Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and North Korea

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	North Korea
2023	2.69	1.78
2022	2.72	1.8
2021	2.77	1.81
2020	2.85	1.82
2019	2.92	1.83
2018	3.02	1.83
2017	3.11	1.85
2016	3.18	1.86
2015	3.22	1.86
2014	3.24	1.87
2013	3.28	1.88
2012	3.3	1.88
2011	3.34	1.88
2010	3.25	1.89
2009	3.31	1.91
2008	3.39	1.97
2007	3.44	1.94
2006	3.41	1.94
2005	3.43	1.87
2004	3.51	1.9
2003	3.62	1.91
2002	3.68	1.92
2001	3.63	1.94
2000	3.61	1.94
1999	3.67	1.97
1998	3.82	1.99
1997	3.98	2.03
1996	4.06	2.09
1995	4.13	2.15
1994	4.21	2.18
1993	4.37	2.22
1992	4.54	2.29
1991	4.68	2.35
1990	4.81	2.39
1989	4.96	2.41
1988	5.1	2.47
1987	5.22	2.53
1986	5.32	2.59
1985	5.4	2.65
1984	5.48	2.71
1983	5.56	2.78
1982	5.63	2.85
1981	5.69	2.92
1980	5.75	2.84
1979	5.79	2.85
1978	5.82	2.79
1977	5.85	2.77
1976	5.87	2.84
1975	5.83	3.05
1974	5.75	3.14
1973	5.69	3.35
1972	5.69	3.89
1971	5.7	3.74
1970	5.7	3.85
1969	5.7	3.86
1968	5.73	3.87
1967	5.75	4.05
1966	5.76	3.71
1965	5.77	3.56
1964	5.77	3.55
1963	5.78	3.63
1962	5.79	3.41
1961	5.79	3.26
1960	5.78	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 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 Lesotho vs North Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	North Korea
2023	31,115	86,203
2022	30,803	96,495
2021	27,806	99,710
2020	30,721	95,920
2019	32,279	106,208
2018	33,112	113,164
2017	33,601	120,181
2016	33,390	125,048
2015	32,087	127,365
2014	30,922	127,078
2013	29,789	122,519
2012	27,592	118,773
2011	25,647	114,798
2010	21,877	112,443
2009	20,335	111,530
2008	19,349	122,015
2007	17,763	120,521
2006	15,234	129,171
2005	15,831	132,765
2004	17,271	155,838
2003	20,133	178,775
2002	22,274	119,504
2001	23,190	143,321
2000	24,786	161,591
1999	27,393	181,613
1998	30,889	197,589
1997	34,637	211,325
1996	36,228	226,095
1995	37,370	233,381
1994	38,629	320,861
1993	40,505	320,880
1992	42,579	324,002
1991	44,026	320,551
1990	45,060	312,460
1989	46,264	303,078
1988	47,158	299,305
1987	47,718	296,030
1986	45,232	293,227
1985	44,575	287,714
1984	43,785	282,987
1983	42,899	279,046
1982	41,941	276,332
1981	40,808	273,800
1980	39,617	255,206
1979	38,440	251,409
1978	37,084	243,533
1977	35,654	242,870
1976	34,117	255,841
1975	32,311	288,966
1974	30,444	306,902
1973	28,859	338,600
1972	27,841	411,997
1971	26,838	393,220
1970	25,935	406,129
1969	25,137	404,189
1968	24,490	399,837
1967	23,911	414,632
1966	23,326	363,882
1965	22,755	335,587
1964	22,116	323,623
1963	21,585	321,805
1962	21,132	286,534
1961	20,581	257,788
1960	19,981	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 +1.35% in Lesotho and +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	North Korea
2023	24.1	12.9
2022	24.4	13.1
2021	24.9	13.3
2020	25.6	13.4
2019	26.4	13.4
2018	27.4	13.4
2017	28.2	13.5
2016	28.9	13.5
2015	29.2	13.4
2014	29.5	13.4
2013	30	13.4
2012	30	13.3
2011	30.2	13.3
2010	29.2	13.3
2009	29.4	13.4
2008	29.6	13.9
2007	29.5	13.9
2006	28.6	14
2005	28.6	13.9
2004	28.7	14.6
2003	29.3	15.3
2002	29.4	16.1
2001	28.7	16.9
2000	28.2	17.5
1999	28.5	18.3
1998	29.2	18.9
1997	30.2	19.4
1996	30.4	20
1995	30.6	20.3
1994	31	20.4
1993	32	20.4
1992	33.2	20.5
1991	34.2	20.6
1990	35.1	20.5
1989	36.3	20.2
1988	37.4	20.2
1987	38.3	20.3
1986	37.5	20.4
1985	37.9	20.4
1984	38.4	20.4
1983	38.9	20.5
1982	39.5	20.6
1981	39.9	20.8
1980	40.4	20.1
1979	40.8	20.2
1978	41	20.1
1977	41.1	20.4
1976	41	21.5
1975	40.6	23.9
1974	40.2	25.6
1973	39.9	28.2
1972	40.2	33.7
1971	40.5	33.4
1970	40.8	35.3
1969	41.3	36.2
1968	41.9	37.1
1967	42.5	39.3
1966	43	36.6
1965	43.3	35.4
1964	43.5	35.4
1963	43.7	36.1
1962	44.1	34
1961	44.3	32.3
1960	44.6	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 44.6 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	North Korea
2100	18%	13%
2099	18.1%	13.1%
2098	18.2%	13.2%
2097	18.3%	13.3%
2096	18.3%	13.4%
2095	18.4%	13.4%
2094	18.5%	13.5%
2093	18.6%	13.6%
2092	18.7%	13.7%
2091	18.9%	13.8%
2090	19%	13.8%
2089	19.1%	13.8%
2088	19.2%	13.9%
2087	19.3%	13.9%
2086	19.4%	13.9%
2085	19.6%	13.8%
2084	19.7%	13.8%
2083	19.8%	13.8%
2082	19.9%	13.7%
2081	20%	13.7%
2080	20.2%	13.7%
2079	20.3%	13.6%
2078	20.4%	13.6%
2077	20.5%	13.6%
2076	20.6%	13.6%
2075	20.7%	13.7%
2074	20.9%	13.7%
2073	21%	13.8%
2072	21.1%	13.8%
2071	21.3%	14%
2070	21.4%	14.1%
2069	21.5%	14.2%
2068	21.7%	14.3%
2067	21.9%	14.5%
2066	22%	14.6%
2065	22.2%	14.8%
2064	22.4%	14.9%
2063	22.6%	15%
2062	22.8%	15.1%
2061	23%	15.2%
2060	23.3%	15.3%
2059	23.5%	15.4%
2058	23.7%	15.4%
2057	24%	15.4%
2056	24.2%	15.4%
2055	24.5%	15.4%
2054	24.7%	15.4%
2053	25%	15.3%
2052	25.3%	15.3%
2051	25.5%	15.2%
2050	25.8%	15.2%
2049	26.1%	15.2%
2048	26.3%	15.2%
2047	26.5%	15.2%
2046	26.8%	15.3%
2045	27%	15.3%
2044	27.3%	15.5%
2043	27.5%	15.6%
2042	27.7%	15.8%
2041	28%	16%
2040	28.2%	16.2%
2039	28.4%	16.5%
2038	28.7%	16.7%
2037	28.9%	17%
2036	29.2%	17.2%
2035	29.5%	17.5%
2034	29.9%	17.8%
2033	30.3%	18%
2032	30.8%	18.2%
2031	31.3%	18.4%
2030	31.8%	18.6%
2029	32.3%	18.7%
2028	32.8%	18.8%
2027	33.4%	18.9%
2026	33.9%	18.9%
2025	34.3%	18.9%
2024	34.5%	18.9%
2023	34.9%	19%
2022	35.3%	19%
2021	35.6%	19.1%
2020	35.8%	19.1%
2019	36.1%	19.1%
2018	36.3%	19.2%
2017	36.5%	19.4%
2016	36.6%	19.6%
2015	36.6%	19.8%
2014	36.6%	20.1%
2013	36.5%	20.4%
2012	36.5%	20.8%
2011	36.5%	21.2%
2010	36.5%	21.6%
2009	36.6%	22.1%
2008	36.7%	22.5%
2007	36.8%	23%
2006	37.1%	23.4%
2005	37.4%	23.9%
2004	37.7%	24.3%
2003	38.1%	24.6%
2002	38.6%	25%
2001	39.1%	25.3%
2000	39.6%	25.6%
1999	40.2%	25.8%
1998	40.7%	26%
1997	41.2%	26.2%
1996	41.7%	26.3%
1995	42%	26.4%
1994	42.3%	26.4%
1993	42.6%	26.4%
1992	42.8%	26.3%
1991	42.9%	26.4%
1990	42.9%	26.5%
1989	42.8%	26.8%
1988	42.7%	27.3%
1987	42.5%	28%
1986	42.7%	29%
1985	43%	29.9%
1984	42.8%	30.9%
1983	42.7%	32%
1982	42.5%	33.1%
1981	42.3%	34.2%
1980	42.1%	35.1%
1979	41.9%	36%
1978	41.7%	36.9%
1977	41.5%	37.7%
1976	41.4%	38.3%
1975	41.6%	38.8%
1974	41.9%	39.3%
1973	42.3%	39.8%
1972	42.7%	40.2%
1971	43.1%	40.3%
1970	43.6%	40.1%
1969	44%	39.8%
1968	44.4%	39.2%
1967	44.8%	38.3%
1966	44.9%	37.3%
1965	44.8%	36.7%
1964	44.9%	36.6%
1963	45.2%	36.5%
1962	45.3%	36.6%
1961	45.2%	37%
1960	45.1%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs North Korea

Chart Table

Lesotho

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	North Korea
2023	478	67
2022	477	67
2021	577	72
2020	529	66
2019	467	66
2018	491	69
2017	468	70
2016	518	71
2015	594	72
2014	707	73
2013	855	75
2012	1,000	76
2011	1,210	76
2010	1,311	77
2009	1,387	78
2008	1,205	79
2007	891	80
2006	696	80
2005	549	78
2004	499	77
2003	508	76
2002	484	131
2001	465	130
2000	413	129
1999	371	129
1998	332	129
1997	312	128
1996	319	128
1995	357	127
1994	423	57
1993	542	46
1992	601	37
1991	641	38
1990	665	43
1989	680	49
1988	680	55
1987	686	62
1986	680	68
1985	711	76

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 478 deaths per 100,000 live births in Lesotho, compared to 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	North Korea
2023	5.89%	1.8%
2022	6.15%	1.77%
2021	6.44%	1.74%
2020	6.68%	1.74%
2019	6.87%	1.77%
2018	6.91%	1.84%
2017	7.12%	1.91%
2016	7.18%	2.06%
2015	7.51%	2.14%
2014	7.82%	2.26%
2013	8.02%	2.41%
2012	8.26%	2.57%
2011	8.59%	2.72%
2010	9.01%	2.87%
2009	9.64%	3%
2008	10.9%	3.1%
2007	11.2%	3.24%
2006	11.5%	3.28%
2005	11.6%	3.33%
2004	11.5%	3.38%
2003	11.4%	3.45%
2002	11.2%	9.78%
2001	11.1%	9.9%
2000	10.9%	10%
1999	10.7%	10.2%
1998	10.5%	10.3%
1997	10.2%	10.5%
1996	9.83%	10.6%
1995	9.45%	10.8%
1994	9.07%	4.25%
1993	8.73%	4.27%
1992	8.51%	4.25%
1991	8.43%	4.18%
1990	8.47%	4.07%
1989	8.6%	3.95%
1988	8.8%	3.83%
1987	9.06%	3.78%
1986	9.36%	3.68%
1985	9.72%	3.68%
1984	10.1%	3.71%
1983	10.6%	3.8%
1982	11.1%	3.91%
1981	11.7%	4.05%
1980	12.3%	4.22%
1979	12.9%	4.4%
1978	13.6%	4.59%
1977	14.2%	4.8%
1976	14.9%	5.03%
1975	15.5%	5.28%
1974	16%	5.56%
1973	16.5%	5.86%
1972	16.9%	6.2%
1971	17.3%	6.58%
1970	17.7%	6.99%
1969	18%	7.45%
1968	18.3%	7.94%
1967	18.5%	8.45%
1966	18.6%	8.96%
1965	18.7%	9.46%
1964	18.6%	9.92%
1963	18.6%	10.4%
1962	18.5%	10.8%
1961	18.5%	11.2%
1960	18.6%	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.