Birth Rate by Country 2022

An estimate of the population’s birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people during a certain time in the population (typically a year). TFR is directly linked to the average number of children a country’s female population bears throughout the reproductive years.

The rate of new births varies greatly from nation to country. Birth rates worldwide were lower in 2019 than in 2007, when the average worldwide birth rate was 18.6 births per 1,000 people.

The ratio of new births to replacements

Several factors may be considered to estimate a country’s replacement rate, which is an overall measure of how quickly the population grows or declines. A rise or reduction in population may negatively impact a nation’s economy, infrastructure, and social programs.

Some nations are concerned that their current birth rate will not be adequate to replace the older generation due to the worldwide reduction in birth rates.

The slowing economy that comes with a shrinking population may lead to the closure of a wide range of companies, from restaurants to public transit to schools to hospitals.

Some governments give financial incentives to encourage individuals to have children to alleviate these worries. It is believed that low birth rates are due to the high expenses of having a kid, many individuals choose to advance in their jobs over creating a family, and the fact that first-time moms, on average older.

It’s also true that many nations have a growing population that causes congestion and other issues such as poverty, an overworked health care system, and an overall lower life expectancy than their peers elsewhere.

In certain situations, a country’s government may incentivize couples to have just one child.

The highest birth rate per capita in each of the top 10 countries (per 1000 people, CIA World Factbook 2021 estimate)

1. Niger – 47.28
2. Angola – 42.22
3. Mali – 41.60 (tie)
4. Uganda – 41.60 (tie)
5. Benin – 41.55
6. Chad – 41.05
7. Congo (Dem Rep of) – 40.53
8. South Sudan – 38.26
9. Somalia – 38.25
10. Mozambique – 38.03

The 10 Lowest-Birth-Rate Countries (per 1000 people, CIA World Factbook 2021 estimate)

1. Monaco – 6.63
2. South Korea – 6.89
3. Andorra – 6.91
4. Japan – 7.00
5. Taiwan (limited recognition) – 7.43
6. Greece – 7.72
7. Puerto Rico – 7.90
8. Portugal – 8.02
9. Spain – 8.05
10. Bulgaria – 8.15

High and low birth rates

According to the CIA World Factbook, there are an average of 47.28 births for every 1,000 people in Nigeria each year. Since 2000, Angola’s birth rate has dropped considerably.

Data from other sources (such as the UN or World Bank) ranks nations in a somewhat different order. However, central Africa and Nigeria have the fastest-growing populations in the world in every instance (as shown below).

On the other hand, according to the CIA, Monaco has the world’s lowest yearly birth rate, with 6.63 births per 1,000 inhabitants.

The United Nations ranks Puerto Rico (6.55) and South Korea (6.77) as having the lowest birth rates in the world, while the World Bank ranks Puerto Rico (6.4) and San Marino (6.7) as the highest. The average score for the United States ranges from 11.4 to 12.33, putting it towards the bottom of all three lists.

Also See: Best Healthcare in the World 2022