Fertility & birth rates in Bhutan and South Korea

Fertility rate in Bhutan vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bhutan	South Korea
2023	1.46	0.72
2022	1.48	0.78
2021	1.49	0.81
2020	1.5	0.84
2019	1.45	0.92
2018	1.52	0.98
2017	1.62	1.05
2016	1.74	1.17
2015	1.84	1.24
2014	1.92	1.21
2013	2	1.19
2012	2.07	1.3
2011	2.15	1.24
2010	2.25	1.23
2009	2.36	1.15
2008	2.48	1.19
2007	2.59	1.26
2006	2.66	1.13
2005	2.73	1.09
2004	2.78	1.16
2003	2.87	1.19
2002	3.01	1.18
2001	3.19	1.31
2000	3.38	1.48
1999	3.61	1.43
1998	3.85	1.46
1997	4.09	1.54
1996	4.37	1.57
1995	4.62	1.63
1994	4.87	1.66
1993	5.07	1.65
1992	5.27	1.76
1991	5.45	1.71
1990	5.6	1.57
1989	5.76	1.56
1988	5.88	1.55
1987	6	1.53
1986	6.1	1.58
1985	6.18	1.66
1984	6.26	1.74
1983	6.34	2.06
1982	6.4	2.39
1981	6.46	2.57
1980	6.51	2.82
1979	6.55	2.9
1978	6.58	2.64
1977	6.61	2.99
1976	6.62	3
1975	6.62	3.43
1974	6.62	3.77
1973	6.63	4.07
1972	6.64	4.12
1971	6.64	4.54
1970	6.65	4.53
1969	6.66	4.45
1968	6.66	4.51
1967	6.67	4.62
1966	6.67	4.78
1965	6.68	4.89
1964	6.68	5.07
1963	6.69	5.33
1962	6.69	5.56
1961	6.7	5.8
1960	6.7	5.99

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 1.46 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bhutan	South Korea
2023	5,153	-77,569
2022	5,204	-124,014
2021	5,162	-56,947
2020	5,142	-31,101
2019	4,643	10,353
2018	4,909	30,951
2017	5,367	71,907
2016	6,164	122,923
2015	6,762	163,248
2014	7,290	167,464
2013	7,689	166,415
2012	7,967	215,859
2011	8,282	214,728
2010	8,598	213,083
2009	8,913	197,231
2008	9,200	215,841
2007	9,322	248,286
2006	9,197	203,441
2005	9,102	187,920
2004	9,056	225,988
2003	9,132	244,251
2002	9,464	247,752
2001	9,904	312,643
2000	10,142	390,167
1999	10,940	368,272
1998	11,320	393,436
1997	11,668	422,773
1996	12,153	446,142
1995	12,938	468,967
1994	13,536	473,200
1993	13,915	477,302
1992	15,594	494,352
1991	15,801	467,594
1990	15,704	411,546
1989	15,516	403,266
1988	15,212	399,297
1987	14,887	378,758
1986	14,516	395,651
1985	14,061	416,219
1984	13,688	436,384
1983	13,284	514,844
1982	12,872	605,626
1981	12,444	631,189
1980	12,016	583,294
1979	11,583	623,068
1978	11,133	499,084
1977	10,679	578,947
1976	10,228	530,558
1975	9,775	603,300
1974	9,324	673,030
1973	8,939	699,115
1972	8,549	740,469
1971	8,161	789,185
1970	7,791	747,987
1969	7,435	694,227
1968	7,085	684,487
1967	6,744	692,169
1966	6,418	623,534
1965	6,109	641,090
1964	5,818	655,501
1963	5,551	685,824
1962	5,297	712,590
1961	5,081	730,173
1960	4,888	728,010

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 -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Bhutan and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Bhutan vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bhutan	South Korea
2023	12.7	4.5
2022	12.8	4.9
2021	12.9	5.1
2020	13	5.3
2019	12.4	5.9
2018	12.9	6.4
2017	13.8	7
2016	14.8	7.9
2015	15.7	8.6
2014	16.4	8.6
2013	17.1	8.6
2012	17.6	9.6
2011	18.2	9.4
2010	18.9	9.4
2009	19.6	9
2008	20.3	9.4
2007	20.8	10.1
2006	21	9.2
2005	21.1	9
2004	21.3	9.8
2003	21.7	10.2
2002	22.7	10.3
2001	23.9	11.7
2000	25.2	13.5
1999	26.8	13.2
1998	28.3	13.7
1997	29.7	14.5
1996	31.3	15
1995	33.3	15.7
1994	34.6	16
1993	35.5	16
1992	38.3	16.7
1991	37.6	16.4
1990	38.2	15.2
1989	39	15.1
1988	39.8	15.1
1987	40.5	15
1986	41.1	15.4
1985	41.6	16.1
1984	42.3	16.7
1983	42.9	19.3
1982	43.4	21.6
1981	44	22.4
1980	44.5	22.6
1979	45	23
1978	45.4	20.3
1977	45.8	22.7
1976	46.1	22.2
1975	46.4	24.8
1974	46.6	26.6
1973	47	28.3
1972	47.2	28.4
1971	47.5	31.2
1970	47.7	31.2
1969	48	30.3
1968	48.2	30.7
1967	48.3	31.5
1966	48.4	32.8
1965	48.5	33.8
1964	48.6	35.2
1963	48.6	37.2
1962	48.6	39
1961	48.7	40.9
1960	48.8	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.7 in Bhutan and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 48.8 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bhutan

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bhutan	South Korea
2100	12.3%	8.61%
2099	12.3%	8.6%
2098	12.2%	8.59%
2097	12.2%	8.59%
2096	12.2%	8.59%
2095	12.2%	8.6%
2094	12.2%	8.61%
2093	12.2%	8.62%
2092	12.2%	8.62%
2091	12.2%	8.62%
2090	12.2%	8.62%
2089	12.2%	8.6%
2088	12.3%	8.58%
2087	12.3%	8.55%
2086	12.3%	8.5%
2085	12.4%	8.45%
2084	12.4%	8.39%
2083	12.4%	8.33%
2082	12.5%	8.26%
2081	12.5%	8.18%
2080	12.5%	8.09%
2079	12.5%	8%
2078	12.6%	7.91%
2077	12.6%	7.82%
2076	12.6%	7.72%
2075	12.6%	7.63%
2074	12.6%	7.53%
2073	12.6%	7.44%
2072	12.6%	7.35%
2071	12.6%	7.28%
2070	12.6%	7.21%
2069	12.6%	7.16%
2068	12.6%	7.13%
2067	12.6%	7.11%
2066	12.6%	7.11%
2065	12.7%	7.14%
2064	12.7%	7.18%
2063	12.8%	7.23%
2062	12.8%	7.3%
2061	12.9%	7.37%
2060	13%	7.45%
2059	13.2%	7.52%
2058	13.3%	7.6%
2057	13.4%	7.66%
2056	13.6%	7.72%
2055	13.8%	7.76%
2054	14%	7.79%
2053	14.2%	7.81%
2052	14.4%	7.83%
2051	14.5%	7.83%
2050	14.7%	7.83%
2049	14.9%	7.82%
2048	15.1%	7.81%
2047	15.3%	7.8%
2046	15.5%	7.79%
2045	15.7%	7.78%
2044	15.8%	7.78%
2043	16%	7.77%
2042	16.1%	7.76%
2041	16.3%	7.74%
2040	16.4%	7.72%
2039	16.5%	7.7%
2038	16.7%	7.66%
2037	16.8%	7.65%
2036	17%	7.65%
2035	17.1%	7.66%
2034	17.2%	7.73%
2033	17.3%	7.85%
2032	17.4%	8.02%
2031	17.8%	8.28%
2030	18.1%	8.59%
2029	18.5%	8.9%
2028	19%	9.23%
2027	19.5%	9.62%
2026	20.1%	10%
2025	20.6%	10.4%
2024	20.9%	10.6%
2023	21.5%	11%
2022	22%	11.4%
2021	22.7%	11.8%
2020	23.4%	12.1%
2019	24.2%	12.4%
2018	25%	12.7%
2017	25.8%	13%
2016	26.5%	13.4%
2015	27%	13.8%
2014	27.4%	14.2%
2013	27.8%	14.7%
2012	28.3%	15.2%
2011	28.8%	15.8%
2010	29.4%	16.4%
2009	30.1%	16.9%
2008	30.8%	17.5%
2007	31.6%	18.1%
2006	32.4%	18.7%
2005	33.2%	19.2%
2004	34.3%	19.7%
2003	35.5%	20.1%
2002	36.6%	20.5%
2001	37.7%	20.8%
2000	38.6%	21%
1999	39.4%	21.2%
1998	40.1%	21.6%
1997	40.7%	22%
1996	41.3%	22.5%
1995	41.7%	23.1%
1994	42.1%	23.7%
1993	42.4%	24.2%
1992	42.6%	24.7%
1991	42.8%	25.2%
1990	42.9%	25.8%
1989	43%	26.5%
1988	43%	27.3%
1987	43.1%	28.2%
1986	43.1%	29.2%
1985	43.1%	30.2%
1984	43.1%	31.2%
1983	43.1%	32%
1982	43%	32.7%
1981	42.9%	33.3%
1980	42.8%	34%
1979	42.7%	34.8%
1978	42.6%	35.6%
1977	42.5%	36.5%
1976	42.4%	37.5%
1975	42.3%	38.5%
1974	42.2%	39.5%
1973	42.1%	40.3%
1972	42%	41%
1971	41.9%	41.5%
1970	41.8%	42.1%
1969	41.8%	42.7%
1968	41.8%	43.1%
1967	41.7%	43.3%
1966	41.7%	43.5%
1965	41.7%	43.3%
1964	41.8%	43.1%
1963	41.8%	42.7%
1962	41.9%	42.3%
1961	42.1%	41.8%
1960	42.3%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 20.9% of the population in Bhutan and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bhutan and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bhutan vs South Korea

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bhutan	South Korea
2023	47	4
2022	49	7
2021	50	5
2020	51	12
2019	52	5
2018	55	5
2017	58	6
2016	63	6
2015	68	6
2014	73	7
2013	79	7
2012	86	8
2011	96	8
2010	107	8
2009	121	9
2008	133	9
2007	149	10
2006	167	10
2005	186	11
2004	207	12
2003	229	13
2002	257	13
2001	286	14
2000	324	15
1999	346	17
1998	378	18
1997	415	19
1996	450	20
1995	498	22
1994	544	23
1993	578	24
1992	656	26
1991	671	28
1990	704	28
1989	747	29
1988	798	31
1987	857	34
1986	911	35
1985	969	38

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 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bhutan	South Korea
2023	2.31%	0.28%
2022	2.39%	0.28%
2021	2.47%	0.29%
2020	2.55%	0.3%
2019	2.65%	0.31%
2018	2.74%	0.32%
2017	2.85%	0.33%
2016	2.96%	0.34%
2015	3.08%	0.35%
2014	3.22%	0.36%
2013	3.38%	0.37%
2012	3.56%	0.38%
2011	3.77%	0.4%
2010	4.03%	0.41%
2009	4.31%	0.43%
2008	4.62%	0.45%
2007	4.96%	0.48%
2006	5.32%	0.52%
2005	5.71%	0.56%
2004	6.12%	0.6%
2003	6.54%	0.64%
2002	6.96%	0.68%
2001	7.4%	0.71%
2000	7.85%	0.75%
1999	8.3%	0.8%
1998	8.77%	0.85%
1997	9.26%	0.91%
1996	9.75%	0.98%
1995	10.3%	1.05%
1994	10.8%	1.14%
1993	11.3%	1.23%
1992	11.8%	1.33%
1991	12.3%	1.44%
1990	12.8%	1.57%
1989	13.4%	1.71%
1988	14%	1.87%
1987	14.6%	2.05%
1986	15.3%	2.25%
1985	15.9%	2.46%
1984	16.6%	2.7%
1983	17.3%	2.93%
1982	18%	3.17%
1981	18.7%	3.4%
1980	19.5%	3.63%
1979	20.2%	3.84%
1978	20.9%	4.04%
1977	21.6%	4.23%
1976	22.3%	4.42%
1975	22.9%	4.61%
1974	23.6%	4.82%
1973	24.3%	5.07%
1972	24.9%	5.36%
1971	25.5%	5.71%
1970	26.2%	6.12%
1969	26.7%	6.59%
1968	27.4%	7.1%
1967	-	7.62%
1966	-	8.16%
1965	-	8.68%
1964	-	9.18%
1963	-	9.67%
1962	-	10.1%
1961	-	10.6%
1960	-	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.31% in Bhutan and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.