Fertility & birth rates in China and Malaysia

Fertility rate in China vs Malaysia by year

Chart Table

China

Malaysia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Malaysia
2023	1	1.55
2022	1.03	1.55
2021	1.12	1.56
2020	1.24	1.68
2019	1.5	1.78
2018	1.54	1.84
2017	1.8	1.89
2016	1.77	1.94
2015	1.67	2.01
2014	1.77	2.06
2013	1.71	2.07
2012	1.8	2.12
2011	1.67	2.15
2010	1.69	2.14
2009	1.71	2.22
2008	1.7	2.26
2007	1.67	2.25
2006	1.64	2.31
2005	1.62	2.39
2004	1.61	2.49
2003	1.57	2.6
2002	1.57	2.66
2001	1.56	2.81
2000	1.63	2.94
1999	1.53	3.07
1998	1.52	3.12
1997	1.53	3.23
1996	1.55	3.3
1995	1.59	3.32
1994	1.63	3.35
1993	1.69	3.36
1992	1.78	3.37
1991	1.93	3.34
1990	2.51	3.3
1989	2.52	3.31
1988	2.54	3.5
1987	2.76	3.57
1986	2.72	3.7
1985	2.63	3.8
1984	2.61	3.89
1983	2.56	3.93
1982	2.97	3.97
1981	2.79	4
1980	2.74	4.04
1979	2.75	4.09
1978	2.72	4.18
1977	2.84	4.28
1976	3.24	4.4
1975	3.57	4.5
1974	4.17	4.62
1973	4.73	4.73
1972	5.11	4.82
1971	5.52	4.92
1970	6.09	5.04
1969	6.18	5.16
1968	6.51	5.29
1967	5.81	5.43
1966	6.31	5.64
1965	6.61	5.84
1964	6.67	6.03
1963	7.51	6.19
1962	6.09	6.3
1961	3.86	6.37
1960	4.45	6.41

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.55 in Malaysia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Malaysia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Malaysia
2023	-2,087,851	254,806
2022	-847,305	237,560
2021	480,203	212,002
2020	2,046,095	283,282
2019	4,673,713	309,426
2018	5,302,433	324,568
2017	7,790,880	336,434
2016	9,062,269	345,681
2015	6,788,911	358,302
2014	9,205,180	367,587
2013	8,043,116	366,738
2012	10,075,174	371,497
2011	8,245,065	372,836
2010	6,407,607	360,260
2009	6,483,236	366,157
2008	6,729,247	362,380
2007	6,813,465	348,711
2006	6,922,185	349,509
2005	7,678,911	355,324
2004	7,607,960	365,138
2003	7,743,284	377,425
2002	8,258,580	381,084
2001	8,839,358	400,939
2000	9,570,849	417,371
1999	10,247,372	432,355
1998	11,351,286	436,316
1997	12,374,554	447,768
1996	12,686,872	450,174
1995	12,711,220	443,349
1994	13,360,470	437,873
1993	13,493,138	429,910
1992	13,548,601	418,900
1991	14,937,124	401,938
1990	16,335,313	384,518
1989	16,824,495	373,277
1988	17,328,640	386,507
1987	18,005,821	381,999
1986	16,609,920	385,799
1985	14,987,830	383,243
1984	13,561,671	376,797
1983	13,599,789	365,290
1982	15,815,318	353,138
1981	14,461,027	339,991
1980	11,647,260	326,947
1979	11,250,148	317,439
1978	11,473,980	311,027
1977	11,378,068	305,515
1976	11,782,472	300,615
1975	14,378,237	294,541
1974	15,738,118	289,880
1973	18,423,727	284,611
1972	19,102,585	276,263
1971	19,622,980	272,323
1970	21,137,076	269,341
1969	20,760,332	264,327
1968	21,206,083	260,705
1967	19,263,662	258,764
1966	19,282,187	262,162
1965	20,296,950	264,836
1964	19,302,532	266,406
1963	22,742,225	265,815
1962	17,969,132	262,140
1961	2,496,047	257,270
1960	-3,048,510	251,090

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 +0.73% in Malaysia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +0.92% in Malaysia.

Birth rate in China vs Malaysia by year

Chart Table

China

Malaysia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Malaysia
2023	6.39	12.4
2022	6.77	12.4
2021	7.52	12.4
2020	8.52	13.4
2019	10.4	14.2
2018	10.9	14.8
2017	12.6	15.3
2016	13.6	15.8
2015	12	16.3
2014	13.8	16.7
2013	13	16.8
2012	14.6	17
2011	13.3	17.2
2010	11.9	16.9
2009	12	17.3
2008	12.1	17.4
2007	12.1	17.1
2006	12.1	17.4
2005	12.4	17.9
2004	12.3	18.7
2003	12.4	19.6
2002	12.9	20.1
2001	13.4	21.4
2000	14	22.6
1999	14.6	23.8
1998	15.6	24.4
1997	16.6	25.4
1996	17	26.1
1995	17.1	26.3
1994	17.7	26.6
1993	18.1	26.8
1992	18.3	26.8
1991	19.7	26.5
1990	21.1	26.2
1989	21.6	26.3
1988	22.4	27.8
1987	23.3	28.3
1986	22.4	29.4
1985	21	30.1
1984	19.9	30.6
1983	20.2	30.7
1982	22.3	30.8
1981	20.9	30.8
1980	18.2	30.7
1979	17.8	30.8
1978	18.3	31
1977	18.9	31.3
1976	19.9	31.7
1975	23	32
1974	24.8	32.3
1973	27.9	32.7
1972	29.8	32.7
1971	30.7	33.2
1970	33.4	33.7
1969	34.1	34
1968	35.6	34.5
1967	34	35.1
1966	35.1	36.4
1965	37.9	37.7
1964	39.1	39.1
1963	43.4	40.4
1962	37	41.3
1961	18	42.2
1960	20.9	42.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 12.4 in Malaysia, compared with 20.9 and 42.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Malaysia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Malaysia
2100	7.83%	13.3%
2099	7.84%	13.3%
2098	7.87%	13.4%
2097	7.91%	13.4%
2096	7.96%	13.4%
2095	8.03%	13.4%
2094	8.1%	13.5%
2093	8.18%	13.5%
2092	8.26%	13.5%
2091	8.34%	13.6%
2090	8.41%	13.6%
2089	8.47%	13.7%
2088	8.52%	13.7%
2087	8.55%	13.7%
2086	8.57%	13.8%
2085	8.57%	13.8%
2084	8.56%	13.8%
2083	8.53%	13.9%
2082	8.48%	13.9%
2081	8.41%	13.9%
2080	8.34%	13.9%
2079	8.25%	13.9%
2078	8.15%	13.9%
2077	8.06%	13.9%
2076	7.96%	13.9%
2075	7.86%	13.9%
2074	7.77%	13.9%
2073	7.7%	13.9%
2072	7.64%	13.9%
2071	7.6%	13.9%
2070	7.58%	13.9%
2069	7.59%	14%
2068	7.63%	14%
2067	7.7%	14.1%
2066	7.8%	14.1%
2065	7.93%	14.2%
2064	8.08%	14.3%
2063	8.25%	14.4%
2062	8.44%	14.5%
2061	8.64%	14.6%
2060	8.84%	14.8%
2059	9.03%	14.9%
2058	9.22%	15.1%
2057	9.39%	15.2%
2056	9.54%	15.4%
2055	9.67%	15.5%
2054	9.78%	15.7%
2053	9.86%	15.8%
2052	9.92%	16%
2051	9.94%	16.1%
2050	9.94%	16.2%
2049	9.92%	16.3%
2048	9.88%	16.4%
2047	9.82%	16.5%
2046	9.75%	16.6%
2045	9.67%	16.7%
2044	9.59%	16.8%
2043	9.52%	16.9%
2042	9.46%	16.9%
2041	9.4%	17%
2040	9.35%	17.1%
2039	9.32%	17.1%
2038	9.3%	17.2%
2037	9.32%	17.3%
2036	9.42%	17.3%
2035	9.63%	17.5%
2034	10%	17.7%
2033	10.5%	18%
2032	11.2%	18.3%
2031	11.8%	18.7%
2030	12.4%	19.2%
2029	13.1%	19.7%
2028	13.8%	20.1%
2027	14.5%	20.6%
2026	15.1%	21.1%
2025	15.7%	21.6%
2024	16%	21.8%
2023	16.6%	22.3%
2022	17.1%	22.8%
2021	17.6%	23.4%
2020	18%	24%
2019	18.2%	24.5%
2018	18.3%	24.9%
2017	18.4%	25.2%
2016	18.3%	25.5%
2015	18.3%	25.8%
2014	18.3%	26.2%
2013	18.3%	26.6%
2012	18.3%	27%
2011	18.3%	27.4%
2010	18.5%	27.9%
2009	18.6%	28.6%
2008	18.9%	29.4%
2007	19.2%	30%
2006	19.6%	30.7%
2005	20.3%	31.4%
2004	21.2%	32%
2003	22%	32.6%
2002	22.9%	33.2%
2001	23.8%	33.7%
2000	24.5%	34.2%
1999	25.2%	34.6%
1998	25.7%	35%
1997	26.3%	35.3%
1996	27%	35.5%
1995	27.4%	35.7%
1994	27.8%	36%
1993	28.2%	36.3%
1992	28.4%	36.6%
1991	28.6%	36.9%
1990	28.8%	37.2%
1989	28.9%	37.5%
1988	29.3%	37.7%
1987	29.8%	37.9%
1986	30.4%	38%
1985	31.2%	38.1%
1984	32.2%	38.2%
1983	33.3%	38.4%
1982	34.3%	38.6%
1981	35.1%	38.8%
1980	36.1%	39.2%
1979	37.2%	39.6%
1978	38.6%	40.1%
1977	39.8%	40.6%
1976	40.3%	41.1%
1975	40.2%	41.7%
1974	40.2%	42.2%
1973	40.1%	42.8%
1972	40.4%	43.4%
1971	40.7%	44%
1970	40.8%	44.5%
1969	41%	45%
1968	41%	45.5%
1967	41.3%	45.9%
1966	41.5%	46.2%
1965	41.5%	46.5%
1964	41.2%	46.6%
1963	40.6%	46.5%
1962	40%	46.3%
1961	40%	45.9%
1960	40.3%	45.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 21.8% in Malaysia in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 37.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Malaysia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Malaysia

Chart Table

China

Malaysia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Malaysia
2023	16	26
2022	18	38
2021	21	52
2020	20	29
2019	21	28
2018	22	29
2017	24	29
2016	25	30
2015	26	30
2014	28	30
2013	30	29
2012	32	29
2011	33	29
2010	34	29
2009	35	29
2008	38	29
2007	38	30
2006	40	30
2005	42	31
2004	45	33
2003	47	34
2002	50	34
2001	52	36
2000	56	37
1999	58	38
1998	60	39
1997	63	40
1996	67	42
1995	71	43
1994	76	44
1993	80	46
1992	86	48
1991	92	49
1990	102	51
1989	104	52
1988	108	55
1987	114	56
1986	120	59
1985	125	63

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 26 deaths in Malaysia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Malaysia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Malaysia
2023	0.62%	0.81%
2022	0.66%	0.81%
2021	0.7%	0.81%
2020	0.75%	0.81%
2019	0.8%	0.82%
2018	0.86%	0.82%
2017	0.92%	0.82%
2016	0.99%	0.82%
2015	1.07%	0.81%
2014	1.15%	0.81%
2013	1.25%	0.81%
2012	1.35%	0.8%
2011	1.46%	0.81%
2010	1.58%	0.81%
2009	1.71%	0.82%
2008	1.85%	0.82%
2007	2.01%	0.82%
2006	2.19%	0.83%
2005	2.4%	0.83%
2004	2.64%	0.84%
2003	2.89%	0.85%
2002	3.15%	0.88%
2001	3.42%	0.93%
2000	3.67%	1%
1999	3.91%	1.07%
1998	4.14%	1.15%
1997	4.36%	1.23%
1996	4.56%	1.29%
1995	4.75%	1.34%
1994	4.93%	1.39%
1993	5.08%	1.45%
1992	5.22%	1.51%
1991	5.31%	1.58%
1990	5.37%	1.66%
1989	5.39%	1.74%
1988	5.4%	1.83%
1987	5.4%	1.93%
1986	5.4%	2.05%
1985	5.43%	2.18%
1984	5.5%	2.32%
1983	5.61%	2.47%
1982	5.78%	2.65%
1981	6%	2.84%
1980	6.28%	3.04%
1979	6.62%	3.25%
1978	7.01%	3.48%
1977	7.47%	3.71%
1976	7.97%	3.97%
1975	8.5%	4.23%
1974	9.05%	4.5%
1973	9.61%	4.79%
1972	10.2%	5.06%
1971	10.7%	5.32%
1970	11.3%	5.56%
1969	11.9%	5.79%
1968	-	6.02%
1967	-	6.27%
1966	-	6.56%
1965	-	6.89%
1964	-	7.28%
1963	-	7.74%
1962	-	8.25%
1961	-	8.83%
1960	-	9.46%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.81% in Malaysia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.