Fertility & birth rates in United States and Zambia

Fertility rate in United States vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

United States

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	United States	Zambia
2023	1.62	4.1
2022	1.66	4.18
2021	1.66	4.25
2020	1.64	4.32
2019	1.71	4.42
2018	1.73	4.49
2017	1.77	4.57
2016	1.82	4.67
2015	1.84	4.78
2014	1.86	4.89
2013	1.86	5.01
2012	1.88	5.14
2011	1.89	5.26
2010	1.93	5.36
2009	2	5.45
2008	2.07	5.53
2007	2.12	5.61
2006	2.11	5.68
2005	2.06	5.7
2004	2.05	5.7
2003	2.05	5.71
2002	2.02	5.77
2001	2.03	5.85
2000	2.06	5.92
1999	2.01	6
1998	2	6.07
1997	1.97	6.12
1996	1.98	6.18
1995	1.98	6.23
1994	2	6.26
1993	2.02	6.3
1992	2.05	6.35
1991	2.06	6.46
1990	2.08	6.57
1989	2.01	6.64
1988	1.93	6.7
1987	1.87	6.8
1986	1.84	6.87
1985	1.84	6.93
1984	1.81	6.97
1983	1.8	7.01
1982	1.83	7.04
1981	1.81	7.07
1980	1.84	7.14
1979	1.81	7.22
1978	1.76	7.29
1977	1.79	7.35
1976	1.74	7.39
1975	1.77	7.42
1974	1.84	7.36
1973	1.88	7.34
1972	2.01	7.3
1971	2.27	7.26
1970	2.48	7.22
1969	2.46	7.18
1968	2.46	7.18
1967	2.56	7.15
1966	2.72	7.14
1965	2.91	7.12
1964	3.19	7.09
1963	3.32	7.06
1962	3.46	7.01
1961	3.62	6.98
1960	3.65	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the United States was 1.62 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 the United States vs Zambia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

United States

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	United States	Zambia
2023	502,372	577,660
2022	399,926	563,456
2021	199,137	535,629
2020	208,862	536,484
2019	887,476	528,089
2018	955,022	515,644
2017	1,028,037	504,630
2016	1,197,627	497,521
2015	1,270,126	491,021
2014	1,357,281	483,663
2013	1,322,711	476,846
2012	1,411,822	469,406
2011	1,441,697	459,743
2010	1,548,182	448,337
2009	1,717,920	434,458
2008	1,794,154	419,560
2007	1,897,757	403,729
2006	1,849,955	387,891
2005	1,684,445	368,756
2004	1,698,271	349,352
2003	1,653,615	331,189
2002	1,581,938	316,041
2001	1,595,826	302,682
2000	1,664,758	293,186
1999	1,564,050	283,297
1998	1,573,857	275,568
1997	1,501,014	268,198
1996	1,510,137	262,468
1995	1,546,031	257,897
1994	1,633,302	252,023
1993	1,717,685	245,917
1992	1,875,328	239,953
1991	1,926,543	237,957
1990	2,026,068	235,835
1989	1,875,826	233,429
1988	1,735,943	230,118
1987	1,720,252	227,813
1986	1,656,917	224,768
1985	1,689,258	221,351
1984	1,627,192	216,695
1983	1,636,544	212,712
1982	1,714,317	207,621
1981	1,652,153	202,822
1980	1,608,450	198,817
1979	1,597,894	197,578
1978	1,402,283	194,933
1977	1,431,556	191,557
1976	1,264,604	186,762
1975	1,252,644	182,258
1974	1,218,968	174,484
1973	1,165,499	168,258
1972	1,301,355	161,648
1971	1,640,519	155,249
1970	1,824,965	149,380
1969	1,702,487	142,660
1968	1,565,507	137,315
1967	1,669,181	131,938
1966	1,749,387	127,164
1965	1,943,030	122,814
1964	2,245,099	117,197
1963	2,289,826	114,555
1962	2,406,337	110,173
1961	2,571,681	106,318
1960	2,565,530	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 +0.15% in the United States and +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.25% in the United States and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in United States vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

United States

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	United States	Zambia
2023	10.7	33.1
2022	11	33.5
2021	11	33.9
2020	10.9	34.4
2019	11.4	35
2018	11.6	35.5
2017	11.8	35.9
2016	12.2	36.6
2015	12.4	37.3
2014	12.5	38.1
2013	12.4	39
2012	12.6	39.9
2011	12.7	40.7
2010	13	41.4
2009	13.5	42
2008	14	42.6
2007	14.3	43.2
2006	14.3	43.7
2005	14	43.8
2004	14	43.9
2003	14.1	43.9
2002	14	44.3
2001	14.1	44.8
2000	14.4	45.5
1999	14.2	45.9
1998	14.3	46.2
1997	14.2	46.3
1996	14.4	46.6
1995	14.6	46.8
1994	15	46.7
1993	15.4	46.6
1992	15.8	46.6
1991	16.2	46.9
1990	16.7	47
1989	16.4	47.1
1988	16	47.1
1987	15.7	47.3
1986	15.6	47.4
1985	15.8	47.4
1984	15.6	47.3
1983	15.6	47.3
1982	15.9	47.3
1981	15.8	47.3
1980	15.9	47.5
1979	15.6	48.2
1978	15	48.7
1977	15.1	49.2
1976	14.6	49.5
1975	14.6	50
1974	14.8	49.7
1973	14.8	49.7
1972	15.6	49.6
1971	17.2	49.4
1970	18.4	49.3
1969	17.9	48.9
1968	17.6	48.9
1967	17.8	48.8
1966	18.4	48.8
1965	19.4	48.8
1964	21.1	48.9
1963	21.7	48.9
1962	22.4	48.9
1961	23.3	48.9
1960	23.7	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.7 in the United States and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 23.7 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

United States

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	United States	Zambia
2100	14.4%	21.6%
2099	14.4%	21.7%
2098	14.4%	21.9%
2097	14.4%	22%
2096	14.4%	22.2%
2095	14.5%	22.3%
2094	14.5%	22.5%
2093	14.5%	22.7%
2092	14.5%	22.8%
2091	14.6%	23%
2090	14.6%	23.1%
2089	14.7%	23.3%
2088	14.7%	23.5%
2087	14.7%	23.6%
2086	14.8%	23.8%
2085	14.8%	24%
2084	14.8%	24.2%
2083	14.9%	24.3%
2082	14.9%	24.5%
2081	14.9%	24.7%
2080	14.9%	24.9%
2079	14.9%	25.1%
2078	14.9%	25.3%
2077	14.9%	25.5%
2076	14.9%	25.7%
2075	14.9%	25.9%
2074	14.9%	26.1%
2073	14.9%	26.4%
2072	14.9%	26.6%
2071	14.9%	26.8%
2070	14.9%	27%
2069	14.9%	27.2%
2068	14.9%	27.5%
2067	14.9%	27.7%
2066	14.9%	27.9%
2065	15%	28.1%
2064	15%	28.4%
2063	15%	28.6%
2062	15.1%	28.9%
2061	15.1%	29.1%
2060	15.2%	29.3%
2059	15.3%	29.6%
2058	15.4%	29.8%
2057	15.5%	30.1%
2056	15.5%	30.4%
2055	15.6%	30.6%
2054	15.7%	30.9%
2053	15.8%	31.2%
2052	15.8%	31.5%
2051	15.9%	31.8%
2050	15.9%	32.2%
2049	16%	32.5%
2048	16%	32.8%
2047	16%	33.2%
2046	16%	33.5%
2045	16%	33.9%
2044	16%	34.2%
2043	16%	34.6%
2042	16%	34.9%
2041	15.9%	35.3%
2040	15.9%	35.6%
2039	15.9%	36%
2038	15.9%	36.3%
2037	15.9%	36.6%
2036	15.9%	37%
2035	15.9%	37.3%
2034	15.9%	37.6%
2033	16%	38%
2032	16.1%	38.3%
2031	16.2%	38.7%
2030	16.3%	39%
2029	16.5%	39.4%
2028	16.6%	39.8%
2027	16.8%	40.3%
2026	17%	40.7%
2025	17.2%	41.2%
2024	17.3%	41.5%
2023	17.6%	42%
2022	17.9%	42.4%
2021	18.1%	42.9%
2020	18.4%	43.3%
2019	18.6%	43.8%
2018	18.8%	44.1%
2017	18.9%	44.5%
2016	19.1%	44.9%
2015	19.2%	45.2%
2014	19.3%	45.5%
2013	19.4%	45.7%
2012	19.5%	45.9%
2011	19.6%	46.1%
2010	19.7%	46.3%
2009	19.8%	46.4%
2008	19.9%	46.6%
2007	20%	46.8%
2006	20.2%	47%
2005	20.3%	47.1%
2004	20.5%	47.3%
2003	20.7%	47.4%
2002	20.9%	47.6%
2001	21%	47.8%
2000	21.2%	48%
1999	21.3%	48.1%
1998	21.4%	48.2%
1997	21.5%	48.2%
1996	21.7%	48.2%
1995	21.8%	48.2%
1994	21.9%	48.2%
1993	21.9%	48.2%
1992	21.8%	48.2%
1991	21.7%	48.3%
1990	21.6%	48.4%
1989	21.5%	48.5%
1988	21.3%	48.6%
1987	21.3%	48.7%
1986	21.3%	48.8%
1985	21.5%	48.9%
1984	21.7%	49%
1983	21.8%	49.1%
1982	22%	49.3%
1981	22.1%	49.4%
1980	22.4%	49.5%
1979	22.8%	49.5%
1978	23.2%	49.4%
1977	23.8%	49.2%
1976	24.4%	49.1%
1975	25.2%	48.8%
1974	25.9%	48.6%
1973	26.6%	48.3%
1972	27.4%	48%
1971	28%	47.7%
1970	28.6%	47.4%
1969	29%	47.2%
1968	29.5%	47.1%
1967	30%	47%
1966	30.4%	46.9%
1965	30.7%	46.9%
1964	30.9%	46.7%
1963	31.1%	46.5%
1962	31.3%	46.3%
1961	31.4%	46.2%
1960	31.3%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.3% of the population in the United States and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 21.6% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the United States and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: United States vs Zambia

Chart Table

United States

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	United States	Zambia
2023	17	85
2022	20	89
2021	31	140
2020	22	99
2019	18	103
2018	18	117
2017	18	141
2016	18	158
2015	17	154
2014	17	174
2013	16	213
2012	16	256
2011	15	291
2010	15	332
2009	15	406
2008	14	394
2007	13	324
2006	13	262
2005	13	264
2004	13	260
2003	13	250
2002	13	274
2001	13	306
2000	12	340
1999	12	378
1998	11	392
1997	11	403
1996	11	433
1995	12	466
1994	11	507
1993	12	532
1992	11	581
1991	12	611
1990	12	625
1989	12	635
1988	12	635
1987	11	630
1986	11	619
1985	11	596

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 17 deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States, compared to 85 deaths in Zambia.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

United States

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	United States	Zambia
2023	0.65%	4.47%
2022	0.65%	4.67%
2021	0.65%	4.92%
2020	0.65%	5.24%
2019	0.65%	5.41%
2018	0.65%	5.52%
2017	0.66%	5.61%
2016	0.67%	5.9%
2015	0.68%	6.15%
2014	0.68%	6.38%
2013	0.69%	6.72%
2012	0.7%	7.04%
2011	0.72%	7.31%
2010	0.73%	7.57%
2009	0.75%	8%
2008	0.76%	8.62%
2007	0.77%	9.14%
2006	0.79%	9.71%
2005	0.8%	10.5%
2004	0.81%	11.4%
2003	0.81%	12.4%
2002	0.82%	13.4%
2001	0.83%	14.4%
2000	0.84%	15.3%
1999	0.86%	15.9%
1998	0.87%	16.3%
1997	0.89%	16.7%
1996	0.92%	17%
1995	0.95%	17.3%
1994	0.98%	17.7%
1993	1.01%	17.9%
1992	1.05%	18.1%
1991	1.09%	18.1%
1990	1.12%	18.1%
1989	1.16%	17.9%
1988	1.19%	17.7%
1987	1.21%	17.3%
1986	1.24%	17%
1985	1.27%	16.6%
1984	1.3%	16.2%
1983	1.34%	15.9%
1982	1.39%	15.7%
1981	1.44%	15.6%
1980	1.5%	15.5%
1979	1.56%	15.4%
1978	1.63%	15.3%
1977	1.71%	15.3%
1976	1.79%	15.4%
1975	1.88%	15.5%
1974	1.97%	15.9%
1973	2.06%	16.3%
1972	2.15%	16.9%
1971	2.24%	17.4%
1970	2.32%	17.9%
1969	2.41%	18.3%
1968	2.49%	18.5%
1967	2.57%	18.7%
1966	2.64%	18.9%
1965	2.71%	19%
1964	2.77%	19.2%
1963	2.83%	19.5%
1962	2.89%	19.8%
1961	2.95%	20.1%
1960	3.01%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.65% in the United States and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.