Total fertility rate 2016

The total fertility rate measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, reflecting population growth and demographic trends. Understanding this statistic is crucial for analyzing economic development, healthcare needs, and societal changes across countries.

236 data points•Updated 11/4/2025•World•

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Complete Data Rankings

Rank
1	Niger	7.043 per woman
2	Somalia	6.878 per woman
3	Chad	6.623 per woman
4	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	6.392 per woman
5	Mali	6.319 per woman
6	Central African Republic	6.126 per woman
7	Angola	5.686 per woman
8	Burundi	5.587 per woman
9	Afghanistan	5.542 per woman
10	Nigeria	5.343 per woman
11	Burkina Faso	5.331 per woman
12	Benin	5.254 per woman
13	Mozambique	5.188 per woman
14	Mauritania	5.157 per woman
15	Uganda	5.112 per woman
16	Tanzania	5.006 per woman
17	Guinea	4.915 per woman
18	Côte d'Ivoire	4.873 per woman
19	Cameroon	4.842 per woman
20	Sudan	4.829 per woman
21	Gambia	4.809 per woman
22	Mayotte	4.704 per woman
23	Equatorial Guinea	4.686 per woman
24	Zambia	4.669 per woman
25	Senegal	4.648 per woman
26	Togo	4.634 per woman
27	Yemen	4.613 per woman
28	South Sudan	4.579 per woman
29	Congo	4.546 per woman
30	Guinea-Bissau	4.519 per woman
31	Ethiopia	4.473 per woman
32	Sierra Leone	4.466 per woman
33	Liberia	4.461 per woman
34	Comoros	4.348 per woman
35	Madagascar	4.285 per woman
36	Samoa	4.262 per woman
37	Malawi	4.216 per woman
38	Sao Tome and Principe	4.203 per woman
39	Solomon Islands	4.2 per woman
40	Eritrea	4.164 per woman
41	Rwanda	4.106 per woman
42	Nauru	4.027 per woman
43	Gabon	3.921 per woman
44	Vanuatu	3.915 per woman
45	Pakistan	3.902 per woman
46	State of Palestine	3.887 per woman
47	Ghana	3.873 per woman
48	Iraq	3.843 per woman
49	Zimbabwe	3.828 per woman
50	Kenya	3.689 per woman
51	French Guiana	3.641 per woman
52	Timor-Leste	3.582 per woman
53	Namibia	3.574 per woman
54	Papua New Guinea	3.495 per woman
55	Tonga	3.463 per woman
56	Tajikistan	3.384 per woman
57	Kiribati	3.375 per woman
58	Egypt	3.35 per woman
59	Tuvalu	3.297 per woman
60	Lesotho	3.18 per woman
61	Guam	3.171 per woman
62	Israel	3.113 per woman
63	Kyrgyzstan	3.104 per woman
64	Marshall Islands	3.091 per woman
65	Algeria	3.091 per woman
66	Jordan	3.072 per woman
67	Eswatini	3.068 per woman
68	Haiti	3.054 per woman
69	Syrian Arab Republic	3.012 per woman
70	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	3.001 per woman
71	Botswana	2.99 per woman
72	Turkmenistan	2.99 per woman
73	Guatemala	2.973 per woman
74	Djibouti	2.969 per woman
75	Mongolia	2.957 per woman
76	Oman	2.949 per woman
77	Northern Mariana Islands	2.923 per woman
78	Tokelau	2.864 per woman
79	Bolivia	2.829 per woman
80	Niue	2.825 per woman
81	Kazakhstan	2.795 per woman
82	Laos	2.744 per woman
83	Cambodia	2.725 per woman
84	Honduras	2.704 per woman
85	American Samoa	2.699 per woman
86	Philippines	2.679 per woman
87	Libya	2.673 per woman
88	Saudi Arabia	2.65 per woman
89	Saint Martin (French part)	2.643 per woman
90	Guyana	2.634 per woman
91	Paraguay	2.624 per woman
92	Monaco	2.578 per woman
93	Uzbekistan	2.564 per woman
94	Fiji	2.518 per woman
95	Panama	2.502 per woman
96	Suriname	2.5 per woman
97	Faroe Islands	2.49 per woman
98	Dominican Republic	2.41 per woman
99	Nicaragua	2.407 per woman
100	Morocco	2.396 per woman
101	Belize	2.396 per woman
102	Lebanon	2.39 per woman
103	Western Sahara	2.382 per woman
104	Indonesia	2.311 per woman
105	Seychelles	2.295 per woman
106	India	2.284 per woman
107	Tunisia	2.275 per woman
108	Myanmar	2.27 per woman
109	South Africa	2.261 per woman
110	Argentina	2.241 per woman
111	Georgia	2.228 per woman
112	Bangladesh	2.227 per woman
113	Nepal	2.226 per woman
114	Réunion	2.219 per woman
115	Venezuela	2.217 per woman
116	United States Virgin Islands	2.205 per woman
117	Peru	2.189 per woman
118	Cook Islands	2.184 per woman
119	Guadeloupe	2.141 per woman
120	Ecuador	2.122 per woman
121	Turkey	2.115 per woman
122	Mexico	2.086 per woman
123	New Caledonia	2.078 per woman
124	Greenland	2.068 per woman
125	Sri Lanka	2.062 per woman
126	Kuwait	2.061 per woman
127	Palau	2.055 per woman
128	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	2.055 per woman
129	Iran	2.054 per woman
130	Bahrain	2.042 per woman
131	Azerbaijan	2.032 per woman
132	Wallis and Futuna Islands	2.004 per woman
133	Vietnam	2 per woman
134	Cabo Verde	1.966 per woman
135	Uruguay	1.966 per woman
136	El Salvador	1.965 per woman
137	Martinique	1.964 per woman
138	Malaysia	1.942 per woman
139	Gibraltar	1.94 per woman
140	Brunei Darussalam	1.915 per woman
141	Maldives	1.903 per woman
142	France	1.892 per woman
143	Republic of Moldova	1.89 per woman
144	New Zealand	1.876 per woman
145	North Korea	1.856 per woman
146	Qatar	1.856 per woman
147	Aruba	1.848 per woman
148	Sweden	1.846 per woman
149	Ireland	1.816 per woman
150	United States	1.804 per woman
151	Montenegro	1.8 per woman
152	Australia	1.792 per woman
153	North Macedonia	1.786 per woman
154	United Kingdom	1.785 per woman
155	Denmark	1.775 per woman
156	Russia	1.773 per woman
157	China	1.772 per woman
158	French Polynesia	1.763 per woman
159	Costa Rica	1.746 per woman
160	Iceland	1.744 per woman
161	Latvia	1.742 per woman
162	Bhutan	1.738 per woman
163	Brazil	1.727 per woman
164	Belarus	1.727 per woman
165	Barbados	1.724 per woman
166	Colombia	1.719 per woman
167	Turks and Caicos Islands	1.713 per woman
168	Isle of Man	1.713 per woman
169	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	1.711 per woman
170	Norway	1.705 per woman
171	Saint Helena	1.697 per woman
172	Curaçao	1.695 per woman
173	Lithuania	1.692 per woman
174	Romania	1.692 per woman
175	Chile	1.686 per woman
176	Belgium	1.675 per woman
177	Netherlands	1.658 per woman
178	Czech Republic	1.652 per woman
179	Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	1.642 per woman
180	Kosovo	1.641 per woman
181	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1.633 per woman
182	Armenia	1.625 per woman
183	Montserrat	1.62 per woman
184	Grenada	1.616 per woman
185	Estonia	1.603 per woman
186	Trinidad and Tobago	1.601 per woman
187	Cuba	1.6 per woman
188	Germany	1.591 per woman
189	Liechtenstein	1.59 per woman
190	Canada	1.59 per woman
191	Slovenia	1.587 per woman
192	Dominica	1.581 per woman
193	Finland	1.565 per woman
194	Albania	1.555 per woman
195	Bulgaria	1.541 per woman
196	Switzerland	1.54 per woman
197	Austria	1.531 per woman
198	Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba	1.53 per woman
199	Hungary	1.514 per woman
200	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	1.505 per woman
201	Bahamas	1.495 per woman
202	Slovakia	1.478 per woman
203	Jersey	1.468 per woman
204	Jamaica	1.464 per woman
205	Serbia	1.462 per woman
206	Saint Lucia	1.461 per woman
207	Antigua and Barbuda	1.458 per woman
208	Bermuda	1.45 per woman
209	Guernsey	1.435 per woman
210	Croatia	1.427 per woman
211	Luxembourg	1.415 per woman
212	Japan	1.408 per woman
213	Thailand	1.4 per woman
214	Ukraine	1.391 per woman
215	Poland	1.389 per woman
216	Greece	1.382 per woman
217	Anguilla	1.374 per woman
218	United Arab Emirates	1.366 per woman
219	Malta	1.366 per woman
220	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.36 per woman
221	Cyprus	1.357 per woman
222	Portugal	1.356 per woman
223	Mauritius	1.352 per woman
224	Italy	1.336 per woman
225	Spain	1.332 per woman
226	Puerto Rico	1.264 per woman
227	Cayman Islands	1.231 per woman
228	China, Hong Kong SAR	1.205 per woman
229	Andorra	1.184 per woman
230	Taiwan	1.171 per woman
231	South Korea	1.14 per woman
232	China, Macao SAR	1.138 per woman
233	San Marino	1.127 per woman
234	British Virgin Islands	0.987 per woman
235	Saint Barthélemy	0.966 per woman
236	Singapore	0.943 per woman

↑Top 10 Countries

Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.

↓Bottom 10 Countries

Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.

Key Insights

Kosovo

In 2016, Kosovo had a total fertility rate of 1.641 children per woman, ranking it 180th out of 236 countries in the world. This rate reflects a decline in birth rates, which can be linked to various socio-economic factors, including increased urbanization, access to education, and family planning initiatives.

The low fertility rate in Kosovo is indicative of broader trends observed in many European countries, where economic considerations and lifestyle choices increasingly influence family size. Additionally, the aftermath of conflict and ongoing economic challenges may also play a role in shaping reproductive behaviors.

As a point of comparison, the average total fertility rate for Europe as a whole is generally higher, suggesting that Kosovo is part of a larger demographic shift towards smaller family units in the region. This trend raises important questions about future population growth and demographic aging in Kosovo.

Montenegro

In 2016, Montenegro had a total fertility rate of 1.799632 children per woman, ranking 151 out of 236 countries. This rate is indicative of a declining trend in birth rates, which is common across many European nations.

Several factors contribute to this fertility rate, including economic challenges, increased access to education for women, and changing societal norms that prioritize career and personal development over early family formation. Additionally, the impact of urbanization and migration patterns may also play a role in influencing family size decisions.

Interestingly, the total fertility rate in Montenegro is slightly above the European Union average, which reflects both regional differences and unique cultural dynamics within the country. As Montenegro continues to develop, understanding and addressing the factors influencing fertility rates will be crucial for future demographic and economic planning.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic holds the sixth-highest total fertility rate in the world, with a remarkable rate of 6.12647 children per woman as of 2016. This elevated fertility rate is indicative of various socio-economic factors prevalent within the country, including limited access to contraception, cultural norms favoring larger families, and high rates of child mortality which often lead families to have more children.

Furthermore, the Central African Republic's ongoing political instability and conflict have contributed to the challenges in implementing effective family planning and health services. These conditions can exacerbate the fertility rate as families may prioritize quantity over quality of resources available for their children.

In a broader context, high fertility rates are often associated with lower levels of education and economic development, as seen in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Interestingly, the global trend has been toward declining fertility rates, highlighting the unique demographic challenges faced by countries like the Central African Republic.

Benin

In 2016, Benin ranked 12th out of 236 countries for its total fertility rate, which stood at 5.25 children per woman. This high fertility rate is indicative of a demographic trend prevalent in many Sub-Saharan African nations, where families tend to have more children due to a combination of cultural, economic, and social factors.

The elevated fertility rate in Benin can be attributed to factors such as limited access to family planning resources, a strong cultural emphasis on large families, and lower levels of female education. Additionally, the country’s economic structure, which relies heavily on agriculture, often favors larger families to contribute to farming and household labor.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that despite a decreasing trend in fertility rates globally, many regions in Africa, including Benin, continue to experience high fertility levels, which can impact economic development and resource allocation in the years to come.

Austria

In 2016, Austria had a total fertility rate of 1.531366 children per woman, ranking it 197th out of 236 countries. This statistic indicates a fertility level below the replacement rate of 2.1, which is necessary for a population to maintain its size without immigration.

The relatively low fertility rate in Austria can be attributed to several factors, including increased participation of women in the workforce, delayed marriage, and family planning choices. Economic stability and access to education have also played significant roles in shaping reproductive decisions among couples.

Moreover, Austria's social policies, such as parental leave and child care support, aim to encourage higher birth rates, yet these measures have not sufficiently countered the trend of declining fertility. Interestingly, other European countries face similar challenges, with many experiencing fertility rates below the replacement level, reflecting broader demographic shifts across the continent.

Cambodia

Cambodia ranks 83rd out of 236 countries in terms of its total fertility rate as of the year 2016. The total fertility rate for the country is estimated at 2.724765 children per woman, indicating a relatively moderate level of fertility compared to global averages.

This fertility rate reflects various socio-economic factors, including improvements in maternal health care, increased access to education, and shifts in family planning practices. The Cambodian government has implemented programs aimed at reducing fertility rates through education and health initiatives, which have contributed to a gradual decline over the years.

Additionally, cultural factors and the historical context of Cambodia, particularly post-genocide recovery, have also influenced family structures and reproductive choices. As the country continues to develop, further changes in fertility trends may occur, mirroring patterns seen in other Southeast Asian nations.

Bangladesh

In 2016, Bangladesh had a total fertility rate of 2.227 children per woman, ranking it 112th out of 236 countries. This statistic reflects a significant decline in fertility rates over the past few decades, influenced by various socio-economic factors.

The decrease in fertility rates in Bangladesh can be attributed to improved access to education, particularly for women, and increased availability of family planning services. Additionally, urbanization has played a role in altering family structures and reproductive behavior, as families in urban areas tend to have fewer children compared to their rural counterparts.

It's noteworthy that the total fertility rate in Bangladesh has dropped substantially from over six children per woman in the early 1970s, highlighting the impact of government policies and initiatives aimed at population control and women's empowerment. Despite the improvements, the country continues to face challenges related to maternal and child health, which remain critical areas for public health intervention.

Andorra

In 2016, Andorra had a total fertility rate of 1.184353 children per woman, ranking it 229th out of 236 countries worldwide. This figure indicates a very low birth rate, which is significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, necessary for a population to maintain its size without immigration.

Several factors contribute to this low fertility rate in Andorra, including a high standard of living, increased participation of women in the workforce, and a focus on individualism and career over traditional family structures. Additionally, the cost of living in the country may deter larger families, as economic considerations often play a critical role in family planning decisions.

Interestingly, Andorra's fertility rate is reflective of broader trends observed in many European countries, where declining birth rates have raised concerns about future population decline and the sustainability of social welfare systems. This context emphasizes the importance of policies aimed at supporting families and encouraging higher birth rates to counteract demographic challenges.

Congo

Congo ranks 29th out of 236 countries in total fertility rate as of 2016. The total fertility rate in the country was recorded at 4.55 children per woman, indicating a relatively high level of fertility compared to global averages.

This elevated fertility rate can be attributed to several factors, including limited access to education and reproductive health services, cultural norms that favor larger families, and economic conditions that encourage childbearing as a means of support in agrarian societies. Furthermore, societal expectations and low contraceptive use also play significant roles in maintaining high fertility rates.

In a broader context, high fertility rates in Congo may impact economic development, healthcare systems, and resource allocation, potentially leading to challenges in education and employment opportunities for the growing population. Notably, the fertility rate in many sub-Saharan African countries remains among the highest globally, reflecting similar trends observed in Congo.

Ecuador

Ecuador ranks 120th out of 236 countries in terms of total fertility rate, with a value of 2.121721 children per woman in the year 2016. This figure indicates a moderate level of fertility, reflecting a gradual decline in birth rates over the past few decades.

The total fertility rate in Ecuador has been influenced by various factors, including increased access to education and family planning services, as well as changing social norms regarding family size and childbearing. Urbanization and economic development have also played significant roles in shaping reproductive choices among the population.

Additionally, Ecuador's fertility rate is close to the replacement level, which is typically considered to be around 2.1 children per woman. This statistic suggests that the country is experiencing demographic transitions that may lead to an aging population in the future, mirroring trends observed in many Latin American nations.

Data Methodology & Sources

Verified Data

All data points are cross-referenced with official sources

Regular Updates

Continuously updated with latest available information

World

Comprehensive data from 236+ countries/territories

Primary Data Sources

CIA World Factbook

Comprehensive country profiles and demographic statistics from the Central Intelligence Agency

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United Nations Statistics

Global demographic data and population projections from UN agencies and research divisions

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World Bank Open Data

Development indicators and comprehensive population metrics from the World Bank database

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Understanding the Data

This comprehensive dataset provides valuable insights into global patterns and trends. The information presented here is essential for researchers, policymakers, educators, and anyone interested in understanding global demographics and statistics.

Each data point in this collection represents official estimates or projections from authoritative sources. The data undergoes regular verification and updates to ensure accuracy and reliability. We maintain transparency in our methodology and clearly document all sources and assumptions.

When interpreting this data, it's important to consider the context of each country or territory, including their geographic size, economic development, historical factors, and regional characteristics. Statistical variations often reflect complex socioeconomic, environmental, and political factors.

Note: While we strive for accuracy, population and demographic data are subject to estimation methodologies and may vary slightly between different sources. We recommend consulting multiple sources for critical applications.

Historical Data by Year

Explore Total fertility rate data across different years. Compare trends and see how statistics have changed over time.

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