Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and France

Fertility rate in Belgium vs France by year

Chart Table

Belgium

France

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	France
2023	1.47	1.66
2022	1.53	1.79
2021	1.6	1.84
2020	1.55	1.83
2019	1.6	1.86
2018	1.62	1.87
2017	1.65	1.89
2016	1.68	1.92
2015	1.7	1.96
2014	1.74	2
2013	1.76	1.99
2012	1.8	2.01
2011	1.81	2.01
2010	1.86	2.03
2009	1.84	2
2008	1.85	2.01
2007	1.82	1.98
2006	1.8	2
2005	1.76	1.94
2004	1.72	1.92
2003	1.67	1.89
2002	1.65	1.88
2001	1.67	1.9
2000	1.67	1.89
1999	1.62	1.81
1998	1.6	1.78
1997	1.6	1.77
1996	1.59	1.75
1995	1.56	1.74
1994	1.56	1.73
1993	1.61	1.73
1992	1.65	1.74
1991	1.66	1.75
1990	1.62	1.77
1989	1.58	1.79
1988	1.57	1.81
1987	1.54	1.83
1986	1.54	1.85
1985	1.51	1.86
1984	1.54	1.86
1983	1.57	1.86
1982	1.61	1.86
1981	1.66	1.85
1980	1.68	1.85
1979	1.69	1.87
1978	1.69	1.89
1977	1.71	1.94
1976	1.73	2.01
1975	1.74	2.09
1974	1.83	2.18
1973	1.95	2.28
1972	2.09	2.38
1971	2.21	2.47
1970	2.25	2.55
1969	2.27	2.62
1968	2.31	2.69
1967	2.41	2.75
1966	2.52	2.8
1965	2.61	2.84
1964	2.71	2.87
1963	2.68	2.89
1962	2.59	2.89
1961	2.63	2.87
1960	2.54	2.85

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.66 in France in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs France population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

France

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	France
2023	0	47,860
2022	-2,336	54,547
2021	5,793	74,627
2020	-12,692	67,602
2019	8,042	141,503
2018	7,999	147,749
2017	10,238	160,604
2016	14,731	193,500
2015	11,274	206,300
2014	21,297	265,248
2013	16,739	244,192
2012	18,882	256,065
2011	25,388	280,966
2010	23,970	286,116
2009	23,752	278,238
2008	22,491	283,250
2007	23,376	288,076
2006	21,096	305,387
2005	15,718	271,677
2004	16,673	282,185
2003	7,263	230,325
2002	7,233	253,430
2001	11,315	263,867
2000	12,302	268,042
1999	9,203	229,907
1998	9,183	222,705
1997	12,218	215,885
1996	12,188	221,092
1995	11,150	220,303
1994	12,139	201,704
1993	14,118	224,592
1992	20,090	229,502
1991	22,010	234,216
1990	19,935	238,870
1989	13,912	243,361
1988	14,853	247,672
1987	11,844	251,971
1986	5,917	250,606
1985	2,958	249,328
1984	4,927	248,086
1983	2,956	235,655
1982	7,885	234,389
1981	11,831	222,414
1980	10,845	210,042
1979	11,818	208,923
1978	7,872	213,462
1977	8,847	217,946
1976	1,964	227,776
1975	0	248,413
1974	7,818	268,733
1973	11,690	282,979
1972	18,451	296,589
1971	21,281	309,747
1970	23,173	322,444
1969	21,221	329,831
1968	20,199	337,346
1967	31,618	339,843
1966	36,206	352,181
1965	39,748	354,132
1964	51,580	360,631
1963	41,804	361,694
1962	42,414	358,082
1961	52,349	354,504
1960	40,275	346,115

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0% in Belgium and +0.07% in France.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +0.2% in France.

Birth rate in Belgium vs France by year

Chart Table

Belgium

France

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	France
2023	9.4	9.9
2022	9.8	10.7
2021	10.2	10.9
2020	9.9	10.9
2019	10.2	11.2
2018	10.4	11.3
2017	10.5	11.5
2016	10.8	11.8
2015	10.8	12
2014	11.2	12.4
2013	11.3	12.4
2012	11.5	12.6
2011	11.7	12.7
2010	11.9	12.9
2009	11.8	12.8
2008	11.9	12.9
2007	11.7	12.8
2006	11.6	13.1
2005	11.4	12.8
2004	11.3	12.8
2003	11	12.8
2002	10.9	12.9
2001	11.2	13.1
2000	11.4	13.3
1999	11.2	12.9
1998	11.2	12.8
1997	11.4	12.7
1996	11.5	12.8
1995	11.4	12.8
1994	11.5	12.5
1993	12	13
1992	12.4	13.1
1991	12.6	13.2
1990	12.4	13.4
1989	12.2	13.6
1988	12.1	13.8
1987	11.9	14
1986	11.9	14.1
1985	11.6	14.2
1984	11.7	14.3
1983	11.9	14.2
1982	12.2	14.2
1981	12.6	14.1
1980	12.6	14
1979	12.6	14
1978	12.5	14.1
1977	12.4	14.3
1976	12.3	14.6
1975	12.2	15
1974	12.7	15.5
1973	13.3	15.9
1972	14	16.3
1971	14.6	16.7
1970	14.7	17
1969	14.7	17.3
1968	14.8	17.5
1967	15.3	17.7
1966	15.9	18
1965	16.4	18.2
1964	17.2	18.4
1963	17.1	18.5
1962	16.8	18.6
1961	17.3	18.7
1960	16.8	18.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 9.9 in France, compared with 16.8 and 18.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

France

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	France
2100	12.8%	14%
2099	12.8%	14%
2098	12.9%	14%
2097	12.9%	14.1%
2096	12.9%	14.1%
2095	13%	14.1%
2094	13%	14.2%
2093	13.1%	14.3%
2092	13.1%	14.3%
2091	13.2%	14.4%
2090	13.2%	14.4%
2089	13.2%	14.5%
2088	13.3%	14.6%
2087	13.3%	14.6%
2086	13.3%	14.7%
2085	13.3%	14.7%
2084	13.3%	14.7%
2083	13.3%	14.8%
2082	13.3%	14.8%
2081	13.3%	14.8%
2080	13.2%	14.8%
2079	13.2%	14.8%
2078	13.2%	14.8%
2077	13.1%	14.7%
2076	13.1%	14.7%
2075	13%	14.7%
2074	13%	14.6%
2073	12.9%	14.6%
2072	12.9%	14.6%
2071	12.9%	14.5%
2070	12.9%	14.5%
2069	12.9%	14.5%
2068	12.9%	14.5%
2067	13%	14.5%
2066	13%	14.5%
2065	13.1%	14.6%
2064	13.1%	14.6%
2063	13.2%	14.7%
2062	13.3%	14.7%
2061	13.4%	14.8%
2060	13.5%	14.9%
2059	13.6%	15%
2058	13.7%	15.1%
2057	13.7%	15.2%
2056	13.8%	15.3%
2055	13.9%	15.4%
2054	13.9%	15.4%
2053	13.9%	15.5%
2052	14%	15.5%
2051	14%	15.6%
2050	13.9%	15.6%
2049	13.9%	15.6%
2048	13.8%	15.5%
2047	13.8%	15.5%
2046	13.7%	15.4%
2045	13.7%	15.3%
2044	13.6%	15.3%
2043	13.5%	15.2%
2042	13.4%	15.1%
2041	13.4%	15%
2040	13.3%	14.9%
2039	13.3%	14.8%
2038	13.3%	14.7%
2037	13.3%	14.7%
2036	13.5%	14.7%
2035	13.6%	14.7%
2034	13.7%	14.7%
2033	13.9%	14.8%
2032	14.1%	14.8%
2031	14.3%	15.1%
2030	14.5%	15.2%
2029	14.7%	15.4%
2028	15%	15.6%
2027	15.3%	15.8%
2026	15.6%	16.1%
2025	15.9%	16.4%
2024	16%	16.5%
2023	16.3%	16.8%
2022	16.5%	17%
2021	16.7%	17.2%
2020	16.8%	17.4%
2019	16.9%	17.6%
2018	16.9%	17.8%
2017	17%	17.9%
2016	17%	18.1%
2015	17%	18.2%
2014	17%	18.3%
2013	17%	18.4%
2012	17%	18.5%
2011	17%	18.5%
2010	16.9%	18.5%
2009	16.9%	18.5%
2008	16.9%	18.5%
2007	16.9%	18.4%
2006	17%	18.5%
2005	17.1%	18.5%
2004	17.2%	18.6%
2003	17.3%	18.7%
2002	17.5%	18.8%
2001	17.5%	18.9%
2000	17.6%	18.9%
1999	17.7%	19%
1998	17.7%	19%
1997	17.8%	19.1%
1996	17.9%	19.3%
1995	18%	19.5%
1994	18.1%	19.7%
1993	18.1%	19.9%
1992	18.2%	20%
1991	18.2%	20.1%
1990	18.1%	20.1%
1989	18.1%	20.3%
1988	18.2%	20.5%
1987	18.3%	20.7%
1986	18.6%	21%
1985	18.8%	21.3%
1984	19.1%	21.5%
1983	19.4%	21.7%
1982	19.6%	21.9%
1981	19.9%	22.1%
1980	20.3%	22.4%
1979	20.6%	22.7%
1978	21%	23%
1977	21.4%	23.3%
1976	21.8%	23.6%
1975	22.2%	23.9%
1974	22.6%	24.2%
1973	23%	24.4%
1972	23.3%	24.6%
1971	23.5%	24.7%
1970	23.6%	24.8%
1969	23.8%	25%
1968	23.9%	25.1%
1967	23.9%	25.3%
1966	24%	25.4%
1965	24%	25.6%
1964	23.9%	25.8%
1963	23.9%	26%
1962	23.8%	26.2%
1961	23.8%	26.5%
1960	23.7%	26.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 16.5% in France in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 20.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and France compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs France

Chart Table

Belgium

France

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	France
2023	4	7
2022	11	9
2021	7	9
2020	4	9
2019	4	8
2018	5	9
2017	5	8
2016	5	9
2015	5	9
2014	5	9
2013	6	9
2012	5	9
2011	6	9
2010	6	9
2009	6	10
2008	6	10
2007	7	9
2006	6	9
2005	7	9
2004	7	9
2003	7	9
2002	7	9
2001	8	9
2000	8	9
1999	8	10
1998	8	10
1997	8	11
1996	9	13
1995	9	15
1994	9	15
1993	9	16
1992	9	17
1991	9	18
1990	9	18
1989	9	19
1988	9	19
1987	9	19
1986	9	20
1985	9	20

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 7 deaths in France.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

France

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	France
2023	0.36%	0.43%
2022	0.37%	0.43%
2021	0.38%	0.43%
2020	0.39%	0.42%
2019	0.39%	0.42%
2018	0.4%	0.42%
2017	0.4%	0.42%
2016	0.41%	0.42%
2015	0.41%	0.42%
2014	0.42%	0.41%
2013	0.42%	0.41%
2012	0.43%	0.41%
2011	0.44%	0.42%
2010	0.45%	0.42%
2009	0.46%	0.43%
2008	0.47%	0.44%
2007	0.48%	0.44%
2006	0.49%	0.45%
2005	0.5%	0.46%
2004	0.52%	0.48%
2003	0.53%	0.49%
2002	0.55%	0.51%
2001	0.57%	0.52%
2000	0.59%	0.54%
1999	0.61%	0.55%
1998	0.64%	0.57%
1997	0.67%	0.58%
1996	0.72%	0.61%
1995	0.77%	0.65%
1994	0.82%	0.7%
1993	0.87%	0.75%
1992	0.92%	0.81%
1991	0.96%	0.86%
1990	1%	0.9%
1989	1.03%	0.93%
1988	1.07%	0.96%
1987	1.1%	0.98%
1986	1.14%	1.01%
1985	1.18%	1.04%
1984	1.22%	1.07%
1983	1.27%	1.11%
1982	1.33%	1.15%
1981	1.39%	1.19%
1980	1.45%	1.24%
1979	1.52%	1.28%
1978	1.59%	1.34%
1977	1.67%	1.39%
1976	1.76%	1.44%
1975	1.86%	1.49%
1974	1.97%	1.54%
1973	2.08%	1.6%
1972	2.19%	1.66%
1971	2.3%	1.74%
1970	2.39%	1.82%
1969	2.48%	1.91%
1968	2.55%	1.99%
1967	2.62%	2.06%
1966	2.7%	2.14%
1965	2.79%	2.24%
1964	2.89%	2.34%
1963	3%	2.45%
1962	3.12%	2.57%
1961	3.25%	2.7%
1960	3.39%	2.85%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.43% in France. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.