Fertility & birth rates in North Korea and Zambia

Fertility rate in North Korea vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	North Korea	Zambia
2023	1.78	4.1
2022	1.8	4.18
2021	1.81	4.25
2020	1.82	4.32
2019	1.83	4.42
2018	1.83	4.49
2017	1.85	4.57
2016	1.86	4.67
2015	1.86	4.78
2014	1.87	4.89
2013	1.88	5.01
2012	1.88	5.14
2011	1.88	5.26
2010	1.89	5.36
2009	1.91	5.45
2008	1.97	5.53
2007	1.94	5.61
2006	1.94	5.68
2005	1.87	5.7
2004	1.9	5.7
2003	1.91	5.71
2002	1.92	5.77
2001	1.94	5.85
2000	1.94	5.92
1999	1.97	6
1998	1.99	6.07
1997	2.03	6.12
1996	2.09	6.18
1995	2.15	6.23
1994	2.18	6.26
1993	2.22	6.3
1992	2.29	6.35
1991	2.35	6.46
1990	2.39	6.57
1989	2.41	6.64
1988	2.47	6.7
1987	2.53	6.8
1986	2.59	6.87
1985	2.65	6.93
1984	2.71	6.97
1983	2.78	7.01
1982	2.85	7.04
1981	2.92	7.07
1980	2.84	7.14
1979	2.85	7.22
1978	2.79	7.29
1977	2.77	7.35
1976	2.84	7.39
1975	3.05	7.42
1974	3.14	7.36
1973	3.35	7.34
1972	3.89	7.3
1971	3.74	7.26
1970	3.85	7.22
1969	3.86	7.18
1968	3.87	7.18
1967	4.05	7.15
1966	3.71	7.14
1965	3.56	7.12
1964	3.55	7.09
1963	3.63	7.06
1962	3.41	7.01
1961	3.26	6.98
1960	3.57	6.95

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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	North Korea	Zambia
2023	86,203	577,660
2022	96,495	563,456
2021	99,710	535,629
2020	95,920	536,484
2019	106,208	528,089
2018	113,164	515,644
2017	120,181	504,630
2016	125,048	497,521
2015	127,365	491,021
2014	127,078	483,663
2013	122,519	476,846
2012	118,773	469,406
2011	114,798	459,743
2010	112,443	448,337
2009	111,530	434,458
2008	122,015	419,560
2007	120,521	403,729
2006	129,171	387,891
2005	132,765	368,756
2004	155,838	349,352
2003	178,775	331,189
2002	119,504	316,041
2001	143,321	302,682
2000	161,591	293,186
1999	181,613	283,297
1998	197,589	275,568
1997	211,325	268,198
1996	226,095	262,468
1995	233,381	257,897
1994	320,861	252,023
1993	320,880	245,917
1992	324,002	239,953
1991	320,551	237,957
1990	312,460	235,835
1989	303,078	233,429
1988	299,305	230,118
1987	296,030	227,813
1986	293,227	224,768
1985	287,714	221,351
1984	282,987	216,695
1983	279,046	212,712
1982	276,332	207,621
1981	273,800	202,822
1980	255,206	198,817
1979	251,409	197,578
1978	243,533	194,933
1977	242,870	191,557
1976	255,841	186,762
1975	288,966	182,258
1974	306,902	174,484
1973	338,600	168,258
1972	411,997	161,648
1971	393,220	155,249
1970	406,129	149,380
1969	404,189	142,660
1968	399,837	137,315
1967	414,632	131,938
1966	363,882	127,164
1965	335,587	122,814
1964	323,623	117,197
1963	321,805	114,555
1962	286,534	110,173
1961	257,788	106,318
1960	277,717	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.42% in North Korea and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in North Korea vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

North Korea

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	North Korea	Zambia
2023	12.9	33.1
2022	13.1	33.5
2021	13.3	33.9
2020	13.4	34.4
2019	13.4	35
2018	13.4	35.5
2017	13.5	35.9
2016	13.5	36.6
2015	13.4	37.3
2014	13.4	38.1
2013	13.4	39
2012	13.3	39.9
2011	13.3	40.7
2010	13.3	41.4
2009	13.4	42
2008	13.9	42.6
2007	13.9	43.2
2006	14	43.7
2005	13.9	43.8
2004	14.6	43.9
2003	15.3	43.9
2002	16.1	44.3
2001	16.9	44.8
2000	17.5	45.5
1999	18.3	45.9
1998	18.9	46.2
1997	19.4	46.3
1996	20	46.6
1995	20.3	46.8
1994	20.4	46.7
1993	20.4	46.6
1992	20.5	46.6
1991	20.6	46.9
1990	20.5	47
1989	20.2	47.1
1988	20.2	47.1
1987	20.3	47.3
1986	20.4	47.4
1985	20.4	47.4
1984	20.4	47.3
1983	20.5	47.3
1982	20.6	47.3
1981	20.8	47.3
1980	20.1	47.5
1979	20.2	48.2
1978	20.1	48.7
1977	20.4	49.2
1976	21.5	49.5
1975	23.9	50
1974	25.6	49.7
1973	28.2	49.7
1972	33.7	49.6
1971	33.4	49.4
1970	35.3	49.3
1969	36.2	48.9
1968	37.1	48.9
1967	39.3	48.8
1966	36.6	48.8
1965	35.4	48.8
1964	35.4	48.9
1963	36.1	48.9
1962	34	48.9
1961	32.3	48.9
1960	34.8	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.9 in North Korea and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 34.8 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	North Korea	Zambia
2100	13%	21.6%
2099	13.1%	21.7%
2098	13.2%	21.9%
2097	13.3%	22%
2096	13.4%	22.2%
2095	13.4%	22.3%
2094	13.5%	22.5%
2093	13.6%	22.7%
2092	13.7%	22.8%
2091	13.8%	23%
2090	13.8%	23.1%
2089	13.8%	23.3%
2088	13.9%	23.5%
2087	13.9%	23.6%
2086	13.9%	23.8%
2085	13.8%	24%
2084	13.8%	24.2%
2083	13.8%	24.3%
2082	13.7%	24.5%
2081	13.7%	24.7%
2080	13.7%	24.9%
2079	13.6%	25.1%
2078	13.6%	25.3%
2077	13.6%	25.5%
2076	13.6%	25.7%
2075	13.7%	25.9%
2074	13.7%	26.1%
2073	13.8%	26.4%
2072	13.8%	26.6%
2071	14%	26.8%
2070	14.1%	27%
2069	14.2%	27.2%
2068	14.3%	27.5%
2067	14.5%	27.7%
2066	14.6%	27.9%
2065	14.8%	28.1%
2064	14.9%	28.4%
2063	15%	28.6%
2062	15.1%	28.9%
2061	15.2%	29.1%
2060	15.3%	29.3%
2059	15.4%	29.6%
2058	15.4%	29.8%
2057	15.4%	30.1%
2056	15.4%	30.4%
2055	15.4%	30.6%
2054	15.4%	30.9%
2053	15.3%	31.2%
2052	15.3%	31.5%
2051	15.2%	31.8%
2050	15.2%	32.2%
2049	15.2%	32.5%
2048	15.2%	32.8%
2047	15.2%	33.2%
2046	15.3%	33.5%
2045	15.3%	33.9%
2044	15.5%	34.2%
2043	15.6%	34.6%
2042	15.8%	34.9%
2041	16%	35.3%
2040	16.2%	35.6%
2039	16.5%	36%
2038	16.7%	36.3%
2037	17%	36.6%
2036	17.2%	37%
2035	17.5%	37.3%
2034	17.8%	37.6%
2033	18%	38%
2032	18.2%	38.3%
2031	18.4%	38.7%
2030	18.6%	39%
2029	18.7%	39.4%
2028	18.8%	39.8%
2027	18.9%	40.3%
2026	18.9%	40.7%
2025	18.9%	41.2%
2024	18.9%	41.5%
2023	19%	42%
2022	19%	42.4%
2021	19.1%	42.9%
2020	19.1%	43.3%
2019	19.1%	43.8%
2018	19.2%	44.1%
2017	19.4%	44.5%
2016	19.6%	44.9%
2015	19.8%	45.2%
2014	20.1%	45.5%
2013	20.4%	45.7%
2012	20.8%	45.9%
2011	21.2%	46.1%
2010	21.6%	46.3%
2009	22.1%	46.4%
2008	22.5%	46.6%
2007	23%	46.8%
2006	23.4%	47%
2005	23.9%	47.1%
2004	24.3%	47.3%
2003	24.6%	47.4%
2002	25%	47.6%
2001	25.3%	47.8%
2000	25.6%	48%
1999	25.8%	48.1%
1998	26%	48.2%
1997	26.2%	48.2%
1996	26.3%	48.2%
1995	26.4%	48.2%
1994	26.4%	48.2%
1993	26.4%	48.2%
1992	26.3%	48.2%
1991	26.4%	48.3%
1990	26.5%	48.4%
1989	26.8%	48.5%
1988	27.3%	48.6%
1987	28%	48.7%
1986	29%	48.8%
1985	29.9%	48.9%
1984	30.9%	49%
1983	32%	49.1%
1982	33.1%	49.3%
1981	34.2%	49.4%
1980	35.1%	49.5%
1979	36%	49.5%
1978	36.9%	49.4%
1977	37.7%	49.2%
1976	38.3%	49.1%
1975	38.8%	48.8%
1974	39.3%	48.6%
1973	39.8%	48.3%
1972	40.2%	48%
1971	40.3%	47.7%
1970	40.1%	47.4%
1969	39.8%	47.2%
1968	39.2%	47.1%
1967	38.3%	47%
1966	37.3%	46.9%
1965	36.7%	46.9%
1964	36.6%	46.7%
1963	36.5%	46.5%
1962	36.6%	46.3%
1961	37%	46.2%
1960	37.5%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.9% of the population in North Korea and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 26.5% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of North Korea and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: North Korea vs Zambia

Chart Table

North Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	North Korea	Zambia
2023	67	85
2022	67	89
2021	72	140
2020	66	99
2019	66	103
2018	69	117
2017	70	141
2016	71	158
2015	72	154
2014	73	174
2013	75	213
2012	76	256
2011	76	291
2010	77	332
2009	78	406
2008	79	394
2007	80	324
2006	80	262
2005	78	264
2004	77	260
2003	76	250
2002	131	274
2001	130	306
2000	129	340
1999	129	378
1998	129	392
1997	128	403
1996	128	433
1995	127	466
1994	57	507
1993	46	532
1992	37	581
1991	38	611
1990	43	625
1989	49	635
1988	55	635
1987	62	630
1986	68	619
1985	76	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

North Korea

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	North Korea	Zambia
2023	1.8%	4.47%
2022	1.77%	4.67%
2021	1.74%	4.92%
2020	1.74%	5.24%
2019	1.77%	5.41%
2018	1.84%	5.52%
2017	1.91%	5.61%
2016	2.06%	5.9%
2015	2.14%	6.15%
2014	2.26%	6.38%
2013	2.41%	6.72%
2012	2.57%	7.04%
2011	2.72%	7.31%
2010	2.87%	7.57%
2009	3%	8%
2008	3.1%	8.62%
2007	3.24%	9.14%
2006	3.28%	9.71%
2005	3.33%	10.5%
2004	3.38%	11.4%
2003	3.45%	12.4%
2002	9.78%	13.4%
2001	9.9%	14.4%
2000	10%	15.3%
1999	10.2%	15.9%
1998	10.3%	16.3%
1997	10.5%	16.7%
1996	10.6%	17%
1995	10.8%	17.3%
1994	4.25%	17.7%
1993	4.27%	17.9%
1992	4.25%	18.1%
1991	4.18%	18.1%
1990	4.07%	18.1%
1989	3.95%	17.9%
1988	3.83%	17.7%
1987	3.78%	17.3%
1986	3.68%	17%
1985	3.68%	16.6%
1984	3.71%	16.2%
1983	3.8%	15.9%
1982	3.91%	15.7%
1981	4.05%	15.6%
1980	4.22%	15.5%
1979	4.4%	15.4%
1978	4.59%	15.3%
1977	4.8%	15.3%
1976	5.03%	15.4%
1975	5.28%	15.5%
1974	5.56%	15.9%
1973	5.86%	16.3%
1972	6.2%	16.9%
1971	6.58%	17.4%
1970	6.99%	17.9%
1969	7.45%	18.3%
1968	7.94%	18.5%
1967	8.45%	18.7%
1966	8.96%	18.9%
1965	9.46%	19%
1964	9.92%	19.2%
1963	10.4%	19.5%
1962	10.8%	19.8%
1961	11.2%	20.1%
1960	11.6%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.8% in North Korea and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.