North Korea birth & fertility rate charts by year

Fertility rate in North Korea by year

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in North Korea was 1.78 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1996. In 1993, the fertility rate was 2.22 — a 19.7% 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

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in North Korea (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.42% annually. On average, 109,737 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.33% — 86,203 more people were born than died.

In 2023, North Korea ranks 83/196 for absolute natural population change and 131/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates by women's age

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in North Korea by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 0.12% will be to women under age 20, 65.3% to women ages 20-29, and 34.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 0.76%, 69.8%, and 29.5%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
	North Korea	World
2100	13%	16.5%
2099	13.1%	16.6%
2098	13.2%	16.6%
2097	13.3%	16.7%
2096	13.4%	16.8%
2095	13.4%	16.8%
2094	13.5%	16.9%
2093	13.6%	17%
2092	13.7%	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	13.8%	17.5%
2084	13.8%	17.5%
2083	13.8%	17.6%
2082	13.7%	17.7%
2081	13.7%	17.7%
2080	13.7%	17.8%
2079	13.6%	17.8%
2078	13.6%	17.9%
2077	13.6%	17.9%
2076	13.6%	18%
2075	13.7%	18%
2074	13.7%	18.1%
2073	13.8%	18.2%
2072	13.8%	18.2%
2071	14%	18.3%
2070	14.1%	18.3%
2069	14.2%	18.4%
2068	14.3%	18.5%
2067	14.5%	18.6%
2066	14.6%	18.6%
2065	14.8%	18.7%
2064	14.9%	18.8%
2063	15%	18.9%
2062	15.1%	19.1%
2061	15.2%	19.2%
2060	15.3%	19.3%
2059	15.4%	19.4%
2058	15.4%	19.5%
2057	15.4%	19.6%
2056	15.4%	19.8%
2055	15.4%	19.9%
2054	15.4%	20%
2053	15.3%	20.1%
2052	15.3%	20.2%
2051	15.2%	20.3%
2050	15.2%	20.4%
2049	15.2%	20.5%
2048	15.2%	20.6%
2047	15.2%	20.7%
2046	15.3%	20.8%
2045	15.3%	20.9%
2044	15.5%	20.9%
2043	15.6%	21%
2042	15.8%	21.1%
2041	16%	21.2%
2040	16.2%	21.2%
2039	16.5%	21.3%
2038	16.7%	21.4%
2037	17%	21.5%
2036	17.2%	21.6%
2035	17.5%	21.8%
2034	17.8%	22%
2033	18%	22.2%
2032	18.2%	22.4%
2031	18.4%	22.7%
2030	18.6%	23%
2029	18.7%	23.3%
2028	18.8%	23.6%
2027	18.9%	23.9%
2026	18.9%	24.2%
2025	18.9%	24.6%
2024	18.9%	24.7%
2023	19%	25%
2022	19%	25.3%
2021	19.1%	25.6%
2020	19.1%	25.8%
2019	19.1%	26%
2018	19.2%	26.2%
2017	19.4%	26.4%
2016	19.6%	26.5%
2015	19.8%	26.6%
2014	20.1%	26.8%
2013	20.4%	26.9%
2012	20.8%	27%
2011	21.2%	27.1%
2010	21.6%	27.3%
2009	22.1%	27.5%
2008	22.5%	27.6%
2007	23%	27.9%
2006	23.4%	28.1%
2005	23.9%	28.5%
2004	24.3%	28.8%
2003	24.6%	29.2%
2002	25%	29.6%
2001	25.3%	30%
2000	25.6%	30.4%
1999	25.8%	30.8%
1998	26%	31.1%
1997	26.2%	31.5%
1996	26.3%	31.8%
1995	26.4%	32.1%
1994	26.4%	32.3%
1993	26.4%	32.5%
1992	26.3%	32.7%
1991	26.4%	32.9%
1990	26.5%	33%
1989	26.8%	33.2%
1988	27.3%	33.4%
1987	28%	33.6%
1986	29%	33.8%
1985	29.9%	34%
1984	30.9%	34.3%
1983	32%	34.6%
1982	33.1%	34.9%
1981	34.2%	35.2%
1980	35.1%	35.5%
1979	36%	35.9%
1978	36.9%	36.3%
1977	37.7%	36.7%
1976	38.3%	36.9%
1975	38.8%	37.1%
1974	39.3%	37.2%
1973	39.8%	37.3%
1972	40.2%	37.5%
1971	40.3%	37.6%
1970	40.1%	37.7%
1969	39.8%	37.8%
1968	39.2%	37.9%
1967	38.3%	38%
1966	37.3%	38%
1965	36.7%	38%
1964	36.6%	38%
1963	36.5%	37.8%
1962	36.6%	37.6%
1961	37%	37.5%
1960	37.5%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in North Korea was 37.5% in 1960, 26.3% in 1992, and 18.9% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of North Korea.

Maternal mortality by year

Chart Table

North Korea

World's average

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	World
2023	67	197
2022	67	203
2021	72	242
2020	66	211
2019	66	207
2018	69	211
2017	70	215
2016	71	220
2015	72	228
2014	73	231
2013	75	235
2012	76	239
2011	76	247
2010	77	253
2009	78	258
2008	79	264
2007	80	269
2006	80	276
2005	78	283
2004	77	291
2003	76	301
2002	131	311
2001	130	321
2000	129	328
1999	129	340
1998	129	360
1997	128	358
1996	128	366
1995	127	371
1994	57	382
1993	46	389
1992	37	395
1991	38	395
1990	43	391
1989	49	401
1988	55	414
1987	62	429
1986	68	438
1985	76	460

The maternal mortality rate in North Korea was 67 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.07% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 48.1% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Chart Table

North Korea

World's average

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	World
2023	1.8%	2.49%
2022	1.77%	2.59%
2021	1.74%	2.66%
2020	1.74%	2.75%
2019	1.77%	2.86%
2018	1.84%	2.97%
2017	1.91%	3.11%
2016	2.06%	3.22%
2015	2.14%	3.35%
2014	2.26%	3.48%
2013	2.41%	3.61%
2012	2.57%	3.77%
2011	2.72%	3.97%
2010	2.87%	4.11%
2009	3%	4.31%
2008	3.1%	4.5%
2007	3.24%	4.7%
2006	3.28%	4.92%
2005	3.33%	5.16%
2004	3.38%	5.43%
2003	3.45%	5.65%
2002	9.78%	5.94%
2001	9.9%	6.21%
2000	10%	6.48%
1999	10.2%	6.75%
1998	10.3%	7.05%
1997	10.5%	7.28%
1996	10.6%	7.52%
1995	10.8%	7.76%
1994	4.25%	7.98%
1993	4.27%	8.19%
1992	4.25%	8.46%
1991	4.18%	8.66%
1990	4.07%	8.81%
1989	3.95%	9.02%
1988	3.83%	9.31%
1987	3.78%	9.47%
1986	3.68%	9.81%
1985	3.68%	10.1%
1984	3.71%	10.4%
1983	3.8%	10.6%
1982	3.91%	10.8%
1981	4.05%	11%
1980	4.22%	11.4%
1979	4.4%	11.7%
1978	4.59%	12.2%
1977	4.8%	12.6%
1976	5.03%	13%
1975	5.28%	13.4%
1974	5.56%	13.8%
1973	5.86%	14.1%
1972	6.2%	14.5%
1971	6.58%	15.1%
1970	6.99%	15.2%
1969	7.45%	15.4%
1968	7.94%	15.6%
1967	8.45%	15.9%
1966	8.96%	16.1%
1965	9.46%	16.4%
1964	9.92%	16.6%
1963	10.4%	16.5%
1962	10.8%	16.7%
1961	11.2%	17%
1960	11.6%	17.2%

The under-5 mortality rate in North Korea was 18 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1.8% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 100.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.