Fertility & birth rates in Sierra Leone and South Sudan

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Sudan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2023	3.79	3.86
2022	3.88	3.96
2021	3.98	4.05
2020	4.08	4.16
2019	4.19	4.26
2018	4.29	4.37
2017	4.39	4.48
2016	4.47	4.58
2015	4.55	4.7
2014	4.7	4.82
2013	4.87	4.94
2012	5.06	5.06
2011	5.21	5.19
2010	5.33	5.32
2009	5.45	5.45
2008	5.56	5.57
2007	5.64	5.7
2006	5.74	5.85
2005	5.81	6.02
2004	5.92	6.19
2003	6.09	6.35
2002	6.23	6.52
2001	6.31	6.65
2000	6.36	6.8
1999	6.42	6.94
1998	6.5	7.08
1997	6.53	7.2
1996	6.55	7.32
1995	6.56	7.34
1994	6.56	7.35
1993	6.57	7.36
1992	6.56	7.37
1991	6.55	7.38
1990	6.57	7.38
1989	6.57	7.37
1988	6.59	7.38
1987	6.61	7.39
1986	6.6	7.38
1985	6.59	7.36
1984	6.59	7.35
1983	6.57	7.34
1982	6.56	7.34
1981	6.55	7.33
1980	6.56	7.33
1979	6.58	7.32
1978	6.59	7.33
1977	6.57	7.33
1976	6.55	7.33
1975	6.55	7.33
1974	6.53	7.31
1973	6.47	7.31
1972	6.45	7.31
1971	6.43	7.3
1970	6.41	7.29
1969	6.39	7.28
1968	6.39	7.26
1967	6.38	7.26
1966	6.35	7.25
1965	6.31	7.22
1964	6.29	7.22
1963	6.26	7.2
1962	6.22	7.2
1961	6.21	7.18
1960	6.18	7.16

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Sierra Leone was 3.79 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 Sierra Leone vs South Sudan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Sudan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2023	188,788	217,966
2022	186,625	211,166
2021	183,326	213,567
2020	181,015	212,332
2019	181,068	209,708
2018	178,772	168,497
2017	173,259	72,193
2016	168,784	110,553
2015	162,275	148,542
2014	160,137	227,611
2013	161,265	315,983
2012	160,915	312,974
2011	158,858	303,181
2010	155,338	287,409
2009	152,669	278,859
2008	149,855	268,268
2007	145,740	256,546
2006	144,127	246,706
2005	137,234	239,272
2004	132,661	231,877
2003	130,312	225,822
2002	126,429	212,014
2001	116,647	204,108
2000	110,754	196,055
1999	102,295	180,721
1998	103,906	-12,157
1997	105,433	121,454
1996	104,140	116,728
1995	100,885	110,417
1994	101,486	165,407
1993	103,317	32,779
1992	103,251	28,874
1991	105,477	87,873
1990	100,778	82,900
1989	98,298	83,735
1988	96,344	-125,447
1987	94,235	5,756
1986	90,902	99,502
1985	88,869	95,342
1984	87,072	90,970
1983	84,628	104,107
1982	82,457	118,641
1981	80,111	115,163
1980	77,932	112,307
1979	75,992	109,540
1978	74,130	107,352
1977	71,663	104,886
1976	69,506	102,346
1975	67,560	99,882
1974	65,357	97,181
1973	62,443	94,765
1972	60,279	74,803
1971	58,484	72,308
1970	56,513	44,776
1969	54,768	42,015
1968	53,126	44,213
1967	51,734	41,357
1966	49,486	38,523
1965	47,223	51,682
1964	45,487	64,786
1963	43,569	46,333
1962	41,603	47,406
1961	40,022	45,186
1960	38,192	42,945

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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone and +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.31% in Sierra Leone and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Sierra Leone vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2023	30.6	28.6
2022	31.1	29.1
2021	31.6	29.7
2020	32.2	29.4
2019	32.8	29.4
2018	33.3	29.1
2017	33.8	32.8
2016	34.2	35.1
2015	34.7	35.4
2014	35.6	38.2
2013	36.6	38.3
2012	37.8	39.1
2011	38.5	39.8
2010	39.1	39.9
2009	39.9	41
2008	40.6	41.6
2007	41.1	42.3
2006	41.8	43.2
2005	42	44.3
2004	42.5	45.5
2003	43.5	46.8
2002	44.3	48
2001	44	48.9
2000	45	49.8
1999	46.1	50.7
1998	46.3	51.2
1997	46.3	51.6
1996	46.5	52.6
1995	46.8	52.7
1994	46.8	52.7
1993	46.9	52.7
1992	47	52.5
1991	47.5	52.4
1990	45.5	52.3
1989	46.3	53.1
1988	46.4	51.9
1987	46.6	50.6
1986	46.6	50.6
1985	46.7	50.7
1984	46.8	50.8
1983	46.7	51.1
1982	46.8	51.4
1981	46.8	51.7
1980	46.8	52
1979	47	52.3
1978	47.2	52.7
1977	47.1	53
1976	47.2	53.4
1975	47.3	53.7
1974	47.4	53.9
1973	47.2	54.3
1972	47.2	54.5
1971	47.3	54.6
1970	47.4	54.5
1969	47.5	54.3
1968	47.7	54
1967	47.9	53.7
1966	48	53.5
1965	48	53.1
1964	48.2	53
1963	48.2	52.7
1962	48.1	52.5
1961	48.1	52.3
1960	48	52

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in Sierra Leone and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 48 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2100	19%	20.1%
2099	19%	20.2%
2098	19.1%	20.3%
2097	19.2%	20.3%
2096	19.3%	20.4%
2095	19.5%	20.5%
2094	19.6%	20.6%
2093	19.7%	20.7%
2092	19.8%	20.9%
2091	19.9%	21%
2090	20%	21.1%
2089	20.1%	21.2%
2088	20.3%	21.3%
2087	20.4%	21.5%
2086	20.5%	21.6%
2085	20.7%	21.8%
2084	20.8%	21.9%
2083	20.9%	22.1%
2082	21.1%	22.3%
2081	21.2%	22.4%
2080	21.4%	22.6%
2079	21.6%	22.8%
2078	21.7%	23%
2077	21.9%	23.2%
2076	22.1%	23.3%
2075	22.2%	23.5%
2074	22.4%	23.7%
2073	22.6%	23.9%
2072	22.8%	24.1%
2071	23%	24.3%
2070	23.2%	24.5%
2069	23.4%	24.7%
2068	23.6%	25%
2067	23.8%	25.2%
2066	24%	25.4%
2065	24.3%	25.6%
2064	24.5%	25.8%
2063	24.7%	26%
2062	25%	26.3%
2061	25.2%	26.5%
2060	25.5%	26.7%
2059	25.7%	27%
2058	26%	27.2%
2057	26.3%	27.5%
2056	26.6%	27.8%
2055	26.9%	28.1%
2054	27.1%	28.5%
2053	27.4%	28.8%
2052	27.7%	29.2%
2051	28.1%	29.5%
2050	28.4%	29.9%
2049	28.7%	30.3%
2048	29%	30.8%
2047	29.3%	31.2%
2046	29.7%	31.6%
2045	30%	32%
2044	30.3%	32.4%
2043	30.7%	32.7%
2042	31.1%	33%
2041	31.4%	33.3%
2040	31.8%	33.6%
2039	32.2%	33.8%
2038	32.6%	33.9%
2037	33%	34.1%
2036	33.4%	34.2%
2035	33.8%	34.3%
2034	34.2%	34.4%
2033	34.6%	34.3%
2032	35%	34.4%
2031	35.4%	34.6%
2030	35.7%	34.8%
2029	36.1%	35.2%
2028	36.5%	35.8%
2027	37%	36.6%
2026	37.4%	37.5%
2025	37.9%	38.4%
2024	38.1%	38.9%
2023	38.5%	39.9%
2022	39%	40.9%
2021	39.4%	41.6%
2020	39.8%	42.4%
2019	40.2%	43.6%
2018	40.6%	44.9%
2017	41%	45%
2016	41.4%	43.7%
2015	41.8%	43.1%
2014	42.2%	42.5%
2013	42.5%	41.9%
2012	42.8%	41.9%
2011	43%	42.2%
2010	43.2%	42.8%
2009	43.4%	43.4%
2008	43.5%	43.8%
2007	43.6%	44.3%
2006	43.7%	44.8%
2005	43.8%	45.3%
2004	43.9%	45.8%
2003	43.9%	45.9%
2002	43.9%	45.7%
2001	43.9%	45.5%
2000	43.8%	45.5%
1999	43.7%	45.6%
1998	43.6%	45.8%
1997	43.5%	46%
1996	43.5%	46%
1995	43.4%	45.8%
1994	43.3%	45.8%
1993	43.2%	45.7%
1992	43.1%	45.6%
1991	43%	45.5%
1990	42.9%	45.4%
1989	42.9%	45.4%
1988	42.8%	46.2%
1987	42.7%	46.9%
1986	42.6%	46.7%
1985	42.5%	46.6%
1984	42.3%	46.5%
1983	42.2%	46.3%
1982	42.1%	46.2%
1981	42%	46%
1980	41.9%	45.8%
1979	41.8%	45.7%
1978	41.7%	45.5%
1977	41.6%	45.4%
1976	41.4%	45.3%
1975	41.3%	45.2%
1974	41.1%	45.1%
1973	40.9%	45%
1972	40.7%	44.8%
1971	40.6%	44.7%
1970	40.3%	44.5%
1969	40.1%	44.3%
1968	39.9%	44%
1967	39.6%	43.8%
1966	39.4%	43.5%
1965	39.1%	43.3%
1964	38.8%	43%
1963	38.5%	42.8%
1962	38.3%	42.6%
1961	38.3%	42.6%
1960	38.2%	42.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Sierra Leone and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sierra Leone and South Sudan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Sierra Leone vs South Sudan

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Sudan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2023	354	692
2022	370	704
2021	403	749
2020	422	729
2019	464	745
2018	491	913
2017	578	1,662
2016	633	1,629
2015	730	1,436
2014	821	1,216
2013	842	771
2012	915	755
2011	967	770
2010	1,018	776
2009	1,054	823
2008	1,093	858
2007	1,132	933
2006	1,168	1,005
2005	1,294	1,074
2004	1,366	1,150
2003	1,433	1,199
2002	1,492	1,521
2001	1,518	1,580
2000	1,603	1,658
1999	1,731	2,048
1998	1,753	7,514
1997	1,721	4,172
1996	1,726	4,357
1995	1,777	4,430
1994	1,755	1,666
1993	1,696	7,537
1992	1,681	7,597
1991	1,699	4,764
1990	1,572	4,877
1989	1,575	5,103
1988	1,549	5,535
1987	1,533	8,045
1986	1,530	3,720
1985	1,506	3,845

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 354 deaths per 100,000 live births in Sierra Leone, compared to 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Sierra Leone	South Sudan
2023	9.43%	9.87%
2022	9.77%	9.87%
2021	10.1%	9.87%
2020	10.5%	9.87%
2019	10.9%	9.87%
2018	11.3%	13.2%
2017	11.8%	27.8%
2016	12.3%	26.4%
2015	13.8%	23.7%
2014	13.7%	18.2%
2013	13.9%	9.92%
2012	14.5%	10.1%
2011	15.2%	10.5%
2010	15.9%	10.9%
2009	16.6%	11.5%
2008	17.3%	12.1%
2007	18.1%	12.7%
2006	18.8%	13.4%
2005	19.4%	14.1%
2004	20.1%	14.8%
2003	20.7%	15.7%
2002	21.3%	16.5%
2001	21.8%	17.4%
2000	22.4%	18.3%
1999	22.9%	19.2%
1998	23.4%	42.6%
1997	23.9%	25.2%
1996	24.3%	26.1%
1995	24.7%	27%
1994	25%	23%
1993	25.3%	33.1%
1992	25.5%	33.8%
1991	25.7%	29.7%
1990	25.9%	30.3%
1989	26.2%	30.7%
1988	26.4%	76.7%
1987	26.6%	36%
1986	26.9%	26.7%
1985	27.2%	27.1%
1984	27.5%	27.5%
1983	27.8%	27.8%
1982	28.1%	28.2%
1981	28.5%	28.5%
1980	28.9%	28.9%
1979	29.2%	29.2%
1978	29.6%	29.5%
1977	30%	29.9%
1976	30.5%	30.2%
1975	30.9%	30.6%
1974	31.4%	30.9%
1973	31.9%	31.3%
1972	32.3%	31.6%
1971	32.9%	31.9%
1970	33.4%	32.3%
1969	33.9%	32.6%
1968	34.5%	32.9%
1967	35%	33.3%
1966	35.6%	33.6%
1965	36.2%	34%
1964	36.8%	34.3%
1963	37.4%	34.6%
1962	38%	34.9%
1961	38.5%	35.2%
1960	39.1%	35.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.43% in Sierra Leone and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.