In this article we are going to list the 10 countries with highest fertility rates. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 25 countries with highest fertility rates.
10. Benin
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 5.05
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 4.97
As is common with many countries in our list, Benin’s extremely high fertility rate of 4.97 live births per woman is based on low availability and awareness of contraceptives.
9. Burundi
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 5.18
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 5.08
A study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information show that the promotion of education and empowerment of women in Burundi, including improvement in their socioeconomic status, can help reduce the rate of fertility in the country.
8. Nigeria
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 5.31
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 5.24
Nigeria is already home to over 211 million people and its incredibly high fertility rate has led to projections of it overtaking China to become the second most populous country in the world by 2100 (India is expected to be first).
7. Angola
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 5.37
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 5.30
A lack of family planning education in Angola has resulted in the country having larger families and more children per woman.
6. Central African Republic
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 5.99
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 5.98
Central African Republic is one of the countries with the highest fertility rates, but it is also one of the countries with the highest infant mortality rates. One of the reasons for the high fertility rate is lack of women education and empowerment.
5. Mali
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 6.04
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 5.96
Mali’s fertility rate has been high historically mainly due to a preference for larger families and lack of female empowerment and education, not to mention low use of contraceptives and early childbearing.
4. Democratic Republic of Congo
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 6.21
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 6.16
Congo has recorded a decrease in prolonged partum abstinence, which refers to the time period between giving birth and becoming pregnant again).
3. Chad
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 6.35
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 6.26
Chad’s population is concentrated in specific areas of the country, and even though it has registered a slight decline versus 2020, the country’s fertility rate is still bordering on dangerous levels.
2. Somalia
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 6.42
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 6.31
One of the reasons why Somalia has such a high fertility rate is that marriages generally take place at a much younger age, which means more child-bearing years for women. This allows for more children per woman.
1. Niger
Total fertility rate of the country in 2020: 6.89
Total fertility rate of the country in 2021: 6.82
Easily topping the list of the 25 countries with the highest fertility rates is Niger. According to the Guardian in 2017, Niger’s population is set to double in 17 years.
Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily enewsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also check out our articles on 25 Least Developed Countries in the World and 25 Richest Countries in Africa.
