Fertility & birth rates in China and DR Congo

Fertility rate in China vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

China

DR Congo

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	DR Congo
2023	1	6.05
2022	1.03	6.11
2021	1.12	6.16
2020	1.24	6.21
2019	1.5	6.25
2018	1.54	6.3
2017	1.8	6.35
2016	1.77	6.39
2015	1.67	6.44
2014	1.77	6.48
2013	1.71	6.53
2012	1.8	6.56
2011	1.67	6.58
2010	1.69	6.59
2009	1.71	6.59
2008	1.7	6.58
2007	1.67	6.56
2006	1.64	6.55
2005	1.62	6.53
2004	1.61	6.53
2003	1.57	6.55
2002	1.57	6.61
2001	1.56	6.66
2000	1.63	6.7
1999	1.53	6.69
1998	1.52	6.7
1997	1.53	6.69
1996	1.55	6.67
1995	1.59	6.68
1994	1.63	6.64
1993	1.69	6.64
1992	1.78	6.64
1991	1.93	6.65
1990	2.51	6.65
1989	2.52	6.65
1988	2.54	6.66
1987	2.76	6.65
1986	2.72	6.63
1985	2.63	6.61
1984	2.61	6.59
1983	2.56	6.56
1982	2.97	6.54
1981	2.79	6.52
1980	2.74	6.5
1979	2.75	6.48
1978	2.72	6.46
1977	2.84	6.45
1976	3.24	6.44
1975	3.57	6.42
1974	4.17	6.4
1973	4.73	6.39
1972	5.11	6.37
1971	5.52	6.34
1970	6.09	6.33
1969	6.18	6.3
1968	6.51	6.29
1967	5.81	6.27
1966	6.31	6.24
1965	6.61	6.21
1964	6.67	6.19
1963	7.51	6.16
1962	6.09	6.14
1961	3.86	6.12
1960	4.45	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 6.05 in the DR Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

DR Congo

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	DR Congo
2023	-2,087,851	3,467,787
2022	-847,305	3,347,664
2021	480,203	3,227,992
2020	2,046,095	3,156,152
2019	4,673,713	3,075,538
2018	5,302,433	2,993,184
2017	7,790,880	2,883,245
2016	9,062,269	2,753,687
2015	6,788,911	2,665,016
2014	9,205,180	2,580,251
2013	8,043,116	2,489,378
2012	10,075,174	2,405,462
2011	8,245,065	2,310,679
2010	6,407,607	2,212,255
2009	6,483,236	2,126,912
2008	6,729,247	2,044,210
2007	6,813,465	1,963,738
2006	6,922,185	1,889,398
2005	7,678,911	1,800,300
2004	7,607,960	1,731,022
2003	7,743,284	1,679,188
2002	8,258,580	1,631,597
2001	8,839,358	1,594,999
2000	9,570,849	1,549,518
1999	10,247,372	1,450,318
1998	11,351,286	1,375,130
1997	12,374,554	1,392,037
1996	12,686,872	1,380,490
1995	12,711,220	1,395,440
1994	13,360,470	1,259,539
1993	13,493,138	1,209,242
1992	13,548,601	1,152,781
1991	14,937,124	1,114,033
1990	16,335,313	1,063,508
1989	16,824,495	1,027,238
1988	17,328,640	995,278
1987	18,005,821	959,875
1986	16,609,920	925,334
1985	14,987,830	885,670
1984	13,561,671	844,956
1983	13,599,789	807,122
1982	15,815,318	774,823
1981	14,461,027	748,371
1980	11,647,260	724,111
1979	11,250,148	691,773
1978	11,473,980	646,411
1977	11,378,068	638,242
1976	11,782,472	624,147
1975	14,378,237	608,655
1974	15,738,118	593,539
1973	18,423,727	578,280
1972	19,102,585	564,495
1971	19,622,980	549,343
1970	21,137,076	533,300
1969	20,760,332	514,800
1968	21,206,083	497,682
1967	19,263,662	479,552
1966	19,282,187	463,397
1965	20,296,950	429,002
1964	19,302,532	406,334
1963	22,742,225	398,972
1962	17,969,132	383,406
1961	2,496,047	368,207
1960	-3,048,510	363,517

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 +3.28% in the DR Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +3.29% in the DR Congo.

Birth rate in China vs DR Congo by year

Chart Table

China

DR Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	DR Congo
2023	6.39	41.3
2022	6.77	41.6
2021	7.52	41.9
2020	8.52	42.2
2019	10.4	42.5
2018	10.9	42.9
2017	12.6	43
2016	13.6	42.9
2015	12	43.2
2014	13.8	43.5
2013	13	43.7
2012	14.6	44
2011	13.3	44
2010	11.9	43.9
2009	12	44
2008	12.1	44
2007	12.1	44
2006	12.1	44
2005	12.4	43.7
2004	12.3	43.8
2003	12.4	44.2
2002	12.9	44.6
2001	13.4	45
2000	14	45.3
1999	14.6	45.2
1998	15.6	44.9
1997	16.6	46
1996	17	47
1995	17.1	47.2
1994	17.7	45.3
1993	18.1	45.9
1992	18.3	45.7
1991	19.7	46
1990	21.1	45.9
1989	21.6	46.1
1988	22.4	46.4
1987	23.3	46.5
1986	22.4	46.6
1985	21	46.5
1984	19.9	46.2
1983	20.2	46.1
1982	22.3	46
1981	20.9	46.1
1980	18.2	46.1
1979	17.8	45.8
1978	18.3	45.4
1977	18.9	45.9
1976	19.9	46.2
1975	23	46.4
1974	24.8	46.6
1973	27.9	46.9
1972	29.8	47.1
1971	30.7	47.4
1970	33.4	47.6
1969	34.1	47.7
1968	35.6	47.8
1967	34	47.9
1966	35.1	47.9
1965	37.9	47.8
1964	39.1	47.7
1963	43.4	47.5
1962	37	47.4
1961	18	47.2
1960	20.9	47.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 41.3 in the DR Congo, compared with 20.9 and 47.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	DR Congo
2100	7.83%	23.4%
2099	7.84%	23.6%
2098	7.87%	23.8%
2097	7.91%	24%
2096	7.96%	24.2%
2095	8.03%	24.4%
2094	8.1%	24.6%
2093	8.18%	24.8%
2092	8.26%	25%
2091	8.34%	25.2%
2090	8.41%	25.4%
2089	8.47%	25.6%
2088	8.52%	25.8%
2087	8.55%	26.1%
2086	8.57%	26.3%
2085	8.57%	26.5%
2084	8.56%	26.8%
2083	8.53%	27%
2082	8.48%	27.2%
2081	8.41%	27.5%
2080	8.34%	27.8%
2079	8.25%	28%
2078	8.15%	28.3%
2077	8.06%	28.6%
2076	7.96%	28.9%
2075	7.86%	29.2%
2074	7.77%	29.5%
2073	7.7%	29.8%
2072	7.64%	30.1%
2071	7.6%	30.4%
2070	7.58%	30.7%
2069	7.59%	31.1%
2068	7.63%	31.4%
2067	7.7%	31.7%
2066	7.8%	32.1%
2065	7.93%	32.4%
2064	8.08%	32.8%
2063	8.25%	33.1%
2062	8.44%	33.5%
2061	8.64%	33.8%
2060	8.84%	34.1%
2059	9.03%	34.5%
2058	9.22%	34.8%
2057	9.39%	35.1%
2056	9.54%	35.5%
2055	9.67%	35.8%
2054	9.78%	36.1%
2053	9.86%	36.5%
2052	9.92%	36.8%
2051	9.94%	37.1%
2050	9.94%	37.5%
2049	9.92%	37.8%
2048	9.88%	38.2%
2047	9.82%	38.6%
2046	9.75%	39%
2045	9.67%	39.4%
2044	9.59%	39.8%
2043	9.52%	40.2%
2042	9.46%	40.6%
2041	9.4%	41.1%
2040	9.35%	41.5%
2039	9.32%	42%
2038	9.3%	42.4%
2037	9.32%	42.8%
2036	9.42%	43.2%
2035	9.63%	43.6%
2034	10%	44%
2033	10.5%	44.3%
2032	11.2%	44.6%
2031	11.8%	44.9%
2030	12.4%	45.2%
2029	13.1%	45.4%
2028	13.8%	45.6%
2027	14.5%	45.8%
2026	15.1%	45.9%
2025	15.7%	46%
2024	16%	46%
2023	16.6%	46.1%
2022	17.1%	46.1%
2021	17.6%	46.1%
2020	18%	46.1%
2019	18.2%	46%
2018	18.3%	45.9%
2017	18.4%	45.8%
2016	18.3%	45.9%
2015	18.3%	46%
2014	18.3%	46%
2013	18.3%	46%
2012	18.3%	46%
2011	18.3%	46%
2010	18.5%	46.1%
2009	18.6%	46.1%
2008	18.9%	46%
2007	19.2%	46%
2006	19.6%	45.9%
2005	20.3%	45.9%
2004	21.2%	45.9%
2003	22%	45.8%
2002	22.9%	45.7%
2001	23.8%	45.7%
2000	24.5%	45.7%
1999	25.2%	45.6%
1998	25.7%	45.6%
1997	26.3%	45.4%
1996	27%	44.7%
1995	27.4%	44%
1994	27.8%	44.1%
1993	28.2%	44.5%
1992	28.4%	44.5%
1991	28.6%	44.4%
1990	28.8%	44.4%
1989	28.9%	44.3%
1988	29.3%	44.3%
1987	29.8%	44.2%
1986	30.4%	44.1%
1985	31.2%	44.1%
1984	32.2%	44.1%
1983	33.3%	44.2%
1982	34.3%	44.3%
1981	35.1%	44.3%
1980	36.1%	44.2%
1979	37.2%	44.3%
1978	38.6%	44.5%
1977	39.8%	44.6%
1976	40.3%	44.5%
1975	40.2%	44.3%
1974	40.2%	44.2%
1973	40.1%	44%
1972	40.4%	43.8%
1971	40.7%	43.6%
1970	40.8%	43.4%
1969	41%	43.3%
1968	41%	43.2%
1967	41.3%	43%
1966	41.5%	42.9%
1965	41.5%	42.8%
1964	41.2%	42.7%
1963	40.6%	42.7%
1962	40%	42.7%
1961	40%	42.8%
1960	40.3%	42.9%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 46% in the DR Congo in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 44.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and the DR Congo compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs DR Congo

Chart Table

China

DR Congo

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	DR Congo
2023	16	427
2022	18	456
2021	21	507
2020	20	489
2019	21	493
2018	22	508
2017	24	519
2016	25	526
2015	26	545
2014	28	558
2013	30	567
2012	32	578
2011	33	589
2010	34	601
2009	35	608
2008	38	620
2007	38	631
2006	40	619
2005	42	613
2004	45	607
2003	47	605
2002	50	601
2001	52	588
2000	56	585
1999	58	601
1998	60	605
1997	63	617
1996	67	661
1995	71	644
1994	76	656
1993	80	683
1992	86	709
1991	92	735
1990	102	755
1989	104	791
1988	108	824
1987	114	863
1986	120	902
1985	125	934

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 427 deaths in the DR Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

DR Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	DR Congo
2023	0.62%	7.32%
2022	0.66%	7.57%
2021	0.7%	7.81%
2020	0.75%	8.07%
2019	0.8%	8.35%
2018	0.86%	8.63%
2017	0.92%	8.93%
2016	0.99%	9.23%
2015	1.07%	9.56%
2014	1.15%	9.9%
2013	1.25%	10.3%
2012	1.35%	10.6%
2011	1.46%	11%
2010	1.58%	11.4%
2009	1.71%	11.8%
2008	1.85%	12.2%
2007	2.01%	12.7%
2006	2.19%	13.1%
2005	2.4%	13.6%
2004	2.64%	14.1%
2003	2.89%	14.6%
2002	3.15%	15%
2001	3.42%	15.5%
2000	3.67%	15.9%
1999	3.91%	16.3%
1998	4.14%	16.7%
1997	4.36%	17%
1996	4.56%	17.3%
1995	4.75%	17.5%
1994	4.93%	17.7%
1993	5.08%	17.9%
1992	5.22%	18.1%
1991	5.31%	18.3%
1990	5.37%	18.5%
1989	5.39%	18.8%
1988	5.4%	19%
1987	5.4%	19.2%
1986	5.4%	19.5%
1985	5.43%	19.7%
1984	5.5%	20%
1983	5.61%	20.3%
1982	5.78%	20.6%
1981	6%	20.9%
1980	6.28%	21.2%
1979	6.62%	21.5%
1978	7.01%	21.9%
1977	7.47%	22.3%
1976	7.97%	22.6%
1975	8.5%	23%
1974	9.05%	23.4%
1973	9.61%	23.7%
1972	10.2%	24%
1971	10.7%	24.3%
1970	11.3%	24.7%
1969	11.9%	25.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 7.32% in the DR Congo. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.