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Fertility & birth rates in Saudi Arabia and United States

Updated on by Georank team

Saudi Arabia has an annual birth rate of 16.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.7 for the United States. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.28 in Saudi Arabia and 1.62 in the United States — 29.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia and by 55.8% in the United States — in 1960, it was 7.63 and 3.65, respectively.

  • Saudi Arabia is ranked 92/196 by birth rate compared to 140/196 for the United States.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.3 in Saudi Arabia — it's 30.2 in the United States.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 11.1 in Saudi Arabia vs 13.1 in the United States.
  • In Saudi Arabia, 23% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.5% in the United States.

Fertility rate in Saudi Arabia vs United States by year

Saudi Arabia
United States
1x
Year Fertility rate
Saudi Arabia United States
2023 2.28 1.62
2022 2.14 1.66
2021 2.17 1.66
2020 2.27 1.64
2019 2.49 1.71
2018 2.67 1.73
2017 2.67 1.77
2016 2.65 1.82
2015 2.63 1.84
2014 2.68 1.86
2013 2.67 1.86
2012 2.78 1.88
2011 2.8 1.89
2010 2.81 1.93
2009 2.95 2
2008 3.07 2.07
2007 3.19 2.12
2006 3.18 2.11
2005 3.16 2.06
2004 3.26 2.05
2003 3.47 2.05
2002 3.71 2.02
2001 3.96 2.03
2000 4.21 2.06
1999 4.35 2.01
1998 4.52 2
1997 4.66 1.97
1996 4.81 1.98
1995 4.99 1.98
1994 5.16 2
1993 5.33 2.02
1992 5.49 2.05
1991 5.64 2.06
1990 5.8 2.08
1989 5.98 2.01
1988 6.15 1.93
1987 6.34 1.87
1986 6.52 1.84
1985 6.65 1.84
1984 6.78 1.81
1983 6.88 1.8
1982 6.98 1.83
1981 7.07 1.81
1980 7.15 1.84
1979 7.23 1.81
1978 7.26 1.76
1977 7.3 1.79
1976 7.33 1.74
1975 7.37 1.77
1974 7.43 1.84
1973 7.48 1.88
1972 7.54 2.01
1971 7.56 2.27
1970 7.58 2.48
1969 7.6 2.46
1968 7.63 2.46
1967 7.66 2.56
1966 7.66 2.72
1965 7.66 2.91
1964 7.67 3.19
1963 7.65 3.32
1962 7.64 3.46
1961 7.63 3.62
1960 7.63 3.65

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

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

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 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Saudi Arabia
United States
1x
Year Natural population change
Saudi Arabia United States
2023 474,366 502,372
2022 406,920 399,926
2021 409,032 199,137
2020 447,036 208,862
2019 474,407 887,476
2018 528,767 955,022
2017 546,751 1,028,037
2016 537,829 1,197,627
2015 511,023 1,270,126
2014 493,431 1,357,281
2013 475,299 1,322,711
2012 465,649 1,411,822
2011 443,675 1,441,697
2010 418,641 1,548,182
2009 438,557 1,717,920
2008 433,457 1,794,154
2007 425,199 1,897,757
2006 399,333 1,849,955
2005 375,938 1,684,445
2004 362,843 1,698,271
2003 364,520 1,653,615
2002 372,099 1,581,938
2001 382,153 1,595,826
2000 392,407 1,664,758
1999 390,112 1,564,050
1998 389,499 1,573,857
1997 385,033 1,501,014
1996 382,248 1,510,137
1995 380,231 1,546,031
1994 377,351 1,633,302
1993 372,621 1,717,685
1992 366,763 1,875,328
1991 361,329 1,926,543
1990 355,495 2,026,068
1989 349,399 1,875,826
1988 342,865 1,735,943
1987 333,088 1,720,252
1986 322,340 1,656,917
1985 310,558 1,689,258
1984 296,615 1,627,192
1983 280,616 1,636,544
1982 264,831 1,714,317
1981 249,156 1,652,153
1980 234,372 1,608,450
1979 220,186 1,597,894
1978 205,331 1,402,283
1977 191,103 1,431,556
1976 178,024 1,264,604
1975 166,223 1,252,644
1974 155,478 1,218,968
1973 145,450 1,165,499
1972 136,360 1,301,355
1971 127,600 1,640,519
1970 120,440 1,824,965
1969 113,859 1,702,487
1968 108,281 1,565,507
1967 103,343 1,669,181
1966 98,361 1,749,387
1965 93,820 1,943,030
1964 89,776 2,245,099
1963 85,480 2,289,826
1962 81,393 2,406,337
1961 77,743 2,571,681
1960 74,143 2,565,530

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.57% in Saudi Arabia and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Saudi Arabia vs United States by year

Saudi Arabia
United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Saudi Arabia United States
2023 16.4 10.7
2022 15.2 11
2021 15.9 11
2020 16.6 10.9
2019 18.1 11.4
2018 19.7 11.6
2017 19.8 11.8
2016 19.6 12.2
2015 19.4 12.4
2014 19.8 12.5
2013 19.7 12.4
2012 20.4 12.6
2011 20.3 12.7
2010 20.1 13
2009 20.8 13.5
2008 21.3 14
2007 21.7 14.3
2006 21.4 14.3
2005 21.1 14
2004 21.3 14
2003 22.3 14.1
2002 23.8 14
2001 25.5 14.1
2000 27.5 14.4
1999 28.5 14.2
1998 29.5 14.3
1997 30.3 14.2
1996 31.2 14.4
1995 32.3 14.6
1994 33.4 15
1993 34.5 15.4
1992 35.5 15.8
1991 36.7 16.2
1990 38 16.7
1989 39.3 16.4
1988 40.7 16
1987 41.9 15.7
1986 43.1 15.6
1985 44.2 15.8
1984 45 15.6
1983 45.6 15.6
1982 46.1 15.9
1981 46.6 15.8
1980 47.1 15.9
1979 47.5 15.6
1978 47.5 15
1977 47.5 15.1
1976 47.6 14.6
1975 47.7 14.6
1974 47.8 14.8
1973 48 14.8
1972 48.3 15.6
1971 48.4 17.2
1970 48.7 18.4
1969 48.9 17.9
1968 49.3 17.6
1967 49.8 17.8
1966 50.1 18.4
1965 50.4 19.4
1964 50.8 21.1
1963 51 21.7
1962 51.1 22.4
1961 51.4 23.3
1960 51.5 23.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.4 in Saudi Arabia and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 51.5 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Saudi Arabia United States
Fertility rate 2.28 1.62
Fertility rate rank 83/196 125/196
Birth rate 16.4 10.7
Birth rate rank 92/196 140/196
Population change due to births and deaths +474,366 +502,372
Natural population change rank 38/196 37/196
Natural population change rate +1.41% +0.15%
Population growth +4.74% +0.49%
Population growth rank 4/197 134/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 27.3 years
Average age at childbearing 30.3 years 30.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 10.6 11.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 113.4 72.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 45.5 17.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23% 22.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 32.9% 66.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.8% 99.1%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.007% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.3% 0.34%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.49% 0.55%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.62% 0.65%
Life expectancy 79.4 years 79.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
United States
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Saudi Arabia United States
2100 17.3% 14.4%
2099 17.3% 14.4%
2098 17.3% 14.4%
2097 17.3% 14.4%
2096 17.3% 14.4%
2095 17.3% 14.5%
2094 17.4% 14.5%
2093 17.4% 14.5%
2092 17.4% 14.5%
2091 17.4% 14.6%
2090 17.4% 14.6%
2089 17.5% 14.7%
2088 17.5% 14.7%
2087 17.5% 14.7%
2086 17.6% 14.8%
2085 17.6% 14.8%
2084 17.7% 14.8%
2083 17.7% 14.9%
2082 17.7% 14.9%
2081 17.8% 14.9%
2080 17.8% 14.9%
2079 17.9% 14.9%
2078 17.9% 14.9%
2077 18% 14.9%
2076 18% 14.9%
2075 18.1% 14.9%
2074 18.2% 14.9%
2073 18.2% 14.9%
2072 18.3% 14.9%
2071 18.3% 14.9%
2070 18.4% 14.9%
2069 18.4% 14.9%
2068 18.5% 14.9%
2067 18.6% 14.9%
2066 18.6% 14.9%
2065 18.7% 15%
2064 18.7% 15%
2063 18.8% 15%
2062 18.9% 15.1%
2061 19% 15.1%
2060 19% 15.2%
2059 19.1% 15.3%
2058 19.2% 15.4%
2057 19.3% 15.5%
2056 19.4% 15.5%
2055 19.5% 15.6%
2054 19.6% 15.7%
2053 19.8% 15.8%
2052 19.9% 15.8%
2051 20% 15.9%
2050 20.1% 15.9%
2049 20.3% 16%
2048 20.4% 16%
2047 20.6% 16%
2046 20.7% 16%
2045 20.9% 16%
2044 21.1% 16%
2043 21.2% 16%
2042 21.4% 16%
2041 21.6% 15.9%
2040 21.8% 15.9%
2039 22% 15.9%
2038 22.1% 15.9%
2037 22.1% 15.9%
2036 22.2% 15.9%
2035 22.2% 15.9%
2034 22.3% 15.9%
2033 22.4% 16%
2032 22.5% 16.1%
2031 22.7% 16.2%
2030 22.8% 16.3%
2029 23% 16.5%
2028 23.2% 16.6%
2027 23.3% 16.8%
2026 23.5% 17%
2025 23.7% 17.2%
2024 23.8% 17.3%
2023 24.1% 17.6%
2022 24.6% 17.9%
2021 25.2% 18.1%
2020 25.5% 18.4%
2019 25.8% 18.6%
2018 25.7% 18.8%
2017 25.2% 18.9%
2016 24.9% 19.1%
2015 25.1% 19.2%
2014 25.4% 19.3%
2013 25.8% 19.4%
2012 26.3% 19.5%
2011 26.9% 19.6%
2010 27.6% 19.7%
2009 28.5% 19.8%
2008 29.5% 19.9%
2007 30.6% 20%
2006 31.9% 20.2%
2005 33.2% 20.3%
2004 34.5% 20.5%
2003 35.7% 20.7%
2002 36.8% 20.9%
2001 37.7% 21%
2000 38.3% 21.2%
1999 38.9% 21.3%
1998 39.5% 21.4%
1997 40.1% 21.5%
1996 40.7% 21.7%
1995 41.2% 21.8%
1994 41.7% 21.9%
1993 42.1% 21.9%
1992 42.4% 21.8%
1991 42.7% 21.7%
1990 43% 21.6%
1989 43.2% 21.5%
1988 43.3% 21.3%
1987 43.4% 21.3%
1986 43.5% 21.3%
1985 43.6% 21.5%
1984 43.6% 21.7%
1983 43.7% 21.8%
1982 43.8% 22%
1981 43.9% 22.1%
1980 44.1% 22.4%
1979 44.2% 22.8%
1978 44.3% 23.2%
1977 44.5% 23.8%
1976 44.6% 24.4%
1975 44.8% 25.2%
1974 45% 25.9%
1973 45.2% 26.6%
1972 45.3% 27.4%
1971 45.5% 28%
1970 45.5% 28.6%
1969 45.5% 29%
1968 45.4% 29.5%
1967 45.3% 30%
1966 45.1% 30.4%
1965 44.8% 30.7%
1964 44.6% 30.9%
1963 44.3% 31.1%
1962 43.9% 31.3%
1961 43.6% 31.4%
1960 43.4% 31.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

Children aged 0-14 make up 23.8% of the population in Saudi Arabia and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 43% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Saudi Arabia and the United States compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Saudi Arabia vs United States

Saudi Arabia
United States
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Saudi Arabia United States
2023 7 17
2022 9 20
2021 12 31
2020 11 22
2019 8 18
2018 8 18
2017 8 18
2016 8 18
2015 8 17
2014 8 17
2013 9 16
2012 9 16
2011 10 15
2010 11 15
2009 11 15
2008 12 14
2007 13 13
2006 14 13
2005 15 13
2004 16 13
2003 16 13
2002 18 13
2001 19 13
2000 20 12
1999 21 12
1998 22 11
1997 23 11
1996 23 11
1995 24 12
1994 25 11
1993 26 12
1992 27 11
1991 29 12
1990 30 12
1989 32 12
1988 34 12
1987 36 11
1986 38 11
1985 40 11

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

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

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 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

Saudi Arabia
United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Saudi Arabia United States
2023 0.62% 0.65%
2022 0.64% 0.65%
2021 0.66% 0.65%
2020 0.69% 0.65%
2019 0.72% 0.65%
2018 0.76% 0.65%
2017 0.8% 0.66%
2016 0.85% 0.67%
2015 0.9% 0.68%
2014 0.96% 0.68%
2013 1.02% 0.69%
2012 1.08% 0.7%
2011 1.15% 0.72%
2010 1.22% 0.73%
2009 1.3% 0.75%
2008 1.38% 0.76%
2007 1.47% 0.77%
2006 1.56% 0.79%
2005 1.65% 0.8%
2004 1.75% 0.81%
2003 1.85% 0.81%
2002 1.96% 0.82%
2001 2.08% 0.83%
2000 2.21% 0.84%
1999 2.35% 0.86%
1998 2.5% 0.87%
1997 2.67% 0.89%
1996 2.86% 0.92%
1995 3.06% 0.95%
1994 3.29% 0.98%
1993 3.54% 1.01%
1992 3.81% 1.05%
1991 4.11% 1.09%
1990 4.44% 1.12%
1989 4.8% 1.16%
1988 5.19% 1.19%
1987 5.62% 1.21%
1986 6.07% 1.24%
1985 6.55% 1.27%
1984 7.04% 1.3%
1983 7.56% 1.34%
1982 8.12% 1.39%
1981 8.71% 1.44%
1980 9.34% 1.5%
1979 9.99% 1.56%
1978 10.7% 1.63%
1977 11.4% 1.71%
1976 12.2% 1.79%
1975 13.1% 1.88%
1974 14% 1.97%
1973 14.9% 2.06%
1972 16% 2.15%
1971 - 2.24%
1970 - 2.32%
1969 - 2.41%
1968 - 2.49%
1967 - 2.57%
1966 - 2.64%
1965 - 2.71%
1964 - 2.77%
1963 - 2.83%
1962 - 2.89%
1961 - 2.95%
1960 - 3.01%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in Saudi Arabia and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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