Fertility & birth rates in Rwanda and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in Rwanda vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2023	3.7	3.72
2022	3.78	3.77
2021	3.84	3.77
2020	3.91	3.75
2019	3.99	3.75
2018	4.05	3.74
2017	4.08	3.77
2016	4.11	3.83
2015	4.11	3.91
2014	4.12	4.01
2013	4.14	4.11
2012	4.2	4.13
2011	4.33	4.13
2010	4.52	4.04
2009	4.71	3.95
2008	4.92	3.78
2007	5.14	3.68
2006	5.34	3.64
2005	5.5	3.69
2004	5.64	3.78
2003	5.74	3.86
2002	5.82	3.93
2001	5.89	3.98
2000	5.97	4.01
1999	6.06	4.06
1998	6.17	4.07
1997	6.24	4.08
1996	6.29	4.11
1995	6.35	4.15
1994	6.42	4.28
1993	6.48	4.39
1992	6.54	4.57
1991	6.62	4.72
1990	6.8	4.88
1989	7.03	5.07
1988	7.23	5.28
1987	7.43	5.5
1986	7.61	5.69
1985	7.79	5.87
1984	7.91	6.04
1983	8	6.2
1982	8.06	6.33
1981	8.1	6.45
1980	8.12	6.52
1979	8.13	6.59
1978	8.16	6.66
1977	8.14	6.71
1976	8.12	6.77
1975	8.1	6.83
1974	8.1	6.88
1973	8.09	6.94
1972	8.09	6.94
1971	8.09	6.94
1970	8.15	6.98
1969	8.18	7.04
1968	8.19	7.11
1967	8.21	7.16
1966	8.23	7.2
1965	8.25	7.23
1964	8.27	7.23
1963	8.27	7.23
1962	8.27	7.23
1961	8.28	7.21
1960	8.28	7.2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Rwanda was 3.7 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2023	312,762	372,505
2022	312,145	371,243
2021	309,895	349,908
2020	312,692	354,790
2019	313,525	348,798
2018	312,512	345,883
2017	310,323	344,035
2016	305,549	348,772
2015	299,114	356,203
2014	292,779	366,350
2013	286,331	374,757
2012	282,584	371,135
2011	282,922	359,572
2010	286,848	335,570
2009	287,034	309,316
2008	287,334	280,527
2007	285,791	261,805
2006	282,149	248,963
2005	275,121	248,545
2004	265,273	248,307
2003	251,243	243,057
2002	239,036	244,170
2001	230,845	227,909
2000	221,276	236,343
1999	210,518	232,393
1998	197,185	225,614
1997	174,687	216,288
1996	140,455	205,269
1995	121,137	206,695
1994	-719,479	216,343
1993	183,926	228,045
1992	188,025	255,291
1991	196,431	260,943
1990	207,895	265,444
1989	217,632	270,838
1988	223,759	277,498
1987	225,744	286,766
1986	225,526	289,894
1985	223,794	290,756
1984	219,337	290,052
1983	212,750	286,545
1982	205,147	279,934
1981	195,769	271,361
1980	184,988	241,179
1979	174,477	223,657
1978	163,779	222,979
1977	155,011	225,139
1976	147,665	221,419
1975	140,596	216,947
1974	135,743	208,806
1973	131,021	201,885
1972	126,403	193,725
1971	122,567	185,427
1970	119,273	178,979
1969	115,394	172,626
1968	111,422	166,865
1967	108,053	161,205
1966	105,128	156,014
1965	103,422	151,164
1964	102,562	145,848
1963	94,296	140,984
1962	102,548	136,317
1961	102,051	131,531
1960	100,627	126,959

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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.45% in Rwanda and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Rwanda vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2023	28.3	30.4
2022	28.9	30.9
2021	29.4	30.9
2020	30	31
2019	30.7	31.1
2018	31.2	31.3
2017	31.7	31.8
2016	32	32.7
2015	32.1	33.9
2014	32.2	35.4
2013	32.4	37
2012	32.9	37.8
2011	33.8	38.1
2010	35.1	37.9
2009	36.3	37.5
2008	37.6	36.4
2007	38.8	35.7
2006	39.9	35.2
2005	40.6	35.8
2004	41.1	36.3
2003	41.4	36.6
2002	41.8	36.5
2001	42.1	36.5
2000	42.1	36.1
1999	42.1	35.6
1998	42.2	34.5
1997	40.5	33.4
1996	37.2	32.4
1995	39.5	31.7
1994	48	32
1993	41.5	32.4
1992	42.2	34.3
1991	42.8	34.9
1990	44.1	35.5
1989	45.3	36.4
1988	46.6	37.7
1987	47.8	39.5
1986	49	40.9
1985	50.2	42.3
1984	51.1	43.7
1983	51.8	45
1982	52.4	45.7
1981	52.7	46.3
1980	52.7	44.8
1979	52.5	46.3
1978	52.1	46.8
1977	51.6	46.5
1976	51.1	46.5
1975	50.4	46.6
1974	50	46.4
1973	49.4	46.4
1972	48.9	46
1971	48.5	45.6
1970	48.2	45.5
1969	47.9	45.5
1968	47.6	45.7
1967	47.4	45.8
1966	47.6	46.1
1965	48	46.4
1964	48.8	46.6
1963	49.8	46.8
1962	50.9	47.1
1961	52	47.3
1960	52.9	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.3 in Rwanda and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 52.9 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Rwanda

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2100	18.7%	20.3%
2099	18.9%	20.5%
2098	19%	20.6%
2097	19.1%	20.8%
2096	19.3%	20.9%
2095	19.4%	21.1%
2094	19.6%	21.3%
2093	19.7%	21.4%
2092	19.9%	21.6%
2091	20%	21.8%
2090	20.2%	22%
2089	20.4%	22.2%
2088	20.5%	22.4%
2087	20.7%	22.6%
2086	20.9%	22.8%
2085	21.1%	23%
2084	21.3%	23.2%
2083	21.5%	23.4%
2082	21.7%	23.6%
2081	21.9%	23.8%
2080	22.1%	24%
2079	22.2%	24.2%
2078	22.4%	24.4%
2077	22.6%	24.6%
2076	22.8%	24.9%
2075	23%	25.1%
2074	23.2%	25.3%
2073	23.4%	25.5%
2072	23.6%	25.7%
2071	23.8%	25.9%
2070	24%	26.2%
2069	24.2%	26.4%
2068	24.4%	26.6%
2067	24.6%	26.8%
2066	24.9%	27.1%
2065	25.1%	27.3%
2064	25.3%	27.6%
2063	25.6%	27.8%
2062	25.8%	28.1%
2061	26.1%	28.4%
2060	26.4%	28.7%
2059	26.7%	29%
2058	27%	29.3%
2057	27.3%	29.6%
2056	27.6%	30%
2055	27.9%	30.3%
2054	28.3%	30.6%
2053	28.6%	31%
2052	28.9%	31.3%
2051	29.2%	31.7%
2050	29.5%	32%
2049	29.8%	32.4%
2048	30.1%	32.7%
2047	30.4%	33.1%
2046	30.7%	33.4%
2045	31%	33.7%
2044	31.2%	34%
2043	31.5%	34.2%
2042	31.8%	34.5%
2041	32.1%	34.7%
2040	32.4%	34.9%
2039	32.7%	35.2%
2038	33%	35.4%
2037	33.3%	35.7%
2036	33.6%	35.9%
2035	33.9%	36.2%
2034	34.2%	36.4%
2033	34.6%	36.6%
2032	34.9%	36.9%
2031	35.2%	37.2%
2030	35.6%	37.6%
2029	35.9%	38.1%
2028	36.2%	38.7%
2027	36.5%	39.3%
2026	36.9%	40%
2025	37.2%	40.6%
2024	37.4%	40.9%
2023	37.7%	41.3%
2022	38.2%	41.6%
2021	38.6%	41.9%
2020	39.2%	42.2%
2019	39.7%	42.5%
2018	40.1%	42.9%
2017	40.5%	43.3%
2016	40.9%	43.6%
2015	41.1%	43.8%
2014	41.4%	43.9%
2013	41.7%	43.9%
2012	41.9%	43.7%
2011	42.2%	43.4%
2010	42.4%	43%
2009	42.6%	42.7%
2008	42.8%	42.4%
2007	42.9%	42.1%
2006	42.9%	42%
2005	43.1%	41.9%
2004	43.3%	41.7%
2003	43.7%	41.5%
2002	44.3%	41.4%
2001	45.2%	41.5%
2000	46.4%	41.9%
1999	47.8%	42.4%
1998	49.2%	43.1%
1997	50.5%	44%
1996	51.4%	45%
1995	52.4%	45.9%
1994	50.1%	46.6%
1993	48.4%	47.1%
1992	48.7%	46.8%
1991	48.9%	46.6%
1990	49%	47.1%
1989	48.9%	47.6%
1988	48.9%	47.9%
1987	48.8%	47.9%
1986	48.6%	47.9%
1985	48.3%	48%
1984	48.1%	48.1%
1983	47.7%	48.2%
1982	47.4%	48.3%
1981	47.1%	48.4%
1980	46.8%	48.7%
1979	46.5%	48.8%
1978	46.4%	48.5%
1977	46.4%	48.3%
1976	46.4%	48.2%
1975	46.6%	48.1%
1974	46.9%	48.1%
1973	47.2%	48.1%
1972	47.5%	48.2%
1971	47.9%	48.2%
1970	48.2%	48.3%
1969	48.7%	48.4%
1968	49.2%	48.5%
1967	49.7%	48.5%
1966	50.2%	48.6%
1965	50.6%	48.7%
1964	50.8%	48.8%
1963	50.6%	48.5%
1962	50.2%	48.1%
1961	49.7%	47.7%
1960	49.2%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 37.4% of the population in Rwanda and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 49% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Rwanda and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Rwanda vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2023	229	358
2022	234	368
2021	254	446
2020	252	380
2019	261	388
2018	269	386
2017	275	389
2016	278	411
2015	292	428
2014	301	468
2013	317	525
2012	331	558
2011	358	564
2010	393	567
2009	418	540
2008	454	526
2007	494	519
2006	494	480
2005	465	454
2004	460	451
2003	551	455
2002	677	418
2001	769	467
2000	885	405
1999	1,073	399
1998	1,268	368
1997	1,318	357
1996	1,295	352
1995	1,505	332
1994	5,721	332
1993	1,619	331
1992	1,530	333
1991	1,386	332
1990	1,309	353
1989	1,238	382
1988	1,188	431
1987	1,145	480
1986	1,126	525
1985	1,116	573

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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Rwanda

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Rwanda	Zimbabwe
2023	4%	4.42%
2022	4.08%	4.6%
2021	4.16%	4.76%
2020	4.25%	5.01%
2019	4.34%	5.11%
2018	4.43%	5.23%
2017	4.52%	5.5%
2016	4.63%	5.69%
2015	4.78%	5.98%
2014	4.96%	6.18%
2013	5.17%	6.55%
2012	5.45%	7.14%
2011	5.81%	7.88%
2010	6.33%	8.5%
2009	6.92%	9.03%
2008	7.62%	9.34%
2007	8.45%	9.47%
2006	9.37%	9.4%
2005	10.5%	9.23%
2004	11.8%	9.17%
2003	13.3%	8.85%
2002	14.9%	8.48%
2001	16.7%	9.79%
2000	18.5%	9.83%
1999	20.2%	9.92%
1998	21.5%	10%
1997	22.2%	10.1%
1996	22.2%	10%
1995	21.8%	9.83%
1994	38.9%	9.52%
1993	19.3%	9.16%
1992	17.5%	8.73%
1991	16%	8.33%
1990	15.1%	7.97%
1989	14.8%	7.69%
1988	14.8%	7.55%
1987	15.2%	7.61%
1986	15.6%	7.86%
1985	16.1%	8.31%
1984	16.6%	8.87%
1983	17.4%	9.5%
1982	18.6%	10.1%
1981	20.1%	10.7%
1980	21.8%	11.1%
1979	23.4%	11.3%
1978	24.6%	11.5%
1977	25.1%	11.5%
1976	25.1%	11.5%
1975	24.6%	11.4%
1974	24%	11.4%
1973	23.4%	11.4%
1972	23%	11.5%
1971	22.6%	11.5%
1970	22.3%	11.7%
1969	22%	11.8%
1968	21.7%	12.1%
1967	21.4%	12.4%
1966	21.2%	12.7%
1965	21.1%	13.1%
1964	21.1%	13.5%
1963	21.3%	14%
1962	21.5%	14.4%
1961	21.9%	14.8%
1960	22.4%	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4% in Rwanda and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.