Fertility & birth rates in Saudi Arabia and Syria

Fertility rate in Saudi Arabia vs Syria by year

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Syria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2023	2.28	2.71
2022	2.14	2.75
2021	2.17	2.8
2020	2.27	2.84
2019	2.49	2.88
2018	2.67	2.93
2017	2.67	2.97
2016	2.65	3.01
2015	2.63	3.07
2014	2.68	3.12
2013	2.67	3.17
2012	2.78	3.22
2011	2.8	3.29
2010	2.81	3.36
2009	2.95	3.42
2008	3.07	3.48
2007	3.19	3.54
2006	3.18	3.56
2005	3.16	3.61
2004	3.26	3.68
2003	3.47	3.76
2002	3.71	3.87
2001	3.96	3.98
2000	4.21	4.07
1999	4.35	4.14
1998	4.52	4.25
1997	4.66	4.37
1996	4.81	4.54
1995	4.99	4.7
1994	5.16	4.86
1993	5.33	4.99
1992	5.49	5.14
1991	5.64	5.34
1990	5.8	5.56
1989	5.98	5.78
1988	6.15	6
1987	6.34	6.2
1986	6.52	6.37
1985	6.65	6.48
1984	6.78	6.59
1983	6.88	6.69
1982	6.98	6.81
1981	7.07	6.97
1980	7.15	7.12
1979	7.23	7.25
1978	7.26	7.35
1977	7.3	7.42
1976	7.33	7.45
1975	7.37	7.49
1974	7.43	7.52
1973	7.48	7.55
1972	7.54	7.57
1971	7.56	7.6
1970	7.58	7.62
1969	7.6	7.59
1968	7.63	7.57
1967	7.66	7.56
1966	7.66	7.55
1965	7.66	7.53
1964	7.67	7.53
1963	7.65	7.51
1962	7.64	7.51
1961	7.63	7.5
1960	7.63	7.51

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Saudi Arabia was 2.28 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 Saudi Arabia vs Syria population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Syria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2023	474,366	402,713
2022	406,920	369,750
2021	409,032	350,560
2020	447,036	327,992
2019	474,407	293,762
2018	528,767	242,530
2017	546,751	237,214
2016	537,829	236,007
2015	511,023	253,977
2014	493,431	333,116
2013	475,299	419,341
2012	465,649	475,520
2011	443,675	543,950
2010	418,641	558,666
2009	438,557	559,314
2008	433,457	576,593
2007	425,199	529,162
2006	399,333	480,616
2005	375,938	468,960
2004	362,843	461,209
2003	364,520	457,000
2002	372,099	453,967
2001	382,153	451,503
2000	392,407	446,211
1999	390,112	439,261
1998	389,499	433,447
1997	385,033	429,887
1996	382,248	430,765
1995	380,231	430,172
1994	377,351	426,996
1993	372,621	420,244
1992	366,763	412,878
1991	361,329	410,830
1990	355,495	409,177
1989	349,399	406,111
1988	342,865	404,285
1987	333,088	399,159
1986	322,340	390,821
1985	310,558	379,231
1984	296,615	366,768
1983	280,616	355,375
1982	264,831	319,664
1981	249,156	330,237
1980	234,372	332,464
1979	220,186	324,943
1978	205,331	316,724
1977	191,103	306,630
1976	178,024	294,267
1975	166,223	282,299
1974	155,478	270,735
1973	145,450	254,687
1972	136,360	249,027
1971	127,600	239,610
1970	120,440	230,117
1969	113,859	219,114
1968	108,281	209,454
1967	103,343	199,223
1966	98,361	191,122
1965	93,820	182,560
1964	89,776	174,549
1963	85,480	166,555
1962	81,393	159,155
1961	77,743	151,485
1960	74,143	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 +1.41% in Saudi Arabia and +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.57% in Saudi Arabia and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in Saudi Arabia vs Syria by year

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2023	16.4	22.1
2022	15.2	21.2
2021	15.9	21.2
2020	16.6	20.6
2019	18.1	19.7
2018	19.7	18.9
2017	19.8	19.6
2016	19.6	19.6
2015	19.4	21.3
2014	19.8	23.8
2013	19.7	26.9
2012	20.4	27.7
2011	20.3	28.1
2010	20.1	28.7
2009	20.8	29.2
2008	21.3	30.5
2007	21.7	29.1
2006	21.4	28.3
2005	21.1	28.8
2004	21.3	29.1
2003	22.3	29.6
2002	23.8	30.1
2001	25.5	30.7
2000	27.5	31.2
1999	28.5	31.5
1998	29.5	32
1997	30.3	32.5
1996	31.2	33.3
1995	32.3	34
1994	33.4	34.6
1993	34.5	35
1992	35.5	35.4
1991	36.7	36.3
1990	38	37.3
1989	39.3	38.3
1988	40.7	39.4
1987	41.9	40.3
1986	43.1	41
1985	44.2	41.3
1984	45	41.5
1983	45.6	41.9
1982	46.1	42.2
1981	46.6	43
1980	47.1	43.7
1979	47.5	44.4
1978	47.5	44.9
1977	47.5	45.3
1976	47.6	45.4
1975	47.7	45.5
1974	47.8	45.6
1973	48	45.7
1972	48.3	45.9
1971	48.4	46.2
1970	48.7	46.5
1969	48.9	46.4
1968	49.3	46.5
1967	49.8	46.5
1966	50.1	46.7
1965	50.4	46.7
1964	50.8	46.9
1963	51	47
1962	51.1	47.2
1961	51.4	47.3
1960	51.5	47.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.4 in Saudi Arabia and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 51.5 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Factual

UN forecast

Syria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2100	17.3%	15.9%
2099	17.3%	16%
2098	17.3%	16%
2097	17.3%	16.1%
2096	17.3%	16.1%
2095	17.3%	16.1%
2094	17.4%	16.2%
2093	17.4%	16.2%
2092	17.4%	16.2%
2091	17.4%	16.2%
2090	17.4%	16.2%
2089	17.5%	16.2%
2088	17.5%	16.2%
2087	17.5%	16.3%
2086	17.6%	16.4%
2085	17.6%	16.4%
2084	17.7%	16.5%
2083	17.7%	16.7%
2082	17.7%	16.8%
2081	17.8%	17%
2080	17.8%	17.2%
2079	17.9%	17.4%
2078	17.9%	17.6%
2077	18%	17.8%
2076	18%	18.1%
2075	18.1%	18.3%
2074	18.2%	18.6%
2073	18.2%	18.8%
2072	18.3%	19.1%
2071	18.3%	19.3%
2070	18.4%	19.5%
2069	18.4%	19.6%
2068	18.5%	19.8%
2067	18.6%	19.9%
2066	18.6%	20%
2065	18.7%	20.1%
2064	18.7%	20.1%
2063	18.8%	20.1%
2062	18.9%	20.2%
2061	19%	20.2%
2060	19%	20.2%
2059	19.1%	20.2%
2058	19.2%	20.3%
2057	19.3%	20.4%
2056	19.4%	20.5%
2055	19.5%	20.7%
2054	19.6%	21%
2053	19.8%	21.3%
2052	19.9%	21.6%
2051	20%	22%
2050	20.1%	22.5%
2049	20.3%	23%
2048	20.4%	23.6%
2047	20.6%	24.2%
2046	20.7%	24.8%
2045	20.9%	25.5%
2044	21.1%	26.1%
2043	21.2%	26.7%
2042	21.4%	27.2%
2041	21.6%	27.8%
2040	21.8%	28.2%
2039	22%	28.6%
2038	22.1%	28.9%
2037	22.1%	29%
2036	22.2%	29%
2035	22.2%	28.9%
2034	22.3%	28.7%
2033	22.4%	28.5%
2032	22.5%	28.1%
2031	22.7%	27.7%
2030	22.8%	27.4%
2029	23%	27.3%
2028	23.2%	27.4%
2027	23.3%	27.7%
2026	23.5%	28.1%
2025	23.7%	28.8%
2024	23.8%	29.2%
2023	24.1%	30.3%
2022	24.6%	31.9%
2021	25.2%	33.4%
2020	25.5%	34.6%
2019	25.8%	36.1%
2018	25.7%	37.9%
2017	25.2%	39.3%
2016	24.9%	40.2%
2015	25.1%	40.6%
2014	25.4%	39.8%
2013	25.8%	38%
2012	26.3%	36.5%
2011	26.9%	36.1%
2010	27.6%	36.1%
2009	28.5%	36.3%
2008	29.5%	36.3%
2007	30.6%	36.7%
2006	31.9%	38.1%
2005	33.2%	39.1%
2004	34.5%	39.6%
2003	35.7%	40.2%
2002	36.8%	40.8%
2001	37.7%	41.3%
2000	38.3%	41.9%
1999	38.9%	42.4%
1998	39.5%	42.9%
1997	40.1%	43.3%
1996	40.7%	43.8%
1995	41.2%	44.2%
1994	41.7%	44.7%
1993	42.1%	45.2%
1992	42.4%	45.7%
1991	42.7%	46.1%
1990	43%	46.6%
1989	43.2%	46.9%
1988	43.3%	47.2%
1987	43.4%	47.5%
1986	43.5%	47.7%
1985	43.6%	48%
1984	43.6%	48.2%
1983	43.7%	48.4%
1982	43.8%	48.5%
1981	43.9%	48.7%
1980	44.1%	48.7%
1979	44.2%	48.7%
1978	44.3%	48.7%
1977	44.5%	48.7%
1976	44.6%	48.6%
1975	44.8%	48.6%
1974	45%	48.5%
1973	45.2%	48.5%
1972	45.3%	48.4%
1971	45.5%	48.3%
1970	45.5%	48.2%
1969	45.5%	48%
1968	45.4%	47.8%
1967	45.3%	47.5%
1966	45.1%	47.3%
1965	44.8%	46.9%
1964	44.6%	46.6%
1963	44.3%	46.3%
1962	43.9%	46.1%
1961	43.6%	45.7%
1960	43.4%	45.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 23.8% of the population in Saudi Arabia and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 43% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Saudi Arabia and Syria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Saudi Arabia vs Syria

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Syria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2023	7	20
2022	9	21
2021	12	30
2020	11	23
2019	8	24
2018	8	21
2017	8	23
2016	8	23
2015	8	24
2014	8	25
2013	9	25
2012	9	22
2011	10	21
2010	11	19
2009	11	19
2008	12	20
2007	13	19
2006	14	20
2005	15	21
2004	16	22
2003	16	24
2002	18	26
2001	19	29
2000	20	31
1999	21	32
1998	22	34
1997	23	34
1996	23	34
1995	24	33
1994	25	32
1993	26	32
1992	27	33
1991	29	35
1990	30	37
1989	32	41
1988	34	44
1987	36	48
1986	38	52
1985	40	55

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in Saudi Arabia, compared to 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Saudi Arabia	Syria
2023	0.62%	2.06%
2022	0.64%	2.11%
2021	0.66%	2.1%
2020	0.69%	2.24%
2019	0.72%	2.5%
2018	0.76%	3.26%
2017	0.8%	3.3%
2016	0.85%	3.22%
2015	0.9%	3.7%
2014	0.96%	3.53%
2013	1.02%	3.65%
2012	1.08%	3.39%
2011	1.15%	2.17%
2010	1.22%	1.9%
2009	1.3%	1.9%
2008	1.38%	1.9%
2007	1.47%	1.92%
2006	1.56%	1.95%
2005	1.65%	1.98%
2004	1.75%	2.03%
2003	1.85%	2.09%
2002	1.96%	2.15%
2001	2.08%	2.23%
2000	2.21%	2.32%
1999	2.35%	2.42%
1998	2.5%	2.53%
1997	2.67%	2.66%
1996	2.86%	2.8%
1995	3.06%	2.94%
1994	3.29%	3.09%
1993	3.54%	3.24%
1992	3.81%	3.4%
1991	4.11%	3.55%
1990	4.44%	3.7%
1989	4.8%	3.85%
1988	5.19%	4.02%
1987	5.62%	4.19%
1986	6.07%	4.39%
1985	6.55%	4.6%
1984	7.04%	4.84%
1983	7.56%	5.1%
1982	8.12%	7.06%
1981	8.71%	6.33%
1980	9.34%	6.03%
1979	9.99%	6.4%
1978	10.7%	6.79%
1977	11.4%	7.19%
1976	12.2%	7.61%
1975	13.1%	8.03%
1974	14%	8.47%
1973	14.9%	8.92%
1972	16%	9.4%
1971	-	9.91%
1970	-	10.5%
1969	-	11.1%
1968	-	11.7%
1967	-	12.3%
1966	-	12.9%
1965	-	13.5%
1964	-	14.1%
1963	-	14.7%
1962	-	15.3%
1961	-	16.1%
1960	-	16.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in Saudi Arabia and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.