Fertility & birth rates in South Sudan and Zambia

Fertility rate in South Sudan vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Sudan	Zambia
2023	3.86	4.1
2022	3.96	4.18
2021	4.05	4.25
2020	4.16	4.32
2019	4.26	4.42
2018	4.37	4.49
2017	4.48	4.57
2016	4.58	4.67
2015	4.7	4.78
2014	4.82	4.89
2013	4.94	5.01
2012	5.06	5.14
2011	5.19	5.26
2010	5.32	5.36
2009	5.45	5.45
2008	5.57	5.53
2007	5.7	5.61
2006	5.85	5.68
2005	6.02	5.7
2004	6.19	5.7
2003	6.35	5.71
2002	6.52	5.77
2001	6.65	5.85
2000	6.8	5.92
1999	6.94	6
1998	7.08	6.07
1997	7.2	6.12
1996	7.32	6.18
1995	7.34	6.23
1994	7.35	6.26
1993	7.36	6.3
1992	7.37	6.35
1991	7.38	6.46
1990	7.38	6.57
1989	7.37	6.64
1988	7.38	6.7
1987	7.39	6.8
1986	7.38	6.87
1985	7.36	6.93
1984	7.35	6.97
1983	7.34	7.01
1982	7.34	7.04
1981	7.33	7.07
1980	7.33	7.14
1979	7.32	7.22
1978	7.33	7.29
1977	7.33	7.35
1976	7.33	7.39
1975	7.33	7.42
1974	7.31	7.36
1973	7.31	7.34
1972	7.31	7.3
1971	7.3	7.26
1970	7.29	7.22
1969	7.28	7.18
1968	7.26	7.18
1967	7.26	7.15
1966	7.25	7.14
1965	7.22	7.12
1964	7.22	7.09
1963	7.2	7.06
1962	7.2	7.01
1961	7.18	6.98
1960	7.16	6.95

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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Sudan	Zambia
2023	217,966	577,660
2022	211,166	563,456
2021	213,567	535,629
2020	212,332	536,484
2019	209,708	528,089
2018	168,497	515,644
2017	72,193	504,630
2016	110,553	497,521
2015	148,542	491,021
2014	227,611	483,663
2013	315,983	476,846
2012	312,974	469,406
2011	303,181	459,743
2010	287,409	448,337
2009	278,859	434,458
2008	268,268	419,560
2007	256,546	403,729
2006	246,706	387,891
2005	239,272	368,756
2004	231,877	349,352
2003	225,822	331,189
2002	212,014	316,041
2001	204,108	302,682
2000	196,055	293,186
1999	180,721	283,297
1998	-12,157	275,568
1997	121,454	268,198
1996	116,728	262,468
1995	110,417	257,897
1994	165,407	252,023
1993	32,779	245,917
1992	28,874	239,953
1991	87,873	237,957
1990	82,900	235,835
1989	83,735	233,429
1988	-125,447	230,118
1987	5,756	227,813
1986	99,502	224,768
1985	95,342	221,351
1984	90,970	216,695
1983	104,107	212,712
1982	118,641	207,621
1981	115,163	202,822
1980	112,307	198,817
1979	109,540	197,578
1978	107,352	194,933
1977	104,886	191,557
1976	102,346	186,762
1975	99,882	182,258
1974	97,181	174,484
1973	94,765	168,258
1972	74,803	161,648
1971	72,308	155,249
1970	44,776	149,380
1969	42,015	142,660
1968	44,213	137,315
1967	41,357	131,938
1966	38,523	127,164
1965	51,682	122,814
1964	64,786	117,197
1963	46,333	114,555
1962	47,406	110,173
1961	45,186	106,318
1960	42,945	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.65% in South Sudan and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in South Sudan vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Sudan

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Sudan	Zambia
2023	28.6	33.1
2022	29.1	33.5
2021	29.7	33.9
2020	29.4	34.4
2019	29.4	35
2018	29.1	35.5
2017	32.8	35.9
2016	35.1	36.6
2015	35.4	37.3
2014	38.2	38.1
2013	38.3	39
2012	39.1	39.9
2011	39.8	40.7
2010	39.9	41.4
2009	41	42
2008	41.6	42.6
2007	42.3	43.2
2006	43.2	43.7
2005	44.3	43.8
2004	45.5	43.9
2003	46.8	43.9
2002	48	44.3
2001	48.9	44.8
2000	49.8	45.5
1999	50.7	45.9
1998	51.2	46.2
1997	51.6	46.3
1996	52.6	46.6
1995	52.7	46.8
1994	52.7	46.7
1993	52.7	46.6
1992	52.5	46.6
1991	52.4	46.9
1990	52.3	47
1989	53.1	47.1
1988	51.9	47.1
1987	50.6	47.3
1986	50.6	47.4
1985	50.7	47.4
1984	50.8	47.3
1983	51.1	47.3
1982	51.4	47.3
1981	51.7	47.3
1980	52	47.5
1979	52.3	48.2
1978	52.7	48.7
1977	53	49.2
1976	53.4	49.5
1975	53.7	50
1974	53.9	49.7
1973	54.3	49.7
1972	54.5	49.6
1971	54.6	49.4
1970	54.5	49.3
1969	54.3	48.9
1968	54	48.9
1967	53.7	48.8
1966	53.5	48.8
1965	53.1	48.8
1964	53	48.9
1963	52.7	48.9
1962	52.5	48.9
1961	52.3	48.9
1960	52	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.6 in South Sudan and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 52 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Sudan	Zambia
2100	20.1%	21.6%
2099	20.2%	21.7%
2098	20.3%	21.9%
2097	20.3%	22%
2096	20.4%	22.2%
2095	20.5%	22.3%
2094	20.6%	22.5%
2093	20.7%	22.7%
2092	20.9%	22.8%
2091	21%	23%
2090	21.1%	23.1%
2089	21.2%	23.3%
2088	21.3%	23.5%
2087	21.5%	23.6%
2086	21.6%	23.8%
2085	21.8%	24%
2084	21.9%	24.2%
2083	22.1%	24.3%
2082	22.3%	24.5%
2081	22.4%	24.7%
2080	22.6%	24.9%
2079	22.8%	25.1%
2078	23%	25.3%
2077	23.2%	25.5%
2076	23.3%	25.7%
2075	23.5%	25.9%
2074	23.7%	26.1%
2073	23.9%	26.4%
2072	24.1%	26.6%
2071	24.3%	26.8%
2070	24.5%	27%
2069	24.7%	27.2%
2068	25%	27.5%
2067	25.2%	27.7%
2066	25.4%	27.9%
2065	25.6%	28.1%
2064	25.8%	28.4%
2063	26%	28.6%
2062	26.3%	28.9%
2061	26.5%	29.1%
2060	26.7%	29.3%
2059	27%	29.6%
2058	27.2%	29.8%
2057	27.5%	30.1%
2056	27.8%	30.4%
2055	28.1%	30.6%
2054	28.5%	30.9%
2053	28.8%	31.2%
2052	29.2%	31.5%
2051	29.5%	31.8%
2050	29.9%	32.2%
2049	30.3%	32.5%
2048	30.8%	32.8%
2047	31.2%	33.2%
2046	31.6%	33.5%
2045	32%	33.9%
2044	32.4%	34.2%
2043	32.7%	34.6%
2042	33%	34.9%
2041	33.3%	35.3%
2040	33.6%	35.6%
2039	33.8%	36%
2038	33.9%	36.3%
2037	34.1%	36.6%
2036	34.2%	37%
2035	34.3%	37.3%
2034	34.4%	37.6%
2033	34.3%	38%
2032	34.4%	38.3%
2031	34.6%	38.7%
2030	34.8%	39%
2029	35.2%	39.4%
2028	35.8%	39.8%
2027	36.6%	40.3%
2026	37.5%	40.7%
2025	38.4%	41.2%
2024	38.9%	41.5%
2023	39.9%	42%
2022	40.9%	42.4%
2021	41.6%	42.9%
2020	42.4%	43.3%
2019	43.6%	43.8%
2018	44.9%	44.1%
2017	45%	44.5%
2016	43.7%	44.9%
2015	43.1%	45.2%
2014	42.5%	45.5%
2013	41.9%	45.7%
2012	41.9%	45.9%
2011	42.2%	46.1%
2010	42.8%	46.3%
2009	43.4%	46.4%
2008	43.8%	46.6%
2007	44.3%	46.8%
2006	44.8%	47%
2005	45.3%	47.1%
2004	45.8%	47.3%
2003	45.9%	47.4%
2002	45.7%	47.6%
2001	45.5%	47.8%
2000	45.5%	48%
1999	45.6%	48.1%
1998	45.8%	48.2%
1997	46%	48.2%
1996	46%	48.2%
1995	45.8%	48.2%
1994	45.8%	48.2%
1993	45.7%	48.2%
1992	45.6%	48.2%
1991	45.5%	48.3%
1990	45.4%	48.4%
1989	45.4%	48.5%
1988	46.2%	48.6%
1987	46.9%	48.7%
1986	46.7%	48.8%
1985	46.6%	48.9%
1984	46.5%	49%
1983	46.3%	49.1%
1982	46.2%	49.3%
1981	46%	49.4%
1980	45.8%	49.5%
1979	45.7%	49.5%
1978	45.5%	49.4%
1977	45.4%	49.2%
1976	45.3%	49.1%
1975	45.2%	48.8%
1974	45.1%	48.6%
1973	45%	48.3%
1972	44.8%	48%
1971	44.7%	47.7%
1970	44.5%	47.4%
1969	44.3%	47.2%
1968	44%	47.1%
1967	43.8%	47%
1966	43.5%	46.9%
1965	43.3%	46.9%
1964	43%	46.7%
1963	42.8%	46.5%
1962	42.6%	46.3%
1961	42.6%	46.2%
1960	42.5%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.9% of the population in South Sudan and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Sudan and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Sudan vs Zambia

Chart Table

South Sudan

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Sudan	Zambia
2023	692	85
2022	704	89
2021	749	140
2020	729	99
2019	745	103
2018	913	117
2017	1,662	141
2016	1,629	158
2015	1,436	154
2014	1,216	174
2013	771	213
2012	755	256
2011	770	291
2010	776	332
2009	823	406
2008	858	394
2007	933	324
2006	1,005	262
2005	1,074	264
2004	1,150	260
2003	1,199	250
2002	1,521	274
2001	1,580	306
2000	1,658	340
1999	2,048	378
1998	7,514	392
1997	4,172	403
1996	4,357	433
1995	4,430	466
1994	1,666	507
1993	7,537	532
1992	7,597	581
1991	4,764	611
1990	4,877	625
1989	5,103	635
1988	5,535	635
1987	8,045	630
1986	3,720	619
1985	3,845	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Sudan

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Sudan	Zambia
2023	9.87%	4.47%
2022	9.87%	4.67%
2021	9.87%	4.92%
2020	9.87%	5.24%
2019	9.87%	5.41%
2018	13.2%	5.52%
2017	27.8%	5.61%
2016	26.4%	5.9%
2015	23.7%	6.15%
2014	18.2%	6.38%
2013	9.92%	6.72%
2012	10.1%	7.04%
2011	10.5%	7.31%
2010	10.9%	7.57%
2009	11.5%	8%
2008	12.1%	8.62%
2007	12.7%	9.14%
2006	13.4%	9.71%
2005	14.1%	10.5%
2004	14.8%	11.4%
2003	15.7%	12.4%
2002	16.5%	13.4%
2001	17.4%	14.4%
2000	18.3%	15.3%
1999	19.2%	15.9%
1998	42.6%	16.3%
1997	25.2%	16.7%
1996	26.1%	17%
1995	27%	17.3%
1994	23%	17.7%
1993	33.1%	17.9%
1992	33.8%	18.1%
1991	29.7%	18.1%
1990	30.3%	18.1%
1989	30.7%	17.9%
1988	76.7%	17.7%
1987	36%	17.3%
1986	26.7%	17%
1985	27.1%	16.6%
1984	27.5%	16.2%
1983	27.8%	15.9%
1982	28.2%	15.7%
1981	28.5%	15.6%
1980	28.9%	15.5%
1979	29.2%	15.4%
1978	29.5%	15.3%
1977	29.9%	15.3%
1976	30.2%	15.4%
1975	30.6%	15.5%
1974	30.9%	15.9%
1973	31.3%	16.3%
1972	31.6%	16.9%
1971	31.9%	17.4%
1970	32.3%	17.9%
1969	32.6%	18.3%
1968	32.9%	18.5%
1967	33.3%	18.7%
1966	33.6%	18.9%
1965	34%	19%
1964	34.3%	19.2%
1963	34.6%	19.5%
1962	34.9%	19.8%
1961	35.2%	20.1%
1960	35.5%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.87% in South Sudan and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.