Fertility & birth rates in China and South Korea

Fertility rate in China vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

China

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	South Korea
2023	1	0.72
2022	1.03	0.78
2021	1.12	0.81
2020	1.24	0.84
2019	1.5	0.92
2018	1.54	0.98
2017	1.8	1.05
2016	1.77	1.17
2015	1.67	1.24
2014	1.77	1.21
2013	1.71	1.19
2012	1.8	1.3
2011	1.67	1.24
2010	1.69	1.23
2009	1.71	1.15
2008	1.7	1.19
2007	1.67	1.26
2006	1.64	1.13
2005	1.62	1.09
2004	1.61	1.16
2003	1.57	1.19
2002	1.57	1.18
2001	1.56	1.31
2000	1.63	1.48
1999	1.53	1.43
1998	1.52	1.46
1997	1.53	1.54
1996	1.55	1.57
1995	1.59	1.63
1994	1.63	1.66
1993	1.69	1.65
1992	1.78	1.76
1991	1.93	1.71
1990	2.51	1.57
1989	2.52	1.56
1988	2.54	1.55
1987	2.76	1.53
1986	2.72	1.58
1985	2.63	1.66
1984	2.61	1.74
1983	2.56	2.06
1982	2.97	2.39
1981	2.79	2.57
1980	2.74	2.82
1979	2.75	2.9
1978	2.72	2.64
1977	2.84	2.99
1976	3.24	3
1975	3.57	3.43
1974	4.17	3.77
1973	4.73	4.07
1972	5.11	4.12
1971	5.52	4.54
1970	6.09	4.53
1969	6.18	4.45
1968	6.51	4.51
1967	5.81	4.62
1966	6.31	4.78
1965	6.61	4.89
1964	6.67	5.07
1963	7.51	5.33
1962	6.09	5.56
1961	3.86	5.8
1960	4.45	5.99

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	South Korea
2023	-2,087,851	-77,569
2022	-847,305	-124,014
2021	480,203	-56,947
2020	2,046,095	-31,101
2019	4,673,713	10,353
2018	5,302,433	30,951
2017	7,790,880	71,907
2016	9,062,269	122,923
2015	6,788,911	163,248
2014	9,205,180	167,464
2013	8,043,116	166,415
2012	10,075,174	215,859
2011	8,245,065	214,728
2010	6,407,607	213,083
2009	6,483,236	197,231
2008	6,729,247	215,841
2007	6,813,465	248,286
2006	6,922,185	203,441
2005	7,678,911	187,920
2004	7,607,960	225,988
2003	7,743,284	244,251
2002	8,258,580	247,752
2001	8,839,358	312,643
2000	9,570,849	390,167
1999	10,247,372	368,272
1998	11,351,286	393,436
1997	12,374,554	422,773
1996	12,686,872	446,142
1995	12,711,220	468,967
1994	13,360,470	473,200
1993	13,493,138	477,302
1992	13,548,601	494,352
1991	14,937,124	467,594
1990	16,335,313	411,546
1989	16,824,495	403,266
1988	17,328,640	399,297
1987	18,005,821	378,758
1986	16,609,920	395,651
1985	14,987,830	416,219
1984	13,561,671	436,384
1983	13,599,789	514,844
1982	15,815,318	605,626
1981	14,461,027	631,189
1980	11,647,260	583,294
1979	11,250,148	623,068
1978	11,473,980	499,084
1977	11,378,068	578,947
1976	11,782,472	530,558
1975	14,378,237	603,300
1974	15,738,118	673,030
1973	18,423,727	699,115
1972	19,102,585	740,469
1971	19,622,980	789,185
1970	21,137,076	747,987
1969	20,760,332	694,227
1968	21,206,083	684,487
1967	19,263,662	692,169
1966	19,282,187	623,534
1965	20,296,950	641,090
1964	19,302,532	655,501
1963	22,742,225	685,824
1962	17,969,132	712,590
1961	2,496,047	730,173
1960	-3,048,510	728,010

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 -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in China vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

China

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	South Korea
2023	6.39	4.5
2022	6.77	4.9
2021	7.52	5.1
2020	8.52	5.3
2019	10.4	5.9
2018	10.9	6.4
2017	12.6	7
2016	13.6	7.9
2015	12	8.6
2014	13.8	8.6
2013	13	8.6
2012	14.6	9.6
2011	13.3	9.4
2010	11.9	9.4
2009	12	9
2008	12.1	9.4
2007	12.1	10.1
2006	12.1	9.2
2005	12.4	9
2004	12.3	9.8
2003	12.4	10.2
2002	12.9	10.3
2001	13.4	11.7
2000	14	13.5
1999	14.6	13.2
1998	15.6	13.7
1997	16.6	14.5
1996	17	15
1995	17.1	15.7
1994	17.7	16
1993	18.1	16
1992	18.3	16.7
1991	19.7	16.4
1990	21.1	15.2
1989	21.6	15.1
1988	22.4	15.1
1987	23.3	15
1986	22.4	15.4
1985	21	16.1
1984	19.9	16.7
1983	20.2	19.3
1982	22.3	21.6
1981	20.9	22.4
1980	18.2	22.6
1979	17.8	23
1978	18.3	20.3
1977	18.9	22.7
1976	19.9	22.2
1975	23	24.8
1974	24.8	26.6
1973	27.9	28.3
1972	29.8	28.4
1971	30.7	31.2
1970	33.4	31.2
1969	34.1	30.3
1968	35.6	30.7
1967	34	31.5
1966	35.1	32.8
1965	37.9	33.8
1964	39.1	35.2
1963	43.4	37.2
1962	37	39
1961	18	40.9
1960	20.9	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 20.9 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	South Korea
2100	7.83%	8.61%
2099	7.84%	8.6%
2098	7.87%	8.59%
2097	7.91%	8.59%
2096	7.96%	8.59%
2095	8.03%	8.6%
2094	8.1%	8.61%
2093	8.18%	8.62%
2092	8.26%	8.62%
2091	8.34%	8.62%
2090	8.41%	8.62%
2089	8.47%	8.6%
2088	8.52%	8.58%
2087	8.55%	8.55%
2086	8.57%	8.5%
2085	8.57%	8.45%
2084	8.56%	8.39%
2083	8.53%	8.33%
2082	8.48%	8.26%
2081	8.41%	8.18%
2080	8.34%	8.09%
2079	8.25%	8%
2078	8.15%	7.91%
2077	8.06%	7.82%
2076	7.96%	7.72%
2075	7.86%	7.63%
2074	7.77%	7.53%
2073	7.7%	7.44%
2072	7.64%	7.35%
2071	7.6%	7.28%
2070	7.58%	7.21%
2069	7.59%	7.16%
2068	7.63%	7.13%
2067	7.7%	7.11%
2066	7.8%	7.11%
2065	7.93%	7.14%
2064	8.08%	7.18%
2063	8.25%	7.23%
2062	8.44%	7.3%
2061	8.64%	7.37%
2060	8.84%	7.45%
2059	9.03%	7.52%
2058	9.22%	7.6%
2057	9.39%	7.66%
2056	9.54%	7.72%
2055	9.67%	7.76%
2054	9.78%	7.79%
2053	9.86%	7.81%
2052	9.92%	7.83%
2051	9.94%	7.83%
2050	9.94%	7.83%
2049	9.92%	7.82%
2048	9.88%	7.81%
2047	9.82%	7.8%
2046	9.75%	7.79%
2045	9.67%	7.78%
2044	9.59%	7.78%
2043	9.52%	7.77%
2042	9.46%	7.76%
2041	9.4%	7.74%
2040	9.35%	7.72%
2039	9.32%	7.7%
2038	9.3%	7.66%
2037	9.32%	7.65%
2036	9.42%	7.65%
2035	9.63%	7.66%
2034	10%	7.73%
2033	10.5%	7.85%
2032	11.2%	8.02%
2031	11.8%	8.28%
2030	12.4%	8.59%
2029	13.1%	8.9%
2028	13.8%	9.23%
2027	14.5%	9.62%
2026	15.1%	10%
2025	15.7%	10.4%
2024	16%	10.6%
2023	16.6%	11%
2022	17.1%	11.4%
2021	17.6%	11.8%
2020	18%	12.1%
2019	18.2%	12.4%
2018	18.3%	12.7%
2017	18.4%	13%
2016	18.3%	13.4%
2015	18.3%	13.8%
2014	18.3%	14.2%
2013	18.3%	14.7%
2012	18.3%	15.2%
2011	18.3%	15.8%
2010	18.5%	16.4%
2009	18.6%	16.9%
2008	18.9%	17.5%
2007	19.2%	18.1%
2006	19.6%	18.7%
2005	20.3%	19.2%
2004	21.2%	19.7%
2003	22%	20.1%
2002	22.9%	20.5%
2001	23.8%	20.8%
2000	24.5%	21%
1999	25.2%	21.2%
1998	25.7%	21.6%
1997	26.3%	22%
1996	27%	22.5%
1995	27.4%	23.1%
1994	27.8%	23.7%
1993	28.2%	24.2%
1992	28.4%	24.7%
1991	28.6%	25.2%
1990	28.8%	25.8%
1989	28.9%	26.5%
1988	29.3%	27.3%
1987	29.8%	28.2%
1986	30.4%	29.2%
1985	31.2%	30.2%
1984	32.2%	31.2%
1983	33.3%	32%
1982	34.3%	32.7%
1981	35.1%	33.3%
1980	36.1%	34%
1979	37.2%	34.8%
1978	38.6%	35.6%
1977	39.8%	36.5%
1976	40.3%	37.5%
1975	40.2%	38.5%
1974	40.2%	39.5%
1973	40.1%	40.3%
1972	40.4%	41%
1971	40.7%	41.5%
1970	40.8%	42.1%
1969	41%	42.7%
1968	41%	43.1%
1967	41.3%	43.3%
1966	41.5%	43.5%
1965	41.5%	43.3%
1964	41.2%	43.1%
1963	40.6%	42.7%
1962	40%	42.3%
1961	40%	41.8%
1960	40.3%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs South Korea

Chart Table

China

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	South Korea
2023	16	4
2022	18	7
2021	21	5
2020	20	12
2019	21	5
2018	22	5
2017	24	6
2016	25	6
2015	26	6
2014	28	7
2013	30	7
2012	32	8
2011	33	8
2010	34	8
2009	35	9
2008	38	9
2007	38	10
2006	40	10
2005	42	11
2004	45	12
2003	47	13
2002	50	13
2001	52	14
2000	56	15
1999	58	17
1998	60	18
1997	63	19
1996	67	20
1995	71	22
1994	76	23
1993	80	24
1992	86	26
1991	92	28
1990	102	28
1989	104	29
1988	108	31
1987	114	34
1986	120	35
1985	125	38

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 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	South Korea
2023	0.62%	0.28%
2022	0.66%	0.28%
2021	0.7%	0.29%
2020	0.75%	0.3%
2019	0.8%	0.31%
2018	0.86%	0.32%
2017	0.92%	0.33%
2016	0.99%	0.34%
2015	1.07%	0.35%
2014	1.15%	0.36%
2013	1.25%	0.37%
2012	1.35%	0.38%
2011	1.46%	0.4%
2010	1.58%	0.41%
2009	1.71%	0.43%
2008	1.85%	0.45%
2007	2.01%	0.48%
2006	2.19%	0.52%
2005	2.4%	0.56%
2004	2.64%	0.6%
2003	2.89%	0.64%
2002	3.15%	0.68%
2001	3.42%	0.71%
2000	3.67%	0.75%
1999	3.91%	0.8%
1998	4.14%	0.85%
1997	4.36%	0.91%
1996	4.56%	0.98%
1995	4.75%	1.05%
1994	4.93%	1.14%
1993	5.08%	1.23%
1992	5.22%	1.33%
1991	5.31%	1.44%
1990	5.37%	1.57%
1989	5.39%	1.71%
1988	5.4%	1.87%
1987	5.4%	2.05%
1986	5.4%	2.25%
1985	5.43%	2.46%
1984	5.5%	2.7%
1983	5.61%	2.93%
1982	5.78%	3.17%
1981	6%	3.4%
1980	6.28%	3.63%
1979	6.62%	3.84%
1978	7.01%	4.04%
1977	7.47%	4.23%
1976	7.97%	4.42%
1975	8.5%	4.61%
1974	9.05%	4.82%
1973	9.61%	5.07%
1972	10.2%	5.36%
1971	10.7%	5.71%
1970	11.3%	6.12%
1969	11.9%	6.59%
1968	-	7.1%
1967	-	7.62%
1966	-	8.16%
1965	-	8.68%
1964	-	9.18%
1963	-	9.67%
1962	-	10.1%
1961	-	10.6%
1960	-	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.