Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and United States

Fertility rate in Belgium vs United States by year

Chart Table

Belgium

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	United States
2023	1.47	1.62
2022	1.53	1.66
2021	1.6	1.66
2020	1.55	1.64
2019	1.6	1.71
2018	1.62	1.73
2017	1.65	1.77
2016	1.68	1.82
2015	1.7	1.84
2014	1.74	1.86
2013	1.76	1.86
2012	1.8	1.88
2011	1.81	1.89
2010	1.86	1.93
2009	1.84	2
2008	1.85	2.07
2007	1.82	2.12
2006	1.8	2.11
2005	1.76	2.06
2004	1.72	2.05
2003	1.67	2.05
2002	1.65	2.02
2001	1.67	2.03
2000	1.67	2.06
1999	1.62	2.01
1998	1.6	2
1997	1.6	1.97
1996	1.59	1.98
1995	1.56	1.98
1994	1.56	2
1993	1.61	2.02
1992	1.65	2.05
1991	1.66	2.06
1990	1.62	2.08
1989	1.58	2.01
1988	1.57	1.93
1987	1.54	1.87
1986	1.54	1.84
1985	1.51	1.84
1984	1.54	1.81
1983	1.57	1.8
1982	1.61	1.83
1981	1.66	1.81
1980	1.68	1.84
1979	1.69	1.81
1978	1.69	1.76
1977	1.71	1.79
1976	1.73	1.74
1975	1.74	1.77
1974	1.83	1.84
1973	1.95	1.88
1972	2.09	2.01
1971	2.21	2.27
1970	2.25	2.48
1969	2.27	2.46
1968	2.31	2.46
1967	2.41	2.56
1966	2.52	2.72
1965	2.61	2.91
1964	2.71	3.19
1963	2.68	3.32
1962	2.59	3.46
1961	2.63	3.62
1960	2.54	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	United States
2023	0	502,372
2022	-2,336	399,926
2021	5,793	199,137
2020	-12,692	208,862
2019	8,042	887,476
2018	7,999	955,022
2017	10,238	1,028,037
2016	14,731	1,197,627
2015	11,274	1,270,126
2014	21,297	1,357,281
2013	16,739	1,322,711
2012	18,882	1,411,822
2011	25,388	1,441,697
2010	23,970	1,548,182
2009	23,752	1,717,920
2008	22,491	1,794,154
2007	23,376	1,897,757
2006	21,096	1,849,955
2005	15,718	1,684,445
2004	16,673	1,698,271
2003	7,263	1,653,615
2002	7,233	1,581,938
2001	11,315	1,595,826
2000	12,302	1,664,758
1999	9,203	1,564,050
1998	9,183	1,573,857
1997	12,218	1,501,014
1996	12,188	1,510,137
1995	11,150	1,546,031
1994	12,139	1,633,302
1993	14,118	1,717,685
1992	20,090	1,875,328
1991	22,010	1,926,543
1990	19,935	2,026,068
1989	13,912	1,875,826
1988	14,853	1,735,943
1987	11,844	1,720,252
1986	5,917	1,656,917
1985	2,958	1,689,258
1984	4,927	1,627,192
1983	2,956	1,636,544
1982	7,885	1,714,317
1981	11,831	1,652,153
1980	10,845	1,608,450
1979	11,818	1,597,894
1978	7,872	1,402,283
1977	8,847	1,431,556
1976	1,964	1,264,604
1975	0	1,252,644
1974	7,818	1,218,968
1973	11,690	1,165,499
1972	18,451	1,301,355
1971	21,281	1,640,519
1970	23,173	1,824,965
1969	21,221	1,702,487
1968	20,199	1,565,507
1967	31,618	1,669,181
1966	36,206	1,749,387
1965	39,748	1,943,030
1964	51,580	2,245,099
1963	41,804	2,289,826
1962	42,414	2,406,337
1961	52,349	2,571,681
1960	40,275	2,565,530

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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Belgium vs United States by year

Chart Table

Belgium

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	United States
2023	9.4	10.7
2022	9.8	11
2021	10.2	11
2020	9.9	10.9
2019	10.2	11.4
2018	10.4	11.6
2017	10.5	11.8
2016	10.8	12.2
2015	10.8	12.4
2014	11.2	12.5
2013	11.3	12.4
2012	11.5	12.6
2011	11.7	12.7
2010	11.9	13
2009	11.8	13.5
2008	11.9	14
2007	11.7	14.3
2006	11.6	14.3
2005	11.4	14
2004	11.3	14
2003	11	14.1
2002	10.9	14
2001	11.2	14.1
2000	11.4	14.4
1999	11.2	14.2
1998	11.2	14.3
1997	11.4	14.2
1996	11.5	14.4
1995	11.4	14.6
1994	11.5	15
1993	12	15.4
1992	12.4	15.8
1991	12.6	16.2
1990	12.4	16.7
1989	12.2	16.4
1988	12.1	16
1987	11.9	15.7
1986	11.9	15.6
1985	11.6	15.8
1984	11.7	15.6
1983	11.9	15.6
1982	12.2	15.9
1981	12.6	15.8
1980	12.6	15.9
1979	12.6	15.6
1978	12.5	15
1977	12.4	15.1
1976	12.3	14.6
1975	12.2	14.6
1974	12.7	14.8
1973	13.3	14.8
1972	14	15.6
1971	14.6	17.2
1970	14.7	18.4
1969	14.7	17.9
1968	14.8	17.6
1967	15.3	17.8
1966	15.9	18.4
1965	16.4	19.4
1964	17.2	21.1
1963	17.1	21.7
1962	16.8	22.4
1961	17.3	23.3
1960	16.8	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 16.8 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	United States
2100	12.8%	14.4%
2099	12.8%	14.4%
2098	12.9%	14.4%
2097	12.9%	14.4%
2096	12.9%	14.4%
2095	13%	14.5%
2094	13%	14.5%
2093	13.1%	14.5%
2092	13.1%	14.5%
2091	13.2%	14.6%
2090	13.2%	14.6%
2089	13.2%	14.7%
2088	13.3%	14.7%
2087	13.3%	14.7%
2086	13.3%	14.8%
2085	13.3%	14.8%
2084	13.3%	14.8%
2083	13.3%	14.9%
2082	13.3%	14.9%
2081	13.3%	14.9%
2080	13.2%	14.9%
2079	13.2%	14.9%
2078	13.2%	14.9%
2077	13.1%	14.9%
2076	13.1%	14.9%
2075	13%	14.9%
2074	13%	14.9%
2073	12.9%	14.9%
2072	12.9%	14.9%
2071	12.9%	14.9%
2070	12.9%	14.9%
2069	12.9%	14.9%
2068	12.9%	14.9%
2067	13%	14.9%
2066	13%	14.9%
2065	13.1%	15%
2064	13.1%	15%
2063	13.2%	15%
2062	13.3%	15.1%
2061	13.4%	15.1%
2060	13.5%	15.2%
2059	13.6%	15.3%
2058	13.7%	15.4%
2057	13.7%	15.5%
2056	13.8%	15.5%
2055	13.9%	15.6%
2054	13.9%	15.7%
2053	13.9%	15.8%
2052	14%	15.8%
2051	14%	15.9%
2050	13.9%	15.9%
2049	13.9%	16%
2048	13.8%	16%
2047	13.8%	16%
2046	13.7%	16%
2045	13.7%	16%
2044	13.6%	16%
2043	13.5%	16%
2042	13.4%	16%
2041	13.4%	15.9%
2040	13.3%	15.9%
2039	13.3%	15.9%
2038	13.3%	15.9%
2037	13.3%	15.9%
2036	13.5%	15.9%
2035	13.6%	15.9%
2034	13.7%	15.9%
2033	13.9%	16%
2032	14.1%	16.1%
2031	14.3%	16.2%
2030	14.5%	16.3%
2029	14.7%	16.5%
2028	15%	16.6%
2027	15.3%	16.8%
2026	15.6%	17%
2025	15.9%	17.2%
2024	16%	17.3%
2023	16.3%	17.6%
2022	16.5%	17.9%
2021	16.7%	18.1%
2020	16.8%	18.4%
2019	16.9%	18.6%
2018	16.9%	18.8%
2017	17%	18.9%
2016	17%	19.1%
2015	17%	19.2%
2014	17%	19.3%
2013	17%	19.4%
2012	17%	19.5%
2011	17%	19.6%
2010	16.9%	19.7%
2009	16.9%	19.8%
2008	16.9%	19.9%
2007	16.9%	20%
2006	17%	20.2%
2005	17.1%	20.3%
2004	17.2%	20.5%
2003	17.3%	20.7%
2002	17.5%	20.9%
2001	17.5%	21%
2000	17.6%	21.2%
1999	17.7%	21.3%
1998	17.7%	21.4%
1997	17.8%	21.5%
1996	17.9%	21.7%
1995	18%	21.8%
1994	18.1%	21.9%
1993	18.1%	21.9%
1992	18.2%	21.8%
1991	18.2%	21.7%
1990	18.1%	21.6%
1989	18.1%	21.5%
1988	18.2%	21.3%
1987	18.3%	21.3%
1986	18.6%	21.3%
1985	18.8%	21.5%
1984	19.1%	21.7%
1983	19.4%	21.8%
1982	19.6%	22%
1981	19.9%	22.1%
1980	20.3%	22.4%
1979	20.6%	22.8%
1978	21%	23.2%
1977	21.4%	23.8%
1976	21.8%	24.4%
1975	22.2%	25.2%
1974	22.6%	25.9%
1973	23%	26.6%
1972	23.3%	27.4%
1971	23.5%	28%
1970	23.6%	28.6%
1969	23.8%	29%
1968	23.9%	29.5%
1967	23.9%	30%
1966	24%	30.4%
1965	24%	30.7%
1964	23.9%	30.9%
1963	23.9%	31.1%
1962	23.8%	31.3%
1961	23.8%	31.4%
1960	23.7%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs United States

Chart Table

Belgium

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	United States
2023	4	17
2022	11	20
2021	7	31
2020	4	22
2019	4	18
2018	5	18
2017	5	18
2016	5	18
2015	5	17
2014	5	17
2013	6	16
2012	5	16
2011	6	15
2010	6	15
2009	6	15
2008	6	14
2007	7	13
2006	6	13
2005	7	13
2004	7	13
2003	7	13
2002	7	13
2001	8	13
2000	8	12
1999	8	12
1998	8	11
1997	8	11
1996	9	11
1995	9	12
1994	9	11
1993	9	12
1992	9	11
1991	9	12
1990	9	12
1989	9	12
1988	9	12
1987	9	11
1986	9	11
1985	9	11

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	United States
2023	0.36%	0.65%
2022	0.37%	0.65%
2021	0.38%	0.65%
2020	0.39%	0.65%
2019	0.39%	0.65%
2018	0.4%	0.65%
2017	0.4%	0.66%
2016	0.41%	0.67%
2015	0.41%	0.68%
2014	0.42%	0.68%
2013	0.42%	0.69%
2012	0.43%	0.7%
2011	0.44%	0.72%
2010	0.45%	0.73%
2009	0.46%	0.75%
2008	0.47%	0.76%
2007	0.48%	0.77%
2006	0.49%	0.79%
2005	0.5%	0.8%
2004	0.52%	0.81%
2003	0.53%	0.81%
2002	0.55%	0.82%
2001	0.57%	0.83%
2000	0.59%	0.84%
1999	0.61%	0.86%
1998	0.64%	0.87%
1997	0.67%	0.89%
1996	0.72%	0.92%
1995	0.77%	0.95%
1994	0.82%	0.98%
1993	0.87%	1.01%
1992	0.92%	1.05%
1991	0.96%	1.09%
1990	1%	1.12%
1989	1.03%	1.16%
1988	1.07%	1.19%
1987	1.1%	1.21%
1986	1.14%	1.24%
1985	1.18%	1.27%
1984	1.22%	1.3%
1983	1.27%	1.34%
1982	1.33%	1.39%
1981	1.39%	1.44%
1980	1.45%	1.5%
1979	1.52%	1.56%
1978	1.59%	1.63%
1977	1.67%	1.71%
1976	1.76%	1.79%
1975	1.86%	1.88%
1974	1.97%	1.97%
1973	2.08%	2.06%
1972	2.19%	2.15%
1971	2.3%	2.24%
1970	2.39%	2.32%
1969	2.48%	2.41%
1968	2.55%	2.49%
1967	2.62%	2.57%
1966	2.7%	2.64%
1965	2.79%	2.71%
1964	2.89%	2.77%
1963	3%	2.83%
1962	3.12%	2.89%
1961	3.25%	2.95%
1960	3.39%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.