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Fertility & birth rates in Saudi Arabia and Zambia

Updated on by Georank team

Saudi Arabia has an annual birth rate of 16.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 33.1 for Zambia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.28 in Saudi Arabia and 4.1 in Zambia — 79.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia and by 41% in Zambia — in 1960, it was 7.63 and 6.95, respectively.

  • Saudi Arabia is ranked 92/196 by birth rate compared to 19/196 for Zambia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.3 in Saudi Arabia — it's 28.3 in Zambia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 11.1 in Saudi Arabia vs 115.9 in Zambia.
  • In Saudi Arabia, 23% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.3% in Zambia.

Fertility rate in Saudi Arabia vs Zambia by year

Saudi Arabia
Zambia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2023 2.28 4.1
2022 2.14 4.18
2021 2.17 4.25
2020 2.27 4.32
2019 2.49 4.42
2018 2.67 4.49
2017 2.67 4.57
2016 2.65 4.67
2015 2.63 4.78
2014 2.68 4.89
2013 2.67 5.01
2012 2.78 5.14
2011 2.8 5.26
2010 2.81 5.36
2009 2.95 5.45
2008 3.07 5.53
2007 3.19 5.61
2006 3.18 5.68
2005 3.16 5.7
2004 3.26 5.7
2003 3.47 5.71
2002 3.71 5.77
2001 3.96 5.85
2000 4.21 5.92
1999 4.35 6
1998 4.52 6.07
1997 4.66 6.12
1996 4.81 6.18
1995 4.99 6.23
1994 5.16 6.26
1993 5.33 6.3
1992 5.49 6.35
1991 5.64 6.46
1990 5.8 6.57
1989 5.98 6.64
1988 6.15 6.7
1987 6.34 6.8
1986 6.52 6.87
1985 6.65 6.93
1984 6.78 6.97
1983 6.88 7.01
1982 6.98 7.04
1981 7.07 7.07
1980 7.15 7.14
1979 7.23 7.22
1978 7.26 7.29
1977 7.3 7.35
1976 7.33 7.39
1975 7.37 7.42
1974 7.43 7.36
1973 7.48 7.34
1972 7.54 7.3
1971 7.56 7.26
1970 7.58 7.22
1969 7.6 7.18
1968 7.63 7.18
1967 7.66 7.15
1966 7.66 7.14
1965 7.66 7.12
1964 7.67 7.09
1963 7.65 7.06
1962 7.64 7.01
1961 7.63 6.98
1960 7.63 6.95

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Saudi Arabia was 2.28 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 Saudi Arabia vs Zambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Saudi Arabia
Zambia
1x
Year Natural population change
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2023 474,366 577,660
2022 406,920 563,456
2021 409,032 535,629
2020 447,036 536,484
2019 474,407 528,089
2018 528,767 515,644
2017 546,751 504,630
2016 537,829 497,521
2015 511,023 491,021
2014 493,431 483,663
2013 475,299 476,846
2012 465,649 469,406
2011 443,675 459,743
2010 418,641 448,337
2009 438,557 434,458
2008 433,457 419,560
2007 425,199 403,729
2006 399,333 387,891
2005 375,938 368,756
2004 362,843 349,352
2003 364,520 331,189
2002 372,099 316,041
2001 382,153 302,682
2000 392,407 293,186
1999 390,112 283,297
1998 389,499 275,568
1997 385,033 268,198
1996 382,248 262,468
1995 380,231 257,897
1994 377,351 252,023
1993 372,621 245,917
1992 366,763 239,953
1991 361,329 237,957
1990 355,495 235,835
1989 349,399 233,429
1988 342,865 230,118
1987 333,088 227,813
1986 322,340 224,768
1985 310,558 221,351
1984 296,615 216,695
1983 280,616 212,712
1982 264,831 207,621
1981 249,156 202,822
1980 234,372 198,817
1979 220,186 197,578
1978 205,331 194,933
1977 191,103 191,557
1976 178,024 186,762
1975 166,223 182,258
1974 155,478 174,484
1973 145,450 168,258
1972 136,360 161,648
1971 127,600 155,249
1970 120,440 149,380
1969 113,859 142,660
1968 108,281 137,315
1967 103,343 131,938
1966 98,361 127,164
1965 93,820 122,814
1964 89,776 117,197
1963 85,480 114,555
1962 81,393 110,173
1961 77,743 106,318
1960 74,143 102,335

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | 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 +1.41% in Saudi Arabia and +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.57% in Saudi Arabia and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in Saudi Arabia vs Zambia by year

Saudi Arabia
Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2023 16.4 33.1
2022 15.2 33.5
2021 15.9 33.9
2020 16.6 34.4
2019 18.1 35
2018 19.7 35.5
2017 19.8 35.9
2016 19.6 36.6
2015 19.4 37.3
2014 19.8 38.1
2013 19.7 39
2012 20.4 39.9
2011 20.3 40.7
2010 20.1 41.4
2009 20.8 42
2008 21.3 42.6
2007 21.7 43.2
2006 21.4 43.7
2005 21.1 43.8
2004 21.3 43.9
2003 22.3 43.9
2002 23.8 44.3
2001 25.5 44.8
2000 27.5 45.5
1999 28.5 45.9
1998 29.5 46.2
1997 30.3 46.3
1996 31.2 46.6
1995 32.3 46.8
1994 33.4 46.7
1993 34.5 46.6
1992 35.5 46.6
1991 36.7 46.9
1990 38 47
1989 39.3 47.1
1988 40.7 47.1
1987 41.9 47.3
1986 43.1 47.4
1985 44.2 47.4
1984 45 47.3
1983 45.6 47.3
1982 46.1 47.3
1981 46.6 47.3
1980 47.1 47.5
1979 47.5 48.2
1978 47.5 48.7
1977 47.5 49.2
1976 47.6 49.5
1975 47.7 50
1974 47.8 49.7
1973 48 49.7
1972 48.3 49.6
1971 48.4 49.4
1970 48.7 49.3
1969 48.9 48.9
1968 49.3 48.9
1967 49.8 48.8
1966 50.1 48.8
1965 50.4 48.8
1964 50.8 48.9
1963 51 48.9
1962 51.1 48.9
1961 51.4 48.9
1960 51.5 48.9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.4 in Saudi Arabia and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 51.5 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Saudi Arabia Zambia
Fertility rate 2.28 4.1
Fertility rate rank 83/196 24/196
Birth rate 16.4 33.1
Birth rate rank 92/196 19/196
Population change due to births and deaths +474,366 +577,660
Natural population change rank 38/196 34/196
Natural population change rate +1.41% +2.79%
Population growth +4.74% +2.85%
Population growth rank 4/197 21/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 19.2 years
Average age at childbearing 30.3 years 28.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 10.6 115.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 113.4 176.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 45.5 64.8
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23% 25.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 32.9% 47.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.8% 80.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.007% 0.09%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.3% 2.2%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.49% 3.09%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.62% 4.47%
Life expectancy 79.4 years 66.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
Zambia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2100 17.3% 21.6%
2099 17.3% 21.7%
2098 17.3% 21.9%
2097 17.3% 22%
2096 17.3% 22.2%
2095 17.3% 22.3%
2094 17.4% 22.5%
2093 17.4% 22.7%
2092 17.4% 22.8%
2091 17.4% 23%
2090 17.4% 23.1%
2089 17.5% 23.3%
2088 17.5% 23.5%
2087 17.5% 23.6%
2086 17.6% 23.8%
2085 17.6% 24%
2084 17.7% 24.2%
2083 17.7% 24.3%
2082 17.7% 24.5%
2081 17.8% 24.7%
2080 17.8% 24.9%
2079 17.9% 25.1%
2078 17.9% 25.3%
2077 18% 25.5%
2076 18% 25.7%
2075 18.1% 25.9%
2074 18.2% 26.1%
2073 18.2% 26.4%
2072 18.3% 26.6%
2071 18.3% 26.8%
2070 18.4% 27%
2069 18.4% 27.2%
2068 18.5% 27.5%
2067 18.6% 27.7%
2066 18.6% 27.9%
2065 18.7% 28.1%
2064 18.7% 28.4%
2063 18.8% 28.6%
2062 18.9% 28.9%
2061 19% 29.1%
2060 19% 29.3%
2059 19.1% 29.6%
2058 19.2% 29.8%
2057 19.3% 30.1%
2056 19.4% 30.4%
2055 19.5% 30.6%
2054 19.6% 30.9%
2053 19.8% 31.2%
2052 19.9% 31.5%
2051 20% 31.8%
2050 20.1% 32.2%
2049 20.3% 32.5%
2048 20.4% 32.8%
2047 20.6% 33.2%
2046 20.7% 33.5%
2045 20.9% 33.9%
2044 21.1% 34.2%
2043 21.2% 34.6%
2042 21.4% 34.9%
2041 21.6% 35.3%
2040 21.8% 35.6%
2039 22% 36%
2038 22.1% 36.3%
2037 22.1% 36.6%
2036 22.2% 37%
2035 22.2% 37.3%
2034 22.3% 37.6%
2033 22.4% 38%
2032 22.5% 38.3%
2031 22.7% 38.7%
2030 22.8% 39%
2029 23% 39.4%
2028 23.2% 39.8%
2027 23.3% 40.3%
2026 23.5% 40.7%
2025 23.7% 41.2%
2024 23.8% 41.5%
2023 24.1% 42%
2022 24.6% 42.4%
2021 25.2% 42.9%
2020 25.5% 43.3%
2019 25.8% 43.8%
2018 25.7% 44.1%
2017 25.2% 44.5%
2016 24.9% 44.9%
2015 25.1% 45.2%
2014 25.4% 45.5%
2013 25.8% 45.7%
2012 26.3% 45.9%
2011 26.9% 46.1%
2010 27.6% 46.3%
2009 28.5% 46.4%
2008 29.5% 46.6%
2007 30.6% 46.8%
2006 31.9% 47%
2005 33.2% 47.1%
2004 34.5% 47.3%
2003 35.7% 47.4%
2002 36.8% 47.6%
2001 37.7% 47.8%
2000 38.3% 48%
1999 38.9% 48.1%
1998 39.5% 48.2%
1997 40.1% 48.2%
1996 40.7% 48.2%
1995 41.2% 48.2%
1994 41.7% 48.2%
1993 42.1% 48.2%
1992 42.4% 48.2%
1991 42.7% 48.3%
1990 43% 48.4%
1989 43.2% 48.5%
1988 43.3% 48.6%
1987 43.4% 48.7%
1986 43.5% 48.8%
1985 43.6% 48.9%
1984 43.6% 49%
1983 43.7% 49.1%
1982 43.8% 49.3%
1981 43.9% 49.4%
1980 44.1% 49.5%
1979 44.2% 49.5%
1978 44.3% 49.4%
1977 44.5% 49.2%
1976 44.6% 49.1%
1975 44.8% 48.8%
1974 45% 48.6%
1973 45.2% 48.3%
1972 45.3% 48%
1971 45.5% 47.7%
1970 45.5% 47.4%
1969 45.5% 47.2%
1968 45.4% 47.1%
1967 45.3% 47%
1966 45.1% 46.9%
1965 44.8% 46.9%
1964 44.6% 46.7%
1963 44.3% 46.5%
1962 43.9% 46.3%
1961 43.6% 46.2%
1960 43.4% 46%

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/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 23.8% of the population in Saudi Arabia and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 43% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Saudi Arabia and Zambia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Saudi Arabia vs Zambia

Saudi Arabia
Zambia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2023 7 85
2022 9 89
2021 12 140
2020 11 99
2019 8 103
2018 8 117
2017 8 141
2016 8 158
2015 8 154
2014 8 174
2013 9 213
2012 9 256
2011 10 291
2010 11 332
2009 11 406
2008 12 394
2007 13 324
2006 14 262
2005 15 264
2004 16 260
2003 16 250
2002 18 274
2001 19 306
2000 20 340
1999 21 378
1998 22 392
1997 23 403
1996 23 433
1995 24 466
1994 25 507
1993 26 532
1992 27 581
1991 29 611
1990 30 625
1989 32 635
1988 34 635
1987 36 630
1986 38 619
1985 40 596

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in Saudi Arabia, compared to 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Saudi Arabia
Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Saudi Arabia Zambia
2023 0.62% 4.47%
2022 0.64% 4.67%
2021 0.66% 4.92%
2020 0.69% 5.24%
2019 0.72% 5.41%
2018 0.76% 5.52%
2017 0.8% 5.61%
2016 0.85% 5.9%
2015 0.9% 6.15%
2014 0.96% 6.38%
2013 1.02% 6.72%
2012 1.08% 7.04%
2011 1.15% 7.31%
2010 1.22% 7.57%
2009 1.3% 8%
2008 1.38% 8.62%
2007 1.47% 9.14%
2006 1.56% 9.71%
2005 1.65% 10.5%
2004 1.75% 11.4%
2003 1.85% 12.4%
2002 1.96% 13.4%
2001 2.08% 14.4%
2000 2.21% 15.3%
1999 2.35% 15.9%
1998 2.5% 16.3%
1997 2.67% 16.7%
1996 2.86% 17%
1995 3.06% 17.3%
1994 3.29% 17.7%
1993 3.54% 17.9%
1992 3.81% 18.1%
1991 4.11% 18.1%
1990 4.44% 18.1%
1989 4.8% 17.9%
1988 5.19% 17.7%
1987 5.62% 17.3%
1986 6.07% 17%
1985 6.55% 16.6%
1984 7.04% 16.2%
1983 7.56% 15.9%
1982 8.12% 15.7%
1981 8.71% 15.6%
1980 9.34% 15.5%
1979 9.99% 15.4%
1978 10.7% 15.3%
1977 11.4% 15.3%
1976 12.2% 15.4%
1975 13.1% 15.5%
1974 14% 15.9%
1973 14.9% 16.3%
1972 16% 16.9%
1971 - 17.4%
1970 - 17.9%
1969 - 18.3%
1968 - 18.5%
1967 - 18.7%
1966 - 18.9%
1965 - 19%
1964 - 19.2%
1963 - 19.5%
1962 - 19.8%
1961 - 20.1%
1960 - 20.5%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/zambia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in Saudi Arabia and 4.47% in Zambia. 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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