Birth Rate - Ranking 1989
In 1989, San Marino (9.9), Italy (9.9), and Greece (10.1) ranked highest in birth rate among all countries. Niger ranked lowest at 55.2.
Data & analysis
- Central African Republic — 47.30
- Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 42.06
- Chad — 41.72
- Niger — 40.91
- Congo, Democratic Republic of — 40.70
The 2025 crude birth rate data reveals a stark global divide, with the highest rates concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa. Central African Republic leads at 47.3 births per 1,000 people, followed closely by Somalia at 42.1 and Chad at 41.7. These nations share structural conditions of limited access to modern contraception, high infant mortality incentivizing larger families, and predominantly agrarian economies where children contribute labor. Conversely, the lowest rates appear in East Asian financial hubs: Hong Kong SAR at 2.68 and Macao SAR at 3.86, alongside Korea at 3.86. These territories exhibit extremely high costs of living, dense urbanization, and strong female workforce participation, which suppress fertility. The bottom three’s lag reflects advanced economic development and social norms that delay childbearing. Without significant shifts in family policy or economic incentives, the leaderboard may see gradual declines in high-fertility nations as urbanization and education expand, but Sub-Saharan Africa is likely to retain the top ranks for decades.
| Rank | Country | Value | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|