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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.

  • 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 29.4 in China — it's 32.3 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.

Fertility rate in China vs Taiwan by year

China
Taiwan
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Taiwan
2024 - 0.89
2023 1 0.87
2022 1.03 0.87
2021 1.12 0.98
2020 1.24 0.99
2019 1.5 1.05
2018 1.54 1.06
2017 1.8 1.13
2016 1.77 1.17
2015 1.67 1.18
2014 1.77 -
2013 1.71 -
2012 1.8 -
2011 1.67 1.07
2010 1.69 -
2009 1.71 -
2008 1.7 -
2007 1.67 -
2006 1.64 -
2005 1.62 -
2004 1.61 -
2003 1.57 -
2002 1.57 -
2001 1.56 1.4
2000 1.63 -
1999 1.53 -
1998 1.52 -
1997 1.53 -
1996 1.55 -
1995 1.59 -
1994 1.63 -
1993 1.69 -
1992 1.78 -
1991 1.93 1.72
1990 2.51 -
1989 2.52 -
1988 2.54 -
1987 2.76 -
1986 2.72 -
1985 2.63 -
1984 2.61 -
1983 2.56 -
1982 2.97 -
1981 2.79 2.46
1980 2.74 -
1979 2.75 -
1978 2.72 -
1977 2.84 -
1976 3.24 -
1975 3.57 -
1974 4.17 -
1973 4.73 -
1972 5.11 -
1971 5.52 -
1970 6.09 -
1969 6.18 -
1968 6.51 -
1967 5.81 -
1966 6.31 -
1965 6.61 -
1964 6.67 -
1963 7.51 -
1962 6.09 -
1961 3.86 -
1960 4.45 -
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - 7.04

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

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.

Natural population change by year

China
Taiwan
1x
Year Natural population change
China Taiwan
2024 - -67,188
2023 -2,087,851 -69,794
2022 -847,305 -68,327
2021 480,203 -30,039
2020 2,046,095 -7,782
2019 4,673,713 1,416
2018 5,302,433 8,725
2017 7,790,880 22,613
2016 9,062,269 35,980
2015 6,788,911 49,741
2014 9,205,180 -
2013 8,043,116 -
2012 10,075,174 -
2011 8,245,065 43,836
2010 6,407,607 -
2009 6,483,236 -
2008 6,729,247 -
2007 6,813,465 -
2006 6,922,185 -
2005 7,678,911 -
2004 7,607,960 -
2003 7,743,284 -
2002 8,258,580 -
2001 8,839,358 132,707
2000 9,570,849 -
1999 10,247,372 -
1998 11,351,286 -
1997 12,374,554 -
1996 12,686,872 -
1995 12,711,220 -
1994 13,360,470 -
1993 13,493,138 -
1992 13,548,601 -
1991 14,937,124 215,698
1990 16,335,313 -
1989 16,824,495 -
1988 17,328,640 -
1987 18,005,821 -
1986 16,609,920 -
1985 14,987,830 -
1984 13,561,671 -
1983 13,599,789 -
1982 15,815,318 -
1981 14,461,027 326,883
1980 11,647,260 -
1979 11,250,148 -
1978 11,473,980 -
1977 11,378,068 -
1976 11,782,472 -
1975 14,378,237 -
1974 15,738,118 -
1973 18,423,727 -
1972 19,102,585 -
1971 19,622,980 -
1970 21,137,076 -
1969 20,760,332 -
1968 21,206,083 -
1967 19,263,662 -
1966 19,282,187 346,958
1965 20,296,950 -
1964 19,302,532 -
1963 22,742,225 -
1962 17,969,132 -
1961 2,496,047 -
1960 -3,048,510 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

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 -0.29% in Taiwan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and -0.05% in Taiwan.

Birth rate in China vs Taiwan by year

China
Taiwan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
China Taiwan
2024 - 5.76
2023 6.39 5.81
2022 6.77 5.96
2021 7.52 6.55
2020 8.52 7.01
2019 10.4 7.53
2018 10.9 7.7
2017 12.6 8.23
2016 13.6 8.86
2015 12 9.1
2014 13.8 -
2013 13 -
2012 14.6 -
2011 13.3 8.48
2010 11.9 -
2009 12 -
2008 12.1 -
2007 12.1 -
2006 12.1 -
2005 12.4 -
2004 12.3 -
2003 12.4 -
2002 12.9 -
2001 13.4 11.7
2000 14 -
1999 14.6 -
1998 15.6 -
1997 16.6 -
1996 17 -
1995 17.1 -
1994 17.7 -
1993 18.1 -
1992 18.3 -
1991 19.7 15.7
1990 21.1 -
1989 21.6 -
1988 22.4 -
1987 23.3 -
1986 22.4 -
1985 21 -
1984 19.9 -
1983 20.2 -
1982 22.3 -
1981 20.9 23
1980 18.2 -
1979 17.8 -
1978 18.3 -
1977 18.9 -
1976 19.9 -
1975 23 -
1974 24.8 -
1973 27.9 -
1972 29.8 -
1971 30.7 -
1970 33.4 -
1969 34.1 -
1968 35.6 -
1967 34 -
1966 35.1 32.4
1965 37.9 -
1964 39.1 -
1963 43.4 -
1962 37 -
1961 18 -
1960 20.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 5.81 in Taiwan, compared with 35.1 and 32.4, respectively, in 1966.

Birth rate data compared

China Taiwan
Fertility rate 1 0.89
Fertility rate rank 192/196 195/196
Birth rate 6.39 5.76
Birth rate rank 191/196 193/196
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% -0.34%
Population growth rank 173/197 180/197
Average age at childbearing 29.4 years 32.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 5.17 2.85
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 56.6 26.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 8.76 10.2
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 0.62% n/a
Life expectancy 79 years 81.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

China
Factual

UN forecast
Taiwan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
China Taiwan
2100 7.83% 9.81%
2099 7.84% 9.82%
2098 7.87% 9.83%
2097 7.91% 9.82%
2096 7.96% 9.8%
2095 8.03% 9.78%
2094 8.1% 9.74%
2093 8.18% 9.69%
2092 8.26% 9.63%
2091 8.34% 9.57%
2090 8.41% 9.49%
2089 8.47% 9.41%
2088 8.52% 9.32%
2087 8.55% 9.23%
2086 8.57% 9.13%
2085 8.57% 9.04%
2084 8.56% 8.94%
2083 8.53% 8.84%
2082 8.48% 8.74%
2081 8.41% 8.64%
2080 8.34% 8.55%
2079 8.25% 8.46%
2078 8.15% 8.39%
2077 8.06% 8.32%
2076 7.96% 8.26%
2075 7.86% 8.22%
2074 7.77% 8.19%
2073 7.7% 8.18%
2072 7.64% 8.18%
2071 7.6% 8.2%
2070 7.58% 8.23%
2069 7.59% 8.26%
2068 7.63% 8.31%
2067 7.7% 8.37%
2066 7.8% 8.42%
2065 7.93% 8.48%
2064 8.08% 8.53%
2063 8.25% 8.57%
2062 8.44% 8.61%
2061 8.64% 8.63%
2060 8.84% 8.64%
2059 9.03% 8.64%
2058 9.22% 8.62%
2057 9.39% 8.6%
2056 9.54% 8.55%
2055 9.67% 8.51%
2054 9.78% 8.45%
2053 9.86% 8.39%
2052 9.92% 8.33%
2051 9.94% 8.27%
2050 9.94% 8.22%
2049 9.92% 8.16%
2048 9.88% 8.12%
2047 9.82% 8.08%
2046 9.75% 8.04%
2045 9.67% 8.02%
2044 9.59% 8%
2043 9.52% 7.99%
2042 9.46% 7.99%
2041 9.4% 8%
2040 9.35% 8.01%
2039 9.32% 8.04%
2038 9.3% 8.09%
2037 9.32% 8.14%
2036 9.42% 8.25%
2035 9.63% 8.43%
2034 10% 8.66%
2033 10.5% 8.92%
2032 11.2% 9.2%
2031 11.8% 9.58%
2030 12.4% 10%
2029 13.1% 10.4%
2028 13.8% 10.7%
2027 14.5% 11.1%
2026 15.1% 11.4%
2025 15.7% 11.6%
2024 16% 11.7%
2023 16.6% 11.9%
2022 17.1% 12.1%
2021 17.6% 12.4%
2020 18% 12.6%
2019 18.2% 12.8%
2018 18.3% 12.9%
2017 18.4% 13.1%
2016 18.3% 13.3%
2015 18.3% 13.6%
2014 18.3% 14%
2013 18.3% 14.3%
2012 18.3% 14.6%
2011 18.3% 15.1%
2010 18.5% 15.6%
2009 18.6% 16.3%
2008 18.9% 17%
2007 19.2% 17.6%
2006 19.6% 18.1%
2005 20.3% 18.7%
2004 21.2% 19.3%
2003 22% 19.8%
2002 22.9% 20.4%
2001 23.8% 20.8%
2000 24.5% 21.1%
1999 25.2% 21.4%
1998 25.7% 22%
1997 26.3% 22.6%
1996 27% 23.1%
1995 27.4% 23.8%
1994 27.8% 24.4%
1993 28.2% 25.1%
1992 28.4% 25.8%
1991 28.6% 26.3%
1990 28.8% 27.1%
1989 28.9% 27.5%
1988 29.3% 28%
1987 29.8% 28.4%
1986 30.4% 29%
1985 31.2% 29.6%
1984 32.2% 30.2%
1983 33.3% 30.8%
1982 34.3% 31.2%
1981 35.1% 31.6%
1980 36.1% 32.1%
1979 37.2% 32.7%
1978 38.6% 33.3%
1977 39.8% 34%
1976 40.3% 34.7%
1975 40.2% 35.4%
1974 40.2% 36.2%
1973 40.1% -
1972 40.4% -
1971 40.7% -
1970 40.8% -
1969 41% -
1968 41% -
1967 41.3% -
1966 41.5% -
1965 41.5% -
1964 41.2% -
1963 40.6% -
1962 40% -
1961 40% -
1960 40.3% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

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.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1981–2023, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Taiwan

China
Taiwan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
China Taiwan
2024 - 14
2023 16 14
2022 18 14
2021 21 14
2020 20 13
2019 21 15.4
2018 22 11.6
2017 24 11.6
2016 25 11.6
2015 26 11.3
2014 28 8.5
2013 30 8.5
2012 32 8.5
2011 33 7.8
2010 34 7.8
2009 35 7.8
2008 38 7.8
2007 38 7.8
2006 40 7.8
2005 42 7.8
2004 45 7.8
2003 47 7.8
2002 50 7.8
2001 52 7.8
2000 56 7.8
1999 58 8.4
1998 60 8.9
1997 63 9.2
1996 67 7.7
1995 71 7.7
1994 76 8
1993 80 9.2
1992 86 6.8
1991 92 8.1
1990 102 12.2
1989 104 12.7
1988 108 9
1987 114 8.9
1986 120 9.4
1985 125 -

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1986–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/china/taiwan | CC BY

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.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
  3. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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