Somalia’s fertility rate fell to 6 births per woman in 2024.

Neither way is good in itself. A higher rate means faster population growth and more spending on children's health and schooling. A lower rate slows growth and gives each family and each service more room per child. Which suits a country depends on what families want and what health and education systems can support. Somalia's latest figure is 6 births per woman in 2024, down from 6.1 births per woman a year earlier, a fall of 0.12 births per woman or 1.9%. Since 2015 the rate has ranged from a high of 7 births per woman in 2015 to the current 6, so 2024 is the lowest point of the period.

Why it matters. At 6 births per woman, Somali households commonly raise many children, and the population stays young. Families face heavy costs for food, schooling and healthcare, and the state needs to expand clinics, maternity care and classrooms each year to keep pace with new cohorts. A fall from 7 to 6 since 2015 eases that pressure only gradually, because the large number of young people already born will themselves reach childbearing age.