Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 5.98 births per woman in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
5.98 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
3rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
6.7 births per woman
in 2000
All-time low
5.98 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 5.98 births per woman for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 6.7 births per woman in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.98 births per woman, in 2024.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 3rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.11 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.12 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 6.14 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 6.16 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 6.19 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 6.21 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 6.24 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 6.27 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 6.29 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 6.3 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 6.33 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 6.34 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 6.37 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 6.38 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 6.4 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 6.42 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 6.44 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 6.45 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 6.46 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 6.48 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 6.5 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 6.52 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 6.54 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 6.56 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 6.59 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 6.61 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 6.63 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 6.65 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 6.66 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 6.65 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 6.65 births per woman | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 6.64 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 6.64 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 6.64 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6.64 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 6.68 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 6.67 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 6.69 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 6.7 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 6.69 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 6.7 births per woman | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 6.66 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 6.61 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 6.55 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 6.53 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 6.53 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 6.55 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 6.56 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 6.58 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 6.59 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 6.59 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 6.58 births per woman | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 6.56 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 6.53 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 6.48 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 6.44 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 6.39 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 6.35 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 6.3 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 6.25 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 6.21 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 6.16 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 6.11 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 6.05 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 5.98 births per woman | -1.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5.98 births per woman is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.11 births per woman, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5.98 births per woman is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.2 births per woman | 6.11 births per woman | 6.3 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.41 births per woman | 6.33 births per woman | 6.48 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.59 births per woman | 6.5 births per woman | 6.66 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.66 births per woman | 6.64 births per woman | 6.7 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.59 births per woman | 6.53 births per woman | 6.7 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.45 births per woman | 6.25 births per woman | 6.59 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1 births per woman | 5.98 births per woman | 6.21 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More population data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.57 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6699 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1964 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.7% (2100)
- Population density 189.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 33.44 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.7% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Democratic Republic of Congo was 5.98 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7 births per woman in 2000.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.98 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 3rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.