Fertility & birth rates in China and Iran

Fertility rate in China vs Iran by year

Chart Table

China

Iran

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Iran
2023	1	1.7
2022	1.03	1.7
2021	1.12	1.71
2020	1.24	1.7
2019	1.5	1.77
2018	1.54	1.92
2017	1.8	2.02
2016	1.77	2.05
2015	1.67	2.02
2014	1.77	1.98
2013	1.71	1.91
2012	1.8	1.85
2011	1.67	1.79
2010	1.69	1.75
2009	1.71	1.74
2008	1.7	1.74
2007	1.67	1.75
2006	1.64	1.76
2005	1.62	1.76
2004	1.61	1.78
2003	1.57	1.8
2002	1.57	1.84
2001	1.56	1.92
2000	1.63	2
1999	1.53	2.09
1998	1.52	2.19
1997	1.53	2.32
1996	1.55	2.54
1995	1.59	2.85
1994	1.63	3.24
1993	1.69	3.67
1992	1.78	4.1
1991	1.93	4.57
1990	2.51	4.93
1989	2.52	5.17
1988	2.54	5.43
1987	2.76	5.72
1986	2.72	6.01
1985	2.63	6.24
1984	2.61	6.43
1983	2.56	6.53
1982	2.97	6.59
1981	2.79	6.62
1980	2.74	6.63
1979	2.75	6.55
1978	2.72	6.34
1977	2.84	6.18
1976	3.24	6.07
1975	3.57	5.95
1974	4.17	5.97
1973	4.73	6.06
1972	5.11	6.26
1971	5.52	6.55
1970	6.09	6.8
1969	6.18	7.01
1968	6.51	7.12
1967	5.81	7.19
1966	6.31	7.21
1965	6.61	7.22
1964	6.67	7.24
1963	7.51	7.32
1962	6.09	7.4
1961	3.86	7.46
1960	4.45	7.52

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.7 in Iran in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Iran

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Iran
2023	-2,087,851	750,150
2022	-847,305	753,525
2021	480,203	645,725
2020	2,046,095	663,978
2019	4,673,713	893,063
2018	5,302,433	1,035,052
2017	7,790,880	1,140,549
2016	9,062,269	1,186,949
2015	6,788,911	1,178,317
2014	9,205,180	1,158,552
2013	8,043,116	1,119,533
2012	10,075,174	1,073,804
2011	8,245,065	1,023,925
2010	6,407,607	980,380
2009	6,483,236	958,322
2008	6,729,247	940,983
2007	6,813,465	919,254
2006	6,922,185	884,529
2005	7,678,911	837,305
2004	7,607,960	801,203
2003	7,743,284	732,600
2002	8,258,580	752,205
2001	8,839,358	743,658
2000	9,570,849	731,203
1999	10,247,372	723,237
1998	11,351,286	717,655
1997	12,374,554	726,574
1996	12,686,872	784,508
1995	12,711,220	879,648
1994	13,360,470	1,008,076
1993	13,493,138	1,219,658
1992	13,548,601	1,365,466
1991	14,937,124	1,495,594
1990	16,335,313	1,530,434
1989	16,824,495	1,609,739
1988	17,328,640	1,614,512
1987	18,005,821	1,639,644
1986	16,609,920	1,659,289
1985	14,987,830	1,661,750
1984	13,561,671	1,653,051
1983	13,599,789	1,573,612
1982	15,815,318	1,514,240
1981	14,461,027	1,376,830
1980	11,647,260	1,361,293
1979	11,250,148	1,294,306
1978	11,473,980	1,156,974
1977	11,378,068	1,091,542
1976	11,782,472	1,013,347
1975	14,378,237	929,481
1974	15,738,118	873,369
1973	18,423,727	831,880
1972	19,102,585	804,043
1971	19,622,980	805,830
1970	21,137,076	794,612
1969	20,760,332	780,660
1968	21,206,083	743,992
1967	19,263,662	727,276
1966	19,282,187	695,040
1965	20,296,950	663,029
1964	19,302,532	635,589
1963	22,742,225	620,126
1962	17,969,132	595,538
1961	2,496,047	594,674
1960	-3,048,510	584,060

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 +0.83% in Iran.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.1% in Iran.

Birth rate in China vs Iran by year

Chart Table

China

Iran

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Iran
2023	6.39	13
2022	6.77	13.3
2021	7.52	13.7
2020	8.52	14
2019	10.4	14.9
2018	10.9	16.7
2017	12.6	18
2016	13.6	18.8
2015	12	18.9
2014	13.8	18.8
2013	13	18.5
2012	14.6	18.1
2011	13.3	17.7
2010	11.9	17.3
2009	12	17.2
2008	12.1	17.1
2007	12.1	17
2006	12.1	16.7
2005	12.4	16.4
2004	12.3	16.2
2003	12.4	15.9
2002	12.9	15.9
2001	13.4	15.9
2000	14	16
1999	14.6	16.1
1998	15.6	16.2
1997	16.6	16.6
1996	17	17.7
1995	17.1	19.5
1994	17.7	22
1993	18.1	25.7
1992	18.3	28.3
1991	19.7	31.2
1990	21.1	33.5
1989	21.6	35.2
1988	22.4	37
1987	23.3	38.8
1986	22.4	40.7
1985	21	42.4
1984	19.9	43.9
1983	20.2	44.7
1982	22.3	45.2
1981	20.9	44.2
1980	18.2	45.1
1979	17.8	44.7
1978	18.3	43.4
1977	18.9	42.2
1976	19.9	41.4
1975	23	40.3
1974	24.8	40
1973	27.9	40.1
1972	29.8	40.9
1971	30.7	42.4
1970	33.4	43.6
1969	34.1	44.7
1968	35.6	45.3
1967	34	45.8
1966	35.1	46
1965	37.9	46.3
1964	39.1	46.7
1963	43.4	47.7
1962	37	48.8
1961	18	49.8
1960	20.9	51

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 13 in Iran, compared with 20.9 and 51, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Iran

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Iran
2100	7.83%	12.1%
2099	7.84%	12.2%
2098	7.87%	12.2%
2097	7.91%	12.3%
2096	7.96%	12.3%
2095	8.03%	12.4%
2094	8.1%	12.5%
2093	8.18%	12.6%
2092	8.26%	12.6%
2091	8.34%	12.7%
2090	8.41%	12.8%
2089	8.47%	12.8%
2088	8.52%	12.9%
2087	8.55%	12.9%
2086	8.57%	12.9%
2085	8.57%	13%
2084	8.56%	13%
2083	8.53%	12.9%
2082	8.48%	12.9%
2081	8.41%	12.9%
2080	8.34%	12.9%
2079	8.25%	12.8%
2078	8.15%	12.8%
2077	8.06%	12.8%
2076	7.96%	12.7%
2075	7.86%	12.7%
2074	7.77%	12.7%
2073	7.7%	12.7%
2072	7.64%	12.7%
2071	7.6%	12.7%
2070	7.58%	12.7%
2069	7.59%	12.8%
2068	7.63%	12.9%
2067	7.7%	13%
2066	7.8%	13.1%
2065	7.93%	13.2%
2064	8.08%	13.3%
2063	8.25%	13.5%
2062	8.44%	13.6%
2061	8.64%	13.8%
2060	8.84%	14%
2059	9.03%	14.1%
2058	9.22%	14.3%
2057	9.39%	14.4%
2056	9.54%	14.6%
2055	9.67%	14.7%
2054	9.78%	14.8%
2053	9.86%	14.9%
2052	9.92%	15%
2051	9.94%	15.1%
2050	9.94%	15.1%
2049	9.92%	15.2%
2048	9.88%	15.2%
2047	9.82%	15.2%
2046	9.75%	15.2%
2045	9.67%	15.3%
2044	9.59%	15.3%
2043	9.52%	15.4%
2042	9.46%	15.4%
2041	9.4%	15.5%
2040	9.35%	15.7%
2039	9.32%	15.8%
2038	9.3%	16%
2037	9.32%	16.3%
2036	9.42%	16.5%
2035	9.63%	16.8%
2034	10%	17.2%
2033	10.5%	17.7%
2032	11.2%	18.3%
2031	11.8%	19%
2030	12.4%	19.6%
2029	13.1%	20.2%
2028	13.8%	20.8%
2027	14.5%	21.3%
2026	15.1%	21.8%
2025	15.7%	22.2%
2024	16%	22.4%
2023	16.6%	22.8%
2022	17.1%	23.2%
2021	17.6%	23.6%
2020	18%	23.8%
2019	18.2%	23.9%
2018	18.3%	24%
2017	18.4%	23.9%
2016	18.3%	23.8%
2015	18.3%	23.6%
2014	18.3%	23.4%
2013	18.3%	23.3%
2012	18.3%	23.3%
2011	18.3%	23.3%
2010	18.5%	23.4%
2009	18.6%	23.7%
2008	18.9%	24%
2007	19.2%	24.6%
2006	19.6%	25.3%
2005	20.3%	26.2%
2004	21.2%	27.4%
2003	22%	28.7%
2002	22.9%	30.1%
2001	23.8%	31.7%
2000	24.5%	33.6%
1999	25.2%	35.4%
1998	25.7%	37.3%
1997	26.3%	39.1%
1996	27%	40.7%
1995	27.4%	42.1%
1994	27.8%	43.2%
1993	28.2%	43.6%
1992	28.4%	43.6%
1991	28.6%	43.9%
1990	28.8%	44.1%
1989	28.9%	44.2%
1988	29.3%	44%
1987	29.8%	43.9%
1986	30.4%	43.7%
1985	31.2%	43.5%
1984	32.2%	43.3%
1983	33.3%	43%
1982	34.3%	42.7%
1981	35.1%	42.9%
1980	36.1%	43.3%
1979	37.2%	43.1%
1978	38.6%	43%
1977	39.8%	42.9%
1976	40.3%	43%
1975	40.2%	43.2%
1974	40.2%	43.5%
1973	40.1%	43.8%
1972	40.4%	44.2%
1971	40.7%	44.4%
1970	40.8%	44.6%
1969	41%	44.7%
1968	41%	44.8%
1967	41.3%	44.8%
1966	41.5%	44.9%
1965	41.5%	45%
1964	41.2%	45%
1963	40.6%	44.9%
1962	40%	44.6%
1961	40%	44.1%
1960	40.3%	43.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 22.4% in Iran in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 44.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Iran compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Iran

Chart Table

China

Iran

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Iran
2023	16	16
2022	18	21
2021	21	51
2020	20	34
2019	21	18
2018	22	19
2017	24	20
2016	25	21
2015	26	22
2014	28	23
2013	30	24
2012	32	25
2011	33	26
2010	34	27
2009	35	28
2008	38	30
2007	38	31
2006	40	32
2005	42	33
2004	45	34
2003	47	37
2002	50	38
2001	52	40
2000	56	43
1999	58	46
1998	60	50
1997	63	55
1996	67	59
1995	71	65
1994	76	71
1993	80	80
1992	86	86
1991	92	94
1990	102	107
1989	104	113
1988	108	126
1987	114	136
1986	120	148
1985	125	160

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 16 deaths in Iran.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Iran

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Iran
2023	0.62%	1.18%
2022	0.66%	1.22%
2021	0.7%	1.26%
2020	0.75%	1.3%
2019	0.8%	1.35%
2018	0.86%	1.39%
2017	0.92%	1.45%
2016	0.99%	1.5%
2015	1.07%	1.55%
2014	1.15%	1.61%
2013	1.25%	1.68%
2012	1.35%	1.75%
2011	1.46%	1.84%
2010	1.58%	1.93%
2009	1.71%	2.04%
2008	1.85%	2.17%
2007	2.01%	2.32%
2006	2.19%	2.48%
2005	2.4%	2.65%
2004	2.64%	2.83%
2003	2.89%	3.02%
2002	3.15%	3.22%
2001	3.42%	3.42%
2000	3.67%	3.63%
1999	3.91%	3.83%
1998	4.14%	4.02%
1997	4.36%	4.21%
1996	4.56%	4.4%
1995	4.75%	4.59%
1994	4.93%	4.79%
1993	5.08%	5%
1992	5.22%	5.22%
1991	5.31%	5.48%
1990	5.37%	5.76%
1989	5.39%	6.07%
1988	5.4%	6.42%
1987	5.4%	6.8%
1986	5.4%	7.2%
1985	5.43%	7.64%
1984	5.5%	8.13%
1983	5.61%	8.67%
1982	5.78%	9.3%
1981	6%	10%
1980	6.28%	10.8%
1979	6.62%	11.7%
1978	7.01%	12.6%
1977	7.47%	13.5%
1976	7.97%	14.4%
1975	8.5%	15.3%
1974	9.05%	16.2%
1973	9.61%	17.1%
1972	10.2%	18%
1971	10.7%	18.9%
1970	11.3%	-
1969	11.9%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 1.18% in Iran. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.