Fertility & birth rates in China and Italy

Fertility rate in China vs Italy by year

Chart Table

China

Italy

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Italy
2023	1	1.2
2022	1.03	1.24
2021	1.12	1.25
2020	1.24	1.24
2019	1.5	1.27
2018	1.54	1.31
2017	1.8	1.34
2016	1.77	1.36
2015	1.67	1.36
2014	1.77	1.38
2013	1.71	1.39
2012	1.8	1.42
2011	1.67	1.42
2010	1.69	1.44
2009	1.71	1.44
2008	1.7	1.44
2007	1.67	1.39
2006	1.64	1.37
2005	1.62	1.33
2004	1.61	1.34
2003	1.57	1.29
2002	1.57	1.27
2001	1.56	1.25
2000	1.63	1.26
1999	1.53	1.23
1998	1.52	1.22
1997	1.53	1.22
1996	1.55	1.2
1995	1.59	1.19
1994	1.63	1.21
1993	1.69	1.25
1992	1.78	1.3
1991	1.93	1.3
1990	2.51	1.33
1989	2.52	1.33
1988	2.54	1.36
1987	2.76	1.33
1986	2.72	1.35
1985	2.63	1.42
1984	2.61	1.46
1983	2.56	1.51
1982	2.97	1.56
1981	2.79	1.58
1980	2.74	1.64
1979	2.75	1.73
1978	2.72	1.84
1977	2.84	1.93
1976	3.24	2.04
1975	3.57	2.17
1974	4.17	2.28
1973	4.73	2.3
1972	5.11	2.35
1971	5.52	2.4
1970	6.09	2.38
1969	6.18	2.47
1968	6.51	2.46
1967	5.81	2.5
1966	6.31	2.58
1965	6.61	2.6
1964	6.67	2.66
1963	7.51	2.51
1962	6.09	2.46
1961	3.86	2.44
1960	4.45	2.4

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.2 in Italy in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Italy

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Italy
2023	-2,087,851	-283,125
2022	-847,305	-318,674
2021	480,203	-301,579
2020	2,046,095	-338,801
2019	4,673,713	-215,025
2018	5,302,433	-192,475
2017	7,790,880	-192,007
2016	9,062,269	-138,265
2015	6,788,911	-162,620
2014	9,205,180	-96,513
2013	8,043,116	-90,468
2012	10,075,174	-78,248
2011	8,245,065	-48,021
2010	6,407,607	-23,928
2009	6,483,236	-17,866
2008	6,729,247	-11,842
2007	6,813,465	-5,876
2006	6,922,185	0
2005	7,678,911	-17,450
2004	7,607,960	11,566
2003	7,743,284	-40,179
2002	8,258,580	-22,836
2001	8,839,358	-11,396
2000	9,570,849	-17,082
1999	10,247,372	-22,766
1998	11,351,286	-39,835
1997	12,374,554	-22,756
1996	12,686,872	-22,744
1995	12,711,220	-34,107
1994	13,360,470	-17,053
1993	13,493,138	0
1992	13,548,601	22,718
1991	14,937,124	11,352
1990	16,335,313	22,688
1989	16,824,495	28,336
1988	17,328,640	33,977
1987	18,005,821	16,980
1986	16,609,920	11,319
1985	14,987,830	28,297
1984	13,561,671	50,919
1983	13,599,789	33,939
1982	15,815,318	79,161
1981	14,461,027	73,452
1980	11,647,260	84,650
1979	11,250,148	129,531
1978	11,473,980	168,465
1977	11,378,068	190,248
1976	11,782,472	228,445
1975	14,378,237	271,660
1974	15,738,118	336,176
1973	18,423,727	328,508
1972	19,102,585	364,355
1971	19,622,980	383,922
1970	21,137,076	376,753
1969	20,760,332	390,827
1968	21,206,083	399,268
1967	19,263,662	439,074
1966	19,282,187	488,427
1965	20,296,950	474,222
1964	19,302,532	527,089
1963	22,742,225	440,767
1962	17,969,132	427,387
1961	2,496,047	459,880
1960	-3,048,510	426,697

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 -0.48% in Italy.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and -0.38% in Italy.

Birth rate in China vs Italy by year

Chart Table

China

Italy

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Italy
2023	6.39	6.4
2022	6.77	6.7
2021	7.52	6.8
2020	8.52	6.8
2019	10.4	7
2018	10.9	7.3
2017	12.6	7.6
2016	13.6	7.9
2015	12	8.1
2014	13.8	8.3
2013	13	8.5
2012	14.6	8.9
2011	13.3	9.1
2010	11.9	9.4
2009	12	9.6
2008	12.1	9.7
2007	12.1	9.6
2006	12.1	9.6
2005	12.4	9.5
2004	12.3	9.7
2003	12.4	9.5
2002	12.9	9.4
2001	13.4	9.4
2000	14	9.5
1999	14.6	9.4
1998	15.6	9.3
1997	16.6	9.4
1996	17	9.3
1995	17.1	9.2
1994	17.7	9.4
1993	18.1	9.7
1992	18.3	10
1991	19.7	9.9
1990	21.1	10
1989	21.6	9.9
1988	22.4	10.1
1987	23.3	9.7
1986	22.4	9.8
1985	21	10.2
1984	19.9	10.4
1983	20.2	10.6
1982	22.3	10.9
1981	20.9	11
1980	18.2	11.3
1979	17.8	11.9
1978	18.3	12.6
1977	18.9	13.2
1976	19.9	14
1975	23	14.9
1974	24.8	15.8
1973	27.9	16
1972	29.8	16.3
1971	30.7	16.8
1970	33.4	16.7
1969	34.1	17.4
1968	35.6	17.5
1967	34	17.9
1966	35.1	18.7
1965	37.9	19
1964	39.1	19.7
1963	43.4	18.7
1962	37	18.4
1961	18	18.4
1960	20.9	18.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 6.4 in Italy, compared with 20.9 and 18.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Italy

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Italy
2100	7.83%	11.1%
2099	7.84%	11.1%
2098	7.87%	11.1%
2097	7.91%	11.1%
2096	7.96%	11.1%
2095	8.03%	11.1%
2094	8.1%	11.1%
2093	8.18%	11.2%
2092	8.26%	11.2%
2091	8.34%	11.2%
2090	8.41%	11.2%
2089	8.47%	11.3%
2088	8.52%	11.3%
2087	8.55%	11.3%
2086	8.57%	11.3%
2085	8.57%	11.3%
2084	8.56%	11.3%
2083	8.53%	11.3%
2082	8.48%	11.3%
2081	8.41%	11.2%
2080	8.34%	11.2%
2079	8.25%	11.2%
2078	8.15%	11.1%
2077	8.06%	11.1%
2076	7.96%	11%
2075	7.86%	10.9%
2074	7.77%	10.9%
2073	7.7%	10.8%
2072	7.64%	10.8%
2071	7.6%	10.7%
2070	7.58%	10.7%
2069	7.59%	10.6%
2068	7.63%	10.6%
2067	7.7%	10.6%
2066	7.8%	10.5%
2065	7.93%	10.5%
2064	8.08%	10.5%
2063	8.25%	10.6%
2062	8.44%	10.6%
2061	8.64%	10.6%
2060	8.84%	10.6%
2059	9.03%	10.7%
2058	9.22%	10.7%
2057	9.39%	10.8%
2056	9.54%	10.8%
2055	9.67%	10.8%
2054	9.78%	10.9%
2053	9.86%	10.9%
2052	9.92%	10.9%
2051	9.94%	10.9%
2050	9.94%	10.9%
2049	9.92%	10.9%
2048	9.88%	10.8%
2047	9.82%	10.8%
2046	9.75%	10.7%
2045	9.67%	10.7%
2044	9.59%	10.6%
2043	9.52%	10.6%
2042	9.46%	10.5%
2041	9.4%	10.5%
2040	9.35%	10.4%
2039	9.32%	10.4%
2038	9.3%	10.3%
2037	9.32%	10.3%
2036	9.42%	10.3%
2035	9.63%	10.3%
2034	10%	10.4%
2033	10.5%	10.4%
2032	11.2%	10.5%
2031	11.8%	10.7%
2030	12.4%	10.8%
2029	13.1%	11%
2028	13.8%	11.1%
2027	14.5%	11.3%
2026	15.1%	11.5%
2025	15.7%	11.8%
2024	16%	11.9%
2023	16.6%	12.1%
2022	17.1%	12.4%
2021	17.6%	12.6%
2020	18%	12.8%
2019	18.2%	13%
2018	18.3%	13.2%
2017	18.4%	13.4%
2016	18.3%	13.6%
2015	18.3%	13.7%
2014	18.3%	13.8%
2013	18.3%	13.9%
2012	18.3%	14%
2011	18.3%	14%
2010	18.5%	14%
2009	18.6%	14%
2008	18.9%	14%
2007	19.2%	14%
2006	19.6%	14.1%
2005	20.3%	14.1%
2004	21.2%	14.2%
2003	22%	14.2%
2002	22.9%	14.2%
2001	23.8%	14.2%
2000	24.5%	14.3%
1999	25.2%	14.3%
1998	25.7%	14.3%
1997	26.3%	14.4%
1996	27%	14.5%
1995	27.4%	14.6%
1994	27.8%	14.8%
1993	28.2%	15%
1992	28.4%	15.2%
1991	28.6%	15.8%
1990	28.8%	16.5%
1989	28.9%	17%
1988	29.3%	17.5%
1987	29.8%	18.1%
1986	30.4%	18.7%
1985	31.2%	19.3%
1984	32.2%	19.9%
1983	33.3%	20.5%
1982	34.3%	21.1%
1981	35.1%	21.6%
1980	36.1%	22.3%
1979	37.2%	22.8%
1978	38.6%	23.4%
1977	39.8%	23.7%
1976	40.3%	24.1%
1975	40.2%	24.3%
1974	40.2%	24.5%
1973	40.1%	24.6%
1972	40.4%	24.6%
1971	40.7%	24.6%
1970	40.8%	24.7%
1969	41%	24.7%
1968	41%	24.6%
1967	41.3%	24.6%
1966	41.5%	24.5%
1965	41.5%	24.5%
1964	41.2%	24.5%
1963	40.6%	24.5%
1962	40%	24.7%
1961	40%	25%
1960	40.3%	25%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 11.9% in Italy in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 16.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Italy compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Italy

Chart Table

China

Italy

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Italy
2023	16	6
2022	18	10
2021	21	7
2020	20	8
2019	21	7
2018	22	7
2017	24	8
2016	25	8
2015	26	8
2014	28	8
2013	30	8
2012	32	8
2011	33	8
2010	34	8
2009	35	8
2008	38	7
2007	38	7
2006	40	7
2005	42	8
2004	45	8
2003	47	8
2002	50	10
2001	52	10
2000	56	11
1999	58	11
1998	60	12
1997	63	13
1996	67	14
1995	71	15
1994	76	15
1993	80	16
1992	86	17
1991	92	18
1990	102	18
1989	104	19
1988	108	20
1987	114	21
1986	120	22
1985	125	22

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 6 deaths in Italy.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Italy

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Italy
2023	0.62%	0.28%
2022	0.66%	0.28%
2021	0.7%	0.29%
2020	0.75%	0.3%
2019	0.8%	0.31%
2018	0.86%	0.32%
2017	0.92%	0.33%
2016	0.99%	0.34%
2015	1.07%	0.35%
2014	1.15%	0.36%
2013	1.25%	0.37%
2012	1.35%	0.38%
2011	1.46%	0.39%
2010	1.58%	0.4%
2009	1.71%	0.41%
2008	1.85%	0.41%
2007	2.01%	0.42%
2006	2.19%	0.43%
2005	2.4%	0.45%
2004	2.64%	0.46%
2003	2.89%	0.48%
2002	3.15%	0.51%
2001	3.42%	0.53%
2000	3.67%	0.56%
1999	3.91%	0.59%
1998	4.14%	0.62%
1997	4.36%	0.66%
1996	4.56%	0.7%
1995	4.75%	0.75%
1994	4.93%	0.8%
1993	5.08%	0.85%
1992	5.22%	0.89%
1991	5.31%	0.93%
1990	5.37%	0.97%
1989	5.39%	1%
1988	5.4%	1.04%
1987	5.4%	1.08%
1986	5.4%	1.14%
1985	5.43%	1.2%
1984	5.5%	1.27%
1983	5.61%	1.35%
1982	5.78%	1.43%
1981	6%	1.52%
1980	6.28%	1.61%
1979	6.62%	1.7%
1978	7.01%	1.82%
1977	7.47%	1.95%
1976	7.97%	2.11%
1975	8.5%	2.31%
1974	9.05%	2.53%
1973	9.61%	2.76%
1972	10.2%	2.98%
1971	10.7%	3.18%
1970	11.3%	3.36%
1969	11.9%	3.51%
1968	-	3.64%
1967	-	3.78%
1966	-	3.93%
1965	-	4.11%
1964	-	4.31%
1963	-	4.53%
1962	-	4.76%
1961	-	4.98%
1960	-	5.19%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.28% in Italy. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.