Total fertility rate 2021

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	Somalia	6.353 per woman
2	Chad	6.255 per woman
3	Niger	6.2 per woman
4	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	6.156 per woman
5	Central African Republic	6.052 per woman
6	Mali	5.779 per woman
7	Angola	5.304 per woman
8	Burundi	5.078 per woman
9	Afghanistan	5.039 per woman
10	Mozambique	4.905 per woman
11	Mauritania	4.848 per woman
12	Tanzania	4.734 per woman
13	Benin	4.707 per woman
14	Mayotte	4.66 per woman
15	Nigeria	4.636 per woman
16	Yemen	4.597 per woman
17	Uganda	4.51 per woman
18	Cameroon	4.468 per woman
19	Sudan	4.457 per woman
20	Côte d'Ivoire	4.411 per woman
21	Guinea	4.399 per woman
22	Burkina Faso	4.361 per woman
23	Togo	4.324 per woman
24	Congo	4.28 per woman
25	Equatorial Guinea	4.266 per woman
26	Zambia	4.246 per woman
27	Ethiopia	4.177 per woman
28	Gambia	4.165 per woman
29	Madagascar	4.104 per woman
30	Liberia	4.089 per woman
31	South Sudan	4.047 per woman
32	Comoros	3.999 per woman
33	Guinea-Bissau	3.998 per woman
34	Sierra Leone	3.978 per woman
35	Samoa	3.94 per woman
36	Senegal	3.936 per woman
37	Eritrea	3.867 per woman
38	Rwanda	3.841 per woman
39	Malawi	3.791 per woman
40	Gabon	3.776 per woman
41	Zimbabwe	3.765 per woman
42	Sao Tome and Principe	3.759 per woman
43	Pakistan	3.72 per woman
44	French Guiana	3.708 per woman
45	Vanuatu	3.696 per woman
46	Solomon Islands	3.694 per woman
47	Ghana	3.492 per woman
48	State of Palestine	3.442 per woman
49	Nauru	3.425 per woman
50	Iraq	3.358 per woman
51	Kazakhstan	3.32 per woman
52	Kenya	3.312 per woman
53	Namibia	3.303 per woman
54	Tuvalu	3.277 per woman
55	Uzbekistan	3.273 per woman
56	Kiribati	3.219 per woman
57	Papua New Guinea	3.215 per woman
58	Tonga	3.198 per woman
59	Tajikistan	3.17 per woman
60	Israel	3.019 per woman
61	Marshall Islands	2.964 per woman
62	Timor-Leste	2.892 per woman
63	Kyrgyzstan	2.89 per woman
64	Algeria	2.87 per woman
65	Guam	2.856 per woman
66	Eswatini	2.841 per woman
67	Mongolia	2.835 per woman
68	Botswana	2.827 per woman
69	Micronesia (Fed. States of)	2.818 per woman
70	Saint Martin (French part)	2.804 per woman
71	Syrian Arab Republic	2.798 per woman
72	Lesotho	2.769 per woman
73	Turkmenistan	2.754 per woman
74	Egypt	2.75 per woman
75	Haiti	2.748 per woman
76	Jordan	2.735 per woman
77	Djibouti	2.699 per woman
78	Tokelau	2.683 per woman
79	Cambodia	2.664 per woman
80	Bolivia	2.618 per woman
81	Oman	2.588 per woman
82	Niue	2.561 per woman
83	Honduras	2.548 per woman
84	Laos	2.494 per woman
85	Paraguay	2.469 per woman
86	Libya	2.462 per woman
87	Guyana	2.462 per woman
88	Northern Mariana Islands	2.441 per woman
89	Guatemala	2.388 per woman
90	Fiji	2.332 per woman
91	American Samoa	2.327 per woman
92	Suriname	2.295 per woman
93	Dominican Republic	2.294 per woman
94	Faroe Islands	2.292 per woman
95	Morocco	2.288 per woman
96	Lebanon	2.283 per woman
97	Nicaragua	2.265 per woman
98	South Africa	2.248 per woman
99	Western Sahara	2.219 per woman
100	Seychelles	2.199 per woman
101	Réunion	2.19 per woman
102	Bangladesh	2.173 per woman
103	Saudi Arabia	2.17 per woman
104	Indonesia	2.166 per woman
105	Myanmar	2.158 per woman
106	Panama	2.152 per woman
107	Guadeloupe	2.131 per woman
108	United States Virgin Islands	2.124 per woman
109	Monaco	2.122 per woman
110	Venezuela	2.105 per woman
111	Cook Islands	2.087 per woman
112	Martinique	2.038 per woman
113	Peru	2.029 per woman
114	Nepal	2.025 per woman
115	India	2.014 per woman
116	New Caledonia	2.012 per woman
117	Sri Lanka	1.995 per woman
118	Greenland	1.985 per woman
119	Georgia	1.98 per woman
120	Mexico	1.97 per woman
121	Palau	1.95 per woman
122	Philippines	1.95 per woman
123	Vietnam	1.942 per woman
124	Montserrat	1.941 per woman
125	Ecuador	1.909 per woman
126	Gibraltar	1.899 per woman
127	Bahrain	1.852 per woman
128	Montenegro	1.85 per woman
129	Belize	1.837 per woman
130	Czech Republic	1.823 per woman
131	Kuwait	1.82 per woman
132	Iceland	1.818 per woman
133	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1.808 per woman
134	North Korea	1.806 per woman
135	El Salvador	1.803 per woman
136	Tunisia	1.8 per woman
137	France	1.799 per woman
138	Brunei Darussalam	1.778 per woman
139	Ireland	1.777 per woman
140	Republic of Moldova	1.751 per woman
141	Denmark	1.73 per woman
142	Romania	1.718 per woman
143	Azerbaijan	1.71 per woman
144	Armenia	1.71 per woman
145	Barbados	1.709 per woman
146	Iran	1.709 per woman
147	Turkey	1.708 per woman
148	Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	1.701 per woman
149	Colombia	1.68 per woman
150	Sweden	1.668 per woman
151	Australia	1.647 per woman
152	New Zealand	1.647 per woman
153	Saint Helena	1.645 per woman
154	Slovenia	1.64 per woman
155	Brazil	1.638 per woman
156	United States	1.634 per woman
157	Aruba	1.631 per woman
158	Slovakia	1.631 per woman
159	Croatia	1.624 per woman
160	Netherlands	1.624 per woman
161	North Macedonia	1.622 per woman
162	Qatar	1.605 per woman
163	Hungary	1.605 per woman
164	Maldives	1.599 per woman
165	Belgium	1.599 per woman
166	Estonia	1.594 per woman
167	Bulgaria	1.586 per woman
168	Argentina	1.585 per woman
169	United Kingdom	1.583 per woman
170	Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba	1.58 per woman
171	Antigua and Barbuda	1.58 per woman
172	Germany	1.577 per woman
173	Latvia	1.572 per woman
174	Isle of Man	1.569 per woman
175	Kosovo	1.561 per woman
176	Norway	1.56 per woman
177	Trinidad and Tobago	1.559 per woman
178	Malaysia	1.555 per woman
179	Cabo Verde	1.554 per woman
180	Cayman Islands	1.551 per woman
181	French Polynesia	1.532 per woman
182	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1.531 per woman
183	Switzerland	1.526 per woman
184	Liechtenstein	1.523 per woman
185	Serbia	1.517 per woman
186	Grenada	1.517 per woman
187	Russia	1.505 per woman
188	Turks and Caicos Islands	1.501 per woman
189	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.49 per woman
190	Bhutan	1.488 per woman
191	Dominica	1.484 per woman
192	Austria	1.469 per woman
193	Finland	1.461 per woman
194	Wallis and Futuna Islands	1.459 per woman
195	Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	1.456 per woman
196	Uruguay	1.446 per woman
197	Greece	1.432 per woman
198	Canada	1.43 per woman
199	Cuba	1.427 per woman
200	Saint Lucia	1.399 per woman
201	Cyprus	1.392 per woman
202	Bermuda	1.389 per woman
203	Luxembourg	1.382 per woman
204	Bahamas	1.382 per woman
205	Jamaica	1.378 per woman
206	Anguilla	1.378 per woman
207	Belarus	1.371 per woman
208	Albania	1.365 per woman
209	Guernsey	1.362 per woman
210	Lithuania	1.359 per woman
211	Jersey	1.356 per woman
212	Costa Rica	1.353 per woman
213	Mauritius	1.353 per woman
214	Portugal	1.328 per woman
215	Poland	1.322 per woman
216	Saint Pierre and Miquelon	1.295 per woman
217	Japan	1.275 per woman
218	Italy	1.252 per woman
219	Thailand	1.234 per woman
220	Spain	1.188 per woman
221	Chile	1.176 per woman
222	United Arab Emirates	1.162 per woman
223	Ukraine	1.148 per woman
224	San Marino	1.125 per woman
225	China	1.117 per woman
226	Malta	1.11 per woman
227	Curaçao	1.077 per woman
228	Andorra	1.058 per woman
229	British Virgin Islands	0.999 per woman
230	Taiwan	0.975 per woman
231	Puerto Rico	0.944 per woman
232	Singapore	0.944 per woman
233	South Korea	0.783 per woman
234	China, Hong Kong SAR	0.778 per woman
235	Saint Barthélemy	0.777 per woman
236	China, Macao SAR	0.772 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

Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands holds a notable position with a total fertility rate of 2.440556 children per woman, ranking it 88th out of 236 countries in 2021. This statistic indicates that, on average, women in the Northern Mariana Islands are having just over two children, which is significant as it is close to the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population without considering immigration.

The total fertility rate in the Northern Mariana Islands can be influenced by various factors including cultural norms, access to healthcare, and educational opportunities for women. The islands exhibit a blend of indigenous Chamorro and Filipino cultures, which can impact family planning practices and attitudes towards childbearing.

Additionally, the region's economic conditions, public health initiatives, and the availability of reproductive health services may also play critical roles in shaping fertility rates. Interestingly, the total fertility rate in the Northern Mariana Islands is higher than the global average, which was approximately 2.4 children per woman around the same period, suggesting a unique demographic trend in the Pacific region.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has the ninth-highest total fertility rate in the world, recorded at 5.04 children per woman in 2021. This high fertility rate reflects cultural norms and socio-economic factors prevalent in the country, where large families are often seen as a source of labor and support.

Several factors contribute to this statistic, including limited access to family planning services, high rates of child marriage, and lower levels of education, particularly for women. Additionally, ongoing conflict and instability in the region have impeded efforts to improve health services and education, further sustaining high birth rates.

In comparison to global trends, Afghanistan's fertility rate remains significantly higher than the world average, which was approximately 2.4 children per woman in 2021. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by the country in achieving population stabilization and improving women's reproductive health and rights.

Kosovo

Kosovo ranks 175th out of 236 countries in terms of total fertility rate, with a rate of 1.561249 children per woman in the year 2021. This figure indicates a fertility level below the population replacement rate, which is typically considered to be around 2.1 children per woman.

The low fertility rate in Kosovo can be attributed to various factors, including increased urbanization, economic challenges, and changing societal norms regarding family size and women's roles. Many young couples prioritize education and career development, which can lead to delayed family planning and smaller family sizes.

In a broader context, Kosovo's total fertility rate reflects trends seen in many European countries, where fertility rates have generally declined due to similar socio-economic factors. Notably, demographic shifts and policies aimed at family planning and reproductive health have influenced these changes across the region.

Mayotte

Mayotte ranks 14th out of 236 countries in terms of total fertility rate, with a significant rate of 4.66 births per woman recorded in 2021. This high fertility rate is indicative of a young population structure and reflects cultural norms that favor larger families.

Several factors contribute to Mayotte's elevated fertility rate, including limited access to education and family planning resources, as well as socio-economic conditions that encourage higher birth rates. Additionally, the island's demographic characteristics, where a substantial proportion of the population is of reproductive age, also play a role.

In comparison to global trends, Mayotte's fertility rate is considerably higher than the world average, which was approximately 2.4 births per woman in 2021. This suggests a demographic divergence that may have implications for the region's economic and social development in the coming years.

Austria

In 2021, Austria recorded a total fertility rate of 1.468859 children per woman, ranking it 192nd out of 236 countries in terms of fertility rates. This figure indicates a continued trend of low fertility, which is below the population replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.

The relatively low fertility rate in Austria can be attributed to various factors, including increased participation of women in the workforce, delayed family planning, and a greater emphasis on education and career before starting a family. Additionally, the high cost of living and housing in urban areas may discourage larger families.

Interestingly, Austria's fertility rate is part of a broader trend observed in many European countries, where similar socio-economic factors contribute to declining birth rates. In comparison, countries with higher fertility rates often have policies that support child-rearing and family life, such as parental leave and childcare availability.

Cambodia

Cambodia has a total fertility rate of 2.6635 children per woman as of 2021, ranking it 79th out of 236 countries in terms of fertility rates. This statistic indicates a relatively high level of fertility compared to many other nations, reflecting cultural norms and societal structures that favor larger families.

The higher fertility rate in Cambodia can be attributed to several factors, including limited access to family planning resources, traditional views on family size, and a younger population demographic. Additionally, economic conditions and social stability can influence reproductive choices, as families may view children as a source of labor and support.

Interestingly, Cambodia's fertility rate has shown a gradual decline over the past few decades, indicating progress in education and access to healthcare, particularly reproductive health services. This trend mirrors broader changes seen in other Southeast Asian countries as they develop economically and socially.

Bahamas

The Bahamas ranks 204 out of 236 countries in terms of total fertility rate, with a rate of 1.382191 children per woman in 2021. This figure indicates a trend towards lower fertility rates, reflecting changes in societal norms and economic conditions within the country.

Several factors contribute to this low fertility rate, including increased access to education and employment opportunities for women, urbanization, and changing family structures. Additionally, the prevalence of family planning methods and the rising costs of child-rearing may discourage larger families.

Interestingly, the total fertility rate in the Bahamas is below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, which is necessary for a population to maintain its size without immigration. This trend is consistent with patterns observed in many other Caribbean nations, where similar demographic shifts are evident.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's total fertility rate stands at 1.995258 children per woman as of 2021, placing the country at 117th out of 236 countries in global rankings. This statistic indicates a slight decline in the fertility rate, reflecting broader trends in demographic transition that many nations experience as they develop economically and socially.

The decline in fertility rates in Sri Lanka can be attributed to several factors, including increased access to education, particularly for women, and improved healthcare services, which have contributed to lower infant mortality rates. Additionally, urbanization and changing societal norms have led to shifts in family planning preferences, with many couples opting for smaller families.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka's fertility rate is below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, which is the rate needed to maintain a stable population in the long term. This trend poses potential challenges for the country's future demographic structure, including an aging population and potential labor shortages.

Ecuador

Ecuador ranks 125th out of 236 countries in terms of total fertility rate as of 2021. The country has a total fertility rate of 1.90918 children per woman, which indicates a trend towards lower birth rates in the population.

This relatively low fertility rate can be attributed to several factors, including increased access to education, particularly for women, and improved access to reproductive health services. Economic factors and urbanization also play a critical role, as families in urban areas often choose to have fewer children due to higher living costs and lifestyle changes.

Interestingly, Ecuador's fertility rate is below the global average, which is around 2.4 children per woman. This decline reflects broader demographic trends in Latin America, where many countries are experiencing similar decreases in fertility rates as they develop economically and socially.

Belarus

In 2021, Belarus recorded a total fertility rate of 1.370554 children per woman, ranking it 207th out of 236 countries in terms of fertility rates. This figure indicates a continuing trend of low fertility, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman required to maintain a stable population without immigration.

The low fertility rate in Belarus can be attributed to several factors, including economic uncertainty, urbanization, and changing societal norms. Many young couples prioritize education and career advancement, often delaying marriage and childbearing. Additionally, the impact of past economic challenges and current geopolitical tensions may contribute to families feeling less secure in their decision to have more children.

Interestingly, Belarus is not alone in facing low fertility rates; many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia experience similar trends. For example, neighboring countries such as Ukraine and Latvia also report low fertility rates, revealing a broader regional phenomenon influenced by social and economic conditions.

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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