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About six decades after the post-WWII baby boom concluded, worldwide birth rates stand at less than half the figure from the 1960s, according to the World Bank Group.

Yet birth rates vary widely across nations.

The World Bank Group compiled crude birth rate figures for 2024, defined as live births per 1,000 residents annually, along with total fertility rates showing average births per woman.

Business Insider selected the 15 countries posting the highest crude birth rates and the 15 with the lowest, including fertility rates for each. Territories and autonomous regions such as Hong Kong were excluded from consideration.

The US recorded 10.6 births per 1,000 people, placing it 135th globally, with an average of 1.6 births per woman in 2024. These numbers fall below the worldwide birth rate of 16 per 1,000 and fertility rate of 2.2 births per woman.

With birth rates declining, Americans are delaying parenthood for financial reasons, though many desire larger families than they have, as Business Insider has noted previously.

Birth rates are declining at varying speeds globally, with higher-income nations typically showing lower figures, though most countries have followed a downward path since the 1960s.

African nations dominate the highest birth rates, filling 13 of the top 15 spots. Among these 15 countries, 10 showed contraceptive prevalence for married women at 20 percent or below, based on World Bank Group data.

In nations with the lowest birth rates, economic pressures often play a role. The Associated Press pointed to limited job opportunities and elevated living costs as contributors to low birth rates in Japan, which a former prime minister described as a silent emergency.

The World Bank Group drew on information from the UN Population Division, the UN Statistical Division, and national statistics offices.

Review the 15 countries with the highest birth rates, followed by the 15 with the lowest.

Business Insider rounded figures to one decimal place, though two decimal places helped resolve ties in select cases.

1. The Central African Republic recorded a birth rate of 46.2 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in the Central African Republic stands near 6 births per woman.

2. Chad recorded a birth rate of 43.3 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Chad stands near 6 births per woman.

3. Somalia recorded a birth rate of 42.3 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Somalia stands near 6 births per woman.

4. Niger recorded a birth rate of 41.4 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Niger stands near 5.9 births per woman.

5. The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded a birth rate of 40.9 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo stands near 6 births per woman.

6. Mali recorded a birth rate of 39.5 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Mali stands near 5.5 births per woman.

7. Angola recorded a birth rate of 37.2 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Angola stands near 5 births per woman.

8. Mozambique recorded a birth rate of 37 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Mozambique stands near 4.7 births per woman.

9. Afghanistan recorded a birth rate of 35 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Afghanistan stands near 4.8 births per woman.

10. Tanzania recorded a birth rate of 34.8 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Tanzania stands near 4.5 births per woman.

11. Uganda recorded a birth rate of 34.4 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Uganda stands near 4.2 births per woman.

12. Yemen recorded a birth rate of 34.4 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Yemen stands near 4.5 births per woman.

13. Mauritania recorded a birth rate of 34 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Mauritania stands near 4.6 births per woman.

14. Benin recorded a birth rate of 33.4 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Benin stands near 4.5 births per woman.

15th highest. Cameroon recorded a birth rate of 33.3 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Cameroon stands near 4.3 births per woman.

15th lowest. Estonia recorded a birth rate of 7.1 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Estonia stands near 1.2 births per woman.

14. Belarus recorded a birth rate of 7 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Belarus stands near 1.2 births per woman.

13 (tie). Latvia recorded a birth rate of 6.9 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Latvia stands near 1.2 births per woman.

13 (tie). Poland recorded a birth rate of 6.9 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Poland stands near 1.1 births per woman.

11. Andorra recorded a birth rate of 6.9 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Andorra stands near 1.1 births per woman.

10. China recorded a birth rate of 6.8 births per 1,000 people.

The fertility rate in China stands near 1 birth per woman.

9 (tie). Greece recorded a birth rate of 6.6 births per 1,000 people in 2024.

The fertility rate in Greece stands near 1.2 births per woman.