Fertility & birth rates in China and Syria

Fertility rate in China vs Syria by year

Chart Table

China

Syria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Syria
2023	1	2.71
2022	1.03	2.75
2021	1.12	2.8
2020	1.24	2.84
2019	1.5	2.88
2018	1.54	2.93
2017	1.8	2.97
2016	1.77	3.01
2015	1.67	3.07
2014	1.77	3.12
2013	1.71	3.17
2012	1.8	3.22
2011	1.67	3.29
2010	1.69	3.36
2009	1.71	3.42
2008	1.7	3.48
2007	1.67	3.54
2006	1.64	3.56
2005	1.62	3.61
2004	1.61	3.68
2003	1.57	3.76
2002	1.57	3.87
2001	1.56	3.98
2000	1.63	4.07
1999	1.53	4.14
1998	1.52	4.25
1997	1.53	4.37
1996	1.55	4.54
1995	1.59	4.7
1994	1.63	4.86
1993	1.69	4.99
1992	1.78	5.14
1991	1.93	5.34
1990	2.51	5.56
1989	2.52	5.78
1988	2.54	6
1987	2.76	6.2
1986	2.72	6.37
1985	2.63	6.48
1984	2.61	6.59
1983	2.56	6.69
1982	2.97	6.81
1981	2.79	6.97
1980	2.74	7.12
1979	2.75	7.25
1978	2.72	7.35
1977	2.84	7.42
1976	3.24	7.45
1975	3.57	7.49
1974	4.17	7.52
1973	4.73	7.55
1972	5.11	7.57
1971	5.52	7.6
1970	6.09	7.62
1969	6.18	7.59
1968	6.51	7.57
1967	5.81	7.56
1966	6.31	7.55
1965	6.61	7.53
1964	6.67	7.53
1963	7.51	7.51
1962	6.09	7.51
1961	3.86	7.5
1960	4.45	7.51

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Syria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Syria
2023	-2,087,851	402,713
2022	-847,305	369,750
2021	480,203	350,560
2020	2,046,095	327,992
2019	4,673,713	293,762
2018	5,302,433	242,530
2017	7,790,880	237,214
2016	9,062,269	236,007
2015	6,788,911	253,977
2014	9,205,180	333,116
2013	8,043,116	419,341
2012	10,075,174	475,520
2011	8,245,065	543,950
2010	6,407,607	558,666
2009	6,483,236	559,314
2008	6,729,247	576,593
2007	6,813,465	529,162
2006	6,922,185	480,616
2005	7,678,911	468,960
2004	7,607,960	461,209
2003	7,743,284	457,000
2002	8,258,580	453,967
2001	8,839,358	451,503
2000	9,570,849	446,211
1999	10,247,372	439,261
1998	11,351,286	433,447
1997	12,374,554	429,887
1996	12,686,872	430,765
1995	12,711,220	430,172
1994	13,360,470	426,996
1993	13,493,138	420,244
1992	13,548,601	412,878
1991	14,937,124	410,830
1990	16,335,313	409,177
1989	16,824,495	406,111
1988	17,328,640	404,285
1987	18,005,821	399,159
1986	16,609,920	390,821
1985	14,987,830	379,231
1984	13,561,671	366,768
1983	13,599,789	355,375
1982	15,815,318	319,664
1981	14,461,027	330,237
1980	11,647,260	332,464
1979	11,250,148	324,943
1978	11,473,980	316,724
1977	11,378,068	306,630
1976	11,782,472	294,267
1975	14,378,237	282,299
1974	15,738,118	270,735
1973	18,423,727	254,687
1972	19,102,585	249,027
1971	19,622,980	239,610
1970	21,137,076	230,117
1969	20,760,332	219,114
1968	21,206,083	209,454
1967	19,263,662	199,223
1966	19,282,187	191,122
1965	20,296,950	182,560
1964	19,302,532	174,549
1963	22,742,225	166,555
1962	17,969,132	159,155
1961	2,496,047	151,485
1960	-3,048,510	143,687

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 +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in China vs Syria by year

Chart Table

China

Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Syria
2023	6.39	22.1
2022	6.77	21.2
2021	7.52	21.2
2020	8.52	20.6
2019	10.4	19.7
2018	10.9	18.9
2017	12.6	19.6
2016	13.6	19.6
2015	12	21.3
2014	13.8	23.8
2013	13	26.9
2012	14.6	27.7
2011	13.3	28.1
2010	11.9	28.7
2009	12	29.2
2008	12.1	30.5
2007	12.1	29.1
2006	12.1	28.3
2005	12.4	28.8
2004	12.3	29.1
2003	12.4	29.6
2002	12.9	30.1
2001	13.4	30.7
2000	14	31.2
1999	14.6	31.5
1998	15.6	32
1997	16.6	32.5
1996	17	33.3
1995	17.1	34
1994	17.7	34.6
1993	18.1	35
1992	18.3	35.4
1991	19.7	36.3
1990	21.1	37.3
1989	21.6	38.3
1988	22.4	39.4
1987	23.3	40.3
1986	22.4	41
1985	21	41.3
1984	19.9	41.5
1983	20.2	41.9
1982	22.3	42.2
1981	20.9	43
1980	18.2	43.7
1979	17.8	44.4
1978	18.3	44.9
1977	18.9	45.3
1976	19.9	45.4
1975	23	45.5
1974	24.8	45.6
1973	27.9	45.7
1972	29.8	45.9
1971	30.7	46.2
1970	33.4	46.5
1969	34.1	46.4
1968	35.6	46.5
1967	34	46.5
1966	35.1	46.7
1965	37.9	46.7
1964	39.1	46.9
1963	43.4	47
1962	37	47.2
1961	18	47.3
1960	20.9	47.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 20.9 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Syria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Syria
2100	7.83%	15.9%
2099	7.84%	16%
2098	7.87%	16%
2097	7.91%	16.1%
2096	7.96%	16.1%
2095	8.03%	16.1%
2094	8.1%	16.2%
2093	8.18%	16.2%
2092	8.26%	16.2%
2091	8.34%	16.2%
2090	8.41%	16.2%
2089	8.47%	16.2%
2088	8.52%	16.2%
2087	8.55%	16.3%
2086	8.57%	16.4%
2085	8.57%	16.4%
2084	8.56%	16.5%
2083	8.53%	16.7%
2082	8.48%	16.8%
2081	8.41%	17%
2080	8.34%	17.2%
2079	8.25%	17.4%
2078	8.15%	17.6%
2077	8.06%	17.8%
2076	7.96%	18.1%
2075	7.86%	18.3%
2074	7.77%	18.6%
2073	7.7%	18.8%
2072	7.64%	19.1%
2071	7.6%	19.3%
2070	7.58%	19.5%
2069	7.59%	19.6%
2068	7.63%	19.8%
2067	7.7%	19.9%
2066	7.8%	20%
2065	7.93%	20.1%
2064	8.08%	20.1%
2063	8.25%	20.1%
2062	8.44%	20.2%
2061	8.64%	20.2%
2060	8.84%	20.2%
2059	9.03%	20.2%
2058	9.22%	20.3%
2057	9.39%	20.4%
2056	9.54%	20.5%
2055	9.67%	20.7%
2054	9.78%	21%
2053	9.86%	21.3%
2052	9.92%	21.6%
2051	9.94%	22%
2050	9.94%	22.5%
2049	9.92%	23%
2048	9.88%	23.6%
2047	9.82%	24.2%
2046	9.75%	24.8%
2045	9.67%	25.5%
2044	9.59%	26.1%
2043	9.52%	26.7%
2042	9.46%	27.2%
2041	9.4%	27.8%
2040	9.35%	28.2%
2039	9.32%	28.6%
2038	9.3%	28.9%
2037	9.32%	29%
2036	9.42%	29%
2035	9.63%	28.9%
2034	10%	28.7%
2033	10.5%	28.5%
2032	11.2%	28.1%
2031	11.8%	27.7%
2030	12.4%	27.4%
2029	13.1%	27.3%
2028	13.8%	27.4%
2027	14.5%	27.7%
2026	15.1%	28.1%
2025	15.7%	28.8%
2024	16%	29.2%
2023	16.6%	30.3%
2022	17.1%	31.9%
2021	17.6%	33.4%
2020	18%	34.6%
2019	18.2%	36.1%
2018	18.3%	37.9%
2017	18.4%	39.3%
2016	18.3%	40.2%
2015	18.3%	40.6%
2014	18.3%	39.8%
2013	18.3%	38%
2012	18.3%	36.5%
2011	18.3%	36.1%
2010	18.5%	36.1%
2009	18.6%	36.3%
2008	18.9%	36.3%
2007	19.2%	36.7%
2006	19.6%	38.1%
2005	20.3%	39.1%
2004	21.2%	39.6%
2003	22%	40.2%
2002	22.9%	40.8%
2001	23.8%	41.3%
2000	24.5%	41.9%
1999	25.2%	42.4%
1998	25.7%	42.9%
1997	26.3%	43.3%
1996	27%	43.8%
1995	27.4%	44.2%
1994	27.8%	44.7%
1993	28.2%	45.2%
1992	28.4%	45.7%
1991	28.6%	46.1%
1990	28.8%	46.6%
1989	28.9%	46.9%
1988	29.3%	47.2%
1987	29.8%	47.5%
1986	30.4%	47.7%
1985	31.2%	48%
1984	32.2%	48.2%
1983	33.3%	48.4%
1982	34.3%	48.5%
1981	35.1%	48.7%
1980	36.1%	48.7%
1979	37.2%	48.7%
1978	38.6%	48.7%
1977	39.8%	48.7%
1976	40.3%	48.6%
1975	40.2%	48.6%
1974	40.2%	48.5%
1973	40.1%	48.5%
1972	40.4%	48.4%
1971	40.7%	48.3%
1970	40.8%	48.2%
1969	41%	48%
1968	41%	47.8%
1967	41.3%	47.5%
1966	41.5%	47.3%
1965	41.5%	46.9%
1964	41.2%	46.6%
1963	40.6%	46.3%
1962	40%	46.1%
1961	40%	45.7%
1960	40.3%	45.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Syria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Syria

Chart Table

China

Syria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Syria
2023	16	20
2022	18	21
2021	21	30
2020	20	23
2019	21	24
2018	22	21
2017	24	23
2016	25	23
2015	26	24
2014	28	25
2013	30	25
2012	32	22
2011	33	21
2010	34	19
2009	35	19
2008	38	20
2007	38	19
2006	40	20
2005	42	21
2004	45	22
2003	47	24
2002	50	26
2001	52	29
2000	56	31
1999	58	32
1998	60	34
1997	63	34
1996	67	34
1995	71	33
1994	76	32
1993	80	32
1992	86	33
1991	92	35
1990	102	37
1989	104	41
1988	108	44
1987	114	48
1986	120	52
1985	125	55

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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Syria
2023	0.62%	2.06%
2022	0.66%	2.11%
2021	0.7%	2.1%
2020	0.75%	2.24%
2019	0.8%	2.5%
2018	0.86%	3.26%
2017	0.92%	3.3%
2016	0.99%	3.22%
2015	1.07%	3.7%
2014	1.15%	3.53%
2013	1.25%	3.65%
2012	1.35%	3.39%
2011	1.46%	2.17%
2010	1.58%	1.9%
2009	1.71%	1.9%
2008	1.85%	1.9%
2007	2.01%	1.92%
2006	2.19%	1.95%
2005	2.4%	1.98%
2004	2.64%	2.03%
2003	2.89%	2.09%
2002	3.15%	2.15%
2001	3.42%	2.23%
2000	3.67%	2.32%
1999	3.91%	2.42%
1998	4.14%	2.53%
1997	4.36%	2.66%
1996	4.56%	2.8%
1995	4.75%	2.94%
1994	4.93%	3.09%
1993	5.08%	3.24%
1992	5.22%	3.4%
1991	5.31%	3.55%
1990	5.37%	3.7%
1989	5.39%	3.85%
1988	5.4%	4.02%
1987	5.4%	4.19%
1986	5.4%	4.39%
1985	5.43%	4.6%
1984	5.5%	4.84%
1983	5.61%	5.1%
1982	5.78%	7.06%
1981	6%	6.33%
1980	6.28%	6.03%
1979	6.62%	6.4%
1978	7.01%	6.79%
1977	7.47%	7.19%
1976	7.97%	7.61%
1975	8.5%	8.03%
1974	9.05%	8.47%
1973	9.61%	8.92%
1972	10.2%	9.4%
1971	10.7%	9.91%
1970	11.3%	10.5%
1969	11.9%	11.1%
1968	-	11.7%
1967	-	12.3%
1966	-	12.9%
1965	-	13.5%
1964	-	14.1%
1963	-	14.7%
1962	-	15.3%
1961	-	16.1%
1960	-	16.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.