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Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe

Updated on by Georank team

North Korea has an annual birth rate of 12.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 28.2 for Sao Tome and Principe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.78 in North Korea and 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe — 104.7% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 50.1% in North Korea and by 41.6% in Sao Tome and Principe — in 1960, it was 3.57 and 6.24, respectively.

  • North Korea is ranked 109/196 by birth rate compared to 39/196 for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.8 in North Korea — it's 28.4 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 0.51 in North Korea vs 86.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • In North Korea, 23.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.2% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Fertility rate in North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

North Korea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Fertility rate
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 1.78 3.64
2022 1.8 3.7
2021 1.81 3.76
2020 1.82 3.83
2019 1.83 3.9
2018 1.83 3.98
2017 1.85 4.07
2016 1.86 4.2
2015 1.86 4.35
2014 1.87 4.49
2013 1.88 4.58
2012 1.88 4.66
2011 1.88 4.72
2010 1.89 4.77
2009 1.91 4.84
2008 1.97 4.91
2007 1.94 4.96
2006 1.94 4.93
2005 1.87 4.94
2004 1.9 4.96
2003 1.91 5.01
2002 1.92 5.06
2001 1.94 5.1
2000 1.94 5.16
1999 1.97 5.23
1998 1.99 5.3
1997 2.03 5.4
1996 2.09 5.47
1995 2.15 5.55
1994 2.18 5.56
1993 2.22 5.64
1992 2.29 5.7
1991 2.35 5.77
1990 2.39 5.83
1989 2.41 5.88
1988 2.47 5.94
1987 2.53 5.99
1986 2.59 6.05
1985 2.65 6.1
1984 2.71 6.16
1983 2.78 6.22
1982 2.85 6.28
1981 2.92 6.33
1980 2.84 6.39
1979 2.85 6.43
1978 2.79 6.47
1977 2.77 6.5
1976 2.84 6.52
1975 3.05 6.53
1974 3.14 6.53
1973 3.35 6.53
1972 3.89 6.51
1971 3.74 6.49
1970 3.85 6.47
1969 3.86 6.44
1968 3.87 6.42
1967 4.05 6.39
1966 3.71 6.37
1965 3.56 6.35
1964 3.55 6.33
1963 3.63 6.31
1962 3.41 6.28
1961 3.26 6.26
1960 3.57 6.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in North Korea was 1.78 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.64 in Sao Tome and Principe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

North Korea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Natural population change
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 86,203 5,221
2022 96,495 5,102
2021 99,710 4,954
2020 95,920 4,874
2019 106,208 4,932
2018 113,164 4,957
2017 120,181 5,007
2016 125,048 5,125
2015 127,365 5,269
2014 127,078 5,381
2013 122,519 5,449
2012 118,773 5,501
2011 114,798 5,445
2010 112,443 5,391
2009 111,530 5,349
2008 122,015 5,297
2007 120,521 5,226
2006 129,171 5,057
2005 132,765 4,897
2004 155,838 4,810
2003 178,775 4,702
2002 119,504 4,591
2001 143,321 4,471
2000 161,591 4,334
1999 181,613 4,221
1998 197,589 4,120
1997 211,325 4,041
1996 226,095 3,993
1995 233,381 3,948
1994 320,861 3,860
1993 320,880 3,841
1992 324,002 3,822
1991 320,551 3,801
1990 312,460 3,719
1989 303,078 3,576
1988 299,305 3,544
1987 296,030 3,440
1986 293,227 3,180
1985 287,714 3,242
1984 282,987 3,163
1983 279,046 3,100
1982 276,332 3,047
1981 273,800 3,015
1980 255,206 2,965
1979 251,409 2,893
1978 243,533 2,800
1977 242,870 2,705
1976 255,841 2,608
1975 288,966 2,515
1974 306,902 2,422
1973 338,600 2,329
1972 411,997 2,232
1971 393,220 2,127
1970 406,129 1,980
1969 404,189 1,862
1968 399,837 1,767
1967 414,632 1,693
1966 363,882 1,642
1965 335,587 1,611
1964 323,623 1,600
1963 321,805 1,609
1962 286,534 1,625
1961 257,788 1,657
1960 277,717 1,547

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 +0.33% in North Korea and +2.26% in Sao Tome and Principe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +2.4% in Sao Tome and Principe.

Birth rate in North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe by year

North Korea
Sao Tome and Principe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 12.9 28.2
2022 13.1 28.3
2021 13.3 28.5
2020 13.4 28.6
2019 13.4 29.2
2018 13.4 29.8
2017 13.5 30.6
2016 13.5 31.7
2015 13.4 33
2014 13.4 34.3
2013 13.4 35.4
2012 13.3 36.4
2011 13.3 36.8
2010 13.3 37.3
2009 13.4 37.9
2008 13.9 38.5
2007 13.9 38.9
2006 14 38.9
2005 13.9 39
2004 14.6 39.2
2003 15.3 39.6
2002 16.1 39.8
2001 16.9 40
2000 17.5 39.7
1999 18.3 39.4
1998 18.9 39.2
1997 19.4 39.2
1996 20 39.3
1995 20.3 39.5
1994 20.4 39.4
1993 20.4 39.8
1992 20.5 40.2
1991 20.6 40.7
1990 20.5 40.7
1989 20.2 40.9
1988 20.2 40.9
1987 20.3 41
1986 20.4 41
1985 20.4 41
1984 20.4 41.1
1983 20.5 41.2
1982 20.6 41.3
1981 20.8 41.5
1980 20.1 41.6
1979 20.2 41.6
1978 20.1 41.4
1977 20.4 41.3
1976 21.5 41.1
1975 23.9 40.9
1974 25.6 40.6
1973 28.2 40.3
1972 33.7 39.9
1971 33.4 39.5
1970 35.3 38.8
1969 36.2 38.2
1968 37.1 37.8
1967 39.3 37.7
1966 36.6 38
1965 35.4 38.6
1964 35.4 39.7
1963 36.1 41.1
1962 34 42.7
1961 32.3 44.6
1960 34.8 44.6

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 28.2 in Sao Tome and Principe, compared with 34.8 and 44.6, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

North Korea Sao Tome
Fertility rate 1.78 3.64
Fertility rate rank 112/196 41/196
Birth rate 12.9 28.2
Birth rate rank 109/196 39/196
Population change due to births and deaths +86,203 +5,221
Natural population change rank 83/196 126/196
Natural population change rate +0.33% +2.26%
Population growth +0.31% +2.02%
Population growth rank 150/197 49/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 19.4 years
Average age at childbearing 28.8 years 28.4 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 0.49 82.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 120.2 169.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 13.5 47.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.3% 25.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 68.8% 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.5% 96.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.07% 0.08%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.96% 0.68%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.45% 0.94%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.8% 1.39%
Life expectancy 74 years 70.3 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

North Korea
Factual

UN forecast
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
North Korea Sao Tome
2100 13% 19.5%
2099 13.1% 19.6%
2098 13.2% 19.8%
2097 13.3% 19.9%
2096 13.4% 20%
2095 13.4% 20.2%
2094 13.5% 20.3%
2093 13.6% 20.4%
2092 13.7% 20.6%
2091 13.8% 20.7%
2090 13.8% 20.9%
2089 13.8% 21.1%
2088 13.9% 21.2%
2087 13.9% 21.4%
2086 13.9% 21.6%
2085 13.8% 21.8%
2084 13.8% 22%
2083 13.8% 22.2%
2082 13.7% 22.4%
2081 13.7% 22.6%
2080 13.7% 22.9%
2079 13.6% 23.1%
2078 13.6% 23.3%
2077 13.6% 23.5%
2076 13.6% 23.7%
2075 13.7% 24%
2074 13.7% 24.2%
2073 13.8% 24.4%
2072 13.8% 24.6%
2071 14% 24.8%
2070 14.1% 25%
2069 14.2% 25.2%
2068 14.3% 25.4%
2067 14.5% 25.6%
2066 14.6% 25.9%
2065 14.8% 26.1%
2064 14.9% 26.3%
2063 15% 26.5%
2062 15.1% 26.8%
2061 15.2% 27%
2060 15.3% 27.3%
2059 15.4% 27.5%
2058 15.4% 27.8%
2057 15.4% 28.1%
2056 15.4% 28.4%
2055 15.4% 28.7%
2054 15.4% 29%
2053 15.3% 29.4%
2052 15.3% 29.7%
2051 15.2% 30.1%
2050 15.2% 30.4%
2049 15.2% 30.8%
2048 15.2% 31.1%
2047 15.2% 31.5%
2046 15.3% 31.8%
2045 15.3% 32.1%
2044 15.5% 32.5%
2043 15.6% 32.8%
2042 15.8% 33.1%
2041 16% 33.4%
2040 16.2% 33.6%
2039 16.5% 33.9%
2038 16.7% 34.1%
2037 17% 34.4%
2036 17.2% 34.6%
2035 17.5% 34.7%
2034 17.8% 34.9%
2033 18% 35.1%
2032 18.2% 35.3%
2031 18.4% 35.5%
2030 18.6% 35.8%
2029 18.7% 36.1%
2028 18.8% 36.6%
2027 18.9% 37%
2026 18.9% 37.3%
2025 18.9% 37.6%
2024 18.9% 37.8%
2023 19% 38.3%
2022 19% 38.8%
2021 19.1% 39.4%
2020 19.1% 39.9%
2019 19.1% 40.5%
2018 19.2% 40.9%
2017 19.4% 41.4%
2016 19.6% 41.7%
2015 19.8% 41.9%
2014 20.1% 42%
2013 20.4% 42%
2012 20.8% 42%
2011 21.2% 42%
2010 21.6% 42.1%
2009 22.1% 42.1%
2008 22.5% 42.1%
2007 23% 42%
2006 23.4% 42%
2005 23.9% 42%
2004 24.3% 42.1%
2003 24.6% 42.2%
2002 25% 42.3%
2001 25.3% 42.5%
2000 25.6% 42.8%
1999 25.8% 43.4%
1998 26% 43.9%
1997 26.2% 44.3%
1996 26.3% 44.7%
1995 26.4% 44.9%
1994 26.4% 45.1%
1993 26.4% 45.2%
1992 26.3% 45.2%
1991 26.4% 45.1%
1990 26.5% 45.1%
1989 26.8% 45%
1988 27.3% 45%
1987 28% 44.9%
1986 29% 44.7%
1985 29.9% 44.5%
1984 30.9% 44.4%
1983 32% 44.5%
1982 33.1% 44.5%
1981 34.2% 44.7%
1980 35.1% 44.9%
1979 36% 45.1%
1978 36.9% 45.2%
1977 37.7% 45.3%
1976 38.3% 45.4%
1975 38.8% 45.5%
1974 39.3% 45.6%
1973 39.8% 45.7%
1972 40.2% 45.9%
1971 40.3% 46.1%
1970 40.1% 46.2%
1969 39.8% 45.8%
1968 39.2% 44.9%
1967 38.3% 44%
1966 37.3% 42.9%
1965 36.7% 41.6%
1964 36.6% 40.2%
1963 36.5% 38.5%
1962 36.6% 36.6%
1961 37% 34.3%
1960 37.5% 32.9%

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/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 37.8% in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 45.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and Sao Tome and Principe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs Sao Tome and Principe

North Korea
Sao Tome and Principe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 67 75
2022 67 82
2021 72 98
2020 66 92
2019 66 95
2018 69 100
2017 70 110
2016 71 119
2015 72 128
2014 73 138
2013 75 150
2012 76 158
2011 76 164
2010 77 170
2009 78 172
2008 79 174
2007 80 174
2006 80 177
2005 78 181
2004 77 177
2003 76 178
2002 131 179
2001 130 178
2000 129 180
1999 129 179
1998 129 175
1997 128 173
1996 128 171
1995 127 172
1994 57 168
1993 46 166
1992 37 164
1991 38 166
1990 43 164
1989 49 167
1988 55 157
1987 62 161
1986 68 175
1985 76 159

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 67 deaths per 100,000 live births in North Korea, compared to 75 deaths in Sao Tome and Principe.

Under-five mortality rates

North Korea
Sao Tome and Principe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
North Korea Sao Tome
2023 1.8% 1.39%
2022 1.77% 1.46%
2021 1.74% 1.53%
2020 1.74% 1.6%
2019 1.77% 1.7%
2018 1.84% 1.81%
2017 1.91% 1.95%
2016 2.06% 2.11%
2015 2.14% 2.31%
2014 2.26% 2.54%
2013 2.41% 2.77%
2012 2.57% 3.04%
2011 2.72% 3.33%
2010 2.87% 3.63%
2009 3% 3.95%
2008 3.1% 4.3%
2007 3.24% 4.68%
2006 3.28% 5.11%
2005 3.33% 5.56%
2004 3.38% 6.05%
2003 3.45% 6.57%
2002 9.78% 7.1%
2001 9.9% 7.66%
2000 10% 8.21%
1999 10.2% 8.76%
1998 10.3% 9.26%
1997 10.5% 9.73%
1996 10.6% 10.1%
1995 10.8% 10.4%
1994 4.25% 10.7%
1993 4.27% 10.8%
1992 4.25% 10.9%
1991 4.18% 10.9%
1990 4.07% 10.8%
1989 3.95% 10.7%
1988 3.83% 10.6%
1987 3.78% 10.4%
1986 3.68% 11.4%
1985 3.68% 9.99%
1984 3.71% 9.77%
1983 3.8% 9.56%
1982 3.91% 9.37%
1981 4.05% 9.21%
1980 4.22% 9.1%
1979 4.4% 9.02%
1978 4.59% 8.96%
1977 4.8% 8.93%
1976 5.03% 8.89%
1975 5.28% 8.85%
1974 5.56% 8.79%
1973 5.86% 8.73%
1972 6.2% 8.67%
1971 6.58% 8.63%
1970 6.99% 8.64%
1969 7.45% 8.71%
1968 7.94% 8.85%
1967 8.45% 9.04%
1966 8.96% 9.29%
1965 9.46% 9.56%
1964 9.92% -
1963 10.4% -
1962 10.8% -
1961 11.2% -
1960 11.6% -

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/north-korea/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 1.39% in Sao Tome and Principe. 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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