Fertility & birth rates in China and Lesotho

Fertility rate in China vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

China

Lesotho

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Lesotho
2023	1	2.69
2022	1.03	2.72
2021	1.12	2.77
2020	1.24	2.85
2019	1.5	2.92
2018	1.54	3.02
2017	1.8	3.11
2016	1.77	3.18
2015	1.67	3.22
2014	1.77	3.24
2013	1.71	3.28
2012	1.8	3.3
2011	1.67	3.34
2010	1.69	3.25
2009	1.71	3.31
2008	1.7	3.39
2007	1.67	3.44
2006	1.64	3.41
2005	1.62	3.43
2004	1.61	3.51
2003	1.57	3.62
2002	1.57	3.68
2001	1.56	3.63
2000	1.63	3.61
1999	1.53	3.67
1998	1.52	3.82
1997	1.53	3.98
1996	1.55	4.06
1995	1.59	4.13
1994	1.63	4.21
1993	1.69	4.37
1992	1.78	4.54
1991	1.93	4.68
1990	2.51	4.81
1989	2.52	4.96
1988	2.54	5.1
1987	2.76	5.22
1986	2.72	5.32
1985	2.63	5.4
1984	2.61	5.48
1983	2.56	5.56
1982	2.97	5.63
1981	2.79	5.69
1980	2.74	5.75
1979	2.75	5.79
1978	2.72	5.82
1977	2.84	5.85
1976	3.24	5.87
1975	3.57	5.83
1974	4.17	5.75
1973	4.73	5.69
1972	5.11	5.69
1971	5.52	5.7
1970	6.09	5.7
1969	6.18	5.7
1968	6.51	5.73
1967	5.81	5.75
1966	6.31	5.76
1965	6.61	5.77
1964	6.67	5.77
1963	7.51	5.78
1962	6.09	5.79
1961	3.86	5.79
1960	4.45	5.78

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.69 in Lesotho in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Lesotho

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Lesotho
2023	-2,087,851	31,115
2022	-847,305	30,803
2021	480,203	27,806
2020	2,046,095	30,721
2019	4,673,713	32,279
2018	5,302,433	33,112
2017	7,790,880	33,601
2016	9,062,269	33,390
2015	6,788,911	32,087
2014	9,205,180	30,922
2013	8,043,116	29,789
2012	10,075,174	27,592
2011	8,245,065	25,647
2010	6,407,607	21,877
2009	6,483,236	20,335
2008	6,729,247	19,349
2007	6,813,465	17,763
2006	6,922,185	15,234
2005	7,678,911	15,831
2004	7,607,960	17,271
2003	7,743,284	20,133
2002	8,258,580	22,274
2001	8,839,358	23,190
2000	9,570,849	24,786
1999	10,247,372	27,393
1998	11,351,286	30,889
1997	12,374,554	34,637
1996	12,686,872	36,228
1995	12,711,220	37,370
1994	13,360,470	38,629
1993	13,493,138	40,505
1992	13,548,601	42,579
1991	14,937,124	44,026
1990	16,335,313	45,060
1989	16,824,495	46,264
1988	17,328,640	47,158
1987	18,005,821	47,718
1986	16,609,920	45,232
1985	14,987,830	44,575
1984	13,561,671	43,785
1983	13,599,789	42,899
1982	15,815,318	41,941
1981	14,461,027	40,808
1980	11,647,260	39,617
1979	11,250,148	38,440
1978	11,473,980	37,084
1977	11,378,068	35,654
1976	11,782,472	34,117
1975	14,378,237	32,311
1974	15,738,118	30,444
1973	18,423,727	28,859
1972	19,102,585	27,841
1971	19,622,980	26,838
1970	21,137,076	25,935
1969	20,760,332	25,137
1968	21,206,083	24,490
1967	19,263,662	23,911
1966	19,282,187	23,326
1965	20,296,950	22,755
1964	19,302,532	22,116
1963	22,742,225	21,585
1962	17,969,132	21,132
1961	2,496,047	20,581
1960	-3,048,510	19,981

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 +1.35% in Lesotho.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.44% in Lesotho.

Birth rate in China vs Lesotho by year

Chart Table

China

Lesotho

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Lesotho
2023	6.39	24.1
2022	6.77	24.4
2021	7.52	24.9
2020	8.52	25.6
2019	10.4	26.4
2018	10.9	27.4
2017	12.6	28.2
2016	13.6	28.9
2015	12	29.2
2014	13.8	29.5
2013	13	30
2012	14.6	30
2011	13.3	30.2
2010	11.9	29.2
2009	12	29.4
2008	12.1	29.6
2007	12.1	29.5
2006	12.1	28.6
2005	12.4	28.6
2004	12.3	28.7
2003	12.4	29.3
2002	12.9	29.4
2001	13.4	28.7
2000	14	28.2
1999	14.6	28.5
1998	15.6	29.2
1997	16.6	30.2
1996	17	30.4
1995	17.1	30.6
1994	17.7	31
1993	18.1	32
1992	18.3	33.2
1991	19.7	34.2
1990	21.1	35.1
1989	21.6	36.3
1988	22.4	37.4
1987	23.3	38.3
1986	22.4	37.5
1985	21	37.9
1984	19.9	38.4
1983	20.2	38.9
1982	22.3	39.5
1981	20.9	39.9
1980	18.2	40.4
1979	17.8	40.8
1978	18.3	41
1977	18.9	41.1
1976	19.9	41
1975	23	40.6
1974	24.8	40.2
1973	27.9	39.9
1972	29.8	40.2
1971	30.7	40.5
1970	33.4	40.8
1969	34.1	41.3
1968	35.6	41.9
1967	34	42.5
1966	35.1	43
1965	37.9	43.3
1964	39.1	43.5
1963	43.4	43.7
1962	37	44.1
1961	18	44.3
1960	20.9	44.6

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 24.1 in Lesotho, compared with 20.9 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Lesotho
2100	7.83%	18%
2099	7.84%	18.1%
2098	7.87%	18.2%
2097	7.91%	18.3%
2096	7.96%	18.3%
2095	8.03%	18.4%
2094	8.1%	18.5%
2093	8.18%	18.6%
2092	8.26%	18.7%
2091	8.34%	18.9%
2090	8.41%	19%
2089	8.47%	19.1%
2088	8.52%	19.2%
2087	8.55%	19.3%
2086	8.57%	19.4%
2085	8.57%	19.6%
2084	8.56%	19.7%
2083	8.53%	19.8%
2082	8.48%	19.9%
2081	8.41%	20%
2080	8.34%	20.2%
2079	8.25%	20.3%
2078	8.15%	20.4%
2077	8.06%	20.5%
2076	7.96%	20.6%
2075	7.86%	20.7%
2074	7.77%	20.9%
2073	7.7%	21%
2072	7.64%	21.1%
2071	7.6%	21.3%
2070	7.58%	21.4%
2069	7.59%	21.5%
2068	7.63%	21.7%
2067	7.7%	21.9%
2066	7.8%	22%
2065	7.93%	22.2%
2064	8.08%	22.4%
2063	8.25%	22.6%
2062	8.44%	22.8%
2061	8.64%	23%
2060	8.84%	23.3%
2059	9.03%	23.5%
2058	9.22%	23.7%
2057	9.39%	24%
2056	9.54%	24.2%
2055	9.67%	24.5%
2054	9.78%	24.7%
2053	9.86%	25%
2052	9.92%	25.3%
2051	9.94%	25.5%
2050	9.94%	25.8%
2049	9.92%	26.1%
2048	9.88%	26.3%
2047	9.82%	26.5%
2046	9.75%	26.8%
2045	9.67%	27%
2044	9.59%	27.3%
2043	9.52%	27.5%
2042	9.46%	27.7%
2041	9.4%	28%
2040	9.35%	28.2%
2039	9.32%	28.4%
2038	9.3%	28.7%
2037	9.32%	28.9%
2036	9.42%	29.2%
2035	9.63%	29.5%
2034	10%	29.9%
2033	10.5%	30.3%
2032	11.2%	30.8%
2031	11.8%	31.3%
2030	12.4%	31.8%
2029	13.1%	32.3%
2028	13.8%	32.8%
2027	14.5%	33.4%
2026	15.1%	33.9%
2025	15.7%	34.3%
2024	16%	34.5%
2023	16.6%	34.9%
2022	17.1%	35.3%
2021	17.6%	35.6%
2020	18%	35.8%
2019	18.2%	36.1%
2018	18.3%	36.3%
2017	18.4%	36.5%
2016	18.3%	36.6%
2015	18.3%	36.6%
2014	18.3%	36.6%
2013	18.3%	36.5%
2012	18.3%	36.5%
2011	18.3%	36.5%
2010	18.5%	36.5%
2009	18.6%	36.6%
2008	18.9%	36.7%
2007	19.2%	36.8%
2006	19.6%	37.1%
2005	20.3%	37.4%
2004	21.2%	37.7%
2003	22%	38.1%
2002	22.9%	38.6%
2001	23.8%	39.1%
2000	24.5%	39.6%
1999	25.2%	40.2%
1998	25.7%	40.7%
1997	26.3%	41.2%
1996	27%	41.7%
1995	27.4%	42%
1994	27.8%	42.3%
1993	28.2%	42.6%
1992	28.4%	42.8%
1991	28.6%	42.9%
1990	28.8%	42.9%
1989	28.9%	42.8%
1988	29.3%	42.7%
1987	29.8%	42.5%
1986	30.4%	42.7%
1985	31.2%	43%
1984	32.2%	42.8%
1983	33.3%	42.7%
1982	34.3%	42.5%
1981	35.1%	42.3%
1980	36.1%	42.1%
1979	37.2%	41.9%
1978	38.6%	41.7%
1977	39.8%	41.5%
1976	40.3%	41.4%
1975	40.2%	41.6%
1974	40.2%	41.9%
1973	40.1%	42.3%
1972	40.4%	42.7%
1971	40.7%	43.1%
1970	40.8%	43.6%
1969	41%	44%
1968	41%	44.4%
1967	41.3%	44.8%
1966	41.5%	44.9%
1965	41.5%	44.8%
1964	41.2%	44.9%
1963	40.6%	45.2%
1962	40%	45.3%
1961	40%	45.2%
1960	40.3%	45.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 34.5% in Lesotho in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Lesotho compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Lesotho

Chart Table

China

Lesotho

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Lesotho
2023	16	478
2022	18	477
2021	21	577
2020	20	529
2019	21	467
2018	22	491
2017	24	468
2016	25	518
2015	26	594
2014	28	707
2013	30	855
2012	32	1,000
2011	33	1,210
2010	34	1,311
2009	35	1,387
2008	38	1,205
2007	38	891
2006	40	696
2005	42	549
2004	45	499
2003	47	508
2002	50	484
2001	52	465
2000	56	413
1999	58	371
1998	60	332
1997	63	312
1996	67	319
1995	71	357
1994	76	423
1993	80	542
1992	86	601
1991	92	641
1990	102	665
1989	104	680
1988	108	680
1987	114	686
1986	120	680
1985	125	711

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 478 deaths in Lesotho.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Lesotho

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Lesotho
2023	0.62%	5.89%
2022	0.66%	6.15%
2021	0.7%	6.44%
2020	0.75%	6.68%
2019	0.8%	6.87%
2018	0.86%	6.91%
2017	0.92%	7.12%
2016	0.99%	7.18%
2015	1.07%	7.51%
2014	1.15%	7.82%
2013	1.25%	8.02%
2012	1.35%	8.26%
2011	1.46%	8.59%
2010	1.58%	9.01%
2009	1.71%	9.64%
2008	1.85%	10.9%
2007	2.01%	11.2%
2006	2.19%	11.5%
2005	2.4%	11.6%
2004	2.64%	11.5%
2003	2.89%	11.4%
2002	3.15%	11.2%
2001	3.42%	11.1%
2000	3.67%	10.9%
1999	3.91%	10.7%
1998	4.14%	10.5%
1997	4.36%	10.2%
1996	4.56%	9.83%
1995	4.75%	9.45%
1994	4.93%	9.07%
1993	5.08%	8.73%
1992	5.22%	8.51%
1991	5.31%	8.43%
1990	5.37%	8.47%
1989	5.39%	8.6%
1988	5.4%	8.8%
1987	5.4%	9.06%
1986	5.4%	9.36%
1985	5.43%	9.72%
1984	5.5%	10.1%
1983	5.61%	10.6%
1982	5.78%	11.1%
1981	6%	11.7%
1980	6.28%	12.3%
1979	6.62%	12.9%
1978	7.01%	13.6%
1977	7.47%	14.2%
1976	7.97%	14.9%
1975	8.5%	15.5%
1974	9.05%	16%
1973	9.61%	16.5%
1972	10.2%	16.9%
1971	10.7%	17.3%
1970	11.3%	17.7%
1969	11.9%	18%
1968	-	18.3%
1967	-	18.5%
1966	-	18.6%
1965	-	18.7%
1964	-	18.6%
1963	-	18.6%
1962	-	18.5%
1961	-	18.5%
1960	-	18.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 5.89% in Lesotho. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.