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Fertility & birth rates in Netherlands and United Kingdom

Updated on by Georank team

The Netherlands has an annual birth rate of 9.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10 for the United Kingdom. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.43 in the Netherlands and 1.56 in the United Kingdom — 9.09% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 54.2% in the Netherlands and by 42% in the United Kingdom — in 1960, it was 3.12 and 2.69, respectively.

  • The Netherlands is ranked 157/196 by birth rate compared to 146/196 for the United Kingdom.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 30.4 years in the Netherlands, compared to 29 years in the United Kingdom.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.9 in the Netherlands — it's 31.2 in the United Kingdom.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.86 in the Netherlands vs 8.36 in the United Kingdom.
  • In the Netherlands, 21.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.9% in the United Kingdom.

Fertility rate in Netherlands vs United Kingdom by year

Netherlands
United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
Netherlands United Kingdom
2023 1.43 1.56
2022 1.49 1.56
2021 1.62 1.58
2020 1.54 1.57
2019 1.57 1.63
2018 1.59 1.68
2017 1.62 1.74
2016 1.66 1.79
2015 1.66 1.8
2014 1.71 1.81
2013 1.68 1.83
2012 1.72 1.92
2011 1.76 1.91
2010 1.79 1.92
2009 1.79 1.89
2008 1.77 1.91
2007 1.72 1.86
2006 1.72 1.82
2005 1.71 1.76
2004 1.72 1.75
2003 1.75 1.7
2002 1.73 1.63
2001 1.71 1.63
2000 1.72 1.64
1999 1.65 1.68
1998 1.63 1.71
1997 1.56 1.72
1996 1.53 1.73
1995 1.53 1.71
1994 1.57 1.74
1993 1.57 1.76
1992 1.59 1.79
1991 1.61 1.82
1990 1.62 1.83
1989 1.55 1.79
1988 1.55 1.82
1987 1.56 1.81
1986 1.55 1.78
1985 1.51 1.79
1984 1.49 1.77
1983 1.47 1.77
1982 1.5 1.78
1981 1.56 1.82
1980 1.6 1.9
1979 1.56 1.86
1978 1.58 1.75
1977 1.58 1.69
1976 1.63 1.74
1975 1.66 1.81
1974 1.77 1.92
1973 1.9 2.04
1972 2.15 2.2
1971 2.36 2.41
1970 2.57 2.44
1969 2.75 2.51
1968 2.72 2.6
1967 2.81 2.68
1966 2.9 2.78
1965 3.04 2.86
1964 3.17 2.93
1963 3.19 2.88
1962 3.18 2.86
1961 3.22 2.78
1960 3.12 2.69

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/united-kingdom | 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 1.56 in the United Kingdom in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check the Netherlands vs the United Kingdom population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Netherlands
United Kingdom
1x
Year Natural population change
Netherlands United Kingdom
2023 -5,363 34,589
2022 -1,770 39,751
2021 7,014 30,612
2020 0 -4,272
2019 17,345 108,342
2018 15,508 119,321
2017 18,844 145,125
2016 23,843 177,139
2015 23,716 175,738
2014 35,417 206,784
2013 30,248 198,830
2012 35,186 248,473
2011 45,072 259,361
2010 48,184 251,066
2009 51,244 230,422
2008 49,337 216,325
2007 49,145 196,232
2006 49,038 176,455
2005 50,592 144,963
2004 56,987 131,974
2003 58,411 89,471
2002 59,751 65,308
2001 62,580 65,032
2000 66,887 70,671
1999 60,086 64,551
1998 61,258 87,730
1997 56,198 99,138
1996 51,251 98,884
1995 54,106 87,028
1994 61,532 127,304
1993 58,103 103,893
1992 66,811 149,709
1991 69,321 143,562
1990 68,777 154,569
1989 59,396 119,861
1988 61,993 136,628
1987 64,526 136,325
1986 59,746 90,690
1985 55,069 79,170
1984 54,812 84,633
1983 51,722 61,966
1982 54,388 56,314
1981 62,688 73,234
1980 66,504 95,734
1979 63,172 61,872
1978 61,344 16,859
1977 63,739 0
1976 63,361 -5,621
1975 64,232 33,735
1974 75,853 67,476
1973 84,668 112,389
1972 101,297 162,650
1971 116,112 257,123
1970 129,082 244,918
1969 139,082 260,577
1968 132,389 292,622
1967 138,580 346,145
1966 138,265 333,356
1965 146,308 364,132
1964 157,653 405,000
1963 154,361 337,995
1962 153,474 340,800
1961 159,450 311,519
1960 151,623 314,400

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/united-kingdom | 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 +0.05% in the United Kingdom.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.08% in the Netherlands and +0.16% in the United Kingdom.

Birth rate in Netherlands vs United Kingdom by year

Netherlands
United Kingdom

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Netherlands United Kingdom
2023 9.2 10
2022 9.5 10.1
2021 10.2 10.2
2020 9.7 10.2
2019 9.8 10.6
2018 9.8 11
2017 9.9 11.4
2016 10.1 11.8
2015 10.1 11.9
2014 10.4 12
2013 10.2 12.1
2012 10.5 12.8
2011 10.8 12.8
2010 11.1 12.9
2009 11.2 12.7
2008 11.2 12.9
2007 11.1 12.6
2006 11.3 12.3
2005 11.5 12
2004 11.9 11.9
2003 12.3 11.7
2002 12.5 11.3
2001 12.6 11.3
2000 13 11.5
1999 12.7 11.9
1998 12.7 12.3
1997 12.3 12.5
1996 12.2 12.6
1995 12.3 12.6
1994 12.7 13
1993 12.8 13.2
1992 13 13.6
1991 13.2 13.8
1990 13.2 13.9
1989 12.7 13.6
1988 12.6 13.8
1987 12.7 13.7
1986 12.7 13.3
1985 12.3 13.3
1984 12.1 12.9
1983 11.8 12.8
1982 12 12.8
1981 12.5 13
1980 12.8 13.4
1979 12.5 13.1
1978 12.6 12.2
1977 12.5 11.7
1976 12.9 12
1975 13 12.4
1974 13.7 13.1
1973 14.5 13.9
1972 16.1 14.9
1971 17.2 16.1
1970 18.3 16.2
1969 19.2 16.6
1968 18.6 17.2
1967 18.9 17.5
1966 19.2 17.9
1965 19.9 18.3
1964 20.7 18.8
1963 20.9 18.5
1962 20.9 18.3
1961 21.3 17.9
1960 20.8 17.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.2 in the Netherlands and 10 in the United Kingdom, compared with 20.8 and 17.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Netherlands United Kingdom
Fertility rate 1.43 1.56
Fertility rate rank 159/196 131/196
Birth rate 9.2 10
Birth rate rank 157/196 146/196
Population change due to births and deaths -5,363 +34,589
Natural population change rank 168/196 102/196
Natural population change rate -0.03% +0.05%
Population growth +0.65% +1.07%
Population growth rank 121/197 97/197
Age at first childbirth 30.4 years 29 years
Average age at childbearing 31.9 years 31.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.61 7.01
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 48.8 59.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.8 17.8
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.7% 21.9%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 75.6% 71.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 100% 99%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.008%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 0.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.35% 0.4%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.4% 0.45%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 81.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Netherlands
Factual

UN forecast
United Kingdom
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Netherlands United Kingdom
2100 13.2% 13.4%
2099 13.2% 13.4%
2098 13.2% 13.4%
2097 13.2% 13.5%
2096 13.2% 13.5%
2095 13.2% 13.6%
2094 13.2% 13.6%
2093 13.1% 13.7%
2092 13.1% 13.7%
2091 13.1% 13.8%
2090 13.1% 13.8%
2089 13.1% 13.8%
2088 13.1% 13.9%
2087 13.1% 13.9%
2086 13.1% 13.9%
2085 13.2% 13.9%
2084 13.2% 13.9%
2083 13.2% 13.9%
2082 13.2% 13.9%
2081 13.3% 13.9%
2080 13.3% 13.9%
2079 13.3% 13.8%
2078 13.4% 13.8%
2077 13.4% 13.8%
2076 13.4% 13.8%
2075 13.5% 13.8%
2074 13.5% 13.8%
2073 13.5% 13.8%
2072 13.5% 13.8%
2071 13.6% 13.8%
2070 13.6% 13.8%
2069 13.6% 13.8%
2068 13.6% 13.9%
2067 13.6% 13.9%
2066 13.6% 14%
2065 13.6% 14.1%
2064 13.6% 14.2%
2063 13.6% 14.3%
2062 13.6% 14.4%
2061 13.6% 14.5%
2060 13.5% 14.5%
2059 13.5% 14.6%
2058 13.5% 14.7%
2057 13.6% 14.8%
2056 13.6% 14.9%
2055 13.6% 15%
2054 13.6% 15%
2053 13.7% 15%
2052 13.7% 15.1%
2051 13.8% 15.1%
2050 13.9% 15.1%
2049 13.9% 15%
2048 14% 15%
2047 14.1% 15%
2046 14.2% 14.9%
2045 14.3% 14.9%
2044 14.3% 14.9%
2043 14.4% 14.8%
2042 14.5% 14.8%
2041 14.5% 14.8%
2040 14.6% 14.8%
2039 14.6% 14.8%
2038 14.6% 14.9%
2037 14.6% 14.9%
2036 14.7% 14.9%
2035 14.7% 15%
2034 14.7% 15.1%
2033 14.7% 15.3%
2032 14.7% 15.4%
2031 14.8% 15.6%
2030 14.8% 15.9%
2029 14.8% 16.1%
2028 14.8% 16.3%
2027 14.8% 16.6%
2026 14.9% 16.8%
2025 15% 17.1%
2024 15% 17.2%
2023 15.2% 17.4%
2022 15.4% 17.6%
2021 15.5% 17.8%
2020 15.6% 18%
2019 15.8% 18%
2018 16% 18.1%
2017 16.2% 18%
2016 16.4% 18%
2015 16.6% 17.9%
2014 16.9% 17.8%
2013 17.1% 17.8%
2012 17.3% 17.8%
2011 17.4% 17.7%
2010 17.6% 17.8%
2009 17.7% 17.8%
2008 17.9% 17.8%
2007 18.1% 17.9%
2006 18.3% 18%
2005 18.5% 18.2%
2004 18.6% 18.3%
2003 18.7% 18.4%
2002 18.8% 18.5%
2001 18.8% 18.7%
2000 18.8% 18.9%
1999 18.7% 19.2%
1998 18.6% 19.3%
1997 18.6% 19.3%
1996 18.6% 19.4%
1995 18.6% 19.5%
1994 18.6% 19.6%
1993 18.5% 19.5%
1992 18.5% 19.4%
1991 18.4% 19.3%
1990 18.4% 19.1%
1989 18.4% 19.1%
1988 18.5% 18.9%
1987 18.7% 18.9%
1986 19.1% 19.1%
1985 19.5% 19.3%
1984 20.1% 19.5%
1983 20.7% 19.8%
1982 21.3% 20.2%
1981 21.8% 20.6%
1980 22.3% 21%
1979 22.9% 21.4%
1978 23.5% 21.9%
1977 24.2% 22.4%
1976 24.8% 22.9%
1975 25.3% 23.3%
1974 25.9% 23.6%
1973 26.4% 23.9%
1972 26.8% 24%
1971 27.1% 24.1%
1970 27.3% 24.1%
1969 27.5% 24%
1968 27.6% 23.9%
1967 27.8% 23.7%
1966 28.1% 23.5%
1965 28.3% 23.4%
1964 28.5% 23.3%
1963 28.7% 23.2%
1962 29.1% 23.2%
1961 29.7% 23.3%
1960 30% 23.3%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 15% of the population in the Netherlands and 17.2% in the United Kingdom in 2024, compared to 18.4% and 19.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Netherlands vs United Kingdom

Netherlands
United Kingdom
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Netherlands United Kingdom
2023 4 8
2022 4 15
2021 5 13
2020 4 14
2019 5 9
2018 5 9
2017 5 9
2016 5 9
2015 5 9
2014 5 9
2013 6 9
2012 6 9
2011 7 10
2010 6 10
2009 7 11
2008 8 11
2007 8 11
2006 9 12
2005 10 12
2004 11 13
2003 12 14
2002 13 13
2001 13 13
2000 13 12
1999 13 11
1998 12 10
1997 13 9
1996 12 8
1995 12 9
1994 12 9
1993 12 8
1992 12 7
1991 12 7
1990 12 6
1989 12 5
1988 12 4
1987 12 3
1986 12 2
1985 12 2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/netherlands/united-kingdom | 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 8 deaths in the United Kingdom.

Under-five mortality rates

Netherlands
United Kingdom

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Netherlands United Kingdom
2023 0.4% 0.45%
2022 0.4% 0.45%
2021 0.4% 0.44%
2020 0.4% 0.44%
2019 0.4% 0.44%
2018 0.4% 0.44%
2017 0.4% 0.44%
2016 0.41% 0.44%
2015 0.41% 0.45%
2014 0.41% 0.45%
2013 0.42% 0.46%
2012 0.42% 0.48%
2011 0.43% 0.5%
2010 0.44% 0.52%
2009 0.46% 0.54%
2008 0.47% 0.56%
2007 0.49% 0.58%
2006 0.51% 0.59%
2005 0.53% 0.6%
2004 0.55% 0.61%
2003 0.57% 0.63%
2002 0.59% 0.63%
2001 0.61% 0.64%
2000 0.62% 0.65%
1999 0.63% 0.67%
1998 0.64% 0.68%
1997 0.66% 0.69%
1996 0.67% 0.7%
1995 0.69% 0.72%
1994 0.71% 0.74%
1993 0.74% 0.77%
1992 0.77% 0.82%
1991 0.8% 0.87%
1990 0.83% 0.93%
1989 0.86% 0.99%
1988 0.89% 1.04%
1987 0.92% 1.08%
1986 0.95% 1.11%
1985 0.97% 1.14%
1984 0.99% 1.17%
1983 1.02% 1.22%
1982 1.04% 1.27%
1981 1.06% 1.34%
1980 1.09% 1.41%
1979 1.12% 1.49%
1978 1.16% 1.57%
1977 1.21% 1.64%
1976 1.26% 1.72%
1975 1.31% 1.8%
1974 1.36% 1.87%
1973 1.41% 1.94%
1972 1.47% 2%
1971 1.53% 2.06%
1970 1.58% 2.1%
1969 1.64% 2.14%
1968 1.69% 2.18%
1967 1.74% 2.22%
1966 1.79% 2.28%
1965 1.83% 2.34%
1964 1.88% 2.42%
1963 1.92% 2.49%
1962 1.97% 2.56%
1961 2.03% 2.61%
1960 2.08% 2.66%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.4% in the Netherlands and 0.45% in the United Kingdom. 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) (2018–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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