Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and North Korea

Fertility rate in Ireland vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Ireland

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ireland	North Korea
2023	1.5	1.78
2022	1.54	1.8
2021	1.78	1.81
2020	1.63	1.82
2019	1.71	1.83
2018	1.75	1.83
2017	1.77	1.85
2016	1.81	1.86
2015	1.85	1.86
2014	1.89	1.87
2013	1.93	1.88
2012	1.98	1.88
2011	2.03	1.88
2010	2.05	1.89
2009	2.06	1.91
2008	2.06	1.97
2007	2.01	1.94
2006	1.91	1.94
2005	1.86	1.87
2004	1.93	1.9
2003	1.96	1.91
2002	1.97	1.92
2001	1.94	1.94
2000	1.89	1.94
1999	1.9	1.97
1998	1.94	1.99
1997	1.93	2.03
1996	1.88	2.09
1995	1.84	2.15
1994	1.85	2.18
1993	1.9	2.22
1992	1.99	2.29
1991	2.08	2.35
1990	2.11	2.39
1989	2.08	2.41
1988	2.17	2.47
1987	2.32	2.53
1986	2.44	2.59
1985	2.48	2.65
1984	2.58	2.71
1983	2.74	2.78
1982	2.94	2.85
1981	3.05	2.92
1980	3.21	2.84
1979	3.21	2.85
1978	3.21	2.79
1977	3.24	2.77
1976	3.29	2.84
1975	3.37	3.05
1974	3.59	3.14
1973	3.71	3.35
1972	3.84	3.89
1971	3.93	3.74
1970	3.85	3.85
1969	3.83	3.86
1968	3.77	3.87
1967	3.84	4.05
1966	3.94	3.71
1965	4.04	3.56
1964	4.07	3.55
1963	4.01	3.63
1962	3.92	3.41
1961	3.78	3.26
1960	3.78	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 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 Ireland vs North Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ireland

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ireland	North Korea
2023	19,652	86,203
2022	19,287	96,495
2021	26,064	99,710
2020	23,687	95,920
2019	28,365	106,208
2018	29,878	113,164
2017	31,379	120,181
2016	33,339	125,048
2015	35,265	127,365
2014	37,728	127,078
2013	39,302	122,519
2012	42,775	118,773
2011	45,801	114,798
2010	47,426	112,443
2009	47,168	111,530
2008	46,691	122,015
2007	43,109	120,521
2006	36,752	129,171
2005	33,279	132,765
2004	33,376	155,838
2003	32,372	178,775
2002	31,062	119,504
2001	27,837	143,321
2000	23,592	161,591
1999	21,402	181,613
1998	22,277	197,589
1997	21,311	211,325
1996	18,915	226,095
1995	16,601	233,381
1994	17,234	320,861
1993	17,166	320,880
1992	20,283	324,002
1991	21,206	320,551
1990	21,787	312,460
1989	20,012	303,078
1988	22,912	299,305
1987	26,904	296,030
1986	27,963	293,227
1985	29,013	287,714
1984	31,791	282,987
1983	34,053	279,046
1982	38,344	276,332
1981	39,364	273,800
1980	40,612	255,206
1979	38,798	251,409
1978	36,288	243,533
1977	35,448	242,870
1976	33,676	255,841
1975	34,128	288,966
1974	34,199	306,902
1973	34,562	338,600
1972	34,316	411,997
1971	35,606	393,220
1970	30,756	406,129
1969	29,326	404,189
1968	27,697	399,837
1967	29,895	414,632
1966	26,866	363,882
1965	30,500	335,587
1964	31,532	323,623
1963	29,667	321,805
1962	28,077	286,534
1961	25,137	257,788
1960	28,286	277,717

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 +0.37% in Ireland and +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Ireland vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Ireland

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ireland	North Korea
2023	10.3	12.9
2022	10.4	13.1
2021	11.8	13.3
2020	11.1	13.4
2019	11.9	13.4
2018	12.5	13.4
2017	12.8	13.5
2016	13.4	13.5
2015	13.9	13.4
2014	14.4	13.4
2013	14.9	13.4
2012	15.6	13.3
2011	16.2	13.3
2010	16.5	13.3
2009	16.7	13.4
2008	16.7	13.9
2007	16.2	13.9
2006	15.3	14
2005	14.8	13.9
2004	15.2	14.6
2003	15.4	15.3
2002	15.4	16.1
2001	15	16.9
2000	14.4	17.5
1999	14.4	18.3
1998	14.5	18.9
1997	14.4	19.4
1996	13.9	20
1995	13.5	20.3
1994	13.4	20.4
1993	13.8	20.4
1992	14.4	20.5
1991	14.9	20.6
1990	15.1	20.5
1989	14.8	20.2
1988	15.5	20.2
1987	16.5	20.3
1986	17.4	20.4
1985	17.6	20.4
1984	18.1	20.4
1983	19.1	20.5
1982	20.3	20.6
1981	20.9	20.8
1980	21.7	20.1
1979	21.5	20.2
1978	21.1	20.1
1977	21	20.4
1976	20.9	21.5
1975	21.1	23.9
1974	22	25.6
1973	22.3	28.2
1972	22.6	33.7
1971	22.6	33.4
1970	21.8	35.3
1969	21.5	36.2
1968	20.9	37.1
1967	21.1	39.3
1966	21.5	36.6
1965	22.1	35.4
1964	22.4	35.4
1963	22.2	36.1
1962	21.8	34
1961	21.2	32.3
1960	21.5	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 21.5 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ireland

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ireland	North Korea
2100	12.7%	13%
2099	12.7%	13.1%
2098	12.8%	13.2%
2097	12.8%	13.3%
2096	12.9%	13.4%
2095	13%	13.4%
2094	13.1%	13.5%
2093	13.2%	13.6%
2092	13.3%	13.7%
2091	13.4%	13.8%
2090	13.4%	13.8%
2089	13.5%	13.8%
2088	13.6%	13.9%
2087	13.7%	13.9%
2086	13.7%	13.9%
2085	13.8%	13.8%
2084	13.8%	13.8%
2083	13.8%	13.8%
2082	13.8%	13.7%
2081	13.8%	13.7%
2080	13.7%	13.7%
2079	13.7%	13.6%
2078	13.6%	13.6%
2077	13.6%	13.6%
2076	13.5%	13.6%
2075	13.5%	13.7%
2074	13.4%	13.7%
2073	13.4%	13.8%
2072	13.4%	13.8%
2071	13.3%	14%
2070	13.3%	14.1%
2069	13.4%	14.2%
2068	13.4%	14.3%
2067	13.5%	14.5%
2066	13.5%	14.6%
2065	13.6%	14.8%
2064	13.8%	14.9%
2063	13.9%	15%
2062	14%	15.1%
2061	14.2%	15.2%
2060	14.4%	15.3%
2059	14.6%	15.4%
2058	14.7%	15.4%
2057	14.9%	15.4%
2056	15.1%	15.4%
2055	15.2%	15.4%
2054	15.3%	15.4%
2053	15.5%	15.3%
2052	15.6%	15.3%
2051	15.6%	15.2%
2050	15.7%	15.2%
2049	15.7%	15.2%
2048	15.7%	15.2%
2047	15.7%	15.2%
2046	15.6%	15.3%
2045	15.6%	15.3%
2044	15.5%	15.5%
2043	15.4%	15.6%
2042	15.3%	15.8%
2041	15.3%	16%
2040	15.2%	16.2%
2039	15.2%	16.5%
2038	15.1%	16.7%
2037	15.1%	17%
2036	15.3%	17.2%
2035	15.3%	17.5%
2034	15.5%	17.8%
2033	15.7%	18%
2032	15.9%	18.2%
2031	16.1%	18.4%
2030	16.4%	18.6%
2029	16.7%	18.7%
2028	17%	18.8%
2027	17.4%	18.9%
2026	17.9%	18.9%
2025	18.3%	18.9%
2024	18.6%	18.9%
2023	19%	19%
2022	19.5%	19%
2021	19.8%	19.1%
2020	20.1%	19.1%
2019	20.4%	19.1%
2018	20.7%	19.2%
2017	20.9%	19.4%
2016	21.2%	19.6%
2015	21.3%	19.8%
2014	21.4%	20.1%
2013	21.5%	20.4%
2012	21.5%	20.8%
2011	21.4%	21.2%
2010	21.1%	21.6%
2009	20.7%	22.1%
2008	20.5%	22.5%
2007	20.3%	23%
2006	20.4%	23.4%
2005	20.6%	23.9%
2004	20.8%	24.3%
2003	21%	24.6%
2002	21.1%	25%
2001	21.4%	25.3%
2000	21.8%	25.6%
1999	22.1%	25.8%
1998	22.5%	26%
1997	23%	26.2%
1996	23.6%	26.3%
1995	24.2%	26.4%
1994	24.9%	26.4%
1993	25.5%	26.4%
1992	26%	26.3%
1991	26.6%	26.4%
1990	27.1%	26.5%
1989	27.6%	26.8%
1988	28.1%	27.3%
1987	28.5%	28%
1986	28.9%	29%
1985	29.3%	29.9%
1984	29.6%	30.9%
1983	29.9%	32%
1982	30.1%	33.1%
1981	30.3%	34.2%
1980	30.4%	35.1%
1979	30.5%	36%
1978	30.7%	36.9%
1977	30.9%	37.7%
1976	31%	38.3%
1975	31.1%	38.8%
1974	31.2%	39.3%
1973	31.2%	39.8%
1972	31.2%	40.2%
1971	31.2%	40.3%
1970	31.1%	40.1%
1969	31.1%	39.8%
1968	31.1%	39.2%
1967	31.1%	38.3%
1966	31.1%	37.3%
1965	31.1%	36.7%
1964	30.9%	36.6%
1963	30.9%	36.5%
1962	30.9%	36.6%
1961	31%	37%
1960	30.9%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs North Korea

Chart Table

Ireland

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ireland	North Korea
2023	4	67
2022	7	67
2021	6	72
2020	6	66
2019	4	66
2018	5	69
2017	4	70
2016	4	71
2015	5	72
2014	5	73
2013	5	75
2012	6	76
2011	6	76
2010	6	77
2009	6	78
2008	6	79
2007	6	80
2006	6	80
2005	6	78
2004	6	77
2003	6	76
2002	7	131
2001	7	130
2000	8	129
1999	7	129
1998	8	129
1997	8	128
1996	8	128
1995	9	127
1994	9	57
1993	9	46
1992	10	37
1991	10	38
1990	11	43
1989	10	49
1988	11	55
1987	10	62
1986	11	68
1985	11	76

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ireland, compared to 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ireland

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ireland	North Korea
2023	0.38%	1.8%
2022	0.37%	1.77%
2021	0.36%	1.74%
2020	0.35%	1.74%
2019	0.34%	1.77%
2018	0.34%	1.84%
2017	0.35%	1.91%
2016	0.36%	2.06%
2015	0.37%	2.14%
2014	0.38%	2.26%
2013	0.39%	2.41%
2012	0.4%	2.57%
2011	0.41%	2.72%
2010	0.42%	2.87%
2009	0.43%	3%
2008	0.44%	3.1%
2007	0.46%	3.24%
2006	0.49%	3.28%
2005	0.52%	3.33%
2004	0.56%	3.38%
2003	0.6%	3.45%
2002	0.65%	9.78%
2001	0.69%	9.9%
2000	0.72%	10%
1999	0.73%	10.2%
1998	0.73%	10.3%
1997	0.73%	10.5%
1996	0.73%	10.6%
1995	0.73%	10.8%
1994	0.74%	4.25%
1993	0.77%	4.27%
1992	0.81%	4.25%
1991	0.87%	4.18%
1990	0.92%	4.07%
1989	0.96%	3.95%
1988	0.99%	3.83%
1987	1.02%	3.78%
1986	1.04%	3.68%
1985	1.07%	3.68%
1984	1.11%	3.71%
1983	1.17%	3.8%
1982	1.23%	3.91%
1981	1.32%	4.05%
1980	1.43%	4.22%
1979	1.56%	4.4%
1978	1.69%	4.59%
1977	1.81%	4.8%
1976	1.91%	5.03%
1975	2%	5.28%
1974	2.06%	5.56%
1973	2.11%	5.86%
1972	2.14%	6.2%
1971	2.17%	6.58%
1970	2.22%	6.99%
1969	2.3%	7.45%
1968	2.41%	7.94%
1967	2.55%	8.45%
1966	2.71%	8.96%
1965	2.87%	9.46%
1964	3.01%	9.92%
1963	3.13%	10.4%
1962	3.25%	10.8%
1961	3.38%	11.2%
1960	3.53%	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.