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Fertility & birth rates in Sierra Leone and Spain

Updated on by Georank team

Sierra Leone has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 6.7 for Spain. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.79 in Sierra Leone and 1.12 in Spain — 70.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -38.6% in Sierra Leone and by -60.8% in Spain — in 1960, it was 6.18 and 2.86, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Sierra Leone is ranked 29/196 by birth rate compared to 189/196 for Spain.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.6 years in Sierra Leone, compared to 31.5 years in Spain.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.5 in Sierra Leone — it's 32.5 in Spain.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 93.6 in Sierra Leone vs 4.81 in Spain.
  • In Sierra Leone, 25.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.3% in Spain.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.23% in Sierra Leone and -0.23% in Spain.

Birth rate data compared

Sierra Leone Spain
Fertility rate 3.79 1.12
Birth rate 30.6 6.7
Birth rate rank 29/196 189/196
Age at first childbirth 19.6 years 31.5 years
Average age at childbearing 28.5 years 32.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 88.8 4.92
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 170.1 34.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 53.9 13.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.4% 21.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 20.9% 59.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.9% 99.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.35% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.93% 0.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.62% 0.26%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 9.43% 0.31%
Population change due to births and deaths +188,788 -111,201
Natural population change rank 62/196 189/196
Natural population change rate +2.23% -0.23%
Population growth +2.15% +0.95%
Population growth rank 49/197 108/197
Life expectancy 62.2 years 84 years

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone vs Spain chart

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 1.12 in Spain in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Sierra Leone vs Spain population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
Spain
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Sierra Leone Spain
1960 6.18 2.86
1961 6.21 2.77
1962 6.22 2.8
1963 6.26 2.88
1964 6.29 3.01
1965 6.31 2.94
1966 6.35 2.91
1967 6.38 2.94
1968 6.39 2.87
1969 6.39 2.86
1970 6.41 2.84
1971 6.43 2.9
1972 6.45 2.87
1973 6.47 2.84
1974 6.53 2.88
1975 6.55 2.77
1976 6.55 2.77
1977 6.57 2.65
1978 6.59 2.54
1979 6.58 2.37
1980 6.56 2.22
1981 6.55 2.04
1982 6.56 1.94
1983 6.57 1.8
1984 6.59 1.73
1985 6.59 1.64
1986 6.6 1.56
1987 6.61 1.49
1988 6.59 1.45
1989 6.57 1.4
1990 6.57 1.36
1991 6.55 1.33
1992 6.56 1.31
1993 6.57 1.26
1994 6.56 1.19
1995 6.56 1.16
1996 6.55 1.14
1997 6.53 1.15
1998 6.5 1.13
1999 6.42 1.17
2000 6.36 1.22
2001 6.31 1.23
2002 6.23 1.25
2003 6.09 1.3
2004 5.92 1.31
2005 5.81 1.33
2006 5.74 1.36
2007 5.64 1.38
2008 5.56 1.45
2009 5.45 1.38
2010 5.33 1.37
2011 5.21 1.34
2012 5.06 1.32
2013 4.87 1.27
2014 4.7 1.32
2015 4.55 1.33
2016 4.47 1.33
2017 4.39 1.31
2018 4.29 1.26
2019 4.19 1.23
2020 4.08 1.18
2021 3.98 1.18
2022 3.88 1.16
2023 3.79 1.12
2024 3.7 1.13
2025 3.61 1.14
2026 3.53 1.14
2027 3.47 1.15
2028 3.37 1.16
2029 3.3 1.16
2030 3.23 1.17
2031 3.18 1.17
2032 3.12 1.18
2033 3.07 1.18
2034 3.02 1.19
2035 2.97 1.19
2036 2.92 1.2
2037 2.88 1.2
2038 2.84 1.2
2039 2.79 1.21
2040 2.76 1.21
2041 2.72 1.22
2042 2.68 1.23
2043 2.65 1.23
2044 2.62 1.24
2045 2.58 1.24
2046 2.55 1.24
2047 2.53 1.25
2048 2.5 1.25
2049 2.47 1.25
2050 2.45 1.26

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
Spain
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Sierra Leone Spain
1960 38.2% 27.4%
1961 38.3% 27.4%
1962 38.3% 27.4%
1963 38.5% 27.4%
1964 38.8% 27.4%
1965 39.1% 27.5%
1966 39.4% 27.6%
1967 39.6% 27.7%
1968 39.9% 27.8%
1969 40.1% 27.8%
1970 40.3% 27.9%
1971 40.6% 27.8%
1972 40.7% 27.8%
1973 40.9% 27.7%
1974 41.1% 27.5%
1975 41.3% 27.3%
1976 41.4% 27.2%
1977 41.6% 27%
1978 41.7% 26.8%
1979 41.8% 26.4%
1980 41.9% 26%
1981 42% 25.5%
1982 42.1% 24.9%
1983 42.2% 24.4%
1984 42.3% 23.8%
1985 42.5% 23.2%
1986 42.6% 22.5%
1987 42.7% 21.9%
1988 42.8% 21.2%
1989 42.9% 20.5%
1990 42.9% 19.8%
1991 43% 19.1%
1992 43.1% 18.4%
1993 43.2% 17.8%
1994 43.3% 17.2%
1995 43.4% 16.6%
1996 43.5% 16.1%
1997 43.5% 15.7%
1998 43.6% 15.3%
1999 43.7% 15%
2000 43.8% 14.8%
2001 43.9% 14.7%
2002 43.9% 14.6%
2003 43.9% 14.5%
2004 43.9% 14.5%
2005 43.8% 14.5%
2006 43.7% 14.5%
2007 43.6% 14.6%
2008 43.5% 14.7%
2009 43.4% 14.8%
2010 43.2% 14.9%
2011 43% 15%
2012 42.8% 15.1%
2013 42.5% 15.1%
2014 42.2% 15.1%
2015 41.8% 15%
2016 41.4% 14.9%
2017 41% 14.8%
2018 40.6% 14.7%
2019 40.2% 14.4%
2020 39.8% 14.2%
2021 39.4% 13.9%
2022 39% 13.6%
2023 38.5% 13.3%
2024 38.1% 12.9%
2025 37.7% 12.6%
2026 37.2% 12.3%
2027 36.8% 12.1%
2028 36.3% 11.8%
2029 35.9% 11.6%
2030 35.5% 11.4%
2031 35.2% 11.2%
2032 34.8% 11%
2033 34.4% 10.9%
2034 34% 10.8%
2035 33.6% 10.7%
2036 33.2% 10.7%
2037 32.8% 10.7%
2038 32.4% 10.8%
2039 32% 10.8%
2040 31.6% 10.8%
2041 31.2% 10.9%
2042 30.9% 11%
2043 30.5% 11%
2044 30.2% 11.1%
2045 29.8% 11.2%
2046 29.5% 11.3%
2047 29.2% 11.3%
2048 28.8% 11.4%
2049 28.5% 11.5%
2050 28.2% 11.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Sierra Leone and 12.9% in Spain in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sierra Leone and Spain compared.

Natural population change in Sierra Leone vs Spain by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +2.31% in Sierra Leone and -0.13% in Spain. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Sierra Leone
Spain

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Sierra Leone Spain
1960 38,192 398,960
1961 40,022 396,537
1962 41,603 384,690
1963 43,569 394,338
1964 45,487 429,885
1965 47,223 405,819
1966 49,486 397,084
1967 51,734 402,001
1968 53,126 387,423
1969 54,768 367,851
1970 56,513 378,723
1971 58,484 369,625
1972 60,279 391,030
1973 62,443 374,381
1974 65,357 396,182
1975 67,560 371,882
1976 69,506 375,834
1977 71,663 361,465
1978 74,130 339,157
1979 75,992 312,407
1980 77,932 281,184
1981 80,111 237,879
1982 82,457 231,714
1983 84,628 183,223
1984 87,072 172,487
1985 88,869 146,184
1986 90,902 131,188
1987 94,235 116,054
1988 96,344 100,794
1989 98,298 81,538
1990 100,778 66,075
1991 105,477 58,450
1992 103,251 62,652
1993 103,317 47,234
1994 101,486 31,639
1995 100,885 15,889
1996 104,140 11,967
1997 105,433 20,028
1998 103,906 4,022
1999 102,295 8,077
2000 110,754 36,512
2001 116,647 44,936
2002 126,429 53,861
2003 130,312 54,844
2004 132,661 85,844
2005 137,234 78,576
2006 144,127 110,994
2007 145,740 108,545
2008 149,855 133,267
2009 152,669 106,635
2010 155,338 102,469
2011 158,858 84,137
2012 160,915 51,450
2013 161,265 37,284
2014 160,137 32,522
2015 162,275 -4,642
2016 168,784 0
2017 173,259 -32,600
2018 178,772 -56,139
2019 181,068 -56,542
2020 181,015 -151,551
2021 183,326 -113,865
2022 186,625 -133,801
2023 188,788 -111,201

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Sierra Leone vs Spain

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 3 deaths in Spain.

Sierra Leone
Spain
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Sierra Leone Spain
1985 1,506 6
1986 1,530 7
1987 1,533 7
1988 1,549 7
1989 1,575 7
1990 1,572 6
1991 1,699 6
1992 1,681 6
1993 1,696 6
1994 1,755 6
1995 1,777 6
1996 1,726 6
1997 1,721 5
1998 1,753 5
1999 1,731 5
2000 1,603 5
2001 1,518 5
2002 1,492 5
2003 1,433 4
2004 1,366 5
2005 1,294 5
2006 1,168 4
2007 1,132 4
2008 1,093 4
2009 1,054 4
2010 1,018 4
2011 967 4
2012 915 4
2013 842 4
2014 821 4
2015 730 4
2016 633 3
2017 578 3
2018 491 3
2019 464 3
2020 422 4
2021 403 4
2022 370 4
2023 354 3

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.43% in Sierra Leone and 0.31% in Spain. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Sierra Leone
Spain

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
Sierra Leone Spain
1960 39.1% 5.47%
1961 38.5% 5.2%
1962 38% 4.94%
1963 37.4% 4.68%
1964 36.8% 4.45%
1965 36.2% 4.23%
1966 35.6% 4.03%
1967 35% 3.83%
1968 34.5% 3.61%
1969 33.9% 3.39%
1970 33.4% 3.16%
1971 32.9% 2.94%
1972 32.3% 2.72%
1973 31.9% 2.52%
1974 31.4% 2.33%
1975 30.9% 2.17%
1976 30.5% 2.02%
1977 30% 1.87%
1978 29.6% 1.74%
1979 29.2% 1.61%
1980 28.9% 1.49%
1981 28.5% 1.38%
1982 28.1% 1.3%
1983 27.8% 1.23%
1984 27.5% 1.17%
1985 27.2% 1.11%
1986 26.9% 1.07%
1987 26.6% 1.03%
1988 26.4% 0.99%
1989 26.2% 0.95%
1990 25.9% 0.92%
1991 25.7% 0.88%
1992 25.5% 0.83%
1993 25.3% 0.79%
1994 25% 0.74%
1995 24.7% 0.69%
1996 24.3% 0.65%
1997 23.9% 0.61%
1998 23.4% 0.58%
1999 22.9% 0.56%
2000 22.4% 0.54%
2001 21.8% 0.53%
2002 21.3% 0.51%
2003 20.7% 0.5%
2004 20.1% 0.49%
2005 19.4% 0.47%
2006 18.8% 0.45%
2007 18.1% 0.44%
2008 17.3% 0.42%
2009 16.6% 0.4%
2010 15.9% 0.38%
2011 15.2% 0.37%
2012 14.5% 0.36%
2013 13.9% 0.35%
2014 13.7% 0.34%
2015 13.8% 0.33%
2016 12.3% 0.33%
2017 11.8% 0.32%
2018 11.3% 0.32%
2019 10.9% 0.32%
2020 10.5% 0.32%
2021 10.1% 0.31%
2022 9.77% 0.31%
2023 9.43% 0.31%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Sierra Leone vs Spain
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