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UN DESA Population Division · Crude Birth Rate
Birth rate by country
How many babies are born each year for every 1,000 people?
Of the 222 countries compared in 2023, Central African Republic had the highest reading, 46.358, and Vatican City had the lowest reading, 4.211. In the middle country the figure was 13.790. Among the 222 countries measured in every edition since 1950, the middle one moved from 43.212 to 13.790.
Part ofPeople & Population
Birth rate · 2023
Context statistic
Highest of 222Central African Republic
46.358012023 · values only
The highest and the lowest
The three countries with the highest values of 222 compared, the three with the lowest, and the highest on each continent. This statistic has no better end, so no country is shown as leading.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Lowest in 2023
Vatican City4.211
South Korea4.568
Hong Kong5.548
This statistic has no better end: the two ends describe size, not success.
Highest on each continent
- AfricaCentral African Republic46.358
- Americas
Haiti22.200 - Asia
Afghanistan35.437 - Europe
Faroe Islands12.609 - Oceania
Vanuatu28.050 - Every region
02Every measured country
Birth rate on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a higher value. This statistic has no better end, so the shades describe size, not success.
- 4.211–9.214
- 9.218–11.778
- 11.838–17.298
- 17.662–26.935
- 27.062–46.358
- No reading in 2023
- Africa
30.515
the middle country, of 54 measured · 55 members
Central African Republic46.358
Mauritius9.268Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Oceania
17.996
the middle country, of 21 measured · 21 members
Vanuatu28.050
Palau10.897Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Asia
15.941
the middle country, of 51 measured · 52 members
Afghanistan35.437South Korea4.568Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Americas
11.728
the middle country, of 48 measured · 48 members
Haiti22.200
Puerto Rico5.815Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Europe
8.825
the middle country, of 48 measured · 49 members
Faroe Islands12.609Vatican City4.211Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Every region
22 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Middle Africa
33.743
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Central African Republic46.358
Gabon27.666Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Western Africa
31.816
the middle country, of 16 measured · 16 members
Niger41.892
Cabo Verde12.330Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Eastern Africa
30.896
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Somalia42.964Mauritius9.268Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- Melanesia
24.576
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Vanuatu28.050
New Caledonia14.262Highest and lowest reading in Melanesia.
- Southern Africa
24.109
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Namibia25.890
South Africa18.775Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
- Central Asia
21.740
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Uzbekistan26.465
Kazakhstan20.138Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Micronesia
21.137
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Kiribati25.813Palau10.897Highest and lowest reading in Micronesia.
- Northern Africa
18.325
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Sudan33.612
Tunisia13.748Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Central America
17.027
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Honduras21.963
Costa Rica10.179Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- Southern Asia
16.146
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Afghanistan35.437
Maldives11.018Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- South-eastern Asia
15.941
the middle country, of 11 measured · 11 members
Timor-Leste22.077
Singapore8.200Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Polynesia
15.388
the middle country, of 7 measured · 7 members
Samoa25.401
French Polynesia10.907Highest and lowest reading in Polynesia.
- South America
15.060
the middle country, of 12 measured · 12 members
Bolivia21.247
Chile8.963Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- Western Asia
14.302
the middle country, of 18 measured · 19 members
Yemen35.209
United Arab Emirates9.774Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- Caribbean
11.131
the middle country, of 24 measured · 24 members
Haiti22.200Puerto Rico5.815Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Western Europe
9.367
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Luxembourg10.444
Austria8.439Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- Northern Europe
9.310
the middle country, of 12 measured · 13 members
Faroe Islands12.609
Lithuania7.510Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Eastern Europe
8.867
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Moldova10.755
Ukraine5.625Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Southern Europe
8.071
the middle country, of 17 measured · 17 members
Gibraltar12.070Vatican City4.211Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Eastern Asia
6.143
the middle country, of 8 measured · 8 members
Mongolia18.945South Korea4.568Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- Australia and New Zealand
2 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia, New Zealand.
Australia11.506
New Zealand11.451Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Northern America
4 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, United States.
Greenland14.110
Bermuda8.046Highest and lowest reading in Northern America.
03The whole field at once
The spread
222 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 13.790; a quarter are above 24.100, and a quarter below 9.607. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 222 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first. No rank or position is shown: too many countries share the same value for an order to mean anything. Neither end is better. Because the rate depends on age structure, two countries where women have the same number of children can read very differently here — the younger one higher. For how many children women actually have, read the fertility rate.
Showing 25 of 222 countries
Values for 2023. The change column compares 2023 with 2022 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
051950–2023 · 74 reference years
Over time
Each point is one year's estimate, 1950 to 2023, as restated by the 2024 revision. It usually falls with the fertility rate, but more slowly: a population that was young keeps producing many births for a generation after each woman starts having fewer children.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- the middle of the 222 countries measured every time
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half | Measured every time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 222 | 13.790 | 9.607 – 24.100 | 13.790 |
| 2022 | 222 | 14.009 | 9.871 – 24.556 | 14.009 |
| 2021 | 222 | 14.409 | 10.379 – 24.942 | 14.409 |
| 2020 | 222 | 14.753 | 10.420 – 25.497 | 14.753 |
| 2019 | 222 | 15.176 | 10.637 – 25.855 | 15.176 |
| 2018 | 222 | 15.813 | 10.823 – 26.252 | 15.813 |
| 2017 | 222 | 16.762 | 11.114 – 26.229 | 16.762 |
| 2016 | 222 | 17.316 | 11.557 – 26.876 | 17.316 |
| 2015 | 222 | 17.807 | 11.828 – 28.005 | 17.807 |
| 2014 | 222 | 18.223 | 12.053 – 28.309 | 18.223 |
| 2013 | 222 | 18.209 | 12.187 – 28.869 | 18.209 |
| 2012 | 222 | 18.479 | 12.346 – 29.375 | 18.479 |
| 2011 | 222 | 18.558 | 12.238 – 29.961 | 18.558 |
| 2010 | 222 | 18.718 | 12.566 – 30.194 | 18.718 |
| 2009 | 222 | 18.920 | 12.352 – 29.940 | 18.920 |
| 2008 | 222 | 19.306 | 12.438 – 30.141 | 19.306 |
| 2007 | 222 | 19.334 | 12.432 – 29.469 | 19.334 |
| 2006 | 222 | 19.670 | 12.580 – 29.375 | 19.670 |
| 2005 | 222 | 19.436 | 12.678 – 29.470 | 19.436 |
| 2004 | 222 | 19.521 | 12.718 – 29.970 | 19.521 |
| 2003 | 222 | 19.615 | 12.711 – 30.170 | 19.615 |
| 2002 | 222 | 19.890 | 12.743 – 30.569 | 19.890 |
| 2001 | 222 | 20.919 | 13.363 – 31.403 | 20.919 |
| 2000 | 222 | 21.408 | 13.901 – 32.153 | 21.408 |
| 1999 | 222 | 21.401 | 13.817 – 32.483 | 21.401 |
| 1998 | 222 | 21.791 | 13.691 – 33.088 | 21.791 |
| 1997 | 222 | 23.339 | 14.254 – 33.520 | 23.339 |
| 1996 | 222 | 23.624 | 14.768 – 34.149 | 23.624 |
| 1995 | 222 | 24.456 | 15.320 – 34.986 | 24.456 |
| 1994 | 222 | 24.608 | 15.633 – 36.194 | 24.608 |
| 1993 | 222 | 25.902 | 16.609 – 37.524 | 25.902 |
| 1992 | 222 | 26.588 | 17.017 – 37.863 | 26.588 |
| 1991 | 222 | 26.873 | 17.610 – 37.855 | 26.873 |
| 1990 | 222 | 27.902 | 17.681 – 38.257 | 27.902 |
| 1989 | 222 | 28.502 | 17.901 – 38.744 | 28.502 |
| 1988 | 222 | 28.799 | 18.188 – 39.353 | 28.799 |
| 1987 | 222 | 29.524 | 17.203 – 39.823 | 29.524 |
| 1986 | 222 | 30.329 | 17.464 – 40.744 | 30.329 |
| 1985 | 222 | 30.545 | 17.884 – 41.095 | 30.545 |
| 1984 | 222 | 30.589 | 18.250 – 41.496 | 30.589 |
| 1983 | 222 | 30.810 | 19.292 – 42.047 | 30.810 |
| 1982 | 222 | 31.396 | 19.736 – 42.473 | 31.396 |
| 1981 | 222 | 31.151 | 19.404 – 43.092 | 31.151 |
| 1980 | 222 | 31.008 | 19.727 – 43.557 | 31.008 |
| 1979 | 222 | 31.599 | 19.440 – 43.450 | 31.599 |
| 1978 | 222 | 31.623 | 19.482 – 43.555 | 31.623 |
| 1977 | 222 | 32.118 | 19.454 – 43.399 | 32.118 |
| 1976 | 222 | 32.498 | 20.113 – 43.494 | 32.498 |
| 1975 | 222 | 32.994 | 20.333 – 43.783 | 32.994 |
| 1974 | 222 | 33.607 | 20.974 – 44.059 | 33.607 |
| 1973 | 222 | 34.698 | 21.131 – 44.183 | 34.698 |
| 1972 | 222 | 35.610 | 22.258 – 44.243 | 35.610 |
| 1971 | 222 | 36.213 | 22.211 – 44.263 | 36.213 |
| 1970 | 222 | 37.196 | 22.083 – 44.673 | 37.196 |
| 1969 | 222 | 37.816 | 23.043 – 45.113 | 37.816 |
| 1968 | 222 | 38.448 | 24.047 – 45.432 | 38.448 |
| 1967 | 222 | 38.701 | 25.752 – 45.605 | 38.701 |
| 1966 | 222 | 39.676 | 26.005 – 45.788 | 39.676 |
| 1965 | 222 | 40.692 | 26.868 – 46.289 | 40.692 |
| 1964 | 222 | 41.483 | 26.892 – 46.430 | 41.483 |
| 1963 | 222 | 42.041 | 27.092 – 46.759 | 42.041 |
| 1962 | 222 | 42.554 | 27.144 – 46.939 | 42.554 |
| 1961 | 222 | 42.521 | 27.779 – 46.923 | 42.521 |
| 1960 | 222 | 42.894 | 29.011 – 47.215 | 42.894 |
| 1959 | 222 | 43.429 | 29.671 – 47.461 | 43.429 |
| 1958 | 222 | 43.701 | 30.476 – 47.398 | 43.701 |
| 1957 | 222 | 43.891 | 30.805 – 47.290 | 43.891 |
| 1956 | 222 | 43.900 | 31.186 – 47.356 | 43.900 |
| 1955 | 222 | 43.762 | 31.469 – 47.231 | 43.762 |
| 1954 | 222 | 43.673 | 31.763 – 47.115 | 43.673 |
| 1953 | 222 | 43.402 | 31.390 – 47.135 | 43.402 |
| 1952 | 222 | 43.530 | 31.141 – 46.895 | 43.530 |
| 1951 | 222 | 43.533 | 30.861 – 46.799 | 43.533 |
| 1950 | 222 | 43.212 | 30.924 – 46.720 | 43.212 |
062022 → 2023
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions — reference years recalculated in one report, not two separate publications. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Rose most
before → after
Saudi Arabia15.217 → 16.415+1.198- Central African Republic45.425 → 46.358+0.933
Syria21.234 → 22.107+0.873
Monaco8.687 → 9.441+0.754
Belize17.391 → 18.025+0.634
222 countries were measured in both 2022 and 2023.
07Across every edition
Birth rate in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
58.627
Births per 1,000 population
Lowest reading on record
3.519
Births per 1,000 population
Biggest rise between editions
+18.645
21.131 → 39.776
Biggest fall between editions
−22.551
37.367 → 14.816
Biggest change since first measured
+1.007
45.351 → 46.358
Highest most often
56 of 74
editions, alone at the first-listed end
08The measure
About birth rate
The crude birth rate is the number of babies born alive in a year for every 1,000 people living in a country. It is the simplest measure of how many births a population produces, and it is "crude" because it takes no account of how many of those people are of an age to have children.
What the number is: Births per 1,000 population.
What it does not measure
It depends on how many people are of childbearing age, so it is not a measure of how many children each woman has; the fertility rate is.
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under People & Population, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Moves with
Where birth rate is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Population Under Age 15UN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ 0.98
- Total Fertility RateUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ 0.96
- Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 172 countries in commonρ 0.90
Moves against
Where birth rate is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Median Age of the PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 222 countries in commonρ −0.96
- Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 172 countries in commonρ −0.89
- GNI per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 102 countries in commonρ −0.89
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 190 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
The countries at either end
11Questions
Birth rate: questions and answers
Which country has the highest birth rate?
Central African Republic, at 46.358, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
Which country has the lowest birth rate?
Vatican City, at 4.211, among the 222 countries compared in 2023.
How many countries does the Crude Birth Rate cover?
222 in 2023.
What is the world average birth rate?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 222 compared in 2023, the figure was 13.790.
Is this UN DESA Population Division’s own ranking?
No ranking is shown. UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything, so none is derived.
How often is the Crude Birth Rate published?
This site holds 74 reference years, 1950–2023, all recalculated in UN DESA Population Division’s 2024 report on one method — not 74 separate publications.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From UN DESA Population Division, under CC BY 3.0 IGO. From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download. Projections are excluded. Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Crude Birth Rate — UN DESA Population Division
From World Population Prospects 2024, read from the Population Division's own CSV download. Projections are excluded.
Newest edition
Report year 2023Data year 2023
Cite the source as: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024. New York: United Nations.
Licence: CC BY 3.0 IGO, checked 2026-09-26.
How this page reads the numbers
- No rank or position is shown: UN DESA Population Division publishes values only, and too many countries share the same value for an ordering to mean anything.
- This statistic has no better end, so the page describes higher and lower values and never calls a country a leader.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Birth rate by country: Crude Birth Rate, data from UN DESA Population Division. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/crude-birth-rate