Fertility & birth rates in China and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in China vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

China

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	Zimbabwe
2023	1	3.72
2022	1.03	3.77
2021	1.12	3.77
2020	1.24	3.75
2019	1.5	3.75
2018	1.54	3.74
2017	1.8	3.77
2016	1.77	3.83
2015	1.67	3.91
2014	1.77	4.01
2013	1.71	4.11
2012	1.8	4.13
2011	1.67	4.13
2010	1.69	4.04
2009	1.71	3.95
2008	1.7	3.78
2007	1.67	3.68
2006	1.64	3.64
2005	1.62	3.69
2004	1.61	3.78
2003	1.57	3.86
2002	1.57	3.93
2001	1.56	3.98
2000	1.63	4.01
1999	1.53	4.06
1998	1.52	4.07
1997	1.53	4.08
1996	1.55	4.11
1995	1.59	4.15
1994	1.63	4.28
1993	1.69	4.39
1992	1.78	4.57
1991	1.93	4.72
1990	2.51	4.88
1989	2.52	5.07
1988	2.54	5.28
1987	2.76	5.5
1986	2.72	5.69
1985	2.63	5.87
1984	2.61	6.04
1983	2.56	6.2
1982	2.97	6.33
1981	2.79	6.45
1980	2.74	6.52
1979	2.75	6.59
1978	2.72	6.66
1977	2.84	6.71
1976	3.24	6.77
1975	3.57	6.83
1974	4.17	6.88
1973	4.73	6.94
1972	5.11	6.94
1971	5.52	6.94
1970	6.09	6.98
1969	6.18	7.04
1968	6.51	7.11
1967	5.81	7.16
1966	6.31	7.2
1965	6.61	7.23
1964	6.67	7.23
1963	7.51	7.23
1962	6.09	7.23
1961	3.86	7.21
1960	4.45	7.2

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	Zimbabwe
2023	-2,087,851	372,505
2022	-847,305	371,243
2021	480,203	349,908
2020	2,046,095	354,790
2019	4,673,713	348,798
2018	5,302,433	345,883
2017	7,790,880	344,035
2016	9,062,269	348,772
2015	6,788,911	356,203
2014	9,205,180	366,350
2013	8,043,116	374,757
2012	10,075,174	371,135
2011	8,245,065	359,572
2010	6,407,607	335,570
2009	6,483,236	309,316
2008	6,729,247	280,527
2007	6,813,465	261,805
2006	6,922,185	248,963
2005	7,678,911	248,545
2004	7,607,960	248,307
2003	7,743,284	243,057
2002	8,258,580	244,170
2001	8,839,358	227,909
2000	9,570,849	236,343
1999	10,247,372	232,393
1998	11,351,286	225,614
1997	12,374,554	216,288
1996	12,686,872	205,269
1995	12,711,220	206,695
1994	13,360,470	216,343
1993	13,493,138	228,045
1992	13,548,601	255,291
1991	14,937,124	260,943
1990	16,335,313	265,444
1989	16,824,495	270,838
1988	17,328,640	277,498
1987	18,005,821	286,766
1986	16,609,920	289,894
1985	14,987,830	290,756
1984	13,561,671	290,052
1983	13,599,789	286,545
1982	15,815,318	279,934
1981	14,461,027	271,361
1980	11,647,260	241,179
1979	11,250,148	223,657
1978	11,473,980	222,979
1977	11,378,068	225,139
1976	11,782,472	221,419
1975	14,378,237	216,947
1974	15,738,118	208,806
1973	18,423,727	201,885
1972	19,102,585	193,725
1971	19,622,980	185,427
1970	21,137,076	178,979
1969	20,760,332	172,626
1968	21,206,083	166,865
1967	19,263,662	161,205
1966	19,282,187	156,014
1965	20,296,950	151,164
1964	19,302,532	145,848
1963	22,742,225	140,984
1962	17,969,132	136,317
1961	2,496,047	131,531
1960	-3,048,510	126,959

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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in China vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

China

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	Zimbabwe
2023	6.39	30.4
2022	6.77	30.9
2021	7.52	30.9
2020	8.52	31
2019	10.4	31.1
2018	10.9	31.3
2017	12.6	31.8
2016	13.6	32.7
2015	12	33.9
2014	13.8	35.4
2013	13	37
2012	14.6	37.8
2011	13.3	38.1
2010	11.9	37.9
2009	12	37.5
2008	12.1	36.4
2007	12.1	35.7
2006	12.1	35.2
2005	12.4	35.8
2004	12.3	36.3
2003	12.4	36.6
2002	12.9	36.5
2001	13.4	36.5
2000	14	36.1
1999	14.6	35.6
1998	15.6	34.5
1997	16.6	33.4
1996	17	32.4
1995	17.1	31.7
1994	17.7	32
1993	18.1	32.4
1992	18.3	34.3
1991	19.7	34.9
1990	21.1	35.5
1989	21.6	36.4
1988	22.4	37.7
1987	23.3	39.5
1986	22.4	40.9
1985	21	42.3
1984	19.9	43.7
1983	20.2	45
1982	22.3	45.7
1981	20.9	46.3
1980	18.2	44.8
1979	17.8	46.3
1978	18.3	46.8
1977	18.9	46.5
1976	19.9	46.5
1975	23	46.6
1974	24.8	46.4
1973	27.9	46.4
1972	29.8	46
1971	30.7	45.6
1970	33.4	45.5
1969	34.1	45.5
1968	35.6	45.7
1967	34	45.8
1966	35.1	46.1
1965	37.9	46.4
1964	39.1	46.6
1963	43.4	46.8
1962	37	47.1
1961	18	47.3
1960	20.9	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 20.9 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	Zimbabwe
2100	7.83%	20.3%
2099	7.84%	20.5%
2098	7.87%	20.6%
2097	7.91%	20.8%
2096	7.96%	20.9%
2095	8.03%	21.1%
2094	8.1%	21.3%
2093	8.18%	21.4%
2092	8.26%	21.6%
2091	8.34%	21.8%
2090	8.41%	22%
2089	8.47%	22.2%
2088	8.52%	22.4%
2087	8.55%	22.6%
2086	8.57%	22.8%
2085	8.57%	23%
2084	8.56%	23.2%
2083	8.53%	23.4%
2082	8.48%	23.6%
2081	8.41%	23.8%
2080	8.34%	24%
2079	8.25%	24.2%
2078	8.15%	24.4%
2077	8.06%	24.6%
2076	7.96%	24.9%
2075	7.86%	25.1%
2074	7.77%	25.3%
2073	7.7%	25.5%
2072	7.64%	25.7%
2071	7.6%	25.9%
2070	7.58%	26.2%
2069	7.59%	26.4%
2068	7.63%	26.6%
2067	7.7%	26.8%
2066	7.8%	27.1%
2065	7.93%	27.3%
2064	8.08%	27.6%
2063	8.25%	27.8%
2062	8.44%	28.1%
2061	8.64%	28.4%
2060	8.84%	28.7%
2059	9.03%	29%
2058	9.22%	29.3%
2057	9.39%	29.6%
2056	9.54%	30%
2055	9.67%	30.3%
2054	9.78%	30.6%
2053	9.86%	31%
2052	9.92%	31.3%
2051	9.94%	31.7%
2050	9.94%	32%
2049	9.92%	32.4%
2048	9.88%	32.7%
2047	9.82%	33.1%
2046	9.75%	33.4%
2045	9.67%	33.7%
2044	9.59%	34%
2043	9.52%	34.2%
2042	9.46%	34.5%
2041	9.4%	34.7%
2040	9.35%	34.9%
2039	9.32%	35.2%
2038	9.3%	35.4%
2037	9.32%	35.7%
2036	9.42%	35.9%
2035	9.63%	36.2%
2034	10%	36.4%
2033	10.5%	36.6%
2032	11.2%	36.9%
2031	11.8%	37.2%
2030	12.4%	37.6%
2029	13.1%	38.1%
2028	13.8%	38.7%
2027	14.5%	39.3%
2026	15.1%	40%
2025	15.7%	40.6%
2024	16%	40.9%
2023	16.6%	41.3%
2022	17.1%	41.6%
2021	17.6%	41.9%
2020	18%	42.2%
2019	18.2%	42.5%
2018	18.3%	42.9%
2017	18.4%	43.3%
2016	18.3%	43.6%
2015	18.3%	43.8%
2014	18.3%	43.9%
2013	18.3%	43.9%
2012	18.3%	43.7%
2011	18.3%	43.4%
2010	18.5%	43%
2009	18.6%	42.7%
2008	18.9%	42.4%
2007	19.2%	42.1%
2006	19.6%	42%
2005	20.3%	41.9%
2004	21.2%	41.7%
2003	22%	41.5%
2002	22.9%	41.4%
2001	23.8%	41.5%
2000	24.5%	41.9%
1999	25.2%	42.4%
1998	25.7%	43.1%
1997	26.3%	44%
1996	27%	45%
1995	27.4%	45.9%
1994	27.8%	46.6%
1993	28.2%	47.1%
1992	28.4%	46.8%
1991	28.6%	46.6%
1990	28.8%	47.1%
1989	28.9%	47.6%
1988	29.3%	47.9%
1987	29.8%	47.9%
1986	30.4%	47.9%
1985	31.2%	48%
1984	32.2%	48.1%
1983	33.3%	48.2%
1982	34.3%	48.3%
1981	35.1%	48.4%
1980	36.1%	48.7%
1979	37.2%	48.8%
1978	38.6%	48.5%
1977	39.8%	48.3%
1976	40.3%	48.2%
1975	40.2%	48.1%
1974	40.2%	48.1%
1973	40.1%	48.1%
1972	40.4%	48.2%
1971	40.7%	48.2%
1970	40.8%	48.3%
1969	41%	48.4%
1968	41%	48.5%
1967	41.3%	48.5%
1966	41.5%	48.6%
1965	41.5%	48.7%
1964	41.2%	48.8%
1963	40.6%	48.5%
1962	40%	48.1%
1961	40%	47.7%
1960	40.3%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

China

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	Zimbabwe
2023	16	358
2022	18	368
2021	21	446
2020	20	380
2019	21	388
2018	22	386
2017	24	389
2016	25	411
2015	26	428
2014	28	468
2013	30	525
2012	32	558
2011	33	564
2010	34	567
2009	35	540
2008	38	526
2007	38	519
2006	40	480
2005	42	454
2004	45	451
2003	47	455
2002	50	418
2001	52	467
2000	56	405
1999	58	399
1998	60	368
1997	63	357
1996	67	352
1995	71	332
1994	76	332
1993	80	331
1992	86	333
1991	92	332
1990	102	353
1989	104	382
1988	108	431
1987	114	480
1986	120	525
1985	125	573

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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	Zimbabwe
2023	0.62%	4.42%
2022	0.66%	4.6%
2021	0.7%	4.76%
2020	0.75%	5.01%
2019	0.8%	5.11%
2018	0.86%	5.23%
2017	0.92%	5.5%
2016	0.99%	5.69%
2015	1.07%	5.98%
2014	1.15%	6.18%
2013	1.25%	6.55%
2012	1.35%	7.14%
2011	1.46%	7.88%
2010	1.58%	8.5%
2009	1.71%	9.03%
2008	1.85%	9.34%
2007	2.01%	9.47%
2006	2.19%	9.4%
2005	2.4%	9.23%
2004	2.64%	9.17%
2003	2.89%	8.85%
2002	3.15%	8.48%
2001	3.42%	9.79%
2000	3.67%	9.83%
1999	3.91%	9.92%
1998	4.14%	10%
1997	4.36%	10.1%
1996	4.56%	10%
1995	4.75%	9.83%
1994	4.93%	9.52%
1993	5.08%	9.16%
1992	5.22%	8.73%
1991	5.31%	8.33%
1990	5.37%	7.97%
1989	5.39%	7.69%
1988	5.4%	7.55%
1987	5.4%	7.61%
1986	5.4%	7.86%
1985	5.43%	8.31%
1984	5.5%	8.87%
1983	5.61%	9.5%
1982	5.78%	10.1%
1981	6%	10.7%
1980	6.28%	11.1%
1979	6.62%	11.3%
1978	7.01%	11.5%
1977	7.47%	11.5%
1976	7.97%	11.5%
1975	8.5%	11.4%
1974	9.05%	11.4%
1973	9.61%	11.4%
1972	10.2%	11.5%
1971	10.7%	11.5%
1970	11.3%	11.7%
1969	11.9%	11.8%
1968	-	12.1%
1967	-	12.4%
1966	-	12.7%
1965	-	13.1%
1964	-	13.5%
1963	-	14%
1962	-	14.4%
1961	-	14.8%
1960	-	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.