Total Fertility Rate 2022

Knowing a country’s population growth or decline rate is useful for all nations, even the least developed. The fertility rate is a popular indicator used to gauge this increase.




When determining a country’s replacement rate, fertility and birth rates are often employed as indicators of how many new citizens are born each year compared to how many people die each year.

The expansion or contraction of a country’s population may substantially influence its progress and economic security.

Fertility rate criteria

Two common assumptions are used to simplify the process when calculating fertility rates. First, it implies that a woman’s fertility increases with age (with a peak in her early 30s) and that this pattern continues throughout her childbearing years.

First, it presupposes that every woman will be able to have children throughout those years (ages 15 to 44, or in some cases, ages 15 to 49). 

High and lows in the fertility rate.




World fertility rates in 2019 were 2.4 children per woman, according to the World Bank. Australia, much of Europe, and South Korea all have lower rates than nations with a lesser level of economic development or prosperity (such as the United States).

More women are acquiring an education and pursuing their jobs before having a family, which has been attributed to a fall in the worldwide fertility rate and fewer childhood fatalities.

There should be 2.1 children born to each woman to sustain the population level of civilization. Countries having fertility rates below this threshold may see gradual aging of their populations and shrinkage of their total population.

Some nations, particularly those facing overpopulation, may benefit from lower fertility rates and the accompanying population shrinkage by lessening the demand for infrastructure and social services. 

A workforce that lacks fresh employees to replace those who are retiring, or too few workers contributing to social programs (such as Social Security in the U.S.) that assist individuals who cannot work or have retired, might result in declining fertility rates.




Most Fertile Countries (by births per woman) – World Bank 2021 – Top 10 (2019 data):

  1. Niger – 6.8
  2. Somalia – 6.0
  3. Congo (Dem. Rep.) – 5.8 (tie)
  4. Mali – 5.8 (tie)
  5. Chad – 5.6
  6. Angola – 5.4
  7. Burundi – 5.3 (tie)
  8. Nigeria – 5.3 (tie)
  9. Gambia – 5.2
  10. Burkina Faso – 5.1

The World Bank’s 2021 rankings of the 15 countries with the lowest fertility rates (based on births per woman):

  1. South Korea – 0.9
  2. Puerto Rico (U.S. territory) – 1.0
  3. Hong Kong (China SAR) – 1.1 (tie)
  4. Malta – 1.1 (tie)
  5. Singapore – 1.1 (tie)
  6. Macau (China SAR) – 1.2 (tie)
  7. Ukraine – 1.2 (tie)
  8. Spain – 1.2 (tie)
  9. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1.3 (tie)
  10. San Marino – 1.3 (tie)
  11. Moldova – 1.3 (tie)
  12. Italy – 1.3 (tie)
  13. Andorra – 1.3 (tie)
  14. Cyprus – 1.3 (tie)
  15. Luxembourg – 1.3 (tie)




Fertility rates in Africa

Several nations in Africa have the highest fertility rates. 4.6 is the world’s highest average fertility rate for Sub-Saharan African nations. With 6.8 children per woman, Niger topped the list, followed by Somalia (6.0), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5.8), Mali (5.8), and Chad (5.8%). (5.6).

At only 2.2 children per woman, Tunisia has the lowest fertility rate in Africa. The lowest incidence of HIV infection in Africa is still in the middle of a list of more than 200 nations and territories. Niger has maintained its position as the world’s most populous country, with 46 births per 1,000 inhabitants in 2019.

Several factors contribute to high rates of abortion in Africa: poor contraceptive usage, early and universal marriage; high fertility rates; early childbirth; and the high societal values put on motherhood.

The UN’s study on the topic cites these factors. Nigeria’s fertility rate has dropped from 6.35 in 1960 to 5.3 in 2019. However, this is a worldwide trend, not a regional one, as many other African nations are seeing.




Fertility rates in Asia

Only Puerto Rico (1.0 children per woman), Singapore (1.1), and the Chinese Special Administrative Region Hong Kong (1.1) have lower fertility rates than South Korea.

Fertility rates in China (1.7) and India (2.2)—the world’s two most populated countries—are in the lower-middle range. A country’s reproductive health policy and cultural norms affect both numbers.

For example, China had a one-child policy until around 2016, but in August 2021, approved legislation proclaiming that married couples might have up to three children informally.

In the 1990s, Afghanistan had one of the world’s highest fertility rates, at over 8.0. The current fertility rate in the nation is 4.5. Since more Afghan women are gaining an education and finding work, the number of women in Afghanistan has decreased.

Immediately after the Taliban was driven from Afghanistan, NATO nations assisted in the form of funding for schools, family planning clinics, and birth control to help the population. 




As a result, infant mortality rates have also decreased. It will be some time before we know how the Taliban’s 2021 regaining of Afghanistan will affect these accomplishments and the country’s fertility rate.

Although Pakistan’s fertility rate of 3.5 is far from the highest, its fast-expanding population is a cause for concern due to its limited resources and undeveloped infrastructure.

Across the nation, schools, medical facilities, and low-income neighborhoods are being overwhelmed by an influx of too many people. Pakistan’s population increase is often blamed on a lack of family planning and birth control and other religious and political pressures.

Fertility Rates in Europe

No nations in Europe have a fertility rate exceeding 2.0, which is a worldwide trend, and the fertility rate has decreased in recent years. Socioeconomic incentives to postpone childbirth, a decrease in the expected number of children, a deficit in child care, and a shift in gender roles have all been cited as contributing causes.

In Europe, France has the highest fertility rate, with a rate of 1.9. This rate, however, falls short of the 2.1 births per woman needed to maintain the population.

French fertility rates are among Europe’s highest. As the nation’s population continues to decline, the government has emphasized initiatives to raise the number of families in the country.




In Italy, where the fertility rate is presently 1.3, the dwindling population is likewise a cause for worry. Italian first-time moms are the oldest in Europe, with an average age of 31.

Women in Italy are unable to have children early in life because they lack the financial resources to raise a kid, and the government does not help with the expenses of raising a child.

Because of Italy’s low birth rate and higher life expectancy, the country’s population is much older than the average for Europe (which is 42.8 years).

In 2019, the fertility rate in Norway was expected to be 1.5 children per woman. The average age of first-time moms in Norway is now 29.5, which has a significant impact on the country’s fertility rate.

Also See: Suicide Rate by Country 2022

In addition, the number of big families is declining. Norwegian authorities are considering ways to promote motherhood, such as compensating mothers in pension savings for each child they have.

List of countries with the highest fertility rates:

  1. Niger (6.9)
  2. DR Congo (5.9)
  3. Mali (5.9)
  4. Chad (5.7)
  5. Angola (5.5)
  6. Nigeria (5.4)
  7. Burundi (5.4)
  8. Burkina Faso (5.2)
  9. Gambia (5.2)
  10. Uganda (5)




RankCountryFertility Rate
1Niger6.9000
2DR Congo5.9000
3Mali5.9000
4Chad5.7000
5Angola5.5000
6Nigeria5.4000
7Burundi5.4000
8Burkina Faso5.2000
9Gambia5.2000
10Uganda5
11Tanzania4.9000
12Mozambique4.9000
13Benin4.8000
14Guinea4.7000
15South Sudan4.7000
16Central African Republic4.7000
17Cameroon4.6000
18Ivory Coast4.6000
19Zambia4.6000
20Senegal4.6000
21Mauritania4.6000
22Afghanistan4.5000
23Guinea-Bissau4.5000
24Equatorial Guinea4.5000
25Sudan4.4000
26Republic of the Congo4.4000
27Solomon Islands4.4000
28Togo4.3000
29Sierra Leone4.3000
30Liberia4.3000
31Sao Tome and Principe4.3000
32Ethiopia4.2000
33Malawi4.2000
34Comoros4.2000
35Madagascar4.1000
36Eritrea4.1000
37Rwanda4
38Gabon4
39Timor-Leste4
40Marshall Islands4
41Ghana3.9000
42Samoa3.9000
43Yemen3.8000
44Vanuatu3.8000
45Iraq3.7000
46Zimbabwe3.6000
47Tajikistan3.6000
48Papua New Guinea3.6000
49Kiribati3.6000
50Tonga3.6000
51Pakistan3.5000
52Kenya3.5000
53Namibia3.4000
54Egypt3.3000
55Kyrgyzstan3.3000
56Israel3.1000
57Lesotho3.1000
58Micronesia3.1000
59Algeria3
60Eswatini3
61Guatemala2.9000
62Haiti2.9000
63Oman2.9000
64Mongolia2.9000
65Botswana2.9000
66Syria2.8000
67Kazakhstan2.8000
68Jordan2.8000
69Turkmenistan2.8000
70Fiji2.8000
71Bolivia2.7000
72Laos2.7000
73Djibouti2.7000
74Philippines2.6000
75Cambodia2.5000
76Honduras2.5000
77Panama2.5000
78Guyana2.5000
79South Africa2.4000
80Morocco2.4000
81Uzbekistan2.4000
82Ecuador2.4000
83Paraguay2.4000
84Suriname2.4000
85Seychelles2.4000
86Indonesia2.3000
87Argentina2.3000
88Saudi Arabia2.3000
89Peru2.3000
90Venezuela2.3000
91Dominican Republic2.3000
92Belize2.3000
93India2.2000
94Myanmar2.2000
95Sri Lanka2.2000
96Tunisia2.2000
97Libya2.2000
98Palau2.2000
99Mexico2.1000
100Iran2.1000
101Turkey2.1000
102Lebanon2.1000
103Kuwait2.1000
104Georgia2.1000
105Grenada2.1000
106Saint Kitts and Nevis2.1000
107Bangladesh2
108Vietnam2
109Malaysia2
110El Salvador2
111New Zealand2
112Uruguay2
113Jamaica2
114Bahrain2
115Bhutan2
116Antigua and Barbuda2
117France1.9000
118Nepal1.9000
119North Korea1.9000
120Qatar1.9000
121Maldives1.9000
122Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.9000
123Dominica1.9000
124Colombia1.8000
125Romania1.8000
126Sweden1.8000
127Costa Rica1.8000
128Ireland1.8000
129Armenia1.8000
130Brunei1.8000
131Bahamas1.8000
132China1.7000
133United States1.7000
134Brazil1.7000
135United Kingdom1.7000
136Australia1.7000
137Czech Republic1.7000
138Azerbaijan1.7000
139Nicaragua1.7000
140Denmark1.7000
141Trinidad and Tobago1.7000
142Estonia1.7000
143Montenegro1.7000
144Iceland1.7000
145Russia1.6000
146Germany1.6000
147Chile1.6000
148Netherlands1.6000
149Belgium1.6000
150Cuba1.6000
151Hungary1.6000
152Bulgaria1.6000
153Norway1.6000
154Albania1.6000
155Lithuania1.6000
156Slovenia1.6000
157Latvia1.6000
158Barbados1.6000
159Liechtenstein1.6000
160Thailand1.5000
161Canada1.5000
162Poland1.5000
163Austria1.5000
164Switzerland1.5000
165Serbia1.5000
166Slovakia1.5000
167Croatia1.5000
168North Macedonia1.5000
169Japan1.4000
170Greece1.4000
171Portugal1.4000
172United Arab Emirates1.4000
173Belarus1.4000
174Finland1.4000
175Mauritius1.4000
176Luxembourg1.4000
177Saint Lucia1.4000
178Italy1.3000
179Spain1.3000
180Ukraine1.3000
181Moldova1.3000
182Bosnia and Herzegovina1.3000
183Cyprus1.3000
184Andorra1.3000
185Macau1.2000
186Malta1.2000
187Hong Kong1.1000
188Singapore1.1000
189South Korea1




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