Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and South Sudan

Fertility rate in North Korea vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Sudan

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	North Korea	South Sudan
2023	1.78	3.86
2022	1.8	3.96
2021	1.81	4.05
2020	1.82	4.16
2019	1.83	4.26
2018	1.83	4.37
2017	1.85	4.48
2016	1.86	4.58
2015	1.86	4.7
2014	1.87	4.82
2013	1.88	4.94
2012	1.88	5.06
2011	1.88	5.19
2010	1.89	5.32
2009	1.91	5.45
2008	1.97	5.57
2007	1.94	5.7
2006	1.94	5.85
2005	1.87	6.02
2004	1.9	6.19
2003	1.91	6.35
2002	1.92	6.52
2001	1.94	6.65
2000	1.94	6.8
1999	1.97	6.94
1998	1.99	7.08
1997	2.03	7.2
1996	2.09	7.32
1995	2.15	7.34
1994	2.18	7.35
1993	2.22	7.36
1992	2.29	7.37
1991	2.35	7.38
1990	2.39	7.38
1989	2.41	7.37
1988	2.47	7.38
1987	2.53	7.39
1986	2.59	7.38
1985	2.65	7.36
1984	2.71	7.35
1983	2.78	7.34
1982	2.85	7.34
1981	2.92	7.33
1980	2.84	7.33
1979	2.85	7.32
1978	2.79	7.33
1977	2.77	7.33
1976	2.84	7.33
1975	3.05	7.33
1974	3.14	7.31
1973	3.35	7.31
1972	3.89	7.31
1971	3.74	7.3
1970	3.85	7.29
1969	3.86	7.28
1968	3.87	7.26
1967	4.05	7.26
1966	3.71	7.25
1965	3.56	7.22
1964	3.55	7.22
1963	3.63	7.2
1962	3.41	7.2
1961	3.26	7.18
1960	3.57	7.16

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 3.86 in South Sudan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Sudan

1x

Year	Natural population change
	North Korea	South Sudan
2023	86,203	217,966
2022	96,495	211,166
2021	99,710	213,567
2020	95,920	212,332
2019	106,208	209,708
2018	113,164	168,497
2017	120,181	72,193
2016	125,048	110,553
2015	127,365	148,542
2014	127,078	227,611
2013	122,519	315,983
2012	118,773	312,974
2011	114,798	303,181
2010	112,443	287,409
2009	111,530	278,859
2008	122,015	268,268
2007	120,521	256,546
2006	129,171	246,706
2005	132,765	239,272
2004	155,838	231,877
2003	178,775	225,822
2002	119,504	212,014
2001	143,321	204,108
2000	161,591	196,055
1999	181,613	180,721
1998	197,589	-12,157
1997	211,325	121,454
1996	226,095	116,728
1995	233,381	110,417
1994	320,861	165,407
1993	320,880	32,779
1992	324,002	28,874
1991	320,551	87,873
1990	312,460	82,900
1989	303,078	83,735
1988	299,305	-125,447
1987	296,030	5,756
1986	293,227	99,502
1985	287,714	95,342
1984	282,987	90,970
1983	279,046	104,107
1982	276,332	118,641
1981	273,800	115,163
1980	255,206	112,307
1979	251,409	109,540
1978	243,533	107,352
1977	242,870	104,886
1976	255,841	102,346
1975	288,966	99,882
1974	306,902	97,181
1973	338,600	94,765
1972	411,997	74,803
1971	393,220	72,308
1970	406,129	44,776
1969	404,189	42,015
1968	399,837	44,213
1967	414,632	41,357
1966	363,882	38,523
1965	335,587	51,682
1964	323,623	64,786
1963	321,805	46,333
1962	286,534	47,406
1961	257,788	45,186
1960	277,717	42,945

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 +1.9% in South Sudan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +1.65% in South Sudan.

Birth rate in North Korea vs South Sudan by year

Chart Table

North Korea

South Sudan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	North Korea	South Sudan
2023	12.9	28.6
2022	13.1	29.1
2021	13.3	29.7
2020	13.4	29.4
2019	13.4	29.4
2018	13.4	29.1
2017	13.5	32.8
2016	13.5	35.1
2015	13.4	35.4
2014	13.4	38.2
2013	13.4	38.3
2012	13.3	39.1
2011	13.3	39.8
2010	13.3	39.9
2009	13.4	41
2008	13.9	41.6
2007	13.9	42.3
2006	14	43.2
2005	13.9	44.3
2004	14.6	45.5
2003	15.3	46.8
2002	16.1	48
2001	16.9	48.9
2000	17.5	49.8
1999	18.3	50.7
1998	18.9	51.2
1997	19.4	51.6
1996	20	52.6
1995	20.3	52.7
1994	20.4	52.7
1993	20.4	52.7
1992	20.5	52.5
1991	20.6	52.4
1990	20.5	52.3
1989	20.2	53.1
1988	20.2	51.9
1987	20.3	50.6
1986	20.4	50.6
1985	20.4	50.7
1984	20.4	50.8
1983	20.5	51.1
1982	20.6	51.4
1981	20.8	51.7
1980	20.1	52
1979	20.2	52.3
1978	20.1	52.7
1977	20.4	53
1976	21.5	53.4
1975	23.9	53.7
1974	25.6	53.9
1973	28.2	54.3
1972	33.7	54.5
1971	33.4	54.6
1970	35.3	54.5
1969	36.2	54.3
1968	37.1	54
1967	39.3	53.7
1966	36.6	53.5
1965	35.4	53.1
1964	35.4	53
1963	36.1	52.7
1962	34	52.5
1961	32.3	52.3
1960	34.8	52

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 28.6 in South Sudan, compared with 34.8 and 52, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

South Sudan

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	North Korea	South Sudan
2100	13%	20.1%
2099	13.1%	20.2%
2098	13.2%	20.3%
2097	13.3%	20.3%
2096	13.4%	20.4%
2095	13.4%	20.5%
2094	13.5%	20.6%
2093	13.6%	20.7%
2092	13.7%	20.9%
2091	13.8%	21%
2090	13.8%	21.1%
2089	13.8%	21.2%
2088	13.9%	21.3%
2087	13.9%	21.5%
2086	13.9%	21.6%
2085	13.8%	21.8%
2084	13.8%	21.9%
2083	13.8%	22.1%
2082	13.7%	22.3%
2081	13.7%	22.4%
2080	13.7%	22.6%
2079	13.6%	22.8%
2078	13.6%	23%
2077	13.6%	23.2%
2076	13.6%	23.3%
2075	13.7%	23.5%
2074	13.7%	23.7%
2073	13.8%	23.9%
2072	13.8%	24.1%
2071	14%	24.3%
2070	14.1%	24.5%
2069	14.2%	24.7%
2068	14.3%	25%
2067	14.5%	25.2%
2066	14.6%	25.4%
2065	14.8%	25.6%
2064	14.9%	25.8%
2063	15%	26%
2062	15.1%	26.3%
2061	15.2%	26.5%
2060	15.3%	26.7%
2059	15.4%	27%
2058	15.4%	27.2%
2057	15.4%	27.5%
2056	15.4%	27.8%
2055	15.4%	28.1%
2054	15.4%	28.5%
2053	15.3%	28.8%
2052	15.3%	29.2%
2051	15.2%	29.5%
2050	15.2%	29.9%
2049	15.2%	30.3%
2048	15.2%	30.8%
2047	15.2%	31.2%
2046	15.3%	31.6%
2045	15.3%	32%
2044	15.5%	32.4%
2043	15.6%	32.7%
2042	15.8%	33%
2041	16%	33.3%
2040	16.2%	33.6%
2039	16.5%	33.8%
2038	16.7%	33.9%
2037	17%	34.1%
2036	17.2%	34.2%
2035	17.5%	34.3%
2034	17.8%	34.4%
2033	18%	34.3%
2032	18.2%	34.4%
2031	18.4%	34.6%
2030	18.6%	34.8%
2029	18.7%	35.2%
2028	18.8%	35.8%
2027	18.9%	36.6%
2026	18.9%	37.5%
2025	18.9%	38.4%
2024	18.9%	38.9%
2023	19%	39.9%
2022	19%	40.9%
2021	19.1%	41.6%
2020	19.1%	42.4%
2019	19.1%	43.6%
2018	19.2%	44.9%
2017	19.4%	45%
2016	19.6%	43.7%
2015	19.8%	43.1%
2014	20.1%	42.5%
2013	20.4%	41.9%
2012	20.8%	41.9%
2011	21.2%	42.2%
2010	21.6%	42.8%
2009	22.1%	43.4%
2008	22.5%	43.8%
2007	23%	44.3%
2006	23.4%	44.8%
2005	23.9%	45.3%
2004	24.3%	45.8%
2003	24.6%	45.9%
2002	25%	45.7%
2001	25.3%	45.5%
2000	25.6%	45.5%
1999	25.8%	45.6%
1998	26%	45.8%
1997	26.2%	46%
1996	26.3%	46%
1995	26.4%	45.8%
1994	26.4%	45.8%
1993	26.4%	45.7%
1992	26.3%	45.6%
1991	26.4%	45.5%
1990	26.5%	45.4%
1989	26.8%	45.4%
1988	27.3%	46.2%
1987	28%	46.9%
1986	29%	46.7%
1985	29.9%	46.6%
1984	30.9%	46.5%
1983	32%	46.3%
1982	33.1%	46.2%
1981	34.2%	46%
1980	35.1%	45.8%
1979	36%	45.7%
1978	36.9%	45.5%
1977	37.7%	45.4%
1976	38.3%	45.3%
1975	38.8%	45.2%
1974	39.3%	45.1%
1973	39.8%	45%
1972	40.2%	44.8%
1971	40.3%	44.7%
1970	40.1%	44.5%
1969	39.8%	44.3%
1968	39.2%	44%
1967	38.3%	43.8%
1966	37.3%	43.5%
1965	36.7%	43.3%
1964	36.6%	43%
1963	36.5%	42.8%
1962	36.6%	42.6%
1961	37%	42.6%
1960	37.5%	42.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 38.9% in South Sudan in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and South Sudan compared.

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs South Sudan

Chart Table

North Korea

South Sudan

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	South Sudan
2023	67	692
2022	67	704
2021	72	749
2020	66	729
2019	66	745
2018	69	913
2017	70	1,662
2016	71	1,629
2015	72	1,436
2014	73	1,216
2013	75	771
2012	76	755
2011	76	770
2010	77	776
2009	78	823
2008	79	858
2007	80	933
2006	80	1,005
2005	78	1,074
2004	77	1,150
2003	76	1,199
2002	131	1,521
2001	130	1,580
2000	129	1,658
1999	129	2,048
1998	129	7,514
1997	128	4,172
1996	128	4,357
1995	127	4,430
1994	57	1,666
1993	46	7,537
1992	37	7,597
1991	38	4,764
1990	43	4,877
1989	49	5,103
1988	55	5,535
1987	62	8,045
1986	68	3,720
1985	76	3,845

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 692 deaths in South Sudan.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

North Korea

South Sudan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	South Sudan
2023	1.8%	9.87%
2022	1.77%	9.87%
2021	1.74%	9.87%
2020	1.74%	9.87%
2019	1.77%	9.87%
2018	1.84%	13.2%
2017	1.91%	27.8%
2016	2.06%	26.4%
2015	2.14%	23.7%
2014	2.26%	18.2%
2013	2.41%	9.92%
2012	2.57%	10.1%
2011	2.72%	10.5%
2010	2.87%	10.9%
2009	3%	11.5%
2008	3.1%	12.1%
2007	3.24%	12.7%
2006	3.28%	13.4%
2005	3.33%	14.1%
2004	3.38%	14.8%
2003	3.45%	15.7%
2002	9.78%	16.5%
2001	9.9%	17.4%
2000	10%	18.3%
1999	10.2%	19.2%
1998	10.3%	42.6%
1997	10.5%	25.2%
1996	10.6%	26.1%
1995	10.8%	27%
1994	4.25%	23%
1993	4.27%	33.1%
1992	4.25%	33.8%
1991	4.18%	29.7%
1990	4.07%	30.3%
1989	3.95%	30.7%
1988	3.83%	76.7%
1987	3.78%	36%
1986	3.68%	26.7%
1985	3.68%	27.1%
1984	3.71%	27.5%
1983	3.8%	27.8%
1982	3.91%	28.2%
1981	4.05%	28.5%
1980	4.22%	28.9%
1979	4.4%	29.2%
1978	4.59%	29.5%
1977	4.8%	29.9%
1976	5.03%	30.2%
1975	5.28%	30.6%
1974	5.56%	30.9%
1973	5.86%	31.3%
1972	6.2%	31.6%
1971	6.58%	31.9%
1970	6.99%	32.3%
1969	7.45%	32.6%
1968	7.94%	32.9%
1967	8.45%	33.3%
1966	8.96%	33.6%
1965	9.46%	34%
1964	9.92%	34.3%
1963	10.4%	34.6%
1962	10.8%	34.9%
1961	11.2%	35.2%
1960	11.6%	35.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 9.87% in South Sudan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.