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.

Graph and download economic data for Fertility Rate, Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPDYNTFRTINMNA) from 1960 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, fertility, and rate.

In 2024, the fertility rate in Africa was *** children per woman. The average number of newborn infants per woman on the continent decreased compared to 2000, when women had approximately **** children throughout their reproductive years. By 2030, fertility in Africa is projected to decline to around *** births per woman, yet it will remain high. The highest fertility rate worldwide Despite its gradually declining rate, fertility in Africa is the highest in the world. In 2023, the average fertility rate on the continent stood at **** children per woman, compared to a global average of **** births per woman. In contrast, Europe and North America were the continents with the lowest proportion of newborns, each registering a fertility rate below two children per woman. Additionally, Africa records the highest fertility rate among the young female population aged 15 to 19 years. In 2022, West and Central Africa had an adolescent fertility rate of nearly *** children per 1,000 girls, the highest value worldwide. Lower fertility in Northern Africa Fertility levels vary significantly across Africa. In 2023, Somalia, Chad, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic were the countries with the highest fertility rates on the continent. In those countries, women had an average of over *** children in their reproductive years. The number of adolescent girls giving birth also differed within Africa. For instance, the adolescent fertility rate in North Africa stood at around **** children per 1,000 young women in 2023. On the other hand, Sub-Saharan Africa registered a higher rate of approximately **** children per 1,000 girls as of the same year. In general, higher poverty levels, inadequate social and health conditions, and increased infant mortality are some main drivers of higher fertility rates.

In 2023, the adolescent fertility rate in North Africa stood at ***** births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. The rate decreased from 2015 when it stood at **** births per 1,000 adolescent girls. High adolescent birth rates present some risks for young women, including dropping out of school at an earlier age and lost income earning potential if adolescent women had completed their education.

Fertility Rate, Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa was 2.65003 Births per Woman in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Fertility Rate, Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 7.01168 in January of 1964 and a record low of 2.65003 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Fertility Rate, Total for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Somalia was the African country with the highest fertility rate in 2023. There, each woman had an average of around 6.1 children in her reproductive years. Fertility levels in Africa remain high despite a steady decline The fertility rate in Africa has gradually decreased since 2000 and is projected to decline further in the coming years. Factors including improved socio-economic conditions and educational opportunities, lower infant mortality, and decreasing poverty levels have driven the declining birth rate on the continent. Nevertheless, Africa remains the continent with the highest fertility rate worldwide. As of 2023, women in Africa had an average of 4.07 children in their reproductive years. Africa was the only continent registering a fertility rate higher than the global average, which was set at 2.4 children per woman. Worldwide, the continent also had the highest adolescent fertility rate as of 2022, with West and Central Africa leading with 105 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 years. Africa’s population keeps growing According to projections, over 46 million births will be registered in Africa in 2023. Contrary to the declining fertility rate, the absolute number of births on the continent will continue to grow in the coming years to reach around 49.4 million by 2030. In general, Africa’s population – amounting to over 1.48 billion inhabitants as of 2023 – is forecast to increase considerably and achieve 2.5 billion in 2050. Countries such as Niger, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea are key drivers of population growth in Africa, registering the highest average population growth rate on the continent between 2020 and 2025. For instance, in that period, Niger’s population was forecast to expand by 3.7 percent each year.

Graph and download economic data for Adolescent Fertility Rate: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa (SPADOTFRTMEA) from 1960 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, fertility, income, and rate.

Adolescent Fertility Rate: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa was 34.72392 Births per 1,000 Women Ages 15-19 in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Adolescent Fertility Rate: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 137.88445 in January of 1962 and a record low of 34.72392 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Adolescent Fertility Rate: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

This scatter chart displays fertility rate (births per woman) against birth rate (per 1,000 people) in Northern Africa. The data is about countries.

Adolescent Fertility Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa was 37.71582 Births per 1,000 Women Ages 15-19 in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Adolescent Fertility Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 140.88572 in January of 1962 and a record low of 37.71582 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Adolescent Fertility Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa (SPDYNCBRTINMNA) from 1960 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, birth, crude, and rate.

This horizontal bar chart displays fertility rate (births per woman) by demonym using the aggregation average, weighted by population female in Northern Africa. The data is about countries.

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.

Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa was 20.37634 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa reached a record high of 51.39376 in January of 1950 and a record low of 20.37634 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Crude Birth Rate for Developing Countries in Middle East and North Africa - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

This horizontal bar chart displays fertility rate (births per woman) by continent using the aggregation average, weighted by population female in Northern Africa. The data is about countries.

The crude birth rate in the Middle East and North Africa region continuously decreased over the past decades, reaching ***** births per 1,000 population in 2021. Between 2003 and 2013, the region's crude birth rate was almost constant, before it started dropping again in the following years.

In 2022, Iran had the highest fertility rate in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region amongst females aged 10 to 14, and ** to **, at *** and *** births per 1,000 females respectively. Egypt had the highest fertility rate amongst females aged 15 to 19 at ** births per 1,000 females, and closely followed Iran with a fertility rate of *** births per 1000 females aged 24 to 29. Algeria had the lowest fertility amongst 15 to 29 year old women in MENA.

This bar chart displays fertility rate (births per woman) by political leader using the aggregation average, weighted by population female in Northern Africa. The data is about countries.

This scatter chart displays individuals using the Internet (% of population) against fertility rate (births per woman) in Northern Africa. The data is about countries.

In 2021, there were **** births per 1,000 people in Northern Ireland, compared with eleven in the previous year. Between 2000 and 2008, Northern Ireland's birth rate increased from **** to **** but started to decline gradually until 2012 when it dropped from **** to **** in just one year. During this provided time period, the birth rate in Northern Ireland was highest in 1971, when it was **** and was at its lowest in 2020 when there were just eleven births per 1,000 people. Falling birth rates in the UK For the United Kingdom as a whole, the birth rate fell to **** births per 1,000 people in 2020, before a slight uptick to **** in 2021. After a postwar peak of **** births per 1,000 people in 1964, the UK birth rate fell sharply to just **** by 1977. Between 1977 and 2012 the birth rate fluctuated between **** and ****, but declined in every year between 2012 and 2020. In 2021, the UK's fertility rate (the number of births per women) fell to just ****, compared with **** in 1964. Since 1973, the UK has fallen below the minimum replacement level fertility rate of ***, and without immigration would likely see its population decline in the long term. Global demographic trends The considerable decline in the UK's fertility rate in recent decades is not an isolated phenomenon. As of 2025, Africa was, at ****, the only continent to have a fertility rate higher than the global average of ****. Several countries, mainly in East Asia and Europe, have far lower fertility rates than the UK or the global average, however. South Korea provides the most dramatic example of this trend, with its fertility rate falling from **** in 1960 to just **** by 2020. By the *****, it is expected that, as Africa's fertility rate converges with the rest of the world, the global population will peak at around **** billion and start to decline.