Fertility & birth rates in Portugal and United States

Fertility rate in Portugal vs United States by year

Chart Table

Portugal

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Portugal	United States
2023	1.44	1.62
2022	1.43	1.66
2021	1.35	1.66
2020	1.42	1.64
2019	1.44	1.71
2018	1.42	1.73
2017	1.38	1.77
2016	1.37	1.82
2015	1.31	1.84
2014	1.24	1.86
2013	1.21	1.86
2012	1.28	1.88
2011	1.35	1.89
2010	1.39	1.93
2009	1.34	2
2008	1.39	2.07
2007	1.35	2.12
2006	1.37	2.11
2005	1.41	2.06
2004	1.4	2.05
2003	1.44	2.05
2002	1.46	2.02
2001	1.45	2.03
2000	1.55	2.06
1999	1.5	2.01
1998	1.47	2
1997	1.47	1.97
1996	1.44	1.98
1995	1.41	1.98
1994	1.45	2
1993	1.52	2.02
1992	1.54	2.05
1991	1.56	2.06
1990	1.56	2.08
1989	1.57	2.01
1988	1.61	1.93
1987	1.62	1.87
1986	1.66	1.84
1985	1.72	1.84
1984	1.9	1.81
1983	1.95	1.8
1982	2.07	1.83
1981	2.13	1.81
1980	2.25	1.84
1979	2.31	1.81
1978	2.45	1.76
1977	2.69	1.79
1976	2.82	1.74
1975	2.75	1.77
1974	2.7	1.84
1973	2.77	1.88
1972	2.86	2.01
1971	3	2.27
1970	3.01	2.48
1969	3.12	2.46
1968	3.12	2.46
1967	3.16	2.56
1966	3.16	2.72
1965	3.15	2.91
1964	3.21	3.19
1963	3.12	3.32
1962	3.23	3.46
1961	3.21	3.62
1960	3.16	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Portugal was 1.44 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Portugal vs the United States population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Portugal

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Portugal	United States
2023	-32,792	502,372
2022	-40,694	399,926
2021	-45,592	199,137
2020	-39,129	208,862
2019	-24,687	887,476
2018	-25,709	955,022
2017	-23,691	1,028,037
2016	-23,749	1,197,627
2015	-23,823	1,270,126
2014	-22,882	1,357,281
2013	-24,052	1,322,711
2012	-17,875	1,411,822
2011	-5,279	1,441,697
2010	-4,230	1,548,182
2009	-5,284	1,717,920
2008	0	1,794,154
2007	-1,055	1,897,757
2006	3,156	1,849,955
2005	2,101	1,684,445
2004	7,339	1,698,271
2003	4,184	1,653,615
2002	8,335	1,581,938
2001	8,290	1,595,826
2000	15,435	1,664,758
1999	8,175	1,564,050
1998	7,112	1,573,857
1997	8,087	1,501,014
1996	4,026	1,510,137
1995	4,011	1,546,031
1994	9,991	1,633,302
1993	7,972	1,717,685
1992	13,933	1,875,328
1991	12,948	1,926,543
1990	13,976	2,026,068
1989	22,011	1,875,826
1988	24,047	1,735,943
1987	28,084	1,720,252
1986	31,102	1,656,917
1985	33,077	1,689,258
1984	45,983	1,627,192
1983	47,798	1,636,544
1982	58,479	1,714,317
1981	56,152	1,652,153
1980	63,481	1,608,450
1979	67,628	1,597,894
1978	70,731	1,402,283
1977	84,156	1,431,556
1976	85,138	1,264,604
1975	81,841	1,252,644
1974	74,412	1,218,968
1973	76,835	1,165,499
1972	83,715	1,301,355
1971	82,980	1,640,519
1970	87,672	1,824,965
1969	89,329	1,702,487
1968	100,737	1,565,507
1967	106,495	1,669,181
1966	107,171	1,749,387
1965	115,182	1,943,030
1964	120,170	2,245,099
1963	113,783	2,289,826
1962	123,217	2,406,337
1961	117,867	2,571,681
1960	118,693	2,565,530

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 -0.31% in Portugal and +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.29% in Portugal and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Portugal vs United States by year

Chart Table

Portugal

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Portugal	United States
2023	8.1	10.7
2022	8	11
2021	7.6	11
2020	8.1	10.9
2019	8.4	11.4
2018	8.4	11.6
2017	8.3	11.8
2016	8.4	12.2
2015	8.2	12.4
2014	7.9	12.5
2013	7.9	12.4
2012	8.5	12.6
2011	9.2	12.7
2010	9.6	13
2009	9.4	13.5
2008	9.9	14
2007	9.7	14.3
2006	10	14.3
2005	10.4	14
2004	10.4	14
2003	10.8	14.1
2002	11	14
2001	10.9	14.1
2000	11.7	14.4
1999	11.4	14.2
1998	11.2	14.3
1997	11.2	14.2
1996	11	14.4
1995	10.7	14.6
1994	10.9	15
1993	11.4	15.4
1992	11.5	15.8
1991	11.7	16.2
1990	11.7	16.7
1989	11.8	16.4
1988	12.2	16
1987	12.3	15.7
1986	12.6	15.6
1985	13	15.8
1984	14.3	15.6
1983	14.5	15.6
1982	15.2	15.9
1981	15.4	15.8
1980	16.2	15.9
1979	16.6	15.6
1978	17.5	15
1977	19.1	15.1
1976	20	14.6
1975	19.8	14.6
1974	19.6	14.8
1973	20	14.8
1972	20.2	15.6
1971	21	17.2
1970	20.8	18.4
1969	21.7	17.9
1968	22.1	17.6
1967	22.8	17.8
1966	23.2	18.4
1965	23.4	19.4
1964	24	21.1
1963	23.5	21.7
1962	24.5	22.4
1961	24.4	23.3
1960	24.1	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.1 in Portugal and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 24.1 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Portugal

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Portugal	United States
2100	13.8%	14.4%
2099	13.8%	14.4%
2098	13.8%	14.4%
2097	13.8%	14.4%
2096	13.9%	14.4%
2095	13.9%	14.5%
2094	13.9%	14.5%
2093	14%	14.5%
2092	14%	14.5%
2091	14%	14.6%
2090	14.1%	14.6%
2089	14.1%	14.7%
2088	14.1%	14.7%
2087	14.1%	14.7%
2086	14.2%	14.8%
2085	14.2%	14.8%
2084	14.2%	14.8%
2083	14.2%	14.9%
2082	14.2%	14.9%
2081	14.2%	14.9%
2080	14.2%	14.9%
2079	14.2%	14.9%
2078	14.2%	14.9%
2077	14.1%	14.9%
2076	14.1%	14.9%
2075	14.1%	14.9%
2074	14%	14.9%
2073	14%	14.9%
2072	13.9%	14.9%
2071	13.9%	14.9%
2070	13.8%	14.9%
2069	13.8%	14.9%
2068	13.7%	14.9%
2067	13.7%	14.9%
2066	13.6%	14.9%
2065	13.6%	15%
2064	13.5%	15%
2063	13.5%	15%
2062	13.5%	15.1%
2061	13.5%	15.1%
2060	13.5%	15.2%
2059	13.5%	15.3%
2058	13.5%	15.4%
2057	13.5%	15.5%
2056	13.5%	15.5%
2055	13.5%	15.6%
2054	13.5%	15.7%
2053	13.5%	15.8%
2052	13.5%	15.8%
2051	13.5%	15.9%
2050	13.5%	15.9%
2049	13.5%	16%
2048	13.4%	16%
2047	13.4%	16%
2046	13.4%	16%
2045	13.3%	16%
2044	13.3%	16%
2043	13.2%	16%
2042	13.1%	16%
2041	13.1%	15.9%
2040	13%	15.9%
2039	13%	15.9%
2038	13%	15.9%
2037	12.9%	15.9%
2036	12.8%	15.9%
2035	12.8%	15.9%
2034	12.7%	15.9%
2033	12.7%	16%
2032	12.7%	16.1%
2031	12.7%	16.2%
2030	12.7%	16.3%
2029	12.6%	16.5%
2028	12.6%	16.6%
2027	12.6%	16.8%
2026	12.7%	17%
2025	12.8%	17.2%
2024	12.8%	17.3%
2023	12.9%	17.6%
2022	13%	17.9%
2021	13.1%	18.1%
2020	13.3%	18.4%
2019	13.5%	18.6%
2018	13.7%	18.8%
2017	13.9%	18.9%
2016	14.1%	19.1%
2015	14.3%	19.2%
2014	14.6%	19.3%
2013	14.8%	19.4%
2012	14.9%	19.5%
2011	15%	19.6%
2010	15.2%	19.7%
2009	15.4%	19.8%
2008	15.5%	19.9%
2007	15.6%	20%
2006	15.8%	20.2%
2005	15.9%	20.3%
2004	16%	20.5%
2003	16.1%	20.7%
2002	16.1%	20.9%
2001	16.2%	21%
2000	16.4%	21.2%
1999	16.6%	21.3%
1998	16.8%	21.4%
1997	17.1%	21.5%
1996	17.4%	21.7%
1995	17.8%	21.8%
1994	18.2%	21.9%
1993	18.6%	21.9%
1992	19.1%	21.8%
1991	19.7%	21.7%
1990	20.5%	21.6%
1989	21.2%	21.5%
1988	21.9%	21.3%
1987	22.5%	21.3%
1986	23.1%	21.3%
1985	23.7%	21.5%
1984	24.1%	21.7%
1983	24.5%	21.8%
1982	25%	22%
1981	25.4%	22.1%
1980	25.9%	22.4%
1979	26.4%	22.8%
1978	26.8%	23.2%
1977	27.1%	23.8%
1976	27.2%	24.4%
1975	27.4%	25.2%
1974	27.7%	25.9%
1973	27.9%	26.6%
1972	28.2%	27.4%
1971	28.4%	28%
1970	28.7%	28.6%
1969	29.1%	29%
1968	29.2%	29.5%
1967	29.2%	30%
1966	29.2%	30.4%
1965	29.1%	30.7%
1964	29.1%	30.9%
1963	29.1%	31.1%
1962	29.1%	31.3%
1961	29.1%	31.4%
1960	29.3%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 12.8% of the population in Portugal and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 20.5% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Portugal and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Portugal vs United States

Chart Table

Portugal

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Portugal	United States
2023	15	17
2022	16	20
2021	19	31
2020	14	22
2019	15	18
2018	14	18
2017	13	18
2016	12	18
2015	11	17
2014	11	17
2013	10	16
2012	10	16
2011	10	15
2010	10	15
2009	9	15
2008	9	14
2007	8	13
2006	8	13
2005	8	13
2004	8	13
2003	8	13
2002	9	13
2001	9	13
2000	9	12
1999	10	12
1998	11	11
1997	12	11
1996	12	11
1995	12	12
1994	13	11
1993	15	12
1992	16	11
1991	17	12
1990	17	12
1989	18	12
1988	18	12
1987	19	11
1986	19	11
1985	20	11

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 15 deaths per 100,000 live births in Portugal, compared to 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Portugal

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Portugal	United States
2023	0.32%	0.65%
2022	0.32%	0.65%
2021	0.33%	0.65%
2020	0.34%	0.65%
2019	0.35%	0.65%
2018	0.35%	0.65%
2017	0.36%	0.66%
2016	0.36%	0.67%
2015	0.36%	0.68%
2014	0.36%	0.68%
2013	0.36%	0.69%
2012	0.37%	0.7%
2011	0.37%	0.72%
2010	0.38%	0.73%
2009	0.39%	0.75%
2008	0.4%	0.76%
2007	0.42%	0.77%
2006	0.44%	0.79%
2005	0.47%	0.8%
2004	0.5%	0.81%
2003	0.55%	0.81%
2002	0.61%	0.82%
2001	0.66%	0.83%
2000	0.72%	0.84%
1999	0.77%	0.86%
1998	0.82%	0.87%
1997	0.86%	0.89%
1996	0.92%	0.92%
1995	0.98%	0.95%
1994	1.05%	0.98%
1993	1.14%	1.01%
1992	1.25%	1.05%
1991	1.36%	1.09%
1990	1.47%	1.12%
1989	1.59%	1.16%
1988	1.7%	1.19%
1987	1.82%	1.21%
1986	1.93%	1.24%
1985	2.04%	1.27%
1984	2.16%	1.3%
1983	2.29%	1.34%
1982	2.43%	1.39%
1981	2.58%	1.44%
1980	2.75%	1.5%
1979	2.97%	1.56%
1978	3.24%	1.63%
1977	3.57%	1.71%
1976	3.94%	1.79%
1975	4.35%	1.88%
1974	4.79%	1.97%
1973	5.27%	2.06%
1972	5.78%	2.15%
1971	6.3%	2.24%
1970	6.81%	2.32%
1969	7.22%	2.41%
1968	7.51%	2.49%
1967	7.76%	2.57%
1966	8.09%	2.64%
1965	8.53%	2.71%
1964	9.1%	2.77%
1963	9.76%	2.83%
1962	10.4%	2.89%
1961	11%	2.95%
1960	11.4%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.32% in Portugal and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.