Birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho
Lesotho: Birth rate by women's age group was 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
39th
of 236 countries
All-time high
110.65 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19
in 1977
All-time low
70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho is 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho peaked at 110.65 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, in 2023.
Lesotho ranks 39th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 92.25 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | — |
| 1951 | 92.66 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.4% |
| 1952 | 92.81 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 92.39 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 92.39 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 91.96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 93.47 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 95 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 96.2 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 97.31 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 98.12 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 98.17 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 96.79 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 95 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.8% |
| 1964 | 93.02 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 93.02 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | 93.81 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 94.11 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 93.24 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 90.47 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 88.11 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 89.34 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 91.81 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 94.31 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 97.82 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 101.59 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 106.84 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 110.65 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 110.58 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 110.09 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 104.75 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 99.34 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 95.5 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 96.09 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 96.56 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 96.26 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 94.89 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 93.17 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 91.3 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 88.62 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 87.38 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 84.14 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 80.96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 80.36 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 78.18 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 80.17 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 81.11 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 78.95 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 76.97 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 77.55 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 79.19 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 80.32 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 82.53 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 80.42 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 82.78 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 85.59 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 89.92 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 89.96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 86.83 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 84.12 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 85.2 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 87.36 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 88.38 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 85.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 83.9 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 85.85 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 84.28 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 80 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 76.56 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 74.14 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 73.05 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 71.78 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | -1.6% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 64.85 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 87.99 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 93.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 91.96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 97.31 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 1960s | 94.57 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 90.47 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 98.17 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 1970s | 100.11 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 88.11 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 110.65 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 1980s | 96.39 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 91.3 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 104.75 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.68 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 76.97 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 88.62 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.51 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 77.55 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 89.96 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.13 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 76.56 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 88.38 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.4 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 74.14 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 36 Venezuela 73.3 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
- 37 Bangladesh 73.18 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
- 38 Marshall Islands 71.84 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
- 40 Paraguay 70.33 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
- 41 Guyana 69.93 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
- 42 Ethiopia 69.86 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 compare
More population data for Lesotho
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3315 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6353 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 107.36 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 190,191 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 3.4 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho?
- Birth rate by women's age group in Lesotho was 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rate by women's age group recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 110.65 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 1977.
- What is the lowest birth rate by women's age group recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.64 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in 2023.
- How does Lesotho rank for birth rate by women's age group?
- Lesotho ranks 39th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rate by women's age group rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rate by women's age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Age-specific fertility rate for girls aged 15 to 19: the annual number of live births in this age group per 1,000 girls.