Fertility & birth rates in China and North Korea

Fertility rate in China vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

China

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	North Korea
2023	1	1.78
2022	1.03	1.8
2021	1.12	1.81
2020	1.24	1.82
2019	1.5	1.83
2018	1.54	1.83
2017	1.8	1.85
2016	1.77	1.86
2015	1.67	1.86
2014	1.77	1.87
2013	1.71	1.88
2012	1.8	1.88
2011	1.67	1.88
2010	1.69	1.89
2009	1.71	1.91
2008	1.7	1.97
2007	1.67	1.94
2006	1.64	1.94
2005	1.62	1.87
2004	1.61	1.9
2003	1.57	1.91
2002	1.57	1.92
2001	1.56	1.94
2000	1.63	1.94
1999	1.53	1.97
1998	1.52	1.99
1997	1.53	2.03
1996	1.55	2.09
1995	1.59	2.15
1994	1.63	2.18
1993	1.69	2.22
1992	1.78	2.29
1991	1.93	2.35
1990	2.51	2.39
1989	2.52	2.41
1988	2.54	2.47
1987	2.76	2.53
1986	2.72	2.59
1985	2.63	2.65
1984	2.61	2.71
1983	2.56	2.78
1982	2.97	2.85
1981	2.79	2.92
1980	2.74	2.84
1979	2.75	2.85
1978	2.72	2.79
1977	2.84	2.77
1976	3.24	2.84
1975	3.57	3.05
1974	4.17	3.14
1973	4.73	3.35
1972	5.11	3.89
1971	5.52	3.74
1970	6.09	3.85
1969	6.18	3.86
1968	6.51	3.87
1967	5.81	4.05
1966	6.31	3.71
1965	6.61	3.56
1964	6.67	3.55
1963	7.51	3.63
1962	6.09	3.41
1961	3.86	3.26
1960	4.45	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in North Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	North Korea
2023	-2,087,851	86,203
2022	-847,305	96,495
2021	480,203	99,710
2020	2,046,095	95,920
2019	4,673,713	106,208
2018	5,302,433	113,164
2017	7,790,880	120,181
2016	9,062,269	125,048
2015	6,788,911	127,365
2014	9,205,180	127,078
2013	8,043,116	122,519
2012	10,075,174	118,773
2011	8,245,065	114,798
2010	6,407,607	112,443
2009	6,483,236	111,530
2008	6,729,247	122,015
2007	6,813,465	120,521
2006	6,922,185	129,171
2005	7,678,911	132,765
2004	7,607,960	155,838
2003	7,743,284	178,775
2002	8,258,580	119,504
2001	8,839,358	143,321
2000	9,570,849	161,591
1999	10,247,372	181,613
1998	11,351,286	197,589
1997	12,374,554	211,325
1996	12,686,872	226,095
1995	12,711,220	233,381
1994	13,360,470	320,861
1993	13,493,138	320,880
1992	13,548,601	324,002
1991	14,937,124	320,551
1990	16,335,313	312,460
1989	16,824,495	303,078
1988	17,328,640	299,305
1987	18,005,821	296,030
1986	16,609,920	293,227
1985	14,987,830	287,714
1984	13,561,671	282,987
1983	13,599,789	279,046
1982	15,815,318	276,332
1981	14,461,027	273,800
1980	11,647,260	255,206
1979	11,250,148	251,409
1978	11,473,980	243,533
1977	11,378,068	242,870
1976	11,782,472	255,841
1975	14,378,237	288,966
1974	15,738,118	306,902
1973	18,423,727	338,600
1972	19,102,585	411,997
1971	19,622,980	393,220
1970	21,137,076	406,129
1969	20,760,332	404,189
1968	21,206,083	399,837
1967	19,263,662	414,632
1966	19,282,187	363,882
1965	20,296,950	335,587
1964	19,302,532	323,623
1963	22,742,225	321,805
1962	17,969,132	286,534
1961	2,496,047	257,788
1960	-3,048,510	277,717

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 +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in China vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

China

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	North Korea
2023	6.39	12.9
2022	6.77	13.1
2021	7.52	13.3
2020	8.52	13.4
2019	10.4	13.4
2018	10.9	13.4
2017	12.6	13.5
2016	13.6	13.5
2015	12	13.4
2014	13.8	13.4
2013	13	13.4
2012	14.6	13.3
2011	13.3	13.3
2010	11.9	13.3
2009	12	13.4
2008	12.1	13.9
2007	12.1	13.9
2006	12.1	14
2005	12.4	13.9
2004	12.3	14.6
2003	12.4	15.3
2002	12.9	16.1
2001	13.4	16.9
2000	14	17.5
1999	14.6	18.3
1998	15.6	18.9
1997	16.6	19.4
1996	17	20
1995	17.1	20.3
1994	17.7	20.4
1993	18.1	20.4
1992	18.3	20.5
1991	19.7	20.6
1990	21.1	20.5
1989	21.6	20.2
1988	22.4	20.2
1987	23.3	20.3
1986	22.4	20.4
1985	21	20.4
1984	19.9	20.4
1983	20.2	20.5
1982	22.3	20.6
1981	20.9	20.8
1980	18.2	20.1
1979	17.8	20.2
1978	18.3	20.1
1977	18.9	20.4
1976	19.9	21.5
1975	23	23.9
1974	24.8	25.6
1973	27.9	28.2
1972	29.8	33.7
1971	30.7	33.4
1970	33.4	35.3
1969	34.1	36.2
1968	35.6	37.1
1967	34	39.3
1966	35.1	36.6
1965	37.9	35.4
1964	39.1	35.4
1963	43.4	36.1
1962	37	34
1961	18	32.3
1960	20.9	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 20.9 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	North Korea
2100	7.83%	13%
2099	7.84%	13.1%
2098	7.87%	13.2%
2097	7.91%	13.3%
2096	7.96%	13.4%
2095	8.03%	13.4%
2094	8.1%	13.5%
2093	8.18%	13.6%
2092	8.26%	13.7%
2091	8.34%	13.8%
2090	8.41%	13.8%
2089	8.47%	13.8%
2088	8.52%	13.9%
2087	8.55%	13.9%
2086	8.57%	13.9%
2085	8.57%	13.8%
2084	8.56%	13.8%
2083	8.53%	13.8%
2082	8.48%	13.7%
2081	8.41%	13.7%
2080	8.34%	13.7%
2079	8.25%	13.6%
2078	8.15%	13.6%
2077	8.06%	13.6%
2076	7.96%	13.6%
2075	7.86%	13.7%
2074	7.77%	13.7%
2073	7.7%	13.8%
2072	7.64%	13.8%
2071	7.6%	14%
2070	7.58%	14.1%
2069	7.59%	14.2%
2068	7.63%	14.3%
2067	7.7%	14.5%
2066	7.8%	14.6%
2065	7.93%	14.8%
2064	8.08%	14.9%
2063	8.25%	15%
2062	8.44%	15.1%
2061	8.64%	15.2%
2060	8.84%	15.3%
2059	9.03%	15.4%
2058	9.22%	15.4%
2057	9.39%	15.4%
2056	9.54%	15.4%
2055	9.67%	15.4%
2054	9.78%	15.4%
2053	9.86%	15.3%
2052	9.92%	15.3%
2051	9.94%	15.2%
2050	9.94%	15.2%
2049	9.92%	15.2%
2048	9.88%	15.2%
2047	9.82%	15.2%
2046	9.75%	15.3%
2045	9.67%	15.3%
2044	9.59%	15.5%
2043	9.52%	15.6%
2042	9.46%	15.8%
2041	9.4%	16%
2040	9.35%	16.2%
2039	9.32%	16.5%
2038	9.3%	16.7%
2037	9.32%	17%
2036	9.42%	17.2%
2035	9.63%	17.5%
2034	10%	17.8%
2033	10.5%	18%
2032	11.2%	18.2%
2031	11.8%	18.4%
2030	12.4%	18.6%
2029	13.1%	18.7%
2028	13.8%	18.8%
2027	14.5%	18.9%
2026	15.1%	18.9%
2025	15.7%	18.9%
2024	16%	18.9%
2023	16.6%	19%
2022	17.1%	19%
2021	17.6%	19.1%
2020	18%	19.1%
2019	18.2%	19.1%
2018	18.3%	19.2%
2017	18.4%	19.4%
2016	18.3%	19.6%
2015	18.3%	19.8%
2014	18.3%	20.1%
2013	18.3%	20.4%
2012	18.3%	20.8%
2011	18.3%	21.2%
2010	18.5%	21.6%
2009	18.6%	22.1%
2008	18.9%	22.5%
2007	19.2%	23%
2006	19.6%	23.4%
2005	20.3%	23.9%
2004	21.2%	24.3%
2003	22%	24.6%
2002	22.9%	25%
2001	23.8%	25.3%
2000	24.5%	25.6%
1999	25.2%	25.8%
1998	25.7%	26%
1997	26.3%	26.2%
1996	27%	26.3%
1995	27.4%	26.4%
1994	27.8%	26.4%
1993	28.2%	26.4%
1992	28.4%	26.3%
1991	28.6%	26.4%
1990	28.8%	26.5%
1989	28.9%	26.8%
1988	29.3%	27.3%
1987	29.8%	28%
1986	30.4%	29%
1985	31.2%	29.9%
1984	32.2%	30.9%
1983	33.3%	32%
1982	34.3%	33.1%
1981	35.1%	34.2%
1980	36.1%	35.1%
1979	37.2%	36%
1978	38.6%	36.9%
1977	39.8%	37.7%
1976	40.3%	38.3%
1975	40.2%	38.8%
1974	40.2%	39.3%
1973	40.1%	39.8%
1972	40.4%	40.2%
1971	40.7%	40.3%
1970	40.8%	40.1%
1969	41%	39.8%
1968	41%	39.2%
1967	41.3%	38.3%
1966	41.5%	37.3%
1965	41.5%	36.7%
1964	41.2%	36.6%
1963	40.6%	36.5%
1962	40%	36.6%
1961	40%	37%
1960	40.3%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs North Korea

Chart Table

China

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	North Korea
2023	16	67
2022	18	67
2021	21	72
2020	20	66
2019	21	66
2018	22	69
2017	24	70
2016	25	71
2015	26	72
2014	28	73
2013	30	75
2012	32	76
2011	33	76
2010	34	77
2009	35	78
2008	38	79
2007	38	80
2006	40	80
2005	42	78
2004	45	77
2003	47	76
2002	50	131
2001	52	130
2000	56	129
1999	58	129
1998	60	129
1997	63	128
1996	67	128
1995	71	127
1994	76	57
1993	80	46
1992	86	37
1991	92	38
1990	102	43
1989	104	49
1988	108	55
1987	114	62
1986	120	68
1985	125	76

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 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	North Korea
2023	0.62%	1.8%
2022	0.66%	1.77%
2021	0.7%	1.74%
2020	0.75%	1.74%
2019	0.8%	1.77%
2018	0.86%	1.84%
2017	0.92%	1.91%
2016	0.99%	2.06%
2015	1.07%	2.14%
2014	1.15%	2.26%
2013	1.25%	2.41%
2012	1.35%	2.57%
2011	1.46%	2.72%
2010	1.58%	2.87%
2009	1.71%	3%
2008	1.85%	3.1%
2007	2.01%	3.24%
2006	2.19%	3.28%
2005	2.4%	3.33%
2004	2.64%	3.38%
2003	2.89%	3.45%
2002	3.15%	9.78%
2001	3.42%	9.9%
2000	3.67%	10%
1999	3.91%	10.2%
1998	4.14%	10.3%
1997	4.36%	10.5%
1996	4.56%	10.6%
1995	4.75%	10.8%
1994	4.93%	4.25%
1993	5.08%	4.27%
1992	5.22%	4.25%
1991	5.31%	4.18%
1990	5.37%	4.07%
1989	5.39%	3.95%
1988	5.4%	3.83%
1987	5.4%	3.78%
1986	5.4%	3.68%
1985	5.43%	3.68%
1984	5.5%	3.71%
1983	5.61%	3.8%
1982	5.78%	3.91%
1981	6%	4.05%
1980	6.28%	4.22%
1979	6.62%	4.4%
1978	7.01%	4.59%
1977	7.47%	4.8%
1976	7.97%	5.03%
1975	8.5%	5.28%
1974	9.05%	5.56%
1973	9.61%	5.86%
1972	10.2%	6.2%
1971	10.7%	6.58%
1970	11.3%	6.99%
1969	11.9%	7.45%
1968	-	7.94%
1967	-	8.45%
1966	-	8.96%
1965	-	9.46%
1964	-	9.92%
1963	-	10.4%
1962	-	10.8%
1961	-	11.2%
1960	-	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.