Fertility & birth rates in China and United States

Fertility rate in China vs United States by year

Chart Table

China

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	United States
2023	1	1.62
2022	1.03	1.66
2021	1.12	1.66
2020	1.24	1.64
2019	1.5	1.71
2018	1.54	1.73
2017	1.8	1.77
2016	1.77	1.82
2015	1.67	1.84
2014	1.77	1.86
2013	1.71	1.86
2012	1.8	1.88
2011	1.67	1.89
2010	1.69	1.93
2009	1.71	2
2008	1.7	2.07
2007	1.67	2.12
2006	1.64	2.11
2005	1.62	2.06
2004	1.61	2.05
2003	1.57	2.05
2002	1.57	2.02
2001	1.56	2.03
2000	1.63	2.06
1999	1.53	2.01
1998	1.52	2
1997	1.53	1.97
1996	1.55	1.98
1995	1.59	1.98
1994	1.63	2
1993	1.69	2.02
1992	1.78	2.05
1991	1.93	2.06
1990	2.51	2.08
1989	2.52	2.01
1988	2.54	1.93
1987	2.76	1.87
1986	2.72	1.84
1985	2.63	1.84
1984	2.61	1.81
1983	2.56	1.8
1982	2.97	1.83
1981	2.79	1.81
1980	2.74	1.84
1979	2.75	1.81
1978	2.72	1.76
1977	2.84	1.79
1976	3.24	1.74
1975	3.57	1.77
1974	4.17	1.84
1973	4.73	1.88
1972	5.11	2.01
1971	5.52	2.27
1970	6.09	2.48
1969	6.18	2.46
1968	6.51	2.46
1967	5.81	2.56
1966	6.31	2.72
1965	6.61	2.91
1964	6.67	3.19
1963	7.51	3.32
1962	6.09	3.46
1961	3.86	3.62
1960	4.45	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	United States
2023	-2,087,851	502,372
2022	-847,305	399,926
2021	480,203	199,137
2020	2,046,095	208,862
2019	4,673,713	887,476
2018	5,302,433	955,022
2017	7,790,880	1,028,037
2016	9,062,269	1,197,627
2015	6,788,911	1,270,126
2014	9,205,180	1,357,281
2013	8,043,116	1,322,711
2012	10,075,174	1,411,822
2011	8,245,065	1,441,697
2010	6,407,607	1,548,182
2009	6,483,236	1,717,920
2008	6,729,247	1,794,154
2007	6,813,465	1,897,757
2006	6,922,185	1,849,955
2005	7,678,911	1,684,445
2004	7,607,960	1,698,271
2003	7,743,284	1,653,615
2002	8,258,580	1,581,938
2001	8,839,358	1,595,826
2000	9,570,849	1,664,758
1999	10,247,372	1,564,050
1998	11,351,286	1,573,857
1997	12,374,554	1,501,014
1996	12,686,872	1,510,137
1995	12,711,220	1,546,031
1994	13,360,470	1,633,302
1993	13,493,138	1,717,685
1992	13,548,601	1,875,328
1991	14,937,124	1,926,543
1990	16,335,313	2,026,068
1989	16,824,495	1,875,826
1988	17,328,640	1,735,943
1987	18,005,821	1,720,252
1986	16,609,920	1,656,917
1985	14,987,830	1,689,258
1984	13,561,671	1,627,192
1983	13,599,789	1,636,544
1982	15,815,318	1,714,317
1981	14,461,027	1,652,153
1980	11,647,260	1,608,450
1979	11,250,148	1,597,894
1978	11,473,980	1,402,283
1977	11,378,068	1,431,556
1976	11,782,472	1,264,604
1975	14,378,237	1,252,644
1974	15,738,118	1,218,968
1973	18,423,727	1,165,499
1972	19,102,585	1,301,355
1971	19,622,980	1,640,519
1970	21,137,076	1,824,965
1969	20,760,332	1,702,487
1968	21,206,083	1,565,507
1967	19,263,662	1,669,181
1966	19,282,187	1,749,387
1965	20,296,950	1,943,030
1964	19,302,532	2,245,099
1963	22,742,225	2,289,826
1962	17,969,132	2,406,337
1961	2,496,047	2,571,681
1960	-3,048,510	2,565,530

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 the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in China vs United States by year

Chart Table

China

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	United States
2023	6.39	10.7
2022	6.77	11
2021	7.52	11
2020	8.52	10.9
2019	10.4	11.4
2018	10.9	11.6
2017	12.6	11.8
2016	13.6	12.2
2015	12	12.4
2014	13.8	12.5
2013	13	12.4
2012	14.6	12.6
2011	13.3	12.7
2010	11.9	13
2009	12	13.5
2008	12.1	14
2007	12.1	14.3
2006	12.1	14.3
2005	12.4	14
2004	12.3	14
2003	12.4	14.1
2002	12.9	14
2001	13.4	14.1
2000	14	14.4
1999	14.6	14.2
1998	15.6	14.3
1997	16.6	14.2
1996	17	14.4
1995	17.1	14.6
1994	17.7	15
1993	18.1	15.4
1992	18.3	15.8
1991	19.7	16.2
1990	21.1	16.7
1989	21.6	16.4
1988	22.4	16
1987	23.3	15.7
1986	22.4	15.6
1985	21	15.8
1984	19.9	15.6
1983	20.2	15.6
1982	22.3	15.9
1981	20.9	15.8
1980	18.2	15.9
1979	17.8	15.6
1978	18.3	15
1977	18.9	15.1
1976	19.9	14.6
1975	23	14.6
1974	24.8	14.8
1973	27.9	14.8
1972	29.8	15.6
1971	30.7	17.2
1970	33.4	18.4
1969	34.1	17.9
1968	35.6	17.6
1967	34	17.8
1966	35.1	18.4
1965	37.9	19.4
1964	39.1	21.1
1963	43.4	21.7
1962	37	22.4
1961	18	23.3
1960	20.9	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 20.9 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	United States
2100	7.83%	14.4%
2099	7.84%	14.4%
2098	7.87%	14.4%
2097	7.91%	14.4%
2096	7.96%	14.4%
2095	8.03%	14.5%
2094	8.1%	14.5%
2093	8.18%	14.5%
2092	8.26%	14.5%
2091	8.34%	14.6%
2090	8.41%	14.6%
2089	8.47%	14.7%
2088	8.52%	14.7%
2087	8.55%	14.7%
2086	8.57%	14.8%
2085	8.57%	14.8%
2084	8.56%	14.8%
2083	8.53%	14.9%
2082	8.48%	14.9%
2081	8.41%	14.9%
2080	8.34%	14.9%
2079	8.25%	14.9%
2078	8.15%	14.9%
2077	8.06%	14.9%
2076	7.96%	14.9%
2075	7.86%	14.9%
2074	7.77%	14.9%
2073	7.7%	14.9%
2072	7.64%	14.9%
2071	7.6%	14.9%
2070	7.58%	14.9%
2069	7.59%	14.9%
2068	7.63%	14.9%
2067	7.7%	14.9%
2066	7.8%	14.9%
2065	7.93%	15%
2064	8.08%	15%
2063	8.25%	15%
2062	8.44%	15.1%
2061	8.64%	15.1%
2060	8.84%	15.2%
2059	9.03%	15.3%
2058	9.22%	15.4%
2057	9.39%	15.5%
2056	9.54%	15.5%
2055	9.67%	15.6%
2054	9.78%	15.7%
2053	9.86%	15.8%
2052	9.92%	15.8%
2051	9.94%	15.9%
2050	9.94%	15.9%
2049	9.92%	16%
2048	9.88%	16%
2047	9.82%	16%
2046	9.75%	16%
2045	9.67%	16%
2044	9.59%	16%
2043	9.52%	16%
2042	9.46%	16%
2041	9.4%	15.9%
2040	9.35%	15.9%
2039	9.32%	15.9%
2038	9.3%	15.9%
2037	9.32%	15.9%
2036	9.42%	15.9%
2035	9.63%	15.9%
2034	10%	15.9%
2033	10.5%	16%
2032	11.2%	16.1%
2031	11.8%	16.2%
2030	12.4%	16.3%
2029	13.1%	16.5%
2028	13.8%	16.6%
2027	14.5%	16.8%
2026	15.1%	17%
2025	15.7%	17.2%
2024	16%	17.3%
2023	16.6%	17.6%
2022	17.1%	17.9%
2021	17.6%	18.1%
2020	18%	18.4%
2019	18.2%	18.6%
2018	18.3%	18.8%
2017	18.4%	18.9%
2016	18.3%	19.1%
2015	18.3%	19.2%
2014	18.3%	19.3%
2013	18.3%	19.4%
2012	18.3%	19.5%
2011	18.3%	19.6%
2010	18.5%	19.7%
2009	18.6%	19.8%
2008	18.9%	19.9%
2007	19.2%	20%
2006	19.6%	20.2%
2005	20.3%	20.3%
2004	21.2%	20.5%
2003	22%	20.7%
2002	22.9%	20.9%
2001	23.8%	21%
2000	24.5%	21.2%
1999	25.2%	21.3%
1998	25.7%	21.4%
1997	26.3%	21.5%
1996	27%	21.7%
1995	27.4%	21.8%
1994	27.8%	21.9%
1993	28.2%	21.9%
1992	28.4%	21.8%
1991	28.6%	21.7%
1990	28.8%	21.6%
1989	28.9%	21.5%
1988	29.3%	21.3%
1987	29.8%	21.3%
1986	30.4%	21.3%
1985	31.2%	21.5%
1984	32.2%	21.7%
1983	33.3%	21.8%
1982	34.3%	22%
1981	35.1%	22.1%
1980	36.1%	22.4%
1979	37.2%	22.8%
1978	38.6%	23.2%
1977	39.8%	23.8%
1976	40.3%	24.4%
1975	40.2%	25.2%
1974	40.2%	25.9%
1973	40.1%	26.6%
1972	40.4%	27.4%
1971	40.7%	28%
1970	40.8%	28.6%
1969	41%	29%
1968	41%	29.5%
1967	41.3%	30%
1966	41.5%	30.4%
1965	41.5%	30.7%
1964	41.2%	30.9%
1963	40.6%	31.1%
1962	40%	31.3%
1961	40%	31.4%
1960	40.3%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs United States

Chart Table

China

United States

1x

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

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	United States
2023	0.62%	0.65%
2022	0.66%	0.65%
2021	0.7%	0.65%
2020	0.75%	0.65%
2019	0.8%	0.65%
2018	0.86%	0.65%
2017	0.92%	0.66%
2016	0.99%	0.67%
2015	1.07%	0.68%
2014	1.15%	0.68%
2013	1.25%	0.69%
2012	1.35%	0.7%
2011	1.46%	0.72%
2010	1.58%	0.73%
2009	1.71%	0.75%
2008	1.85%	0.76%
2007	2.01%	0.77%
2006	2.19%	0.79%
2005	2.4%	0.8%
2004	2.64%	0.81%
2003	2.89%	0.81%
2002	3.15%	0.82%
2001	3.42%	0.83%
2000	3.67%	0.84%
1999	3.91%	0.86%
1998	4.14%	0.87%
1997	4.36%	0.89%
1996	4.56%	0.92%
1995	4.75%	0.95%
1994	4.93%	0.98%
1993	5.08%	1.01%
1992	5.22%	1.05%
1991	5.31%	1.09%
1990	5.37%	1.12%
1989	5.39%	1.16%
1988	5.4%	1.19%
1987	5.4%	1.21%
1986	5.4%	1.24%
1985	5.43%	1.27%
1984	5.5%	1.3%
1983	5.61%	1.34%
1982	5.78%	1.39%
1981	6%	1.44%
1980	6.28%	1.5%
1979	6.62%	1.56%
1978	7.01%	1.63%
1977	7.47%	1.71%
1976	7.97%	1.79%
1975	8.5%	1.88%
1974	9.05%	1.97%
1973	9.61%	2.06%
1972	10.2%	2.15%
1971	10.7%	2.24%
1970	11.3%	2.32%
1969	11.9%	2.41%
1968	-	2.49%
1967	-	2.57%
1966	-	2.64%
1965	-	2.71%
1964	-	2.77%
1963	-	2.83%
1962	-	2.89%
1961	-	2.95%
1960	-	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.