Fertility & birth rates in New Zealand and United States

Fertility rate in New Zealand vs United States by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	New Zealand	United States
2023	1.56	1.62
2022	1.66	1.66
2021	1.64	1.66
2020	1.61	1.64
2019	1.72	1.71
2018	1.71	1.73
2017	1.81	1.77
2016	1.87	1.82
2015	1.99	1.84
2014	1.92	1.86
2013	2.01	1.86
2012	2.1	1.88
2011	2.09	1.89
2010	2.17	1.93
2009	2.13	2
2008	2.19	2.07
2007	2.18	2.12
2006	2.01	2.11
2005	1.97	2.06
2004	1.98	2.05
2003	1.93	2.05
2002	1.89	2.02
2001	1.97	2.03
2000	1.98	2.06
1999	1.97	2.01
1998	1.89	2
1997	1.96	1.97
1996	1.96	1.98
1995	1.98	1.98
1994	1.98	2
1993	2.04	2.02
1992	2.06	2.05
1991	2.09	2.06
1990	2.18	2.08
1989	2.12	2.01
1988	2.1	1.93
1987	2.03	1.87
1986	1.96	1.84
1985	1.93	1.84
1984	1.93	1.81
1983	1.92	1.8
1982	1.95	1.83
1981	2.01	1.81
1980	2.03	1.84
1979	2.12	1.81
1978	2.07	1.76
1977	2.21	1.79
1976	2.27	1.74
1975	2.37	1.77
1974	2.58	1.84
1973	2.76	1.88
1972	3	2.01
1971	3.18	2.27
1970	3.17	2.48
1969	3.28	2.46
1968	3.34	2.46
1967	3.35	2.56
1966	3.41	2.72
1965	3.54	2.91
1964	3.8	3.19
1963	4.05	3.32
1962	4.19	3.46
1961	4.31	3.62
1960	4.24	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in New Zealand was 1.56 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check New Zealand vs the United States population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	New Zealand	United States
2023	18,876	502,372
2022	20,123	399,926
2021	23,644	199,137
2020	24,905	208,862
2019	25,299	887,476
2018	24,797	955,022
2017	26,282	1,028,037
2016	28,237	1,197,627
2015	29,408	1,270,126
2014	26,196	1,357,281
2013	29,096	1,322,711
2012	31,077	1,411,822
2011	31,302	1,441,697
2010	35,458	1,548,182
2009	33,560	1,717,920
2008	35,143	1,794,154
2007	35,480	1,897,757
2006	30,924	1,849,955
2005	30,674	1,684,445
2004	29,634	1,698,271
2003	28,150	1,653,615
2002	25,941	1,581,938
2001	27,939	1,595,826
2000	29,897	1,664,758
1999	28,916	1,564,050
1998	29,146	1,573,857
1997	30,137	1,501,014
1996	28,997	1,510,137
1995	29,828	1,546,031
1994	30,372	1,633,302
1993	31,685	1,717,685
1992	32,067	1,875,328
1991	33,518	1,926,543
1990	33,298	2,026,068
1989	30,749	1,875,826
1988	29,846	1,735,943
1987	27,603	1,720,252
1986	25,549	1,656,917
1985	24,126	1,689,258
1984	26,043	1,627,192
1983	24,315	1,636,544
1982	24,207	1,714,317
1981	25,374	1,652,153
1980	23,658	1,608,450
1979	26,675	1,597,894
1978	26,156	1,402,283
1977	28,020	1,431,556
1976	29,456	1,264,604
1975	31,355	1,252,644
1974	33,896	1,218,968
1973	35,239	1,165,499
1972	38,244	1,301,355
1971	40,000	1,640,519
1970	37,101	1,824,965
1969	38,098	1,702,487
1968	37,594	1,565,507
1967	37,974	1,669,181
1966	36,151	1,749,387
1965	36,982	1,943,030
1964	39,375	2,245,099
1963	42,027	2,289,826
1962	42,865	2,406,337
1961	43,482	2,571,681
1960	41,791	2,565,530

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 +0.36% in New Zealand and +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.51% in New Zealand and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in New Zealand vs United States by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	New Zealand	United States
2023	10.9	10.7
2022	11.5	11
2021	11.5	11
2020	11.3	10.9
2019	12	11.4
2018	11.8	11.6
2017	12.4	11.8
2016	12.6	12.2
2015	13.2	12.4
2014	12.7	12.5
2013	13.2	12.4
2012	13.9	12.6
2011	14	12.7
2010	14.7	13
2009	14.5	13.5
2008	15.1	14
2007	15.2	14.3
2006	14.1	14.3
2005	14	14
2004	14.2	14
2003	13.9	14.1
2002	13.7	14
2001	14.4	14.1
2000	14.7	14.4
1999	14.9	14.2
1998	14.5	14.3
1997	15.2	14.2
1996	15.3	14.4
1995	15.7	14.6
1994	15.8	15
1993	16.5	15.4
1992	16.8	15.8
1991	17.1	16.2
1990	17.9	16.7
1989	17.4	16.4
1988	17.4	16
1987	16.7	15.7
1986	16.1	15.6
1985	15.8	15.8
1984	15.9	15.6
1983	15.7	15.6
1982	15.7	15.9
1981	16.1	15.8
1980	16.1	15.9
1979	16.7	15.6
1978	16.2	15
1977	17.2	15.1
1976	17.6	14.6
1975	18.3	14.6
1974	19.5	14.8
1973	20.4	14.8
1972	21.7	15.6
1971	22.5	17.2
1970	22	18.4
1969	22.4	17.9
1968	22.6	17.6
1967	22.4	17.8
1966	22.4	18.4
1965	22.8	19.4
1964	24.1	21.1
1963	25.4	21.7
1962	26.2	22.4
1961	27	23.3
1960	26.4	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.9 in New Zealand and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 26.4 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

New Zealand

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	New Zealand	United States
2100	13.6%	14.4%
2099	13.6%	14.4%
2098	13.6%	14.4%
2097	13.6%	14.4%
2096	13.7%	14.4%
2095	13.7%	14.5%
2094	13.7%	14.5%
2093	13.8%	14.5%
2092	13.8%	14.5%
2091	13.8%	14.6%
2090	13.8%	14.6%
2089	13.8%	14.7%
2088	13.9%	14.7%
2087	13.9%	14.7%
2086	13.9%	14.8%
2085	13.9%	14.8%
2084	13.9%	14.8%
2083	13.9%	14.9%
2082	13.9%	14.9%
2081	13.9%	14.9%
2080	13.9%	14.9%
2079	13.9%	14.9%
2078	13.9%	14.9%
2077	13.9%	14.9%
2076	13.9%	14.9%
2075	13.9%	14.9%
2074	14%	14.9%
2073	14%	14.9%
2072	14%	14.9%
2071	14.1%	14.9%
2070	14.1%	14.9%
2069	14.1%	14.9%
2068	14.2%	14.9%
2067	14.3%	14.9%
2066	14.3%	14.9%
2065	14.4%	15%
2064	14.4%	15%
2063	14.5%	15%
2062	14.6%	15.1%
2061	14.7%	15.1%
2060	14.7%	15.2%
2059	14.8%	15.3%
2058	14.9%	15.4%
2057	15%	15.5%
2056	15%	15.5%
2055	15.1%	15.6%
2054	15.1%	15.7%
2053	15.2%	15.8%
2052	15.2%	15.8%
2051	15.2%	15.9%
2050	15.2%	15.9%
2049	15.2%	16%
2048	15.3%	16%
2047	15.3%	16%
2046	15.3%	16%
2045	15.3%	16%
2044	15.3%	16%
2043	15.4%	16%
2042	15.4%	16%
2041	15.5%	15.9%
2040	15.5%	15.9%
2039	15.6%	15.9%
2038	15.7%	15.9%
2037	15.9%	15.9%
2036	16%	15.9%
2035	16.1%	15.9%
2034	16.2%	15.9%
2033	16.4%	16%
2032	16.5%	16.1%
2031	16.7%	16.2%
2030	16.9%	16.3%
2029	17.1%	16.5%
2028	17.3%	16.6%
2027	17.5%	16.8%
2026	17.8%	17%
2025	18%	17.2%
2024	18.1%	17.3%
2023	18.4%	17.6%
2022	18.6%	17.9%
2021	18.9%	18.1%
2020	19%	18.4%
2019	19.2%	18.6%
2018	19.3%	18.8%
2017	19.5%	18.9%
2016	19.6%	19.1%
2015	19.9%	19.2%
2014	20.2%	19.3%
2013	20.4%	19.4%
2012	20.6%	19.5%
2011	20.8%	19.6%
2010	20.9%	19.7%
2009	20.9%	19.8%
2008	21%	19.9%
2007	21.1%	20%
2006	21.3%	20.2%
2005	21.5%	20.3%
2004	21.8%	20.5%
2003	22.1%	20.7%
2002	22.4%	20.9%
2001	22.6%	21%
2000	22.8%	21.2%
1999	22.9%	21.3%
1998	23%	21.4%
1997	23%	21.5%
1996	23%	21.7%
1995	23.1%	21.8%
1994	23.1%	21.9%
1993	23.1%	21.9%
1992	23.1%	21.8%
1991	23.2%	21.7%
1990	23.3%	21.6%
1989	23.3%	21.5%
1988	23.5%	21.3%
1987	23.8%	21.3%
1986	24.2%	21.3%
1985	24.6%	21.5%
1984	25.1%	21.7%
1983	25.6%	21.8%
1982	26.2%	22%
1981	26.7%	22.1%
1980	27.2%	22.4%
1979	27.8%	22.8%
1978	28.4%	23.2%
1977	29%	23.8%
1976	29.6%	24.4%
1975	30.1%	25.2%
1974	30.5%	25.9%
1973	31%	26.6%
1972	31.4%	27.4%
1971	31.7%	28%
1970	31.9%	28.6%
1969	32.2%	29%
1968	32.3%	29.5%
1967	32.5%	30%
1966	32.6%	30.4%
1965	32.7%	30.7%
1964	32.9%	30.9%
1963	32.9%	31.1%
1962	33%	31.3%
1961	33%	31.4%
1960	32.8%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.1% of the population in New Zealand and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 23.3% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of New Zealand and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: New Zealand vs United States

Chart Table

New Zealand

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	New Zealand	United States
2023	7	17
2022	23	20
2021	8	31
2020	8	22
2019	8	18
2018	7	18
2017	8	18
2016	8	18
2015	8	17
2014	7	17
2013	8	16
2012	9	16
2011	10	15
2010	10	15
2009	10	15
2008	10	14
2007	10	13
2006	10	13
2005	11	13
2004	11	13
2003	11	13
2002	11	13
2001	10	13
2000	11	12
1999	12	12
1998	12	11
1997	13	11
1996	14	11
1995	14	12
1994	13	11
1993	14	12
1992	15	11
1991	16	12
1990	18	12
1989	18	12
1988	19	12
1987	19	11
1986	18	11
1985	19	11

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in New Zealand, compared to 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

New Zealand

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	New Zealand	United States
2023	0.47%	0.65%
2022	0.48%	0.65%
2021	0.49%	0.65%
2020	0.5%	0.65%
2019	0.51%	0.65%
2018	0.52%	0.65%
2017	0.53%	0.66%
2016	0.55%	0.67%
2015	0.56%	0.68%
2014	0.57%	0.68%
2013	0.59%	0.69%
2012	0.6%	0.7%
2011	0.61%	0.72%
2010	0.62%	0.73%
2009	0.63%	0.75%
2008	0.64%	0.76%
2007	0.65%	0.77%
2006	0.65%	0.79%
2005	0.66%	0.8%
2004	0.67%	0.81%
2003	0.69%	0.81%
2002	0.7%	0.82%
2001	0.72%	0.83%
2000	0.74%	0.84%
1999	0.76%	0.86%
1998	0.78%	0.87%
1997	0.81%	0.89%
1996	0.84%	0.92%
1995	0.87%	0.95%
1994	0.91%	0.98%
1993	0.95%	1.01%
1992	1%	1.05%
1991	1.06%	1.09%
1990	1.12%	1.12%
1989	1.18%	1.16%
1988	1.24%	1.19%
1987	1.29%	1.21%
1986	1.34%	1.24%
1985	1.38%	1.27%
1984	1.41%	1.3%
1983	1.45%	1.34%
1982	1.48%	1.39%
1981	1.52%	1.44%
1980	1.56%	1.5%
1979	1.61%	1.56%
1978	1.66%	1.63%
1977	1.71%	1.71%
1976	1.77%	1.79%
1975	1.83%	1.88%
1974	1.88%	1.97%
1973	1.94%	2.06%
1972	1.98%	2.15%
1971	2.03%	2.24%
1970	2.08%	2.32%
1969	2.12%	2.41%
1968	2.16%	2.49%
1967	2.2%	2.57%
1966	2.25%	2.64%
1965	2.31%	2.71%
1964	2.39%	2.77%
1963	2.48%	2.83%
1962	2.58%	2.89%
1961	2.68%	2.95%
1960	2.78%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.47% in New Zealand and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.