Fertility & birth rates in Iraq and Syria

Fertility rate in Iraq vs Syria by year

Chart Table

Iraq

Syria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iraq	Syria
2023	3.25	2.71
2022	3.29	2.75
2021	3.36	2.8
2020	3.42	2.84
2019	3.48	2.88
2018	3.55	2.93
2017	3.64	2.97
2016	3.84	3.01
2015	4.08	3.07
2014	4.31	3.12
2013	4.44	3.17
2012	4.54	3.22
2011	4.59	3.29
2010	4.46	3.36
2009	4.38	3.42
2008	4.37	3.48
2007	4.4	3.54
2006	4.46	3.56
2005	4.45	3.61
2004	4.53	3.68
2003	4.58	3.76
2002	4.67	3.87
2001	4.8	3.98
2000	4.92	4.07
1999	5.04	4.14
1998	5.11	4.25
1997	5.19	4.37
1996	5.25	4.54
1995	5.36	4.7
1994	5.49	4.86
1993	5.61	4.99
1992	5.72	5.14
1991	5.83	5.34
1990	5.93	5.56
1989	5.99	5.78
1988	6.05	6
1987	6.11	6.2
1986	6.18	6.37
1985	6.25	6.48
1984	6.32	6.59
1983	6.39	6.69
1982	6.46	6.81
1981	6.53	6.97
1980	6.59	7.12
1979	6.66	7.25
1978	6.73	7.35
1977	6.8	7.42
1976	6.86	7.45
1975	6.91	7.49
1974	6.95	7.52
1973	6.99	7.55
1972	7.02	7.57
1971	7.06	7.6
1970	7.07	7.62
1969	7.08	7.59
1968	7.06	7.57
1967	7.03	7.56
1966	7.02	7.55
1965	7.02	7.53
1964	7.01	7.53
1963	7.01	7.51
1962	6.99	7.51
1961	5.8	7.5
1960	5.3	7.51

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iraq was 3.25 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iraq

Syria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iraq	Syria
2023	973,420	402,713
2022	962,501	369,750
2021	941,924	350,560
2020	919,953	327,992
2019	942,972	293,762
2018	938,310	242,530
2017	924,507	237,214
2016	946,968	236,007
2015	1,007,561	253,977
2014	1,040,726	333,116
2013	1,026,036	419,341
2012	999,987	475,520
2011	971,082	543,950
2010	906,369	558,666
2009	855,096	559,314
2008	802,382	576,593
2007	784,119	529,162
2006	797,342	480,616
2005	776,603	468,960
2004	761,563	461,209
2003	746,159	457,000
2002	739,419	453,967
2001	729,704	451,503
2000	715,771	446,211
1999	702,170	439,261
1998	684,152	433,447
1997	667,582	429,887
1996	652,866	430,765
1995	642,977	430,172
1994	634,344	426,996
1993	606,700	420,244
1992	591,886	412,878
1991	550,146	410,830
1990	518,575	409,177
1989	496,852	406,111
1988	476,778	404,285
1987	488,742	399,159
1986	474,348	390,821
1985	467,445	379,231
1984	455,740	366,768
1983	439,800	355,375
1982	428,336	319,664
1981	416,998	330,237
1980	419,653	332,464
1979	428,458	324,943
1978	418,756	316,724
1977	410,229	306,630
1976	402,260	294,267
1975	385,916	282,299
1974	376,197	270,735
1973	373,191	254,687
1972	362,334	249,027
1971	351,464	239,610
1970	338,030	230,117
1969	324,792	219,114
1968	310,644	209,454
1967	298,192	199,223
1966	285,507	191,122
1965	274,551	182,560
1964	262,825	174,549
1963	254,046	166,555
1962	247,520	159,155
1961	184,792	151,485
1960	155,651	143,687

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 +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.37% in Iraq and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in Iraq vs Syria by year

Chart Table

Iraq

Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iraq	Syria
2023	25.7	22.1
2022	26	21.2
2021	26.4	21.2
2020	26.8	20.6
2019	27.3	19.7
2018	27.7	18.9
2017	28.3	19.6
2016	29.8	19.6
2015	31.6	21.3
2014	33.3	23.8
2013	34.1	26.9
2012	34.8	27.7
2011	35.5	28.1
2010	34.6	28.7
2009	33.9	29.2
2008	33.6	30.5
2007	34.5	29.1
2006	35	28.3
2005	33.9	28.8
2004	34.3	29.1
2003	34.5	29.6
2002	34.8	30.1
2001	35.5	30.7
2000	36.1	31.2
1999	36.7	31.5
1998	37	32
1997	37.3	32.5
1996	37.5	33.3
1995	38	34
1994	38.6	34.6
1993	38.6	35
1992	39.5	35.4
1991	40	36.3
1990	40.6	37.3
1989	39.6	38.3
1988	39.4	39.4
1987	39	40.3
1986	39	41
1985	39.5	41.3
1984	39.6	41.5
1983	39.6	41.9
1982	39.9	42.2
1981	40.2	43
1980	40.5	43.7
1979	41	44.4
1978	41.4	44.9
1977	42.1	45.3
1976	42.8	45.4
1975	43.4	45.5
1974	44	45.6
1973	44.4	45.7
1972	44.9	45.9
1971	45.4	46.2
1970	45.6	46.5
1969	45.9	46.4
1968	46	46.5
1967	46.1	46.5
1966	46.4	46.7
1965	46.7	46.7
1964	47.1	46.9
1963	47.5	47
1962	47.9	47.2
1961	40	47.3
1960	36.7	47.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 25.7 in Iraq and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 36.7 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iraq

Factual

UN forecast

Syria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iraq	Syria
2100	18.2%	15.9%
2099	18.3%	16%
2098	18.4%	16%
2097	18.5%	16.1%
2096	18.6%	16.1%
2095	18.8%	16.1%
2094	18.9%	16.2%
2093	19%	16.2%
2092	19.1%	16.2%
2091	19.2%	16.2%
2090	19.4%	16.2%
2089	19.5%	16.2%
2088	19.7%	16.2%
2087	19.8%	16.3%
2086	19.9%	16.4%
2085	20.1%	16.4%
2084	20.3%	16.5%
2083	20.4%	16.7%
2082	20.6%	16.8%
2081	20.8%	17%
2080	20.9%	17.2%
2079	21.1%	17.4%
2078	21.3%	17.6%
2077	21.5%	17.8%
2076	21.6%	18.1%
2075	21.8%	18.3%
2074	22%	18.6%
2073	22.2%	18.8%
2072	22.3%	19.1%
2071	22.5%	19.3%
2070	22.7%	19.5%
2069	22.8%	19.6%
2068	23%	19.8%
2067	23.2%	19.9%
2066	23.4%	20%
2065	23.6%	20.1%
2064	23.8%	20.1%
2063	24%	20.1%
2062	24.2%	20.2%
2061	24.4%	20.2%
2060	24.6%	20.2%
2059	24.9%	20.2%
2058	25.1%	20.3%
2057	25.4%	20.4%
2056	25.7%	20.5%
2055	26%	20.7%
2054	26.3%	21%
2053	26.6%	21.3%
2052	26.9%	21.6%
2051	27.2%	22%
2050	27.5%	22.5%
2049	27.8%	23%
2048	28.1%	23.6%
2047	28.4%	24.2%
2046	28.7%	24.8%
2045	29%	25.5%
2044	29.3%	26.1%
2043	29.5%	26.7%
2042	29.8%	27.2%
2041	30%	27.8%
2040	30.3%	28.2%
2039	30.5%	28.6%
2038	30.7%	28.9%
2037	31%	29%
2036	31.2%	29%
2035	31.5%	28.9%
2034	31.7%	28.7%
2033	32%	28.5%
2032	32.3%	28.1%
2031	32.7%	27.7%
2030	33.2%	27.4%
2029	33.7%	27.3%
2028	34.4%	27.4%
2027	35.1%	27.7%
2026	35.7%	28.1%
2025	36.3%	28.8%
2024	36.6%	29.2%
2023	37.1%	30.3%
2022	37.6%	31.9%
2021	38.1%	33.4%
2020	38.5%	34.6%
2019	38.9%	36.1%
2018	39.3%	37.9%
2017	39.7%	39.3%
2016	40.1%	40.2%
2015	40.4%	40.6%
2014	40.6%	39.8%
2013	40.8%	38%
2012	41%	36.5%
2011	41.1%	36.1%
2010	41.2%	36.1%
2009	41.5%	36.3%
2008	41.8%	36.3%
2007	42.1%	36.7%
2006	42.3%	38.1%
2005	42.6%	39.1%
2004	42.9%	39.6%
2003	43.1%	40.2%
2002	43.3%	40.8%
2001	43.5%	41.3%
2000	43.7%	41.9%
1999	43.8%	42.4%
1998	44%	42.9%
1997	44.1%	43.3%
1996	44.3%	43.8%
1995	44.4%	44.2%
1994	44.6%	44.7%
1993	44.7%	45.2%
1992	44.9%	45.7%
1991	45%	46.1%
1990	45.2%	46.6%
1989	45.4%	46.9%
1988	45.6%	47.2%
1987	45.8%	47.5%
1986	46%	47.7%
1985	46.2%	48%
1984	46.3%	48.2%
1983	46.5%	48.4%
1982	46.6%	48.5%
1981	46.7%	48.7%
1980	46.8%	48.7%
1979	47%	48.7%
1978	47.1%	48.7%
1977	47.3%	48.7%
1976	47.2%	48.6%
1975	46.7%	48.6%
1974	46.2%	48.5%
1973	45.5%	48.5%
1972	44.7%	48.4%
1971	44.1%	48.3%
1970	43.6%	48.2%
1969	43.3%	48%
1968	43%	47.8%
1967	42.8%	47.5%
1966	42.5%	47.3%
1965	42.1%	46.9%
1964	41.5%	46.6%
1963	41%	46.3%
1962	40.4%	46.1%
1961	39.9%	45.7%
1960	39.8%	45.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 36.6% of the population in Iraq and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 45.2% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iraq and Syria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iraq vs Syria

Chart Table

Iraq

Syria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iraq	Syria
2023	66	20
2022	59	21
2021	77	30
2020	63	23
2019	74	24
2018	76	21
2017	81	23
2016	87	23
2015	86	24
2014	90	25
2013	96	25
2012	100	22
2011	105	21
2010	107	19
2009	107	19
2008	109	20
2007	117	19
2006	120	20
2005	118	21
2004	122	22
2003	125	24
2002	128	26
2001	137	29
2000	146	31
1999	156	32
1998	163	34
1997	165	34
1996	158	34
1995	152	33
1994	142	32
1993	132	32
1992	126	33
1991	157	35
1990	195	37
1989	190	41
1988	174	44
1987	145	48
1986	147	52
1985	152	55

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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iraq

Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iraq	Syria
2023	2.26%	2.06%
2022	2.33%	2.11%
2021	2.41%	2.1%
2020	2.49%	2.24%
2019	2.57%	2.5%
2018	2.66%	3.26%
2017	2.75%	3.3%
2016	2.84%	3.22%
2015	2.94%	3.7%
2014	3.04%	3.53%
2013	3.14%	3.65%
2012	3.24%	3.39%
2011	3.35%	2.17%
2010	3.46%	1.9%
2009	3.56%	1.9%
2008	3.67%	1.9%
2007	3.78%	1.92%
2006	3.88%	1.95%
2005	3.97%	1.98%
2004	4.07%	2.03%
2003	4.16%	2.09%
2002	4.24%	2.15%
2001	4.33%	2.23%
2000	4.43%	2.32%
1999	4.52%	2.42%
1998	4.61%	2.53%
1997	4.71%	2.66%
1996	4.8%	2.8%
1995	4.89%	2.94%
1994	4.98%	3.09%
1993	5.07%	3.24%
1992	5.17%	3.4%
1991	6.49%	3.55%
1990	7.97%	3.7%
1989	8.12%	3.85%
1988	6.92%	4.02%
1987	5.75%	4.19%
1986	5.91%	4.39%
1985	6.09%	4.6%
1984	6.28%	4.84%
1983	6.49%	5.1%
1982	6.71%	7.06%
1981	6.96%	6.33%
1980	7.23%	6.03%
1979	7.52%	6.4%
1978	7.83%	6.79%
1977	8.17%	7.19%
1976	8.54%	7.61%
1975	8.93%	8.03%
1974	9.35%	8.47%
1973	9.79%	8.92%
1972	10.3%	9.4%
1971	10.7%	9.91%
1970	11.2%	10.5%
1969	11.8%	11.1%
1968	12.4%	11.7%
1967	13%	12.3%
1966	13.6%	12.9%
1965	14.4%	13.5%
1964	15.1%	14.1%
1963	16%	14.7%
1962	16.9%	15.3%
1961	17.9%	16.1%
1960	19%	16.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.26% in Iraq and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.