Burundi Fertility Rate

Burundi’s fertility rate has undergone a substantial decline over the past six decades, falling from 7.00 in 1960 to 4.68 in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the country’s history. The all-time peak of 7.39 was reached in 1989, reflecting high fertility typical of agrarian economies with limited access to family planning. Since then, a steady downward trajectory has been observed, influenced by gradual improvements in healthcare, modest gains in female education, and increased contraceptive awareness, though progress remains constrained by persistent poverty and low urbanization. In 2025, Burundi’s fertility rate ranked eighth globally, placing it just above Angola at 4.97 and slightly below Mozambique’s 4.65. The convergence with peer countries like Mozambique and Afghanistan, which recorded 4.64, suggests regional patterns shaped by similar socioeconomic challenges and cultural norms. Despite the ongoing decline, fertility remains high by global standards, indicating that transformative change will depend on accelerated investments in education, reproductive health services, and economic development. Without sustained policy attention, the pace of decline may stall in the coming decades.