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Fertility & birth rates in South Sudan and United Kingdom

Updated on by Georank team

South Sudan has an annual birth rate of 28.6 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10 for the United Kingdom. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 3.86 in South Sudan and 1.56 in the United Kingdom — 59.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 46% in South Sudan and by 42% in the United Kingdom — in 1960, it was 7.16 and 2.69, respectively.

  • South Sudan is ranked 36/196 by birth rate compared to 146/196 for the United Kingdom.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.4 in South Sudan — it's 31.2 in the United Kingdom.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 97.1 in South Sudan vs 8.36 in the United Kingdom.
  • In South Sudan, 25.1% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.9% in the United Kingdom.

Fertility rate in South Sudan vs United Kingdom by year

South Sudan
United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Sudan United Kingdom
2023 3.86 1.56
2022 3.96 1.56
2021 4.05 1.58
2020 4.16 1.57
2019 4.26 1.63
2018 4.37 1.68
2017 4.48 1.74
2016 4.58 1.79
2015 4.7 1.8
2014 4.82 1.81
2013 4.94 1.83
2012 5.06 1.92
2011 5.19 1.91
2010 5.32 1.92
2009 5.45 1.89
2008 5.57 1.91
2007 5.7 1.86
2006 5.85 1.82
2005 6.02 1.76
2004 6.19 1.75
2003 6.35 1.7
2002 6.52 1.63
2001 6.65 1.63
2000 6.8 1.64
1999 6.94 1.68
1998 7.08 1.71
1997 7.2 1.72
1996 7.32 1.73
1995 7.34 1.71
1994 7.35 1.74
1993 7.36 1.76
1992 7.37 1.79
1991 7.38 1.82
1990 7.38 1.83
1989 7.37 1.79
1988 7.38 1.82
1987 7.39 1.81
1986 7.38 1.78
1985 7.36 1.79
1984 7.35 1.77
1983 7.34 1.77
1982 7.34 1.78
1981 7.33 1.82
1980 7.33 1.9
1979 7.32 1.86
1978 7.33 1.75
1977 7.33 1.69
1976 7.33 1.74
1975 7.33 1.81
1974 7.31 1.92
1973 7.31 2.04
1972 7.31 2.2
1971 7.3 2.41
1970 7.29 2.44
1969 7.28 2.51
1968 7.26 2.6
1967 7.26 2.68
1966 7.25 2.78
1965 7.22 2.86
1964 7.22 2.93
1963 7.2 2.88
1962 7.2 2.86
1961 7.18 2.78
1960 7.16 2.69

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in South Sudan was 3.86 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.56 in the United Kingdom in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check South Sudan vs the United Kingdom population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

South Sudan
United Kingdom
1x
Year Natural population change
South Sudan United Kingdom
2023 217,966 34,589
2022 211,166 39,751
2021 213,567 30,612
2020 212,332 -4,272
2019 209,708 108,342
2018 168,497 119,321
2017 72,193 145,125
2016 110,553 177,139
2015 148,542 175,738
2014 227,611 206,784
2013 315,983 198,830
2012 312,974 248,473
2011 303,181 259,361
2010 287,409 251,066
2009 278,859 230,422
2008 268,268 216,325
2007 256,546 196,232
2006 246,706 176,455
2005 239,272 144,963
2004 231,877 131,974
2003 225,822 89,471
2002 212,014 65,308
2001 204,108 65,032
2000 196,055 70,671
1999 180,721 64,551
1998 -12,157 87,730
1997 121,454 99,138
1996 116,728 98,884
1995 110,417 87,028
1994 165,407 127,304
1993 32,779 103,893
1992 28,874 149,709
1991 87,873 143,562
1990 82,900 154,569
1989 83,735 119,861
1988 -125,447 136,628
1987 5,756 136,325
1986 99,502 90,690
1985 95,342 79,170
1984 90,970 84,633
1983 104,107 61,966
1982 118,641 56,314
1981 115,163 73,234
1980 112,307 95,734
1979 109,540 61,872
1978 107,352 16,859
1977 104,886 0
1976 102,346 -5,621
1975 99,882 33,735
1974 97,181 67,476
1973 94,765 112,389
1972 74,803 162,650
1971 72,308 257,123
1970 44,776 244,918
1969 42,015 260,577
1968 44,213 292,622
1967 41,357 346,145
1966 38,523 333,356
1965 51,682 364,132
1964 64,786 405,000
1963 46,333 337,995
1962 47,406 340,800
1961 45,186 311,519
1960 42,945 314,400

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | 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 +1.9% in South Sudan and +0.05% in the United Kingdom.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.65% in South Sudan and +0.16% in the United Kingdom.

Birth rate in South Sudan vs United Kingdom by year

South Sudan
United Kingdom

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
South Sudan United Kingdom
2023 28.6 10
2022 29.1 10.1
2021 29.7 10.2
2020 29.4 10.2
2019 29.4 10.6
2018 29.1 11
2017 32.8 11.4
2016 35.1 11.8
2015 35.4 11.9
2014 38.2 12
2013 38.3 12.1
2012 39.1 12.8
2011 39.8 12.8
2010 39.9 12.9
2009 41 12.7
2008 41.6 12.9
2007 42.3 12.6
2006 43.2 12.3
2005 44.3 12
2004 45.5 11.9
2003 46.8 11.7
2002 48 11.3
2001 48.9 11.3
2000 49.8 11.5
1999 50.7 11.9
1998 51.2 12.3
1997 51.6 12.5
1996 52.6 12.6
1995 52.7 12.6
1994 52.7 13
1993 52.7 13.2
1992 52.5 13.6
1991 52.4 13.8
1990 52.3 13.9
1989 53.1 13.6
1988 51.9 13.8
1987 50.6 13.7
1986 50.6 13.3
1985 50.7 13.3
1984 50.8 12.9
1983 51.1 12.8
1982 51.4 12.8
1981 51.7 13
1980 52 13.4
1979 52.3 13.1
1978 52.7 12.2
1977 53 11.7
1976 53.4 12
1975 53.7 12.4
1974 53.9 13.1
1973 54.3 13.9
1972 54.5 14.9
1971 54.6 16.1
1970 54.5 16.2
1969 54.3 16.6
1968 54 17.2
1967 53.7 17.5
1966 53.5 17.9
1965 53.1 18.3
1964 53 18.8
1963 52.7 18.5
1962 52.5 18.3
1961 52.3 17.9
1960 52 17.5

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.6 in South Sudan and 10 in the United Kingdom, compared with 52 and 17.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

South Sudan United Kingdom
Fertility rate 3.86 1.56
Fertility rate rank 31/196 131/196
Birth rate 28.6 10
Birth rate rank 36/196 146/196
Population change due to births and deaths +217,966 +34,589
Natural population change rank 58/196 102/196
Natural population change rate +1.9% +0.05%
Population growth +4.01% +1.07%
Population growth rank 7/197 97/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 29 years
Average age at childbearing 28.4 years 31.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 95.7 7.01
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 173.3 59.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 43.7 17.8
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.1% 21.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 1.59% 71.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 39.7% 99%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.69% 0.008%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 4.02% 0.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 7.26% 0.4%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 9.87% 0.45%
Life expectancy 58 years 81.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

South Sudan
Factual

UN forecast
United Kingdom
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
South Sudan United Kingdom
2100 20.1% 13.4%
2099 20.2% 13.4%
2098 20.3% 13.4%
2097 20.3% 13.5%
2096 20.4% 13.5%
2095 20.5% 13.6%
2094 20.6% 13.6%
2093 20.7% 13.7%
2092 20.9% 13.7%
2091 21% 13.8%
2090 21.1% 13.8%
2089 21.2% 13.8%
2088 21.3% 13.9%
2087 21.5% 13.9%
2086 21.6% 13.9%
2085 21.8% 13.9%
2084 21.9% 13.9%
2083 22.1% 13.9%
2082 22.3% 13.9%
2081 22.4% 13.9%
2080 22.6% 13.9%
2079 22.8% 13.8%
2078 23% 13.8%
2077 23.2% 13.8%
2076 23.3% 13.8%
2075 23.5% 13.8%
2074 23.7% 13.8%
2073 23.9% 13.8%
2072 24.1% 13.8%
2071 24.3% 13.8%
2070 24.5% 13.8%
2069 24.7% 13.8%
2068 25% 13.9%
2067 25.2% 13.9%
2066 25.4% 14%
2065 25.6% 14.1%
2064 25.8% 14.2%
2063 26% 14.3%
2062 26.3% 14.4%
2061 26.5% 14.5%
2060 26.7% 14.5%
2059 27% 14.6%
2058 27.2% 14.7%
2057 27.5% 14.8%
2056 27.8% 14.9%
2055 28.1% 15%
2054 28.5% 15%
2053 28.8% 15%
2052 29.2% 15.1%
2051 29.5% 15.1%
2050 29.9% 15.1%
2049 30.3% 15%
2048 30.8% 15%
2047 31.2% 15%
2046 31.6% 14.9%
2045 32% 14.9%
2044 32.4% 14.9%
2043 32.7% 14.8%
2042 33% 14.8%
2041 33.3% 14.8%
2040 33.6% 14.8%
2039 33.8% 14.8%
2038 33.9% 14.9%
2037 34.1% 14.9%
2036 34.2% 14.9%
2035 34.3% 15%
2034 34.4% 15.1%
2033 34.3% 15.3%
2032 34.4% 15.4%
2031 34.6% 15.6%
2030 34.8% 15.9%
2029 35.2% 16.1%
2028 35.8% 16.3%
2027 36.6% 16.6%
2026 37.5% 16.8%
2025 38.4% 17.1%
2024 38.9% 17.2%
2023 39.9% 17.4%
2022 40.9% 17.6%
2021 41.6% 17.8%
2020 42.4% 18%
2019 43.6% 18%
2018 44.9% 18.1%
2017 45% 18%
2016 43.7% 18%
2015 43.1% 17.9%
2014 42.5% 17.8%
2013 41.9% 17.8%
2012 41.9% 17.8%
2011 42.2% 17.7%
2010 42.8% 17.8%
2009 43.4% 17.8%
2008 43.8% 17.8%
2007 44.3% 17.9%
2006 44.8% 18%
2005 45.3% 18.2%
2004 45.8% 18.3%
2003 45.9% 18.4%
2002 45.7% 18.5%
2001 45.5% 18.7%
2000 45.5% 18.9%
1999 45.6% 19.2%
1998 45.8% 19.3%
1997 46% 19.3%
1996 46% 19.4%
1995 45.8% 19.5%
1994 45.8% 19.6%
1993 45.7% 19.5%
1992 45.6% 19.4%
1991 45.5% 19.3%
1990 45.4% 19.1%
1989 45.4% 19.1%
1988 46.2% 18.9%
1987 46.9% 18.9%
1986 46.7% 19.1%
1985 46.6% 19.3%
1984 46.5% 19.5%
1983 46.3% 19.8%
1982 46.2% 20.2%
1981 46% 20.6%
1980 45.8% 21%
1979 45.7% 21.4%
1978 45.5% 21.9%
1977 45.4% 22.4%
1976 45.3% 22.9%
1975 45.2% 23.3%
1974 45.1% 23.6%
1973 45% 23.9%
1972 44.8% 24%
1971 44.7% 24.1%
1970 44.5% 24.1%
1969 44.3% 24%
1968 44% 23.9%
1967 43.8% 23.7%
1966 43.5% 23.5%
1965 43.3% 23.4%
1964 43% 23.3%
1963 42.8% 23.2%
1962 42.6% 23.2%
1961 42.6% 23.3%
1960 42.5% 23.3%

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/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.9% of the population in South Sudan and 17.2% in the United Kingdom in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 19.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Sudan and the United Kingdom compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: South Sudan vs United Kingdom

South Sudan
United Kingdom
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
South Sudan United Kingdom
2023 692 8
2022 704 15
2021 749 13
2020 729 14
2019 745 9
2018 913 9
2017 1,662 9
2016 1,629 9
2015 1,436 9
2014 1,216 9
2013 771 9
2012 755 9
2011 770 10
2010 776 10
2009 823 11
2008 858 11
2007 933 11
2006 1,005 12
2005 1,074 12
2004 1,150 13
2003 1,199 14
2002 1,521 13
2001 1,580 13
2000 1,658 12
1999 2,048 11
1998 7,514 10
1997 4,172 9
1996 4,357 8
1995 4,430 9
1994 1,666 9
1993 7,537 8
1992 7,597 7
1991 4,764 7
1990 4,877 6
1989 5,103 5
1988 5,535 4
1987 8,045 3
1986 3,720 2
1985 3,845 2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 692 deaths per 100,000 live births in South Sudan, compared to 8 deaths in the United Kingdom.

Under-five mortality rates

South Sudan
United Kingdom

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
South Sudan United Kingdom
2023 9.87% 0.45%
2022 9.87% 0.45%
2021 9.87% 0.44%
2020 9.87% 0.44%
2019 9.87% 0.44%
2018 13.2% 0.44%
2017 27.8% 0.44%
2016 26.4% 0.44%
2015 23.7% 0.45%
2014 18.2% 0.45%
2013 9.92% 0.46%
2012 10.1% 0.48%
2011 10.5% 0.5%
2010 10.9% 0.52%
2009 11.5% 0.54%
2008 12.1% 0.56%
2007 12.7% 0.58%
2006 13.4% 0.59%
2005 14.1% 0.6%
2004 14.8% 0.61%
2003 15.7% 0.63%
2002 16.5% 0.63%
2001 17.4% 0.64%
2000 18.3% 0.65%
1999 19.2% 0.67%
1998 42.6% 0.68%
1997 25.2% 0.69%
1996 26.1% 0.7%
1995 27% 0.72%
1994 23% 0.74%
1993 33.1% 0.77%
1992 33.8% 0.82%
1991 29.7% 0.87%
1990 30.3% 0.93%
1989 30.7% 0.99%
1988 76.7% 1.04%
1987 36% 1.08%
1986 26.7% 1.11%
1985 27.1% 1.14%
1984 27.5% 1.17%
1983 27.8% 1.22%
1982 28.2% 1.27%
1981 28.5% 1.34%
1980 28.9% 1.41%
1979 29.2% 1.49%
1978 29.5% 1.57%
1977 29.9% 1.64%
1976 30.2% 1.72%
1975 30.6% 1.8%
1974 30.9% 1.87%
1973 31.3% 1.94%
1972 31.6% 2%
1971 31.9% 2.06%
1970 32.3% 2.1%
1969 32.6% 2.14%
1968 32.9% 2.18%
1967 33.3% 2.22%
1966 33.6% 2.28%
1965 34% 2.34%
1964 34.3% 2.42%
1963 34.6% 2.49%
1962 34.9% 2.56%
1961 35.2% 2.61%
1960 35.5% 2.66%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-sudan/united-kingdom | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.87% in South Sudan and 0.45% in the United Kingdom. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2018, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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