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Fertility & birth rates in Sierra Leone and Tanzania

Updated on by Georank team

Sierra Leone has an annual birth rate of 30.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 35.2 for Tanzania. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.79 in Sierra Leone and 4.61 in Tanzania — 21.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 38.6% in Sierra Leone and by 29.5% in Tanzania — in 1960, it was 6.18 and 6.54, respectively.

  • Sierra Leone is ranked 29/196 by birth rate compared to 10/196 for Tanzania.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 19.6 years in Sierra Leone, compared to 19.9 years in Tanzania.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.5 in Sierra Leone — it's 28.9 in Tanzania.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 93.6 in Sierra Leone vs 113.2 in Tanzania.
  • In Sierra Leone, 25.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.2% in Tanzania.

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone vs Tanzania by year

Sierra Leone
Tanzania
1x
Year Fertility rate
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2023 3.79 4.61
2022 3.88 4.67
2021 3.98 4.73
2020 4.08 4.8
2019 4.19 4.87
2018 4.29 4.93
2017 4.39 4.99
2016 4.47 5.01
2015 4.55 5.03
2014 4.7 5.12
2013 4.87 5.16
2012 5.06 5.14
2011 5.21 5.14
2010 5.33 5.23
2009 5.45 5.26
2008 5.56 5.32
2007 5.64 5.4
2006 5.74 5.51
2005 5.81 5.58
2004 5.92 5.6
2003 6.09 5.58
2002 6.23 5.57
2001 6.31 5.62
2000 6.36 5.67
1999 6.42 5.75
1998 6.5 5.81
1997 6.53 5.84
1996 6.55 5.83
1995 6.56 5.82
1994 6.56 5.89
1993 6.57 6
1992 6.56 6.08
1991 6.55 6.14
1990 6.57 6.2
1989 6.57 6.3
1988 6.59 6.38
1987 6.61 6.41
1986 6.6 6.49
1985 6.59 6.6
1984 6.59 6.72
1983 6.57 6.81
1982 6.56 6.87
1981 6.55 6.93
1980 6.56 6.99
1979 6.58 7.04
1978 6.59 7.06
1977 6.57 7.07
1976 6.55 7.09
1975 6.55 7.1
1974 6.53 7.12
1973 6.47 7.06
1972 6.45 7.05
1971 6.43 7.04
1970 6.41 7
1969 6.39 6.95
1968 6.39 6.9
1967 6.38 6.86
1966 6.35 6.8
1965 6.31 6.73
1964 6.29 6.68
1963 6.26 6.65
1962 6.22 6.61
1961 6.21 6.56
1960 6.18 6.54

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/tanzania | 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 4.61 in Tanzania in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Sierra Leone
Tanzania
1x
Year Natural population change
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2023 188,788 1,960,623
2022 186,625 1,927,960
2021 183,326 1,880,137
2020 181,015 1,861,377
2019 181,068 1,816,669
2018 178,772 1,777,852
2017 173,259 1,726,909
2016 168,784 1,659,502
2015 162,275 1,592,882
2014 160,137 1,565,630
2013 161,265 1,509,008
2012 160,915 1,439,325
2011 158,858 1,384,886
2010 155,338 1,363,477
2009 152,669 1,332,015
2008 149,855 1,303,728
2007 145,740 1,278,285
2006 144,127 1,257,927
2005 137,234 1,224,165
2004 132,661 1,175,379
2003 130,312 1,118,435
2002 126,429 1,063,195
2001 116,647 1,026,242
2000 110,754 985,185
1999 102,295 948,659
1998 103,906 920,806
1997 105,433 882,544
1996 104,140 868,524
1995 100,885 838,980
1994 101,486 803,953
1993 103,317 778,044
1992 103,251 767,961
1991 105,477 762,011
1990 100,778 750,825
1989 98,298 743,854
1988 96,344 736,551
1987 94,235 718,580
1986 90,902 705,677
1985 88,869 697,867
1984 87,072 687,435
1983 84,628 679,720
1982 82,457 662,627
1981 80,111 645,496
1980 77,932 629,444
1979 75,992 613,388
1978 74,130 595,024
1977 71,663 574,938
1976 69,506 553,617
1975 67,560 533,906
1974 65,357 515,152
1973 62,443 488,429
1972 60,279 467,305
1971 58,484 449,014
1970 56,513 427,988
1969 54,768 408,322
1968 53,126 389,467
1967 51,734 374,763
1966 49,486 360,229
1965 47,223 343,456
1964 45,487 328,527
1963 43,569 314,644
1962 41,603 300,663
1961 40,022 286,839
1960 38,192 275,814

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/tanzania | 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 +2.94% in Tanzania.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.31% in Sierra Leone and +3.05% in Tanzania.

Birth rate in Sierra Leone vs Tanzania by year

Sierra Leone
Tanzania

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2023 30.6 35.2
2022 31.1 35.6
2021 31.6 36
2020 32.2 36.4
2019 32.8 36.9
2018 33.3 37.3
2017 33.8 37.6
2016 34.2 37.6
2015 34.7 37.6
2014 35.6 38.4
2013 36.6 38.4
2012 37.8 38.1
2011 38.5 38.1
2010 39.1 38.8
2009 39.9 39.2
2008 40.6 39.6
2007 41.1 40.2
2006 41.8 41
2005 42 41.5
2004 42.5 41.5
2003 43.5 41.3
2002 44.3 41.2
2001 44 41.4
2000 45 41.5
1999 46.1 41.8
1998 46.3 42.1
1997 46.3 42.1
1996 46.5 42.3
1995 46.8 41.9
1994 46.8 41.5
1993 46.9 41.7
1992 47 42.3
1991 47.5 42.7
1990 45.5 43
1989 46.3 43.5
1988 46.4 44
1987 46.6 44.3
1986 46.6 44.9
1985 46.7 45.7
1984 46.8 46.4
1983 46.7 47.1
1982 46.8 47.5
1981 46.8 47.9
1980 46.8 48.3
1979 47 48.8
1978 47.2 49.2
1977 47.1 49.5
1976 47.2 49.8
1975 47.3 50.2
1974 47.4 50.6
1973 47.2 50.3
1972 47.2 50.4
1971 47.3 50.6
1970 47.4 50.4
1969 47.5 50.3
1968 47.7 50.2
1967 47.9 50.3
1966 48 50.2
1965 48 49.9
1964 48.2 49.8
1963 48.2 49.7
1962 48.1 49.4
1961 48.1 49.1
1960 48 49

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in Sierra Leone and 35.2 in Tanzania, compared with 48 and 49, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Sierra Leone Tanzania
Fertility rate 3.79 4.61
Fertility rate rank 35/196 12/196
Birth rate 30.6 35.2
Birth rate rank 29/196 10/196
Population change due to births and deaths +188,788 +1,960,623
Natural population change rank 62/196 8/196
Natural population change rate +2.23% +2.94%
Population growth +2.15% +2.92%
Population growth rank 47/197 18/197
Age at first childbirth 19.6 years 19.9 years
Average age at childbearing 28.5 years 28.9 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 87.7 111.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 169.3 199.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 53.4 71.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.4% 24.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 20.9% 31.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 86.9% 63.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.35% 0.28%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2.93% 2.06%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.62% 2.99%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 9.43% 3.89%
Life expectancy 62.3 years 67.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Sierra Leone
Factual

UN forecast
Tanzania
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2100 19% 23.4%
2099 19% 23.6%
2098 19.1% 23.8%
2097 19.2% 23.9%
2096 19.3% 24.1%
2095 19.5% 24.3%
2094 19.6% 24.5%
2093 19.7% 24.7%
2092 19.8% 24.8%
2091 19.9% 25%
2090 20% 25.2%
2089 20.1% 25.4%
2088 20.3% 25.6%
2087 20.4% 25.8%
2086 20.5% 26%
2085 20.7% 26.2%
2084 20.8% 26.4%
2083 20.9% 26.6%
2082 21.1% 26.8%
2081 21.2% 27.1%
2080 21.4% 27.3%
2079 21.6% 27.5%
2078 21.7% 27.7%
2077 21.9% 28%
2076 22.1% 28.2%
2075 22.2% 28.4%
2074 22.4% 28.7%
2073 22.6% 28.9%
2072 22.8% 29.1%
2071 23% 29.4%
2070 23.2% 29.6%
2069 23.4% 29.8%
2068 23.6% 30.1%
2067 23.8% 30.3%
2066 24% 30.6%
2065 24.3% 30.8%
2064 24.5% 31.1%
2063 24.7% 31.3%
2062 25% 31.6%
2061 25.2% 31.9%
2060 25.5% 32.1%
2059 25.7% 32.4%
2058 26% 32.7%
2057 26.3% 32.9%
2056 26.6% 33.2%
2055 26.9% 33.5%
2054 27.1% 33.8%
2053 27.4% 34.1%
2052 27.7% 34.3%
2051 28.1% 34.6%
2050 28.4% 34.9%
2049 28.7% 35.2%
2048 29% 35.5%
2047 29.3% 35.8%
2046 29.7% 36.1%
2045 30% 36.4%
2044 30.3% 36.7%
2043 30.7% 37%
2042 31.1% 37.3%
2041 31.4% 37.6%
2040 31.8% 37.9%
2039 32.2% 38.3%
2038 32.6% 38.6%
2037 33% 39%
2036 33.4% 39.3%
2035 33.8% 39.6%
2034 34.2% 40%
2033 34.6% 40.3%
2032 35% 40.7%
2031 35.4% 41%
2030 35.7% 41.3%
2029 36.1% 41.6%
2028 36.5% 41.8%
2027 37% 42.1%
2026 37.4% 42.2%
2025 37.9% 42.4%
2024 38.1% 42.5%
2023 38.5% 42.7%
2022 39% 42.9%
2021 39.4% 43.1%
2020 39.8% 43.4%
2019 40.2% 43.6%
2018 40.6% 43.8%
2017 41% 44%
2016 41.4% 44.2%
2015 41.8% 44.5%
2014 42.2% 44.8%
2013 42.5% 44.9%
2012 42.8% 45.1%
2011 43% 45.2%
2010 43.2% 45.3%
2009 43.4% 45.3%
2008 43.5% 45.1%
2007 43.6% 45%
2006 43.7% 44.9%
2005 43.8% 44.8%
2004 43.9% 44.7%
2003 43.9% 44.6%
2002 43.9% 44.6%
2001 43.9% 44.5%
2000 43.8% 44.6%
1999 43.7% 44.7%
1998 43.6% 44.7%
1997 43.5% 44.8%
1996 43.5% 44.7%
1995 43.4% 44.5%
1994 43.3% 44.9%
1993 43.2% 45.5%
1992 43.1% 46%
1991 43% 46.2%
1990 42.9% 46.3%
1989 42.9% 46.5%
1988 42.8% 46.7%
1987 42.7% 46.9%
1986 42.6% 47.2%
1985 42.5% 47.4%
1984 42.3% 47.5%
1983 42.2% 47.6%
1982 42.1% 47.5%
1981 42% 47.4%
1980 41.9% 47.2%
1979 41.8% 46.9%
1978 41.7% 46.7%
1977 41.6% 46.6%
1976 41.4% 46.5%
1975 41.3% 46.4%
1974 41.1% 46.3%
1973 40.9% 46.2%
1972 40.7% 46.1%
1971 40.6% 46.1%
1970 40.3% 46%
1969 40.1% 45.9%
1968 39.9% 45.8%
1967 39.6% 45.6%
1966 39.4% 45.4%
1965 39.1% 45.2%
1964 38.8% 45%
1963 38.5% 44.8%
1962 38.3% 44.8%
1961 38.3% 44.8%
1960 38.2% 44.9%

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/tanzania | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Sierra Leone and 42.5% in Tanzania in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 46.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sierra Leone and Tanzania compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Sierra Leone vs Tanzania

Sierra Leone
Tanzania
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2023 354 276
2022 370 152
2021 403 162
2020 422 160
2019 464 292
2018 491 319
2017 578 345
2016 633 396
2015 730 433
2014 821 454
2013 842 479
2012 915 448
2011 967 475
2010 1,018 486
2009 1,054 502
2008 1,093 511
2007 1,132 453
2006 1,168 366
2005 1,294 350
2004 1,366 365
2003 1,433 397
2002 1,492 454
2001 1,518 493
2000 1,603 568
1999 1,731 635
1998 1,753 739
1997 1,721 777
1996 1,726 775
1995 1,777 797
1994 1,755 816
1993 1,696 851
1992 1,681 864
1991 1,699 873
1990 1,572 900
1989 1,575 927
1988 1,549 949
1987 1,533 964
1986 1,530 971
1985 1,506 980

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sierra-leone/tanzania | 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 276 deaths in Tanzania.

Under-five mortality rates

Sierra Leone
Tanzania

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Sierra Leone Tanzania
2023 9.43% 3.89%
2022 9.77% 4.05%
2021 10.1% 4.22%
2020 10.5% 4.42%
2019 10.9% 4.6%
2018 11.3% 4.8%
2017 11.8% 5.02%
2016 12.3% 5.25%
2015 13.8% 5.48%
2014 13.7% 5.67%
2013 13.9% 5.95%
2012 14.5% 6.21%
2011 15.2% 6.5%
2010 15.9% 6.86%
2009 16.6% 7.24%
2008 17.3% 7.7%
2007 18.1% 8.16%
2006 18.8% 8.69%
2005 19.4% 9.24%
2004 20.1% 9.86%
2003 20.7% 10.5%
2002 21.3% 11.3%
2001 21.8% 12.1%
2000 22.4% 12.8%
1999 22.9% 13.6%
1998 23.4% 14.2%
1997 23.9% 14.8%
1996 24.3% 15.2%
1995 24.7% 15.6%
1994 25% 15.9%
1993 25.3% 16.1%
1992 25.5% 16.3%
1991 25.7% 16.5%
1990 25.9% 16.7%
1989 26.2% 16.9%
1988 26.4% 17.2%
1987 26.6% 17.4%
1986 26.9% 17.6%
1985 27.2% 17.7%
1984 27.5% 17.8%
1983 27.8% 17.8%
1982 28.1% 17.8%
1981 28.5% 17.8%
1980 28.9% 17.9%
1979 29.2% 18.1%
1978 29.6% 18.4%
1977 30% 18.8%
1976 30.5% 19.2%
1975 30.9% 19.6%
1974 31.4% 20.1%
1973 31.9% 20.5%
1972 32.3% 20.9%
1971 32.9% 21.2%
1970 33.4% 21.6%
1969 33.9% 21.9%
1968 34.5% 22.2%
1967 35% 22.5%
1966 35.6% 22.8%
1965 36.2% 23.1%
1964 36.8% 23.4%
1963 37.4% 23.6%
1962 38% 23.8%
1961 38.5% 24%
1960 39.1% 24.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.43% in Sierra Leone and 3.89% in Tanzania. 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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