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.
Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024
(births per 1,000 population)
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CIA. (October 7, 2024). Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024 (births per 1,000 population) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/
CIA. "Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024 (births per 1,000 population)." Chart. October 7, 2024. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/
CIA. (2024). Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024 (births per 1,000 population). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/
CIA. "Ranking of The 20 Countries with The Highest Birth Rate in 2024 (Births per 1,000 Population)." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Oct 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/
CIA, Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024 (births per 1,000 population) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Ranking of the 20 countries with the highest birth rate in 2024 (births per 1,000 population) [Graph], CIA, October 7, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264704/ranking-of-the-20-countries-with-the-highest-birth-rate/