Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and Syria

Fertility rate in North Korea vs Syria by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	North Korea	Syria
2023	1.78	2.71
2022	1.8	2.75
2021	1.81	2.8
2020	1.82	2.84
2019	1.83	2.88
2018	1.83	2.93
2017	1.85	2.97
2016	1.86	3.01
2015	1.86	3.07
2014	1.87	3.12
2013	1.88	3.17
2012	1.88	3.22
2011	1.88	3.29
2010	1.89	3.36
2009	1.91	3.42
2008	1.97	3.48
2007	1.94	3.54
2006	1.94	3.56
2005	1.87	3.61
2004	1.9	3.68
2003	1.91	3.76
2002	1.92	3.87
2001	1.94	3.98
2000	1.94	4.07
1999	1.97	4.14
1998	1.99	4.25
1997	2.03	4.37
1996	2.09	4.54
1995	2.15	4.7
1994	2.18	4.86
1993	2.22	4.99
1992	2.29	5.14
1991	2.35	5.34
1990	2.39	5.56
1989	2.41	5.78
1988	2.47	6
1987	2.53	6.2
1986	2.59	6.37
1985	2.65	6.48
1984	2.71	6.59
1983	2.78	6.69
1982	2.85	6.81
1981	2.92	6.97
1980	2.84	7.12
1979	2.85	7.25
1978	2.79	7.35
1977	2.77	7.42
1976	2.84	7.45
1975	3.05	7.49
1974	3.14	7.52
1973	3.35	7.55
1972	3.89	7.57
1971	3.74	7.6
1970	3.85	7.62
1969	3.86	7.59
1968	3.87	7.57
1967	4.05	7.56
1966	3.71	7.55
1965	3.56	7.53
1964	3.55	7.53
1963	3.63	7.51
1962	3.41	7.51
1961	3.26	7.5
1960	3.57	7.51

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 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	North Korea	Syria
2023	86,203	402,713
2022	96,495	369,750
2021	99,710	350,560
2020	95,920	327,992
2019	106,208	293,762
2018	113,164	242,530
2017	120,181	237,214
2016	125,048	236,007
2015	127,365	253,977
2014	127,078	333,116
2013	122,519	419,341
2012	118,773	475,520
2011	114,798	543,950
2010	112,443	558,666
2009	111,530	559,314
2008	122,015	576,593
2007	120,521	529,162
2006	129,171	480,616
2005	132,765	468,960
2004	155,838	461,209
2003	178,775	457,000
2002	119,504	453,967
2001	143,321	451,503
2000	161,591	446,211
1999	181,613	439,261
1998	197,589	433,447
1997	211,325	429,887
1996	226,095	430,765
1995	233,381	430,172
1994	320,861	426,996
1993	320,880	420,244
1992	324,002	412,878
1991	320,551	410,830
1990	312,460	409,177
1989	303,078	406,111
1988	299,305	404,285
1987	296,030	399,159
1986	293,227	390,821
1985	287,714	379,231
1984	282,987	366,768
1983	279,046	355,375
1982	276,332	319,664
1981	273,800	330,237
1980	255,206	332,464
1979	251,409	324,943
1978	243,533	316,724
1977	242,870	306,630
1976	255,841	294,267
1975	288,966	282,299
1974	306,902	270,735
1973	338,600	254,687
1972	411,997	249,027
1971	393,220	239,610
1970	406,129	230,117
1969	404,189	219,114
1968	399,837	209,454
1967	414,632	199,223
1966	363,882	191,122
1965	335,587	182,560
1964	323,623	174,549
1963	321,805	166,555
1962	286,534	159,155
1961	257,788	151,485
1960	277,717	143,687

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 +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in North Korea vs Syria by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	North Korea	Syria
2023	12.9	22.1
2022	13.1	21.2
2021	13.3	21.2
2020	13.4	20.6
2019	13.4	19.7
2018	13.4	18.9
2017	13.5	19.6
2016	13.5	19.6
2015	13.4	21.3
2014	13.4	23.8
2013	13.4	26.9
2012	13.3	27.7
2011	13.3	28.1
2010	13.3	28.7
2009	13.4	29.2
2008	13.9	30.5
2007	13.9	29.1
2006	14	28.3
2005	13.9	28.8
2004	14.6	29.1
2003	15.3	29.6
2002	16.1	30.1
2001	16.9	30.7
2000	17.5	31.2
1999	18.3	31.5
1998	18.9	32
1997	19.4	32.5
1996	20	33.3
1995	20.3	34
1994	20.4	34.6
1993	20.4	35
1992	20.5	35.4
1991	20.6	36.3
1990	20.5	37.3
1989	20.2	38.3
1988	20.2	39.4
1987	20.3	40.3
1986	20.4	41
1985	20.4	41.3
1984	20.4	41.5
1983	20.5	41.9
1982	20.6	42.2
1981	20.8	43
1980	20.1	43.7
1979	20.2	44.4
1978	20.1	44.9
1977	20.4	45.3
1976	21.5	45.4
1975	23.9	45.5
1974	25.6	45.6
1973	28.2	45.7
1972	33.7	45.9
1971	33.4	46.2
1970	35.3	46.5
1969	36.2	46.4
1968	37.1	46.5
1967	39.3	46.5
1966	36.6	46.7
1965	35.4	46.7
1964	35.4	46.9
1963	36.1	47
1962	34	47.2
1961	32.3	47.3
1960	34.8	47.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 34.8 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Syria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	North Korea	Syria
2100	13%	15.9%
2099	13.1%	16%
2098	13.2%	16%
2097	13.3%	16.1%
2096	13.4%	16.1%
2095	13.4%	16.1%
2094	13.5%	16.2%
2093	13.6%	16.2%
2092	13.7%	16.2%
2091	13.8%	16.2%
2090	13.8%	16.2%
2089	13.8%	16.2%
2088	13.9%	16.2%
2087	13.9%	16.3%
2086	13.9%	16.4%
2085	13.8%	16.4%
2084	13.8%	16.5%
2083	13.8%	16.7%
2082	13.7%	16.8%
2081	13.7%	17%
2080	13.7%	17.2%
2079	13.6%	17.4%
2078	13.6%	17.6%
2077	13.6%	17.8%
2076	13.6%	18.1%
2075	13.7%	18.3%
2074	13.7%	18.6%
2073	13.8%	18.8%
2072	13.8%	19.1%
2071	14%	19.3%
2070	14.1%	19.5%
2069	14.2%	19.6%
2068	14.3%	19.8%
2067	14.5%	19.9%
2066	14.6%	20%
2065	14.8%	20.1%
2064	14.9%	20.1%
2063	15%	20.1%
2062	15.1%	20.2%
2061	15.2%	20.2%
2060	15.3%	20.2%
2059	15.4%	20.2%
2058	15.4%	20.3%
2057	15.4%	20.4%
2056	15.4%	20.5%
2055	15.4%	20.7%
2054	15.4%	21%
2053	15.3%	21.3%
2052	15.3%	21.6%
2051	15.2%	22%
2050	15.2%	22.5%
2049	15.2%	23%
2048	15.2%	23.6%
2047	15.2%	24.2%
2046	15.3%	24.8%
2045	15.3%	25.5%
2044	15.5%	26.1%
2043	15.6%	26.7%
2042	15.8%	27.2%
2041	16%	27.8%
2040	16.2%	28.2%
2039	16.5%	28.6%
2038	16.7%	28.9%
2037	17%	29%
2036	17.2%	29%
2035	17.5%	28.9%
2034	17.8%	28.7%
2033	18%	28.5%
2032	18.2%	28.1%
2031	18.4%	27.7%
2030	18.6%	27.4%
2029	18.7%	27.3%
2028	18.8%	27.4%
2027	18.9%	27.7%
2026	18.9%	28.1%
2025	18.9%	28.8%
2024	18.9%	29.2%
2023	19%	30.3%
2022	19%	31.9%
2021	19.1%	33.4%
2020	19.1%	34.6%
2019	19.1%	36.1%
2018	19.2%	37.9%
2017	19.4%	39.3%
2016	19.6%	40.2%
2015	19.8%	40.6%
2014	20.1%	39.8%
2013	20.4%	38%
2012	20.8%	36.5%
2011	21.2%	36.1%
2010	21.6%	36.1%
2009	22.1%	36.3%
2008	22.5%	36.3%
2007	23%	36.7%
2006	23.4%	38.1%
2005	23.9%	39.1%
2004	24.3%	39.6%
2003	24.6%	40.2%
2002	25%	40.8%
2001	25.3%	41.3%
2000	25.6%	41.9%
1999	25.8%	42.4%
1998	26%	42.9%
1997	26.2%	43.3%
1996	26.3%	43.8%
1995	26.4%	44.2%
1994	26.4%	44.7%
1993	26.4%	45.2%
1992	26.3%	45.7%
1991	26.4%	46.1%
1990	26.5%	46.6%
1989	26.8%	46.9%
1988	27.3%	47.2%
1987	28%	47.5%
1986	29%	47.7%
1985	29.9%	48%
1984	30.9%	48.2%
1983	32%	48.4%
1982	33.1%	48.5%
1981	34.2%	48.7%
1980	35.1%	48.7%
1979	36%	48.7%
1978	36.9%	48.7%
1977	37.7%	48.7%
1976	38.3%	48.6%
1975	38.8%	48.6%
1974	39.3%	48.5%
1973	39.8%	48.5%
1972	40.2%	48.4%
1971	40.3%	48.3%
1970	40.1%	48.2%
1969	39.8%	48%
1968	39.2%	47.8%
1967	38.3%	47.5%
1966	37.3%	47.3%
1965	36.7%	46.9%
1964	36.6%	46.6%
1963	36.5%	46.3%
1962	36.6%	46.1%
1961	37%	45.7%
1960	37.5%	45.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and Syria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs Syria

Chart Table

North Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	Syria
2023	67	20
2022	67	21
2021	72	30
2020	66	23
2019	66	24
2018	69	21
2017	70	23
2016	71	23
2015	72	24
2014	73	25
2013	75	25
2012	76	22
2011	76	21
2010	77	19
2009	78	19
2008	79	20
2007	80	19
2006	80	20
2005	78	21
2004	77	22
2003	76	24
2002	131	26
2001	130	29
2000	129	31
1999	129	32
1998	129	34
1997	128	34
1996	128	34
1995	127	33
1994	57	32
1993	46	32
1992	37	33
1991	38	35
1990	43	37
1989	49	41
1988	55	44
1987	62	48
1986	68	52
1985	76	55

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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

North Korea

Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	Syria
2023	1.8%	2.06%
2022	1.77%	2.11%
2021	1.74%	2.1%
2020	1.74%	2.24%
2019	1.77%	2.5%
2018	1.84%	3.26%
2017	1.91%	3.3%
2016	2.06%	3.22%
2015	2.14%	3.7%
2014	2.26%	3.53%
2013	2.41%	3.65%
2012	2.57%	3.39%
2011	2.72%	2.17%
2010	2.87%	1.9%
2009	3%	1.9%
2008	3.1%	1.9%
2007	3.24%	1.92%
2006	3.28%	1.95%
2005	3.33%	1.98%
2004	3.38%	2.03%
2003	3.45%	2.09%
2002	9.78%	2.15%
2001	9.9%	2.23%
2000	10%	2.32%
1999	10.2%	2.42%
1998	10.3%	2.53%
1997	10.5%	2.66%
1996	10.6%	2.8%
1995	10.8%	2.94%
1994	4.25%	3.09%
1993	4.27%	3.24%
1992	4.25%	3.4%
1991	4.18%	3.55%
1990	4.07%	3.7%
1989	3.95%	3.85%
1988	3.83%	4.02%
1987	3.78%	4.19%
1986	3.68%	4.39%
1985	3.68%	4.6%
1984	3.71%	4.84%
1983	3.8%	5.1%
1982	3.91%	7.06%
1981	4.05%	6.33%
1980	4.22%	6.03%
1979	4.4%	6.4%
1978	4.59%	6.79%
1977	4.8%	7.19%
1976	5.03%	7.61%
1975	5.28%	8.03%
1974	5.56%	8.47%
1973	5.86%	8.92%
1972	6.2%	9.4%
1971	6.58%	9.91%
1970	6.99%	10.5%
1969	7.45%	11.1%
1968	7.94%	11.7%
1967	8.45%	12.3%
1966	8.96%	12.9%
1965	9.46%	13.5%
1964	9.92%	14.1%
1963	10.4%	14.7%
1962	10.8%	15.3%
1961	11.2%	16.1%
1960	11.6%	16.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.