Fertility & birth rates in Iraq and South Sudan

Fertility rate in Iraq vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Iraq

South Sudan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iraq	South Sudan
2023	3.25	3.86
2022	3.29	3.96
2021	3.36	4.05
2020	3.42	4.16
2019	3.48	4.26
2018	3.55	4.37
2017	3.64	4.48
2016	3.84	4.58
2015	4.08	4.7
2014	4.31	4.82
2013	4.44	4.94
2012	4.54	5.06
2011	4.59	5.19
2010	4.46	5.32
2009	4.38	5.45
2008	4.37	5.57
2007	4.4	5.7
2006	4.46	5.85
2005	4.45	6.02
2004	4.53	6.19
2003	4.58	6.35
2002	4.67	6.52
2001	4.8	6.65
2000	4.92	6.8
1999	5.04	6.94
1998	5.11	7.08
1997	5.19	7.2
1996	5.25	7.32
1995	5.36	7.34
1994	5.49	7.35
1993	5.61	7.36
1992	5.72	7.37
1991	5.83	7.38
1990	5.93	7.38
1989	5.99	7.37
1988	6.05	7.38
1987	6.11	7.39
1986	6.18	7.38
1985	6.25	7.36
1984	6.32	7.35
1983	6.39	7.34
1982	6.46	7.34
1981	6.53	7.33
1980	6.59	7.33
1979	6.66	7.32
1978	6.73	7.33
1977	6.8	7.33
1976	6.86	7.33
1975	6.91	7.33
1974	6.95	7.31
1973	6.99	7.31
1972	7.02	7.31
1971	7.06	7.3
1970	7.07	7.29
1969	7.08	7.28
1968	7.06	7.26
1967	7.03	7.26
1966	7.02	7.25
1965	7.02	7.22
1964	7.01	7.22
1963	7.01	7.2
1962	6.99	7.2
1961	5.8	7.18
1960	5.3	7.16

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iraq was 3.25 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Iraq vs South Sudan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iraq

South Sudan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iraq	South Sudan
2023	973,420	217,966
2022	962,501	211,166
2021	941,924	213,567
2020	919,953	212,332
2019	942,972	209,708
2018	938,310	168,497
2017	924,507	72,193
2016	946,968	110,553
2015	1,007,561	148,542
2014	1,040,726	227,611
2013	1,026,036	315,983
2012	999,987	312,974
2011	971,082	303,181
2010	906,369	287,409
2009	855,096	278,859
2008	802,382	268,268
2007	784,119	256,546
2006	797,342	246,706
2005	776,603	239,272
2004	761,563	231,877
2003	746,159	225,822
2002	739,419	212,014
2001	729,704	204,108
2000	715,771	196,055
1999	702,170	180,721
1998	684,152	-12,157
1997	667,582	121,454
1996	652,866	116,728
1995	642,977	110,417
1994	634,344	165,407
1993	606,700	32,779
1992	591,886	28,874
1991	550,146	87,873
1990	518,575	82,900
1989	496,852	83,735
1988	476,778	-125,447
1987	488,742	5,756
1986	474,348	99,502
1985	467,445	95,342
1984	455,740	90,970
1983	439,800	104,107
1982	428,336	118,641
1981	416,998	115,163
1980	419,653	112,307
1979	428,458	109,540
1978	418,756	107,352
1977	410,229	104,886
1976	402,260	102,346
1975	385,916	99,882
1974	376,197	97,181
1973	373,191	94,765
1972	362,334	74,803
1971	351,464	72,308
1970	338,030	44,776
1969	324,792	42,015
1968	310,644	44,213
1967	298,192	41,357
1966	285,507	38,523
1965	274,551	51,682
1964	262,825	64,786
1963	254,046	46,333
1962	247,520	47,406
1961	184,792	45,186
1960	155,651	42,945

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 +2.16% in Iraq and +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.37% in Iraq and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in Iraq vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

Iraq

South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iraq	South Sudan
2023	25.7	28.6
2022	26	29.1
2021	26.4	29.7
2020	26.8	29.4
2019	27.3	29.4
2018	27.7	29.1
2017	28.3	32.8
2016	29.8	35.1
2015	31.6	35.4
2014	33.3	38.2
2013	34.1	38.3
2012	34.8	39.1
2011	35.5	39.8
2010	34.6	39.9
2009	33.9	41
2008	33.6	41.6
2007	34.5	42.3
2006	35	43.2
2005	33.9	44.3
2004	34.3	45.5
2003	34.5	46.8
2002	34.8	48
2001	35.5	48.9
2000	36.1	49.8
1999	36.7	50.7
1998	37	51.2
1997	37.3	51.6
1996	37.5	52.6
1995	38	52.7
1994	38.6	52.7
1993	38.6	52.7
1992	39.5	52.5
1991	40	52.4
1990	40.6	52.3
1989	39.6	53.1
1988	39.4	51.9
1987	39	50.6
1986	39	50.6
1985	39.5	50.7
1984	39.6	50.8
1983	39.6	51.1
1982	39.9	51.4
1981	40.2	51.7
1980	40.5	52
1979	41	52.3
1978	41.4	52.7
1977	42.1	53
1976	42.8	53.4
1975	43.4	53.7
1974	44	53.9
1973	44.4	54.3
1972	44.9	54.5
1971	45.4	54.6
1970	45.6	54.5
1969	45.9	54.3
1968	46	54
1967	46.1	53.7
1966	46.4	53.5
1965	46.7	53.1
1964	47.1	53
1963	47.5	52.7
1962	47.9	52.5
1961	40	52.3
1960	36.7	52

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.7 in Iraq and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 36.7 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iraq

Factual

UN forecast

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iraq	South Sudan
2100	18.2%	20.1%
2099	18.3%	20.2%
2098	18.4%	20.3%
2097	18.5%	20.3%
2096	18.6%	20.4%
2095	18.8%	20.5%
2094	18.9%	20.6%
2093	19%	20.7%
2092	19.1%	20.9%
2091	19.2%	21%
2090	19.4%	21.1%
2089	19.5%	21.2%
2088	19.7%	21.3%
2087	19.8%	21.5%
2086	19.9%	21.6%
2085	20.1%	21.8%
2084	20.3%	21.9%
2083	20.4%	22.1%
2082	20.6%	22.3%
2081	20.8%	22.4%
2080	20.9%	22.6%
2079	21.1%	22.8%
2078	21.3%	23%
2077	21.5%	23.2%
2076	21.6%	23.3%
2075	21.8%	23.5%
2074	22%	23.7%
2073	22.2%	23.9%
2072	22.3%	24.1%
2071	22.5%	24.3%
2070	22.7%	24.5%
2069	22.8%	24.7%
2068	23%	25%
2067	23.2%	25.2%
2066	23.4%	25.4%
2065	23.6%	25.6%
2064	23.8%	25.8%
2063	24%	26%
2062	24.2%	26.3%
2061	24.4%	26.5%
2060	24.6%	26.7%
2059	24.9%	27%
2058	25.1%	27.2%
2057	25.4%	27.5%
2056	25.7%	27.8%
2055	26%	28.1%
2054	26.3%	28.5%
2053	26.6%	28.8%
2052	26.9%	29.2%
2051	27.2%	29.5%
2050	27.5%	29.9%
2049	27.8%	30.3%
2048	28.1%	30.8%
2047	28.4%	31.2%
2046	28.7%	31.6%
2045	29%	32%
2044	29.3%	32.4%
2043	29.5%	32.7%
2042	29.8%	33%
2041	30%	33.3%
2040	30.3%	33.6%
2039	30.5%	33.8%
2038	30.7%	33.9%
2037	31%	34.1%
2036	31.2%	34.2%
2035	31.5%	34.3%
2034	31.7%	34.4%
2033	32%	34.3%
2032	32.3%	34.4%
2031	32.7%	34.6%
2030	33.2%	34.8%
2029	33.7%	35.2%
2028	34.4%	35.8%
2027	35.1%	36.6%
2026	35.7%	37.5%
2025	36.3%	38.4%
2024	36.6%	38.9%
2023	37.1%	39.9%
2022	37.6%	40.9%
2021	38.1%	41.6%
2020	38.5%	42.4%
2019	38.9%	43.6%
2018	39.3%	44.9%
2017	39.7%	45%
2016	40.1%	43.7%
2015	40.4%	43.1%
2014	40.6%	42.5%
2013	40.8%	41.9%
2012	41%	41.9%
2011	41.1%	42.2%
2010	41.2%	42.8%
2009	41.5%	43.4%
2008	41.8%	43.8%
2007	42.1%	44.3%
2006	42.3%	44.8%
2005	42.6%	45.3%
2004	42.9%	45.8%
2003	43.1%	45.9%
2002	43.3%	45.7%
2001	43.5%	45.5%
2000	43.7%	45.5%
1999	43.8%	45.6%
1998	44%	45.8%
1997	44.1%	46%
1996	44.3%	46%
1995	44.4%	45.8%
1994	44.6%	45.8%
1993	44.7%	45.7%
1992	44.9%	45.6%
1991	45%	45.5%
1990	45.2%	45.4%
1989	45.4%	45.4%
1988	45.6%	46.2%
1987	45.8%	46.9%
1986	46%	46.7%
1985	46.2%	46.6%
1984	46.3%	46.5%
1983	46.5%	46.3%
1982	46.6%	46.2%
1981	46.7%	46%
1980	46.8%	45.8%
1979	47%	45.7%
1978	47.1%	45.5%
1977	47.3%	45.4%
1976	47.2%	45.3%
1975	46.7%	45.2%
1974	46.2%	45.1%
1973	45.5%	45%
1972	44.7%	44.8%
1971	44.1%	44.7%
1970	43.6%	44.5%
1969	43.3%	44.3%
1968	43%	44%
1967	42.8%	43.8%
1966	42.5%	43.5%
1965	42.1%	43.3%
1964	41.5%	43%
1963	41%	42.8%
1962	40.4%	42.6%
1961	39.9%	42.6%
1960	39.8%	42.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.6% of the population in Iraq and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 45.2% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iraq and South Sudan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iraq vs South Sudan

Chart Table

Iraq

South Sudan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iraq	South Sudan
2023	66	692
2022	59	704
2021	77	749
2020	63	729
2019	74	745
2018	76	913
2017	81	1,662
2016	87	1,629
2015	86	1,436
2014	90	1,216
2013	96	771
2012	100	755
2011	105	770
2010	107	776
2009	107	823
2008	109	858
2007	117	933
2006	120	1,005
2005	118	1,074
2004	122	1,150
2003	125	1,199
2002	128	1,521
2001	137	1,580
2000	146	1,658
1999	156	2,048
1998	163	7,514
1997	165	4,172
1996	158	4,357
1995	152	4,430
1994	142	1,666
1993	132	7,537
1992	126	7,597
1991	157	4,764
1990	195	4,877
1989	190	5,103
1988	174	5,535
1987	145	8,045
1986	147	3,720
1985	152	3,845

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 66 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iraq, compared to 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iraq

South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iraq	South Sudan
2023	2.26%	9.87%
2022	2.33%	9.87%
2021	2.41%	9.87%
2020	2.49%	9.87%
2019	2.57%	9.87%
2018	2.66%	13.2%
2017	2.75%	27.8%
2016	2.84%	26.4%
2015	2.94%	23.7%
2014	3.04%	18.2%
2013	3.14%	9.92%
2012	3.24%	10.1%
2011	3.35%	10.5%
2010	3.46%	10.9%
2009	3.56%	11.5%
2008	3.67%	12.1%
2007	3.78%	12.7%
2006	3.88%	13.4%
2005	3.97%	14.1%
2004	4.07%	14.8%
2003	4.16%	15.7%
2002	4.24%	16.5%
2001	4.33%	17.4%
2000	4.43%	18.3%
1999	4.52%	19.2%
1998	4.61%	42.6%
1997	4.71%	25.2%
1996	4.8%	26.1%
1995	4.89%	27%
1994	4.98%	23%
1993	5.07%	33.1%
1992	5.17%	33.8%
1991	6.49%	29.7%
1990	7.97%	30.3%
1989	8.12%	30.7%
1988	6.92%	76.7%
1987	5.75%	36%
1986	5.91%	26.7%
1985	6.09%	27.1%
1984	6.28%	27.5%
1983	6.49%	27.8%
1982	6.71%	28.2%
1981	6.96%	28.5%
1980	7.23%	28.9%
1979	7.52%	29.2%
1978	7.83%	29.5%
1977	8.17%	29.9%
1976	8.54%	30.2%
1975	8.93%	30.6%
1974	9.35%	30.9%
1973	9.79%	31.3%
1972	10.3%	31.6%
1971	10.7%	31.9%
1970	11.2%	32.3%
1969	11.8%	32.6%
1968	12.4%	32.9%
1967	13%	33.3%
1966	13.6%	33.6%
1965	14.4%	34%
1964	15.1%	34.3%
1963	16%	34.6%
1962	16.9%	34.9%
1961	17.9%	35.2%
1960	19%	35.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.26% in Iraq and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.