Fertility & birth rates in China and Saudi Arabia

Fertility rate in China vs Saudi Arabia by year

Chart Table

China

Saudi Arabia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Saudi Arabia
2023	1	2.28
2022	1.03	2.14
2021	1.12	2.17
2020	1.24	2.27
2019	1.5	2.49
2018	1.54	2.67
2017	1.8	2.67
2016	1.77	2.65
2015	1.67	2.63
2014	1.77	2.68
2013	1.71	2.67
2012	1.8	2.78
2011	1.67	2.8
2010	1.69	2.81
2009	1.71	2.95
2008	1.7	3.07
2007	1.67	3.19
2006	1.64	3.18
2005	1.62	3.16
2004	1.61	3.26
2003	1.57	3.47
2002	1.57	3.71
2001	1.56	3.96
2000	1.63	4.21
1999	1.53	4.35
1998	1.52	4.52
1997	1.53	4.66
1996	1.55	4.81
1995	1.59	4.99
1994	1.63	5.16
1993	1.69	5.33
1992	1.78	5.49
1991	1.93	5.64
1990	2.51	5.8
1989	2.52	5.98
1988	2.54	6.15
1987	2.76	6.34
1986	2.72	6.52
1985	2.63	6.65
1984	2.61	6.78
1983	2.56	6.88
1982	2.97	6.98
1981	2.79	7.07
1980	2.74	7.15
1979	2.75	7.23
1978	2.72	7.26
1977	2.84	7.3
1976	3.24	7.33
1975	3.57	7.37
1974	4.17	7.43
1973	4.73	7.48
1972	5.11	7.54
1971	5.52	7.56
1970	6.09	7.58
1969	6.18	7.6
1968	6.51	7.63
1967	5.81	7.66
1966	6.31	7.66
1965	6.61	7.66
1964	6.67	7.67
1963	7.51	7.65
1962	6.09	7.64
1961	3.86	7.63
1960	4.45	7.63

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.28 in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Saudi Arabia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Saudi Arabia
2023	-2,087,851	474,366
2022	-847,305	406,920
2021	480,203	409,032
2020	2,046,095	447,036
2019	4,673,713	474,407
2018	5,302,433	528,767
2017	7,790,880	546,751
2016	9,062,269	537,829
2015	6,788,911	511,023
2014	9,205,180	493,431
2013	8,043,116	475,299
2012	10,075,174	465,649
2011	8,245,065	443,675
2010	6,407,607	418,641
2009	6,483,236	438,557
2008	6,729,247	433,457
2007	6,813,465	425,199
2006	6,922,185	399,333
2005	7,678,911	375,938
2004	7,607,960	362,843
2003	7,743,284	364,520
2002	8,258,580	372,099
2001	8,839,358	382,153
2000	9,570,849	392,407
1999	10,247,372	390,112
1998	11,351,286	389,499
1997	12,374,554	385,033
1996	12,686,872	382,248
1995	12,711,220	380,231
1994	13,360,470	377,351
1993	13,493,138	372,621
1992	13,548,601	366,763
1991	14,937,124	361,329
1990	16,335,313	355,495
1989	16,824,495	349,399
1988	17,328,640	342,865
1987	18,005,821	333,088
1986	16,609,920	322,340
1985	14,987,830	310,558
1984	13,561,671	296,615
1983	13,599,789	280,616
1982	15,815,318	264,831
1981	14,461,027	249,156
1980	11,647,260	234,372
1979	11,250,148	220,186
1978	11,473,980	205,331
1977	11,378,068	191,103
1976	11,782,472	178,024
1975	14,378,237	166,223
1974	15,738,118	155,478
1973	18,423,727	145,450
1972	19,102,585	136,360
1971	19,622,980	127,600
1970	21,137,076	120,440
1969	20,760,332	113,859
1968	21,206,083	108,281
1967	19,263,662	103,343
1966	19,282,187	98,361
1965	20,296,950	93,820
1964	19,302,532	89,776
1963	22,742,225	85,480
1962	17,969,132	81,393
1961	2,496,047	77,743
1960	-3,048,510	74,143

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 +1.41% in Saudi Arabia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.57% in Saudi Arabia.

Birth rate in China vs Saudi Arabia by year

Chart Table

China

Saudi Arabia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Saudi Arabia
2023	6.39	16.4
2022	6.77	15.2
2021	7.52	15.9
2020	8.52	16.6
2019	10.4	18.1
2018	10.9	19.7
2017	12.6	19.8
2016	13.6	19.6
2015	12	19.4
2014	13.8	19.8
2013	13	19.7
2012	14.6	20.4
2011	13.3	20.3
2010	11.9	20.1
2009	12	20.8
2008	12.1	21.3
2007	12.1	21.7
2006	12.1	21.4
2005	12.4	21.1
2004	12.3	21.3
2003	12.4	22.3
2002	12.9	23.8
2001	13.4	25.5
2000	14	27.5
1999	14.6	28.5
1998	15.6	29.5
1997	16.6	30.3
1996	17	31.2
1995	17.1	32.3
1994	17.7	33.4
1993	18.1	34.5
1992	18.3	35.5
1991	19.7	36.7
1990	21.1	38
1989	21.6	39.3
1988	22.4	40.7
1987	23.3	41.9
1986	22.4	43.1
1985	21	44.2
1984	19.9	45
1983	20.2	45.6
1982	22.3	46.1
1981	20.9	46.6
1980	18.2	47.1
1979	17.8	47.5
1978	18.3	47.5
1977	18.9	47.5
1976	19.9	47.6
1975	23	47.7
1974	24.8	47.8
1973	27.9	48
1972	29.8	48.3
1971	30.7	48.4
1970	33.4	48.7
1969	34.1	48.9
1968	35.6	49.3
1967	34	49.8
1966	35.1	50.1
1965	37.9	50.4
1964	39.1	50.8
1963	43.4	51
1962	37	51.1
1961	18	51.4
1960	20.9	51.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 16.4 in Saudi Arabia, compared with 20.9 and 51.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Saudi Arabia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Saudi Arabia
2100	7.83%	17.3%
2099	7.84%	17.3%
2098	7.87%	17.3%
2097	7.91%	17.3%
2096	7.96%	17.3%
2095	8.03%	17.3%
2094	8.1%	17.4%
2093	8.18%	17.4%
2092	8.26%	17.4%
2091	8.34%	17.4%
2090	8.41%	17.4%
2089	8.47%	17.5%
2088	8.52%	17.5%
2087	8.55%	17.5%
2086	8.57%	17.6%
2085	8.57%	17.6%
2084	8.56%	17.7%
2083	8.53%	17.7%
2082	8.48%	17.7%
2081	8.41%	17.8%
2080	8.34%	17.8%
2079	8.25%	17.9%
2078	8.15%	17.9%
2077	8.06%	18%
2076	7.96%	18%
2075	7.86%	18.1%
2074	7.77%	18.2%
2073	7.7%	18.2%
2072	7.64%	18.3%
2071	7.6%	18.3%
2070	7.58%	18.4%
2069	7.59%	18.4%
2068	7.63%	18.5%
2067	7.7%	18.6%
2066	7.8%	18.6%
2065	7.93%	18.7%
2064	8.08%	18.7%
2063	8.25%	18.8%
2062	8.44%	18.9%
2061	8.64%	19%
2060	8.84%	19%
2059	9.03%	19.1%
2058	9.22%	19.2%
2057	9.39%	19.3%
2056	9.54%	19.4%
2055	9.67%	19.5%
2054	9.78%	19.6%
2053	9.86%	19.8%
2052	9.92%	19.9%
2051	9.94%	20%
2050	9.94%	20.1%
2049	9.92%	20.3%
2048	9.88%	20.4%
2047	9.82%	20.6%
2046	9.75%	20.7%
2045	9.67%	20.9%
2044	9.59%	21.1%
2043	9.52%	21.2%
2042	9.46%	21.4%
2041	9.4%	21.6%
2040	9.35%	21.8%
2039	9.32%	22%
2038	9.3%	22.1%
2037	9.32%	22.1%
2036	9.42%	22.2%
2035	9.63%	22.2%
2034	10%	22.3%
2033	10.5%	22.4%
2032	11.2%	22.5%
2031	11.8%	22.7%
2030	12.4%	22.8%
2029	13.1%	23%
2028	13.8%	23.2%
2027	14.5%	23.3%
2026	15.1%	23.5%
2025	15.7%	23.7%
2024	16%	23.8%
2023	16.6%	24.1%
2022	17.1%	24.6%
2021	17.6%	25.2%
2020	18%	25.5%
2019	18.2%	25.8%
2018	18.3%	25.7%
2017	18.4%	25.2%
2016	18.3%	24.9%
2015	18.3%	25.1%
2014	18.3%	25.4%
2013	18.3%	25.8%
2012	18.3%	26.3%
2011	18.3%	26.9%
2010	18.5%	27.6%
2009	18.6%	28.5%
2008	18.9%	29.5%
2007	19.2%	30.6%
2006	19.6%	31.9%
2005	20.3%	33.2%
2004	21.2%	34.5%
2003	22%	35.7%
2002	22.9%	36.8%
2001	23.8%	37.7%
2000	24.5%	38.3%
1999	25.2%	38.9%
1998	25.7%	39.5%
1997	26.3%	40.1%
1996	27%	40.7%
1995	27.4%	41.2%
1994	27.8%	41.7%
1993	28.2%	42.1%
1992	28.4%	42.4%
1991	28.6%	42.7%
1990	28.8%	43%
1989	28.9%	43.2%
1988	29.3%	43.3%
1987	29.8%	43.4%
1986	30.4%	43.5%
1985	31.2%	43.6%
1984	32.2%	43.6%
1983	33.3%	43.7%
1982	34.3%	43.8%
1981	35.1%	43.9%
1980	36.1%	44.1%
1979	37.2%	44.2%
1978	38.6%	44.3%
1977	39.8%	44.5%
1976	40.3%	44.6%
1975	40.2%	44.8%
1974	40.2%	45%
1973	40.1%	45.2%
1972	40.4%	45.3%
1971	40.7%	45.5%
1970	40.8%	45.5%
1969	41%	45.5%
1968	41%	45.4%
1967	41.3%	45.3%
1966	41.5%	45.1%
1965	41.5%	44.8%
1964	41.2%	44.6%
1963	40.6%	44.3%
1962	40%	43.9%
1961	40%	43.6%
1960	40.3%	43.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 23.8% in Saudi Arabia in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 43% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Saudi Arabia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Saudi Arabia

Chart Table

China

Saudi Arabia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Saudi Arabia
2023	16	7
2022	18	9
2021	21	12
2020	20	11
2019	21	8
2018	22	8
2017	24	8
2016	25	8
2015	26	8
2014	28	8
2013	30	9
2012	32	9
2011	33	10
2010	34	11
2009	35	11
2008	38	12
2007	38	13
2006	40	14
2005	42	15
2004	45	16
2003	47	16
2002	50	18
2001	52	19
2000	56	20
1999	58	21
1998	60	22
1997	63	23
1996	67	23
1995	71	24
1994	76	25
1993	80	26
1992	86	27
1991	92	29
1990	102	30
1989	104	32
1988	108	34
1987	114	36
1986	120	38
1985	125	40

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 7 deaths in Saudi Arabia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Saudi Arabia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Saudi Arabia
2023	0.62%	0.62%
2022	0.66%	0.64%
2021	0.7%	0.66%
2020	0.75%	0.69%
2019	0.8%	0.72%
2018	0.86%	0.76%
2017	0.92%	0.8%
2016	0.99%	0.85%
2015	1.07%	0.9%
2014	1.15%	0.96%
2013	1.25%	1.02%
2012	1.35%	1.08%
2011	1.46%	1.15%
2010	1.58%	1.22%
2009	1.71%	1.3%
2008	1.85%	1.38%
2007	2.01%	1.47%
2006	2.19%	1.56%
2005	2.4%	1.65%
2004	2.64%	1.75%
2003	2.89%	1.85%
2002	3.15%	1.96%
2001	3.42%	2.08%
2000	3.67%	2.21%
1999	3.91%	2.35%
1998	4.14%	2.5%
1997	4.36%	2.67%
1996	4.56%	2.86%
1995	4.75%	3.06%
1994	4.93%	3.29%
1993	5.08%	3.54%
1992	5.22%	3.81%
1991	5.31%	4.11%
1990	5.37%	4.44%
1989	5.39%	4.8%
1988	5.4%	5.19%
1987	5.4%	5.62%
1986	5.4%	6.07%
1985	5.43%	6.55%
1984	5.5%	7.04%
1983	5.61%	7.56%
1982	5.78%	8.12%
1981	6%	8.71%
1980	6.28%	9.34%
1979	6.62%	9.99%
1978	7.01%	10.7%
1977	7.47%	11.4%
1976	7.97%	12.2%
1975	8.5%	13.1%
1974	9.05%	14%
1973	9.61%	14.9%
1972	10.2%	16%
1971	10.7%	-
1970	11.3%	-
1969	11.9%	-

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