New Zealand birth & fertility rate decline on charts

New Zealand has a birth rate of 10.9 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.56 (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 New Zealand was 4.24 children per woman — 2.72 times higher than in 2023.

New Zealand birth rate statistics:

New Zealand is ranked 134/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 150/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in New Zealand is 27.8 — it was 27.8 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.8, a change from 27.7 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 51.9 in 1960 to 10.9 in 2023.
22.8% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.3% in 1960.

Fertility rate in New Zealand by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.56	130
2022	1.66	125
2021	1.64	132
2020	1.61	136
2019	1.72	127
2018	1.71	138
2017	1.81	124
2016	1.87	124
2015	1.99	119
2014	1.92	127
2013	2.01	118
2012	2.1	115
2011	2.09	113
2010	2.17	110
2009	2.13	115
2008	2.19	113
2007	2.18	115
2006	2.01	125
2005	1.97	130
2004	1.98	130
2003	1.93	135
2002	1.89	140
2001	1.97	134
2000	1.98	138
1999	1.97	137
1998	1.89	143
1997	1.96	140
1996	1.96	143
1995	1.98	142
1994	1.98	145
1993	2.04	143
1992	2.06	146
1991	2.09	145
1990	2.18	147
1989	2.12	149
1988	2.1	154
1987	2.03	159
1986	1.96	159
1985	1.93	163
1984	1.93	163
1983	1.92	167
1982	1.95	166
1981	2.01	161
1980	2.03	162
1979	2.12	161
1978	2.07	163
1977	2.21	159
1976	2.27	161
1975	2.37	159
1974	2.58	154
1973	2.76	152
1972	3	147
1971	3.18	145
1970	3.17	144
1969	3.28	145
1968	3.34	147
1967	3.35	147
1966	3.41	148
1965	3.54	147
1964	3.8	146
1963	4.05	143
1962	4.19	143
1961	4.31	140
1960	4.24	143

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/new-zealand | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in New Zealand was 1.56 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2013. In 1993, the fertility rate was 2.04 — a 23.5% 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	18,876	56,472	37,596
2022	20,123	58,388	38,265
2021	23,644	58,371	34,727
2020	24,905	57,419	32,514
2019	25,299	59,444	34,145
2018	24,797	58,023	33,226
2017	26,282	59,592	33,310
2016	28,237	59,397	31,160
2015	29,408	60,982	31,574
2014	26,196	57,224	31,028
2013	29,096	58,635	29,539
2012	31,077	61,140	30,063
2011	31,302	61,376	30,074
2010	35,458	63,868	28,410
2009	33,560	62,516	28,956
2008	35,143	64,322	29,179
2007	35,480	63,990	28,510
2006	30,924	59,170	28,246
2005	30,674	57,709	27,035
2004	29,634	58,042	28,408
2003	28,150	56,139	27,989
2002	25,941	53,975	28,034
2001	27,939	55,723	27,784
2000	29,897	56,553	26,656
1999	28,916	57,027	28,111
1998	29,146	55,355	26,209
1997	30,137	57,589	27,452
1996	28,997	57,248	28,251
1995	29,828	57,635	27,807
1994	30,372	57,304	26,932
1993	31,685	58,762	27,077
1992	32,067	59,155	27,088
1991	33,518	59,906	26,388
1990	33,298	59,570	26,272
1989	30,749	57,538	26,789
1988	29,846	56,966	27,120
1987	27,603	54,780	27,177
1986	25,549	52,330	26,781
1985	24,126	51,401	27,275
1984	26,043	51,214	25,171
1983	24,315	50,133	25,818
1982	24,207	49,550	25,343
1981	25,374	50,279	24,905
1980	23,658	50,055	26,397
1979	26,675	51,795	25,120
1978	26,156	50,657	24,501
1977	28,020	53,792	25,772
1976	29,456	54,744	25,288
1975	31,355	56,328	24,973
1974	33,896	58,992	25,096
1973	35,239	60,410	25,171
1972	38,244	62,956	24,712
1971	40,000	64,221	24,221
1970	37,101	61,863	24,762
1969	38,098	62,193	24,095
1968	37,594	61,997	24,403
1967	37,974	60,938	22,964
1966	36,151	59,859	23,708
1965	36,982	59,901	22,919
1964	39,375	62,204	22,829
1963	42,027	64,408	22,381
1962	42,865	64,929	22,064
1961	43,482	65,210	21,728
1960	41,791	62,639	20,848

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/new-zealand | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in New Zealand (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.51% annually. On average, 24,776 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.36% — 18,876 more people were born than died.

In 2023, New Zealand ranks 110/196 for absolute natural population change and 128/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in New Zealand compared to other countries

	New Zealand	Rank
Fertility rate	1.56	130/196
Birth rate	10.9	134/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+18,876	110/196
Natural population change rate	+0.36%	128/196
Population growth	+1.68%	65/197
Age at first childbirth	27.8 years	42/137
Average age at childbearing	30.8 years	44/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	9.32	142/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	65.8	147/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	20.4	109/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	22.8%	143/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	71.6%	13/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	96.5%	111/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.007%	159/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.27%	155/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.4%	156/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.47%	153/192
Life expectancy	82.5 years	27/197

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	21.5	9.32	65.8	20.4
2025	21.8	9.78	66.7	20.8
2024	22.2	10.3	67.8	21.1
2023	22.6	10.9	68.6	21.2
2022	23	11	68.6	21.2
2021	23	10.9	67.9	21.1
2020	22.5	11.8	67.4	20.5
2019	23.5	13	71.2	21.1
2018	23.2	13.5	71.7	20.5
2017	24.1	15	76	21
2016	24.5	16.3	78.6	21.2
2015	25.6	18.7	83.7	21.8
2014	24.6	19.2	82	20.9
2013	25.7	21.7	86.8	21.4
2012	27	24.6	91	22.3
2011	27.4	26.1	91.9	22.7
2010	28.5	29	95.5	23.7
2009	28.3	29.8	94.2	23.6
2008	29.4	32.4	96.5	24.6
2007	29.5	31.6	95	25.1
2006	27.5	28.3	88.1	23.9
2005	27.1	27.3	86	23.9
2004	27.5	27.2	88.2	24.3
2003	27	26.1	87.4	23.9
2002	26.6	25.9	87.6	23.2
2001	28.1	27.7	93.7	23.7
2000	28.8	28.5	95.2	24.1
1999	29.1	29.3	95.7	24
1998	28.5	29.6	93	23.1
1997	29.7	32.5	97.3	23.5
1996	30.1	32.8	100	23
1995	30.7	32.9	102.5	22.9
1994	31.1	31.4	104.5	22.9
1993	32.3	32.2	109.8	23
1992	33	32.7	112.8	22.8
1991	33.3	33.8	117.9	22.3
1990	35.3	35.1	125.4	22.1
1989	34.8	34	126.5	20.6
1988	34.5	32.8	127.3	19.8
1987	33.2	31.9	125.6	18.2
1986	32.2	30.6	123.8	16.9
1985	31.7	30.6	124	15.9
1984	31.5	31	125.3	15.3
1983	31.1	32.7	126.2	14.6
1982	31.3	34.9	129	14.2
1981	32.2	38.1	134.5	14.1
1980	32.3	38.8	136.2	14.1
1979	33.4	41.8	141.4	14.3
1978	32.7	43.1	138.8	13.5
1977	34.7	47.5	148.2	13.8
1976	35.3	50.4	152.2	13.5
1975	36	54.4	158.1	13.6
1974	38.5	60.2	171.8	14.9
1973	40.2	63.5	181.3	16.2
1972	43.2	68.3	196.9	18.1
1971	44.9	68.2	208.2	19.5
1970	44	64.8	206.9	19.5
1969	44.9	65	212.2	20.6
1968	45.3	66.2	216.7	21
1967	44.7	66.2	216.8	21.6
1966	44.9	64	219.8	23.2
1965	45.6	59.2	226.1	25.3
1964	47.8	57.2	238.3	28.6
1963	50.8	56.4	255	31.4
1962	51.9	54.1	262.6	32.9
1961	54	55.3	269.4	35.3
1960	53.5	52.8	265.5	35.5

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/new-zealand | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in New Zealand by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 2.67% will be to women under age 20, 37.4% to women ages 20-29, and 59.9% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 8.55%, 58.2%, and 33.2%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	New Zealand	World
2100	13.6%	16.5%
2099	13.6%	16.6%
2098	13.6%	16.6%
2097	13.6%	16.7%
2096	13.7%	16.8%
2095	13.7%	16.8%
2094	13.7%	16.9%
2093	13.8%	17%
2092	13.8%	17%
2091	13.8%	17.1%
2090	13.8%	17.2%
2089	13.8%	17.2%
2088	13.9%	17.3%
2087	13.9%	17.4%
2086	13.9%	17.4%
2085	13.9%	17.5%
2084	13.9%	17.5%
2083	13.9%	17.6%
2082	13.9%	17.7%
2081	13.9%	17.7%
2080	13.9%	17.8%
2079	13.9%	17.8%
2078	13.9%	17.9%
2077	13.9%	17.9%
2076	13.9%	18%
2075	13.9%	18%
2074	14%	18.1%
2073	14%	18.2%
2072	14%	18.2%
2071	14.1%	18.3%
2070	14.1%	18.3%
2069	14.1%	18.4%
2068	14.2%	18.5%
2067	14.3%	18.6%
2066	14.3%	18.6%
2065	14.4%	18.7%
2064	14.4%	18.8%
2063	14.5%	18.9%
2062	14.6%	19.1%
2061	14.7%	19.2%
2060	14.7%	19.3%
2059	14.8%	19.4%
2058	14.9%	19.5%
2057	15%	19.6%
2056	15%	19.8%
2055	15.1%	19.9%
2054	15.1%	20%
2053	15.2%	20.1%
2052	15.2%	20.2%
2051	15.2%	20.3%
2050	15.2%	20.4%
2049	15.2%	20.5%
2048	15.3%	20.6%
2047	15.3%	20.7%
2046	15.3%	20.8%
2045	15.3%	20.9%
2044	15.3%	20.9%
2043	15.4%	21%
2042	15.4%	21.1%
2041	15.5%	21.2%
2040	15.5%	21.2%
2039	15.6%	21.3%
2038	15.7%	21.4%
2037	15.9%	21.5%
2036	16%	21.6%
2035	16.1%	21.8%
2034	16.2%	22%
2033	16.4%	22.2%
2032	16.5%	22.4%
2031	16.7%	22.7%
2030	16.9%	23%
2029	17.1%	23.3%
2028	17.3%	23.6%
2027	17.5%	23.9%
2026	17.8%	24.2%
2025	18%	24.6%
2024	18.1%	24.7%
2023	18.4%	25%
2022	18.6%	25.3%
2021	18.9%	25.6%
2020	19%	25.8%
2019	19.2%	26%
2018	19.3%	26.2%
2017	19.5%	26.4%
2016	19.6%	26.5%
2015	19.9%	26.6%
2014	20.2%	26.8%
2013	20.4%	26.9%
2012	20.6%	27%
2011	20.8%	27.1%
2010	20.9%	27.3%
2009	20.9%	27.5%
2008	21%	27.6%
2007	21.1%	27.9%
2006	21.3%	28.1%
2005	21.5%	28.5%
2004	21.8%	28.8%
2003	22.1%	29.2%
2002	22.4%	29.6%
2001	22.6%	30%
2000	22.8%	30.4%
1999	22.9%	30.8%
1998	23%	31.1%
1997	23%	31.5%
1996	23%	31.8%
1995	23.1%	32.1%
1994	23.1%	32.3%
1993	23.1%	32.5%
1992	23.1%	32.7%
1991	23.2%	32.9%
1990	23.3%	33%
1989	23.3%	33.2%
1988	23.5%	33.4%
1987	23.8%	33.6%
1986	24.2%	33.8%
1985	24.6%	34%
1984	25.1%	34.3%
1983	25.6%	34.6%
1982	26.2%	34.9%
1981	26.7%	35.2%
1980	27.2%	35.5%
1979	27.8%	35.9%
1978	28.4%	36.3%
1977	29%	36.7%
1976	29.6%	36.9%
1975	30.1%	37.1%
1974	30.5%	37.2%
1973	31%	37.3%
1972	31.4%	37.5%
1971	31.7%	37.6%
1970	31.9%	37.7%
1969	32.2%	37.8%
1968	32.3%	37.9%
1967	32.5%	38%
1966	32.6%	38%
1965	32.7%	38%
1964	32.9%	38%
1963	32.9%	37.8%
1962	33%	37.6%
1961	33%	37.5%
1960	32.8%	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/new-zealand | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in New Zealand was 32.8% in 1960, 23.1% in 1992, and 18.1% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of New Zealand.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/new-zealand | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	7	197
2022	23	203
2021	8	242
2020	8	211
2019	8	207
2018	7	211
2017	8	215
2016	8	220
2015	8	228
2014	7	231
2013	8	235
2012	9	239
2011	10	247
2010	10	253
2009	10	258
2008	10	264
2007	10	269
2006	10	276
2005	11	283
2004	11	291
2003	11	301
2002	11	311
2001	10	321
2000	11	328
1999	12	340
1998	12	360
1997	13	358
1996	14	366
1995	14	371
1994	13	382
1993	14	389
1992	15	395
1991	16	395
1990	18	391
1989	18	401
1988	19	414
1987	19	429
1986	18	438
1985	19	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/new-zealand | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in New Zealand was 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.007% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 36.4% 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	New Zealand	World
2023	0.47%	2.49%
2022	0.48%	2.59%
2021	0.49%	2.66%
2020	0.5%	2.75%
2019	0.51%	2.86%
2018	0.52%	2.97%
2017	0.53%	3.11%
2016	0.55%	3.22%
2015	0.56%	3.35%
2014	0.57%	3.48%
2013	0.59%	3.61%
2012	0.6%	3.77%
2011	0.61%	3.97%
2010	0.62%	4.11%
2009	0.63%	4.31%
2008	0.64%	4.5%
2007	0.65%	4.7%
2006	0.65%	4.92%
2005	0.66%	5.16%
2004	0.67%	5.43%
2003	0.69%	5.65%
2002	0.7%	5.94%
2001	0.72%	6.21%
2000	0.74%	6.48%
1999	0.76%	6.75%
1998	0.78%	7.05%
1997	0.81%	7.28%
1996	0.84%	7.52%
1995	0.87%	7.76%
1994	0.91%	7.98%
1993	0.95%	8.19%
1992	1%	8.46%
1991	1.06%	8.66%
1990	1.12%	8.81%
1989	1.18%	9.02%
1988	1.24%	9.31%
1987	1.29%	9.47%
1986	1.34%	9.81%
1985	1.38%	10.1%
1984	1.41%	10.4%
1983	1.45%	10.6%
1982	1.48%	10.8%
1981	1.52%	11%
1980	1.56%	11.4%
1979	1.61%	11.7%
1978	1.66%	12.2%
1977	1.71%	12.6%
1976	1.77%	13%
1975	1.83%	13.4%
1974	1.88%	13.8%
1973	1.94%	14.1%
1972	1.98%	14.5%
1971	2.03%	15.1%
1970	2.08%	15.2%
1969	2.12%	15.4%
1968	2.16%	15.6%
1967	2.2%	15.9%
1966	2.25%	16.1%
1965	2.31%	16.4%
1964	2.39%	16.6%
1963	2.48%	16.5%
1962	2.58%	16.7%
1961	2.68%	17%
1960	2.78%	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/new-zealand | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in New Zealand was 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.47% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 7.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.