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Fertility & birth rates in Nigeria and South Korea

Updated on by Georank team

Nigeria has an annual birth rate of 33 births per 1,000 people, compared to 4.5 for South Korea. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.48 in Nigeria and 0.72 in South Korea — 83.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 29.6% in Nigeria and by 88% in South Korea — in 1960, it was 6.36 and 5.99, respectively.

  • Nigeria is ranked 20/196 by birth rate compared to 196/196 for South Korea.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 20.4 years in Nigeria, compared to 32.2 years in South Korea.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.1 in Nigeria — it's 33.4 in South Korea.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 86.4 in Nigeria vs 0.54 in South Korea.
  • In Nigeria, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.7% in South Korea.

Fertility rate in Nigeria vs South Korea by year

Nigeria
South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Nigeria South Korea
2023 4.48 0.72
2022 4.55 0.78
2021 4.64 0.81
2020 4.7 0.84
2019 4.86 0.92
2018 5.02 0.98
2017 5.18 1.05
2016 5.34 1.17
2015 5.5 1.24
2014 5.62 1.21
2013 5.69 1.19
2012 5.8 1.3
2011 5.89 1.24
2010 5.95 1.23
2009 5.99 1.15
2008 6.02 1.19
2007 6.03 1.26
2006 6.05 1.13
2005 6.06 1.09
2004 6.09 1.16
2003 6.1 1.19
2002 6.12 1.18
2001 6.13 1.31
2000 6.12 1.48
1999 6.08 1.43
1998 6.07 1.46
1997 6.14 1.54
1996 6.22 1.57
1995 6.27 1.63
1994 6.32 1.66
1993 6.35 1.65
1992 6.39 1.76
1991 6.43 1.71
1990 6.46 1.57
1989 6.49 1.56
1988 6.5 1.55
1987 6.5 1.53
1986 6.56 1.58
1985 6.62 1.66
1984 6.7 1.74
1983 6.78 2.06
1982 6.8 2.39
1981 6.82 2.57
1980 6.85 2.82
1979 6.89 2.9
1978 6.92 2.64
1977 6.86 2.99
1976 6.81 3
1975 6.77 3.43
1974 6.7 3.77
1973 6.63 4.07
1972 6.58 4.12
1971 6.53 4.54
1970 6.47 4.53
1969 6.44 4.45
1968 6.42 4.51
1967 6.4 4.62
1966 6.39 4.78
1965 6.37 4.89
1964 6.36 5.07
1963 6.35 5.33
1962 6.36 5.56
1961 6.35 5.8
1960 6.36 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Nigeria was 4.48 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Nigeria vs South Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Nigeria
South Korea
1x
Year Natural population change
Nigeria South Korea
2023 4,834,309 -77,569
2022 4,739,502 -124,014
2021 4,641,562 -56,947
2020 4,525,164 -31,101
2019 4,609,941 10,353
2018 4,659,898 30,951
2017 4,706,183 71,907
2016 4,761,594 122,923
2015 4,823,045 163,248
2014 4,862,319 167,464
2013 4,811,751 166,415
2012 4,774,508 215,859
2011 4,728,363 214,728
2010 4,629,173 213,083
2009 4,528,149 197,231
2008 4,412,976 215,841
2007 4,265,428 248,286
2006 4,135,703 203,441
2005 4,013,788 187,920
2004 3,877,376 225,988
2003 3,751,120 244,251
2002 3,606,814 247,752
2001 3,478,370 312,643
2000 3,343,196 390,167
1999 3,155,425 368,272
1998 3,003,946 393,436
1997 2,936,500 422,773
1996 2,882,205 446,142
1995 2,830,771 468,967
1994 2,735,198 473,200
1993 2,673,675 477,302
1992 2,596,173 494,352
1991 2,527,807 467,594
1990 2,491,928 411,546
1989 2,452,324 403,266
1988 2,376,419 399,297
1987 2,322,397 378,758
1986 2,295,003 395,651
1985 2,289,784 416,219
1984 2,278,060 436,384
1983 2,292,089 514,844
1982 2,233,401 605,626
1981 2,179,884 631,189
1980 2,121,618 583,294
1979 2,074,807 623,068
1978 2,019,621 499,084
1977 1,923,917 578,947
1976 1,827,289 530,558
1975 1,718,623 603,300
1974 1,624,813 673,030
1973 1,525,485 699,115
1972 1,448,928 740,469
1971 1,373,896 789,185
1970 1,295,507 747,987
1969 1,213,484 694,227
1968 1,168,254 684,487
1967 1,082,884 692,169
1966 1,095,582 623,534
1965 1,061,840 641,090
1964 1,028,272 655,501
1963 995,116 685,824
1962 966,452 712,590
1961 932,111 730,173
1960 901,301 728,010

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | 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 +2.12% in Nigeria and -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.29% in Nigeria and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Nigeria vs South Korea by year

Nigeria
South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Nigeria South Korea
2023 33 4.5
2022 33.2 4.9
2021 33.5 5.1
2020 33.7 5.3
2019 34.7 5.9
2018 35.7 6.4
2017 36.7 7
2016 37.8 7.9
2015 39 8.6
2014 39.9 8.6
2013 40.4 8.6
2012 41.1 9.6
2011 41.8 9.4
2010 42.1 9.4
2009 42.5 9
2008 42.8 9.4
2007 42.9 10.1
2006 43.2 9.2
2005 43.4 9
2004 43.5 9.8
2003 43.7 10.2
2002 43.8 10.3
2001 43.9 11.7
2000 43.9 13.5
1999 43.4 13.2
1998 43.2 13.7
1997 43.5 14.5
1996 43.9 15
1995 44.1 15.7
1994 44 16
1993 44.1 16
1992 44.2 16.7
1991 44.3 16.4
1990 44.5 15.2
1989 44.8 15.1
1988 44.7 15.1
1987 44.8 15
1986 45.3 15.4
1985 45.9 16.1
1984 46.5 16.7
1983 47.5 19.3
1982 47.5 21.6
1981 47.9 22.4
1980 48.3 22.6
1979 48.8 23
1978 49.3 20.3
1977 49.1 22.7
1976 49 22.2
1975 49 24.8
1974 48.7 26.6
1973 48.2 28.3
1972 48 28.4
1971 47.8 31.2
1970 47.4 31.2
1969 47.3 30.3
1968 47.2 30.7
1967 47.1 31.5
1966 47 32.8
1965 46.9 33.8
1964 46.9 35.2
1963 46.8 37.2
1962 46.7 39
1961 46.6 40.9
1960 46.5 42.1

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33 in Nigeria and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 46.5 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Nigeria South Korea
Fertility rate 4.48 0.72
Fertility rate rank 15/196 196/196
Birth rate 33 4.5
Birth rate rank 20/196 196/196
Population change due to births and deaths +4,834,309 -77,569
Natural population change rank 3/196 187/196
Natural population change rate +2.12% -0.15%
Population growth +2.1% +0.07%
Population growth rank 48/197 160/197
Age at first childbirth 20.4 years 32.2 years
Average age at childbearing 29.1 years 33.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 80.7 0.56
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 200.4 14.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 67.2 10.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 21.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 18.2% 67.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 50.7% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.99% 0.004%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.37% 0.12%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 6.01% 0.23%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 10.5% 0.28%
Life expectancy 55 years 84.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
South Korea
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Nigeria South Korea
2100 20.4% 8.61%
2099 20.5% 8.6%
2098 20.6% 8.59%
2097 20.7% 8.59%
2096 20.8% 8.59%
2095 20.9% 8.6%
2094 21% 8.61%
2093 21.1% 8.62%
2092 21.2% 8.62%
2091 21.4% 8.62%
2090 21.5% 8.62%
2089 21.6% 8.6%
2088 21.8% 8.58%
2087 21.9% 8.55%
2086 22.1% 8.5%
2085 22.2% 8.45%
2084 22.4% 8.39%
2083 22.6% 8.33%
2082 22.7% 8.26%
2081 22.9% 8.18%
2080 23.1% 8.09%
2079 23.3% 8%
2078 23.5% 7.91%
2077 23.7% 7.82%
2076 23.9% 7.72%
2075 24.1% 7.63%
2074 24.3% 7.53%
2073 24.5% 7.44%
2072 24.7% 7.35%
2071 25% 7.28%
2070 25.2% 7.21%
2069 25.4% 7.16%
2068 25.7% 7.13%
2067 25.9% 7.11%
2066 26.1% 7.11%
2065 26.4% 7.14%
2064 26.6% 7.18%
2063 26.9% 7.23%
2062 27.2% 7.3%
2061 27.4% 7.37%
2060 27.7% 7.45%
2059 28% 7.52%
2058 28.3% 7.6%
2057 28.6% 7.66%
2056 29% 7.72%
2055 29.3% 7.76%
2054 29.6% 7.79%
2053 30% 7.81%
2052 30.3% 7.83%
2051 30.7% 7.83%
2050 31.1% 7.83%
2049 31.5% 7.82%
2048 31.8% 7.81%
2047 32.2% 7.8%
2046 32.6% 7.79%
2045 32.9% 7.78%
2044 33.3% 7.78%
2043 33.7% 7.77%
2042 34% 7.76%
2041 34.4% 7.74%
2040 34.7% 7.72%
2039 35% 7.7%
2038 35.4% 7.66%
2037 35.7% 7.65%
2036 36% 7.65%
2035 36.3% 7.66%
2034 36.6% 7.73%
2033 37% 7.85%
2032 37.4% 8.02%
2031 37.8% 8.28%
2030 38.3% 8.59%
2029 38.8% 8.9%
2028 39.3% 9.23%
2027 39.8% 9.62%
2026 40.3% 10%
2025 40.8% 10.4%
2024 41% 10.6%
2023 41.5% 11%
2022 42% 11.4%
2021 42.4% 11.8%
2020 42.8% 12.1%
2019 43.2% 12.4%
2018 43.6% 12.7%
2017 43.9% 13%
2016 44.1% 13.4%
2015 44.3% 13.8%
2014 44.4% 14.2%
2013 44.5% 14.7%
2012 44.5% 15.2%
2011 44.5% 15.8%
2010 44.4% 16.4%
2009 44.4% 16.9%
2008 44.3% 17.5%
2007 44.2% 18.1%
2006 44.1% 18.7%
2005 44% 19.2%
2004 43.9% 19.7%
2003 43.8% 20.1%
2002 43.8% 20.5%
2001 43.7% 20.8%
2000 43.7% 21%
1999 43.8% 21.2%
1998 43.9% 21.6%
1997 44.1% 22%
1996 44.2% 22.5%
1995 44.4% 23.1%
1994 44.6% 23.7%
1993 44.8% 24.2%
1992 45% 24.7%
1991 45.2% 25.2%
1990 45.3% 25.8%
1989 45.5% 26.5%
1988 45.5% 27.3%
1987 45.6% 28.2%
1986 45.6% 29.2%
1985 45.5% 30.2%
1984 45.4% 31.2%
1983 45.2% 32%
1982 45% 32.7%
1981 44.8% 33.3%
1980 44.6% 34%
1979 44.4% 34.8%
1978 44.2% 35.6%
1977 43.9% 36.5%
1976 43.7% 37.5%
1975 43.4% 38.5%
1974 43.2% 39.5%
1973 43% 40.3%
1972 42.8% 41%
1971 42.5% 41.5%
1970 42.4% 42.1%
1969 42.2% 42.7%
1968 42% 43.1%
1967 41.8% 43.3%
1966 41.7% 43.5%
1965 41.5% 43.3%
1964 41.4% 43.1%
1963 41.2% 42.7%
1962 41.1% 42.3%
1961 41.1% 41.8%
1960 41.1% 41.3%

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/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 41% of the population in Nigeria and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 45.3% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Nigeria and South Korea compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Nigeria vs South Korea

Nigeria
South Korea
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Nigeria South Korea
2023 993 4
2022 1,016 7
2021 1,046 5
2020 1,065 12
2019 1,091 5
2018 1,118 5
2017 1,142 6
2016 1,155 6
2015 1,168 6
2014 1,155 7
2013 1,146 7
2012 1,124 8
2011 1,108 8
2010 1,094 8
2009 1,088 9
2008 1,081 9
2007 1,063 10
2006 1,067 10
2005 1,060 11
2004 1,075 12
2003 1,090 13
2002 1,117 13
2001 1,130 14
2000 1,136 15
1999 1,165 17
1998 1,189 18
1997 1,184 19
1996 1,185 20
1995 1,186 22
1994 1,193 23
1993 1,200 24
1992 1,246 26
1991 1,282 28
1990 1,285 28
1989 1,304 29
1988 1,332 31
1987 1,351 34
1986 1,363 35
1985 1,344 38

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 993 deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria, compared to 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Nigeria
South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Nigeria South Korea
2023 10.5% 0.28%
2022 10.8% 0.28%
2021 11.1% 0.29%
2020 11.4% 0.3%
2019 11.8% 0.31%
2018 12% 0.32%
2017 12.3% 0.33%
2016 12.5% 0.34%
2015 12.6% 0.35%
2014 12.8% 0.36%
2013 12.9% 0.37%
2012 13.1% 0.38%
2011 13.3% 0.4%
2010 13.5% 0.41%
2009 13.8% 0.43%
2008 14.1% 0.45%
2007 14.5% 0.48%
2006 15% 0.52%
2005 15.5% 0.56%
2004 16% 0.6%
2003 16.5% 0.64%
2002 17.1% 0.68%
2001 17.7% 0.71%
2000 18.2% 0.75%
1999 18.8% 0.8%
1998 19.3% 0.85%
1997 19.7% 0.91%
1996 20.1% 0.98%
1995 20.4% 1.05%
1994 20.6% 1.14%
1993 20.7% 1.23%
1992 20.8% 1.33%
1991 20.9% 1.44%
1990 21% 1.57%
1989 21% 1.71%
1988 21% 1.87%
1987 20.9% 2.05%
1986 20.9% 2.25%
1985 20.8% 2.46%
1984 20.7% 2.7%
1983 20.7% 2.93%
1982 20.8% 3.17%
1981 21% 3.4%
1980 21.3% 3.63%
1979 21.8% 3.84%
1978 22.3% 4.04%
1977 22.9% 4.23%
1976 23.6% 4.42%
1975 24.4% 4.61%
1974 25.2% 4.82%
1973 26.1% 5.07%
1972 26.9% 5.36%
1971 27.7% 5.71%
1970 28.5% 6.12%
1969 29.3% 6.59%
1968 30% 7.1%
1967 30.7% 7.62%
1966 31.3% 8.16%
1965 32% 8.68%
1964 32.7% 9.18%
1963 - 9.67%
1962 - 10.1%
1961 - 10.6%
1960 - 11.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/nigeria/south-korea | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 10.5% in Nigeria and 0.28% in South Korea. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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