Fertility & birth rates in China and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in China vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

China

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Sierra Leone
2023	1	3.79
2022	1.03	3.88
2021	1.12	3.98
2020	1.24	4.08
2019	1.5	4.19
2018	1.54	4.29
2017	1.8	4.39
2016	1.77	4.47
2015	1.67	4.55
2014	1.77	4.7
2013	1.71	4.87
2012	1.8	5.06
2011	1.67	5.21
2010	1.69	5.33
2009	1.71	5.45
2008	1.7	5.56
2007	1.67	5.64
2006	1.64	5.74
2005	1.62	5.81
2004	1.61	5.92
2003	1.57	6.09
2002	1.57	6.23
2001	1.56	6.31
2000	1.63	6.36
1999	1.53	6.42
1998	1.52	6.5
1997	1.53	6.53
1996	1.55	6.55
1995	1.59	6.56
1994	1.63	6.56
1993	1.69	6.57
1992	1.78	6.56
1991	1.93	6.55
1990	2.51	6.57
1989	2.52	6.57
1988	2.54	6.59
1987	2.76	6.61
1986	2.72	6.6
1985	2.63	6.59
1984	2.61	6.59
1983	2.56	6.57
1982	2.97	6.56
1981	2.79	6.55
1980	2.74	6.56
1979	2.75	6.58
1978	2.72	6.59
1977	2.84	6.57
1976	3.24	6.55
1975	3.57	6.55
1974	4.17	6.53
1973	4.73	6.47
1972	5.11	6.45
1971	5.52	6.43
1970	6.09	6.41
1969	6.18	6.39
1968	6.51	6.39
1967	5.81	6.38
1966	6.31	6.35
1965	6.61	6.31
1964	6.67	6.29
1963	7.51	6.26
1962	6.09	6.22
1961	3.86	6.21
1960	4.45	6.18

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Sierra Leone
2023	-2,087,851	188,788
2022	-847,305	186,625
2021	480,203	183,326
2020	2,046,095	181,015
2019	4,673,713	181,068
2018	5,302,433	178,772
2017	7,790,880	173,259
2016	9,062,269	168,784
2015	6,788,911	162,275
2014	9,205,180	160,137
2013	8,043,116	161,265
2012	10,075,174	160,915
2011	8,245,065	158,858
2010	6,407,607	155,338
2009	6,483,236	152,669
2008	6,729,247	149,855
2007	6,813,465	145,740
2006	6,922,185	144,127
2005	7,678,911	137,234
2004	7,607,960	132,661
2003	7,743,284	130,312
2002	8,258,580	126,429
2001	8,839,358	116,647
2000	9,570,849	110,754
1999	10,247,372	102,295
1998	11,351,286	103,906
1997	12,374,554	105,433
1996	12,686,872	104,140
1995	12,711,220	100,885
1994	13,360,470	101,486
1993	13,493,138	103,317
1992	13,548,601	103,251
1991	14,937,124	105,477
1990	16,335,313	100,778
1989	16,824,495	98,298
1988	17,328,640	96,344
1987	18,005,821	94,235
1986	16,609,920	90,902
1985	14,987,830	88,869
1984	13,561,671	87,072
1983	13,599,789	84,628
1982	15,815,318	82,457
1981	14,461,027	80,111
1980	11,647,260	77,932
1979	11,250,148	75,992
1978	11,473,980	74,130
1977	11,378,068	71,663
1976	11,782,472	69,506
1975	14,378,237	67,560
1974	15,738,118	65,357
1973	18,423,727	62,443
1972	19,102,585	60,279
1971	19,622,980	58,484
1970	21,137,076	56,513
1969	20,760,332	54,768
1968	21,206,083	53,126
1967	19,263,662	51,734
1966	19,282,187	49,486
1965	20,296,950	47,223
1964	19,302,532	45,487
1963	22,742,225	43,569
1962	17,969,132	41,603
1961	2,496,047	40,022
1960	-3,048,510	38,192

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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in China vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

China

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Sierra Leone
2023	6.39	30.6
2022	6.77	31.1
2021	7.52	31.6
2020	8.52	32.2
2019	10.4	32.8
2018	10.9	33.3
2017	12.6	33.8
2016	13.6	34.2
2015	12	34.7
2014	13.8	35.6
2013	13	36.6
2012	14.6	37.8
2011	13.3	38.5
2010	11.9	39.1
2009	12	39.9
2008	12.1	40.6
2007	12.1	41.1
2006	12.1	41.8
2005	12.4	42
2004	12.3	42.5
2003	12.4	43.5
2002	12.9	44.3
2001	13.4	44
2000	14	45
1999	14.6	46.1
1998	15.6	46.3
1997	16.6	46.3
1996	17	46.5
1995	17.1	46.8
1994	17.7	46.8
1993	18.1	46.9
1992	18.3	47
1991	19.7	47.5
1990	21.1	45.5
1989	21.6	46.3
1988	22.4	46.4
1987	23.3	46.6
1986	22.4	46.6
1985	21	46.7
1984	19.9	46.8
1983	20.2	46.7
1982	22.3	46.8
1981	20.9	46.8
1980	18.2	46.8
1979	17.8	47
1978	18.3	47.2
1977	18.9	47.1
1976	19.9	47.2
1975	23	47.3
1974	24.8	47.4
1973	27.9	47.2
1972	29.8	47.2
1971	30.7	47.3
1970	33.4	47.4
1969	34.1	47.5
1968	35.6	47.7
1967	34	47.9
1966	35.1	48
1965	37.9	48
1964	39.1	48.2
1963	43.4	48.2
1962	37	48.1
1961	18	48.1
1960	20.9	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 20.9 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Sierra Leone
2100	7.83%	19%
2099	7.84%	19%
2098	7.87%	19.1%
2097	7.91%	19.2%
2096	7.96%	19.3%
2095	8.03%	19.5%
2094	8.1%	19.6%
2093	8.18%	19.7%
2092	8.26%	19.8%
2091	8.34%	19.9%
2090	8.41%	20%
2089	8.47%	20.1%
2088	8.52%	20.3%
2087	8.55%	20.4%
2086	8.57%	20.5%
2085	8.57%	20.7%
2084	8.56%	20.8%
2083	8.53%	20.9%
2082	8.48%	21.1%
2081	8.41%	21.2%
2080	8.34%	21.4%
2079	8.25%	21.6%
2078	8.15%	21.7%
2077	8.06%	21.9%
2076	7.96%	22.1%
2075	7.86%	22.2%
2074	7.77%	22.4%
2073	7.7%	22.6%
2072	7.64%	22.8%
2071	7.6%	23%
2070	7.58%	23.2%
2069	7.59%	23.4%
2068	7.63%	23.6%
2067	7.7%	23.8%
2066	7.8%	24%
2065	7.93%	24.3%
2064	8.08%	24.5%
2063	8.25%	24.7%
2062	8.44%	25%
2061	8.64%	25.2%
2060	8.84%	25.5%
2059	9.03%	25.7%
2058	9.22%	26%
2057	9.39%	26.3%
2056	9.54%	26.6%
2055	9.67%	26.9%
2054	9.78%	27.1%
2053	9.86%	27.4%
2052	9.92%	27.7%
2051	9.94%	28.1%
2050	9.94%	28.4%
2049	9.92%	28.7%
2048	9.88%	29%
2047	9.82%	29.3%
2046	9.75%	29.7%
2045	9.67%	30%
2044	9.59%	30.3%
2043	9.52%	30.7%
2042	9.46%	31.1%
2041	9.4%	31.4%
2040	9.35%	31.8%
2039	9.32%	32.2%
2038	9.3%	32.6%
2037	9.32%	33%
2036	9.42%	33.4%
2035	9.63%	33.8%
2034	10%	34.2%
2033	10.5%	34.6%
2032	11.2%	35%
2031	11.8%	35.4%
2030	12.4%	35.7%
2029	13.1%	36.1%
2028	13.8%	36.5%
2027	14.5%	37%
2026	15.1%	37.4%
2025	15.7%	37.9%
2024	16%	38.1%
2023	16.6%	38.5%
2022	17.1%	39%
2021	17.6%	39.4%
2020	18%	39.8%
2019	18.2%	40.2%
2018	18.3%	40.6%
2017	18.4%	41%
2016	18.3%	41.4%
2015	18.3%	41.8%
2014	18.3%	42.2%
2013	18.3%	42.5%
2012	18.3%	42.8%
2011	18.3%	43%
2010	18.5%	43.2%
2009	18.6%	43.4%
2008	18.9%	43.5%
2007	19.2%	43.6%
2006	19.6%	43.7%
2005	20.3%	43.8%
2004	21.2%	43.9%
2003	22%	43.9%
2002	22.9%	43.9%
2001	23.8%	43.9%
2000	24.5%	43.8%
1999	25.2%	43.7%
1998	25.7%	43.6%
1997	26.3%	43.5%
1996	27%	43.5%
1995	27.4%	43.4%
1994	27.8%	43.3%
1993	28.2%	43.2%
1992	28.4%	43.1%
1991	28.6%	43%
1990	28.8%	42.9%
1989	28.9%	42.9%
1988	29.3%	42.8%
1987	29.8%	42.7%
1986	30.4%	42.6%
1985	31.2%	42.5%
1984	32.2%	42.3%
1983	33.3%	42.2%
1982	34.3%	42.1%
1981	35.1%	42%
1980	36.1%	41.9%
1979	37.2%	41.8%
1978	38.6%	41.7%
1977	39.8%	41.6%
1976	40.3%	41.4%
1975	40.2%	41.3%
1974	40.2%	41.1%
1973	40.1%	40.9%
1972	40.4%	40.7%
1971	40.7%	40.6%
1970	40.8%	40.3%
1969	41%	40.1%
1968	41%	39.9%
1967	41.3%	39.6%
1966	41.5%	39.4%
1965	41.5%	39.1%
1964	41.2%	38.8%
1963	40.6%	38.5%
1962	40%	38.3%
1961	40%	38.3%
1960	40.3%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

China

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Sierra Leone
2023	16	354
2022	18	370
2021	21	403
2020	20	422
2019	21	464
2018	22	491
2017	24	578
2016	25	633
2015	26	730
2014	28	821
2013	30	842
2012	32	915
2011	33	967
2010	34	1,018
2009	35	1,054
2008	38	1,093
2007	38	1,132
2006	40	1,168
2005	42	1,294
2004	45	1,366
2003	47	1,433
2002	50	1,492
2001	52	1,518
2000	56	1,603
1999	58	1,731
1998	60	1,753
1997	63	1,721
1996	67	1,726
1995	71	1,777
1994	76	1,755
1993	80	1,696
1992	86	1,681
1991	92	1,699
1990	102	1,572
1989	104	1,575
1988	108	1,549
1987	114	1,533
1986	120	1,530
1985	125	1,506

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 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Sierra Leone
2023	0.62%	9.43%
2022	0.66%	9.77%
2021	0.7%	10.1%
2020	0.75%	10.5%
2019	0.8%	10.9%
2018	0.86%	11.3%
2017	0.92%	11.8%
2016	0.99%	12.3%
2015	1.07%	13.8%
2014	1.15%	13.7%
2013	1.25%	13.9%
2012	1.35%	14.5%
2011	1.46%	15.2%
2010	1.58%	15.9%
2009	1.71%	16.6%
2008	1.85%	17.3%
2007	2.01%	18.1%
2006	2.19%	18.8%
2005	2.4%	19.4%
2004	2.64%	20.1%
2003	2.89%	20.7%
2002	3.15%	21.3%
2001	3.42%	21.8%
2000	3.67%	22.4%
1999	3.91%	22.9%
1998	4.14%	23.4%
1997	4.36%	23.9%
1996	4.56%	24.3%
1995	4.75%	24.7%
1994	4.93%	25%
1993	5.08%	25.3%
1992	5.22%	25.5%
1991	5.31%	25.7%
1990	5.37%	25.9%
1989	5.39%	26.2%
1988	5.4%	26.4%
1987	5.4%	26.6%
1986	5.4%	26.9%
1985	5.43%	27.2%
1984	5.5%	27.5%
1983	5.61%	27.8%
1982	5.78%	28.1%
1981	6%	28.5%
1980	6.28%	28.9%
1979	6.62%	29.2%
1978	7.01%	29.6%
1977	7.47%	30%
1976	7.97%	30.5%
1975	8.5%	30.9%
1974	9.05%	31.4%
1973	9.61%	31.9%
1972	10.2%	32.3%
1971	10.7%	32.9%
1970	11.3%	33.4%
1969	11.9%	33.9%
1968	-	34.5%
1967	-	35%
1966	-	35.6%
1965	-	36.2%
1964	-	36.8%
1963	-	37.4%
1962	-	38%
1961	-	38.5%
1960	-	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.