A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older.
| Rank | Country | Children Born Per Woman |
| 1) | Niger | 7.16 |
| 2) | Mali | 6.35 |
| 3) | Somalia | 6.26 |
| 4) | Uganda | 6.14 |
| 5) | Burundi | 6.08 |
| 6) | Burkina Faso | 6.07 |
| 7) | Zambia | 5.85 |
| 8) | South Sudan | 5.66 |
| 9) | Afghanistan | 5.64 |
| 10) | Republic of the Congo | 5.59 |
| 124) | Unites Staes | 2.06 |
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, 2012.
Photo by sean dreilinger