Fertility & birth rates in China and Zambia

Fertility rate in China vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

China

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Zambia
2023	1	4.1
2022	1.03	4.18
2021	1.12	4.25
2020	1.24	4.32
2019	1.5	4.42
2018	1.54	4.49
2017	1.8	4.57
2016	1.77	4.67
2015	1.67	4.78
2014	1.77	4.89
2013	1.71	5.01
2012	1.8	5.14
2011	1.67	5.26
2010	1.69	5.36
2009	1.71	5.45
2008	1.7	5.53
2007	1.67	5.61
2006	1.64	5.68
2005	1.62	5.7
2004	1.61	5.7
2003	1.57	5.71
2002	1.57	5.77
2001	1.56	5.85
2000	1.63	5.92
1999	1.53	6
1998	1.52	6.07
1997	1.53	6.12
1996	1.55	6.18
1995	1.59	6.23
1994	1.63	6.26
1993	1.69	6.3
1992	1.78	6.35
1991	1.93	6.46
1990	2.51	6.57
1989	2.52	6.64
1988	2.54	6.7
1987	2.76	6.8
1986	2.72	6.87
1985	2.63	6.93
1984	2.61	6.97
1983	2.56	7.01
1982	2.97	7.04
1981	2.79	7.07
1980	2.74	7.14
1979	2.75	7.22
1978	2.72	7.29
1977	2.84	7.35
1976	3.24	7.39
1975	3.57	7.42
1974	4.17	7.36
1973	4.73	7.34
1972	5.11	7.3
1971	5.52	7.26
1970	6.09	7.22
1969	6.18	7.18
1968	6.51	7.18
1967	5.81	7.15
1966	6.31	7.14
1965	6.61	7.12
1964	6.67	7.09
1963	7.51	7.06
1962	6.09	7.01
1961	3.86	6.98
1960	4.45	6.95

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Zambia
2023	-2,087,851	577,660
2022	-847,305	563,456
2021	480,203	535,629
2020	2,046,095	536,484
2019	4,673,713	528,089
2018	5,302,433	515,644
2017	7,790,880	504,630
2016	9,062,269	497,521
2015	6,788,911	491,021
2014	9,205,180	483,663
2013	8,043,116	476,846
2012	10,075,174	469,406
2011	8,245,065	459,743
2010	6,407,607	448,337
2009	6,483,236	434,458
2008	6,729,247	419,560
2007	6,813,465	403,729
2006	6,922,185	387,891
2005	7,678,911	368,756
2004	7,607,960	349,352
2003	7,743,284	331,189
2002	8,258,580	316,041
2001	8,839,358	302,682
2000	9,570,849	293,186
1999	10,247,372	283,297
1998	11,351,286	275,568
1997	12,374,554	268,198
1996	12,686,872	262,468
1995	12,711,220	257,897
1994	13,360,470	252,023
1993	13,493,138	245,917
1992	13,548,601	239,953
1991	14,937,124	237,957
1990	16,335,313	235,835
1989	16,824,495	233,429
1988	17,328,640	230,118
1987	18,005,821	227,813
1986	16,609,920	224,768
1985	14,987,830	221,351
1984	13,561,671	216,695
1983	13,599,789	212,712
1982	15,815,318	207,621
1981	14,461,027	202,822
1980	11,647,260	198,817
1979	11,250,148	197,578
1978	11,473,980	194,933
1977	11,378,068	191,557
1976	11,782,472	186,762
1975	14,378,237	182,258
1974	15,738,118	174,484
1973	18,423,727	168,258
1972	19,102,585	161,648
1971	19,622,980	155,249
1970	21,137,076	149,380
1969	20,760,332	142,660
1968	21,206,083	137,315
1967	19,263,662	131,938
1966	19,282,187	127,164
1965	20,296,950	122,814
1964	19,302,532	117,197
1963	22,742,225	114,555
1962	17,969,132	110,173
1961	2,496,047	106,318
1960	-3,048,510	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in China vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

China

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Zambia
2023	6.39	33.1
2022	6.77	33.5
2021	7.52	33.9
2020	8.52	34.4
2019	10.4	35
2018	10.9	35.5
2017	12.6	35.9
2016	13.6	36.6
2015	12	37.3
2014	13.8	38.1
2013	13	39
2012	14.6	39.9
2011	13.3	40.7
2010	11.9	41.4
2009	12	42
2008	12.1	42.6
2007	12.1	43.2
2006	12.1	43.7
2005	12.4	43.8
2004	12.3	43.9
2003	12.4	43.9
2002	12.9	44.3
2001	13.4	44.8
2000	14	45.5
1999	14.6	45.9
1998	15.6	46.2
1997	16.6	46.3
1996	17	46.6
1995	17.1	46.8
1994	17.7	46.7
1993	18.1	46.6
1992	18.3	46.6
1991	19.7	46.9
1990	21.1	47
1989	21.6	47.1
1988	22.4	47.1
1987	23.3	47.3
1986	22.4	47.4
1985	21	47.4
1984	19.9	47.3
1983	20.2	47.3
1982	22.3	47.3
1981	20.9	47.3
1980	18.2	47.5
1979	17.8	48.2
1978	18.3	48.7
1977	18.9	49.2
1976	19.9	49.5
1975	23	50
1974	24.8	49.7
1973	27.9	49.7
1972	29.8	49.6
1971	30.7	49.4
1970	33.4	49.3
1969	34.1	48.9
1968	35.6	48.9
1967	34	48.8
1966	35.1	48.8
1965	37.9	48.8
1964	39.1	48.9
1963	43.4	48.9
1962	37	48.9
1961	18	48.9
1960	20.9	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 20.9 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Zambia
2100	7.83%	21.6%
2099	7.84%	21.7%
2098	7.87%	21.9%
2097	7.91%	22%
2096	7.96%	22.2%
2095	8.03%	22.3%
2094	8.1%	22.5%
2093	8.18%	22.7%
2092	8.26%	22.8%
2091	8.34%	23%
2090	8.41%	23.1%
2089	8.47%	23.3%
2088	8.52%	23.5%
2087	8.55%	23.6%
2086	8.57%	23.8%
2085	8.57%	24%
2084	8.56%	24.2%
2083	8.53%	24.3%
2082	8.48%	24.5%
2081	8.41%	24.7%
2080	8.34%	24.9%
2079	8.25%	25.1%
2078	8.15%	25.3%
2077	8.06%	25.5%
2076	7.96%	25.7%
2075	7.86%	25.9%
2074	7.77%	26.1%
2073	7.7%	26.4%
2072	7.64%	26.6%
2071	7.6%	26.8%
2070	7.58%	27%
2069	7.59%	27.2%
2068	7.63%	27.5%
2067	7.7%	27.7%
2066	7.8%	27.9%
2065	7.93%	28.1%
2064	8.08%	28.4%
2063	8.25%	28.6%
2062	8.44%	28.9%
2061	8.64%	29.1%
2060	8.84%	29.3%
2059	9.03%	29.6%
2058	9.22%	29.8%
2057	9.39%	30.1%
2056	9.54%	30.4%
2055	9.67%	30.6%
2054	9.78%	30.9%
2053	9.86%	31.2%
2052	9.92%	31.5%
2051	9.94%	31.8%
2050	9.94%	32.2%
2049	9.92%	32.5%
2048	9.88%	32.8%
2047	9.82%	33.2%
2046	9.75%	33.5%
2045	9.67%	33.9%
2044	9.59%	34.2%
2043	9.52%	34.6%
2042	9.46%	34.9%
2041	9.4%	35.3%
2040	9.35%	35.6%
2039	9.32%	36%
2038	9.3%	36.3%
2037	9.32%	36.6%
2036	9.42%	37%
2035	9.63%	37.3%
2034	10%	37.6%
2033	10.5%	38%
2032	11.2%	38.3%
2031	11.8%	38.7%
2030	12.4%	39%
2029	13.1%	39.4%
2028	13.8%	39.8%
2027	14.5%	40.3%
2026	15.1%	40.7%
2025	15.7%	41.2%
2024	16%	41.5%
2023	16.6%	42%
2022	17.1%	42.4%
2021	17.6%	42.9%
2020	18%	43.3%
2019	18.2%	43.8%
2018	18.3%	44.1%
2017	18.4%	44.5%
2016	18.3%	44.9%
2015	18.3%	45.2%
2014	18.3%	45.5%
2013	18.3%	45.7%
2012	18.3%	45.9%
2011	18.3%	46.1%
2010	18.5%	46.3%
2009	18.6%	46.4%
2008	18.9%	46.6%
2007	19.2%	46.8%
2006	19.6%	47%
2005	20.3%	47.1%
2004	21.2%	47.3%
2003	22%	47.4%
2002	22.9%	47.6%
2001	23.8%	47.8%
2000	24.5%	48%
1999	25.2%	48.1%
1998	25.7%	48.2%
1997	26.3%	48.2%
1996	27%	48.2%
1995	27.4%	48.2%
1994	27.8%	48.2%
1993	28.2%	48.2%
1992	28.4%	48.2%
1991	28.6%	48.3%
1990	28.8%	48.4%
1989	28.9%	48.5%
1988	29.3%	48.6%
1987	29.8%	48.7%
1986	30.4%	48.8%
1985	31.2%	48.9%
1984	32.2%	49%
1983	33.3%	49.1%
1982	34.3%	49.3%
1981	35.1%	49.4%
1980	36.1%	49.5%
1979	37.2%	49.5%
1978	38.6%	49.4%
1977	39.8%	49.2%
1976	40.3%	49.1%
1975	40.2%	48.8%
1974	40.2%	48.6%
1973	40.1%	48.3%
1972	40.4%	48%
1971	40.7%	47.7%
1970	40.8%	47.4%
1969	41%	47.2%
1968	41%	47.1%
1967	41.3%	47%
1966	41.5%	46.9%
1965	41.5%	46.9%
1964	41.2%	46.7%
1963	40.6%	46.5%
1962	40%	46.3%
1961	40%	46.2%
1960	40.3%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Zambia

Chart Table

China

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Zambia
2023	16	85
2022	18	89
2021	21	140
2020	20	99
2019	21	103
2018	22	117
2017	24	141
2016	25	158
2015	26	154
2014	28	174
2013	30	213
2012	32	256
2011	33	291
2010	34	332
2009	35	406
2008	38	394
2007	38	324
2006	40	262
2005	42	264
2004	45	260
2003	47	250
2002	50	274
2001	52	306
2000	56	340
1999	58	378
1998	60	392
1997	63	403
1996	67	433
1995	71	466
1994	76	507
1993	80	532
1992	86	581
1991	92	611
1990	102	625
1989	104	635
1988	108	635
1987	114	630
1986	120	619
1985	125	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Zambia
2023	0.62%	4.47%
2022	0.66%	4.67%
2021	0.7%	4.92%
2020	0.75%	5.24%
2019	0.8%	5.41%
2018	0.86%	5.52%
2017	0.92%	5.61%
2016	0.99%	5.9%
2015	1.07%	6.15%
2014	1.15%	6.38%
2013	1.25%	6.72%
2012	1.35%	7.04%
2011	1.46%	7.31%
2010	1.58%	7.57%
2009	1.71%	8%
2008	1.85%	8.62%
2007	2.01%	9.14%
2006	2.19%	9.71%
2005	2.4%	10.5%
2004	2.64%	11.4%
2003	2.89%	12.4%
2002	3.15%	13.4%
2001	3.42%	14.4%
2000	3.67%	15.3%
1999	3.91%	15.9%
1998	4.14%	16.3%
1997	4.36%	16.7%
1996	4.56%	17%
1995	4.75%	17.3%
1994	4.93%	17.7%
1993	5.08%	17.9%
1992	5.22%	18.1%
1991	5.31%	18.1%
1990	5.37%	18.1%
1989	5.39%	17.9%
1988	5.4%	17.7%
1987	5.4%	17.3%
1986	5.4%	17%
1985	5.43%	16.6%
1984	5.5%	16.2%
1983	5.61%	15.9%
1982	5.78%	15.7%
1981	6%	15.6%
1980	6.28%	15.5%
1979	6.62%	15.4%
1978	7.01%	15.3%
1977	7.47%	15.3%
1976	7.97%	15.4%
1975	8.5%	15.5%
1974	9.05%	15.9%
1973	9.61%	16.3%
1972	10.2%	16.9%
1971	10.7%	17.4%
1970	11.3%	17.9%
1969	11.9%	18.3%
1968	-	18.5%
1967	-	18.7%
1966	-	18.9%
1965	-	19%
1964	-	19.2%
1963	-	19.5%
1962	-	19.8%
1961	-	20.1%
1960	-	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.