Fertility & birth rates in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in Zambia vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2023	4.1	3.72
2022	4.18	3.77
2021	4.25	3.77
2020	4.32	3.75
2019	4.42	3.75
2018	4.49	3.74
2017	4.57	3.77
2016	4.67	3.83
2015	4.78	3.91
2014	4.89	4.01
2013	5.01	4.11
2012	5.14	4.13
2011	5.26	4.13
2010	5.36	4.04
2009	5.45	3.95
2008	5.53	3.78
2007	5.61	3.68
2006	5.68	3.64
2005	5.7	3.69
2004	5.7	3.78
2003	5.71	3.86
2002	5.77	3.93
2001	5.85	3.98
2000	5.92	4.01
1999	6	4.06
1998	6.07	4.07
1997	6.12	4.08
1996	6.18	4.11
1995	6.23	4.15
1994	6.26	4.28
1993	6.3	4.39
1992	6.35	4.57
1991	6.46	4.72
1990	6.57	4.88
1989	6.64	5.07
1988	6.7	5.28
1987	6.8	5.5
1986	6.87	5.69
1985	6.93	5.87
1984	6.97	6.04
1983	7.01	6.2
1982	7.04	6.33
1981	7.07	6.45
1980	7.14	6.52
1979	7.22	6.59
1978	7.29	6.66
1977	7.35	6.71
1976	7.39	6.77
1975	7.42	6.83
1974	7.36	6.88
1973	7.34	6.94
1972	7.3	6.94
1971	7.26	6.94
1970	7.22	6.98
1969	7.18	7.04
1968	7.18	7.11
1967	7.15	7.16
1966	7.14	7.2
1965	7.12	7.23
1964	7.09	7.23
1963	7.06	7.23
1962	7.01	7.23
1961	6.98	7.21
1960	6.95	7.2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Zambia was 4.1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2023	577,660	372,505
2022	563,456	371,243
2021	535,629	349,908
2020	536,484	354,790
2019	528,089	348,798
2018	515,644	345,883
2017	504,630	344,035
2016	497,521	348,772
2015	491,021	356,203
2014	483,663	366,350
2013	476,846	374,757
2012	469,406	371,135
2011	459,743	359,572
2010	448,337	335,570
2009	434,458	309,316
2008	419,560	280,527
2007	403,729	261,805
2006	387,891	248,963
2005	368,756	248,545
2004	349,352	248,307
2003	331,189	243,057
2002	316,041	244,170
2001	302,682	227,909
2000	293,186	236,343
1999	283,297	232,393
1998	275,568	225,614
1997	268,198	216,288
1996	262,468	205,269
1995	257,897	206,695
1994	252,023	216,343
1993	245,917	228,045
1992	239,953	255,291
1991	237,957	260,943
1990	235,835	265,444
1989	233,429	270,838
1988	230,118	277,498
1987	227,813	286,766
1986	224,768	289,894
1985	221,351	290,756
1984	216,695	290,052
1983	212,712	286,545
1982	207,621	279,934
1981	202,822	271,361
1980	198,817	241,179
1979	197,578	223,657
1978	194,933	222,979
1977	191,557	225,139
1976	186,762	221,419
1975	182,258	216,947
1974	174,484	208,806
1973	168,258	201,885
1972	161,648	193,725
1971	155,249	185,427
1970	149,380	178,979
1969	142,660	172,626
1968	137,315	166,865
1967	131,938	161,205
1966	127,164	156,014
1965	122,814	151,164
1964	117,197	145,848
1963	114,555	140,984
1962	110,173	136,317
1961	106,318	131,531
1960	102,335	126,959

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 +2.79% in Zambia and +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.87% in Zambia and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Zambia vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2023	33.1	30.4
2022	33.5	30.9
2021	33.9	30.9
2020	34.4	31
2019	35	31.1
2018	35.5	31.3
2017	35.9	31.8
2016	36.6	32.7
2015	37.3	33.9
2014	38.1	35.4
2013	39	37
2012	39.9	37.8
2011	40.7	38.1
2010	41.4	37.9
2009	42	37.5
2008	42.6	36.4
2007	43.2	35.7
2006	43.7	35.2
2005	43.8	35.8
2004	43.9	36.3
2003	43.9	36.6
2002	44.3	36.5
2001	44.8	36.5
2000	45.5	36.1
1999	45.9	35.6
1998	46.2	34.5
1997	46.3	33.4
1996	46.6	32.4
1995	46.8	31.7
1994	46.7	32
1993	46.6	32.4
1992	46.6	34.3
1991	46.9	34.9
1990	47	35.5
1989	47.1	36.4
1988	47.1	37.7
1987	47.3	39.5
1986	47.4	40.9
1985	47.4	42.3
1984	47.3	43.7
1983	47.3	45
1982	47.3	45.7
1981	47.3	46.3
1980	47.5	44.8
1979	48.2	46.3
1978	48.7	46.8
1977	49.2	46.5
1976	49.5	46.5
1975	50	46.6
1974	49.7	46.4
1973	49.7	46.4
1972	49.6	46
1971	49.4	45.6
1970	49.3	45.5
1969	48.9	45.5
1968	48.9	45.7
1967	48.8	45.8
1966	48.8	46.1
1965	48.8	46.4
1964	48.9	46.6
1963	48.9	46.8
1962	48.9	47.1
1961	48.9	47.3
1960	48.9	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.1 in Zambia and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 48.9 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2100	21.6%	20.3%
2099	21.7%	20.5%
2098	21.9%	20.6%
2097	22%	20.8%
2096	22.2%	20.9%
2095	22.3%	21.1%
2094	22.5%	21.3%
2093	22.7%	21.4%
2092	22.8%	21.6%
2091	23%	21.8%
2090	23.1%	22%
2089	23.3%	22.2%
2088	23.5%	22.4%
2087	23.6%	22.6%
2086	23.8%	22.8%
2085	24%	23%
2084	24.2%	23.2%
2083	24.3%	23.4%
2082	24.5%	23.6%
2081	24.7%	23.8%
2080	24.9%	24%
2079	25.1%	24.2%
2078	25.3%	24.4%
2077	25.5%	24.6%
2076	25.7%	24.9%
2075	25.9%	25.1%
2074	26.1%	25.3%
2073	26.4%	25.5%
2072	26.6%	25.7%
2071	26.8%	25.9%
2070	27%	26.2%
2069	27.2%	26.4%
2068	27.5%	26.6%
2067	27.7%	26.8%
2066	27.9%	27.1%
2065	28.1%	27.3%
2064	28.4%	27.6%
2063	28.6%	27.8%
2062	28.9%	28.1%
2061	29.1%	28.4%
2060	29.3%	28.7%
2059	29.6%	29%
2058	29.8%	29.3%
2057	30.1%	29.6%
2056	30.4%	30%
2055	30.6%	30.3%
2054	30.9%	30.6%
2053	31.2%	31%
2052	31.5%	31.3%
2051	31.8%	31.7%
2050	32.2%	32%
2049	32.5%	32.4%
2048	32.8%	32.7%
2047	33.2%	33.1%
2046	33.5%	33.4%
2045	33.9%	33.7%
2044	34.2%	34%
2043	34.6%	34.2%
2042	34.9%	34.5%
2041	35.3%	34.7%
2040	35.6%	34.9%
2039	36%	35.2%
2038	36.3%	35.4%
2037	36.6%	35.7%
2036	37%	35.9%
2035	37.3%	36.2%
2034	37.6%	36.4%
2033	38%	36.6%
2032	38.3%	36.9%
2031	38.7%	37.2%
2030	39%	37.6%
2029	39.4%	38.1%
2028	39.8%	38.7%
2027	40.3%	39.3%
2026	40.7%	40%
2025	41.2%	40.6%
2024	41.5%	40.9%
2023	42%	41.3%
2022	42.4%	41.6%
2021	42.9%	41.9%
2020	43.3%	42.2%
2019	43.8%	42.5%
2018	44.1%	42.9%
2017	44.5%	43.3%
2016	44.9%	43.6%
2015	45.2%	43.8%
2014	45.5%	43.9%
2013	45.7%	43.9%
2012	45.9%	43.7%
2011	46.1%	43.4%
2010	46.3%	43%
2009	46.4%	42.7%
2008	46.6%	42.4%
2007	46.8%	42.1%
2006	47%	42%
2005	47.1%	41.9%
2004	47.3%	41.7%
2003	47.4%	41.5%
2002	47.6%	41.4%
2001	47.8%	41.5%
2000	48%	41.9%
1999	48.1%	42.4%
1998	48.2%	43.1%
1997	48.2%	44%
1996	48.2%	45%
1995	48.2%	45.9%
1994	48.2%	46.6%
1993	48.2%	47.1%
1992	48.2%	46.8%
1991	48.3%	46.6%
1990	48.4%	47.1%
1989	48.5%	47.6%
1988	48.6%	47.9%
1987	48.7%	47.9%
1986	48.8%	47.9%
1985	48.9%	48%
1984	49%	48.1%
1983	49.1%	48.2%
1982	49.3%	48.3%
1981	49.4%	48.4%
1980	49.5%	48.7%
1979	49.5%	48.8%
1978	49.4%	48.5%
1977	49.2%	48.3%
1976	49.1%	48.2%
1975	48.8%	48.1%
1974	48.6%	48.1%
1973	48.3%	48.1%
1972	48%	48.2%
1971	47.7%	48.2%
1970	47.4%	48.3%
1969	47.2%	48.4%
1968	47.1%	48.5%
1967	47%	48.5%
1966	46.9%	48.6%
1965	46.9%	48.7%
1964	46.7%	48.8%
1963	46.5%	48.5%
1962	46.3%	48.1%
1961	46.2%	47.7%
1960	46%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.5% of the population in Zambia and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 48.4% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Zambia and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Zambia vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

Zambia

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2023	85	358
2022	89	368
2021	140	446
2020	99	380
2019	103	388
2018	117	386
2017	141	389
2016	158	411
2015	154	428
2014	174	468
2013	213	525
2012	256	558
2011	291	564
2010	332	567
2009	406	540
2008	394	526
2007	324	519
2006	262	480
2005	264	454
2004	260	451
2003	250	455
2002	274	418
2001	306	467
2000	340	405
1999	378	399
1998	392	368
1997	403	357
1996	433	352
1995	466	332
1994	507	332
1993	532	331
1992	581	333
1991	611	332
1990	625	353
1989	635	382
1988	635	431
1987	630	480
1986	619	525
1985	596	573

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 85 deaths per 100,000 live births in Zambia, compared to 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Zambia	Zimbabwe
2023	4.47%	4.42%
2022	4.67%	4.6%
2021	4.92%	4.76%
2020	5.24%	5.01%
2019	5.41%	5.11%
2018	5.52%	5.23%
2017	5.61%	5.5%
2016	5.9%	5.69%
2015	6.15%	5.98%
2014	6.38%	6.18%
2013	6.72%	6.55%
2012	7.04%	7.14%
2011	7.31%	7.88%
2010	7.57%	8.5%
2009	8%	9.03%
2008	8.62%	9.34%
2007	9.14%	9.47%
2006	9.71%	9.4%
2005	10.5%	9.23%
2004	11.4%	9.17%
2003	12.4%	8.85%
2002	13.4%	8.48%
2001	14.4%	9.79%
2000	15.3%	9.83%
1999	15.9%	9.92%
1998	16.3%	10%
1997	16.7%	10.1%
1996	17%	10%
1995	17.3%	9.83%
1994	17.7%	9.52%
1993	17.9%	9.16%
1992	18.1%	8.73%
1991	18.1%	8.33%
1990	18.1%	7.97%
1989	17.9%	7.69%
1988	17.7%	7.55%
1987	17.3%	7.61%
1986	17%	7.86%
1985	16.6%	8.31%
1984	16.2%	8.87%
1983	15.9%	9.5%
1982	15.7%	10.1%
1981	15.6%	10.7%
1980	15.5%	11.1%
1979	15.4%	11.3%
1978	15.3%	11.5%
1977	15.3%	11.5%
1976	15.4%	11.5%
1975	15.5%	11.4%
1974	15.9%	11.4%
1973	16.3%	11.4%
1972	16.9%	11.5%
1971	17.4%	11.5%
1970	17.9%	11.7%
1969	18.3%	11.8%
1968	18.5%	12.1%
1967	18.7%	12.4%
1966	18.9%	12.7%
1965	19%	13.1%
1964	19.2%	13.5%
1963	19.5%	14%
1962	19.8%	14.4%
1961	20.1%	14.8%
1960	20.5%	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4.47% in Zambia and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.