Fertility & birth rates in Bhutan and North Korea

Fertility rate in Bhutan vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bhutan	North Korea
2023	1.46	1.78
2022	1.48	1.8
2021	1.49	1.81
2020	1.5	1.82
2019	1.45	1.83
2018	1.52	1.83
2017	1.62	1.85
2016	1.74	1.86
2015	1.84	1.86
2014	1.92	1.87
2013	2	1.88
2012	2.07	1.88
2011	2.15	1.88
2010	2.25	1.89
2009	2.36	1.91
2008	2.48	1.97
2007	2.59	1.94
2006	2.66	1.94
2005	2.73	1.87
2004	2.78	1.9
2003	2.87	1.91
2002	3.01	1.92
2001	3.19	1.94
2000	3.38	1.94
1999	3.61	1.97
1998	3.85	1.99
1997	4.09	2.03
1996	4.37	2.09
1995	4.62	2.15
1994	4.87	2.18
1993	5.07	2.22
1992	5.27	2.29
1991	5.45	2.35
1990	5.6	2.39
1989	5.76	2.41
1988	5.88	2.47
1987	6	2.53
1986	6.1	2.59
1985	6.18	2.65
1984	6.26	2.71
1983	6.34	2.78
1982	6.4	2.85
1981	6.46	2.92
1980	6.51	2.84
1979	6.55	2.85
1978	6.58	2.79
1977	6.61	2.77
1976	6.62	2.84
1975	6.62	3.05
1974	6.62	3.14
1973	6.63	3.35
1972	6.64	3.89
1971	6.64	3.74
1970	6.65	3.85
1969	6.66	3.86
1968	6.66	3.87
1967	6.67	4.05
1966	6.67	3.71
1965	6.68	3.56
1964	6.68	3.55
1963	6.69	3.63
1962	6.69	3.41
1961	6.7	3.26
1960	6.7	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 1.46 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in North Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Bhutan vs North Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bhutan	North Korea
2023	5,153	86,203
2022	5,204	96,495
2021	5,162	99,710
2020	5,142	95,920
2019	4,643	106,208
2018	4,909	113,164
2017	5,367	120,181
2016	6,164	125,048
2015	6,762	127,365
2014	7,290	127,078
2013	7,689	122,519
2012	7,967	118,773
2011	8,282	114,798
2010	8,598	112,443
2009	8,913	111,530
2008	9,200	122,015
2007	9,322	120,521
2006	9,197	129,171
2005	9,102	132,765
2004	9,056	155,838
2003	9,132	178,775
2002	9,464	119,504
2001	9,904	143,321
2000	10,142	161,591
1999	10,940	181,613
1998	11,320	197,589
1997	11,668	211,325
1996	12,153	226,095
1995	12,938	233,381
1994	13,536	320,861
1993	13,915	320,880
1992	15,594	324,002
1991	15,801	320,551
1990	15,704	312,460
1989	15,516	303,078
1988	15,212	299,305
1987	14,887	296,030
1986	14,516	293,227
1985	14,061	287,714
1984	13,688	282,987
1983	13,284	279,046
1982	12,872	276,332
1981	12,444	273,800
1980	12,016	255,206
1979	11,583	251,409
1978	11,133	243,533
1977	10,679	242,870
1976	10,228	255,841
1975	9,775	288,966
1974	9,324	306,902
1973	8,939	338,600
1972	8,549	411,997
1971	8,161	393,220
1970	7,791	406,129
1969	7,435	404,189
1968	7,085	399,837
1967	6,744	414,632
1966	6,418	363,882
1965	6,109	335,587
1964	5,818	323,623
1963	5,551	321,805
1962	5,297	286,534
1961	5,081	257,788
1960	4,888	277,717

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 +0.66% in Bhutan and +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Bhutan and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Bhutan vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bhutan	North Korea
2023	12.7	12.9
2022	12.8	13.1
2021	12.9	13.3
2020	13	13.4
2019	12.4	13.4
2018	12.9	13.4
2017	13.8	13.5
2016	14.8	13.5
2015	15.7	13.4
2014	16.4	13.4
2013	17.1	13.4
2012	17.6	13.3
2011	18.2	13.3
2010	18.9	13.3
2009	19.6	13.4
2008	20.3	13.9
2007	20.8	13.9
2006	21	14
2005	21.1	13.9
2004	21.3	14.6
2003	21.7	15.3
2002	22.7	16.1
2001	23.9	16.9
2000	25.2	17.5
1999	26.8	18.3
1998	28.3	18.9
1997	29.7	19.4
1996	31.3	20
1995	33.3	20.3
1994	34.6	20.4
1993	35.5	20.4
1992	38.3	20.5
1991	37.6	20.6
1990	38.2	20.5
1989	39	20.2
1988	39.8	20.2
1987	40.5	20.3
1986	41.1	20.4
1985	41.6	20.4
1984	42.3	20.4
1983	42.9	20.5
1982	43.4	20.6
1981	44	20.8
1980	44.5	20.1
1979	45	20.2
1978	45.4	20.1
1977	45.8	20.4
1976	46.1	21.5
1975	46.4	23.9
1974	46.6	25.6
1973	47	28.2
1972	47.2	33.7
1971	47.5	33.4
1970	47.7	35.3
1969	48	36.2
1968	48.2	37.1
1967	48.3	39.3
1966	48.4	36.6
1965	48.5	35.4
1964	48.6	35.4
1963	48.6	36.1
1962	48.6	34
1961	48.7	32.3
1960	48.8	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.7 in Bhutan and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 48.8 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bhutan

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bhutan	North Korea
2100	12.3%	13%
2099	12.3%	13.1%
2098	12.2%	13.2%
2097	12.2%	13.3%
2096	12.2%	13.4%
2095	12.2%	13.4%
2094	12.2%	13.5%
2093	12.2%	13.6%
2092	12.2%	13.7%
2091	12.2%	13.8%
2090	12.2%	13.8%
2089	12.2%	13.8%
2088	12.3%	13.9%
2087	12.3%	13.9%
2086	12.3%	13.9%
2085	12.4%	13.8%
2084	12.4%	13.8%
2083	12.4%	13.8%
2082	12.5%	13.7%
2081	12.5%	13.7%
2080	12.5%	13.7%
2079	12.5%	13.6%
2078	12.6%	13.6%
2077	12.6%	13.6%
2076	12.6%	13.6%
2075	12.6%	13.7%
2074	12.6%	13.7%
2073	12.6%	13.8%
2072	12.6%	13.8%
2071	12.6%	14%
2070	12.6%	14.1%
2069	12.6%	14.2%
2068	12.6%	14.3%
2067	12.6%	14.5%
2066	12.6%	14.6%
2065	12.7%	14.8%
2064	12.7%	14.9%
2063	12.8%	15%
2062	12.8%	15.1%
2061	12.9%	15.2%
2060	13%	15.3%
2059	13.2%	15.4%
2058	13.3%	15.4%
2057	13.4%	15.4%
2056	13.6%	15.4%
2055	13.8%	15.4%
2054	14%	15.4%
2053	14.2%	15.3%
2052	14.4%	15.3%
2051	14.5%	15.2%
2050	14.7%	15.2%
2049	14.9%	15.2%
2048	15.1%	15.2%
2047	15.3%	15.2%
2046	15.5%	15.3%
2045	15.7%	15.3%
2044	15.8%	15.5%
2043	16%	15.6%
2042	16.1%	15.8%
2041	16.3%	16%
2040	16.4%	16.2%
2039	16.5%	16.5%
2038	16.7%	16.7%
2037	16.8%	17%
2036	17%	17.2%
2035	17.1%	17.5%
2034	17.2%	17.8%
2033	17.3%	18%
2032	17.4%	18.2%
2031	17.8%	18.4%
2030	18.1%	18.6%
2029	18.5%	18.7%
2028	19%	18.8%
2027	19.5%	18.9%
2026	20.1%	18.9%
2025	20.6%	18.9%
2024	20.9%	18.9%
2023	21.5%	19%
2022	22%	19%
2021	22.7%	19.1%
2020	23.4%	19.1%
2019	24.2%	19.1%
2018	25%	19.2%
2017	25.8%	19.4%
2016	26.5%	19.6%
2015	27%	19.8%
2014	27.4%	20.1%
2013	27.8%	20.4%
2012	28.3%	20.8%
2011	28.8%	21.2%
2010	29.4%	21.6%
2009	30.1%	22.1%
2008	30.8%	22.5%
2007	31.6%	23%
2006	32.4%	23.4%
2005	33.2%	23.9%
2004	34.3%	24.3%
2003	35.5%	24.6%
2002	36.6%	25%
2001	37.7%	25.3%
2000	38.6%	25.6%
1999	39.4%	25.8%
1998	40.1%	26%
1997	40.7%	26.2%
1996	41.3%	26.3%
1995	41.7%	26.4%
1994	42.1%	26.4%
1993	42.4%	26.4%
1992	42.6%	26.3%
1991	42.8%	26.4%
1990	42.9%	26.5%
1989	43%	26.8%
1988	43%	27.3%
1987	43.1%	28%
1986	43.1%	29%
1985	43.1%	29.9%
1984	43.1%	30.9%
1983	43.1%	32%
1982	43%	33.1%
1981	42.9%	34.2%
1980	42.8%	35.1%
1979	42.7%	36%
1978	42.6%	36.9%
1977	42.5%	37.7%
1976	42.4%	38.3%
1975	42.3%	38.8%
1974	42.2%	39.3%
1973	42.1%	39.8%
1972	42%	40.2%
1971	41.9%	40.3%
1970	41.8%	40.1%
1969	41.8%	39.8%
1968	41.8%	39.2%
1967	41.7%	38.3%
1966	41.7%	37.3%
1965	41.7%	36.7%
1964	41.8%	36.6%
1963	41.8%	36.5%
1962	41.9%	36.6%
1961	42.1%	37%
1960	42.3%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 20.9% of the population in Bhutan and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bhutan and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bhutan vs North Korea

Chart Table

Bhutan

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bhutan	North Korea
2023	47	67
2022	49	67
2021	50	72
2020	51	66
2019	52	66
2018	55	69
2017	58	70
2016	63	71
2015	68	72
2014	73	73
2013	79	75
2012	86	76
2011	96	76
2010	107	77
2009	121	78
2008	133	79
2007	149	80
2006	167	80
2005	186	78
2004	207	77
2003	229	76
2002	257	131
2001	286	130
2000	324	129
1999	346	129
1998	378	129
1997	415	128
1996	450	128
1995	498	127
1994	544	57
1993	578	46
1992	656	37
1991	671	38
1990	704	43
1989	747	49
1988	798	55
1987	857	62
1986	911	68
1985	969	76

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 47 deaths per 100,000 live births in Bhutan, compared to 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bhutan

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bhutan	North Korea
2023	2.31%	1.8%
2022	2.39%	1.77%
2021	2.47%	1.74%
2020	2.55%	1.74%
2019	2.65%	1.77%
2018	2.74%	1.84%
2017	2.85%	1.91%
2016	2.96%	2.06%
2015	3.08%	2.14%
2014	3.22%	2.26%
2013	3.38%	2.41%
2012	3.56%	2.57%
2011	3.77%	2.72%
2010	4.03%	2.87%
2009	4.31%	3%
2008	4.62%	3.1%
2007	4.96%	3.24%
2006	5.32%	3.28%
2005	5.71%	3.33%
2004	6.12%	3.38%
2003	6.54%	3.45%
2002	6.96%	9.78%
2001	7.4%	9.9%
2000	7.85%	10%
1999	8.3%	10.2%
1998	8.77%	10.3%
1997	9.26%	10.5%
1996	9.75%	10.6%
1995	10.3%	10.8%
1994	10.8%	4.25%
1993	11.3%	4.27%
1992	11.8%	4.25%
1991	12.3%	4.18%
1990	12.8%	4.07%
1989	13.4%	3.95%
1988	14%	3.83%
1987	14.6%	3.78%
1986	15.3%	3.68%
1985	15.9%	3.68%
1984	16.6%	3.71%
1983	17.3%	3.8%
1982	18%	3.91%
1981	18.7%	4.05%
1980	19.5%	4.22%
1979	20.2%	4.4%
1978	20.9%	4.59%
1977	21.6%	4.8%
1976	22.3%	5.03%
1975	22.9%	5.28%
1974	23.6%	5.56%
1973	24.3%	5.86%
1972	24.9%	6.2%
1971	25.5%	6.58%
1970	26.2%	6.99%
1969	26.7%	7.45%
1968	27.4%	7.94%
1967	-	8.45%
1966	-	8.96%
1965	-	9.46%
1964	-	9.92%
1963	-	10.4%
1962	-	10.8%
1961	-	11.2%
1960	-	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.31% in Bhutan and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.