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Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and New Zealand

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has an annual birth rate of 9.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.9 for New Zealand. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.47 in Belgium and 1.56 in New Zealand — 6.12% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.1% in Belgium and by 63.2% in New Zealand — in 1960, it was 2.54 and 4.24, respectively.

  • Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate compared to 134/196 for New Zealand.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.5 years in Belgium, compared to 27.8 years in New Zealand.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3 in Belgium — it's 30.8 in New Zealand.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.67 in Belgium vs 10.9 in New Zealand.
  • In Belgium, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.8% in New Zealand.

Fertility rate in Belgium vs New Zealand by year

Belgium
New Zealand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium New Zealand
2023 1.47 1.56
2022 1.53 1.66
2021 1.6 1.64
2020 1.55 1.61
2019 1.6 1.72
2018 1.62 1.71
2017 1.65 1.81
2016 1.68 1.87
2015 1.7 1.99
2014 1.74 1.92
2013 1.76 2.01
2012 1.8 2.1
2011 1.81 2.09
2010 1.86 2.17
2009 1.84 2.13
2008 1.85 2.19
2007 1.82 2.18
2006 1.8 2.01
2005 1.76 1.97
2004 1.72 1.98
2003 1.67 1.93
2002 1.65 1.89
2001 1.67 1.97
2000 1.67 1.98
1999 1.62 1.97
1998 1.6 1.89
1997 1.6 1.96
1996 1.59 1.96
1995 1.56 1.98
1994 1.56 1.98
1993 1.61 2.04
1992 1.65 2.06
1991 1.66 2.09
1990 1.62 2.18
1989 1.58 2.12
1988 1.57 2.1
1987 1.54 2.03
1986 1.54 1.96
1985 1.51 1.93
1984 1.54 1.93
1983 1.57 1.92
1982 1.61 1.95
1981 1.66 2.01
1980 1.68 2.03
1979 1.69 2.12
1978 1.69 2.07
1977 1.71 2.21
1976 1.73 2.27
1975 1.74 2.37
1974 1.83 2.58
1973 1.95 2.76
1972 2.09 3
1971 2.21 3.18
1970 2.25 3.17
1969 2.27 3.28
1968 2.31 3.34
1967 2.41 3.35
1966 2.52 3.41
1965 2.61 3.54
1964 2.71 3.8
1963 2.68 4.05
1962 2.59 4.19
1961 2.63 4.31
1960 2.54 4.24

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.56 in New Zealand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Belgium
New Zealand
1x
Year Natural population change
Belgium New Zealand
2023 0 18,876
2022 -2,336 20,123
2021 5,793 23,644
2020 -12,692 24,905
2019 8,042 25,299
2018 7,999 24,797
2017 10,238 26,282
2016 14,731 28,237
2015 11,274 29,408
2014 21,297 26,196
2013 16,739 29,096
2012 18,882 31,077
2011 25,388 31,302
2010 23,970 35,458
2009 23,752 33,560
2008 22,491 35,143
2007 23,376 35,480
2006 21,096 30,924
2005 15,718 30,674
2004 16,673 29,634
2003 7,263 28,150
2002 7,233 25,941
2001 11,315 27,939
2000 12,302 29,897
1999 9,203 28,916
1998 9,183 29,146
1997 12,218 30,137
1996 12,188 28,997
1995 11,150 29,828
1994 12,139 30,372
1993 14,118 31,685
1992 20,090 32,067
1991 22,010 33,518
1990 19,935 33,298
1989 13,912 30,749
1988 14,853 29,846
1987 11,844 27,603
1986 5,917 25,549
1985 2,958 24,126
1984 4,927 26,043
1983 2,956 24,315
1982 7,885 24,207
1981 11,831 25,374
1980 10,845 23,658
1979 11,818 26,675
1978 7,872 26,156
1977 8,847 28,020
1976 1,964 29,456
1975 0 31,355
1974 7,818 33,896
1973 11,690 35,239
1972 18,451 38,244
1971 21,281 40,000
1970 23,173 37,101
1969 21,221 38,098
1968 20,199 37,594
1967 31,618 37,974
1966 36,206 36,151
1965 39,748 36,982
1964 51,580 39,375
1963 41,804 42,027
1962 42,414 42,865
1961 52,349 43,482
1960 40,275 41,791

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

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 +0.36% in New Zealand.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +0.51% in New Zealand.

Birth rate in Belgium vs New Zealand by year

Belgium
New Zealand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Belgium New Zealand
2023 9.4 10.9
2022 9.8 11.5
2021 10.2 11.5
2020 9.9 11.3
2019 10.2 12
2018 10.4 11.8
2017 10.5 12.4
2016 10.8 12.6
2015 10.8 13.2
2014 11.2 12.7
2013 11.3 13.2
2012 11.5 13.9
2011 11.7 14
2010 11.9 14.7
2009 11.8 14.5
2008 11.9 15.1
2007 11.7 15.2
2006 11.6 14.1
2005 11.4 14
2004 11.3 14.2
2003 11 13.9
2002 10.9 13.7
2001 11.2 14.4
2000 11.4 14.7
1999 11.2 14.9
1998 11.2 14.5
1997 11.4 15.2
1996 11.5 15.3
1995 11.4 15.7
1994 11.5 15.8
1993 12 16.5
1992 12.4 16.8
1991 12.6 17.1
1990 12.4 17.9
1989 12.2 17.4
1988 12.1 17.4
1987 11.9 16.7
1986 11.9 16.1
1985 11.6 15.8
1984 11.7 15.9
1983 11.9 15.7
1982 12.2 15.7
1981 12.6 16.1
1980 12.6 16.1
1979 12.6 16.7
1978 12.5 16.2
1977 12.4 17.2
1976 12.3 17.6
1975 12.2 18.3
1974 12.7 19.5
1973 13.3 20.4
1972 14 21.7
1971 14.6 22.5
1970 14.7 22
1969 14.7 22.4
1968 14.8 22.6
1967 15.3 22.4
1966 15.9 22.4
1965 16.4 22.8
1964 17.2 24.1
1963 17.1 25.4
1962 16.8 26.2
1961 17.3 27
1960 16.8 26.4

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 10.9 in New Zealand, compared with 16.8 and 26.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Belgium New Zealand
Fertility rate 1.47 1.56
Fertility rate rank 151/196 130/196
Birth rate 9.4 10.9
Birth rate rank 155/196 134/196
Population change due to births and deaths +0 +18,876
Natural population change rank 157/196 110/196
Natural population change rate +0% +0.36%
Population growth +0.67% +1.68%
Population growth rank 119/197 65/197
Age at first childbirth 29.5 years 27.8 years
Average age at childbearing 31.3 years 30.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.31 9.32
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 55.1 65.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 15.4 20.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 22.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 71.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.3% 96.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.21% 0.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 0.4%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.36% 0.47%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 82.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Belgium
Factual

UN forecast
New Zealand
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Belgium New Zealand
2100 12.8% 13.6%
2099 12.8% 13.6%
2098 12.9% 13.6%
2097 12.9% 13.6%
2096 12.9% 13.7%
2095 13% 13.7%
2094 13% 13.7%
2093 13.1% 13.8%
2092 13.1% 13.8%
2091 13.2% 13.8%
2090 13.2% 13.8%
2089 13.2% 13.8%
2088 13.3% 13.9%
2087 13.3% 13.9%
2086 13.3% 13.9%
2085 13.3% 13.9%
2084 13.3% 13.9%
2083 13.3% 13.9%
2082 13.3% 13.9%
2081 13.3% 13.9%
2080 13.2% 13.9%
2079 13.2% 13.9%
2078 13.2% 13.9%
2077 13.1% 13.9%
2076 13.1% 13.9%
2075 13% 13.9%
2074 13% 14%
2073 12.9% 14%
2072 12.9% 14%
2071 12.9% 14.1%
2070 12.9% 14.1%
2069 12.9% 14.1%
2068 12.9% 14.2%
2067 13% 14.3%
2066 13% 14.3%
2065 13.1% 14.4%
2064 13.1% 14.4%
2063 13.2% 14.5%
2062 13.3% 14.6%
2061 13.4% 14.7%
2060 13.5% 14.7%
2059 13.6% 14.8%
2058 13.7% 14.9%
2057 13.7% 15%
2056 13.8% 15%
2055 13.9% 15.1%
2054 13.9% 15.1%
2053 13.9% 15.2%
2052 14% 15.2%
2051 14% 15.2%
2050 13.9% 15.2%
2049 13.9% 15.2%
2048 13.8% 15.3%
2047 13.8% 15.3%
2046 13.7% 15.3%
2045 13.7% 15.3%
2044 13.6% 15.3%
2043 13.5% 15.4%
2042 13.4% 15.4%
2041 13.4% 15.5%
2040 13.3% 15.5%
2039 13.3% 15.6%
2038 13.3% 15.7%
2037 13.3% 15.9%
2036 13.5% 16%
2035 13.6% 16.1%
2034 13.7% 16.2%
2033 13.9% 16.4%
2032 14.1% 16.5%
2031 14.3% 16.7%
2030 14.5% 16.9%
2029 14.7% 17.1%
2028 15% 17.3%
2027 15.3% 17.5%
2026 15.6% 17.8%
2025 15.9% 18%
2024 16% 18.1%
2023 16.3% 18.4%
2022 16.5% 18.6%
2021 16.7% 18.9%
2020 16.8% 19%
2019 16.9% 19.2%
2018 16.9% 19.3%
2017 17% 19.5%
2016 17% 19.6%
2015 17% 19.9%
2014 17% 20.2%
2013 17% 20.4%
2012 17% 20.6%
2011 17% 20.8%
2010 16.9% 20.9%
2009 16.9% 20.9%
2008 16.9% 21%
2007 16.9% 21.1%
2006 17% 21.3%
2005 17.1% 21.5%
2004 17.2% 21.8%
2003 17.3% 22.1%
2002 17.5% 22.4%
2001 17.5% 22.6%
2000 17.6% 22.8%
1999 17.7% 22.9%
1998 17.7% 23%
1997 17.8% 23%
1996 17.9% 23%
1995 18% 23.1%
1994 18.1% 23.1%
1993 18.1% 23.1%
1992 18.2% 23.1%
1991 18.2% 23.2%
1990 18.1% 23.3%
1989 18.1% 23.3%
1988 18.2% 23.5%
1987 18.3% 23.8%
1986 18.6% 24.2%
1985 18.8% 24.6%
1984 19.1% 25.1%
1983 19.4% 25.6%
1982 19.6% 26.2%
1981 19.9% 26.7%
1980 20.3% 27.2%
1979 20.6% 27.8%
1978 21% 28.4%
1977 21.4% 29%
1976 21.8% 29.6%
1975 22.2% 30.1%
1974 22.6% 30.5%
1973 23% 31%
1972 23.3% 31.4%
1971 23.5% 31.7%
1970 23.6% 31.9%
1969 23.8% 32.2%
1968 23.9% 32.3%
1967 23.9% 32.5%
1966 24% 32.6%
1965 24% 32.7%
1964 23.9% 32.9%
1963 23.9% 32.9%
1962 23.8% 33%
1961 23.8% 33%
1960 23.7% 32.8%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 18.1% in New Zealand in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 23.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and New Zealand compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs New Zealand

Belgium
New Zealand
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Belgium New Zealand
2023 4 7
2022 11 23
2021 7 8
2020 4 8
2019 4 8
2018 5 7
2017 5 8
2016 5 8
2015 5 8
2014 5 7
2013 6 8
2012 5 9
2011 6 10
2010 6 10
2009 6 10
2008 6 10
2007 7 10
2006 6 10
2005 7 11
2004 7 11
2003 7 11
2002 7 11
2001 8 10
2000 8 11
1999 8 12
1998 8 12
1997 8 13
1996 9 14
1995 9 14
1994 9 13
1993 9 14
1992 9 15
1991 9 16
1990 9 18
1989 9 18
1988 9 19
1987 9 19
1986 9 18
1985 9 19

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

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 New Zealand.

Under-five mortality rates

Belgium
New Zealand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Belgium New Zealand
2023 0.36% 0.47%
2022 0.37% 0.48%
2021 0.38% 0.49%
2020 0.39% 0.5%
2019 0.39% 0.51%
2018 0.4% 0.52%
2017 0.4% 0.53%
2016 0.41% 0.55%
2015 0.41% 0.56%
2014 0.42% 0.57%
2013 0.42% 0.59%
2012 0.43% 0.6%
2011 0.44% 0.61%
2010 0.45% 0.62%
2009 0.46% 0.63%
2008 0.47% 0.64%
2007 0.48% 0.65%
2006 0.49% 0.65%
2005 0.5% 0.66%
2004 0.52% 0.67%
2003 0.53% 0.69%
2002 0.55% 0.7%
2001 0.57% 0.72%
2000 0.59% 0.74%
1999 0.61% 0.76%
1998 0.64% 0.78%
1997 0.67% 0.81%
1996 0.72% 0.84%
1995 0.77% 0.87%
1994 0.82% 0.91%
1993 0.87% 0.95%
1992 0.92% 1%
1991 0.96% 1.06%
1990 1% 1.12%
1989 1.03% 1.18%
1988 1.07% 1.24%
1987 1.1% 1.29%
1986 1.14% 1.34%
1985 1.18% 1.38%
1984 1.22% 1.41%
1983 1.27% 1.45%
1982 1.33% 1.48%
1981 1.39% 1.52%
1980 1.45% 1.56%
1979 1.52% 1.61%
1978 1.59% 1.66%
1977 1.67% 1.71%
1976 1.76% 1.77%
1975 1.86% 1.83%
1974 1.97% 1.88%
1973 2.08% 1.94%
1972 2.19% 1.98%
1971 2.3% 2.03%
1970 2.39% 2.08%
1969 2.48% 2.12%
1968 2.55% 2.16%
1967 2.62% 2.2%
1966 2.7% 2.25%
1965 2.79% 2.31%
1964 2.89% 2.39%
1963 3% 2.48%
1962 3.12% 2.58%
1961 3.25% 2.68%
1960 3.39% 2.78%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/new-zealand | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.47% in New Zealand. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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