Fertility & birth rates in China and Portugal

Fertility rate in China vs Portugal by year

Chart Table

China

Portugal

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Portugal
2023	1	1.44
2022	1.03	1.43
2021	1.12	1.35
2020	1.24	1.42
2019	1.5	1.44
2018	1.54	1.42
2017	1.8	1.38
2016	1.77	1.37
2015	1.67	1.31
2014	1.77	1.24
2013	1.71	1.21
2012	1.8	1.28
2011	1.67	1.35
2010	1.69	1.39
2009	1.71	1.34
2008	1.7	1.39
2007	1.67	1.35
2006	1.64	1.37
2005	1.62	1.41
2004	1.61	1.4
2003	1.57	1.44
2002	1.57	1.46
2001	1.56	1.45
2000	1.63	1.55
1999	1.53	1.5
1998	1.52	1.47
1997	1.53	1.47
1996	1.55	1.44
1995	1.59	1.41
1994	1.63	1.45
1993	1.69	1.52
1992	1.78	1.54
1991	1.93	1.56
1990	2.51	1.56
1989	2.52	1.57
1988	2.54	1.61
1987	2.76	1.62
1986	2.72	1.66
1985	2.63	1.72
1984	2.61	1.9
1983	2.56	1.95
1982	2.97	2.07
1981	2.79	2.13
1980	2.74	2.25
1979	2.75	2.31
1978	2.72	2.45
1977	2.84	2.69
1976	3.24	2.82
1975	3.57	2.75
1974	4.17	2.7
1973	4.73	2.77
1972	5.11	2.86
1971	5.52	3
1970	6.09	3.01
1969	6.18	3.12
1968	6.51	3.12
1967	5.81	3.16
1966	6.31	3.16
1965	6.61	3.15
1964	6.67	3.21
1963	7.51	3.12
1962	6.09	3.23
1961	3.86	3.21
1960	4.45	3.16

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.44 in Portugal in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Portugal

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Portugal
2023	-2,087,851	-32,792
2022	-847,305	-40,694
2021	480,203	-45,592
2020	2,046,095	-39,129
2019	4,673,713	-24,687
2018	5,302,433	-25,709
2017	7,790,880	-23,691
2016	9,062,269	-23,749
2015	6,788,911	-23,823
2014	9,205,180	-22,882
2013	8,043,116	-24,052
2012	10,075,174	-17,875
2011	8,245,065	-5,279
2010	6,407,607	-4,230
2009	6,483,236	-5,284
2008	6,729,247	0
2007	6,813,465	-1,055
2006	6,922,185	3,156
2005	7,678,911	2,101
2004	7,607,960	7,339
2003	7,743,284	4,184
2002	8,258,580	8,335
2001	8,839,358	8,290
2000	9,570,849	15,435
1999	10,247,372	8,175
1998	11,351,286	7,112
1997	12,374,554	8,087
1996	12,686,872	4,026
1995	12,711,220	4,011
1994	13,360,470	9,991
1993	13,493,138	7,972
1992	13,548,601	13,933
1991	14,937,124	12,948
1990	16,335,313	13,976
1989	16,824,495	22,011
1988	17,328,640	24,047
1987	18,005,821	28,084
1986	16,609,920	31,102
1985	14,987,830	33,077
1984	13,561,671	45,983
1983	13,599,789	47,798
1982	15,815,318	58,479
1981	14,461,027	56,152
1980	11,647,260	63,481
1979	11,250,148	67,628
1978	11,473,980	70,731
1977	11,378,068	84,156
1976	11,782,472	85,138
1975	14,378,237	81,841
1974	15,738,118	74,412
1973	18,423,727	76,835
1972	19,102,585	83,715
1971	19,622,980	82,980
1970	21,137,076	87,672
1969	20,760,332	89,329
1968	21,206,083	100,737
1967	19,263,662	106,495
1966	19,282,187	107,171
1965	20,296,950	115,182
1964	19,302,532	120,170
1963	22,742,225	113,783
1962	17,969,132	123,217
1961	2,496,047	117,867
1960	-3,048,510	118,693

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 -0.31% in Portugal.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and -0.29% in Portugal.

Birth rate in China vs Portugal by year

Chart Table

China

Portugal

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Portugal
2023	6.39	8.1
2022	6.77	8
2021	7.52	7.6
2020	8.52	8.1
2019	10.4	8.4
2018	10.9	8.4
2017	12.6	8.3
2016	13.6	8.4
2015	12	8.2
2014	13.8	7.9
2013	13	7.9
2012	14.6	8.5
2011	13.3	9.2
2010	11.9	9.6
2009	12	9.4
2008	12.1	9.9
2007	12.1	9.7
2006	12.1	10
2005	12.4	10.4
2004	12.3	10.4
2003	12.4	10.8
2002	12.9	11
2001	13.4	10.9
2000	14	11.7
1999	14.6	11.4
1998	15.6	11.2
1997	16.6	11.2
1996	17	11
1995	17.1	10.7
1994	17.7	10.9
1993	18.1	11.4
1992	18.3	11.5
1991	19.7	11.7
1990	21.1	11.7
1989	21.6	11.8
1988	22.4	12.2
1987	23.3	12.3
1986	22.4	12.6
1985	21	13
1984	19.9	14.3
1983	20.2	14.5
1982	22.3	15.2
1981	20.9	15.4
1980	18.2	16.2
1979	17.8	16.6
1978	18.3	17.5
1977	18.9	19.1
1976	19.9	20
1975	23	19.8
1974	24.8	19.6
1973	27.9	20
1972	29.8	20.2
1971	30.7	21
1970	33.4	20.8
1969	34.1	21.7
1968	35.6	22.1
1967	34	22.8
1966	35.1	23.2
1965	37.9	23.4
1964	39.1	24
1963	43.4	23.5
1962	37	24.5
1961	18	24.4
1960	20.9	24.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 8.1 in Portugal, compared with 20.9 and 24.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Portugal

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Portugal
2100	7.83%	13.8%
2099	7.84%	13.8%
2098	7.87%	13.8%
2097	7.91%	13.8%
2096	7.96%	13.9%
2095	8.03%	13.9%
2094	8.1%	13.9%
2093	8.18%	14%
2092	8.26%	14%
2091	8.34%	14%
2090	8.41%	14.1%
2089	8.47%	14.1%
2088	8.52%	14.1%
2087	8.55%	14.1%
2086	8.57%	14.2%
2085	8.57%	14.2%
2084	8.56%	14.2%
2083	8.53%	14.2%
2082	8.48%	14.2%
2081	8.41%	14.2%
2080	8.34%	14.2%
2079	8.25%	14.2%
2078	8.15%	14.2%
2077	8.06%	14.1%
2076	7.96%	14.1%
2075	7.86%	14.1%
2074	7.77%	14%
2073	7.7%	14%
2072	7.64%	13.9%
2071	7.6%	13.9%
2070	7.58%	13.8%
2069	7.59%	13.8%
2068	7.63%	13.7%
2067	7.7%	13.7%
2066	7.8%	13.6%
2065	7.93%	13.6%
2064	8.08%	13.5%
2063	8.25%	13.5%
2062	8.44%	13.5%
2061	8.64%	13.5%
2060	8.84%	13.5%
2059	9.03%	13.5%
2058	9.22%	13.5%
2057	9.39%	13.5%
2056	9.54%	13.5%
2055	9.67%	13.5%
2054	9.78%	13.5%
2053	9.86%	13.5%
2052	9.92%	13.5%
2051	9.94%	13.5%
2050	9.94%	13.5%
2049	9.92%	13.5%
2048	9.88%	13.4%
2047	9.82%	13.4%
2046	9.75%	13.4%
2045	9.67%	13.3%
2044	9.59%	13.3%
2043	9.52%	13.2%
2042	9.46%	13.1%
2041	9.4%	13.1%
2040	9.35%	13%
2039	9.32%	13%
2038	9.3%	13%
2037	9.32%	12.9%
2036	9.42%	12.8%
2035	9.63%	12.8%
2034	10%	12.7%
2033	10.5%	12.7%
2032	11.2%	12.7%
2031	11.8%	12.7%
2030	12.4%	12.7%
2029	13.1%	12.6%
2028	13.8%	12.6%
2027	14.5%	12.6%
2026	15.1%	12.7%
2025	15.7%	12.8%
2024	16%	12.8%
2023	16.6%	12.9%
2022	17.1%	13%
2021	17.6%	13.1%
2020	18%	13.3%
2019	18.2%	13.5%
2018	18.3%	13.7%
2017	18.4%	13.9%
2016	18.3%	14.1%
2015	18.3%	14.3%
2014	18.3%	14.6%
2013	18.3%	14.8%
2012	18.3%	14.9%
2011	18.3%	15%
2010	18.5%	15.2%
2009	18.6%	15.4%
2008	18.9%	15.5%
2007	19.2%	15.6%
2006	19.6%	15.8%
2005	20.3%	15.9%
2004	21.2%	16%
2003	22%	16.1%
2002	22.9%	16.1%
2001	23.8%	16.2%
2000	24.5%	16.4%
1999	25.2%	16.6%
1998	25.7%	16.8%
1997	26.3%	17.1%
1996	27%	17.4%
1995	27.4%	17.8%
1994	27.8%	18.2%
1993	28.2%	18.6%
1992	28.4%	19.1%
1991	28.6%	19.7%
1990	28.8%	20.5%
1989	28.9%	21.2%
1988	29.3%	21.9%
1987	29.8%	22.5%
1986	30.4%	23.1%
1985	31.2%	23.7%
1984	32.2%	24.1%
1983	33.3%	24.5%
1982	34.3%	25%
1981	35.1%	25.4%
1980	36.1%	25.9%
1979	37.2%	26.4%
1978	38.6%	26.8%
1977	39.8%	27.1%
1976	40.3%	27.2%
1975	40.2%	27.4%
1974	40.2%	27.7%
1973	40.1%	27.9%
1972	40.4%	28.2%
1971	40.7%	28.4%
1970	40.8%	28.7%
1969	41%	29.1%
1968	41%	29.2%
1967	41.3%	29.2%
1966	41.5%	29.2%
1965	41.5%	29.1%
1964	41.2%	29.1%
1963	40.6%	29.1%
1962	40%	29.1%
1961	40%	29.1%
1960	40.3%	29.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 12.8% in Portugal in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 20.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Portugal compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Portugal

Chart Table

China

Portugal

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Portugal
2023	16	15
2022	18	16
2021	21	19
2020	20	14
2019	21	15
2018	22	14
2017	24	13
2016	25	12
2015	26	11
2014	28	11
2013	30	10
2012	32	10
2011	33	10
2010	34	10
2009	35	9
2008	38	9
2007	38	8
2006	40	8
2005	42	8
2004	45	8
2003	47	8
2002	50	9
2001	52	9
2000	56	9
1999	58	10
1998	60	11
1997	63	12
1996	67	12
1995	71	12
1994	76	13
1993	80	15
1992	86	16
1991	92	17
1990	102	17
1989	104	18
1988	108	18
1987	114	19
1986	120	19
1985	125	20

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 15 deaths in Portugal.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Portugal

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Portugal
2023	0.62%	0.32%
2022	0.66%	0.32%
2021	0.7%	0.33%
2020	0.75%	0.34%
2019	0.8%	0.35%
2018	0.86%	0.35%
2017	0.92%	0.36%
2016	0.99%	0.36%
2015	1.07%	0.36%
2014	1.15%	0.36%
2013	1.25%	0.36%
2012	1.35%	0.37%
2011	1.46%	0.37%
2010	1.58%	0.38%
2009	1.71%	0.39%
2008	1.85%	0.4%
2007	2.01%	0.42%
2006	2.19%	0.44%
2005	2.4%	0.47%
2004	2.64%	0.5%
2003	2.89%	0.55%
2002	3.15%	0.61%
2001	3.42%	0.66%
2000	3.67%	0.72%
1999	3.91%	0.77%
1998	4.14%	0.82%
1997	4.36%	0.86%
1996	4.56%	0.92%
1995	4.75%	0.98%
1994	4.93%	1.05%
1993	5.08%	1.14%
1992	5.22%	1.25%
1991	5.31%	1.36%
1990	5.37%	1.47%
1989	5.39%	1.59%
1988	5.4%	1.7%
1987	5.4%	1.82%
1986	5.4%	1.93%
1985	5.43%	2.04%
1984	5.5%	2.16%
1983	5.61%	2.29%
1982	5.78%	2.43%
1981	6%	2.58%
1980	6.28%	2.75%
1979	6.62%	2.97%
1978	7.01%	3.24%
1977	7.47%	3.57%
1976	7.97%	3.94%
1975	8.5%	4.35%
1974	9.05%	4.79%
1973	9.61%	5.27%
1972	10.2%	5.78%
1971	10.7%	6.3%
1970	11.3%	6.81%
1969	11.9%	7.22%
1968	-	7.51%
1967	-	7.76%
1966	-	8.09%
1965	-	8.53%
1964	-	9.1%
1963	-	9.76%
1962	-	10.4%
1961	-	11%
1960	-	11.4%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.32% in Portugal. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.