Following a spike to 2.5 children per woman in the mid-1960s (during the second wave of the post-WWII baby boom), Germany's fertility rate then fell sharply to around 1.5 children per woman in the 1970s, and it has fluctuated between 1.2 and 1.6 children per woman ever since. Germany's fertility rate has been below the natural replacement level of roughly 2.1 children per woman since 1970, meaning that long-term natural population growth is unsustainable. In fact, Germany has experienced a natural population decline in every year since 1972, and its population has only grown or been sustained at its current level through high net immigration rates.Find more statistics on other topics about Germany with key insights such as crude birth rate, life expectancy of women at birth, and total life expectancy at birth.

Historical dataset showing U.S. birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

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.

In 2025, the crude birth rate in Europe (the number of live births per 1,000 population) was estimated to be 8.3, which is also the lowest birth rate in the provided time period. Between 1950 and 2025, the birth rate was highest in Europe in 1950 when it stood at 22.2.

Historical dataset showing China birth rate by year from 1950 to 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 October of 2025.

Historical dataset showing India birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In 2025, there are six countries, all in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the average woman of childbearing age can expect to have between 5-6 children throughout their lifetime. In fact, of the 20 countries in the world with the highest fertility rates, Afghanistan and Yemen are the only countries not found in Sub-Saharan Africa. High fertility rates in Africa With a fertility rate of almost six children per woman, Chad is the country with the highest fertility rate in the world. Population growth in Chad is among the highest in the world. Lack of healthcare access, as well as food instability, political instability, and climate change, are all exacerbating conditions that keep Chad's infant mortality rates high, which is generally the driver behind high fertility rates. This situation is common across much of the continent, and, although there has been considerable progress in recent decades, development in Sub-Saharan Africa is not moving as quickly as it did in other regions. Demographic transition While these countries have the highest fertility rates in the world, their rates are all on a generally downward trajectory due to a phenomenon known as the demographic transition. The third stage (of five) of this transition sees birth rates drop in response to decreased infant and child mortality, as families no longer feel the need to compensate for lost children. Eventually, fertility rates fall below replacement level (approximately 2.1 children per woman), which eventually leads to natural population decline once life expectancy plateaus. In some of the most developed countries today, low fertility rates are creating severe econoic and societal challenges as workforces are shrinking while aging populations are placin a greater burden on both public and personal resources.

In May 2025, there were around 6.4 percent less births recorded in Germany than the same month a year before. Monthly birth rates were declining year-on-year, except for February and April 2024.

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.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in United States was reported at 1.6165 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - 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 Spain was reported at 6.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - 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 Canada was reported at 8.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in Pakistan was reported at 27.81 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Thailand birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in Iran was reported at 1.695 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iran - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - 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 Vietnam was reported at 13.83 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Vietnam - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Historical dataset showing World birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The total fertility rate of the world has dropped from around 5 children per woman in 1950, to 2.2 children per woman in 2025, which means that women today are having fewer than half the number of children that women did 75 years ago. Replacement level fertility This change has come as a result of the global demographic transition, and is influenced by factors such as the significant reduction in infant and child mortality, reduced number of child marriages, increased educational and vocational opportunities for women, and the increased efficacy and availability of contraception. While this change has become synonymous with societal progress, it does have wide-reaching demographic impact - if the global average falls below replacement level (roughly 2.1 children per woman), as is expected to happen in the 2050s, then this will lead to long-term population decline on a global scale. Regional variations When broken down by continent, Africa is the only region with a fertility rate above the global average, and, alongside Oceania, it is the only region with a fertility rate above replacement level. Until the 1980s, the average woman in Africa could expect to have 6-7 children over the course of their lifetime, and there are still several countries in Africa where women can still expect to have 5 or more children in 2025. Historically, Europe has had the lowest fertility rates in the world over the past century, falling below replacement level in 1975. Europe's population has grown through a combination of migration and increasing life expectancy, however even high immigration rates could not prevent its population from going into decline in 2021.

The department of Loreto, in Peru, will have the highest birth rate in the country between the years of 2020 and 2025, with **** births per 1,000 inhabitants. The second on the list is the department of Ucayali, with ****. Peru had over ******* newborns registered in 2022.