Saudi Arabia birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Saudi Arabia has a birth rate of 16.4 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.28 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Saudi Arabia was 7.63 children per woman — 3.34 times higher than in 2023.

Saudi Arabia birth rate statistics:

Saudi Arabia is ranked 92/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 11/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.3, a change from 30.5 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 115.8 in 1960 to 11.1 in 2023.
23% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Saudi Arabia by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.28	83
2022	2.14	91
2021	2.17	91
2020	2.27	90
2019	2.49	82
2018	2.67	77
2017	2.67	77
2016	2.65	80
2015	2.63	82
2014	2.68	81
2013	2.67	81
2012	2.78	76
2011	2.8	76
2010	2.81	77
2009	2.95	73
2008	3.07	71
2007	3.19	70
2006	3.18	70
2005	3.16	72
2004	3.26	72
2003	3.47	67
2002	3.71	63
2001	3.96	59
2000	4.21	56
1999	4.35	56
1998	4.52	55
1997	4.66	55
1996	4.81	51
1995	4.99	52
1994	5.16	51
1993	5.33	50
1992	5.49	49
1991	5.64	48
1990	5.8	48
1989	5.98	44
1988	6.15	40
1987	6.34	35
1986	6.52	33
1985	6.65	26
1984	6.78	24
1983	6.88	25
1982	6.98	24
1981	7.07	24
1980	7.15	22
1979	7.23	20
1978	7.26	18
1977	7.3	18
1976	7.33	17
1975	7.37	15
1974	7.43	14
1973	7.48	14
1972	7.54	11
1971	7.56	11
1970	7.58	10
1969	7.6	9
1968	7.63	9
1967	7.66	9
1966	7.66	9
1965	7.66	9
1964	7.67	10
1963	7.65	9
1962	7.64	8
1961	7.63	8
1960	7.63	7

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Saudi Arabia is 2.28, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.33 — a 57.2% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	474,366	553,230	78,864
2022	406,920	489,610	82,690
2021	409,032	489,533	80,501
2020	447,036	524,655	77,619
2019	474,407	543,403	68,996
2018	528,767	596,044	67,277
2017	546,751	614,095	67,344
2016	537,829	605,247	67,418
2015	511,023	578,586	67,563
2014	493,431	561,146	67,715
2013	475,299	544,524	69,225
2012	465,649	533,504	67,855
2011	443,675	509,967	66,292
2010	418,641	482,615	63,974
2009	438,557	503,775	65,218
2008	433,457	496,357	62,900
2007	425,199	486,063	60,864
2006	399,333	458,152	58,819
2005	375,938	433,032	57,094
2004	362,843	418,448	55,605
2003	364,520	418,982	54,462
2002	372,099	425,688	53,589
2001	382,153	435,032	52,879
2000	392,407	444,725	52,318
1999	390,112	441,603	51,491
1998	389,499	440,338	50,839
1997	385,033	435,215	50,182
1996	382,248	431,845	49,597
1995	380,231	429,348	49,117
1994	377,351	426,068	48,717
1993	372,621	421,044	48,423
1992	366,763	415,040	48,277
1991	361,329	409,699	48,370
1990	355,495	403,995	48,500
1989	349,399	398,207	48,808
1988	342,865	392,070	49,205
1987	333,088	382,573	49,485
1986	322,340	372,092	49,752
1985	310,558	360,569	50,011
1984	296,615	346,709	50,094
1983	280,616	330,690	50,074
1982	264,831	314,895	50,064
1981	249,156	299,242	50,086
1980	234,372	284,564	50,192
1979	220,186	270,663	50,477
1978	205,331	255,737	50,406
1977	191,103	241,653	50,550
1976	178,024	228,795	50,771
1975	166,223	217,321	51,098
1974	155,478	206,881	51,403
1973	145,450	197,194	51,744
1972	136,360	188,462	52,102
1971	127,600	180,082	52,482
1970	120,440	173,388	52,948
1969	113,859	167,213	53,354
1968	108,281	161,982	53,701
1967	103,343	157,262	53,919
1966	98,361	152,322	53,961
1965	93,820	147,677	53,857
1964	89,776	143,387	53,611
1963	85,480	138,640	53,160
1962	81,393	134,028	52,635
1961	77,743	129,788	52,045
1960	74,143	125,515	51,372

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Saudi Arabia (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.57% annually. On average, 482,956 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.41% — 474,366 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia ranks 38/196 for absolute natural population change and 76/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Saudi Arabia compared to other countries

	Saudi Arabia	Rank
Fertility rate	2.28	83/196
Birth rate	16.4	92/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+474,366	38/196
Natural population change rate	+1.41%	76/196
Population growth	+4.74%	4/197
Average age at childbearing	30.3 years	57/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	10.6	137/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	113.4	84/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	45.5	52/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23%	138/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	32.9%	116/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	94.8%	121/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.007%	160/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.3%	148/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.49%	149/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.62%	142/192
Life expectancy	79.4 years	49/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	39.1	10.6	113.4	45.5
2025	39.7	10.9	115	46.4
2024	40.2	11.2	116.4	47.1
2023	41.2	11.2	116	47.1
2022	38.7	10.4	108.9	44.8
2021	41.2	10.6	110.6	46.3
2020	41.7	11.4	116.9	48.7
2019	47.2	12.9	129.3	53.3
2018	51.7	14.3	139.2	57.5
2017	52.3	14.7	140.3	58.1
2016	52.2	14.9	140.2	57.3
2015	52.4	15.1	140.2	55.8
2014	54.1	15.8	143.5	55.6
2013	52.9	16	143.7	53.9
2012	55.2	17	150	54.7
2011	54.9	17.5	151.5	53.5
2010	54.3	17.8	152.6	52.2
2009	52.9	19.2	160.4	53.5
2008	53.6	20.3	167.4	54.4
2007	53.9	21.4	173.7	55.3
2006	52.3	21.4	173.7	54.2
2005	50.8	22.2	174.4	52.8
2004	50.5	22.5	171.2	57.3
2003	52.1	23.9	172.7	64.1
2002	54.5	25.8	174.8	72.5
2001	57.4	27.8	176.8	81.7
2000	60.5	29.9	177.9	91.2
1999	62.1	29.4	186.4	94.9
1998	64.2	29	196.1	99.1
1997	65.8	32.8	201.3	102.7
1996	67.9	37.2	207.4	106.7
1995	70.2	42.6	215.1	110.4
1994	72.5	48.5	223.2	113.6
1993	74.7	53.3	231.1	116.4
1992	76.9	58.9	238.9	118.9
1991	79.3	62.2	249.7	121.1
1990	81.8	65.6	260.6	123.2
1989	84.5	69.2	271.8	125.4
1988	87.3	65.5	284.8	128.3
1987	89.5	73.8	287.8	132.4
1986	91.7	87.4	291	134.1
1985	93.6	102.5	292	134.8
1984	95.2	104.5	297.9	136.1
1983	96.1	106	302	136.6
1982	96.9	107.6	307	137
1981	97.6	108.9	311	137
1980	98.2	110.1	315	137
1979	98.7	111.4	319	136.9
1978	98.5	112	321	136.2
1977	98.2	112.4	322	135.7
1976	98	112.9	323	135.2
1975	97.9	113.5	325	134.9
1974	97.9	114.4	328	135
1973	98	115.2	330	135.1
1972	98.2	116.1	333	135.5
1971	98.1	116.3	333	135.4
1970	98.6	116.7	335	135.8
1969	99	116.9	335	136.1
1968	99.8	117.5	335	136.7
1967	100.7	117.3	337	137.2
1966	101.2	117.6	337	137.1
1965	101.9	118.2	337	137
1964	102.6	118.8	338	136.9
1963	103	117.7	337	136.1
1962	103.3	117.5	336	135.1
1961	103.7	117.5	336	134.3
1960	104	117.4	336	133.3

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Saudi Arabia by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 2.27% will be to women under age 20, 48.5% to women ages 20-29, and 49.2% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 7.05%, 50.1%, and 42.8%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Saudi Arabia	World
2100	17.3%	16.5%
2099	17.3%	16.6%
2098	17.3%	16.6%
2097	17.3%	16.7%
2096	17.3%	16.8%
2095	17.3%	16.8%
2094	17.4%	16.9%
2093	17.4%	17%
2092	17.4%	17%
2091	17.4%	17.1%
2090	17.4%	17.2%
2089	17.5%	17.2%
2088	17.5%	17.3%
2087	17.5%	17.4%
2086	17.6%	17.4%
2085	17.6%	17.5%
2084	17.7%	17.5%
2083	17.7%	17.6%
2082	17.7%	17.7%
2081	17.8%	17.7%
2080	17.8%	17.8%
2079	17.9%	17.8%
2078	17.9%	17.9%
2077	18%	17.9%
2076	18%	18%
2075	18.1%	18%
2074	18.2%	18.1%
2073	18.2%	18.2%
2072	18.3%	18.2%
2071	18.3%	18.3%
2070	18.4%	18.3%
2069	18.4%	18.4%
2068	18.5%	18.5%
2067	18.6%	18.6%
2066	18.6%	18.6%
2065	18.7%	18.7%
2064	18.7%	18.8%
2063	18.8%	18.9%
2062	18.9%	19.1%
2061	19%	19.2%
2060	19%	19.3%
2059	19.1%	19.4%
2058	19.2%	19.5%
2057	19.3%	19.6%
2056	19.4%	19.8%
2055	19.5%	19.9%
2054	19.6%	20%
2053	19.8%	20.1%
2052	19.9%	20.2%
2051	20%	20.3%
2050	20.1%	20.4%
2049	20.3%	20.5%
2048	20.4%	20.6%
2047	20.6%	20.7%
2046	20.7%	20.8%
2045	20.9%	20.9%
2044	21.1%	20.9%
2043	21.2%	21%
2042	21.4%	21.1%
2041	21.6%	21.2%
2040	21.8%	21.2%
2039	22%	21.3%
2038	22.1%	21.4%
2037	22.1%	21.5%
2036	22.2%	21.6%
2035	22.2%	21.8%
2034	22.3%	22%
2033	22.4%	22.2%
2032	22.5%	22.4%
2031	22.7%	22.7%
2030	22.8%	23%
2029	23%	23.3%
2028	23.2%	23.6%
2027	23.3%	23.9%
2026	23.5%	24.2%
2025	23.7%	24.6%
2024	23.8%	24.7%
2023	24.1%	25%
2022	24.6%	25.3%
2021	25.2%	25.6%
2020	25.5%	25.8%
2019	25.8%	26%
2018	25.7%	26.2%
2017	25.2%	26.4%
2016	24.9%	26.5%
2015	25.1%	26.6%
2014	25.4%	26.8%
2013	25.8%	26.9%
2012	26.3%	27%
2011	26.9%	27.1%
2010	27.6%	27.3%
2009	28.5%	27.5%
2008	29.5%	27.6%
2007	30.6%	27.9%
2006	31.9%	28.1%
2005	33.2%	28.5%
2004	34.5%	28.8%
2003	35.7%	29.2%
2002	36.8%	29.6%
2001	37.7%	30%
2000	38.3%	30.4%
1999	38.9%	30.8%
1998	39.5%	31.1%
1997	40.1%	31.5%
1996	40.7%	31.8%
1995	41.2%	32.1%
1994	41.7%	32.3%
1993	42.1%	32.5%
1992	42.4%	32.7%
1991	42.7%	32.9%
1990	43%	33%
1989	43.2%	33.2%
1988	43.3%	33.4%
1987	43.4%	33.6%
1986	43.5%	33.8%
1985	43.6%	34%
1984	43.6%	34.3%
1983	43.7%	34.6%
1982	43.8%	34.9%
1981	43.9%	35.2%
1980	44.1%	35.5%
1979	44.2%	35.9%
1978	44.3%	36.3%
1977	44.5%	36.7%
1976	44.6%	36.9%
1975	44.8%	37.1%
1974	45%	37.2%
1973	45.2%	37.3%
1972	45.3%	37.5%
1971	45.5%	37.6%
1970	45.5%	37.7%
1969	45.5%	37.8%
1968	45.4%	37.9%
1967	45.3%	38%
1966	45.1%	38%
1965	44.8%	38%
1964	44.6%	38%
1963	44.3%	37.8%
1962	43.9%	37.6%
1961	43.6%	37.5%
1960	43.4%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Saudi Arabia was 43.4% in 1960, 42.4% in 1992, and 23.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Saudi Arabia.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Saudi Arabia	World
2023	7	197
2022	9	203
2021	12	242
2020	11	211
2019	8	207
2018	8	211
2017	8	215
2016	8	220
2015	8	228
2014	8	231
2013	9	235
2012	9	239
2011	10	247
2010	11	253
2009	11	258
2008	12	264
2007	13	269
2006	14	276
2005	15	283
2004	16	291
2003	16	301
2002	18	311
2001	19	321
2000	20	328
1999	21	340
1998	22	360
1997	23	358
1996	23	366
1995	24	371
1994	25	382
1993	26	389
1992	27	395
1991	29	395
1990	30	391
1989	32	401
1988	34	414
1987	36	429
1986	38	438
1985	40	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Saudi Arabia was 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.007% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 65% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Saudi Arabia	World
2023	0.62%	2.49%
2022	0.64%	2.59%
2021	0.66%	2.66%
2020	0.69%	2.75%
2019	0.72%	2.86%
2018	0.76%	2.97%
2017	0.8%	3.11%
2016	0.85%	3.22%
2015	0.9%	3.35%
2014	0.96%	3.48%
2013	1.02%	3.61%
2012	1.08%	3.77%
2011	1.15%	3.97%
2010	1.22%	4.11%
2009	1.3%	4.31%
2008	1.38%	4.5%
2007	1.47%	4.7%
2006	1.56%	4.92%
2005	1.65%	5.16%
2004	1.75%	5.43%
2003	1.85%	5.65%
2002	1.96%	5.94%
2001	2.08%	6.21%
2000	2.21%	6.48%
1999	2.35%	6.75%
1998	2.5%	7.05%
1997	2.67%	7.28%
1996	2.86%	7.52%
1995	3.06%	7.76%
1994	3.29%	7.98%
1993	3.54%	8.19%
1992	3.81%	8.46%
1991	4.11%	8.66%
1990	4.44%	8.81%
1989	4.8%	9.02%
1988	5.19%	9.31%
1987	5.62%	9.47%
1986	6.07%	9.81%
1985	6.55%	10.1%
1984	7.04%	10.4%
1983	7.56%	10.6%
1982	8.12%	10.8%
1981	8.71%	11%
1980	9.34%	11.4%
1979	9.99%	11.7%
1978	10.7%	12.2%
1977	11.4%	12.6%
1976	12.2%	13%
1975	13.1%	13.4%
1974	14%	13.8%
1973	14.9%	14.1%
1972	16%	14.5%
1971	-	15.1%
1970	-	15.2%
1969	-	15.4%
1968	-	15.6%
1967	-	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Saudi Arabia was 6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.62% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 22.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.