Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and South Korea

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	South Korea
2023	2.69	0.72
2022	2.72	0.78
2021	2.77	0.81
2020	2.85	0.84
2019	2.92	0.92
2018	3.02	0.98
2017	3.11	1.05
2016	3.18	1.17
2015	3.22	1.24
2014	3.24	1.21
2013	3.28	1.19
2012	3.3	1.3
2011	3.34	1.24
2010	3.25	1.23
2009	3.31	1.15
2008	3.39	1.19
2007	3.44	1.26
2006	3.41	1.13
2005	3.43	1.09
2004	3.51	1.16
2003	3.62	1.19
2002	3.68	1.18
2001	3.63	1.31
2000	3.61	1.48
1999	3.67	1.43
1998	3.82	1.46
1997	3.98	1.54
1996	4.06	1.57
1995	4.13	1.63
1994	4.21	1.66
1993	4.37	1.65
1992	4.54	1.76
1991	4.68	1.71
1990	4.81	1.57
1989	4.96	1.56
1988	5.1	1.55
1987	5.22	1.53
1986	5.32	1.58
1985	5.4	1.66
1984	5.48	1.74
1983	5.56	2.06
1982	5.63	2.39
1981	5.69	2.57
1980	5.75	2.82
1979	5.79	2.9
1978	5.82	2.64
1977	5.85	2.99
1976	5.87	3
1975	5.83	3.43
1974	5.75	3.77
1973	5.69	4.07
1972	5.69	4.12
1971	5.7	4.54
1970	5.7	4.53
1969	5.7	4.45
1968	5.73	4.51
1967	5.75	4.62
1966	5.76	4.78
1965	5.77	4.89
1964	5.77	5.07
1963	5.78	5.33
1962	5.79	5.56
1961	5.79	5.8
1960	5.78	5.99

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	South Korea
2023	31,115	-77,569
2022	30,803	-124,014
2021	27,806	-56,947
2020	30,721	-31,101
2019	32,279	10,353
2018	33,112	30,951
2017	33,601	71,907
2016	33,390	122,923
2015	32,087	163,248
2014	30,922	167,464
2013	29,789	166,415
2012	27,592	215,859
2011	25,647	214,728
2010	21,877	213,083
2009	20,335	197,231
2008	19,349	215,841
2007	17,763	248,286
2006	15,234	203,441
2005	15,831	187,920
2004	17,271	225,988
2003	20,133	244,251
2002	22,274	247,752
2001	23,190	312,643
2000	24,786	390,167
1999	27,393	368,272
1998	30,889	393,436
1997	34,637	422,773
1996	36,228	446,142
1995	37,370	468,967
1994	38,629	473,200
1993	40,505	477,302
1992	42,579	494,352
1991	44,026	467,594
1990	45,060	411,546
1989	46,264	403,266
1988	47,158	399,297
1987	47,718	378,758
1986	45,232	395,651
1985	44,575	416,219
1984	43,785	436,384
1983	42,899	514,844
1982	41,941	605,626
1981	40,808	631,189
1980	39,617	583,294
1979	38,440	623,068
1978	37,084	499,084
1977	35,654	578,947
1976	34,117	530,558
1975	32,311	603,300
1974	30,444	673,030
1973	28,859	699,115
1972	27,841	740,469
1971	26,838	789,185
1970	25,935	747,987
1969	25,137	694,227
1968	24,490	684,487
1967	23,911	692,169
1966	23,326	623,534
1965	22,755	641,090
1964	22,116	655,501
1963	21,585	685,824
1962	21,132	712,590
1961	20,581	730,173
1960	19,981	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 +1.35% in Lesotho and -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	South Korea
2023	24.1	4.5
2022	24.4	4.9
2021	24.9	5.1
2020	25.6	5.3
2019	26.4	5.9
2018	27.4	6.4
2017	28.2	7
2016	28.9	7.9
2015	29.2	8.6
2014	29.5	8.6
2013	30	8.6
2012	30	9.6
2011	30.2	9.4
2010	29.2	9.4
2009	29.4	9
2008	29.6	9.4
2007	29.5	10.1
2006	28.6	9.2
2005	28.6	9
2004	28.7	9.8
2003	29.3	10.2
2002	29.4	10.3
2001	28.7	11.7
2000	28.2	13.5
1999	28.5	13.2
1998	29.2	13.7
1997	30.2	14.5
1996	30.4	15
1995	30.6	15.7
1994	31	16
1993	32	16
1992	33.2	16.7
1991	34.2	16.4
1990	35.1	15.2
1989	36.3	15.1
1988	37.4	15.1
1987	38.3	15
1986	37.5	15.4
1985	37.9	16.1
1984	38.4	16.7
1983	38.9	19.3
1982	39.5	21.6
1981	39.9	22.4
1980	40.4	22.6
1979	40.8	23
1978	41	20.3
1977	41.1	22.7
1976	41	22.2
1975	40.6	24.8
1974	40.2	26.6
1973	39.9	28.3
1972	40.2	28.4
1971	40.5	31.2
1970	40.8	31.2
1969	41.3	30.3
1968	41.9	30.7
1967	42.5	31.5
1966	43	32.8
1965	43.3	33.8
1964	43.5	35.2
1963	43.7	37.2
1962	44.1	39
1961	44.3	40.9
1960	44.6	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 44.6 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	South Korea
2100	18%	8.61%
2099	18.1%	8.6%
2098	18.2%	8.59%
2097	18.3%	8.59%
2096	18.3%	8.59%
2095	18.4%	8.6%
2094	18.5%	8.61%
2093	18.6%	8.62%
2092	18.7%	8.62%
2091	18.9%	8.62%
2090	19%	8.62%
2089	19.1%	8.6%
2088	19.2%	8.58%
2087	19.3%	8.55%
2086	19.4%	8.5%
2085	19.6%	8.45%
2084	19.7%	8.39%
2083	19.8%	8.33%
2082	19.9%	8.26%
2081	20%	8.18%
2080	20.2%	8.09%
2079	20.3%	8%
2078	20.4%	7.91%
2077	20.5%	7.82%
2076	20.6%	7.72%
2075	20.7%	7.63%
2074	20.9%	7.53%
2073	21%	7.44%
2072	21.1%	7.35%
2071	21.3%	7.28%
2070	21.4%	7.21%
2069	21.5%	7.16%
2068	21.7%	7.13%
2067	21.9%	7.11%
2066	22%	7.11%
2065	22.2%	7.14%
2064	22.4%	7.18%
2063	22.6%	7.23%
2062	22.8%	7.3%
2061	23%	7.37%
2060	23.3%	7.45%
2059	23.5%	7.52%
2058	23.7%	7.6%
2057	24%	7.66%
2056	24.2%	7.72%
2055	24.5%	7.76%
2054	24.7%	7.79%
2053	25%	7.81%
2052	25.3%	7.83%
2051	25.5%	7.83%
2050	25.8%	7.83%
2049	26.1%	7.82%
2048	26.3%	7.81%
2047	26.5%	7.8%
2046	26.8%	7.79%
2045	27%	7.78%
2044	27.3%	7.78%
2043	27.5%	7.77%
2042	27.7%	7.76%
2041	28%	7.74%
2040	28.2%	7.72%
2039	28.4%	7.7%
2038	28.7%	7.66%
2037	28.9%	7.65%
2036	29.2%	7.65%
2035	29.5%	7.66%
2034	29.9%	7.73%
2033	30.3%	7.85%
2032	30.8%	8.02%
2031	31.3%	8.28%
2030	31.8%	8.59%
2029	32.3%	8.9%
2028	32.8%	9.23%
2027	33.4%	9.62%
2026	33.9%	10%
2025	34.3%	10.4%
2024	34.5%	10.6%
2023	34.9%	11%
2022	35.3%	11.4%
2021	35.6%	11.8%
2020	35.8%	12.1%
2019	36.1%	12.4%
2018	36.3%	12.7%
2017	36.5%	13%
2016	36.6%	13.4%
2015	36.6%	13.8%
2014	36.6%	14.2%
2013	36.5%	14.7%
2012	36.5%	15.2%
2011	36.5%	15.8%
2010	36.5%	16.4%
2009	36.6%	16.9%
2008	36.7%	17.5%
2007	36.8%	18.1%
2006	37.1%	18.7%
2005	37.4%	19.2%
2004	37.7%	19.7%
2003	38.1%	20.1%
2002	38.6%	20.5%
2001	39.1%	20.8%
2000	39.6%	21%
1999	40.2%	21.2%
1998	40.7%	21.6%
1997	41.2%	22%
1996	41.7%	22.5%
1995	42%	23.1%
1994	42.3%	23.7%
1993	42.6%	24.2%
1992	42.8%	24.7%
1991	42.9%	25.2%
1990	42.9%	25.8%
1989	42.8%	26.5%
1988	42.7%	27.3%
1987	42.5%	28.2%
1986	42.7%	29.2%
1985	43%	30.2%
1984	42.8%	31.2%
1983	42.7%	32%
1982	42.5%	32.7%
1981	42.3%	33.3%
1980	42.1%	34%
1979	41.9%	34.8%
1978	41.7%	35.6%
1977	41.5%	36.5%
1976	41.4%	37.5%
1975	41.6%	38.5%
1974	41.9%	39.5%
1973	42.3%	40.3%
1972	42.7%	41%
1971	43.1%	41.5%
1970	43.6%	42.1%
1969	44%	42.7%
1968	44.4%	43.1%
1967	44.8%	43.3%
1966	44.9%	43.5%
1965	44.8%	43.3%
1964	44.9%	43.1%
1963	45.2%	42.7%
1962	45.3%	42.3%
1961	45.2%	41.8%
1960	45.1%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs South Korea

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	South Korea
2023	478	4
2022	477	7
2021	577	5
2020	529	12
2019	467	5
2018	491	5
2017	468	6
2016	518	6
2015	594	6
2014	707	7
2013	855	7
2012	1,000	8
2011	1,210	8
2010	1,311	8
2009	1,387	9
2008	1,205	9
2007	891	10
2006	696	10
2005	549	11
2004	499	12
2003	508	13
2002	484	13
2001	465	14
2000	413	15
1999	371	17
1998	332	18
1997	312	19
1996	319	20
1995	357	22
1994	423	23
1993	542	24
1992	601	26
1991	641	28
1990	665	28
1989	680	29
1988	680	31
1987	686	34
1986	680	35
1985	711	38

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 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	South Korea
2023	5.89%	0.28%
2022	6.15%	0.28%
2021	6.44%	0.29%
2020	6.68%	0.3%
2019	6.87%	0.31%
2018	6.91%	0.32%
2017	7.12%	0.33%
2016	7.18%	0.34%
2015	7.51%	0.35%
2014	7.82%	0.36%
2013	8.02%	0.37%
2012	8.26%	0.38%
2011	8.59%	0.4%
2010	9.01%	0.41%
2009	9.64%	0.43%
2008	10.9%	0.45%
2007	11.2%	0.48%
2006	11.5%	0.52%
2005	11.6%	0.56%
2004	11.5%	0.6%
2003	11.4%	0.64%
2002	11.2%	0.68%
2001	11.1%	0.71%
2000	10.9%	0.75%
1999	10.7%	0.8%
1998	10.5%	0.85%
1997	10.2%	0.91%
1996	9.83%	0.98%
1995	9.45%	1.05%
1994	9.07%	1.14%
1993	8.73%	1.23%
1992	8.51%	1.33%
1991	8.43%	1.44%
1990	8.47%	1.57%
1989	8.6%	1.71%
1988	8.8%	1.87%
1987	9.06%	2.05%
1986	9.36%	2.25%
1985	9.72%	2.46%
1984	10.1%	2.7%
1983	10.6%	2.93%
1982	11.1%	3.17%
1981	11.7%	3.4%
1980	12.3%	3.63%
1979	12.9%	3.84%
1978	13.6%	4.04%
1977	14.2%	4.23%
1976	14.9%	4.42%
1975	15.5%	4.61%
1974	16%	4.82%
1973	16.5%	5.07%
1972	16.9%	5.36%
1971	17.3%	5.71%
1970	17.7%	6.12%
1969	18%	6.59%
1968	18.3%	7.1%
1967	18.5%	7.62%
1966	18.6%	8.16%
1965	18.7%	8.68%
1964	18.6%	9.18%
1963	18.6%	9.67%
1962	18.5%	10.1%
1961	18.5%	10.6%
1960	18.6%	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.