Fertility & birth rates in China and India

Fertility rate in China vs India by year

Chart Table

China

India

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	India
2023	1	1.98
2022	1.03	1.99
2021	1.12	2.01
2020	1.24	2.05
2019	1.5	2.12
2018	1.54	2.18
2017	1.8	2.19
2016	1.77	2.28
2015	1.67	2.29
2014	1.77	2.29
2013	1.71	2.4
2012	1.8	2.47
2011	1.67	2.53
2010	1.69	2.6
2009	1.71	2.67
2008	1.7	2.71
2007	1.67	2.78
2006	1.64	2.87
2005	1.62	2.96
2004	1.61	3.05
2003	1.57	3.12
2002	1.57	3.22
2001	1.56	3.3
2000	1.63	3.35
1999	1.53	3.38
1998	1.52	3.45
1997	1.53	3.51
1996	1.55	3.58
1995	1.59	3.65
1994	1.63	3.72
1993	1.69	3.8
1992	1.78	3.88
1991	1.93	3.96
1990	2.51	4.05
1989	2.52	4.13
1988	2.54	4.22
1987	2.76	4.31
1986	2.72	4.4
1985	2.63	4.43
1984	2.61	4.52
1983	2.56	4.57
1982	2.97	4.62
1981	2.79	4.7
1980	2.74	4.78
1979	2.75	4.81
1978	2.72	4.89
1977	2.84	5.01
1976	3.24	5.13
1975	3.57	5.2
1974	4.17	5.33
1973	4.73	5.4
1972	5.11	5.48
1971	5.52	5.57
1970	6.09	5.62
1969	6.18	5.68
1968	6.51	5.76
1967	5.81	5.83
1966	6.31	5.88
1965	6.61	5.94
1964	6.67	5.98
1963	7.51	5.97
1962	6.09	5.95
1961	3.86	5.94
1960	4.45	5.92

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.98 in India in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

India

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	India
2023	-2,087,851	13,711,993
2022	-847,305	13,912,130
2021	480,203	10,227,523
2020	2,046,095	13,366,946
2019	4,673,713	14,859,846
2018	5,302,433	15,451,168
2017	7,790,880	15,394,041
2016	9,062,269	16,202,593
2015	6,788,911	16,211,195
2014	9,205,180	16,165,943
2013	8,043,116	17,107,541
2012	10,075,174	17,552,365
2011	8,245,065	17,793,362
2010	6,407,607	17,991,935
2009	6,483,236	18,286,055
2008	6,729,247	18,234,926
2007	6,813,465	18,331,648
2006	6,922,185	18,641,737
2005	7,678,911	19,034,839
2004	7,607,960	19,469,758
2003	7,743,284	19,720,507
2002	8,258,580	20,024,621
2001	8,839,358	20,182,573
2000	9,570,849	19,984,160
1999	10,247,372	19,648,424
1998	11,351,286	19,569,575
1997	12,374,554	19,494,098
1996	12,686,872	19,442,699
1995	12,711,220	19,396,161
1994	13,360,470	19,310,798
1993	13,493,138	19,152,399
1992	13,548,601	19,132,757
1991	14,937,124	19,049,524
1990	16,335,313	18,893,588
1989	16,824,495	18,848,915
1988	17,328,640	18,702,916
1987	18,005,821	18,496,213
1986	16,609,920	18,455,495
1985	14,987,830	17,968,697
1984	13,561,671	17,698,810
1983	13,599,789	17,219,127
1982	15,815,318	16,790,507
1981	14,461,027	16,422,159
1980	11,647,260	16,018,786
1979	11,250,148	15,392,957
1978	11,473,980	14,898,145
1977	11,378,068	14,575,662
1976	11,782,472	14,435,504
1975	14,378,237	13,958,642
1974	15,738,118	13,795,836
1973	18,423,727	13,412,707
1972	19,102,585	13,041,792
1971	19,622,980	12,787,104
1970	21,137,076	12,417,866
1969	20,760,332	12,167,671
1968	21,206,083	12,006,807
1967	19,263,662	11,279,897
1966	19,282,187	11,089,894
1965	20,296,950	10,925,714
1964	19,302,532	11,285,378
1963	22,742,225	11,016,705
1962	17,969,132	10,743,409
1961	2,496,047	10,468,816
1960	-3,048,510	10,237,489

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 +0.95% in India.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.06% in India.

Birth rate in China vs India by year

Chart Table

China

India

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	India
2023	6.39	16.1
2022	6.77	16.3
2021	7.52	16.5
2020	8.52	16.7
2019	10.4	17.4
2018	10.9	17.9
2017	12.6	18
2016	13.6	18.8
2015	12	18.9
2014	13.8	19.1
2013	13	20.1
2012	14.6	20.7
2011	13.3	21.2
2010	11.9	21.6
2009	12	22.2
2008	12.1	22.5
2007	12.1	22.9
2006	12.1	23.6
2005	12.4	24.3
2004	12.3	25.1
2003	12.4	25.8
2002	12.9	26.5
2001	13.4	27.2
2000	14	27.5
1999	14.6	27.7
1998	15.6	28.2
1997	16.6	28.7
1996	17	29.2
1995	17.1	29.8
1994	17.7	30.3
1993	18.1	30.8
1992	18.3	31.4
1991	19.7	32
1990	21.1	32.6
1989	21.6	33.3
1988	22.4	33.9
1987	23.3	34.4
1986	22.4	35.2
1985	21	35.4
1984	19.9	35.9
1983	20.2	36.1
1982	22.3	36.4
1981	20.9	36.8
1980	18.2	37.1
1979	17.8	37
1978	18.3	37.1
1977	18.9	37.6
1976	19.9	38.2
1975	23	38.4
1974	24.8	39
1973	27.9	39.3
1972	29.8	39.5
1971	30.7	39.7
1970	33.4	39.8
1969	34.1	40.1
1968	35.6	40.5
1967	34	40.8
1966	35.1	41.2
1965	37.9	41.7
1964	39.1	42.1
1963	43.4	42.3
1962	37	42.5
1961	18	42.7
1960	20.9	42.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 16.1 in India, compared with 20.9 and 42.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

India

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	India
2100	7.83%	13.8%
2099	7.84%	13.8%
2098	7.87%	13.8%
2097	7.91%	13.9%
2096	7.96%	13.9%
2095	8.03%	13.9%
2094	8.1%	13.9%
2093	8.18%	14%
2092	8.26%	14%
2091	8.34%	14%
2090	8.41%	14.1%
2089	8.47%	14.1%
2088	8.52%	14.2%
2087	8.55%	14.2%
2086	8.57%	14.2%
2085	8.57%	14.3%
2084	8.56%	14.4%
2083	8.53%	14.4%
2082	8.48%	14.5%
2081	8.41%	14.6%
2080	8.34%	14.6%
2079	8.25%	14.7%
2078	8.15%	14.8%
2077	8.06%	14.8%
2076	7.96%	14.9%
2075	7.86%	15%
2074	7.77%	15.1%
2073	7.7%	15.2%
2072	7.64%	15.2%
2071	7.6%	15.3%
2070	7.58%	15.4%
2069	7.59%	15.5%
2068	7.63%	15.6%
2067	7.7%	15.6%
2066	7.8%	15.7%
2065	7.93%	15.8%
2064	8.08%	15.9%
2063	8.25%	16%
2062	8.44%	16.1%
2061	8.64%	16.2%
2060	8.84%	16.3%
2059	9.03%	16.4%
2058	9.22%	16.6%
2057	9.39%	16.7%
2056	9.54%	16.8%
2055	9.67%	17%
2054	9.78%	17.2%
2053	9.86%	17.3%
2052	9.92%	17.5%
2051	9.94%	17.7%
2050	9.94%	17.9%
2049	9.92%	18.1%
2048	9.88%	18.3%
2047	9.82%	18.5%
2046	9.75%	18.7%
2045	9.67%	18.9%
2044	9.59%	19.2%
2043	9.52%	19.4%
2042	9.46%	19.6%
2041	9.4%	19.8%
2040	9.35%	20%
2039	9.32%	20.3%
2038	9.3%	20.5%
2037	9.32%	20.7%
2036	9.42%	20.9%
2035	9.63%	21.1%
2034	10%	21.4%
2033	10.5%	21.7%
2032	11.2%	21.9%
2031	11.8%	22.2%
2030	12.4%	22.5%
2029	13.1%	22.8%
2028	13.8%	23.2%
2027	14.5%	23.6%
2026	15.1%	24%
2025	15.7%	24.4%
2024	16%	24.6%
2023	16.6%	25.1%
2022	17.1%	25.5%
2021	17.6%	25.9%
2020	18%	26.3%
2019	18.2%	26.8%
2018	18.3%	27.3%
2017	18.4%	27.8%
2016	18.3%	28.4%
2015	18.3%	28.9%
2014	18.3%	29.4%
2013	18.3%	29.9%
2012	18.3%	30.4%
2011	18.3%	30.9%
2010	18.5%	31.3%
2009	18.6%	31.8%
2008	18.9%	32.2%
2007	19.2%	32.7%
2006	19.6%	33.1%
2005	20.3%	33.6%
2004	21.2%	34%
2003	22%	34.4%
2002	22.9%	34.8%
2001	23.8%	35.2%
2000	24.5%	35.6%
1999	25.2%	35.9%
1998	25.7%	36.3%
1997	26.3%	36.7%
1996	27%	37%
1995	27.4%	37.3%
1994	27.8%	37.6%
1993	28.2%	37.9%
1992	28.4%	38.1%
1991	28.6%	38.4%
1990	28.8%	38.6%
1989	28.9%	38.8%
1988	29.3%	38.9%
1987	29.8%	39.1%
1986	30.4%	39.2%
1985	31.2%	39.3%
1984	32.2%	39.4%
1983	33.3%	39.5%
1982	34.3%	39.6%
1981	35.1%	39.7%
1980	36.1%	39.8%
1979	37.2%	40%
1978	38.6%	40.1%
1977	39.8%	40.3%
1976	40.3%	40.5%
1975	40.2%	40.7%
1974	40.2%	40.8%
1973	40.1%	41%
1972	40.4%	41.1%
1971	40.7%	41.2%
1970	40.8%	41.4%
1969	41%	41.5%
1968	41%	41.5%
1967	41.3%	41.6%
1966	41.5%	41.7%
1965	41.5%	41.7%
1964	41.2%	41.6%
1963	40.6%	41.5%
1962	40%	41.2%
1961	40%	40.9%
1960	40.3%	40.6%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 24.6% in India in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 38.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and India compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs India

Chart Table

China

India

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	India
2023	16	80
2022	18	90
2021	21	155
2020	20	101
2019	21	101
2018	22	107
2017	24	113
2016	25	121
2015	26	129
2014	28	137
2013	30	148
2012	32	160
2011	33	173
2010	34	188
2009	35	205
2008	38	223
2007	38	240
2006	40	258
2005	42	277
2004	45	296
2003	47	313
2002	50	330
2001	52	349
2000	56	362
1999	58	378
1998	60	393
1997	63	407
1996	67	422
1995	71	437
1994	76	451
1993	80	467
1992	86	482
1991	92	498
1990	102	516
1989	104	538
1988	108	562
1987	114	592
1986	120	624
1985	125	658

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 80 deaths in India.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

India

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	India
2023	0.62%	2.77%
2022	0.66%	2.91%
2021	0.7%	3.06%
2020	0.75%	3.24%
2019	0.8%	3.43%
2018	0.86%	3.64%
2017	0.92%	3.87%
2016	0.99%	4.11%
2015	1.07%	4.36%
2014	1.15%	4.63%
2013	1.25%	4.91%
2012	1.35%	5.2%
2011	1.46%	5.5%
2010	1.58%	5.82%
2009	1.71%	6.14%
2008	1.85%	6.46%
2007	2.01%	6.79%
2006	2.19%	7.11%
2005	2.4%	7.44%
2004	2.64%	7.77%
2003	2.89%	8.11%
2002	3.15%	8.45%
2001	3.42%	8.8%
2000	3.67%	9.16%
1999	3.91%	9.53%
1998	4.14%	9.89%
1997	4.36%	10.3%
1996	4.56%	10.6%
1995	4.75%	11%
1994	4.93%	11.3%
1993	5.08%	11.6%
1992	5.22%	12%
1991	5.31%	12.3%
1990	5.37%	12.7%
1989	5.39%	13%
1988	5.4%	13.4%
1987	5.4%	13.8%
1986	5.4%	14.2%
1985	5.43%	14.6%
1984	5.5%	15%
1983	5.61%	15.5%
1982	5.78%	15.9%
1981	6%	16.4%
1980	6.28%	16.9%
1979	6.62%	17.5%
1978	7.01%	18%
1977	7.47%	18.6%
1976	7.97%	19.1%
1975	8.5%	19.6%
1974	9.05%	20.1%
1973	9.61%	20.5%
1972	10.2%	20.8%
1971	10.7%	21.2%
1970	11.3%	21.5%
1969	11.9%	21.7%
1968	-	22%
1967	-	22.2%
1966	-	22.4%
1965	-	22.7%
1964	-	22.9%
1963	-	23.2%
1962	-	23.5%
1961	-	23.8%
1960	-	24.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 2.77% in India. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.