For most of the past two centuries, falling birth rates have been associated with societal progress. During the demographic transition, where pre-industrial societies modernize in terms of fertility and mortality, falling death rates, especially among infants and children, are the first major change. In response, as more children survive into adulthood, women have fewer children as the need to compensate for child mortality declines. This transition has happened at different times across the world and is an ongoing process, with early industrial countries being the first to transition, and Sub-Saharan African countries being the most recent to do so. Additionally, some Asian countries (particularly China through government policy) have gone through their demographic transitions at a much faster pace than those deemed more developed. Today, in countries such as Japan, Italy, and Germany, birth rates have fallen well below death rates; this is no longer considered a positive demographic trend, as it leads to natural population decline, and may create an over-aged population that could place a burden on healthcare systems.

Niger had the highest birth rate in the world in 2024, with a birth rate of 46.6 births per 1,000 inhabitants. Angola, Benin, Mali, and Uganda followed. Except for Afghanistan, all 20 countries with the highest birth rates in the world were located in Sub-Saharan Africa. High infant mortality The reasons behind the high birth rates in many Sub-Saharan African countries are manyfold, but a major reason is that infant mortality remains high on the continent, despite decreasing steadily over the past decades, resulting in high birth rates to counter death rates. Moreover, many nations in Sub-Saharan Africa are highly reliant on small-scale farming, meaning that more hands are of importance. Additionally, polygamy is not uncommon in the region, and having many children is often seen as a symbol of status. Fastest-growing populations As the high fertility rates coincide with decreasing death rates, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest population growth rates in the world. As a result, Africa's population is forecast to increase from 1.4 billion in 2022 to over 3.9 billion by 2100.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in World was reported at 16.33 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in United States was reported at 10.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in Mexico was reported at 1.91 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Crude birth rates, age-specific fertility rates and total fertility rates (live births), 2000 to most recent year.

In 2024, 8.1 live births per 1,000 inhabitants were recorded in Germany. This was a decrease compared to the previous year, continuing the general trend of declining birth rates. The number of deaths in Germany has been exceeding the number of births in recent years.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in China was reported at 0.999 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Birth Statistics (i) Number of Known Births for Different Sexes and Crude Birth Rate for the Period from 1981 to 2024 (ii) Percentage Distribution of Live Births by Birth Weight for the Period from 2012 to 2023

Population: Birth Rate: Shanghai data was reported at 0.475 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.395 % for 2023. Population: Birth Rate: Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 0.697 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.031 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.395 % in 2023. Population: Birth Rate: Shanghai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

This dataset contains counts of live births for California counties based on information entered on birth certificates. Final counts are derived from static data and include out of state births to California residents, whereas provisional counts are derived from incomplete and dynamic data. Provisional counts are based on the records available when the data was retrieved and may not represent all births that occurred during the time period.

The final data tables include both births that occurred in California regardless of the place of residence (by occurrence) and births to California residents (by residence), whereas the provisional data table only includes births that occurred in California regardless of the place of residence (by occurrence). The data are reported as totals, as well as stratified by parent giving birth's age, parent giving birth's race-ethnicity, and birth place type. See temporal coverage for more information on which strata are available for which years.

The Occupied Palestinian territories, namely the West Bank and Gaza Strip, had the highest average births per woman in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, reaching almost 3.5 and 3.3 births per woman respectively in 2024. Bahrain and the UAE had the lowest birth rates per woman in the region. Birth rates and maternal health improvements in MENA Birth rates in the Middle East and North Africa have decreased considerably over the years. The crude birth rate in MENA dropped from around 25 per 1,000 population in 2000 to 20 in 2021. Considerable progress has been made regarding the health of women who are pregnant. The maternal mortality ratio in MENA decreased from 108 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000, to 56 in 2020. Another trend is a slow but noticeable decline in the adolescent fertility rate in MENA over the last two decades, from around 44 in 2000 to about 34 births per 1,000 adolescent girls in 2022. Persistent female health issues A high female obesity rate is a prevalent health issues stemming from lifestyles in MENA. The obesity rate among adult females in MENA ranged from around 59 percent in Egypt to approximately 31.5 percent in Morocco as of 2022. Female genital mutilation is another societal problem in the region, though not an isolated one. The number of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation in Africa was around 144 million in 2024. In the Middle East, this number was much lower, at about six million.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in China was reported at 6.39 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 196 countries was 18.19 births per 1000 people. The highest value was in the Central African Republic: 45.42 births per 1000 people and the lowest value was in Hong Kong: 4.4 births per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This is historical data. The update frequency has been set to "Static Data" and is here for historic value. Updated 8/14/2024. Number of live births and birth rate per 1,000 population by year.

This dataset contains counts of live births for California as a whole based on information entered on birth certificates. Final counts are derived from static data and include out of state births to California residents, whereas provisional counts are derived from incomplete and dynamic data. Provisional counts are based on the records available when the data was retrieved and may not represent all births that occurred during the time period.

The final data tables include both births that occurred in California regardless of the place of residence (by occurrence) and births to California residents (by residence), whereas the provisional data table only includes births that occurred in California regardless of the place of residence (by occurrence). The data are reported as totals, as well as stratified by parent giving birth's age, parent giving birth's race-ethnicity, and birth place type. See temporal coverage for more information on which strata are available for which years.

Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data was reported at 25.100 NA in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.400 NA for 2019. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data is updated yearly, averaging 28.700 NA from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2020, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.800 NA in 2000 and a record low of 25.100 NA in 2020. Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: per 1000 Population: Uttar Pradesh data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Demographic – Table IN.GAH002: Vital Statistics: Birth Rate: by States.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in India was reported at 16.15 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

In 2024, the birth rate stood at 6.7 births per 1,000 inhabitants in the southern part of the peninsula, the macro-region with the largest rate nationwide. Central regions recorded instead a birth rate of 5.8. The birth rate in the whole country has constantly decreased over the past years – in 2024, 6.3 children were born per 1,000 inhabitants, three infants less than in 2002.

Population Projections: Gross Birth Rate per year. Annual. Autonomous Communities and Cities.