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.

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 the 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, with Africa's population forecast to increase from 1.4 billion in 2022 to over 3.9 billion by 2100.

The average for 2022 based on 195 countries was 18.38 births per 1000 people. The highest value was in Niger: 45.03 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 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries (SPDYNCBRTINHIC) from 1960 to 2023 about birth, crude, income, and rate.

World birth rate for 2025 is 17.13, a 0.95% decline from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>World birth rate for 2024 was <strong>17.30</strong>, a <strong>5.9% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>World birth rate for 2023 was <strong>16.33</strong>, a <strong>1.34% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>World birth rate for 2022 was <strong>16.56</strong>, a <strong>1.7% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

This map shows the average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime. Data from Population Reference Bureau's 2017 World Population Data Sheet. The world's total fertility rate reported in 2017 was 2.5 as a whole. Replacement-Level fertility is widely recognized as 2.0 children per woman, so as to "replace" each parent in the next generation. Countries depicted in pink have a total fertility rate below replacement level whereas countries depicted in teal have a total fertility rate above replacement level. In countries with very high child mortality rates, a replacement level of 2.1 could be used, since not every child will survive into their reproductive years. Determinants of Total Fertility Rate include: women's education levels and opportunities, marriage rates among women of childbearing age (generally defined as 15-49), contraceptive usage and method mix/effectiveness, infant & child mortality rates, share of population living in urban areas, the importance of children as part of the labor force (or cost/penalty to women's labor force options that having children poses), and religious and cultural norms, among many other factors. This map was made using the Global Population and Maternal Health Indicators layer.

Graph and download economic data for Fertility Rate, Total for High Income Countries (SPDYNTFRTINHIC) from 1960 to 2023 about fertility, income, and rate.

The average for 2022 based on 24 countries was 13.79 births per 1000 people. The highest value was in Haiti: 23.15 births per 1000 people and the lowest value was in Puerto Rico: 5.9 births per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2022 based on 192 countries was 2.51 births per woman. The highest value was in Niger: 6.75 births per woman and the lowest value was in Hong Kong: 0.7 births per woman. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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

Niger recorded the highest crude birth rates in Africa in 2023, with 46.9 births recorded per 1,000 inhabitants. Angola, followed with 41.4 births every 1,000 population, whereas the rate in Benin, Mali, and Uganda stood above 40. In Niger, Uganda, Mali, and Angola the population is aged under 16 years old. Especially, Niger ranks as the country with the youngest population in Africa and worldwide, with a median age by 15.4 years.

Graph and download economic data for Adolescent Fertility Rate for High Income Countries (SPADOTFRTHIC) from 1960 to 2023 about fertility, income, and rate.

India birth rate for 2025 is 16.55, a 1.19% decline from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India birth rate for 2024 was <strong>16.75</strong>, a <strong>3.74% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>India birth rate for 2023 was <strong>16.15</strong>, a <strong>1.16% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>India birth rate for 2022 was <strong>16.34</strong>, a <strong>0.94% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

United States - Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was 33.15909 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa reached a record high of 47.79126 in January of 1950 and a record low of 33.15909 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for High Income OECD Countries (SPDYNCBRTINOEC) from 1960 to 2014 about OECD Economies, birth, crude, income, and rate.

Africa birth rate for 2025 is 30.91, a 1.1% decline from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Africa birth rate for 2024 was <strong>31.26</strong>, a <strong>1.09% decline</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>Africa birth rate for 2023 was <strong>31.60</strong>, a <strong>1.27% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Africa birth rate for 2022 was <strong>32.01</strong>, a <strong>1.25% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.

This statistic shows the countries with the highest projected fertility rate between 2050 and 2055. Between 2050 and 2055, Niger is projected to have the highest fertility rate with an average of 3.98 children born per woman.

United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries was 8.98370 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries reached a record high of 21.57617 in January of 1960 and a record low of 8.98370 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Niger had the highest birth rate in the world in 2021, with a birth rate of 47.08. Angola, Benin and Mali followed with more than 41 children born in each of the countries per 1,000 population in that year.

China birth rate for 2025 is 10.31, a 1.6% decline from 2024.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>China birth rate for 2024 was <strong>10.48</strong>, a <strong>63.97% increase</strong> from 2023.</li>
<li>China birth rate for 2023 was <strong>6.39</strong>, a <strong>5.61% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>China birth rate for 2022 was <strong>6.77</strong>, a <strong>9.97% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
</ul>Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.