1981 8.1 7.33
1980 8.12 7.33
1979 8.13 7.32
1978 8.16 7.33
1977 8.14 7.33
1976 8.12 7.33
1975 8.1 7.33
1974 8.1 7.31
1973 8.09 7.31
1972 8.09 7.31
1971 8.09 7.3
1970 8.15 7.29
1969 8.18 7.28
1968 8.19 7.26
1967 8.21 7.26
1966 8.23 7.25
1965 8.25 7.22
1964 8.27 7.22
1963 8.27 7.2
1962 8.27 7.2
1961 8.28 7.18
1960 8.28 7.16

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | 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 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Rwanda
South Sudan
1x
Year Natural population change
Rwanda South Sudan
2023 312,762 217,966
2022 312,145 211,166
2021 309,895 213,567
2020 312,692 212,332
2019 313,525 209,708
2018 312,512 168,497
2017 310,323 72,193
2016 305,549 110,553
2015 299,114 148,542
2014 292,779 227,611
2013 286,331 315,983
2012 282,584 312,974
2011 282,922 303,181
2010 286,848 287,409
2009 287,034 278,859
2008 287,334 268,268
2007 285,791 256,546
2006 282,149 246,706
2005 275,121 239,272
2004 265,273 231,877
2003 251,243 225,822
2002 239,036 212,014
2001 230,845 204,108
2000 221,276 196,055
1999 210,518 180,721
1998 197,185 -12,157
1997 174,687 121,454
1996 140,455 116,728
1995 121,137 110,417
1994 -719,479 165,407
1993 183,926 32,779
1992 188,025 28,874
1991 196,431 87,873
1990 207,895 82,900
1989 217,632 83,735
1988 223,759 -125,447
1987 225,744 5,756
1986 225,526 99,502
1985 223,794 95,342
1984 219,337 90,970
1983 212,750 104,107
1982 205,147 118,641
1981 195,769 115,163
1980 184,988 112,307
1979 174,477 109,540
1978 163,779 107,352
1977 155,011 104,886
1976 147,665 102,346
1975 140,596 99,882
1974 135,743 97,181
1973 131,021 94,765
1972 126,403 74,803
1971 122,567 72,308
1970 119,273 44,776
1969 115,394 42,015
1968 111,422 44,213
1967 108,053 41,357
1966 105,128 38,523
1965 103,422 51,682
1964 102,562 64,786
1963 94,296 46,333
1962 102,548 47,406
1961 102,051 45,186
1960 100,627 42,945

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | 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 +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.45% in Rwanda and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Rwanda vs South Sudan by year

Rwanda
South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Rwanda South Sudan
2023 28.3 28.6
2022 28.9 29.1
2021 29.4 29.7
2020 30 29.4
2019 30.7 29.4
2018 31.2 29.1
2017 31.7 32.8
2016 32 35.1
2015 32.1 35.4
2014 32.2 38.2
2013 32.4 38.3
2012 32.9 39.1
2011 33.8 39.8
2010 35.1 39.9
2009 36.3 41
2008 37.6 41.6
2007 38.8 42.3
2006 39.9 43.2
2005 40.6 44.3
2004 41.1 45.5
2003 41.4 46.8
2002 41.8 48
2001 42.1 48.9
2000 42.1 49.8
1999 42.1 50.7
1998 42.2 51.2
1997 40.5 51.6
1996 37.2 52.6
1995 39.5 52.7
1994 48 52.7
1993 41.5 52.7
1992 42.2 52.5
1991 42.8 52.4
1990 44.1 52.3
1989 45.3 53.1
1988 46.6 51.9
1987 47.8 50.6
1986 49 50.6
1985 50.2 50.7
1984 51.1 50.8
1983 51.8 51.1
1982 52.4 51.4
1981 52.7 51.7
1980 52.7 52
1979 52.5 52.3
1978 52.1 52.7
1977 51.6 53
1976 51.1 53.4
1975 50.4 53.7
1974 50 53.9
1973 49.4 54.3
1972 48.9 54.5
1971 48.5 54.6
1970 48.2 54.5
1969 47.9 54.3
1968 47.6 54
1967 47.4 53.7
1966 47.6 53.5
1965 48 53.1
1964 48.8 53
1963 49.8 52.7
1962 50.9 52.5
1961 52 52.3
1960 52.9 52

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.3 in Rwanda and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 52.9 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Rwanda South Sudan
Fertility rate 3.7 3.86
Fertility rate rank 38/196 31/196
Birth rate 28.3 28.6
Birth rate rank 38/196 36/196
Population change due to births and deaths +312,762 +217,966
Natural population change rank 51/196 58/196
Natural population change rate +2.24% +1.9%
Population growth +2.16% +4.01%
Population growth rank 45/197 7/197
Age at first childbirth 23 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 30.6 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 29.6 95.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 156.2 173.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 65.7 43.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.2% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 58.4% 1.59%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.2% 39.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.23% 0.69%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.81% 4.02%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.05% 7.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 4% 9.87%
Life expectancy 68.5 years 58 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Rwanda
Factual

UN forecast
South Sudan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Rwanda South Sudan
2100 18.7% 20.1%
2099 18.9% 20.2%
2098 19% 20.3%
2097 19.1% 20.3%
2096 19.3% 20.4%
2095 19.4% 20.5%
2094 19.6% 20.6%
2093 19.7% 20.7%
2092 19.9% 20.9%
2091 20% 21%
2090 20.2% 21.1%
2089 20.4% 21.2%
2088 20.5% 21.3%
2087 20.7% 21.5%
2086 20.9% 21.6%
2085 21.1% 21.8%
2084 21.3% 21.9%
2083 21.5% 22.1%
2082 21.7% 22.3%
2081 21.9% 22.4%
2080 22.1% 22.6%
2079 22.2% 22.8%
2078 22.4% 23%
2077 22.6% 23.2%
2076 22.8% 23.3%
2075 23% 23.5%
2074 23.2% 23.7%
2073 23.4% 23.9%
2072 23.6% 24.1%
2071 23.8% 24.3%
2070 24% 24.5%
2069 24.2% 24.7%
2068 24.4% 25%
2067 24.6% 25.2%
2066 24.9% 25.4%
2065 25.1% 25.6%
2064 25.3% 25.8%
2063 25.6% 26%
2062 25.8% 26.3%
2061 26.1% 26.5%
2060 26.4% 26.7%
2059 26.7% 27%
2058 27% 27.2%
2057 27.3% 27.5%
2056 27.6% 27.8%
2055 27.9% 28.1%
2054 28.3% 28.5%
2053 28.6% 28.8%
2052 28.9% 29.2%
2051 29.2% 29.5%
2050 29.5% 29.9%
2049 29.8% 30.3%
2048 30.1% 30.8%
2047 30.4% 31.2%
2046 30.7% 31.6%
2045 31% 32%
2044 31.2% 32.4%
2043 31.5% 32.7%
2042 31.8% 33%
2041 32.1% 33.3%
2040 32.4% 33.6%
2039 32.7% 33.8%
2038 33% 33.9%
2037 33.3% 34.1%
2036 33.6% 34.2%
2035 33.9% 34.3%
2034 34.2% 34.4%
2033 34.6% 34.3%
2032 34.9% 34.4%
2031 35.2% 34.6%
2030 35.6% 34.8%
2029 35.9% 35.2%
2028 36.2% 35.8%
2027 36.5% 36.6%
2026 36.9% 37.5%
2025 37.2% 38.4%
2024 37.4% 38.9%
2023 37.7% 39.9%
2022 38.2% 40.9%
2021 38.6% 41.6%
2020 39.2% 42.4%
2019 39.7% 43.6%
2018 40.1% 44.9%
2017 40.5% 45%
2016 40.9% 43.7%
2015 41.1% 43.1%
2014 41.4% 42.5%
2013 41.7% 41.9%
2012 41.9% 41.9%
2011 42.2% 42.2%
2010 42.4% 42.8%
2009 42.6% 43.4%
2008 42.8% 43.8%
2007 42.9% 44.3%
2006 42.9% 44.8%
2005 43.1% 45.3%
2004 43.3% 45.8%
2003 43.7% 45.9%
2002 44.3% 45.7%
2001 45.2% 45.5%
2000 46.4% 45.5%
1999 47.8% 45.6%
1998 49.2% 45.8%
1997 50.5% 46%
1996 51.4% 46%
1995 52.4% 45.8%
1994 50.1% 45.8%
1993 48.4% 45.7%
1992 48.7% 45.6%
1991 48.9% 45.5%
1990 49% 45.4%
1989 48.9% 45.4%
1988 48.9% 46.2%
1987 48.8% 46.9%
1986 48.6% 46.7%
1985 48.3% 46.6%
1984 48.1% 46.5%
1983 47.7% 46.3%
1982 47.4% 46.2%
1981 47.1% 46%
1980 46.8% 45.8%
1979 46.5% 45.7%
1978 46.4% 45.5%
1977 46.4% 45.4%
1976 46.4% 45.3%
1975 46.6% 45.2%
1974 46.9% 45.1%
1973 47.2% 45%
1972 47.5% 44.8%
1971 47.9% 44.7%
1970 48.2% 44.5%
1969 48.7% 44.3%
1968 49.2% 44%
1967 49.7% 43.8%
1966 50.2% 43.5%
1965 50.6% 43.3%
1964 50.8% 43%
1963 50.6% 42.8%
1962 50.2% 42.6%
1961 49.7% 42.6%
1960 49.2% 42.5%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 37.4% of the population in Rwanda and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 49% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Rwanda and South Sudan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Rwanda vs South Sudan

Rwanda
South Sudan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Rwanda South Sudan
2023 229 692
2022 234 704
2021 254 749
2020 252 729
2019 261 745
2018 269 913
2017 275 1,662
2016 278 1,629
2015 292 1,436
2014 301 1,216
2013 317 771
2012 331 755
2011 358 770
2010 393 776
2009 418 823
2008 454 858
2007 494 933
2006 494 1,005
2005 465 1,074
2004 460 1,150
2003 551 1,199
2002 677 1,521
2001 769 1,580
2000 885 1,658
1999 1,073 2,048
1998 1,268 7,514
1997 1,318 4,172
1996 1,295 4,357
1995 1,505 4,430
1994 5,721 1,666
1993 1,619 7,537
1992 1,530 7,597
1991 1,386 4,764
1990 1,309 4,877
1989 1,238 5,103
1988 1,188 5,535
1987 1,145 8,045
1986 1,126 3,720
1985 1,116 3,845

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | 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 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Rwanda
South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Rwanda South Sudan
2023 4% 9.87%
2022 4.08% 9.87%
2021 4.16% 9.87%
2020 4.25% 9.87%
2019 4.34% 9.87%
2018 4.43% 13.2%
2017 4.52% 27.8%
2016 4.63% 26.4%
2015 4.78% 23.7%
2014 4.96% 18.2%
2013 5.17% 9.92%
2012 5.45% 10.1%
2011 5.81% 10.5%
2010 6.33% 10.9%
2009 6.92% 11.5%
2008 7.62% 12.1%
2007 8.45% 12.7%
2006 9.37% 13.4%
2005 10.5% 14.1%
2004 11.8% 14.8%
2003 13.3% 15.7%
2002 14.9% 16.5%
2001 16.7% 17.4%
2000 18.5% 18.3%
1999 20.2% 19.2%
1998 21.5% 42.6%
1997 22.2% 25.2%
1996 22.2% 26.1%
1995 21.8% 27%
1994 38.9% 23%
1993 19.3% 33.1%
1992 17.5% 33.8%
1991 16% 29.7%
1990 15.1% 30.3%
1989 14.8% 30.7%
1988 14.8% 76.7%
1987 15.2% 36%
1986 15.6% 26.7%
1985 16.1% 27.1%
1984 16.6% 27.5%
1983 17.4% 27.8%
1982 18.6% 28.2%
1981 20.1% 28.5%
1980 21.8% 28.9%
1979 23.4% 29.2%
1978 24.6% 29.5%
1977 25.1% 29.9%
1976 25.1% 30.2%
1975 24.6% 30.6%
1974 24% 30.9%
1973 23.4% 31.3%
1972 23% 31.6%
1971 22.6% 31.9%
1970 22.3% 32.3%
1969 22% 32.6%
1968 21.7% 32.9%
1967 21.4% 33.3%
1966 21.2% 33.6%
1965 21.1% 34%
1964 21.1% 34.3%
1963 21.3% 34.6%
1962 21.5% 34.9%
1961 21.9% 35.2%
1960 22.4% 35.5%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/rwanda/south-sudan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4% in Rwanda and 9.87% in South Sudan. 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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