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Fertility & birth rates in Netherlands and Sri Lanka

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has an annual birth rate of 9.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 11.2 for Sri Lanka. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.43 in the Netherlands and 1.97 in Sri Lanka — 38% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 54.2% in the Netherlands and by 63.1% in Sri Lanka — in 1960, it was 3.12 and 5.35, respectively.

  • The Netherlands is ranked 157/196 by birth rate compared to 125/196 for Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.4 years in the Netherlands, compared to 25.6 years in Sri Lanka.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9 in the Netherlands — it's 29.7 in Sri Lanka.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.86 in the Netherlands vs 15.1 in Sri Lanka.
  • In the Netherlands, 21.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.1% in Sri Lanka.

Fertility rate in Netherlands vs Sri Lanka by year

Netherlands
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2023 1.43 1.97
2022 1.49 1.98
2021 1.62 2
2020 1.54 2.01
2019 1.57 2.02
2018 1.59 2.03
2017 1.62 2.04
2016 1.66 2.06
2015 1.66 2.09
2014 1.71 2.13
2013 1.68 2.18
2012 1.72 2.17
2011 1.76 2.14
2010 1.79 2.13
2009 1.79 2.18
2008 1.77 2.23
2007 1.72 2.3
2006 1.72 2.29
2005 1.71 2.26
2004 1.72 2.27
2003 1.75 2.3
2002 1.73 2.31
2001 1.71 2.28
2000 1.72 2.21
1999 1.65 2.14
1998 1.63 2.14
1997 1.56 2.22
1996 1.53 2.29
1995 1.53 2.35
1994 1.57 2.4
1993 1.57 2.44
1992 1.59 2.49
1991 1.61 2.51
1990 1.62 2.54
1989 1.55 2.58
1988 1.55 2.57
1987 1.56 2.64
1986 1.55 2.74
1985 1.51 2.9
1984 1.49 3.01
1983 1.47 3.11
1982 1.5 3.32
1981 1.56 3.65
1980 1.6 3.73
1979 1.56 3.82
1978 1.58 3.81
1977 1.58 3.74
1976 1.63 3.78
1975 1.66 3.82
1974 1.77 3.86
1973 1.9 4
1972 2.15 4.16
1971 2.36 4.27
1970 2.57 4.39
1969 2.75 4.5
1968 2.72 4.66
1967 2.81 4.79
1966 2.9 4.83
1965 3.04 4.93
1964 3.17 5.06
1963 3.19 5.12
1962 3.18 5.18
1961 3.22 5.24
1960 3.12 5.35

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/sri-lanka | 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 1.97 in Sri Lanka in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Netherlands vs Sri Lanka population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Netherlands
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Natural population change
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2023 -5,363 66,111
2022 -1,770 95,378
2021 7,014 121,858
2020 0 170,968
2019 17,345 172,243
2018 15,508 183,610
2017 18,844 187,993
2016 23,843 194,232
2015 23,716 201,815
2014 35,417 211,541
2013 30,248 221,021
2012 35,186 229,138
2011 45,072 224,461
2010 48,184 224,325
2009 51,244 200,175
2008 49,337 232,225
2007 49,145 248,287
2006 49,038 248,706
2005 50,592 248,683
2004 56,987 212,527
2003 58,411 252,008
2002 59,751 252,840
2001 62,580 244,377
2000 66,887 227,060
1999 60,086 206,876
1998 61,258 201,059
1997 56,198 208,193
1996 51,251 215,290
1995 54,106 221,957
1994 61,532 228,904
1993 58,103 226,257
1992 66,811 222,230
1991 69,321 218,117
1990 68,777 224,454
1989 59,396 212,401
1988 61,993 219,184
1987 64,526 226,414
1986 59,746 233,782
1985 55,069 247,836
1984 54,812 263,175
1983 51,722 277,768
1982 54,388 300,030
1981 62,688 328,096
1980 66,504 328,155
1979 63,172 329,791
1978 61,344 317,055
1977 63,739 300,038
1976 63,361 291,816
1975 64,232 282,496
1974 75,853 275,521
1973 84,668 278,577
1972 101,297 282,494
1971 116,112 281,200
1970 129,082 286,719
1969 139,082 286,218
1968 132,389 286,642
1967 138,580 284,738
1966 138,265 275,549
1965 146,308 272,422
1964 157,653 269,584
1963 154,361 262,880
1962 153,474 256,719
1961 159,450 251,087
1960 151,623 247,631

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/sri-lanka | 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 +0.3% in Sri Lanka.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.08% in the Netherlands and +0.75% in Sri Lanka.

Birth rate in Netherlands vs Sri Lanka by year

Netherlands
Sri Lanka

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2023 9.2 11.2
2022 9.5 12.4
2021 10.2 12.9
2020 9.7 13.8
2019 9.8 14.6
2018 9.8 15.2
2017 9.9 15.4
2016 10.1 15.7
2015 10.1 16
2014 10.4 16.5
2013 10.2 17
2012 10.5 17.1
2011 10.8 17.1
2010 11.1 17.1
2009 11.2 17.6
2008 11.2 18.2
2007 11.1 18.8
2006 11.3 18.9
2005 11.5 18.7
2004 11.9 18.8
2003 12.3 19.1
2002 12.5 19.2
2001 12.6 19
2000 13 18.4
1999 12.7 17.9
1998 12.7 17.8
1997 12.3 18.5
1996 12.2 19
1995 12.3 19.6
1994 12.7 20
1993 12.8 20
1992 13 20.1
1991 13.2 20.2
1990 13.2 20.5
1989 12.7 20.6
1988 12.6 20.3
1987 12.7 20.8
1986 12.7 21.4
1985 12.3 22.4
1984 12.1 23.5
1983 11.8 24.4
1982 12 26
1981 12.5 28.1
1980 12.8 28.6
1979 12.5 29.3
1978 12.6 29
1977 12.5 28.3
1976 12.9 28.3
1975 13 28.2
1974 13.7 28.2
1973 14.5 28.9
1972 16.1 29.7
1971 17.2 30.2
1970 18.3 31.2
1969 19.2 31.8
1968 18.6 32.6
1967 18.9 33.2
1966 19.2 33.2
1965 19.9 33.8
1964 20.7 34.5
1963 20.9 34.7
1962 20.9 35.1
1961 21.3 35.6
1960 20.8 36.3

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.2 in the Netherlands and 11.2 in Sri Lanka, compared with 20.8 and 36.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Netherlands Sri Lanka
Fertility rate 1.43 1.97
Fertility rate rank 159/196 101/196
Birth rate 9.2 11.2
Birth rate rank 157/196 125/196
Population change due to births and deaths -5,363 +66,111
Natural population change rank 168/196 87/196
Natural population change rate -0.03% +0.3%
Population growth +0.65% -0.55%
Population growth rank 121/197 188/197
Age at first childbirth 30.4 years 25.6 years
Average age at childbearing 31.9 years 29.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.61 14.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 48.8 94.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.8 20.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.7% 25.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 75.6% 53.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 100% 99.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.35% 0.53%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.4% 0.61%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 78 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Netherlands
Factual

UN forecast
Sri Lanka
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2100 13.2% 13.1%
2099 13.2% 13.1%
2098 13.2% 13.2%
2097 13.2% 13.2%
2096 13.2% 13.2%
2095 13.2% 13.3%
2094 13.2% 13.3%
2093 13.1% 13.4%
2092 13.1% 13.4%
2091 13.1% 13.5%
2090 13.1% 13.6%
2089 13.1% 13.7%
2088 13.1% 13.7%
2087 13.1% 13.8%
2086 13.1% 13.9%
2085 13.2% 14%
2084 13.2% 14%
2083 13.2% 14.1%
2082 13.2% 14.2%
2081 13.3% 14.3%
2080 13.3% 14.3%
2079 13.3% 14.4%
2078 13.4% 14.5%
2077 13.4% 14.5%
2076 13.4% 14.6%
2075 13.5% 14.6%
2074 13.5% 14.7%
2073 13.5% 14.7%
2072 13.5% 14.8%
2071 13.6% 14.9%
2070 13.6% 14.9%
2069 13.6% 15%
2068 13.6% 15%
2067 13.6% 15.1%
2066 13.6% 15.2%
2065 13.6% 15.3%
2064 13.6% 15.4%
2063 13.6% 15.5%
2062 13.6% 15.6%
2061 13.6% 15.7%
2060 13.5% 15.8%
2059 13.5% 16%
2058 13.5% 16.1%
2057 13.6% 16.3%
2056 13.6% 16.4%
2055 13.6% 16.6%
2054 13.6% 16.8%
2053 13.7% 16.9%
2052 13.7% 17.1%
2051 13.8% 17.2%
2050 13.9% 17.4%
2049 13.9% 17.5%
2048 14% 17.7%
2047 14.1% 17.8%
2046 14.2% 17.9%
2045 14.3% 18%
2044 14.3% 18.2%
2043 14.4% 18.3%
2042 14.5% 18.4%
2041 14.5% 18.5%
2040 14.6% 18.6%
2039 14.6% 18.7%
2038 14.6% 18.9%
2037 14.6% 19%
2036 14.7% 19.1%
2035 14.7% 19.3%
2034 14.7% 19.5%
2033 14.7% 19.7%
2032 14.7% 19.9%
2031 14.8% 20.1%
2030 14.8% 20.3%
2029 14.8% 20.6%
2028 14.8% 20.9%
2027 14.8% 21.2%
2026 14.9% 21.5%
2025 15% 21.9%
2024 15% 22%
2023 15.2% 22.4%
2022 15.4% 22.7%
2021 15.5% 23%
2020 15.6% 23.3%
2019 15.8% 23.7%
2018 16% 24%
2017 16.2% 24.2%
2016 16.4% 24.5%
2015 16.6% 24.7%
2014 16.9% 24.9%
2013 17.1% 25%
2012 17.3% 25.2%
2011 17.4% 25.3%
2010 17.6% 25.4%
2009 17.7% 25.5%
2008 17.9% 25.6%
2007 18.1% 25.7%
2006 18.3% 25.7%
2005 18.5% 25.8%
2004 18.6% 26%
2003 18.7% 26.1%
2002 18.8% 26.3%
2001 18.8% 26.6%
2000 18.8% 27%
1999 18.7% 27.4%
1998 18.6% 27.8%
1997 18.6% 28.2%
1996 18.6% 28.6%
1995 18.6% 29.2%
1994 18.6% 29.9%
1993 18.5% 30.6%
1992 18.5% 31.4%
1991 18.4% 32.1%
1990 18.4% 32.5%
1989 18.4% 33%
1988 18.5% 33.5%
1987 18.7% 34%
1986 19.1% 34.6%
1985 19.5% 35.2%
1984 20.1% 35.5%
1983 20.7% 35.8%
1982 21.3% 36%
1981 21.8% 36.2%
1980 22.3% 36.4%
1979 22.9% 36.7%
1978 23.5% 36.9%
1977 24.2% 37.2%
1976 24.8% 37.6%
1975 25.3% 38%
1974 25.9% 38.4%
1973 26.4% 38.8%
1972 26.8% 39.2%
1971 27.1% 39.5%
1970 27.3% 39.7%
1969 27.5% 39.9%
1968 27.6% 40.1%
1967 27.8% 40.3%
1966 28.1% 40.4%
1965 28.3% 40.5%
1964 28.5% 40.6%
1963 28.7% 40.7%
1962 29.1% 40.8%
1961 29.7% 40.9%
1960 30% 41%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 15% of the population in the Netherlands and 22% in Sri Lanka in 2024, compared to 18.4% and 32.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Netherlands vs Sri Lanka

Netherlands
Sri Lanka
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2023 4 18
2022 4 22
2021 5 34
2020 4 23
2019 5 20
2018 5 21
2017 5 21
2016 5 22
2015 5 22
2014 5 23
2013 6 23
2012 6 24
2011 7 25
2010 6 26
2009 7 28
2008 8 30
2007 8 31
2006 9 32
2005 10 32
2004 11 37
2003 12 35
2002 13 36
2001 13 37
2000 13 39
1999 13 41
1998 12 43
1997 13 45
1996 12 47
1995 12 48
1994 12 49
1993 12 51
1992 12 54
1991 12 57
1990 12 59
1989 12 61
1988 12 62
1987 12 64
1986 12 66
1985 12 68

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/sri-lanka | 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 18 deaths in Sri Lanka.

Under-five mortality rates

Netherlands
Sri Lanka

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Netherlands Sri Lanka
2023 0.4% 0.61%
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% 0.79%
2016 0.41% 0.83%
2015 0.41% 0.87%
2014 0.41% 0.92%
2013 0.42% 0.98%
2012 0.42% 1.03%
2011 0.43% 1.08%
2010 0.44% 1.12%
2009 0.46% 2.08%
2008 0.47% 1.2%
2007 0.49% 1.26%
2006 0.51% 1.33%
2005 0.53% 1.4%
2004 0.55% 2.88%
2003 0.57% 1.52%
2002 0.59% 1.55%
2001 0.61% 1.58%
2000 0.62% 1.63%
1999 0.63% 1.69%
1998 0.64% 1.76%
1997 0.66% 1.86%
1996 0.67% 1.95%
1995 0.69% 2.05%
1994 0.71% 2.14%
1993 0.74% 2.22%
1992 0.77% 2.29%
1991 0.8% 2.32%
1990 0.83% 2.33%
1989 0.86% 2.74%
1988 0.89% 2.41%
1987 0.92% 2.54%
1986 0.95% 2.74%
1985 0.97% 3.02%
1984 0.99% 3.35%
1983 1.02% 3.67%
1982 1.04% 3.98%
1981 1.06% 4.29%
1980 1.09% 4.63%
1979 1.12% 4.99%
1978 1.16% 5.38%
1977 1.21% 5.77%
1976 1.26% 6.12%
1975 1.31% 6.41%
1974 1.36% 6.62%
1973 1.41% 6.77%
1972 1.47% 6.86%
1971 1.53% 6.94%
1970 1.58% 7.02%
1969 1.64% 7.14%
1968 1.69% 7.32%
1967 1.74% 7.55%
1966 1.79% 7.81%
1965 1.83% 8.07%
1964 1.88% 8.3%
1963 1.92% 8.48%
1962 1.97% 8.66%
1961 2.03% 8.95%
1960 2.08% 9.41%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.4% in the Netherlands and 0.61% in Sri Lanka. 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)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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