Fertility & birth rates in Malaysia and Thailand

Fertility rate in Malaysia vs Thailand by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

Thailand

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Malaysia	Thailand
2023	1.55	1.21
2022	1.55	1.22
2021	1.56	1.23
2020	1.68	1.26
2019	1.78	1.29
2018	1.84	1.32
2017	1.89	1.36
2016	1.94	1.4
2015	2.01	1.45
2014	2.06	1.48
2013	2.07	1.53
2012	2.12	1.56
2011	2.15	1.57
2010	2.14	1.56
2009	2.22	1.57
2008	2.26	1.59
2007	2.25	1.62
2006	2.31	1.63
2005	2.39	1.64
2004	2.49	1.67
2003	2.6	1.67
2002	2.66	1.69
2001	2.81	1.71
2000	2.94	1.73
1999	3.07	1.77
1998	3.12	1.82
1997	3.23	1.85
1996	3.3	1.87
1995	3.32	1.89
1994	3.35	1.93
1993	3.36	1.97
1992	3.37	2.01
1991	3.34	2.04
1990	3.3	2.07
1989	3.31	2.14
1988	3.5	2.17
1987	3.57	2.26
1986	3.7	2.36
1985	3.8	2.45
1984	3.89	2.58
1983	3.93	2.76
1982	3.97	2.94
1981	4	3.13
1980	4.04	3.29
1979	4.09	3.45
1978	4.18	3.62
1977	4.28	3.87
1976	4.4	4.12
1975	4.5	4.36
1974	4.62	4.6
1973	4.73	4.85
1972	4.82	5.08
1971	4.92	5.25
1970	5.04	5.45
1969	5.16	5.7
1968	5.29	5.93
1967	5.43	6.08
1966	5.64	6.18
1965	5.84	6.26
1964	6.03	6.31
1963	6.19	6.34
1962	6.3	6.33
1961	6.37	6.32
1960	6.41	6.33

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Malaysia was 1.55 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.21 in Thailand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Malaysia vs Thailand population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

Thailand

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Malaysia	Thailand
2023	254,806	-46,105
2022	237,560	-61,046
2021	212,002	57,382
2020	283,282	84,107
2019	309,426	116,867
2018	324,568	159,383
2017	336,434	194,695
2016	345,681	226,255
2015	358,302	266,362
2014	367,587	294,628
2013	366,738	325,059
2012	371,497	351,485
2011	372,836	365,670
2010	360,260	370,466
2009	366,157	382,636
2008	362,380	401,730
2007	348,711	425,362
2006	349,509	441,211
2005	355,324	456,378
2004	365,138	466,542
2003	377,425	488,003
2002	381,084	504,299
2001	400,939	524,230
2000	417,371	543,884
1999	432,355	578,073
1998	436,316	617,318
1997	447,768	644,834
1996	450,174	661,397
1995	443,349	682,703
1994	437,873	712,589
1993	429,910	737,696
1992	418,900	754,999
1991	401,938	760,508
1990	384,518	760,808
1989	373,277	774,563
1988	386,507	765,252
1987	381,999	774,498
1986	385,799	783,430
1985	383,243	776,935
1984	376,797	779,856
1983	365,290	794,239
1982	353,138	817,951
1981	339,991	839,297
1980	326,947	845,575
1979	317,439	843,434
1978	311,027	847,799
1977	305,515	871,232
1976	300,615	894,072
1975	294,541	911,980
1974	289,880	923,151
1973	284,611	933,540
1972	276,263	940,420
1971	272,323	936,215
1970	269,341	937,116
1969	264,327	948,314
1968	260,705	953,806
1967	258,764	944,980
1966	262,162	929,469
1965	264,836	909,000
1964	266,406	885,137
1963	265,815	860,728
1962	262,140	828,741
1961	257,270	801,140
1960	251,090	774,190

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 +0.73% in Malaysia and -0.06% in Thailand.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.92% in Malaysia and +0.18% in Thailand.

Birth rate in Malaysia vs Thailand by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

Thailand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Malaysia	Thailand
2023	12.4	8.24
2022	12.4	8.38
2021	12.4	8.54
2020	13.4	8.79
2019	14.2	9.06
2018	14.8	9.4
2017	15.3	9.77
2016	15.8	10.1
2015	16.3	10.6
2014	16.7	11
2013	16.8	11.4
2012	17	11.8
2011	17.2	11.9
2010	16.9	12
2009	17.3	12.2
2008	17.4	12.5
2007	17.1	12.9
2006	17.4	13.2
2005	17.9	13.5
2004	18.7	13.8
2003	19.6	14.1
2002	20.1	14.3
2001	21.4	14.7
2000	22.6	15
1999	23.8	15.6
1998	24.4	16.3
1997	25.4	16.8
1996	26.1	17.3
1995	26.3	17.7
1994	26.6	18.2
1993	26.8	18.7
1992	26.8	19.2
1991	26.5	19.5
1990	26.2	19.6
1989	26.3	20.1
1988	27.8	20.2
1987	28.3	20.7
1986	29.4	21.3
1985	30.1	21.7
1984	30.6	22.3
1983	30.7	23.3
1982	30.8	24.5
1981	30.8	25.5
1980	30.7	26.3
1979	30.8	26.8
1978	31	27.5
1977	31.3	28.6
1976	31.7	29.8
1975	32	31.1
1974	32.3	32.3
1973	32.7	33.5
1972	32.7	34.7
1971	33.2	35.6
1970	33.7	36.7
1969	34	38.3
1968	34.5	39.7
1967	35.1	40.8
1966	36.4	41.6
1965	37.7	42.2
1964	39.1	42.8
1963	40.4	43.2
1962	41.3	43.4
1961	42.2	43.6
1960	42.9	43.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.4 in Malaysia and 8.24 in Thailand, compared with 42.9 and 43.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Malaysia

Factual

UN forecast

Thailand

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Malaysia	Thailand
2100	13.3%	11.4%
2099	13.3%	11.4%
2098	13.4%	11.4%
2097	13.4%	11.4%
2096	13.4%	11.4%
2095	13.4%	11.3%
2094	13.5%	11.3%
2093	13.5%	11.3%
2092	13.5%	11.3%
2091	13.6%	11.3%
2090	13.6%	11.3%
2089	13.7%	11.3%
2088	13.7%	11.3%
2087	13.7%	11.3%
2086	13.8%	11.3%
2085	13.8%	11.3%
2084	13.8%	11.3%
2083	13.9%	11.3%
2082	13.9%	11.3%
2081	13.9%	11.3%
2080	13.9%	11.2%
2079	13.9%	11.2%
2078	13.9%	11.2%
2077	13.9%	11.2%
2076	13.9%	11.1%
2075	13.9%	11.1%
2074	13.9%	11.1%
2073	13.9%	11%
2072	13.9%	11%
2071	13.9%	11%
2070	13.9%	11%
2069	14%	10.9%
2068	14%	10.9%
2067	14.1%	10.9%
2066	14.1%	10.9%
2065	14.2%	10.9%
2064	14.3%	10.9%
2063	14.4%	11%
2062	14.5%	11%
2061	14.6%	11%
2060	14.8%	11.1%
2059	14.9%	11.1%
2058	15.1%	11.1%
2057	15.2%	11.2%
2056	15.4%	11.2%
2055	15.5%	11.3%
2054	15.7%	11.3%
2053	15.8%	11.4%
2052	16%	11.4%
2051	16.1%	11.5%
2050	16.2%	11.5%
2049	16.3%	11.6%
2048	16.4%	11.6%
2047	16.5%	11.6%
2046	16.6%	11.7%
2045	16.7%	11.7%
2044	16.8%	11.7%
2043	16.9%	11.7%
2042	16.9%	11.8%
2041	17%	11.8%
2040	17.1%	11.8%
2039	17.1%	11.9%
2038	17.2%	11.9%
2037	17.3%	12%
2036	17.3%	12%
2035	17.5%	12.1%
2034	17.7%	12.2%
2033	18%	12.4%
2032	18.3%	12.6%
2031	18.7%	12.8%
2030	19.2%	13%
2029	19.7%	13.3%
2028	20.1%	13.6%
2027	20.6%	13.9%
2026	21.1%	14.2%
2025	21.6%	14.6%
2024	21.8%	14.7%
2023	22.3%	15.1%
2022	22.8%	15.4%
2021	23.4%	15.8%
2020	24%	16.2%
2019	24.5%	16.6%
2018	24.9%	16.9%
2017	25.2%	17.3%
2016	25.5%	17.7%
2015	25.8%	18.1%
2014	26.2%	18.5%
2013	26.6%	18.8%
2012	27%	19.2%
2011	27.4%	19.7%
2010	27.9%	20.1%
2009	28.6%	20.6%
2008	29.4%	20.9%
2007	30%	21.3%
2006	30.7%	21.7%
2005	31.4%	22.2%
2004	32%	22.6%
2003	32.6%	23%
2002	33.2%	23.4%
2001	33.7%	23.9%
2000	34.2%	24.4%
1999	34.6%	24.9%
1998	35%	25.4%
1997	35.3%	25.9%
1996	35.5%	26.4%
1995	35.7%	26.9%
1994	36%	27.4%
1993	36.3%	28%
1992	36.6%	28.5%
1991	36.9%	29.2%
1990	37.2%	30%
1989	37.5%	30.7%
1988	37.7%	31.5%
1987	37.9%	32.4%
1986	38%	33.2%
1985	38.1%	34.1%
1984	38.2%	35.1%
1983	38.4%	36%
1982	38.6%	37%
1981	38.8%	37.8%
1980	39.2%	38.7%
1979	39.6%	39.5%
1978	40.1%	40.3%
1977	40.6%	41.1%
1976	41.1%	41.8%
1975	41.7%	42.4%
1974	42.2%	43%
1973	42.8%	43.5%
1972	43.4%	44%
1971	44%	44.4%
1970	44.5%	44.8%
1969	45%	45%
1968	45.5%	45.2%
1967	45.9%	45.3%
1966	46.2%	45.4%
1965	46.5%	45.4%
1964	46.6%	45.3%
1963	46.5%	45.1%
1962	46.3%	44.8%
1961	45.9%	44.6%
1960	45.4%	44.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 21.8% of the population in Malaysia and 14.7% in Thailand in 2024, compared to 37.2% and 30% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Malaysia and Thailand compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Malaysia vs Thailand

Chart Table

Malaysia

Thailand

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Malaysia	Thailand
2023	26	34
2022	38	112
2021	52	38
2020	29	36
2019	28	34
2018	29	34
2017	29	34
2016	30	34
2015	30	34
2014	30	34
2013	29	35
2012	29	36
2011	29	37
2010	29	37
2009	29	37
2008	29	37
2007	30	38
2006	30	38
2005	31	40
2004	33	44
2003	34	42
2002	34	44
2001	36	47
2000	37	49
1999	38	48
1998	39	47
1997	40	48
1996	42	49
1995	43	52
1994	44	54
1993	46	57
1992	48	58
1991	49	59
1990	51	60
1989	52	64
1988	55	67
1987	56	72
1986	59	78
1985	63	88

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 26 deaths per 100,000 live births in Malaysia, compared to 34 deaths in Thailand.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Malaysia

Thailand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Malaysia	Thailand
2023	0.81%	0.92%
2022	0.81%	0.95%
2021	0.81%	0.98%
2020	0.81%	1.01%
2019	0.82%	1.04%
2018	0.82%	1.08%
2017	0.82%	1.11%
2016	0.82%	1.15%
2015	0.81%	1.19%
2014	0.81%	1.23%
2013	0.81%	1.27%
2012	0.8%	1.32%
2011	0.81%	1.37%
2010	0.81%	1.42%
2009	0.82%	1.47%
2008	0.82%	1.53%
2007	0.82%	1.59%
2006	0.83%	1.66%
2005	0.83%	1.73%
2004	0.84%	1.81%
2003	0.85%	1.89%
2002	0.88%	1.98%
2001	0.93%	2.08%
2000	1%	2.18%
1999	1.07%	2.29%
1998	1.15%	2.41%
1997	1.23%	2.53%
1996	1.29%	2.67%
1995	1.34%	2.81%
1994	1.39%	2.96%
1993	1.45%	3.12%
1992	1.51%	3.3%
1991	1.58%	3.49%
1990	1.66%	3.69%
1989	1.74%	3.91%
1988	1.83%	4.12%
1987	1.93%	4.34%
1986	2.05%	4.57%
1985	2.18%	4.8%
1984	2.32%	5.03%
1983	2.47%	5.28%
1982	2.65%	5.53%
1981	2.84%	5.79%
1980	3.04%	6.07%
1979	3.25%	6.36%
1978	3.48%	6.67%
1977	3.71%	7%
1976	3.97%	7.35%
1975	4.23%	7.73%
1974	4.5%	8.14%
1973	4.79%	8.56%
1972	5.06%	9.01%
1971	5.32%	9.47%
1970	5.56%	9.95%
1969	5.79%	10.4%
1968	6.02%	10.9%
1967	6.27%	11.4%
1966	6.56%	11.8%
1965	6.89%	12.3%
1964	7.28%	12.8%
1963	7.74%	13.2%
1962	8.25%	13.7%
1961	8.83%	14.2%
1960	9.46%	14.7%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.81% in Malaysia and 0.92% in Thailand. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.