Ethiopia's Fertility Rate Falls Below Four Children Per Woman

July 13, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Ethiopia's fertility rate has fallen below four children per woman for the first time, marking a significant demographic shift as smaller family sizes become more common, according to a report by The Reporter, citing the latest Demographic and Health Survey released by the Ethiopian Statistical Service (ESS).

The 2024–25 survey found that an Ethiopian woman now gives birth to fewer than four children on average during her reproductive years, down from nearly six at the turn of the millennium. The findings point to a gradual demographic transition with implications for the country's future labour force and economic development.

Conducted over nine months beginning in August 2024, the nationwide survey covered 797 Enumeration Areas selected from Ethiopia's 19,460 kebeles, with support from USAID, the Global Fund, UK Aid, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and the Gates Foundation.

The national average masks sharp regional differences. Fertility in Addis Ababa has fallen to around two children per woman, below replacement level, while women in rural areas continue to have nearly five children on average.

According to The Reporter, the survey links the decline to wider adoption of modern family planning methods. The proportion of married women using contraception has nearly quadrupled since the early 2000s, with injectable contraceptives and hormonal implants becoming the most widely used methods. Contraceptive use exceeds 50 percent in Sidama and South West Ethiopia but remains in the single digits in Afar and Somali.

The survey also recorded major improvements in child survival. Under-five mortality declined from 166 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 51, while maternal mortality stands at about 141 deaths per 100,000 live births.

However, neonatal mortality remains a challenge. The report found that 68 percent of newborns receive no postnatal health check during their first week of life, contributing to nearly half of all under-five deaths. Child malnutrition also remains widespread, with 40 percent of children under five stunted and 15 percent severely stunted.

Beyond health, the findings highlight persistent development gaps. Although children under 14 account for 42 percent of the population, only 57 percent of Ethiopians have access to improved drinking water and 40 percent have electricity. Less than one-third have access to basic sanitation, while more than one-quarter still practise open defecation.

The survey also points to limited financial inclusion and gender disparities. Only 36 percent of women have a bank account they use, 49 percent own a mobile phone and 12 percent used mobile financial services during the previous year. Women's employment stood at 41 percent, compared with 87 percent for men, while 56 percent of women and 46 percent of men reported working without pay.

Source: FSX Business News