Why can crude birth rates and fertility rates tell different stories? The figures below use World Bank observations for 2024. The observation period is distinct from the date this article is prepared.
Key takeaways
- Honduras ranked 1 with 21.649 births per 1,000 people in 2024.
- Bolivia ranked 2 with 21.026 births per 1,000 people in 2024.
- Guatemala ranked 3 with 20.619 births per 1,000 people in 2024.
Why can crude birth rates and fertility rates tell different stories?
A crude birth rate relates births during a period to the population, using the unit printed in the table. Total fertility rate instead summarizes age-specific fertility among women. Countries with different age structures can therefore differ in crude birth rates even when some underlying fertility behavior is similar.
How to interpret the differences
Crude describes the absence of an age adjustment, not poor data quality. The rate is also different from the number of babies born: a populous country can record more births while having a lower rate. Source estimates and national reporting practices deserve attention when comparing close values.
A country average, not a regional total
Mean: 14.5 births per 1,000 people in 2024.
This is an unweighted mean across the reported countries. Each country contributes equally; the result is not a GDP-weighted or population-weighted regional aggregate.
What to investigate next
Use this ranking with population size, age structure and fertility evidence to frame demographic questions. Birth rates alone do not establish population growth, because deaths and migration also affect population change. Avoid reading a country's future population directly from an isolated observation.
| Rank | Country | Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honduras | 21.649 |
| 2 | Bolivia | 21.026 |
| 3 | Guatemala | 20.619 |
| 4 | Paraguay | 19.728 |
| 5 | Nicaragua | 19.141 |
| 6 | Dominican Republic | 17.62 |
| 7 | Panama | 15.867 |
| 8 | Peru | 15.751 |
| 9 | El Salvador | 15.597 |
| 10 | Mexico | 15.464 |
| 11 | Ecuador | 14.82 |
| 12 | Colombia | 13.251 |
| 13 | Brazil | 12.133 |
| 14 | Argentina | 11.086 |
| 15 | United States | 10.6 |
| 16 | Costa Rica | 9.991 |
| 17 | Uruguay | 9.802 |
| 18 | Canada | 8.9 |
| 19 | Chile | 8.723 |
| 20 | Cuba | 8.62 |
Source: World Bank WDI (SP.DYN.CBRT.IN)
Methodology: World Bank indicator SP.DYN.CBRT.IN for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Methodology
World Bank indicator SP.DYN.CBRT.IN for 20 reported countries from the configured 20-country comparison in 2024; exact source-reported values ranked descending without imputation or unit conversion. Missing observations remain excluded.
Caveats
Coverage is limited to the configured selected-country universe and the stated reference year. Missing observations are not imputed.
Data attribution and reproducibility
UN and national statistical sources, via World Bank WDI. Indicator definitions and original provider credits. Data distributed under CC BY 4.0. WorldDataRank calculated the ordering and country mean and created the visual. Data retrieved 2026-10-27T19:35:39Z. The upstream release date is not supplied in this snapshot; it is not inferred from the observation year. This publication is independent and is not endorsed by the data providers.