Fertility & birth rates in Somalia and South Sudan

Fertility rate in Somalia vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Somalia

South Sudan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Somalia	South Sudan
2023	6.13	3.86
2022	6.26	3.96
2021	6.35	4.05
2020	6.45	4.16
2019	6.56	4.26
2018	6.66	4.37
2017	6.77	4.48
2016	6.88	4.58
2015	6.98	4.7
2014	7.06	4.82
2013	7.14	4.94
2012	7.21	5.06
2011	7.27	5.19
2010	7.32	5.32
2009	7.38	5.45
2008	7.42	5.57
2007	7.46	5.7
2006	7.49	5.85
2005	7.53	6.02
2004	7.57	6.19
2003	7.6	6.35
2002	7.63	6.52
2001	7.64	6.65
2000	7.65	6.8
1999	7.66	6.94
1998	7.66	7.08
1997	7.66	7.2
1996	7.62	7.32
1995	7.58	7.34
1994	7.54	7.35
1993	7.53	7.36
1992	7.5	7.37
1991	7.47	7.38
1990	7.44	7.38
1989	7.42	7.37
1988	7.4	7.38
1987	7.37	7.39
1986	7.35	7.38
1985	7.33	7.36
1984	7.3	7.35
1983	7.28	7.34
1982	7.25	7.34
1981	7.23	7.33
1980	7.18	7.33
1979	7.16	7.32
1978	7.13	7.33
1977	7	7.33
1976	7.02	7.33
1975	7.03	7.33
1974	7.06	7.31
1973	7.09	7.31
1972	7.12	7.31
1971	7.15	7.3
1970	7.18	7.29
1969	7.21	7.28
1968	7.23	7.26
1967	7.25	7.26
1966	7.26	7.25
1965	7.26	7.22
1964	7.26	7.22
1963	7.26	7.2
1962	7.26	7.2
1961	7.25	7.18
1960	7.25	7.16

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Somalia was 6.13 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 Somalia vs South Sudan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Somalia

South Sudan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Somalia	South Sudan
2023	608,203	217,966
2022	551,450	211,166
2021	566,399	213,567
2020	561,311	212,332
2019	548,756	209,708
2018	514,244	168,497
2017	478,556	72,193
2016	495,132	110,553
2015	481,573	148,542
2014	464,481	227,611
2013	448,518	315,983
2012	399,468	312,974
2011	203,213	303,181
2010	385,571	287,409
2009	405,784	278,859
2008	394,258	268,268
2007	380,303	256,546
2006	372,597	246,706
2005	363,117	239,272
2004	351,959	231,877
2003	341,192	225,822
2002	331,215	212,014
2001	319,059	204,108
2000	306,651	196,055
1999	295,523	180,721
1998	284,779	-12,157
1997	271,894	121,454
1996	264,807	116,728
1995	254,509	110,417
1994	246,950	165,407
1993	232,960	32,779
1992	57,495	28,874
1991	53,052	87,873
1990	225,162	82,900
1989	225,255	83,735
1988	215,599	-125,447
1987	231,580	5,756
1986	218,416	99,502
1985	207,960	95,342
1984	199,017	90,970
1983	190,775	104,107
1982	182,793	118,641
1981	185,211	115,163
1980	174,790	112,307
1979	151,016	109,540
1978	132,689	107,352
1977	124,818	104,886
1976	113,319	102,346
1975	108,998	99,882
1974	104,813	97,181
1973	108,038	94,765
1972	104,493	74,803
1971	101,196	72,308
1970	98,025	44,776
1969	95,045	42,015
1968	92,208	44,213
1967	89,497	41,357
1966	86,930	38,523
1965	84,448	51,682
1964	82,042	64,786
1963	79,859	46,333
1962	77,737	47,406
1961	75,513	45,186
1960	73,850	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 +3.31% in Somalia and +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.34% in Somalia and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Somalia vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Somalia

South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Somalia	South Sudan
2023	43	28.6
2022	43.8	29.1
2021	44.1	29.7
2020	44.5	29.4
2019	45.1	29.4
2018	45.7	29.1
2017	46.2	32.8
2016	46.6	35.1
2015	47.2	35.4
2014	47.5	38.2
2013	47.7	38.3
2012	48.2	39.1
2011	48.6	39.8
2010	48.1	39.9
2009	48.4	41
2008	48.8	41.6
2007	48.9	42.3
2006	49.4	43.2
2005	49.6	44.3
2004	49.9	45.5
2003	50.1	46.8
2002	50.4	48
2001	50.4	48.9
2000	50.4	49.8
1999	50.7	50.7
1998	50.7	51.2
1997	50.8	51.6
1996	51	52.6
1995	50.6	52.7
1994	51.1	52.7
1993	50.1	52.7
1992	51.5	52.5
1991	51.9	52.4
1990	50.3	52.3
1989	50.4	53.1
1988	50.8	51.9
1987	49.3	50.6
1986	48.9	50.6
1985	48.7	50.7
1984	48.5	50.8
1983	48.5	51.1
1982	48.3	51.4
1981	49.5	51.7
1980	47.4	52
1979	44.9	52.3
1978	45.2	52.7
1977	46.2	53
1976	46	53.4
1975	45.9	53.7
1974	45.7	53.9
1973	45.6	54.3
1972	45.6	54.5
1971	45.5	54.6
1970	45.5	54.5
1969	45.6	54.3
1968	45.6	54
1967	45.7	53.7
1966	45.8	53.5
1965	45.9	53.1
1964	46	53
1963	46.2	52.7
1962	46.3	52.5
1961	46.5	52.3
1960	46.8	52

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 43 in Somalia and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 46.8 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Somalia

Factual

UN forecast

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Somalia	South Sudan
2100	23.1%	20.1%
2099	23.3%	20.2%
2098	23.4%	20.3%
2097	23.6%	20.3%
2096	23.8%	20.4%
2095	24%	20.5%
2094	24.2%	20.6%
2093	24.4%	20.7%
2092	24.6%	20.9%
2091	24.8%	21%
2090	25%	21.1%
2089	25.2%	21.2%
2088	25.5%	21.3%
2087	25.7%	21.5%
2086	25.9%	21.6%
2085	26.1%	21.8%
2084	26.4%	21.9%
2083	26.6%	22.1%
2082	26.8%	22.3%
2081	27.1%	22.4%
2080	27.3%	22.6%
2079	27.6%	22.8%
2078	27.9%	23%
2077	28.1%	23.2%
2076	28.4%	23.3%
2075	28.7%	23.5%
2074	29%	23.7%
2073	29.3%	23.9%
2072	29.6%	24.1%
2071	29.9%	24.3%
2070	30.2%	24.5%
2069	30.6%	24.7%
2068	30.9%	25%
2067	31.2%	25.2%
2066	31.5%	25.4%
2065	31.9%	25.6%
2064	32.2%	25.8%
2063	32.5%	26%
2062	32.9%	26.3%
2061	33.2%	26.5%
2060	33.6%	26.7%
2059	33.9%	27%
2058	34.2%	27.2%
2057	34.6%	27.5%
2056	34.9%	27.8%
2055	35.3%	28.1%
2054	35.7%	28.5%
2053	36.1%	28.8%
2052	36.4%	29.2%
2051	36.8%	29.5%
2050	37.2%	29.9%
2049	37.6%	30.3%
2048	38%	30.8%
2047	38.4%	31.2%
2046	38.8%	31.6%
2045	39.2%	32%
2044	39.7%	32.4%
2043	40.1%	32.7%
2042	40.5%	33%
2041	41%	33.3%
2040	41.5%	33.6%
2039	41.9%	33.8%
2038	42.4%	33.9%
2037	42.8%	34.1%
2036	43.3%	34.2%
2035	43.7%	34.3%
2034	44.1%	34.4%
2033	44.5%	34.3%
2032	44.9%	34.4%
2031	45.2%	34.6%
2030	45.6%	34.8%
2029	46%	35.2%
2028	46.2%	35.8%
2027	46.5%	36.6%
2026	46.6%	37.5%
2025	46.6%	38.4%
2024	46.6%	38.9%
2023	46.7%	39.9%
2022	46.8%	40.9%
2021	47%	41.6%
2020	47%	42.4%
2019	47.1%	43.6%
2018	47.3%	44.9%
2017	47.4%	45%
2016	47.5%	43.7%
2015	47.6%	43.1%
2014	47.7%	42.5%
2013	47.8%	41.9%
2012	47.9%	41.9%
2011	48.3%	42.2%
2010	48.7%	42.8%
2009	48.8%	43.4%
2008	48.9%	43.8%
2007	48.9%	44.3%
2006	48.6%	44.8%
2005	48.2%	45.3%
2004	47.9%	45.8%
2003	47.7%	45.9%
2002	47.6%	45.7%
2001	47.5%	45.5%
2000	47.4%	45.5%
1999	47.2%	45.6%
1998	47.1%	45.8%
1997	47%	46%
1996	46.9%	46%
1995	46.7%	45.8%
1994	46.5%	45.8%
1993	46.4%	45.7%
1992	46.5%	45.6%
1991	47%	45.5%
1990	47%	45.4%
1989	46.7%	45.4%
1988	46.3%	46.2%
1987	46%	46.9%
1986	45.8%	46.7%
1985	45.6%	46.6%
1984	45.4%	46.5%
1983	45.2%	46.3%
1982	45%	46.2%
1981	44.8%	46%
1980	44.6%	45.8%
1979	44.5%	45.7%
1978	44.4%	45.5%
1977	44.3%	45.4%
1976	44.3%	45.3%
1975	44.3%	45.2%
1974	44.4%	45.1%
1973	44.4%	45%
1972	44.4%	44.8%
1971	44.5%	44.7%
1970	44.5%	44.5%
1969	44.6%	44.3%
1968	44.7%	44%
1967	44.8%	43.8%
1966	44.9%	43.5%
1965	45.1%	43.3%
1964	45.1%	43%
1963	45%	42.8%
1962	44.8%	42.6%
1961	44.7%	42.6%
1960	44.4%	42.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46.6% of the population in Somalia and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 47% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Somalia and South Sudan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Somalia vs South Sudan

Chart Table

Somalia

South Sudan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Somalia	South Sudan
2023	563	692
2022	622	704
2021	726	749
2020	655	729
2019	656	745
2018	727	913
2017	716	1,662
2016	754	1,629
2015	784	1,436
2014	816	1,216
2013	855	771
2012	894	755
2011	972	770
2010	1,062	776
2009	995	823
2008	1,035	858
2007	1,074	933
2006	1,085	1,005
2005	1,086	1,074
2004	1,104	1,150
2003	1,111	1,199
2002	1,121	1,521
2001	1,129	1,580
2000	1,150	1,658
1999	1,170	2,048
1998	1,177	7,514
1997	1,206	4,172
1996	1,225	4,357
1995	1,210	4,430
1994	1,254	1,666
1993	1,195	7,537
1992	1,339	7,597
1991	1,431	4,764
1990	1,358	4,877
1989	1,395	5,103
1988	1,423	5,535
1987	1,393	8,045
1986	1,452	3,720
1985	1,465	3,845

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 563 deaths per 100,000 live births in Somalia, compared to 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Somalia

South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Somalia	South Sudan
2023	10.4%	9.87%
2022	14.3%	9.87%
2021	11.1%	9.87%
2020	11.4%	9.87%
2019	11.8%	9.87%
2018	13.6%	13.2%
2017	15.5%	27.8%
2016	13%	26.4%
2015	13.4%	23.7%
2014	13.8%	18.2%
2013	14.3%	9.92%
2012	18.4%	10.1%
2011	35.9%	10.5%
2010	18.6%	10.9%
2009	16.2%	11.5%
2008	16.6%	12.1%
2007	17%	12.7%
2006	17.2%	13.4%
2005	17.2%	14.1%
2004	17.2%	14.8%
2003	17.2%	15.7%
2002	17.2%	16.5%
2001	17.2%	17.4%
2000	17.2%	18.3%
1999	17.2%	19.2%
1998	17.2%	42.6%
1997	17.2%	25.2%
1996	17.2%	26.1%
1995	17.2%	27%
1994	17.2%	23%
1993	17.3%	33.1%
1992	45.6%	33.8%
1991	44.3%	29.7%
1990	18%	30.3%
1989	18.3%	30.7%
1988	18.6%	76.7%
1987	18.8%	36%
1986	19%	26.7%
1985	19.3%	27.1%
1984	19.5%	27.5%
1983	19.8%	27.8%
1982	20.1%	28.2%
1981	-	28.5%
1980	-	28.9%
1979	-	29.2%
1978	-	29.5%
1977	-	29.9%
1976	-	30.2%
1975	-	30.6%
1974	-	30.9%
1973	-	31.3%
1972	-	31.6%
1971	-	31.9%
1970	-	32.3%
1969	-	32.6%
1968	-	32.9%
1967	-	33.3%
1966	-	33.6%
1965	-	34%
1964	-	34.3%
1963	-	34.6%
1962	-	34.9%
1961	-	35.2%
1960	-	35.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.4% in Somalia and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.