society
Fertility rate
Average births per woman.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 2.17 births/woman in 2024, down 15.0% from 2014. Across the longer period from 2004, the global estimate changed by -0.534 births/woman (-19.8%). Latest country observations range from 0.582 births/woman in Macao SAR, China (2024) to 6.03 births/woman in Chad (2024), with the middle country observation at 1.9 births/woman; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Africa reports 4.06 births/woman, while Europe reports 1.36 births/woman. Over roughly a decade, Africa changed by -0.712 births/woman; Europe changed by -0.243 births/woman. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +0.94 births/woman in Uzbekistan, while the largest decrease was -1.48 births/woman in Burkina Faso. Coverage includes 213 countries; their latest observation years span 2024-2024, with a median latest year of 2024.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 1.44 births/woman in 2024. From 2014 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 0.3 births/woman (17.2%). From 2004 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 0.28 births/woman (16.3%). The latest decade changed by −0.3 births/woman, versus +0.02 births/woman in the preceding decade, indicating a reversal in direction.
Europe and world context
This is 0.08 births/woman above Europe (2024). This is 0.73 births/woman below the world estimate (2024). From 2014 to 2024, Europe decreased by 0.24 births/woman (15.2%). The latest decade changed by −0.24 births/woman, versus +0.16 births/woman in the preceding decade, indicating a reversal in direction.
Belgium has the 163rd-highest latest observation among 213 countries and 19th among 46 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2024-2024, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: Africa is at 4.06 births/woman (2024), compared with 1.36 births/woman in Europe (2024).
- Largest observed decade increase: Uzbekistan changed by +0.94 births/woman.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Burkina Faso changed by -1.48 births/woman.
- Coverage: 213 countries; the median latest observation is 2024, with latest country observations spanning 2024-2024.
Source
World Bank
Source series SP.DYN.TFRT.IN. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.