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Fertility & birth rates in Sierra Leone and Syria

Updated on by Georank team

Sierra Leone has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 22.1 for Syria. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.79 in Sierra Leone and 2.71 in Syria — 28.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 38.6% in Sierra Leone and by 63.9% in Syria — in 1960, it was 6.18 and 7.51, respectively.

  • Sierra Leone is ranked 29/196 by birth rate compared to 61/196 for Syria.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.5 in Sierra Leone — it's 28.8 in Syria.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 93.6 in Sierra Leone vs 38.9 in Syria.
  • In Sierra Leone, 25.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.7% in Syria.

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone vs Syria by year

Sierra Leone
Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Sierra Leone Syria
2023 3.79 2.71
2022 3.88 2.75
2021 3.98 2.8
2020 4.08 2.84
2019 4.19 2.88
2018 4.29 2.93
2017 4.39 2.97
2016 4.47 3.01
2015 4.55 3.07
2014 4.7 3.12
2013 4.87 3.17
2012 5.06 3.22
2011 5.21 3.29
2010 5.33 3.36
2009 5.45 3.42
2008 5.56 3.48
2007 5.64 3.54
2006 5.74 3.56
2005 5.81 3.61
2004 5.92 3.68
2003 6.09 3.76
2002 6.23 3.87
2001 6.31 3.98
2000 6.36 4.07
1999 6.42 4.14
1998 6.5 4.25
1997 6.53 4.37
1996 6.55 4.54
1995 6.56 4.7
1994 6.56 4.86
1993 6.57 4.99
1992 6.56 5.14
1991 6.55 5.34
1990 6.57 5.56
1989 6.57 5.78
1988 6.59 6
1987 6.61 6.2
1986 6.6 6.37
1985 6.59 6.48
1984 6.59 6.59
1983 6.57 6.69
1982 6.56 6.81
1981 6.55 6.97
1980 6.56 7.12
1979 6.58 7.25
1978 6.59 7.35
1977 6.57 7.42
1976 6.55 7.45
1975 6.55 7.49
1974 6.53 7.52
1973 6.47 7.55
1972 6.45 7.57
1971 6.43 7.6
1970 6.41 7.62
1969 6.39 7.59
1968 6.39 7.57
1967 6.38 7.56
1966 6.35 7.55
1965 6.31 7.53
1964 6.29 7.53
1963 6.26 7.51
1962 6.22 7.51
1961 6.21 7.5
1960 6.18 7.51

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

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 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Sierra Leone
Syria
1x
Year Natural population change
Sierra Leone Syria
2023 188,788 402,713
2022 186,625 369,750
2021 183,326 350,560
2020 181,015 327,992
2019 181,068 293,762
2018 178,772 242,530
2017 173,259 237,214
2016 168,784 236,007
2015 162,275 253,977
2014 160,137 333,116
2013 161,265 419,341
2012 160,915 475,520
2011 158,858 543,950
2010 155,338 558,666
2009 152,669 559,314
2008 149,855 576,593
2007 145,740 529,162
2006 144,127 480,616
2005 137,234 468,960
2004 132,661 461,209
2003 130,312 457,000
2002 126,429 453,967
2001 116,647 451,503
2000 110,754 446,211
1999 102,295 439,261
1998 103,906 433,447
1997 105,433 429,887
1996 104,140 430,765
1995 100,885 430,172
1994 101,486 426,996
1993 103,317 420,244
1992 103,251 412,878
1991 105,477 410,830
1990 100,778 409,177
1989 98,298 406,111
1988 96,344 404,285
1987 94,235 399,159
1986 90,902 390,821
1985 88,869 379,231
1984 87,072 366,768
1983 84,628 355,375
1982 82,457 319,664
1981 80,111 330,237
1980 77,932 332,464
1979 75,992 324,943
1978 74,130 316,724
1977 71,663 306,630
1976 69,506 294,267
1975 67,560 282,299
1974 65,357 270,735
1973 62,443 254,687
1972 60,279 249,027
1971 58,484 239,610
1970 56,513 230,117
1969 54,768 219,114
1968 53,126 209,454
1967 51,734 199,223
1966 49,486 191,122
1965 47,223 182,560
1964 45,487 174,549
1963 43,569 166,555
1962 41,603 159,155
1961 40,022 151,485
1960 38,192 143,687

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | 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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone and +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.31% in Sierra Leone and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in Sierra Leone vs Syria by year

Sierra Leone
Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Sierra Leone Syria
2023 30.6 22.1
2022 31.1 21.2
2021 31.6 21.2
2020 32.2 20.6
2019 32.8 19.7
2018 33.3 18.9
2017 33.8 19.6
2016 34.2 19.6
2015 34.7 21.3
2014 35.6 23.8
2013 36.6 26.9
2012 37.8 27.7
2011 38.5 28.1
2010 39.1 28.7
2009 39.9 29.2
2008 40.6 30.5
2007 41.1 29.1
2006 41.8 28.3
2005 42 28.8
2004 42.5 29.1
2003 43.5 29.6
2002 44.3 30.1
2001 44 30.7
2000 45 31.2
1999 46.1 31.5
1998 46.3 32
1997 46.3 32.5
1996 46.5 33.3
1995 46.8 34
1994 46.8 34.6
1993 46.9 35
1992 47 35.4
1991 47.5 36.3
1990 45.5 37.3
1989 46.3 38.3
1988 46.4 39.4
1987 46.6 40.3
1986 46.6 41
1985 46.7 41.3
1984 46.8 41.5
1983 46.7 41.9
1982 46.8 42.2
1981 46.8 43
1980 46.8 43.7
1979 47 44.4
1978 47.2 44.9
1977 47.1 45.3
1976 47.2 45.4
1975 47.3 45.5
1974 47.4 45.6
1973 47.2 45.7
1972 47.2 45.9
1971 47.3 46.2
1970 47.4 46.5
1969 47.5 46.4
1968 47.7 46.5
1967 47.9 46.5
1966 48 46.7
1965 48 46.7
1964 48.2 46.9
1963 48.2 47
1962 48.1 47.2
1961 48.1 47.3
1960 48 47.4

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in Sierra Leone and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 48 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Sierra Leone Syria
Fertility rate 3.79 2.71
Fertility rate rank 35/196 64/196
Birth rate 30.6 22.1
Birth rate rank 29/196 61/196
Population change due to births and deaths +188,788 +402,713
Natural population change rank 62/196 44/196
Natural population change rate +2.23% +1.71%
Population growth +2.15% +4.57%
Population growth rank 47/197 6/197
Age at first childbirth 19.6 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 28.5 years 28.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 87.7 37.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 169.3 136.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 53.4 36.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.4% 27.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 20.9% 37.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.9% 96.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.35% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.93% 1%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.62% 1.9%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 9.43% 2.06%
Life expectancy 62.3 years 73.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
Syria
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Sierra Leone Syria
2100 19% 15.9%
2099 19% 16%
2098 19.1% 16%
2097 19.2% 16.1%
2096 19.3% 16.1%
2095 19.5% 16.1%
2094 19.6% 16.2%
2093 19.7% 16.2%
2092 19.8% 16.2%
2091 19.9% 16.2%
2090 20% 16.2%
2089 20.1% 16.2%
2088 20.3% 16.2%
2087 20.4% 16.3%
2086 20.5% 16.4%
2085 20.7% 16.4%
2084 20.8% 16.5%
2083 20.9% 16.7%
2082 21.1% 16.8%
2081 21.2% 17%
2080 21.4% 17.2%
2079 21.6% 17.4%
2078 21.7% 17.6%
2077 21.9% 17.8%
2076 22.1% 18.1%
2075 22.2% 18.3%
2074 22.4% 18.6%
2073 22.6% 18.8%
2072 22.8% 19.1%
2071 23% 19.3%
2070 23.2% 19.5%
2069 23.4% 19.6%
2068 23.6% 19.8%
2067 23.8% 19.9%
2066 24% 20%
2065 24.3% 20.1%
2064 24.5% 20.1%
2063 24.7% 20.1%
2062 25% 20.2%
2061 25.2% 20.2%
2060 25.5% 20.2%
2059 25.7% 20.2%
2058 26% 20.3%
2057 26.3% 20.4%
2056 26.6% 20.5%
2055 26.9% 20.7%
2054 27.1% 21%
2053 27.4% 21.3%
2052 27.7% 21.6%
2051 28.1% 22%
2050 28.4% 22.5%
2049 28.7% 23%
2048 29% 23.6%
2047 29.3% 24.2%
2046 29.7% 24.8%
2045 30% 25.5%
2044 30.3% 26.1%
2043 30.7% 26.7%
2042 31.1% 27.2%
2041 31.4% 27.8%
2040 31.8% 28.2%
2039 32.2% 28.6%
2038 32.6% 28.9%
2037 33% 29%
2036 33.4% 29%
2035 33.8% 28.9%
2034 34.2% 28.7%
2033 34.6% 28.5%
2032 35% 28.1%
2031 35.4% 27.7%
2030 35.7% 27.4%
2029 36.1% 27.3%
2028 36.5% 27.4%
2027 37% 27.7%
2026 37.4% 28.1%
2025 37.9% 28.8%
2024 38.1% 29.2%
2023 38.5% 30.3%
2022 39% 31.9%
2021 39.4% 33.4%
2020 39.8% 34.6%
2019 40.2% 36.1%
2018 40.6% 37.9%
2017 41% 39.3%
2016 41.4% 40.2%
2015 41.8% 40.6%
2014 42.2% 39.8%
2013 42.5% 38%
2012 42.8% 36.5%
2011 43% 36.1%
2010 43.2% 36.1%
2009 43.4% 36.3%
2008 43.5% 36.3%
2007 43.6% 36.7%
2006 43.7% 38.1%
2005 43.8% 39.1%
2004 43.9% 39.6%
2003 43.9% 40.2%
2002 43.9% 40.8%
2001 43.9% 41.3%
2000 43.8% 41.9%
1999 43.7% 42.4%
1998 43.6% 42.9%
1997 43.5% 43.3%
1996 43.5% 43.8%
1995 43.4% 44.2%
1994 43.3% 44.7%
1993 43.2% 45.2%
1992 43.1% 45.7%
1991 43% 46.1%
1990 42.9% 46.6%
1989 42.9% 46.9%
1988 42.8% 47.2%
1987 42.7% 47.5%
1986 42.6% 47.7%
1985 42.5% 48%
1984 42.3% 48.2%
1983 42.2% 48.4%
1982 42.1% 48.5%
1981 42% 48.7%
1980 41.9% 48.7%
1979 41.8% 48.7%
1978 41.7% 48.7%
1977 41.6% 48.7%
1976 41.4% 48.6%
1975 41.3% 48.6%
1974 41.1% 48.5%
1973 40.9% 48.5%
1972 40.7% 48.4%
1971 40.6% 48.3%
1970 40.3% 48.2%
1969 40.1% 48%
1968 39.9% 47.8%
1967 39.6% 47.5%
1966 39.4% 47.3%
1965 39.1% 46.9%
1964 38.8% 46.6%
1963 38.5% 46.3%
1962 38.3% 46.1%
1961 38.3% 45.7%
1960 38.2% 45.3%

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/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Sierra Leone and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sierra Leone and Syria compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Sierra Leone vs Syria

Sierra Leone
Syria
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Sierra Leone Syria
2023 354 20
2022 370 21
2021 403 30
2020 422 23
2019 464 24
2018 491 21
2017 578 23
2016 633 23
2015 730 24
2014 821 25
2013 842 25
2012 915 22
2011 967 21
2010 1,018 19
2009 1,054 19
2008 1,093 20
2007 1,132 19
2006 1,168 20
2005 1,294 21
2004 1,366 22
2003 1,433 24
2002 1,492 26
2001 1,518 29
2000 1,603 31
1999 1,731 32
1998 1,753 34
1997 1,721 34
1996 1,726 34
1995 1,777 33
1994 1,755 32
1993 1,696 32
1992 1,681 33
1991 1,699 35
1990 1,572 37
1989 1,575 41
1988 1,549 44
1987 1,533 48
1986 1,530 52
1985 1,506 55

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Sierra Leone
Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Sierra Leone Syria
2023 9.43% 2.06%
2022 9.77% 2.11%
2021 10.1% 2.1%
2020 10.5% 2.24%
2019 10.9% 2.5%
2018 11.3% 3.26%
2017 11.8% 3.3%
2016 12.3% 3.22%
2015 13.8% 3.7%
2014 13.7% 3.53%
2013 13.9% 3.65%
2012 14.5% 3.39%
2011 15.2% 2.17%
2010 15.9% 1.9%
2009 16.6% 1.9%
2008 17.3% 1.9%
2007 18.1% 1.92%
2006 18.8% 1.95%
2005 19.4% 1.98%
2004 20.1% 2.03%
2003 20.7% 2.09%
2002 21.3% 2.15%
2001 21.8% 2.23%
2000 22.4% 2.32%
1999 22.9% 2.42%
1998 23.4% 2.53%
1997 23.9% 2.66%
1996 24.3% 2.8%
1995 24.7% 2.94%
1994 25% 3.09%
1993 25.3% 3.24%
1992 25.5% 3.4%
1991 25.7% 3.55%
1990 25.9% 3.7%
1989 26.2% 3.85%
1988 26.4% 4.02%
1987 26.6% 4.19%
1986 26.9% 4.39%
1985 27.2% 4.6%
1984 27.5% 4.84%
1983 27.8% 5.1%
1982 28.1% 7.06%
1981 28.5% 6.33%
1980 28.9% 6.03%
1979 29.2% 6.4%
1978 29.6% 6.79%
1977 30% 7.19%
1976 30.5% 7.61%
1975 30.9% 8.03%
1974 31.4% 8.47%
1973 31.9% 8.92%
1972 32.3% 9.4%
1971 32.9% 9.91%
1970 33.4% 10.5%
1969 33.9% 11.1%
1968 34.5% 11.7%
1967 35% 12.3%
1966 35.6% 12.9%
1965 36.2% 13.5%
1964 36.8% 14.1%
1963 37.4% 14.7%
1962 38% 15.3%
1961 38.5% 16.1%
1960 39.1% 16.9%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/syria | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.43% in Sierra Leone and 2.06% in Syria. 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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