How estimated fertility fell across five West African countries

Côte d’Ivoire recorded a large change over the period

Côte d’Ivoire moved from 6.72 births per woman in 1990 to 4.23 in 2024. Senegal went from 6.40 to 3.77. The annual histories show when those declines accelerated or slowed within the period. Source 1

Ghana started lower and remained lower

Ghana’s estimate fell from 5.74 in 1990 to 3.34 in 2024. Nigeria’s went from 6.46 to 4.38. Ghana’s lower 2024 rate combines a lower starting point with a sustained decline across the three decades. Source 1

The measure combines age-specific birth rates

The total fertility rate estimates births across a hypothetical lifetime using the fertility rates observed for each age in a period. Tracking the completed family size of a particular generation requires following that group through its reproductive years. Source 1

Fertility and the number of births can move differently

The annual number of births depends on the number and ages of people in the population as well as fertility rates. A country with a larger young adult population can record more births than a smaller country even when its fertility rate is lower. Source 1

Sources

• UN and national population estimates via World Bank WDI
• World Bank data API, selected countries