Fertility & birth rates in China and Congo

Fertility rate in China vs Congo by year

Chart Table

China

Congo

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Congo
2023	1	4.16
2022	1.03	4.22
2021	1.12	4.28
2020	1.24	4.33
2019	1.5	4.38
2018	1.54	4.44
2017	1.8	4.5
2016	1.77	4.55
2015	1.67	4.61
2014	1.77	4.67
2013	1.71	4.73
2012	1.8	4.79
2011	1.67	4.83
2010	1.69	4.85
2009	1.71	4.81
2008	1.7	4.73
2007	1.67	4.65
2006	1.64	4.65
2005	1.62	4.67
2004	1.61	4.69
2003	1.57	4.7
2002	1.57	4.7
2001	1.56	4.67
2000	1.63	4.72
1999	1.53	4.81
1998	1.52	4.91
1997	1.53	5
1996	1.55	5.03
1995	1.59	5.07
1994	1.63	5.1
1993	1.69	5.13
1992	1.78	5.18
1991	1.93	5.22
1990	2.51	5.27
1989	2.52	5.33
1988	2.54	5.39
1987	2.76	5.46
1986	2.72	5.51
1985	2.63	5.59
1984	2.61	5.66
1983	2.56	5.76
1982	2.97	5.85
1981	2.79	5.98
1980	2.74	6.07
1979	2.75	6.14
1978	2.72	6.21
1977	2.84	6.27
1976	3.24	6.32
1975	3.57	6.36
1974	4.17	6.39
1973	4.73	6.42
1972	5.11	6.44
1971	5.52	6.42
1970	6.09	6.38
1969	6.18	6.35
1968	6.51	6.33
1967	5.81	6.29
1966	6.31	6.27
1965	6.61	6.23
1964	6.67	6.18
1963	7.51	6.15
1962	6.09	6.1
1961	3.86	6.09
1960	4.45	6.09

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.16 in the Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check China vs the Congo population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Congo

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Congo
2023	-2,087,851	150,486
2022	-847,305	147,076
2021	480,203	144,241
2020	2,046,095	143,492
2019	4,673,713	139,513
2018	5,302,433	142,704
2017	7,790,880	141,973
2016	9,062,269	141,358
2015	6,788,911	141,539
2014	9,205,180	141,674
2013	8,043,116	142,080
2012	10,075,174	142,464
2011	8,245,065	140,371
2010	6,407,607	136,908
2009	6,483,236	126,904
2008	6,729,247	120,711
2007	6,813,465	112,459
2006	6,922,185	106,876
2005	7,678,911	101,344
2004	7,607,960	96,577
2003	7,743,284	91,326
2002	8,258,580	88,497
2001	8,839,358	84,876
2000	9,570,849	78,491
1999	10,247,372	76,204
1998	11,351,286	72,450
1997	12,374,554	66,149
1996	12,686,872	75,628
1995	12,711,220	74,189
1994	13,360,470	72,857
1993	13,493,138	71,119
1992	13,548,601	69,973
1991	14,937,124	68,534
1990	16,335,313	67,241
1989	16,824,495	65,944
1988	17,328,640	64,629
1987	18,005,821	63,183
1986	16,609,920	61,669
1985	14,987,830	60,359
1984	13,561,671	59,028
1983	13,599,789	58,120
1982	15,815,318	57,036
1981	14,461,027	56,603
1980	11,647,260	55,550
1979	11,250,148	54,723
1978	11,473,980	53,885
1977	11,378,068	53,179
1976	11,782,472	52,148
1975	14,378,237	51,155
1974	15,738,118	49,563
1973	18,423,727	48,017
1972	19,102,585	46,427
1971	19,622,980	44,431
1970	21,137,076	42,374
1969	20,760,332	40,532
1968	21,206,083	38,786
1967	19,263,662	36,866
1966	19,282,187	35,452
1965	20,296,950	33,865
1964	19,302,532	32,270
1963	22,742,225	30,832
1962	17,969,132	29,342
1961	2,496,047	28,220
1960	-3,048,510	27,094

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 -0.15% in China and +2.43% in the Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +2.59% in the Congo.

Birth rate in China vs Congo by year

Chart Table

China

Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Congo
2023	6.39	30.6
2022	6.77	30.9
2021	7.52	31.4
2020	8.52	31.7
2019	10.4	32.2
2018	10.9	32.8
2017	12.6	33.4
2016	13.6	34.1
2015	12	34.9
2014	13.8	35.8
2013	13	36.8
2012	14.6	37.8
2011	13.3	38.4
2010	11.9	38.9
2009	12	38
2008	12.1	38
2007	12.1	37.2
2006	12.1	37.1
2005	12.4	37
2004	12.3	37.1
2003	12.4	37
2002	12.9	37.3
2001	13.4	37.1
2000	14	36.2
1999	14.6	37
1998	15.6	37.5
1997	16.6	38.4
1996	17	38.4
1995	17.1	38.5
1994	17.7	38.6
1993	18.1	38.6
1992	18.3	38.7
1991	19.7	38.8
1990	21.1	38.9
1989	21.6	39.1
1988	22.4	39.2
1987	23.3	39.4
1986	22.4	39.6
1985	21	39.8
1984	19.9	40.1
1983	20.2	40.6
1982	22.3	40.8
1981	20.9	41.4
1980	18.2	41.8
1979	17.8	42.2
1978	18.3	42.7
1977	18.9	43.2
1976	19.9	43.6
1975	23	44
1974	24.8	44.1
1973	27.9	44.3
1972	29.8	44.5
1971	30.7	44.4
1970	33.4	44.1
1969	34.1	44
1968	35.6	43.9
1967	34	43.7
1966	35.1	43.6
1965	37.9	43.5
1964	39.1	43.4
1963	43.4	43.3
1962	37	43.2
1961	18	43.3
1960	20.9	43.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 30.6 in the Congo, compared with 20.9 and 43.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Congo

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Congo
2100	7.83%	22.6%
2099	7.84%	22.7%
2098	7.87%	22.8%
2097	7.91%	23%
2096	7.96%	23.1%
2095	8.03%	23.3%
2094	8.1%	23.4%
2093	8.18%	23.6%
2092	8.26%	23.8%
2091	8.34%	23.9%
2090	8.41%	24.1%
2089	8.47%	24.3%
2088	8.52%	24.4%
2087	8.55%	24.6%
2086	8.57%	24.8%
2085	8.57%	25%
2084	8.56%	25.2%
2083	8.53%	25.4%
2082	8.48%	25.6%
2081	8.41%	25.9%
2080	8.34%	26.1%
2079	8.25%	26.3%
2078	8.15%	26.5%
2077	8.06%	26.7%
2076	7.96%	26.9%
2075	7.86%	27.1%
2074	7.77%	27.3%
2073	7.7%	27.5%
2072	7.64%	27.7%
2071	7.6%	27.9%
2070	7.58%	28.1%
2069	7.59%	28.3%
2068	7.63%	28.5%
2067	7.7%	28.7%
2066	7.8%	29%
2065	7.93%	29.2%
2064	8.08%	29.4%
2063	8.25%	29.6%
2062	8.44%	29.9%
2061	8.64%	30.1%
2060	8.84%	30.4%
2059	9.03%	30.7%
2058	9.22%	30.9%
2057	9.39%	31.2%
2056	9.54%	31.5%
2055	9.67%	31.8%
2054	9.78%	32.1%
2053	9.86%	32.4%
2052	9.92%	32.7%
2051	9.94%	32.9%
2050	9.94%	33.2%
2049	9.92%	33.5%
2048	9.88%	33.8%
2047	9.82%	34.1%
2046	9.75%	34.3%
2045	9.67%	34.6%
2044	9.59%	34.8%
2043	9.52%	35%
2042	9.46%	35.2%
2041	9.4%	35.4%
2040	9.35%	35.6%
2039	9.32%	35.7%
2038	9.3%	35.9%
2037	9.32%	36.1%
2036	9.42%	36.3%
2035	9.63%	36.5%
2034	10%	36.7%
2033	10.5%	36.9%
2032	11.2%	37.2%
2031	11.8%	37.5%
2030	12.4%	37.8%
2029	13.1%	38.2%
2028	13.8%	38.6%
2027	14.5%	39.1%
2026	15.1%	39.7%
2025	15.7%	40.2%
2024	16%	40.4%
2023	16.6%	40.9%
2022	17.1%	41.3%
2021	17.6%	41.5%
2020	18%	41.8%
2019	18.2%	41.9%
2018	18.3%	42.1%
2017	18.4%	42.1%
2016	18.3%	42.1%
2015	18.3%	41.9%
2014	18.3%	41.7%
2013	18.3%	41.3%
2012	18.3%	41%
2011	18.3%	40.6%
2010	18.5%	40.4%
2009	18.6%	40.5%
2008	18.9%	40.7%
2007	19.2%	40.7%
2006	19.6%	40.9%
2005	20.3%	41.1%
2004	21.2%	41.4%
2003	22%	41.7%
2002	22.9%	41.9%
2001	23.8%	41.9%
2000	24.5%	42.5%
1999	25.2%	43.1%
1998	25.7%	43.3%
1997	26.3%	43.3%
1996	27%	43.2%
1995	27.4%	43.3%
1994	27.8%	43.4%
1993	28.2%	43.6%
1992	28.4%	43.8%
1991	28.6%	44%
1990	28.8%	44.2%
1989	28.9%	44.3%
1988	29.3%	44.5%
1987	29.8%	44.6%
1986	30.4%	44.7%
1985	31.2%	44.9%
1984	32.2%	45%
1983	33.3%	45.2%
1982	34.3%	45.4%
1981	35.1%	45.6%
1980	36.1%	45.7%
1979	37.2%	45.8%
1978	38.6%	45.8%
1977	39.8%	45.8%
1976	40.3%	45.7%
1975	40.2%	45.5%
1974	40.2%	45.4%
1973	40.1%	45.2%
1972	40.4%	45%
1971	40.7%	44.8%
1970	40.8%	44.7%
1969	41%	44.5%
1968	41%	44.3%
1967	41.3%	44.2%
1966	41.5%	44%
1965	41.5%	43.9%
1964	41.2%	43.7%
1963	40.6%	43.5%
1962	40%	43.3%
1961	40%	43%
1960	40.3%	42.7%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 40.4% in the Congo in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 44.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and the Congo compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Congo

Chart Table

China

Congo

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Congo
2023	16	241
2022	18	241
2021	21	301
2020	20	247
2019	21	245
2018	22	259
2017	24	262
2016	25	263
2015	26	284
2014	28	302
2013	30	320
2012	32	374
2011	33	378
2010	34	382
2009	35	414
2008	38	395
2007	38	370
2006	40	394
2005	42	385
2004	45	400
2003	47	436
2002	50	464
2001	52	489
2000	56	509
1999	58	554
1998	60	597
1997	63	650
1996	67	545
1995	71	551
1994	76	551
1993	80	541
1992	86	531
1991	92	514
1990	102	505
1989	104	506
1988	108	510
1987	114	519
1986	120	535
1985	125	546

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 16 deaths per 100,000 live births in China, compared to 241 deaths in the Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Congo
2023	0.62%	4.05%
2022	0.66%	4.19%
2021	0.7%	4.33%
2020	0.75%	4.47%
2019	0.8%	5.24%
2018	0.86%	4.77%
2017	0.92%	4.93%
2016	0.99%	5.09%
2015	1.07%	5.27%
2014	1.15%	5.45%
2013	1.25%	5.64%
2012	1.35%	5.82%
2011	1.46%	6.02%
2010	1.58%	6.25%
2009	1.71%	6.55%
2008	1.85%	6.95%
2007	2.01%	7.43%
2006	2.19%	8.02%
2005	2.4%	8.66%
2004	2.64%	9.35%
2003	2.89%	10%
2002	3.15%	10.6%
2001	3.42%	11.1%
2000	3.67%	11.4%
1999	3.91%	11.5%
1998	4.14%	11.4%
1997	4.36%	11.2%
1996	4.56%	10.9%
1995	4.75%	10.5%
1994	4.93%	10.2%
1993	5.08%	9.84%
1992	5.22%	9.54%
1991	5.31%	9.31%
1990	5.37%	9.15%
1989	5.39%	9.05%
1988	5.4%	9.04%
1987	5.4%	9.11%
1986	5.4%	9.25%
1985	5.43%	9.44%
1984	5.5%	9.68%
1983	5.61%	9.95%
1982	5.78%	10.2%
1981	6%	10.5%
1980	6.28%	10.7%
1979	6.62%	11%
1978	7.01%	11.2%
1977	7.47%	11.5%
1976	7.97%	11.8%
1975	8.5%	12.1%
1974	9.05%	12.4%
1973	9.61%	12.6%
1972	10.2%	13%
1971	10.7%	13.4%
1970	11.3%	13.7%
1969	11.9%	14.2%
1968	-	14.6%
1967	-	15.1%
1966	-	15.6%
1965	-	16.1%
1964	-	16.7%
1963	-	17.3%
1962	-	18%
1961	-	18.6%
1960	-	19.4%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 4.05% in the Congo. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.