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Fertility & birth rates in Finland and North Korea

Updated on by Georank team

Finland has an annual birth rate of 7.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 12.9 for North Korea. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.26 in Finland and 1.78 in North Korea — 41.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 53.7% in Finland and by 50.1% in North Korea — in 1960, it was 2.72 and 3.57, respectively.

  • Finland is ranked 179/196 by birth rate compared to 109/196 for North Korea.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.7 in Finland — it's 28.8 in North Korea.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.1 in Finland vs 0.51 in North Korea.
  • In Finland, 20.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23.3% in North Korea.

Fertility rate in Finland vs North Korea by year

Finland
North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Finland North Korea
2023 1.26 1.78
2022 1.32 1.8
2021 1.46 1.81
2020 1.37 1.82
2019 1.35 1.83
2018 1.41 1.83
2017 1.49 1.85
2016 1.57 1.86
2015 1.65 1.86
2014 1.71 1.87
2013 1.75 1.88
2012 1.8 1.88
2011 1.83 1.88
2010 1.87 1.89
2009 1.86 1.91
2008 1.85 1.97
2007 1.83 1.94
2006 1.84 1.94
2005 1.8 1.87
2004 1.8 1.9
2003 1.76 1.91
2002 1.72 1.92
2001 1.73 1.94
2000 1.73 1.94
1999 1.73 1.97
1998 1.7 1.99
1997 1.75 2.03
1996 1.78 2.09
1995 1.81 2.15
1994 1.85 2.18
1993 1.81 2.22
1992 1.85 2.29
1991 1.79 2.35
1990 1.78 2.39
1989 1.71 2.41
1988 1.69 2.47
1987 1.59 2.53
1986 1.6 2.59
1985 1.64 2.65
1984 1.69 2.71
1983 1.74 2.78
1982 1.71 2.85
1981 1.64 2.92
1980 1.63 2.84
1979 1.64 2.85
1978 1.64 2.79
1977 1.68 2.77
1976 1.7 2.84
1975 1.68 3.05
1974 1.61 3.14
1973 1.49 3.35
1972 1.58 3.89
1971 1.68 3.74
1970 1.83 3.85
1969 1.93 3.86
1968 2.14 3.87
1967 2.32 4.05
1966 2.41 3.71
1965 2.48 3.56
1964 2.59 3.55
1963 2.68 3.63
1962 2.68 3.41
1961 2.72 3.26
1960 2.72 3.57

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Finland was 1.26 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in North Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Finland vs North Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Finland
North Korea
1x
Year Natural population change
Finland North Korea
2023 -17,869 86,203
2022 -18,335 96,495
2021 -7,757 99,710
2020 -8,847 95,920
2019 -8,282 106,208
2018 -7,170 113,164
2017 -3,856 120,181
2016 -1,099 125,048
2015 2,740 127,365
2014 4,915 127,078
2013 6,527 122,519
2012 7,579 118,773
2011 9,160 114,798
2010 10,191 112,443
2009 10,678 111,530
2008 10,627 122,015
2007 9,519 120,521
2006 11,059 129,171
2005 9,968 132,765
2004 9,933 155,838
2003 7,819 178,775
2002 6,241 119,504
2001 7,263 143,321
2000 7,765 161,591
1999 7,748 181,613
1998 7,730 197,589
1997 9,766 211,325
1996 11,274 226,095
1995 13,791 233,381
1994 17,300 320,861
1993 13,679 320,880
1992 16,639 324,002
1991 16,044 320,551
1990 15,458 312,460
1989 14,396 303,078
1988 14,344 299,305
1987 11,837 296,030
1986 13,279 293,227
1985 14,707 287,714
1984 20,015 282,987
1983 21,851 279,046
1982 22,686 276,332
1981 18,720 273,800
1980 18,640 255,206
1979 19,535 251,409
1978 20,436 243,533
1977 21,799 242,870
1976 21,738 255,841
1975 21,673 288,966
1974 17,824 306,902
1973 13,532 338,600
1972 14,847 411,997
1971 15,220 393,220
1970 20,268 406,129
1969 21,732 404,189
1968 28,684 399,837
1967 33,622 414,632
1966 34,356 363,882
1965 33,771 335,587
1964 38,208 323,623
1963 40,258 321,805
1962 38,627 286,534
1961 41,487 257,788
1960 42,082 277,717

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | 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 -0.32% in Finland and +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.12% in Finland and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Finland vs North Korea by year

Finland
North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Finland North Korea
2023 7.8 12.9
2022 8.1 13.1
2021 9 13.3
2020 8.4 13.4
2019 8.3 13.4
2018 8.6 13.4
2017 9.1 13.5
2016 9.6 13.5
2015 10.1 13.4
2014 10.5 13.4
2013 10.7 13.4
2012 11 13.3
2011 11.1 13.3
2010 11.4 13.3
2009 11.3 13.4
2008 11.2 13.9
2007 11.1 13.9
2006 11.2 14
2005 11 13.9
2004 11 14.6
2003 10.9 15.3
2002 10.7 16.1
2001 10.8 16.9
2000 11 17.5
1999 11.1 18.3
1998 11.1 18.9
1997 11.5 19.4
1996 11.8 20
1995 12.3 20.3
1994 12.8 20.4
1993 12.8 20.4
1992 13.2 20.5
1991 13 20.6
1990 13.1 20.5
1989 12.8 20.2
1988 12.8 20.2
1987 12.1 20.3
1986 12.3 20.4
1985 12.8 20.4
1984 13.3 20.4
1983 13.8 20.5
1982 13.7 20.6
1981 13.2 20.8
1980 13.2 20.1
1979 13.3 20.2
1978 13.5 20.1
1977 13.9 20.4
1976 14.1 21.5
1975 13.9 23.9
1974 13.3 25.6
1973 12.2 28.2
1972 12.7 33.7
1971 13.2 33.4
1970 14 35.3
1969 14.6 36.2
1968 15.9 37.1
1967 16.8 39.3
1966 17 36.6
1965 17.1 35.4
1964 17.7 35.4
1963 18.2 36.1
1962 18.1 34
1961 18.4 32.3
1960 18.5 34.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.8 in Finland and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 18.5 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Finland North Korea
Fertility rate 1.26 1.78
Fertility rate rank 177/196 112/196
Birth rate 7.8 12.9
Birth rate rank 179/196 109/196
Population change due to births and deaths -17,869 +86,203
Natural population change rank 175/196 83/196
Natural population change rate -0.32% +0.33%
Population growth +0.64% +0.31%
Population growth rank 122/197 150/197
Age at first childbirth 30 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 31.7 years 28.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 2.85 0.49
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 47.5 120.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 14.4 13.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.8% 23.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 81.6% 68.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.5% 99.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.008% 0.07%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.13% 0.96%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.18% 1.45%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.23% 1.8%
Life expectancy 82.4 years 74 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Finland
Factual

UN forecast
North Korea
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Finland North Korea
2100 12% 13%
2099 12% 13.1%
2098 12% 13.2%
2097 12% 13.3%
2096 12.1% 13.4%
2095 12.1% 13.4%
2094 12.1% 13.5%
2093 12.2% 13.6%
2092 12.2% 13.7%
2091 12.2% 13.8%
2090 12.3% 13.8%
2089 12.3% 13.8%
2088 12.3% 13.9%
2087 12.4% 13.9%
2086 12.4% 13.9%
2085 12.4% 13.8%
2084 12.4% 13.8%
2083 12.4% 13.8%
2082 12.4% 13.7%
2081 12.4% 13.7%
2080 12.3% 13.7%
2079 12.3% 13.6%
2078 12.3% 13.6%
2077 12.2% 13.6%
2076 12.2% 13.6%
2075 12.1% 13.7%
2074 12.1% 13.7%
2073 12% 13.8%
2072 12% 13.8%
2071 12% 14%
2070 11.9% 14.1%
2069 11.9% 14.2%
2068 11.9% 14.3%
2067 12% 14.5%
2066 12% 14.6%
2065 12% 14.8%
2064 12.1% 14.9%
2063 12.2% 15%
2062 12.2% 15.1%
2061 12.3% 15.2%
2060 12.4% 15.3%
2059 12.6% 15.4%
2058 12.7% 15.4%
2057 12.8% 15.4%
2056 12.9% 15.4%
2055 12.9% 15.4%
2054 13% 15.4%
2053 13.1% 15.3%
2052 13.1% 15.3%
2051 13.1% 15.2%
2050 13.1% 15.2%
2049 13.1% 15.2%
2048 13.1% 15.2%
2047 13% 15.2%
2046 12.9% 15.3%
2045 12.9% 15.3%
2044 12.8% 15.5%
2043 12.7% 15.6%
2042 12.6% 15.8%
2041 12.6% 16%
2040 12.5% 16.2%
2039 12.4% 16.5%
2038 12.4% 16.7%
2037 12.3% 17%
2036 12.4% 17.2%
2035 12.4% 17.5%
2034 12.5% 17.8%
2033 12.5% 18%
2032 12.6% 18.2%
2031 12.8% 18.4%
2030 13% 18.6%
2029 13.3% 18.7%
2028 13.6% 18.8%
2027 13.9% 18.9%
2026 14.2% 18.9%
2025 14.5% 18.9%
2024 14.6% 18.9%
2023 14.9% 19%
2022 15.2% 19%
2021 15.5% 19.1%
2020 15.7% 19.1%
2019 15.9% 19.1%
2018 16.1% 19.2%
2017 16.2% 19.4%
2016 16.3% 19.6%
2015 16.4% 19.8%
2014 16.4% 20.1%
2013 16.4% 20.4%
2012 16.4% 20.8%
2011 16.5% 21.2%
2010 16.6% 21.6%
2009 16.7% 22.1%
2008 16.8% 22.5%
2007 17% 23%
2006 17.2% 23.4%
2005 17.4% 23.9%
2004 17.5% 24.3%
2003 17.7% 24.6%
2002 17.9% 25%
2001 18% 25.3%
2000 18.2% 25.6%
1999 18.3% 25.8%
1998 18.6% 26%
1997 18.8% 26.2%
1996 18.9% 26.3%
1995 19% 26.4%
1994 19.1% 26.4%
1993 19.1% 26.4%
1992 19.2% 26.3%
1991 19.2% 26.4%
1990 19.3% 26.5%
1989 19.4% 26.8%
1988 19.3% 27.3%
1987 19.3% 28%
1986 19.3% 29%
1985 19.4% 29.9%
1984 19.5% 30.9%
1983 19.6% 32%
1982 19.8% 33.1%
1981 20% 34.2%
1980 20.3% 35.1%
1979 20.6% 36%
1978 21% 36.9%
1977 21.3% 37.7%
1976 21.7% 38.3%
1975 22% 38.8%
1974 22.4% 39.3%
1973 22.9% 39.8%
1972 23.4% 40.2%
1971 24% 40.3%
1970 24.6% 40.1%
1969 25.2% 39.8%
1968 25.7% 39.2%
1967 26.2% 38.3%
1966 26.6% 37.3%
1965 27.1% 36.7%
1964 27.7% 36.6%
1963 28.4% 36.5%
1962 29.1% 36.6%
1961 29.8% 37%
1960 30.4% 37.5%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.6% of the population in Finland and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 19.3% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Finland and North Korea compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Finland vs North Korea

Finland
North Korea
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Finland North Korea
2023 8 67
2022 8 67
2021 8 72
2020 9 66
2019 8 66
2018 8 69
2017 8 70
2016 7 71
2015 7 72
2014 7 73
2013 8 75
2012 8 76
2011 7 76
2010 8 77
2009 8 78
2008 7 79
2007 7 80
2006 7 80
2005 8 78
2004 7 77
2003 7 76
2002 7 131
2001 7 130
2000 7 129
1999 7 129
1998 7 129
1997 7 128
1996 7 128
1995 7 127
1994 7 57
1993 7 46
1992 8 37
1991 8 38
1990 8 43
1989 8 49
1988 8 55
1987 7 62
1986 8 68
1985 7 76

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 8 deaths per 100,000 live births in Finland, compared to 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Finland
North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Finland North Korea
2023 0.23% 1.8%
2022 0.23% 1.77%
2021 0.23% 1.74%
2020 0.23% 1.74%
2019 0.23% 1.77%
2018 0.24% 1.84%
2017 0.24% 1.91%
2016 0.24% 2.06%
2015 0.25% 2.14%
2014 0.26% 2.26%
2013 0.26% 2.41%
2012 0.28% 2.57%
2011 0.29% 2.72%
2010 0.3% 2.87%
2009 0.32% 3%
2008 0.33% 3.1%
2007 0.35% 3.24%
2006 0.36% 3.28%
2005 0.37% 3.33%
2004 0.39% 3.38%
2003 0.4% 3.45%
2002 0.41% 9.78%
2001 0.42% 9.9%
2000 0.43% 10%
1999 0.44% 10.2%
1998 0.46% 10.3%
1997 0.47% 10.5%
1996 0.49% 10.6%
1995 0.52% 10.8%
1994 0.55% 4.25%
1993 0.58% 4.27%
1992 0.61% 4.25%
1991 0.64% 4.18%
1990 0.67% 4.07%
1989 0.69% 3.95%
1988 0.71% 3.83%
1987 0.72% 3.78%
1986 0.73% 3.68%
1985 0.73% 3.68%
1984 0.75% 3.71%
1983 0.76% 3.8%
1982 0.79% 3.91%
1981 0.82% 4.05%
1980 0.87% 4.22%
1979 0.92% 4.4%
1978 0.99% 4.59%
1977 1.06% 4.8%
1976 1.14% 5.03%
1975 1.23% 5.28%
1974 1.31% 5.56%
1973 1.39% 5.86%
1972 1.46% 6.2%
1971 1.54% 6.58%
1970 1.61% 6.99%
1969 1.68% 7.45%
1968 1.76% 7.94%
1967 1.84% 8.45%
1966 1.92% 8.96%
1965 2.02% 9.46%
1964 2.13% 9.92%
1963 2.25% 10.4%
1962 2.38% 10.8%
1961 2.53% 11.2%
1960 2.68% 11.6%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/finland/north-korea | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.23% in Finland and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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