Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in China and Taiwan

Updated on by Georank team

China has an annual birth rate of 6.39 births per 1,000 people, compared to 5.76 for Taiwan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1 in China and 0.89 in Taiwan — 11.4% difference.

1981 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -64.2% in China and by -64.8% in Taiwan — in 1981, it was 2.79 and 2.46, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • China is ranked 191/196 by birth rate compared to 193/196 for Taiwan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.3 in China — it's 32.2 in Taiwan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 5.23 in China vs 3 in Taiwan.
  • In China, 22.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.9% in Taiwan.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.15% in China and -0.29% in Taiwan.

Birth rate data compared

China Taiwan
Fertility rate 1 0.89
Birth rate 6.39 5.76
Birth rate rank 191/196 193/196
Average age at childbearing 29.3 years 32.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 5.15 2.87
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 57.4 27.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 8.77 10.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 22.3% 22.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 80.5% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% n/a
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.02% 0.01%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.28% 0.28%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.45% 0.45%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.62% n/a
Population change due to births and deaths -2,087,851 -67,188
Natural population change rank 196/196 186/196
Natural population change rate -0.15% -0.29%
Population growth -0.12% +0.29%
Population growth rank 173/197 150/197
Life expectancy 78.4 years 80.9 years

Fertility rate in China vs Taiwan chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.89 in Taiwan in 2024. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

China
Factual

UN forecast
Taiwan
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
China Taiwan
1951 - 7.04
1952 - -
1953 - -
1954 - -
1955 - -
1956 - -
1957 - -
1958 - -
1959 - -
1960 4.45 -
1961 3.86 -
1962 6.09 -
1963 7.51 -
1964 6.67 -
1965 6.61 -
1966 6.31 -
1967 5.81 -
1968 6.51 -
1969 6.18 -
1970 6.09 -
1971 5.52 -
1972 5.11 -
1973 4.73 -
1974 4.17 -
1975 3.57 -
1976 3.24 -
1977 2.84 -
1978 2.72 -
1979 2.75 -
1980 2.74 -
1981 2.79 2.46
1982 2.97 -
1983 2.56 -
1984 2.61 -
1985 2.63 -
1986 2.72 -
1987 2.76 -
1988 2.54 -
1989 2.52 -
1990 2.51 -
1991 1.93 1.72
1992 1.78 -
1993 1.69 -
1994 1.63 -
1995 1.59 -
1996 1.55 -
1997 1.53 -
1998 1.52 -
1999 1.53 -
2000 1.63 -
2001 1.56 1.4
2002 1.57 -
2003 1.57 -
2004 1.61 -
2005 1.62 -
2006 1.64 -
2007 1.67 -
2008 1.7 -
2009 1.71 -
2010 1.69 -
2011 1.67 1.07
2012 1.8 -
2013 1.71 -
2014 1.77 -
2015 1.67 1.18
2016 1.77 1.17
2017 1.8 1.13
2018 1.54 1.06
2019 1.5 1.05
2020 1.24 0.99
2021 1.12 0.98
2022 1.03 0.87
2023 1 0.87
2024 1.01 0.89
2025 1.02 0.88
2026 1.03 0.88
2027 1.04 0.89
2028 1.05 0.9
2029 1.05 0.91
2030 1.06 0.91
2031 1.07 0.92
2032 1.08 0.93
2033 1.08 0.95
2034 1.09 0.96
2035 1.1 0.97
2036 1.1 0.98
2037 1.11 0.99
2038 1.12 1
2039 1.12 1.01
2040 1.13 1.02
2041 1.13 1.03
2042 1.14 1.04
2043 1.15 1.05
2044 1.15 1.06
2045 1.16 1.07
2046 1.16 1.07
2047 1.17 1.08
2048 1.17 1.09
2049 1.18 1.1
2050 1.18 1.1

Children 0-14 years as share of population

China
Factual

UN forecast
Taiwan
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
China Taiwan
1960 40.3% -
1961 40% -
1962 40% -
1963 40.6% -
1964 41.2% -
1965 41.5% -
1966 41.5% -
1967 41.3% -
1968 41% -
1969 41% -
1970 40.8% -
1971 40.7% -
1972 40.4% -
1973 40.1% -
1974 40.2% 36.2%
1975 40.2% 35.4%
1976 40.3% 34.7%
1977 39.8% 34%
1978 38.6% 33.3%
1979 37.2% 32.7%
1980 36.1% 32.1%
1981 35.1% 31.6%
1982 34.3% 31.2%
1983 33.3% 30.8%
1984 32.2% 30.2%
1985 31.2% 29.6%
1986 30.4% 29%
1987 29.8% 28.4%
1988 29.3% 28%
1989 28.9% 27.5%
1990 28.8% 27.1%
1991 28.6% 26.3%
1992 28.4% 25.8%
1993 28.2% 25.1%
1994 27.8% 24.4%
1995 27.4% 23.8%
1996 27% 23.1%
1997 26.3% 22.6%
1998 25.7% 22%
1999 25.2% 21.4%
2000 24.5% 21.1%
2001 23.8% 20.8%
2002 22.9% 20.4%
2003 22% 19.8%
2004 21.2% 19.3%
2005 20.3% 18.7%
2006 19.6% 18.1%
2007 19.2% 17.6%
2008 18.9% 17%
2009 18.6% 16.3%
2010 18.5% 15.6%
2011 18.3% 15.1%
2012 18.3% 14.6%
2013 18.3% 14.3%
2014 18.3% 14%
2015 18.3% 13.6%
2016 18.3% 13.3%
2017 18.4% 13.1%
2018 18.3% 12.9%
2019 18.2% 12.8%
2020 18% 12.6%
2021 17.6% 12.4%
2022 17.1% 12.1%
2023 16.6% 11.9%
2024 16% 11.7%
2025 15.4% 11.5%
2026 14.8% 11.3%
2027 14.1% 10.9%
2028 13.5% 10.5%
2029 12.8% 10.2%
2030 12.1% 9.8%
2031 11.5% 9.39%
2032 10.8% 9.06%
2033 10.3% 8.79%
2034 9.83% 8.55%
2035 9.53% 8.34%
2036 9.37% 8.2%
2037 9.31% 8.11%
2038 9.31% 8.06%
2039 9.34% 8.03%
2040 9.38% 8.01%
2041 9.43% 7.99%
2042 9.49% 7.99%
2043 9.56% 8%
2044 9.63% 8.01%
2045 9.71% 8.03%
2046 9.78% 8.06%
2047 9.85% 8.1%
2048 9.9% 8.14%
2049 9.93% 8.19%
2050 9.94% 8.24%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 11.7% in Taiwan in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 27.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Taiwan compared.

Natural population change in China vs Taiwan by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +0.31% in China and -0.05% in Taiwan. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

China
Taiwan

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
China Taiwan
1960 -3,048,510 -
1961 2,496,047 -
1962 17,969,132 -
1963 22,742,225 -
1964 19,302,532 -
1965 20,296,950 -
1966 19,282,187 346,958
1967 19,263,662 356,019
1968 21,206,083 365,133
1969 20,760,332 379,160
1970 21,137,076 393,010
1971 19,622,980 401,921
1972 19,102,585 410,193
1973 18,423,727 417,863
1974 15,738,118 425,401
1975 14,378,237 433,225
1976 11,782,472 442,018
1977 11,378,068 450,897
1978 11,473,980 459,289
1979 11,250,148 468,197
1980 11,647,260 477,138
1981 14,461,027 326,883
1982 15,815,318 332,774
1983 13,599,789 338,181
1984 13,561,671 343,199
1985 14,987,830 347,942
1986 16,609,920 351,930
1987 18,005,821 355,657
1988 17,328,640 359,694
1989 16,824,495 363,606
1990 16,335,313 367,657
1991 14,937,124 215,698
1992 13,548,601 217,809
1993 13,493,138 219,858
1994 13,360,470 221,832
1995 12,711,220 223,736
1996 12,686,872 225,564
1997 12,374,554 227,591
1998 11,351,286 229,712
1999 10,247,372 231,550
2000 9,570,849 233,382
2001 8,839,358 132,707
2002 8,258,580 133,431
2003 7,743,284 134,023
2004 7,607,960 134,522
2005 7,678,911 135,015
2006 6,922,185 135,572
2007 6,813,465 136,130
2008 6,729,247 136,607
2009 6,483,236 137,086
2010 6,407,607 137,458
2011 8,245,065 43,836
2012 10,075,174 43,981
2013 8,043,116 44,121
2014 9,205,180 44,233
2015 6,788,911 49,741
2016 9,062,269 35,980
2017 7,790,880 22,613
2018 5,302,433 8,725
2019 4,673,713 1,416
2020 2,046,095 -7,782
2021 480,203 -30,039
2022 -847,305 -68,327
2023 -2,087,851 -69,794
2024 - -67,188

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Taiwan

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 14 deaths in Taiwan.

China
Taiwan
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
China Taiwan
1985 125 -
1986 120 9.4
1987 114 8.9
1988 108 9
1989 104 12.7
1990 102 12.2
1991 92 8.1
1992 86 6.8
1993 80 9.2
1994 76 8
1995 71 7.7
1996 67 7.7
1997 63 9.2
1998 60 8.9
1999 58 8.4
2000 56 7.8
2001 52 7.8
2002 50 7.8
2003 47 7.8
2004 45 7.8
2005 42 7.8
2006 40 7.8
2007 38 7.8
2008 38 7.8
2009 35 7.8
2010 34 7.8
2011 33 7.8
2012 32 8.5
2013 30 8.5
2014 28 8.5
2015 26 11.3
2016 25 11.6
2017 24 11.6
2018 22 11.6
2019 21 15.4
2020 20 13
2021 21 14
2022 18 14
2023 16 14
2024 - 14

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs China vs Taiwan
Afghanistan Compare Compare
Albania Compare Compare
Algeria Compare Compare
Andorra Compare Compare
Angola Compare Compare
Antigua Compare Compare
Argentina Compare Compare
Armenia Compare Compare
Australia Compare Compare
Austria Compare Compare
Azerbaijan Compare Compare
Bahamas Compare Compare
Bahrain Compare Compare
Bangladesh Compare Compare
Barbados Compare Compare
Belarus Compare Compare
Belgium Compare Compare
Belize Compare Compare
Benin Compare Compare
Bhutan Compare Compare
Bolivia Compare Compare
Bosnia Compare Compare
Botswana Compare Compare
Brazil Compare Compare
Brunei Compare Compare
Bulgaria Compare Compare
Burkina Faso Compare Compare
Burundi Compare Compare
Cambodia Compare Compare
Cameroon Compare Compare
Canada Compare Compare
Cape Verde Compare Compare
Cayman Islands Compare Compare
CAR Compare Compare
Chad Compare Compare
Chile Compare Compare
Colombia Compare Compare
Comoros Compare Compare
Congo Compare Compare
Costa Rica Compare Compare
Croatia Compare Compare
Cuba Compare Compare
Curacao Compare Compare
Cyprus Compare Compare
Czech Republic Compare Compare
DR Congo Compare Compare
Denmark Compare Compare
Djibouti Compare Compare
Dominica Compare Compare
Dominican Republic Compare Compare
East Timor Compare Compare
Ecuador Compare Compare
Egypt Compare Compare
El Salvador Compare Compare
Equatorial Guinea Compare Compare
Eritrea Compare Compare
Estonia Compare Compare
Eswatini Compare Compare
Ethiopia Compare Compare
Fiji Compare Compare
Finland Compare Compare
France Compare Compare
Gabon Compare Compare
Gambia Compare Compare
Georgia Compare Compare
Germany Compare Compare
Ghana Compare Compare
Greece Compare Compare
Grenada Compare Compare
Guatemala Compare Compare
Guinea Compare Compare
Guinea-Bissau Compare Compare
Guyana Compare Compare
Haiti Compare Compare
Honduras Compare Compare
Hungary Compare Compare
Iceland Compare Compare
India Compare Compare
Indonesia Compare Compare
Iran Compare Compare
Iraq Compare Compare
Ireland Compare Compare
Israel Compare Compare
Italy Compare Compare
Ivory Coast Compare Compare
Jamaica Compare Compare
Japan Compare Compare
Jordan Compare Compare
Kazakhstan Compare Compare
Kenya Compare Compare
Kiribati Compare Compare
Kuwait Compare Compare
Kyrgyzstan Compare Compare
Laos Compare Compare
Latvia Compare Compare
Lebanon Compare Compare
Lesotho Compare Compare
Liberia Compare Compare
Libya Compare Compare
Liechtenstein Compare Compare
Lithuania Compare Compare
Luxembourg Compare Compare
Madagascar Compare Compare
Malawi Compare Compare
Malaysia Compare Compare
Maldives Compare Compare
Mali Compare Compare
Malta Compare Compare
Marshall Islands Compare Compare
Mauritania Compare Compare
Mauritius Compare Compare
Mexico Compare Compare
Moldova Compare Compare
Monaco Compare Compare
Mongolia Compare Compare
Montenegro Compare Compare
Morocco Compare Compare
Mozambique Compare Compare
Myanmar Compare Compare
Namibia Compare Compare
Nauru Compare Compare
Nepal Compare Compare
Netherlands Compare Compare
New Zealand Compare Compare
Nicaragua Compare Compare
Niger Compare Compare
Nigeria Compare Compare
North Korea Compare Compare
North Macedonia Compare Compare
Norway Compare Compare
Oman Compare Compare
Pakistan Compare Compare
Palau Compare Compare
Palestine Compare Compare
Panama Compare Compare
Papua New Guinea Compare Compare
Paraguay Compare Compare
Peru Compare Compare
Philippines Compare Compare
Poland Compare Compare
Portugal Compare Compare
Qatar Compare Compare
Romania Compare Compare
Russia Compare Compare
Rwanda Compare Compare
Saint Kitts Compare Compare
Saint Lucia Compare Compare
Saint Vincent Compare Compare
Samoa Compare Compare
San Marino Compare Compare
Sao Tome Compare Compare
Saudi Arabia Compare Compare
Senegal Compare Compare
Serbia Compare Compare
Seychelles Compare Compare
Sierra Leone Compare Compare
Singapore Compare Compare
Slovakia Compare Compare
Slovenia Compare Compare
Solomon Islands Compare Compare
Somalia Compare Compare
South Africa Compare Compare
South Korea Compare Compare
South Sudan Compare Compare
Spain Compare Compare
Sri Lanka Compare Compare
Sudan Compare Compare
Suriname Compare Compare
Sweden Compare Compare
Switzerland Compare Compare
Syria Compare Compare
Tajikistan Compare Compare
Tanzania Compare Compare
Thailand Compare Compare
Togo Compare Compare
Tonga Compare Compare
Trinidad Compare Compare
Tunisia Compare Compare
Turkey Compare Compare
Turkmenistan Compare Compare
Tuvalu Compare Compare
Uganda Compare Compare
Ukraine Compare Compare
UAE Compare Compare
United Kingdom Compare Compare
United States Compare Compare
Uruguay Compare Compare
Uzbekistan Compare Compare
Vanuatu Compare Compare
Venezuela Compare Compare
Vietnam Compare Compare
Yemen Compare Compare
Zambia Compare Compare
Zimbabwe Compare Compare