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Fertility & birth rates in Netherlands and Saudi Arabia

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has an annual birth rate of 9.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 16.4 for Saudi Arabia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.43 in the Netherlands and 2.28 in Saudi Arabia — 59.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 54.2% in the Netherlands and by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia — in 1960, it was 3.12 and 7.63, respectively.

  • The Netherlands is ranked 157/196 by birth rate compared to 92/196 for Saudi Arabia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9 in the Netherlands — it's 30.3 in Saudi Arabia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.86 in the Netherlands vs 11.1 in Saudi Arabia.
  • In the Netherlands, 21.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23% in Saudi Arabia.

Fertility rate in Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia by year

Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2023 1.43 2.28
2022 1.49 2.14
2021 1.62 2.17
2020 1.54 2.27
2019 1.57 2.49
2018 1.59 2.67
2017 1.62 2.67
2016 1.66 2.65
2015 1.66 2.63
2014 1.71 2.68
2013 1.68 2.67
2012 1.72 2.78
2011 1.76 2.8
2010 1.79 2.81
2009 1.79 2.95
2008 1.77 3.07
2007 1.72 3.19
2006 1.72 3.18
2005 1.71 3.16
2004 1.72 3.26
2003 1.75 3.47
2002 1.73 3.71
2001 1.71 3.96
2000 1.72 4.21
1999 1.65 4.35
1998 1.63 4.52
1997 1.56 4.66
1996 1.53 4.81
1995 1.53 4.99
1994 1.57 5.16
1993 1.57 5.33
1992 1.59 5.49
1991 1.61 5.64
1990 1.62 5.8
1989 1.55 5.98
1988 1.55 6.15
1987 1.56 6.34
1986 1.55 6.52
1985 1.51 6.65
1984 1.49 6.78
1983 1.47 6.88
1982 1.5 6.98
1981 1.56 7.07
1980 1.6 7.15
1979 1.56 7.23
1978 1.58 7.26
1977 1.58 7.3
1976 1.63 7.33
1975 1.66 7.37
1974 1.77 7.43
1973 1.9 7.48
1972 2.15 7.54
1971 2.36 7.56
1970 2.57 7.58
1969 2.75 7.6
1968 2.72 7.63
1967 2.81 7.66
1966 2.9 7.66
1965 3.04 7.66
1964 3.17 7.67
1963 3.19 7.65
1962 3.18 7.64
1961 3.22 7.63
1960 3.12 7.63

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Netherlands was 1.43 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.28 in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Natural population change
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2023 -5,363 474,366
2022 -1,770 406,920
2021 7,014 409,032
2020 0 447,036
2019 17,345 474,407
2018 15,508 528,767
2017 18,844 546,751
2016 23,843 537,829
2015 23,716 511,023
2014 35,417 493,431
2013 30,248 475,299
2012 35,186 465,649
2011 45,072 443,675
2010 48,184 418,641
2009 51,244 438,557
2008 49,337 433,457
2007 49,145 425,199
2006 49,038 399,333
2005 50,592 375,938
2004 56,987 362,843
2003 58,411 364,520
2002 59,751 372,099
2001 62,580 382,153
2000 66,887 392,407
1999 60,086 390,112
1998 61,258 389,499
1997 56,198 385,033
1996 51,251 382,248
1995 54,106 380,231
1994 61,532 377,351
1993 58,103 372,621
1992 66,811 366,763
1991 69,321 361,329
1990 68,777 355,495
1989 59,396 349,399
1988 61,993 342,865
1987 64,526 333,088
1986 59,746 322,340
1985 55,069 310,558
1984 54,812 296,615
1983 51,722 280,616
1982 54,388 264,831
1981 62,688 249,156
1980 66,504 234,372
1979 63,172 220,186
1978 61,344 205,331
1977 63,739 191,103
1976 63,361 178,024
1975 64,232 166,223
1974 75,853 155,478
1973 84,668 145,450
1972 101,297 136,360
1971 116,112 127,600
1970 129,082 120,440
1969 139,082 113,859
1968 132,389 108,281
1967 138,580 103,343
1966 138,265 98,361
1965 146,308 93,820
1964 157,653 89,776
1963 154,361 85,480
1962 153,474 81,393
1961 159,450 77,743
1960 151,623 74,143

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

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

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 -0.03% in the Netherlands and +1.41% in Saudi Arabia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.08% in the Netherlands and +1.57% in Saudi Arabia.

Birth rate in Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia by year

Netherlands
Saudi Arabia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2023 9.2 16.4
2022 9.5 15.2
2021 10.2 15.9
2020 9.7 16.6
2019 9.8 18.1
2018 9.8 19.7
2017 9.9 19.8
2016 10.1 19.6
2015 10.1 19.4
2014 10.4 19.8
2013 10.2 19.7
2012 10.5 20.4
2011 10.8 20.3
2010 11.1 20.1
2009 11.2 20.8
2008 11.2 21.3
2007 11.1 21.7
2006 11.3 21.4
2005 11.5 21.1
2004 11.9 21.3
2003 12.3 22.3
2002 12.5 23.8
2001 12.6 25.5
2000 13 27.5
1999 12.7 28.5
1998 12.7 29.5
1997 12.3 30.3
1996 12.2 31.2
1995 12.3 32.3
1994 12.7 33.4
1993 12.8 34.5
1992 13 35.5
1991 13.2 36.7
1990 13.2 38
1989 12.7 39.3
1988 12.6 40.7
1987 12.7 41.9
1986 12.7 43.1
1985 12.3 44.2
1984 12.1 45
1983 11.8 45.6
1982 12 46.1
1981 12.5 46.6
1980 12.8 47.1
1979 12.5 47.5
1978 12.6 47.5
1977 12.5 47.5
1976 12.9 47.6
1975 13 47.7
1974 13.7 47.8
1973 14.5 48
1972 16.1 48.3
1971 17.2 48.4
1970 18.3 48.7
1969 19.2 48.9
1968 18.6 49.3
1967 18.9 49.8
1966 19.2 50.1
1965 19.9 50.4
1964 20.7 50.8
1963 20.9 51
1962 20.9 51.1
1961 21.3 51.4
1960 20.8 51.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.2 in the Netherlands and 16.4 in Saudi Arabia, compared with 20.8 and 51.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Netherlands Saudi Arabia
Fertility rate 1.43 2.28
Fertility rate rank 159/196 83/196
Birth rate 9.2 16.4
Birth rate rank 157/196 92/196
Population change due to births and deaths -5,363 +474,366
Natural population change rank 168/196 38/196
Natural population change rate -0.03% +1.41%
Population growth +0.65% +4.74%
Population growth rank 121/197 4/197
Age at first childbirth 30.4 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 31.9 years 30.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.61 10.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 48.8 113.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.8 45.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.7% 23%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 75.6% 32.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 100% 94.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 0.3%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.35% 0.49%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.4% 0.62%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 79.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Netherlands
Factual

UN forecast
Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2100 13.2% 17.3%
2099 13.2% 17.3%
2098 13.2% 17.3%
2097 13.2% 17.3%
2096 13.2% 17.3%
2095 13.2% 17.3%
2094 13.2% 17.4%
2093 13.1% 17.4%
2092 13.1% 17.4%
2091 13.1% 17.4%
2090 13.1% 17.4%
2089 13.1% 17.5%
2088 13.1% 17.5%
2087 13.1% 17.5%
2086 13.1% 17.6%
2085 13.2% 17.6%
2084 13.2% 17.7%
2083 13.2% 17.7%
2082 13.2% 17.7%
2081 13.3% 17.8%
2080 13.3% 17.8%
2079 13.3% 17.9%
2078 13.4% 17.9%
2077 13.4% 18%
2076 13.4% 18%
2075 13.5% 18.1%
2074 13.5% 18.2%
2073 13.5% 18.2%
2072 13.5% 18.3%
2071 13.6% 18.3%
2070 13.6% 18.4%
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% 18.7%
2063 13.6% 18.8%
2062 13.6% 18.9%
2061 13.6% 19%
2060 13.5% 19%
2059 13.5% 19.1%
2058 13.5% 19.2%
2057 13.6% 19.3%
2056 13.6% 19.4%
2055 13.6% 19.5%
2054 13.6% 19.6%
2053 13.7% 19.8%
2052 13.7% 19.9%
2051 13.8% 20%
2050 13.9% 20.1%
2049 13.9% 20.3%
2048 14% 20.4%
2047 14.1% 20.6%
2046 14.2% 20.7%
2045 14.3% 20.9%
2044 14.3% 21.1%
2043 14.4% 21.2%
2042 14.5% 21.4%
2041 14.5% 21.6%
2040 14.6% 21.8%
2039 14.6% 22%
2038 14.6% 22.1%
2037 14.6% 22.1%
2036 14.7% 22.2%
2035 14.7% 22.2%
2034 14.7% 22.3%
2033 14.7% 22.4%
2032 14.7% 22.5%
2031 14.8% 22.7%
2030 14.8% 22.8%
2029 14.8% 23%
2028 14.8% 23.2%
2027 14.8% 23.3%
2026 14.9% 23.5%
2025 15% 23.7%
2024 15% 23.8%
2023 15.2% 24.1%
2022 15.4% 24.6%
2021 15.5% 25.2%
2020 15.6% 25.5%
2019 15.8% 25.8%
2018 16% 25.7%
2017 16.2% 25.2%
2016 16.4% 24.9%
2015 16.6% 25.1%
2014 16.9% 25.4%
2013 17.1% 25.8%
2012 17.3% 26.3%
2011 17.4% 26.9%
2010 17.6% 27.6%
2009 17.7% 28.5%
2008 17.9% 29.5%
2007 18.1% 30.6%
2006 18.3% 31.9%
2005 18.5% 33.2%
2004 18.6% 34.5%
2003 18.7% 35.7%
2002 18.8% 36.8%
2001 18.8% 37.7%
2000 18.8% 38.3%
1999 18.7% 38.9%
1998 18.6% 39.5%
1997 18.6% 40.1%
1996 18.6% 40.7%
1995 18.6% 41.2%
1994 18.6% 41.7%
1993 18.5% 42.1%
1992 18.5% 42.4%
1991 18.4% 42.7%
1990 18.4% 43%
1989 18.4% 43.2%
1988 18.5% 43.3%
1987 18.7% 43.4%
1986 19.1% 43.5%
1985 19.5% 43.6%
1984 20.1% 43.6%
1983 20.7% 43.7%
1982 21.3% 43.8%
1981 21.8% 43.9%
1980 22.3% 44.1%
1979 22.9% 44.2%
1978 23.5% 44.3%
1977 24.2% 44.5%
1976 24.8% 44.6%
1975 25.3% 44.8%
1974 25.9% 45%
1973 26.4% 45.2%
1972 26.8% 45.3%
1971 27.1% 45.5%
1970 27.3% 45.5%
1969 27.5% 45.5%
1968 27.6% 45.4%
1967 27.8% 45.3%
1966 28.1% 45.1%
1965 28.3% 44.8%
1964 28.5% 44.6%
1963 28.7% 44.3%
1962 29.1% 43.9%
1961 29.7% 43.6%
1960 30% 43.4%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 15% of the population in the Netherlands and 23.8% in Saudi Arabia in 2024, compared to 18.4% and 43% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia

Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2023 4 7
2022 4 9
2021 5 12
2020 4 11
2019 5 8
2018 5 8
2017 5 8
2016 5 8
2015 5 8
2014 5 8
2013 6 9
2012 6 9
2011 7 10
2010 6 11
2009 7 11
2008 8 12
2007 8 13
2006 9 14
2005 10 15
2004 11 16
2003 12 16
2002 13 18
2001 13 19
2000 13 20
1999 13 21
1998 12 22
1997 13 23
1996 12 23
1995 12 24
1994 12 25
1993 12 26
1992 12 27
1991 12 29
1990 12 30
1989 12 32
1988 12 34
1987 12 36
1986 12 38
1985 12 40

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

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

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 the Netherlands, compared to 7 deaths in Saudi Arabia.

Under-five mortality rates

Netherlands
Saudi Arabia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Netherlands Saudi Arabia
2023 0.4% 0.62%
2022 0.4% 0.64%
2021 0.4% 0.66%
2020 0.4% 0.69%
2019 0.4% 0.72%
2018 0.4% 0.76%
2017 0.4% 0.8%
2016 0.41% 0.85%
2015 0.41% 0.9%
2014 0.41% 0.96%
2013 0.42% 1.02%
2012 0.42% 1.08%
2011 0.43% 1.15%
2010 0.44% 1.22%
2009 0.46% 1.3%
2008 0.47% 1.38%
2007 0.49% 1.47%
2006 0.51% 1.56%
2005 0.53% 1.65%
2004 0.55% 1.75%
2003 0.57% 1.85%
2002 0.59% 1.96%
2001 0.61% 2.08%
2000 0.62% 2.21%
1999 0.63% 2.35%
1998 0.64% 2.5%
1997 0.66% 2.67%
1996 0.67% 2.86%
1995 0.69% 3.06%
1994 0.71% 3.29%
1993 0.74% 3.54%
1992 0.77% 3.81%
1991 0.8% 4.11%
1990 0.83% 4.44%
1989 0.86% 4.8%
1988 0.89% 5.19%
1987 0.92% 5.62%
1986 0.95% 6.07%
1985 0.97% 6.55%
1984 0.99% 7.04%
1983 1.02% 7.56%
1982 1.04% 8.12%
1981 1.06% 8.71%
1980 1.09% 9.34%
1979 1.12% 9.99%
1978 1.16% 10.7%
1977 1.21% 11.4%
1976 1.26% 12.2%
1975 1.31% 13.1%
1974 1.36% 14%
1973 1.41% 14.9%
1972 1.47% 16%
1971 1.53% -
1970 1.58% -
1969 1.64% -
1968 1.69% -
1967 1.74% -
1966 1.79% -
1965 1.83% -
1964 1.88% -
1963 1.92% -
1962 1.97% -
1961 2.03% -
1960 2.08% -

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.4% in the Netherlands and 0.62% in Saudi Arabia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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