Netherlands birth & fertility rate decline on charts

The Netherlands has a birth rate of 9.2 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.43 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in the Netherlands was 3.12 children per woman — 2.18 times higher than in 2023.

The Netherlands birth rate statistics:

The Netherlands is ranked 157/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 168/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in the Netherlands is 30.4 — it was 27.5 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9, a change from 29.3 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 15.5 in 1960 to 1.86 in 2023.
21.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.3% in 1960.

Fertility rate in the Netherlands by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.43	159
2022	1.49	152
2021	1.62	137
2020	1.54	151
2019	1.57	148
2018	1.59	149
2017	1.62	147
2016	1.66	150
2015	1.66	150
2014	1.71	149
2013	1.68	150
2012	1.72	148
2011	1.76	144
2010	1.79	144
2009	1.79	148
2008	1.77	148
2007	1.72	151
2006	1.72	151
2005	1.71	152
2004	1.72	153
2003	1.75	149
2002	1.73	149
2001	1.71	152
2000	1.72	154
1999	1.65	159
1998	1.63	161
1997	1.56	169
1996	1.53	171
1995	1.53	173
1994	1.57	172
1993	1.57	175
1992	1.59	178
1991	1.61	181
1990	1.62	182
1989	1.55	185
1988	1.55	185
1987	1.56	182
1986	1.55	184
1985	1.51	187
1984	1.49	189
1983	1.47	191
1982	1.5	191
1981	1.56	190
1980	1.6	190
1979	1.56	192
1978	1.58	192
1977	1.58	192
1976	1.63	192
1975	1.66	192
1974	1.77	190
1973	1.9	187
1972	2.15	173
1971	2.36	168
1970	2.57	160
1969	2.75	159
1968	2.72	160
1967	2.81	157
1966	2.9	155
1965	3.04	154
1964	3.17	155
1963	3.19	155
1962	3.18	157
1961	3.22	157
1960	3.12	159

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in the Netherlands was 1.43 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1973. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.57 — a 8.92% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	-5,363	164,469	169,832
2022	-1,770	168,159	169,929
2021	7,014	178,837	171,823
2020	0	169,182	169,182
2019	17,345	169,979	152,634
2018	15,508	168,869	153,361
2017	18,844	169,599	150,755
2016	23,843	172,006	148,163
2015	23,716	171,093	147,377
2014	35,417	175,396	139,979
2013	30,248	171,405	141,157
2012	35,186	175,927	140,741
2011	45,072	180,285	135,213
2010	48,184	184,430	136,246
2009	51,244	185,140	133,896
2008	49,337	184,190	134,853
2007	49,145	181,836	132,691
2006	49,038	184,710	135,672
2005	50,592	187,678	137,086
2004	56,987	193,753	136,766
2003	58,411	199,571	141,160
2002	59,751	201,861	142,110
2001	62,580	202,181	139,601
2000	66,887	207,031	140,144
1999	60,086	200,813	140,727
1998	61,258	199,481	138,223
1997	56,198	192,010	135,812
1996	51,251	189,472	138,221
1995	54,106	190,145	136,039
1994	61,532	195,362	133,830
1993	58,103	195,716	137,613
1992	66,811	197,394	130,583
1991	69,321	198,921	129,600
1990	68,777	197,359	128,582
1989	59,396	188,581	129,185
1988	61,993	185,977	123,984
1987	64,526	186,245	121,719
1986	59,746	185,067	125,321
1985	55,069	178,247	123,178
1984	54,812	174,532	119,720
1983	51,722	169,531	117,809
1982	54,388	171,752	117,364
1981	62,688	178,090	115,402
1980	66,504	181,117	114,613
1979	63,172	175,478	112,306
1978	61,344	175,665	114,321
1977	63,739	173,202	109,463
1976	63,361	177,685	114,324
1975	64,232	177,662	113,430
1974	75,853	185,567	109,714
1973	84,668	194,870	110,202
1972	101,297	214,590	113,293
1971	116,112	226,945	110,833
1970	129,082	238,605	109,523
1969	139,082	247,257	108,175
1968	132,389	236,772	104,383
1967	138,580	238,105	99,525
1966	138,265	239,160	100,895
1965	146,308	244,665	98,357
1964	157,653	251,031	93,378
1963	154,361	250,088	95,727
1962	153,474	246,738	93,264
1961	159,450	247,904	88,454
1960	151,623	238,921	87,298

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in the Netherlands (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.08% annually. On average, 13,455 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.03% — 5,363 more people died than were born.

In 2023, the Netherlands ranks 168/196 for absolute natural population change and 159/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in the Netherlands compared to other countries

	Netherlands	Rank
Fertility rate	1.43	159/196
Birth rate	9.2	157/196
Population change due to births and deaths	-5,363	168/196
Natural population change rate	-0.03%	159/196
Population growth	+0.65%	121/197
Age at first childbirth	30.4 years	14/137
Average age at childbearing	31.9 years	17/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	1.61	186/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	48.8	176/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	18.8	119/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	21.7%	164/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	75.6%	8/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	100%	8/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.004%	176/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.26%	158/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.35%	162/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.4%	159/192
Life expectancy	82.6 years	25/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	19.2	1.61	48.8	18.8
2025	19.1	1.66	48.8	18.6
2024	18.9	1.73	48.9	18.4
2023	18.7	1.84	49.3	18
2022	19.4	2.05	52.2	18.7
2021	20.6	2.2	56.1	19.8
2020	19.5	2.32	54.9	18.4
2019	19.6	2.48	57.1	18.3
2018	19.6	2.59	58.8	18.1
2017	19.9	2.77	61	18.1
2016	20.2	2.97	63.7	18.3
2015	20.1	3.19	64.7	18
2014	20.7	3.67	67.8	18.3
2013	20.4	3.95	67.6	17.9
2012	20.9	4.51	69.8	18.4
2011	21.5	4.86	71.8	19
2010	22	5.16	74.4	19.5
2009	22.2	5.28	74.9	19.7
2008	22.2	5.18	74.6	20
2007	22	5.12	73	20
2006	22.5	5.27	73.4	20.7
2005	22.9	5.76	73.4	21.3
2004	23.7	6.26	74.3	22.3
2003	24.5	6.94	76	23.1
2002	24.9	7.37	76.1	23.4
2001	25.2	7.57	76.9	23.4
2000	25.9	7.36	79.2	23.7
1999	25.4	6.78	77.6	22.9
1998	25.4	6.28	77.2	22.6
1997	24.7	5.93	74.8	21.7
1996	24.5	5.6	73.5	21.3
1995	24.8	5.93	74.3	21.1
1994	25.5	6.83	76.8	21.2
1993	25.7	7.32	78.1	20.8
1992	26	7.9	80.9	20.3
1991	26.4	8.47	84.7	19.7
1990	26.4	8.54	87.5	19
1989	25.5	7.85	87.2	17.6
1988	25.3	7.34	89.4	16.7
1987	25.4	6.84	92.6	16.1
1986	25.2	6.78	95	15.2
1985	24.4	6.87	95.1	14.2
1984	24	7.42	96.5	13.3
1983	23.5	7.71	96.7	12.7
1982	23.8	8.21	100.2	12.5
1981	24.8	8.92	106.6	12.6
1980	25.3	9.14	110.5	12.7
1979	24.7	8.88	109.7	12.2
1978	25	9.35	111.2	12
1977	24.9	9.99	111	11.6
1976	25.5	11.2	114.5	11
1975	25.9	12.5	118.8	10.8
1974	27.3	14.8	125	11.6
1973	29	17.1	131.9	12.8
1972	32.1	19.7	144.9	15.1
1971	34.5	21.8	152.9	17.9
1970	36.6	22.4	160	20.6
1969	38.2	22.6	167.2	22.4
1968	37	22.1	162.5	22.7
1967	37.7	22.9	165.6	24.6
1966	38.4	22.9	170.5	26.8
1965	39.7	21.5	172.1	29.7
1964	41.1	18.6	175.8	32.6
1963	41.5	17.4	175.1	34.2
1962	41.4	16.7	171.2	35.3
1961	42.2	16.9	169.7	37.1
1960	41.5	15.6	163.5	37

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in the Netherlands by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 0.45% will be to women under age 20, 33.2% to women ages 20-29, and 66.3% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 2.32%, 55.7%, and 42%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Netherlands	World
2100	13.2%	16.5%
2099	13.2%	16.6%
2098	13.2%	16.6%
2097	13.2%	16.7%
2096	13.2%	16.8%
2095	13.2%	16.8%
2094	13.2%	16.9%
2093	13.1%	17%
2092	13.1%	17%
2091	13.1%	17.1%
2090	13.1%	17.2%
2089	13.1%	17.2%
2088	13.1%	17.3%
2087	13.1%	17.4%
2086	13.1%	17.4%
2085	13.2%	17.5%
2084	13.2%	17.5%
2083	13.2%	17.6%
2082	13.2%	17.7%
2081	13.3%	17.7%
2080	13.3%	17.8%
2079	13.3%	17.8%
2078	13.4%	17.9%
2077	13.4%	17.9%
2076	13.4%	18%
2075	13.5%	18%
2074	13.5%	18.1%
2073	13.5%	18.2%
2072	13.5%	18.2%
2071	13.6%	18.3%
2070	13.6%	18.3%
2069	13.6%	18.4%
2068	13.6%	18.5%
2067	13.6%	18.6%
2066	13.6%	18.6%
2065	13.6%	18.7%
2064	13.6%	18.8%
2063	13.6%	18.9%
2062	13.6%	19.1%
2061	13.6%	19.2%
2060	13.5%	19.3%
2059	13.5%	19.4%
2058	13.5%	19.5%
2057	13.6%	19.6%
2056	13.6%	19.8%
2055	13.6%	19.9%
2054	13.6%	20%
2053	13.7%	20.1%
2052	13.7%	20.2%
2051	13.8%	20.3%
2050	13.9%	20.4%
2049	13.9%	20.5%
2048	14%	20.6%
2047	14.1%	20.7%
2046	14.2%	20.8%
2045	14.3%	20.9%
2044	14.3%	20.9%
2043	14.4%	21%
2042	14.5%	21.1%
2041	14.5%	21.2%
2040	14.6%	21.2%
2039	14.6%	21.3%
2038	14.6%	21.4%
2037	14.6%	21.5%
2036	14.7%	21.6%
2035	14.7%	21.8%
2034	14.7%	22%
2033	14.7%	22.2%
2032	14.7%	22.4%
2031	14.8%	22.7%
2030	14.8%	23%
2029	14.8%	23.3%
2028	14.8%	23.6%
2027	14.8%	23.9%
2026	14.9%	24.2%
2025	15%	24.6%
2024	15%	24.7%
2023	15.2%	25%
2022	15.4%	25.3%
2021	15.5%	25.6%
2020	15.6%	25.8%
2019	15.8%	26%
2018	16%	26.2%
2017	16.2%	26.4%
2016	16.4%	26.5%
2015	16.6%	26.6%
2014	16.9%	26.8%
2013	17.1%	26.9%
2012	17.3%	27%
2011	17.4%	27.1%
2010	17.6%	27.3%
2009	17.7%	27.5%
2008	17.9%	27.6%
2007	18.1%	27.9%
2006	18.3%	28.1%
2005	18.5%	28.5%
2004	18.6%	28.8%
2003	18.7%	29.2%
2002	18.8%	29.6%
2001	18.8%	30%
2000	18.8%	30.4%
1999	18.7%	30.8%
1998	18.6%	31.1%
1997	18.6%	31.5%
1996	18.6%	31.8%
1995	18.6%	32.1%
1994	18.6%	32.3%
1993	18.5%	32.5%
1992	18.5%	32.7%
1991	18.4%	32.9%
1990	18.4%	33%
1989	18.4%	33.2%
1988	18.5%	33.4%
1987	18.7%	33.6%
1986	19.1%	33.8%
1985	19.5%	34%
1984	20.1%	34.3%
1983	20.7%	34.6%
1982	21.3%	34.9%
1981	21.8%	35.2%
1980	22.3%	35.5%
1979	22.9%	35.9%
1978	23.5%	36.3%
1977	24.2%	36.7%
1976	24.8%	36.9%
1975	25.3%	37.1%
1974	25.9%	37.2%
1973	26.4%	37.3%
1972	26.8%	37.5%
1971	27.1%	37.6%
1970	27.3%	37.7%
1969	27.5%	37.8%
1968	27.6%	37.9%
1967	27.8%	38%
1966	28.1%	38%
1965	28.3%	38%
1964	28.5%	38%
1963	28.7%	37.8%
1962	29.1%	37.6%
1961	29.7%	37.5%
1960	30%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in the Netherlands was 30% in 1960, 18.5% in 1992, and 15% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of the Netherlands.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	4	197
2022	4	203
2021	5	242
2020	4	211
2019	5	207
2018	5	211
2017	5	215
2016	5	220
2015	5	228
2014	5	231
2013	6	235
2012	6	239
2011	7	247
2010	6	253
2009	7	258
2008	8	264
2007	8	269
2006	9	276
2005	10	283
2004	11	291
2003	12	301
2002	13	311
2001	13	321
2000	13	328
1999	13	340
1998	12	360
1997	13	358
1996	12	366
1995	12	371
1994	12	382
1993	12	389
1992	12	395
1991	12	395
1990	12	391
1989	12	401
1988	12	414
1987	12	429
1986	12	438
1985	12	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in the Netherlands was 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.004% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 69.2% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Netherlands	World
2023	0.4%	2.49%
2022	0.4%	2.59%
2021	0.4%	2.66%
2020	0.4%	2.75%
2019	0.4%	2.86%
2018	0.4%	2.97%
2017	0.4%	3.11%
2016	0.41%	3.22%
2015	0.41%	3.35%
2014	0.41%	3.48%
2013	0.42%	3.61%
2012	0.42%	3.77%
2011	0.43%	3.97%
2010	0.44%	4.11%
2009	0.46%	4.31%
2008	0.47%	4.5%
2007	0.49%	4.7%
2006	0.51%	4.92%
2005	0.53%	5.16%
2004	0.55%	5.43%
2003	0.57%	5.65%
2002	0.59%	5.94%
2001	0.61%	6.21%
2000	0.62%	6.48%
1999	0.63%	6.75%
1998	0.64%	7.05%
1997	0.66%	7.28%
1996	0.67%	7.52%
1995	0.69%	7.76%
1994	0.71%	7.98%
1993	0.74%	8.19%
1992	0.77%	8.46%
1991	0.8%	8.66%
1990	0.83%	8.81%
1989	0.86%	9.02%
1988	0.89%	9.31%
1987	0.92%	9.47%
1986	0.95%	9.81%
1985	0.97%	10.1%
1984	0.99%	10.4%
1983	1.02%	10.6%
1982	1.04%	10.8%
1981	1.06%	11%
1980	1.09%	11.4%
1979	1.12%	11.7%
1978	1.16%	12.2%
1977	1.21%	12.6%
1976	1.26%	13%
1975	1.31%	13.4%
1974	1.36%	13.8%
1973	1.41%	14.1%
1972	1.47%	14.5%
1971	1.53%	15.1%
1970	1.58%	15.2%
1969	1.64%	15.4%
1968	1.69%	15.6%
1967	1.74%	15.9%
1966	1.79%	16.1%
1965	1.83%	16.4%
1964	1.88%	16.6%
1963	1.92%	16.5%
1962	1.97%	16.7%
1961	2.03%	17%
1960	2.08%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in the Netherlands was 4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.4% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.