Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and South Africa

Fertility rate in North Korea vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	North Korea	South Africa
2023	1.78	2.22
2022	1.8	2.23
2021	1.81	2.25
2020	1.82	2.26
2019	1.83	2.26
2018	1.83	2.27
2017	1.85	2.28
2016	1.86	2.26
2015	1.86	2.36
2014	1.87	2.42
2013	1.88	2.43
2012	1.88	2.45
2011	1.88	2.44
2010	1.89	2.44
2009	1.91	2.5
2008	1.97	2.68
2007	1.94	2.55
2006	1.94	2.55
2005	1.87	2.51
2004	1.9	2.44
2003	1.91	2.36
2002	1.92	2.32
2001	1.94	2.37
2000	1.94	2.41
1999	1.97	2.56
1998	1.99	2.63
1997	2.03	2.73
1996	2.09	2.99
1995	2.15	3.17
1994	2.18	3.26
1993	2.22	3.37
1992	2.29	3.48
1991	2.35	3.62
1990	2.39	3.72
1989	2.41	3.98
1988	2.47	4.18
1987	2.53	4.35
1986	2.59	4.41
1985	2.65	4.5
1984	2.71	4.57
1983	2.78	4.63
1982	2.85	4.7
1981	2.92	4.71
1980	2.84	4.78
1979	2.85	4.82
1978	2.79	4.85
1977	2.77	4.94
1976	2.84	5.07
1975	3.05	5.19
1974	3.14	5.3
1973	3.35	5.41
1972	3.89	5.49
1971	3.74	5.57
1970	3.85	5.63
1969	3.86	5.72
1968	3.87	5.78
1967	4.05	5.85
1966	3.71	5.91
1965	3.56	5.89
1964	3.55	5.96
1963	3.63	6.01
1962	3.41	6.05
1961	3.26	6.08
1960	3.57	6.11

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 2.22 in South Africa in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	North Korea	South Africa
2023	86,203	602,793
2022	96,495	603,636
2021	99,710	456,411
2020	95,920	595,873
2019	106,208	652,130
2018	113,164	648,319
2017	120,181	645,975
2016	125,048	641,365
2015	127,365	668,771
2014	127,078	674,754
2013	122,519	652,427
2012	118,773	643,723
2011	114,798	601,708
2010	112,443	566,834
2009	111,530	554,115
2008	122,015	595,332
2007	120,521	503,567
2006	129,171	487,584
2005	132,765	464,464
2004	155,838	442,540
2003	178,775	415,018
2002	119,504	430,926
2001	143,321	484,801
2000	161,591	526,963
1999	181,613	594,643
1998	197,589	627,027
1997	211,325	667,969
1996	226,095	710,868
1995	233,381	743,488
1994	320,861	698,609
1993	320,880	789,220
1992	324,002	794,415
1991	320,551	827,296
1990	312,460	835,421
1989	303,078	884,629
1988	299,305	909,221
1987	296,030	922,330
1986	293,227	903,644
1985	287,714	893,889
1984	282,987	869,011
1983	279,046	837,013
1982	276,332	807,550
1981	273,800	767,833
1980	255,206	738,415
1979	251,409	716,541
1978	243,533	694,341
1977	242,870	680,929
1976	255,841	675,011
1975	288,966	667,862
1974	306,902	658,438
1973	338,600	651,596
1972	411,997	638,754
1971	393,220	624,761
1970	406,129	605,102
1969	404,189	590,794
1968	399,837	571,841
1967	414,632	553,741
1966	363,882	534,862
1965	335,587	506,632
1964	323,623	490,606
1963	321,805	473,821
1962	286,534	455,634
1961	257,788	437,851
1960	277,717	421,263

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 +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in North Korea vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	North Korea	South Africa
2023	12.9	18.8
2022	13.1	19.1
2021	13.3	19.4
2020	13.4	19.5
2019	13.4	19.7
2018	13.4	19.9
2017	13.5	20
2016	13.5	20.3
2015	13.4	21
2014	13.4	21.8
2013	13.4	21.9
2012	13.3	22.1
2011	13.3	22.1
2010	13.3	22.2
2009	13.4	22.8
2008	13.9	24.3
2007	13.9	23.1
2006	14	23.1
2005	13.9	22.7
2004	14.6	22.1
2003	15.3	21.4
2002	16.1	20.9
2001	16.9	21.3
2000	17.5	21.6
1999	18.3	22.7
1998	18.9	23.2
1997	19.4	23.9
1996	20	24.9
1995	20.3	25.6
1994	20.4	24.6
1993	20.4	26.6
1992	20.5	27
1991	20.6	28.1
1990	20.5	28.7
1989	20.2	30.6
1988	20.2	32
1987	20.3	33.2
1986	20.4	33.6
1985	20.4	34.2
1984	20.4	34.5
1983	20.5	34.6
1982	20.6	34.8
1981	20.8	34.6
1980	20.1	34.7
1979	20.2	34.9
1978	20.1	35.1
1977	20.4	35.6
1976	21.5	36.3
1975	23.9	37
1974	25.6	37.7
1973	28.2	38.4
1972	33.7	38.9
1971	33.4	39.3
1970	35.3	39.4
1969	36.2	39.7
1968	37.1	39.8
1967	39.3	39.9
1966	36.6	40
1965	35.4	39.5
1964	35.4	39.6
1963	36.1	39.7
1962	34	39.7
1961	32.3	39.7
1960	34.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 34.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	North Korea	South Africa
2100	13%	17.9%
2099	13.1%	18%
2098	13.2%	18%
2097	13.3%	18.1%
2096	13.4%	18.1%
2095	13.4%	18.2%
2094	13.5%	18.2%
2093	13.6%	18.3%
2092	13.7%	18.3%
2091	13.8%	18.4%
2090	13.8%	18.4%
2089	13.8%	18.5%
2088	13.9%	18.5%
2087	13.9%	18.6%
2086	13.9%	18.6%
2085	13.8%	18.7%
2084	13.8%	18.7%
2083	13.8%	18.8%
2082	13.7%	18.9%
2081	13.7%	18.9%
2080	13.7%	19%
2079	13.6%	19%
2078	13.6%	19.1%
2077	13.6%	19.2%
2076	13.6%	19.3%
2075	13.7%	19.3%
2074	13.7%	19.4%
2073	13.8%	19.5%
2072	13.8%	19.6%
2071	14%	19.6%
2070	14.1%	19.7%
2069	14.2%	19.8%
2068	14.3%	19.9%
2067	14.5%	20%
2066	14.6%	20.1%
2065	14.8%	20.2%
2064	14.9%	20.3%
2063	15%	20.4%
2062	15.1%	20.5%
2061	15.2%	20.6%
2060	15.3%	20.7%
2059	15.4%	20.8%
2058	15.4%	20.9%
2057	15.4%	21%
2056	15.4%	21.1%
2055	15.4%	21.1%
2054	15.4%	21.2%
2053	15.3%	21.3%
2052	15.3%	21.4%
2051	15.2%	21.5%
2050	15.2%	21.6%
2049	15.2%	21.7%
2048	15.2%	21.8%
2047	15.2%	21.9%
2046	15.3%	22%
2045	15.3%	22.1%
2044	15.5%	22.3%
2043	15.6%	22.4%
2042	15.8%	22.6%
2041	16%	22.8%
2040	16.2%	23%
2039	16.5%	23.3%
2038	16.7%	23.5%
2037	17%	23.7%
2036	17.2%	24.1%
2035	17.5%	24.4%
2034	17.8%	24.7%
2033	18%	24.9%
2032	18.2%	25%
2031	18.4%	25.1%
2030	18.6%	25.2%
2029	18.7%	25.3%
2028	18.8%	25.4%
2027	18.9%	25.5%
2026	18.9%	25.6%
2025	18.9%	25.8%
2024	18.9%	25.9%
2023	19%	26.1%
2022	19%	26.3%
2021	19.1%	26.6%
2020	19.1%	27%
2019	19.1%	27.4%
2018	19.2%	27.9%
2017	19.4%	28.3%
2016	19.6%	28.3%
2015	19.8%	28.3%
2014	20.1%	28.5%
2013	20.4%	28.7%
2012	20.8%	28.9%
2011	21.2%	29.1%
2010	21.6%	29.4%
2009	22.1%	29.7%
2008	22.5%	29.9%
2007	23%	30.2%
2006	23.4%	30.6%
2005	23.9%	31.1%
2004	24.3%	31.6%
2003	24.6%	32.3%
2002	25%	33.2%
2001	25.3%	34%
2000	25.6%	34.9%
1999	25.8%	35.7%
1998	26%	36.5%
1997	26.2%	37.2%
1996	26.3%	37.5%
1995	26.4%	37.5%
1994	26.4%	37.2%
1993	26.4%	37.3%
1992	26.3%	37.6%
1991	26.4%	37.5%
1990	26.5%	37.7%
1989	26.8%	38.1%
1988	27.3%	38.4%
1987	28%	38.7%
1986	29%	38.9%
1985	29.9%	39.2%
1984	30.9%	39.5%
1983	32%	39.8%
1982	33.1%	40.1%
1981	34.2%	40.5%
1980	35.1%	40.9%
1979	36%	41.3%
1978	36.9%	41.5%
1977	37.7%	41.7%
1976	38.3%	41.8%
1975	38.8%	41.9%
1974	39.3%	42%
1973	39.8%	42.1%
1972	40.2%	42.2%
1971	40.3%	42.2%
1970	40.1%	42.3%
1969	39.8%	42.2%
1968	39.2%	42.2%
1967	38.3%	42.2%
1966	37.3%	42.1%
1965	36.7%	42.1%
1964	36.6%	42.1%
1963	36.5%	42.1%
1962	36.6%	42.1%
1961	37%	42.1%
1960	37.5%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs South Africa

Chart Table

North Korea

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	South Africa
2023	67	118
2022	67	129
2021	72	191
2020	66	118
2019	66	119
2018	69	128
2017	70	134
2016	71	141
2015	72	150
2014	73	162
2013	75	180
2012	76	194
2011	76	202
2010	77	226
2009	78	241
2008	79	272
2007	80	272
2006	80	283
2005	78	279
2004	77	259
2003	76	245
2002	131	225
2001	130	192
2000	129	175
1999	129	151
1998	129	152
1997	128	152
1996	128	150
1995	127	125
1994	57	133
1993	46	145
1992	37	152
1991	38	162
1990	43	170
1989	49	177
1988	55	184
1987	62	192
1986	68	200
1985	76	208

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 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

North Korea

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	South Africa
2023	1.8%	3.47%
2022	1.77%	3.44%
2021	1.74%	3.41%
2020	1.74%	3.41%
2019	1.77%	3.45%
2018	1.84%	3.49%
2017	1.91%	3.58%
2016	2.06%	3.68%
2015	2.14%	3.82%
2014	2.26%	3.96%
2013	2.41%	4.1%
2012	2.57%	4.25%
2011	2.72%	4.5%
2010	2.87%	5%
2009	3%	5.7%
2008	3.1%	6.42%
2007	3.24%	7.19%
2006	3.28%	7.75%
2005	3.33%	8.03%
2004	3.38%	8.1%
2003	3.45%	7.93%
2002	9.78%	7.69%
2001	9.9%	7.43%
2000	10%	7.11%
1999	10.2%	6.85%
1998	10.3%	6.56%
1997	10.5%	6.29%
1996	10.6%	6.11%
1995	10.8%	5.95%
1994	4.25%	5.82%
1993	4.27%	5.7%
1992	4.25%	5.66%
1991	4.18%	5.7%
1990	4.07%	5.82%
1989	3.95%	6.01%
1988	3.83%	6.26%
1987	3.78%	6.56%
1986	3.68%	6.89%
1985	3.68%	7.24%
1984	3.71%	7.6%
1983	3.8%	7.98%
1982	3.91%	8.39%
1981	4.05%	8.84%
1980	4.22%	9.35%
1979	4.4%	9.88%
1978	4.59%	10.5%
1977	4.8%	11.1%
1976	5.03%	11.8%
1975	5.28%	12.5%
1974	5.56%	13.2%
1973	5.86%	-
1972	6.2%	-
1971	6.58%	-
1970	6.99%	-
1969	7.45%	-
1968	7.94%	-
1967	8.45%	-
1966	8.96%	-
1965	9.46%	-
1964	9.92%	-
1963	10.4%	-
1962	10.8%	-
1961	11.2%	-
1960	11.6%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.