Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and Netherlands

Fertility rate in Belgium vs Netherlands by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Netherlands

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	Netherlands
2023	1.47	1.43
2022	1.53	1.49
2021	1.6	1.62
2020	1.55	1.54
2019	1.6	1.57
2018	1.62	1.59
2017	1.65	1.62
2016	1.68	1.66
2015	1.7	1.66
2014	1.74	1.71
2013	1.76	1.68
2012	1.8	1.72
2011	1.81	1.76
2010	1.86	1.79
2009	1.84	1.79
2008	1.85	1.77
2007	1.82	1.72
2006	1.8	1.72
2005	1.76	1.71
2004	1.72	1.72
2003	1.67	1.75
2002	1.65	1.73
2001	1.67	1.71
2000	1.67	1.72
1999	1.62	1.65
1998	1.6	1.63
1997	1.6	1.56
1996	1.59	1.53
1995	1.56	1.53
1994	1.56	1.57
1993	1.61	1.57
1992	1.65	1.59
1991	1.66	1.61
1990	1.62	1.62
1989	1.58	1.55
1988	1.57	1.55
1987	1.54	1.56
1986	1.54	1.55
1985	1.51	1.51
1984	1.54	1.49
1983	1.57	1.47
1982	1.61	1.5
1981	1.66	1.56
1980	1.68	1.6
1979	1.69	1.56
1978	1.69	1.58
1977	1.71	1.58
1976	1.73	1.63
1975	1.74	1.66
1974	1.83	1.77
1973	1.95	1.9
1972	2.09	2.15
1971	2.21	2.36
1970	2.25	2.57
1969	2.27	2.75
1968	2.31	2.72
1967	2.41	2.81
1966	2.52	2.9
1965	2.61	3.04
1964	2.71	3.17
1963	2.68	3.19
1962	2.59	3.18
1961	2.63	3.22
1960	2.54	3.12

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.43 in the Netherlands in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Netherlands

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	Netherlands
2023	0	-5,363
2022	-2,336	-1,770
2021	5,793	7,014
2020	-12,692	0
2019	8,042	17,345
2018	7,999	15,508
2017	10,238	18,844
2016	14,731	23,843
2015	11,274	23,716
2014	21,297	35,417
2013	16,739	30,248
2012	18,882	35,186
2011	25,388	45,072
2010	23,970	48,184
2009	23,752	51,244
2008	22,491	49,337
2007	23,376	49,145
2006	21,096	49,038
2005	15,718	50,592
2004	16,673	56,987
2003	7,263	58,411
2002	7,233	59,751
2001	11,315	62,580
2000	12,302	66,887
1999	9,203	60,086
1998	9,183	61,258
1997	12,218	56,198
1996	12,188	51,251
1995	11,150	54,106
1994	12,139	61,532
1993	14,118	58,103
1992	20,090	66,811
1991	22,010	69,321
1990	19,935	68,777
1989	13,912	59,396
1988	14,853	61,993
1987	11,844	64,526
1986	5,917	59,746
1985	2,958	55,069
1984	4,927	54,812
1983	2,956	51,722
1982	7,885	54,388
1981	11,831	62,688
1980	10,845	66,504
1979	11,818	63,172
1978	7,872	61,344
1977	8,847	63,739
1976	1,964	63,361
1975	0	64,232
1974	7,818	75,853
1973	11,690	84,668
1972	18,451	101,297
1971	21,281	116,112
1970	23,173	129,082
1969	21,221	139,082
1968	20,199	132,389
1967	31,618	138,580
1966	36,206	138,265
1965	39,748	146,308
1964	51,580	157,653
1963	41,804	154,361
1962	42,414	153,474
1961	52,349	159,450
1960	40,275	151,623

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 -0.03% in the Netherlands.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +0.08% in the Netherlands.

Birth rate in Belgium vs Netherlands by year

Chart Table

Belgium

Netherlands

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	Netherlands
2023	9.4	9.2
2022	9.8	9.5
2021	10.2	10.2
2020	9.9	9.7
2019	10.2	9.8
2018	10.4	9.8
2017	10.5	9.9
2016	10.8	10.1
2015	10.8	10.1
2014	11.2	10.4
2013	11.3	10.2
2012	11.5	10.5
2011	11.7	10.8
2010	11.9	11.1
2009	11.8	11.2
2008	11.9	11.2
2007	11.7	11.1
2006	11.6	11.3
2005	11.4	11.5
2004	11.3	11.9
2003	11	12.3
2002	10.9	12.5
2001	11.2	12.6
2000	11.4	13
1999	11.2	12.7
1998	11.2	12.7
1997	11.4	12.3
1996	11.5	12.2
1995	11.4	12.3
1994	11.5	12.7
1993	12	12.8
1992	12.4	13
1991	12.6	13.2
1990	12.4	13.2
1989	12.2	12.7
1988	12.1	12.6
1987	11.9	12.7
1986	11.9	12.7
1985	11.6	12.3
1984	11.7	12.1
1983	11.9	11.8
1982	12.2	12
1981	12.6	12.5
1980	12.6	12.8
1979	12.6	12.5
1978	12.5	12.6
1977	12.4	12.5
1976	12.3	12.9
1975	12.2	13
1974	12.7	13.7
1973	13.3	14.5
1972	14	16.1
1971	14.6	17.2
1970	14.7	18.3
1969	14.7	19.2
1968	14.8	18.6
1967	15.3	18.9
1966	15.9	19.2
1965	16.4	19.9
1964	17.2	20.7
1963	17.1	20.9
1962	16.8	20.9
1961	17.3	21.3
1960	16.8	20.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 9.2 in the Netherlands, compared with 16.8 and 20.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

Netherlands

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	Netherlands
2100	12.8%	13.2%
2099	12.8%	13.2%
2098	12.9%	13.2%
2097	12.9%	13.2%
2096	12.9%	13.2%
2095	13%	13.2%
2094	13%	13.2%
2093	13.1%	13.1%
2092	13.1%	13.1%
2091	13.2%	13.1%
2090	13.2%	13.1%
2089	13.2%	13.1%
2088	13.3%	13.1%
2087	13.3%	13.1%
2086	13.3%	13.1%
2085	13.3%	13.2%
2084	13.3%	13.2%
2083	13.3%	13.2%
2082	13.3%	13.2%
2081	13.3%	13.3%
2080	13.2%	13.3%
2079	13.2%	13.3%
2078	13.2%	13.4%
2077	13.1%	13.4%
2076	13.1%	13.4%
2075	13%	13.5%
2074	13%	13.5%
2073	12.9%	13.5%
2072	12.9%	13.5%
2071	12.9%	13.6%
2070	12.9%	13.6%
2069	12.9%	13.6%
2068	12.9%	13.6%
2067	13%	13.6%
2066	13%	13.6%
2065	13.1%	13.6%
2064	13.1%	13.6%
2063	13.2%	13.6%
2062	13.3%	13.6%
2061	13.4%	13.6%
2060	13.5%	13.5%
2059	13.6%	13.5%
2058	13.7%	13.5%
2057	13.7%	13.6%
2056	13.8%	13.6%
2055	13.9%	13.6%
2054	13.9%	13.6%
2053	13.9%	13.7%
2052	14%	13.7%
2051	14%	13.8%
2050	13.9%	13.9%
2049	13.9%	13.9%
2048	13.8%	14%
2047	13.8%	14.1%
2046	13.7%	14.2%
2045	13.7%	14.3%
2044	13.6%	14.3%
2043	13.5%	14.4%
2042	13.4%	14.5%
2041	13.4%	14.5%
2040	13.3%	14.6%
2039	13.3%	14.6%
2038	13.3%	14.6%
2037	13.3%	14.6%
2036	13.5%	14.7%
2035	13.6%	14.7%
2034	13.7%	14.7%
2033	13.9%	14.7%
2032	14.1%	14.7%
2031	14.3%	14.8%
2030	14.5%	14.8%
2029	14.7%	14.8%
2028	15%	14.8%
2027	15.3%	14.8%
2026	15.6%	14.9%
2025	15.9%	15%
2024	16%	15%
2023	16.3%	15.2%
2022	16.5%	15.4%
2021	16.7%	15.5%
2020	16.8%	15.6%
2019	16.9%	15.8%
2018	16.9%	16%
2017	17%	16.2%
2016	17%	16.4%
2015	17%	16.6%
2014	17%	16.9%
2013	17%	17.1%
2012	17%	17.3%
2011	17%	17.4%
2010	16.9%	17.6%
2009	16.9%	17.7%
2008	16.9%	17.9%
2007	16.9%	18.1%
2006	17%	18.3%
2005	17.1%	18.5%
2004	17.2%	18.6%
2003	17.3%	18.7%
2002	17.5%	18.8%
2001	17.5%	18.8%
2000	17.6%	18.8%
1999	17.7%	18.7%
1998	17.7%	18.6%
1997	17.8%	18.6%
1996	17.9%	18.6%
1995	18%	18.6%
1994	18.1%	18.6%
1993	18.1%	18.5%
1992	18.2%	18.5%
1991	18.2%	18.4%
1990	18.1%	18.4%
1989	18.1%	18.4%
1988	18.2%	18.5%
1987	18.3%	18.7%
1986	18.6%	19.1%
1985	18.8%	19.5%
1984	19.1%	20.1%
1983	19.4%	20.7%
1982	19.6%	21.3%
1981	19.9%	21.8%
1980	20.3%	22.3%
1979	20.6%	22.9%
1978	21%	23.5%
1977	21.4%	24.2%
1976	21.8%	24.8%
1975	22.2%	25.3%
1974	22.6%	25.9%
1973	23%	26.4%
1972	23.3%	26.8%
1971	23.5%	27.1%
1970	23.6%	27.3%
1969	23.8%	27.5%
1968	23.9%	27.6%
1967	23.9%	27.8%
1966	24%	28.1%
1965	24%	28.3%
1964	23.9%	28.5%
1963	23.9%	28.7%
1962	23.8%	29.1%
1961	23.8%	29.7%
1960	23.7%	30%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 15% in the Netherlands in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 18.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and the Netherlands compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs Netherlands

Chart Table

Belgium

Netherlands

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	Netherlands
2023	4	4
2022	11	4
2021	7	5
2020	4	4
2019	4	5
2018	5	5
2017	5	5
2016	5	5
2015	5	5
2014	5	5
2013	6	6
2012	5	6
2011	6	7
2010	6	6
2009	6	7
2008	6	8
2007	7	8
2006	6	9
2005	7	10
2004	7	11
2003	7	12
2002	7	13
2001	8	13
2000	8	13
1999	8	13
1998	8	12
1997	8	13
1996	9	12
1995	9	12
1994	9	12
1993	9	12
1992	9	12
1991	9	12
1990	9	12
1989	9	12
1988	9	12
1987	9	12
1986	9	12
1985	9	12

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 4 deaths in the Netherlands.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

Netherlands

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	Netherlands
2023	0.36%	0.4%
2022	0.37%	0.4%
2021	0.38%	0.4%
2020	0.39%	0.4%
2019	0.39%	0.4%
2018	0.4%	0.4%
2017	0.4%	0.4%
2016	0.41%	0.41%
2015	0.41%	0.41%
2014	0.42%	0.41%
2013	0.42%	0.42%
2012	0.43%	0.42%
2011	0.44%	0.43%
2010	0.45%	0.44%
2009	0.46%	0.46%
2008	0.47%	0.47%
2007	0.48%	0.49%
2006	0.49%	0.51%
2005	0.5%	0.53%
2004	0.52%	0.55%
2003	0.53%	0.57%
2002	0.55%	0.59%
2001	0.57%	0.61%
2000	0.59%	0.62%
1999	0.61%	0.63%
1998	0.64%	0.64%
1997	0.67%	0.66%
1996	0.72%	0.67%
1995	0.77%	0.69%
1994	0.82%	0.71%
1993	0.87%	0.74%
1992	0.92%	0.77%
1991	0.96%	0.8%
1990	1%	0.83%
1989	1.03%	0.86%
1988	1.07%	0.89%
1987	1.1%	0.92%
1986	1.14%	0.95%
1985	1.18%	0.97%
1984	1.22%	0.99%
1983	1.27%	1.02%
1982	1.33%	1.04%
1981	1.39%	1.06%
1980	1.45%	1.09%
1979	1.52%	1.12%
1978	1.59%	1.16%
1977	1.67%	1.21%
1976	1.76%	1.26%
1975	1.86%	1.31%
1974	1.97%	1.36%
1973	2.08%	1.41%
1972	2.19%	1.47%
1971	2.3%	1.53%
1970	2.39%	1.58%
1969	2.48%	1.64%
1968	2.55%	1.69%
1967	2.62%	1.74%
1966	2.7%	1.79%
1965	2.79%	1.83%
1964	2.89%	1.88%
1963	3%	1.92%
1962	3.12%	1.97%
1961	3.25%	2.03%
1960	3.39%	2.08%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.4% in the Netherlands. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.