How many children per woman?
Click any country to see its total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman has over her lifetime.
Overview
The fertility rate — children per woman — shapes whether populations grow or shrink. It has fallen worldwide, but ranges from below one in parts of East Asia to around six in the Sahel. This map shows it everywhere.
Key facts
- A rate of about 2.1 is 'replacement level' — enough to keep a population stable.
- The highest rates, near 6, are in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Many rich countries are now well below replacement.
Common questions
What is the total fertility rate?
The average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime given current age-specific birth rates. It is the standard measure of fertility.
What is replacement level?
About 2.1 children per woman — the level that keeps a population roughly stable over time, absent migration.
Where does the data come from?
The UN World Population Prospects, compiled via Our World in Data.
Sources & methodology
Data from UN (via Our World in Data), compiled via Our World in Data. Global figures are population-weighted across the countries that report this measure; countries without reliable recent data are shown as “no data”.
Last updated: 3 August 2026.
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