Fertility & birth rates in Iceland and South Korea

Fertility rate in Iceland vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iceland	South Korea
2023	1.59	0.72
2022	1.59	0.78
2021	1.82	0.81
2020	1.72	0.84
2019	1.74	0.92
2018	1.71	0.98
2017	1.71	1.05
2016	1.74	1.17
2015	1.8	1.24
2014	1.93	1.21
2013	1.93	1.19
2012	2.04	1.3
2011	2.02	1.24
2010	2.2	1.23
2009	2.23	1.15
2008	2.15	1.19
2007	2.09	1.26
2006	2.08	1.13
2005	2.05	1.09
2004	2.04	1.16
2003	1.99	1.19
2002	1.93	1.18
2001	1.95	1.31
2000	2.08	1.48
1999	1.99	1.43
1998	2.05	1.46
1997	2.04	1.54
1996	2.12	1.57
1995	2.08	1.63
1994	2.14	1.66
1993	2.22	1.65
1992	2.21	1.76
1991	2.18	1.71
1990	2.3	1.57
1989	2.19	1.56
1988	2.26	1.55
1987	2.06	1.53
1986	1.92	1.58
1985	1.93	1.66
1984	2.08	1.74
1983	2.24	2.06
1982	2.27	2.39
1981	2.33	2.57
1980	2.48	2.82
1979	2.49	2.9
1978	2.35	2.64
1977	2.31	2.99
1976	2.52	3
1975	2.65	3.43
1974	2.66	3.77
1973	2.94	4.07
1972	3.09	4.12
1971	2.92	4.54
1970	2.81	4.53
1969	2.99	4.45
1968	3.06	4.51
1967	3.28	4.62
1966	3.59	4.78
1965	3.73	4.89
1964	3.88	5.07
1963	3.99	5.33
1962	3.98	5.56
1961	3.88	5.8
1960	4.29	5.99

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Iceland vs South Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iceland	South Korea
2023	1,697	-77,569
2022	1,719	-124,014
2021	2,534	-56,947
2020	2,199	-31,101
2019	2,163	10,353
2018	1,975	30,951
2017	1,854	71,907
2016	1,711	122,923
2015	1,952	163,248
2014	2,324	167,464
2013	2,169	166,415
2012	2,566	215,859
2011	2,521	214,728
2010	2,862	213,083
2009	3,026	197,231
2008	2,825	215,841
2007	2,617	248,286
2006	2,491	203,441
2005	2,433	187,920
2004	2,425	225,988
2003	2,317	244,251
2002	2,243	247,752
2001	2,365	312,643
2000	2,475	390,167
1999	2,192	368,272
1998	2,357	393,436
1997	2,305	422,773
1996	2,447	446,142
1995	2,354	468,967
1994	2,713	473,200
1993	2,875	477,302
1992	2,898	494,352
1991	2,733	467,594
1990	3,058	411,546
1989	2,832	403,266
1988	2,847	399,297
1987	2,360	378,758
1986	2,384	395,651
1985	2,221	416,219
1984	2,539	436,384
1983	2,702	514,844
1982	2,736	605,626
1981	2,677	631,189
1980	2,966	583,294
1979	2,980	623,068
1978	2,727	499,084
1977	2,551	578,947
1976	2,951	530,558
1975	2,965	603,300
1974	2,776	673,030
1973	3,121	699,115
1972	3,241	740,469
1971	2,782	789,185
1970	2,576	747,987
1969	2,766	694,227
1968	2,841	684,487
1967	3,021	692,169
1966	3,305	623,534
1965	3,442	641,090
1964	3,459	655,501
1963	3,490	685,824
1962	3,465	712,590
1961	3,312	730,173
1960	3,758	728,010

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 +0.44% in Iceland and -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.57% in Iceland and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Iceland vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iceland	South Korea
2023	11	4.5
2022	11.5	4.9
2021	13.1	5.1
2020	12.3	5.3
2019	12.3	5.9
2018	12	6.4
2017	11.9	7
2016	12	7.9
2015	12.5	8.6
2014	13.4	8.6
2013	13.4	8.6
2012	14.1	9.6
2011	14.1	9.4
2010	15.4	9.4
2009	15.8	9
2008	15.2	9.4
2007	14.6	10.1
2006	14.5	9.2
2005	14.4	9
2004	14.5	9.8
2003	14.3	10.2
2002	14.1	10.3
2001	14.4	11.7
2000	15.3	13.5
1999	14.8	13.2
1998	15.2	13.7
1997	15.3	14.5
1996	16.1	15
1995	16	15.7
1994	16.7	16
1993	17.5	16
1992	17.7	16.7
1991	17.6	16.4
1990	18.7	15.2
1989	18	15.1
1988	18.7	15.1
1987	16.6	15
1986	16.4	15.4
1985	16	16.1
1984	17.2	16.7
1983	18.4	19.3
1982	18.5	21.6
1981	18.8	22.4
1980	19.8	22.6
1979	19.8	23
1978	18.6	20.3
1977	18	22.7
1976	19.5	22.2
1975	20.1	24.8
1974	19.9	26.6
1973	21.7	28.3
1972	22.4	28.4
1971	20.8	31.2
1970	19.7	31.2
1969	20.7	30.3
1968	21	30.7
1967	22.2	31.5
1966	24	32.8
1965	24.6	33.8
1964	25.3	35.2
1963	26	37.2
1962	25.8	39
1961	25.5	40.9
1960	28	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11 in Iceland and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 28 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iceland

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iceland	South Korea
2100	11.8%	8.61%
2099	11.8%	8.6%
2098	11.8%	8.59%
2097	11.8%	8.59%
2096	11.9%	8.59%
2095	11.9%	8.6%
2094	11.9%	8.61%
2093	11.9%	8.62%
2092	11.9%	8.62%
2091	11.9%	8.62%
2090	11.9%	8.62%
2089	11.9%	8.6%
2088	11.9%	8.58%
2087	11.9%	8.55%
2086	11.9%	8.5%
2085	11.9%	8.45%
2084	11.9%	8.39%
2083	11.9%	8.33%
2082	11.9%	8.26%
2081	11.9%	8.18%
2080	11.9%	8.09%
2079	12%	8%
2078	12%	7.91%
2077	12%	7.82%
2076	12%	7.72%
2075	12.1%	7.63%
2074	12.1%	7.53%
2073	12.1%	7.44%
2072	12.2%	7.35%
2071	12.2%	7.28%
2070	12.3%	7.21%
2069	12.4%	7.16%
2068	12.4%	7.13%
2067	12.5%	7.11%
2066	12.6%	7.11%
2065	12.6%	7.14%
2064	12.7%	7.18%
2063	12.8%	7.23%
2062	12.8%	7.3%
2061	12.9%	7.37%
2060	13%	7.45%
2059	13%	7.52%
2058	13.1%	7.6%
2057	13.2%	7.66%
2056	13.2%	7.72%
2055	13.3%	7.76%
2054	13.4%	7.79%
2053	13.4%	7.81%
2052	13.5%	7.83%
2051	13.6%	7.83%
2050	13.7%	7.83%
2049	13.8%	7.82%
2048	13.8%	7.81%
2047	14%	7.8%
2046	14.1%	7.79%
2045	14.2%	7.78%
2044	14.3%	7.78%
2043	14.4%	7.77%
2042	14.6%	7.76%
2041	14.8%	7.74%
2040	14.9%	7.72%
2039	15.1%	7.7%
2038	15.3%	7.66%
2037	15.5%	7.65%
2036	15.8%	7.65%
2035	16%	7.66%
2034	16.2%	7.73%
2033	16.4%	7.85%
2032	16.5%	8.02%
2031	16.6%	8.28%
2030	16.7%	8.59%
2029	16.9%	8.9%
2028	17%	9.23%
2027	17.2%	9.62%
2026	17.4%	10%
2025	17.6%	10.4%
2024	17.8%	10.6%
2023	18.1%	11%
2022	18.4%	11.4%
2021	18.6%	11.8%
2020	18.7%	12.1%
2019	18.9%	12.4%
2018	19.2%	12.7%
2017	19.6%	13%
2016	19.9%	13.4%
2015	20.2%	13.8%
2014	20.4%	14.2%
2013	20.6%	14.7%
2012	20.7%	15.2%
2011	20.8%	15.8%
2010	20.9%	16.4%
2009	20.9%	16.9%
2008	20.9%	17.5%
2007	21.1%	18.1%
2006	21.5%	18.7%
2005	22.1%	19.2%
2004	22.5%	19.7%
2003	22.8%	20.1%
2002	23%	20.5%
2001	23.2%	20.8%
2000	23.3%	21%
1999	23.4%	21.2%
1998	23.6%	21.6%
1997	23.9%	22%
1996	24.1%	22.5%
1995	24.4%	23.1%
1994	24.7%	23.7%
1993	24.8%	24.2%
1992	24.8%	24.7%
1991	24.8%	25.2%
1990	25%	25.8%
1989	25%	26.5%
1988	25.2%	27.3%
1987	25.6%	28.2%
1986	25.9%	29.2%
1985	26.2%	30.2%
1984	26.5%	31.2%
1983	26.7%	32%
1982	26.9%	32.7%
1981	27.2%	33.3%
1980	27.5%	34%
1979	27.9%	34.8%
1978	28.4%	35.6%
1977	29%	36.5%
1976	29.5%	37.5%
1975	30.1%	38.5%
1974	30.7%	39.5%
1973	31.2%	40.3%
1972	31.6%	41%
1971	32.1%	41.5%
1970	32.6%	42.1%
1969	33.2%	42.7%
1968	33.6%	43.1%
1967	34%	43.3%
1966	34.3%	43.5%
1965	34.5%	43.3%
1964	34.7%	43.1%
1963	34.9%	42.7%
1962	34.9%	42.3%
1961	35%	41.8%
1960	34.9%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.8% of the population in Iceland and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 25% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iceland and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iceland vs South Korea

Chart Table

Iceland

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iceland	South Korea
2023	3	4
2022	5	7
2021	5	5
2020	12	12
2019	4	5
2018	4	5
2017	3	6
2016	3	6
2015	4	6
2014	4	7
2013	4	7
2012	4	8
2011	4	8
2010	5	8
2009	5	9
2008	4	9
2007	5	10
2006	5	10
2005	5	11
2004	6	12
2003	6	13
2002	7	13
2001	6	14
2000	7	15
1999	7	17
1998	8	18
1997	8	19
1996	7	20
1995	13	22
1994	9	23
1993	10	24
1992	12	26
1991	11	28
1990	13	28
1989	14	29
1988	11	31
1987	13	34
1986	15	35
1985	11	38

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iceland, compared to 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iceland

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iceland	South Korea
2023	0.26%	0.28%
2022	0.26%	0.28%
2021	0.27%	0.29%
2020	0.27%	0.3%
2019	0.27%	0.31%
2018	0.27%	0.32%
2017	0.26%	0.33%
2016	0.26%	0.34%
2015	0.26%	0.35%
2014	0.26%	0.36%
2013	0.26%	0.37%
2012	0.26%	0.38%
2011	0.27%	0.4%
2010	0.27%	0.41%
2009	0.27%	0.43%
2008	0.28%	0.45%
2007	0.29%	0.48%
2006	0.3%	0.52%
2005	0.31%	0.56%
2004	0.33%	0.6%
2003	0.34%	0.64%
2002	0.36%	0.68%
2001	0.38%	0.71%
2000	0.4%	0.75%
1999	0.42%	0.8%
1998	0.45%	0.85%
1997	0.47%	0.91%
1996	0.49%	0.98%
1995	0.52%	1.05%
1994	0.54%	1.14%
1993	0.56%	1.23%
1992	0.58%	1.33%
1991	0.61%	1.44%
1990	0.63%	1.57%
1989	0.65%	1.71%
1988	0.67%	1.87%
1987	0.7%	2.05%
1986	0.73%	2.25%
1985	0.75%	2.46%
1984	0.79%	2.7%
1983	0.83%	2.93%
1982	0.87%	3.17%
1981	0.92%	3.4%
1980	0.97%	3.63%
1979	1.03%	3.84%
1978	1.09%	4.04%
1977	1.15%	4.23%
1976	1.22%	4.42%
1975	1.29%	4.61%
1974	1.35%	4.82%
1973	1.41%	5.07%
1972	1.48%	5.36%
1971	1.54%	5.71%
1970	1.6%	6.12%
1969	1.66%	6.59%
1968	1.72%	7.1%
1967	1.79%	7.62%
1966	1.85%	8.16%
1965	1.92%	8.68%
1964	1.97%	9.18%
1963	2.02%	9.67%
1962	2.07%	10.1%
1961	2.11%	10.6%
1960	2.14%	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.26% in Iceland and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.