Fertility rates vary significantly around the world, shaping population growth, age structures and future demographic trends. While many countries are experiencing declining birth rates, several nations continue to have relatively high fertility levels.
According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects 2024, Chad is projected to have the world's highest total fertility rate in 2026, at 5.840 births per woman. Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo follow closely, with projected rates of 5.813 and 5.805, respectively.
This ranking compares 195 countries using the UN's medium-variant fertility projections for 2026.
Countries Ranked by Fertility Rate in 2026
The following ranking lists 195 countries from highest to lowest projected total fertility rate, measured in births per woman.
A higher fertility rate indicates a greater number of births per woman under the fertility patterns projected for that year. It does not represent the total number of babies born in a country.
Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects 2024, Medium Variant (2026 projections).
Key Findings
Chad Has the Highest Fertility Rate
Chad leads the 2026 ranking with a projected fertility rate of 5.840 births per woman.
Somalia (5.813) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5.805) follow closely, with less than 0.04 births per woman separating the top three countries.
The Central African Republic (5.693), Niger (5.648) and Mali (5.325) complete the top six.
All six countries are projected to have fertility rates above five births per woman, substantially higher than the approximate replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1.
African Countries Dominate the Rankings
Nine of the ten highest-ranked countries are in Africa, highlighting the region's relatively high fertility levels compared with much of the world.
Angola ranks seventh at 4.887 births per woman, followed by Burundi (4.552) and Mozambique (4.542) in ninth and tenth positions.
Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, ranks 15th with a projected fertility rate of 4.207.
Although fertility has been declining across many African countries, differences in education, reproductive healthcare access, age at marriage and economic conditions contribute to variations between countries.
Afghanistan Is the Highest-Ranked Country Outside Africa
Afghanistan ranks eighth globally, with a projected fertility rate of 4.573 births per woman.
It is the only country outside Africa in the top ten.
Its position highlights how fertility patterns differ considerably across regions, even as the overall global trend moves toward smaller family sizes.
A Growing Global Fertility Divide
The contrast between countries remains substantial.
India is projected to have a fertility rate of 1.934 births per woman in 2026, placing it below the approximate replacement level.
South Korea, at the opposite end of this 195-country ranking, has a projected rate of 0.763 births per woman.
These differences reflect contrasting demographic challenges. Countries with high fertility often face growing demand for education, healthcare and employment, while low-fertility countries may experience population aging and a shrinking working-age population.
What Is the Total Fertility Rate?
The total fertility rate (TFR) estimates the number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if she experienced the age-specific fertility rates of a particular year.
It is expressed as births per woman and differs from the crude birth rate, which measures annual births per 1,000 people.
A fertility rate of approximately 2.1 births per woman is commonly considered replacement level in populations with low mortality, assuming no migration. The exact replacement level can vary between countries.
Fertility rates are important indicators of long-term population trends, but population growth also depends on mortality, migration and the existing age structure.
Methodology and Data Source
This analysis is based on the United Nations World Population Prospects 2024, using medium-variant projections for 2026.
The Data Visual calculated total fertility rates from the UN's age-specific fertility data for five-year age groups spanning ages 10–54.
The comparison includes 195 selected countries, excluding dependent territories and other geographic areas. Countries are ranked from highest to lowest fertility rate, with results displayed to three decimal places.
These values are projections for 2026, not final observed fertility statistics. Actual outcomes may differ from the UN's estimates.
Conclusion
The 2026 fertility projections highlight major differences in demographic patterns worldwide.
Chad, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo lead the rankings, while African countries account for nine of the top ten positions.
As fertility rates continue to change, these differences will influence population growth, workforce development and demand for public services across countries.
Source
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division — World Population Prospects 2024 (Medium Variant, 2026 projections).
https://population.un.org/wpp/
Total fertility rates calculated from UN age-specific fertility data by The Data Visual.
Data licensed under CC BY 3.0 IGO.
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