The groups with the highest fertility rates are generally found in Sub-Saharan African countries like Chad, Somalia, Niger, and the DR Congo, with rates often exceeding 5 or 6 children per woman, linked to less economic development, limited healthcare, and cultural factors; while specific ethnic groups (like Hispanic women in the U.S.) or age groups (younger women) may have higher rates within countries, the highest overall national rates are in these less developed regions, notes.
In the United States, the highest fertility rates (per 1,000 women ages 15-44) during 2021-2023 (average) were to Hispanic women (64.4), followed by Blacks (55.2), Whites (52.5), American Indian/Alaska Natives (49.3) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (48.1).
All figures are estimates. In 2024, the fertility rate in Taiwan was estimated to be at 1.11 children per woman, making it the lowest fertility rate worldwide. The fertility rate is the average number of children born per woman of child-bearing age in a country.
The eight highest ranking countries in terms of fertility are all found in Africa, with the top three being Chad (6.03), Somalia (6.01), and the DRC (5.98). Even so, these countries have seen meaningful five-year drops in their rates, averaging around a 0.4 decrease in births per woman.
The highest fertility levels are observed in Niger (13.6 children on average), South Sudan (13.5 children), Chad (12.1 children) and in the Sahelian countries more generally. In only four countries (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia) is male fertility below 6 children per man.
Results. Significant racial differences for various parameters including the incidence of normal ranges values in the racial groups were found. The highest mean sperm concentration had men of Central/South Asian descent (median: 38.0 × 106/mL) while Southeast Asian men had the lowest (median: 22.0 × 106/mL; p < 0.0001) ...
Men's total fertility rate has been higher than women's since 2010 (1.87 children as against 1.84 for women in 2021), but the completed fertility of men born in 1961 (1.96) is slightly lower than that of women of the same generation (2.09).
The Birth Rate in Countries Around the World
The country with the highest birth rate according to the data is Niger. The fertility rate in Niger is 6.8 children per family.
People are marrying later and also worried about their ability to have the money, health insurance and other resources needed to raise children in a stable environment. "Worry is not a good moment to have kids," and that's why birth rates in most age groups are not improving, she said.
The Total Fertility Rate - a key demographic indicator that estimates the average number of children that a woman will have in her lifetime - has dropped to 1.9 children per woman on average in India as of 2023.
Ranked: Countries With the Fewest Children by Population Share. Hong Kong (12.6%), South Korea (12.9%), and Japan (14.0%) have the fewest children as a share of the population in 2025. Relatedly, they also have some of the highest shares of seniors.
The term lowest-low fertility is defined as a TFR at or below 1.3. Lowest-low fertility is found almost mostly within East Asian countries and European countries. The East Asian American community in the United States also exhibits lowest-low fertility.
Global fertility rates have been falling for decades and are reaching historically low levels. While the human population now exceeds 8 billion and may top 10 billion by 2050, the momentum of growth is dissipating because of declines in its most powerful driver—fertility.
Australia's birth rate has been declining since 2014
Remember that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the estimate of the number of babies each woman has on average, if the age-specific fertility rates in the given year applied through her whole life. So for 2020 that was 1.58 babies per female.
In the United States during 2021-2023 (average), the multiple birth ratio (per 1,000 live births) was highest for Black infants (42.1), followed by Whites (33.1), American Indian/Alaska Natives (27.3), Hispanics (24.9) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (24.3).
Fertility Rate In Islamic Countries
Among the major religious groups Pew studied, Muslims had the highest fertility rate in 2015-2020 (2.9). The median age among Muslims was 23 during that time period, with over a third (34%) in the youngest segment of the population (birth – age 14).
Finally, low fertility rate is often seen as a red flag of demographic crisis. But in reality, it reflects more about sustainability, and social and economic inequality, and more than one might expect. People choose not to have kids based on rational estimations about these concerns.
The remaining 62% of China's fertility decline was likely driven by broader social and economic forces — such as rising education levels, rapid urbanization, and higher child-rearing costs — rather than the OCP itself.
In 2024, the U.S. recorded its lowest ever fertility rate of 1.6 births per woman, following a downward trend in fertility rates starting in the early 2000s, and it is consistent with a global decrease in fertility rates.
These studies consistently find higher fertility among more religiously active women across denominations, although the magnitude of the effect varies with the measures used for fertility and for religiosity.
Among mothers near the end of their childbearing years, Hispanics and blacks have the largest families. On average, a Hispanic mother ages 40 to 44 has had about 2.6 children. By comparison, black mothers have had about 2.5. White and Asian mothers have families that are a bit smaller, on average.
The largest country in the world is Russia with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²), equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass of 148,940,000 Km² (57,506,032 square miles).
Age and Male Fertility
Peak male fertility is around 25-29 years old. Sperm quality begins to decline at 30. At 45, men begin to experience a significant decrease in semen volume.
Just remember that there are no guarantees and the odds of conceiving a boy or a girl are almost exactly the same for each and every pregnancy.
Scientists have theorized that a low waist-to-hip ratio is associated with heightened fertility. That is, women with an hourglass figure are more likely to be able to conceive a child.