Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and Sierra Leone

Fertility rate in North Korea vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2023	1.78	3.79
2022	1.8	3.88
2021	1.81	3.98
2020	1.82	4.08
2019	1.83	4.19
2018	1.83	4.29
2017	1.85	4.39
2016	1.86	4.47
2015	1.86	4.55
2014	1.87	4.7
2013	1.88	4.87
2012	1.88	5.06
2011	1.88	5.21
2010	1.89	5.33
2009	1.91	5.45
2008	1.97	5.56
2007	1.94	5.64
2006	1.94	5.74
2005	1.87	5.81
2004	1.9	5.92
2003	1.91	6.09
2002	1.92	6.23
2001	1.94	6.31
2000	1.94	6.36
1999	1.97	6.42
1998	1.99	6.5
1997	2.03	6.53
1996	2.09	6.55
1995	2.15	6.56
1994	2.18	6.56
1993	2.22	6.57
1992	2.29	6.56
1991	2.35	6.55
1990	2.39	6.57
1989	2.41	6.57
1988	2.47	6.59
1987	2.53	6.61
1986	2.59	6.6
1985	2.65	6.59
1984	2.71	6.59
1983	2.78	6.57
1982	2.85	6.56
1981	2.92	6.55
1980	2.84	6.56
1979	2.85	6.58
1978	2.79	6.59
1977	2.77	6.57
1976	2.84	6.55
1975	3.05	6.55
1974	3.14	6.53
1973	3.35	6.47
1972	3.89	6.45
1971	3.74	6.43
1970	3.85	6.41
1969	3.86	6.39
1968	3.87	6.39
1967	4.05	6.38
1966	3.71	6.35
1965	3.56	6.31
1964	3.55	6.29
1963	3.63	6.26
1962	3.41	6.22
1961	3.26	6.21
1960	3.57	6.18

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 3.79 in Sierra Leone in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check North Korea vs Sierra Leone population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Natural population change
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2023	86,203	188,788
2022	96,495	186,625
2021	99,710	183,326
2020	95,920	181,015
2019	106,208	181,068
2018	113,164	178,772
2017	120,181	173,259
2016	125,048	168,784
2015	127,365	162,275
2014	127,078	160,137
2013	122,519	161,265
2012	118,773	160,915
2011	114,798	158,858
2010	112,443	155,338
2009	111,530	152,669
2008	122,015	149,855
2007	120,521	145,740
2006	129,171	144,127
2005	132,765	137,234
2004	155,838	132,661
2003	178,775	130,312
2002	119,504	126,429
2001	143,321	116,647
2000	161,591	110,754
1999	181,613	102,295
1998	197,589	103,906
1997	211,325	105,433
1996	226,095	104,140
1995	233,381	100,885
1994	320,861	101,486
1993	320,880	103,317
1992	324,002	103,251
1991	320,551	105,477
1990	312,460	100,778
1989	303,078	98,298
1988	299,305	96,344
1987	296,030	94,235
1986	293,227	90,902
1985	287,714	88,869
1984	282,987	87,072
1983	279,046	84,628
1982	276,332	82,457
1981	273,800	80,111
1980	255,206	77,932
1979	251,409	75,992
1978	243,533	74,130
1977	242,870	71,663
1976	255,841	69,506
1975	288,966	67,560
1974	306,902	65,357
1973	338,600	62,443
1972	411,997	60,279
1971	393,220	58,484
1970	406,129	56,513
1969	404,189	54,768
1968	399,837	53,126
1967	414,632	51,734
1966	363,882	49,486
1965	335,587	47,223
1964	323,623	45,487
1963	321,805	43,569
1962	286,534	41,603
1961	257,788	40,022
1960	277,717	38,192

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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +2.31% in Sierra Leone.

Birth rate in North Korea vs Sierra Leone by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Sierra Leone

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2023	12.9	30.6
2022	13.1	31.1
2021	13.3	31.6
2020	13.4	32.2
2019	13.4	32.8
2018	13.4	33.3
2017	13.5	33.8
2016	13.5	34.2
2015	13.4	34.7
2014	13.4	35.6
2013	13.4	36.6
2012	13.3	37.8
2011	13.3	38.5
2010	13.3	39.1
2009	13.4	39.9
2008	13.9	40.6
2007	13.9	41.1
2006	14	41.8
2005	13.9	42
2004	14.6	42.5
2003	15.3	43.5
2002	16.1	44.3
2001	16.9	44
2000	17.5	45
1999	18.3	46.1
1998	18.9	46.3
1997	19.4	46.3
1996	20	46.5
1995	20.3	46.8
1994	20.4	46.8
1993	20.4	46.9
1992	20.5	47
1991	20.6	47.5
1990	20.5	45.5
1989	20.2	46.3
1988	20.2	46.4
1987	20.3	46.6
1986	20.4	46.6
1985	20.4	46.7
1984	20.4	46.8
1983	20.5	46.7
1982	20.6	46.8
1981	20.8	46.8
1980	20.1	46.8
1979	20.2	47
1978	20.1	47.2
1977	20.4	47.1
1976	21.5	47.2
1975	23.9	47.3
1974	25.6	47.4
1973	28.2	47.2
1972	33.7	47.2
1971	33.4	47.3
1970	35.3	47.4
1969	36.2	47.5
1968	37.1	47.7
1967	39.3	47.9
1966	36.6	48
1965	35.4	48
1964	35.4	48.2
1963	36.1	48.2
1962	34	48.1
1961	32.3	48.1
1960	34.8	48

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 30.6 in Sierra Leone, compared with 34.8 and 48, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2100	13%	19%
2099	13.1%	19%
2098	13.2%	19.1%
2097	13.3%	19.2%
2096	13.4%	19.3%
2095	13.4%	19.5%
2094	13.5%	19.6%
2093	13.6%	19.7%
2092	13.7%	19.8%
2091	13.8%	19.9%
2090	13.8%	20%
2089	13.8%	20.1%
2088	13.9%	20.3%
2087	13.9%	20.4%
2086	13.9%	20.5%
2085	13.8%	20.7%
2084	13.8%	20.8%
2083	13.8%	20.9%
2082	13.7%	21.1%
2081	13.7%	21.2%
2080	13.7%	21.4%
2079	13.6%	21.6%
2078	13.6%	21.7%
2077	13.6%	21.9%
2076	13.6%	22.1%
2075	13.7%	22.2%
2074	13.7%	22.4%
2073	13.8%	22.6%
2072	13.8%	22.8%
2071	14%	23%
2070	14.1%	23.2%
2069	14.2%	23.4%
2068	14.3%	23.6%
2067	14.5%	23.8%
2066	14.6%	24%
2065	14.8%	24.3%
2064	14.9%	24.5%
2063	15%	24.7%
2062	15.1%	25%
2061	15.2%	25.2%
2060	15.3%	25.5%
2059	15.4%	25.7%
2058	15.4%	26%
2057	15.4%	26.3%
2056	15.4%	26.6%
2055	15.4%	26.9%
2054	15.4%	27.1%
2053	15.3%	27.4%
2052	15.3%	27.7%
2051	15.2%	28.1%
2050	15.2%	28.4%
2049	15.2%	28.7%
2048	15.2%	29%
2047	15.2%	29.3%
2046	15.3%	29.7%
2045	15.3%	30%
2044	15.5%	30.3%
2043	15.6%	30.7%
2042	15.8%	31.1%
2041	16%	31.4%
2040	16.2%	31.8%
2039	16.5%	32.2%
2038	16.7%	32.6%
2037	17%	33%
2036	17.2%	33.4%
2035	17.5%	33.8%
2034	17.8%	34.2%
2033	18%	34.6%
2032	18.2%	35%
2031	18.4%	35.4%
2030	18.6%	35.7%
2029	18.7%	36.1%
2028	18.8%	36.5%
2027	18.9%	37%
2026	18.9%	37.4%
2025	18.9%	37.9%
2024	18.9%	38.1%
2023	19%	38.5%
2022	19%	39%
2021	19.1%	39.4%
2020	19.1%	39.8%
2019	19.1%	40.2%
2018	19.2%	40.6%
2017	19.4%	41%
2016	19.6%	41.4%
2015	19.8%	41.8%
2014	20.1%	42.2%
2013	20.4%	42.5%
2012	20.8%	42.8%
2011	21.2%	43%
2010	21.6%	43.2%
2009	22.1%	43.4%
2008	22.5%	43.5%
2007	23%	43.6%
2006	23.4%	43.7%
2005	23.9%	43.8%
2004	24.3%	43.9%
2003	24.6%	43.9%
2002	25%	43.9%
2001	25.3%	43.9%
2000	25.6%	43.8%
1999	25.8%	43.7%
1998	26%	43.6%
1997	26.2%	43.5%
1996	26.3%	43.5%
1995	26.4%	43.4%
1994	26.4%	43.3%
1993	26.4%	43.2%
1992	26.3%	43.1%
1991	26.4%	43%
1990	26.5%	42.9%
1989	26.8%	42.9%
1988	27.3%	42.8%
1987	28%	42.7%
1986	29%	42.6%
1985	29.9%	42.5%
1984	30.9%	42.3%
1983	32%	42.2%
1982	33.1%	42.1%
1981	34.2%	42%
1980	35.1%	41.9%
1979	36%	41.8%
1978	36.9%	41.7%
1977	37.7%	41.6%
1976	38.3%	41.4%
1975	38.8%	41.3%
1974	39.3%	41.1%
1973	39.8%	40.9%
1972	40.2%	40.7%
1971	40.3%	40.6%
1970	40.1%	40.3%
1969	39.8%	40.1%
1968	39.2%	39.9%
1967	38.3%	39.6%
1966	37.3%	39.4%
1965	36.7%	39.1%
1964	36.6%	38.8%
1963	36.5%	38.5%
1962	36.6%	38.3%
1961	37%	38.3%
1960	37.5%	38.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 38.1% in Sierra Leone in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and Sierra Leone compared.

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs Sierra Leone

Chart Table

North Korea

Sierra Leone

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2023	67	354
2022	67	370
2021	72	403
2020	66	422
2019	66	464
2018	69	491
2017	70	578
2016	71	633
2015	72	730
2014	73	821
2013	75	842
2012	76	915
2011	76	967
2010	77	1,018
2009	78	1,054
2008	79	1,093
2007	80	1,132
2006	80	1,168
2005	78	1,294
2004	77	1,366
2003	76	1,433
2002	131	1,492
2001	130	1,518
2000	129	1,603
1999	129	1,731
1998	129	1,753
1997	128	1,721
1996	128	1,726
1995	127	1,777
1994	57	1,755
1993	46	1,696
1992	37	1,681
1991	38	1,699
1990	43	1,572
1989	49	1,575
1988	55	1,549
1987	62	1,533
1986	68	1,530
1985	76	1,506

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 354 deaths in Sierra Leone.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

North Korea

Sierra Leone

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	Sierra Leone
2023	1.8%	9.43%
2022	1.77%	9.77%
2021	1.74%	10.1%
2020	1.74%	10.5%
2019	1.77%	10.9%
2018	1.84%	11.3%
2017	1.91%	11.8%
2016	2.06%	12.3%
2015	2.14%	13.8%
2014	2.26%	13.7%
2013	2.41%	13.9%
2012	2.57%	14.5%
2011	2.72%	15.2%
2010	2.87%	15.9%
2009	3%	16.6%
2008	3.1%	17.3%
2007	3.24%	18.1%
2006	3.28%	18.8%
2005	3.33%	19.4%
2004	3.38%	20.1%
2003	3.45%	20.7%
2002	9.78%	21.3%
2001	9.9%	21.8%
2000	10%	22.4%
1999	10.2%	22.9%
1998	10.3%	23.4%
1997	10.5%	23.9%
1996	10.6%	24.3%
1995	10.8%	24.7%
1994	4.25%	25%
1993	4.27%	25.3%
1992	4.25%	25.5%
1991	4.18%	25.7%
1990	4.07%	25.9%
1989	3.95%	26.2%
1988	3.83%	26.4%
1987	3.78%	26.6%
1986	3.68%	26.9%
1985	3.68%	27.2%
1984	3.71%	27.5%
1983	3.8%	27.8%
1982	3.91%	28.1%
1981	4.05%	28.5%
1980	4.22%	28.9%
1979	4.4%	29.2%
1978	4.59%	29.6%
1977	4.8%	30%
1976	5.03%	30.5%
1975	5.28%	30.9%
1974	5.56%	31.4%
1973	5.86%	31.9%
1972	6.2%	32.3%
1971	6.58%	32.9%
1970	6.99%	33.4%
1969	7.45%	33.9%
1968	7.94%	34.5%
1967	8.45%	35%
1966	8.96%	35.6%
1965	9.46%	36.2%
1964	9.92%	36.8%
1963	10.4%	37.4%
1962	10.8%	38%
1961	11.2%	38.5%
1960	11.6%	39.1%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 9.43% in Sierra Leone. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.