Average number of children per woman during her lifetime (2026)

Chad is projected to top the global rankings for average number of children per woman during her lifetime, recording 5.84 children per woman in 2026, followed by Somalia (5.81 children per woman) and DR Congo (5.8 children per woman). The Central African Republic (5.69 children per woman) and Niger (5.64 children per woman) complete the top 5. Mali (5.33 children per woman) and Angola (4.89 children per woman) follow close behind. Burundi (4.57 children per woman), Afghanistan (4.56 children per woman), and Mozambique (4.54 children per woman) round out the top ten. Nine of the top ten are in Africa, with four from Central Africa. Among these countries, Niger is projected to see the largest year-over-year change at -2.5%.