Published: October 4, 2026 | Last updated: October 4, 2026
Key Facts
- Chad has the highest fertility rate in Africa and the world in 2026 at 5.84 children per woman, ahead of Somalia (5.81) and the DR Congo (5.80) — and ahead of long-time leader Niger, now fifth at 5.64 (UN World Population Prospects 2026).
- Nine of the ten highest-fertility countries in the world are African; Afghanistan is the only non-African country in the global top ten (UN World Population Prospects 2026).
- Sub-Saharan Africa averages 4.6 children per woman — more than double the global average of 2.23 (World Population Review; UN).
- Fertility is falling across the continent even where it remains highest: Nigeria's rate dropped from 6.35 children per woman in 1960 to 5.3 in 2019 (UN, via World Population Review).
- The drivers of high fertility, according to the UN, are low contraception use, early and universal marriage, early childbearing, childbearing across much of a woman's reproductive life, and the high social value placed on having children.
| Rank | Country | Total Fertility Rate (births per woman) | Region | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad | 5.84 | Central Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 2 | Somalia | 5.81 | Horn of Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 3 | DR Congo | 5.80 | Central Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 4 | Central African Republic | 5.69 | Central Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 5 | Niger | 5.64 | West Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 6 | Mali | 5.33 | West Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 7 | Angola | 4.89 | Central Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 8 | Burundi | 4.57 | East Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 9 | Mozambique | 4.54 | Southern Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
| 10 | Mauritania | 4.49 | West Africa | UN WPP 2026 |
All ten are in sub-Saharan Africa. North Africa's rates are far lower — Tunisia, the continent's lowest, sits at 1.93 children per woman.
Selected Details About Each Country
1. Chad
At 5.84 children per woman, Chad now has the highest fertility rate in Africa and the world, overtaking long-time leader Niger. The Sahelian country combines very low contraceptive use with early marriage and a largely rural population, keeping birth rates high even as child mortality has fallen.
2. Somalia
Somalia's rate of 5.81 reflects large family norms across Somali society and limited access to family planning, especially outside Mogadishu. Decades of instability have left the health system thin, and fertility has declined only slowly.
3. DR Congo
The most populous country on this list, with well over 100 million people, the DR Congo's 5.80 rate means its population keeps growing at one of the fastest clips on earth. Kinshasa is already among Africa's largest cities and keeps expanding on the back of this fertility.
4. Central African Republic
At 5.69, the Central African Republic pairs very high fertility with some of the world's highest child and maternal mortality — a reminder that a high birth rate does not always translate into population growth at the same pace.
5. Niger
For years the global symbol of high fertility, Niger has slipped to fifth at 5.64 as its rate edges down. It still records about 45 births per 1,000 people, among the highest birth rates anywhere, and its population is on course to triple by mid-century.
6. Mali
Mali's 5.33 continues the Sahelian pattern: early and near-universal marriage, low contraceptive prevalence, and strong cultural value attached to large families. The north-south divide in access to health services keeps the national average high.
7. Angola
Angola is the wealthiest country on this list thanks to oil, yet its fertility rate of 4.89 shows that income alone does not quickly change childbearing patterns. A post-civil-war youth bulge means a huge share of the population is now in its prime childbearing years.
8. Burundi
One of the most densely populated countries in Africa, Burundi's 4.57 rate plays out on a tiny land area — intensifying pressure on farmland, which most Burundians still depend on for a living.
9. Mozambique
Southern Africa's highest at 4.54, Mozambique's fertility reflects low female education levels and limited family-planning access in rural areas, even as the country's gas wealth transforms its economy.
10. Mauritania
Mauritania rounds out the top ten at 4.49. The Saharan country's rate has fallen from much higher levels a generation ago, but early marriage and low contraceptive use keep it firmly among Africa's highest.
Quick Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About this Topic
What is the total fertility rate?
It is the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if she experienced the current age-specific birth rates at each age. A rate of about 2.1 is considered replacement level — the point at which a population replaces itself.
Which African country has the highest fertility rate in 2026?
Chad, at 5.84 children per woman — the highest in Africa and the world, according to the UN's 2026 estimates. It has overtaken Niger, the long-time leader, which now ranks fifth in Africa at 5.64.
Is fertility falling in Africa?
Yes, almost everywhere — just from very high levels. Nigeria's rate fell from 6.35 in 1960 to 5.3 in 2019, and every country on this list has a lower rate today than a generation ago. The declines reflect a global trend of urbanization, education and family planning, not a regional exception.
Why is fertility so high in these countries?
According to UN research, the drivers are low contraception use, early and universal marriage, early childbearing, childbearing across much of a woman's reproductive life, and the high social value placed on having children.
Which African country has the lowest fertility rate?
Tunisia, at 1.93 children per woman — below replacement level and roughly in the middle of the global ranking of more than 200 countries and territories.
Data Sources
- Wikipedia, "List of countries by total fertility rate" — 2026 UN World Population Prospects figures
- database.earth, "Total Fertility Rate by Country in 2026" — UN-based estimates
- World Population Review, "Total Fertility Rate 2026" — country rankings and Africa analysis
- Visual Capitalist, "The Fertility Rate of Every Country in the World" — mapped TFR data
- World Economics, "Population Fertility Rates by Country" — historical series to 2025
Methodology
Ranked on the United Nations World Population Prospects 2026 estimates of the total fertility rate — the average number of live births per woman over her reproductive lifetime at current age-specific fertility rates. The ranking covers sovereign African states; non-sovereign territories such as Mayotte are excluded. Figures are estimates and are revised with each UN round; the global average for 2026 is 2.23 children per woman.
