Fertility & birth rates in China and Iraq

Fertility rate in China vs Iraq by year

Chart Table

China

Iraq

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Iraq
2023	1	3.25
2022	1.03	3.29
2021	1.12	3.36
2020	1.24	3.42
2019	1.5	3.48
2018	1.54	3.55
2017	1.8	3.64
2016	1.77	3.84
2015	1.67	4.08
2014	1.77	4.31
2013	1.71	4.44
2012	1.8	4.54
2011	1.67	4.59
2010	1.69	4.46
2009	1.71	4.38
2008	1.7	4.37
2007	1.67	4.4
2006	1.64	4.46
2005	1.62	4.45
2004	1.61	4.53
2003	1.57	4.58
2002	1.57	4.67
2001	1.56	4.8
2000	1.63	4.92
1999	1.53	5.04
1998	1.52	5.11
1997	1.53	5.19
1996	1.55	5.25
1995	1.59	5.36
1994	1.63	5.49
1993	1.69	5.61
1992	1.78	5.72
1991	1.93	5.83
1990	2.51	5.93
1989	2.52	5.99
1988	2.54	6.05
1987	2.76	6.11
1986	2.72	6.18
1985	2.63	6.25
1984	2.61	6.32
1983	2.56	6.39
1982	2.97	6.46
1981	2.79	6.53
1980	2.74	6.59
1979	2.75	6.66
1978	2.72	6.73
1977	2.84	6.8
1976	3.24	6.86
1975	3.57	6.91
1974	4.17	6.95
1973	4.73	6.99
1972	5.11	7.02
1971	5.52	7.06
1970	6.09	7.07
1969	6.18	7.08
1968	6.51	7.06
1967	5.81	7.03
1966	6.31	7.02
1965	6.61	7.02
1964	6.67	7.01
1963	7.51	7.01
1962	6.09	6.99
1961	3.86	5.8
1960	4.45	5.3

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.25 in Iraq in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Iraq

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Iraq
2023	-2,087,851	973,420
2022	-847,305	962,501
2021	480,203	941,924
2020	2,046,095	919,953
2019	4,673,713	942,972
2018	5,302,433	938,310
2017	7,790,880	924,507
2016	9,062,269	946,968
2015	6,788,911	1,007,561
2014	9,205,180	1,040,726
2013	8,043,116	1,026,036
2012	10,075,174	999,987
2011	8,245,065	971,082
2010	6,407,607	906,369
2009	6,483,236	855,096
2008	6,729,247	802,382
2007	6,813,465	784,119
2006	6,922,185	797,342
2005	7,678,911	776,603
2004	7,607,960	761,563
2003	7,743,284	746,159
2002	8,258,580	739,419
2001	8,839,358	729,704
2000	9,570,849	715,771
1999	10,247,372	702,170
1998	11,351,286	684,152
1997	12,374,554	667,582
1996	12,686,872	652,866
1995	12,711,220	642,977
1994	13,360,470	634,344
1993	13,493,138	606,700
1992	13,548,601	591,886
1991	14,937,124	550,146
1990	16,335,313	518,575
1989	16,824,495	496,852
1988	17,328,640	476,778
1987	18,005,821	488,742
1986	16,609,920	474,348
1985	14,987,830	467,445
1984	13,561,671	455,740
1983	13,599,789	439,800
1982	15,815,318	428,336
1981	14,461,027	416,998
1980	11,647,260	419,653
1979	11,250,148	428,458
1978	11,473,980	418,756
1977	11,378,068	410,229
1976	11,782,472	402,260
1975	14,378,237	385,916
1974	15,738,118	376,197
1973	18,423,727	373,191
1972	19,102,585	362,334
1971	19,622,980	351,464
1970	21,137,076	338,030
1969	20,760,332	324,792
1968	21,206,083	310,644
1967	19,263,662	298,192
1966	19,282,187	285,507
1965	20,296,950	274,551
1964	19,302,532	262,825
1963	22,742,225	254,046
1962	17,969,132	247,520
1961	2,496,047	184,792
1960	-3,048,510	155,651

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 +2.16% in Iraq.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +2.37% in Iraq.

Birth rate in China vs Iraq by year

Chart Table

China

Iraq

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Iraq
2023	6.39	25.7
2022	6.77	26
2021	7.52	26.4
2020	8.52	26.8
2019	10.4	27.3
2018	10.9	27.7
2017	12.6	28.3
2016	13.6	29.8
2015	12	31.6
2014	13.8	33.3
2013	13	34.1
2012	14.6	34.8
2011	13.3	35.5
2010	11.9	34.6
2009	12	33.9
2008	12.1	33.6
2007	12.1	34.5
2006	12.1	35
2005	12.4	33.9
2004	12.3	34.3
2003	12.4	34.5
2002	12.9	34.8
2001	13.4	35.5
2000	14	36.1
1999	14.6	36.7
1998	15.6	37
1997	16.6	37.3
1996	17	37.5
1995	17.1	38
1994	17.7	38.6
1993	18.1	38.6
1992	18.3	39.5
1991	19.7	40
1990	21.1	40.6
1989	21.6	39.6
1988	22.4	39.4
1987	23.3	39
1986	22.4	39
1985	21	39.5
1984	19.9	39.6
1983	20.2	39.6
1982	22.3	39.9
1981	20.9	40.2
1980	18.2	40.5
1979	17.8	41
1978	18.3	41.4
1977	18.9	42.1
1976	19.9	42.8
1975	23	43.4
1974	24.8	44
1973	27.9	44.4
1972	29.8	44.9
1971	30.7	45.4
1970	33.4	45.6
1969	34.1	45.9
1968	35.6	46
1967	34	46.1
1966	35.1	46.4
1965	37.9	46.7
1964	39.1	47.1
1963	43.4	47.5
1962	37	47.9
1961	18	40
1960	20.9	36.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 25.7 in Iraq, compared with 20.9 and 36.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Iraq

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Iraq
2100	7.83%	18.2%
2099	7.84%	18.3%
2098	7.87%	18.4%
2097	7.91%	18.5%
2096	7.96%	18.6%
2095	8.03%	18.8%
2094	8.1%	18.9%
2093	8.18%	19%
2092	8.26%	19.1%
2091	8.34%	19.2%
2090	8.41%	19.4%
2089	8.47%	19.5%
2088	8.52%	19.7%
2087	8.55%	19.8%
2086	8.57%	19.9%
2085	8.57%	20.1%
2084	8.56%	20.3%
2083	8.53%	20.4%
2082	8.48%	20.6%
2081	8.41%	20.8%
2080	8.34%	20.9%
2079	8.25%	21.1%
2078	8.15%	21.3%
2077	8.06%	21.5%
2076	7.96%	21.6%
2075	7.86%	21.8%
2074	7.77%	22%
2073	7.7%	22.2%
2072	7.64%	22.3%
2071	7.6%	22.5%
2070	7.58%	22.7%
2069	7.59%	22.8%
2068	7.63%	23%
2067	7.7%	23.2%
2066	7.8%	23.4%
2065	7.93%	23.6%
2064	8.08%	23.8%
2063	8.25%	24%
2062	8.44%	24.2%
2061	8.64%	24.4%
2060	8.84%	24.6%
2059	9.03%	24.9%
2058	9.22%	25.1%
2057	9.39%	25.4%
2056	9.54%	25.7%
2055	9.67%	26%
2054	9.78%	26.3%
2053	9.86%	26.6%
2052	9.92%	26.9%
2051	9.94%	27.2%
2050	9.94%	27.5%
2049	9.92%	27.8%
2048	9.88%	28.1%
2047	9.82%	28.4%
2046	9.75%	28.7%
2045	9.67%	29%
2044	9.59%	29.3%
2043	9.52%	29.5%
2042	9.46%	29.8%
2041	9.4%	30%
2040	9.35%	30.3%
2039	9.32%	30.5%
2038	9.3%	30.7%
2037	9.32%	31%
2036	9.42%	31.2%
2035	9.63%	31.5%
2034	10%	31.7%
2033	10.5%	32%
2032	11.2%	32.3%
2031	11.8%	32.7%
2030	12.4%	33.2%
2029	13.1%	33.7%
2028	13.8%	34.4%
2027	14.5%	35.1%
2026	15.1%	35.7%
2025	15.7%	36.3%
2024	16%	36.6%
2023	16.6%	37.1%
2022	17.1%	37.6%
2021	17.6%	38.1%
2020	18%	38.5%
2019	18.2%	38.9%
2018	18.3%	39.3%
2017	18.4%	39.7%
2016	18.3%	40.1%
2015	18.3%	40.4%
2014	18.3%	40.6%
2013	18.3%	40.8%
2012	18.3%	41%
2011	18.3%	41.1%
2010	18.5%	41.2%
2009	18.6%	41.5%
2008	18.9%	41.8%
2007	19.2%	42.1%
2006	19.6%	42.3%
2005	20.3%	42.6%
2004	21.2%	42.9%
2003	22%	43.1%
2002	22.9%	43.3%
2001	23.8%	43.5%
2000	24.5%	43.7%
1999	25.2%	43.8%
1998	25.7%	44%
1997	26.3%	44.1%
1996	27%	44.3%
1995	27.4%	44.4%
1994	27.8%	44.6%
1993	28.2%	44.7%
1992	28.4%	44.9%
1991	28.6%	45%
1990	28.8%	45.2%
1989	28.9%	45.4%
1988	29.3%	45.6%
1987	29.8%	45.8%
1986	30.4%	46%
1985	31.2%	46.2%
1984	32.2%	46.3%
1983	33.3%	46.5%
1982	34.3%	46.6%
1981	35.1%	46.7%
1980	36.1%	46.8%
1979	37.2%	47%
1978	38.6%	47.1%
1977	39.8%	47.3%
1976	40.3%	47.2%
1975	40.2%	46.7%
1974	40.2%	46.2%
1973	40.1%	45.5%
1972	40.4%	44.7%
1971	40.7%	44.1%
1970	40.8%	43.6%
1969	41%	43.3%
1968	41%	43%
1967	41.3%	42.8%
1966	41.5%	42.5%
1965	41.5%	42.1%
1964	41.2%	41.5%
1963	40.6%	41%
1962	40%	40.4%
1961	40%	39.9%
1960	40.3%	39.8%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 36.6% in Iraq in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 45.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Iraq compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Iraq

Chart Table

China

Iraq

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Iraq
2023	16	66
2022	18	59
2021	21	77
2020	20	63
2019	21	74
2018	22	76
2017	24	81
2016	25	87
2015	26	86
2014	28	90
2013	30	96
2012	32	100
2011	33	105
2010	34	107
2009	35	107
2008	38	109
2007	38	117
2006	40	120
2005	42	118
2004	45	122
2003	47	125
2002	50	128
2001	52	137
2000	56	146
1999	58	156
1998	60	163
1997	63	165
1996	67	158
1995	71	152
1994	76	142
1993	80	132
1992	86	126
1991	92	157
1990	102	195
1989	104	190
1988	108	174
1987	114	145
1986	120	147
1985	125	152

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 66 deaths in Iraq.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Iraq

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Iraq
2023	0.62%	2.26%
2022	0.66%	2.33%
2021	0.7%	2.41%
2020	0.75%	2.49%
2019	0.8%	2.57%
2018	0.86%	2.66%
2017	0.92%	2.75%
2016	0.99%	2.84%
2015	1.07%	2.94%
2014	1.15%	3.04%
2013	1.25%	3.14%
2012	1.35%	3.24%
2011	1.46%	3.35%
2010	1.58%	3.46%
2009	1.71%	3.56%
2008	1.85%	3.67%
2007	2.01%	3.78%
2006	2.19%	3.88%
2005	2.4%	3.97%
2004	2.64%	4.07%
2003	2.89%	4.16%
2002	3.15%	4.24%
2001	3.42%	4.33%
2000	3.67%	4.43%
1999	3.91%	4.52%
1998	4.14%	4.61%
1997	4.36%	4.71%
1996	4.56%	4.8%
1995	4.75%	4.89%
1994	4.93%	4.98%
1993	5.08%	5.07%
1992	5.22%	5.17%
1991	5.31%	6.49%
1990	5.37%	7.97%
1989	5.39%	8.12%
1988	5.4%	6.92%
1987	5.4%	5.75%
1986	5.4%	5.91%
1985	5.43%	6.09%
1984	5.5%	6.28%
1983	5.61%	6.49%
1982	5.78%	6.71%
1981	6%	6.96%
1980	6.28%	7.23%
1979	6.62%	7.52%
1978	7.01%	7.83%
1977	7.47%	8.17%
1976	7.97%	8.54%
1975	8.5%	8.93%
1974	9.05%	9.35%
1973	9.61%	9.79%
1972	10.2%	10.3%
1971	10.7%	10.7%
1970	11.3%	11.2%
1969	11.9%	11.8%
1968	-	12.4%
1967	-	13%
1966	-	13.6%
1965	-	14.4%
1964	-	15.1%
1963	-	16%
1962	-	16.9%
1961	-	17.9%
1960	-	19%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 2.26% in Iraq. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.