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Fertility & birth rates in Saudi Arabia and Yemen

Updated on by Georank team

Saudi Arabia has an annual birth rate of 16.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 35.2 for Yemen. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.28 in Saudi Arabia and 4.59 in Yemen — 101.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia and by 42.5% in Yemen — in 1960, it was 7.63 and 7.99, respectively.

  • Saudi Arabia is ranked 92/196 by birth rate compared to 11/196 for Yemen.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.3 in Saudi Arabia — it's 29.7 in Yemen.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 11.1 in Saudi Arabia vs 75.3 in Yemen.
  • In Saudi Arabia, 23% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24.6% in Yemen.

Fertility rate in Saudi Arabia vs Yemen by year

Saudi Arabia
Yemen
1x
Year Fertility rate
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2023 2.28 4.59
2022 2.14 4.59
2021 2.17 4.6
2020 2.27 4.6
2019 2.49 4.6
2018 2.67 4.61
2017 2.67 4.61
2016 2.65 4.61
2015 2.63 4.62
2014 2.68 4.62
2013 2.67 4.62
2012 2.78 4.63
2011 2.8 4.63
2010 2.81 4.81
2009 2.95 5
2008 3.07 5.11
2007 3.19 5.26
2006 3.18 5.41
2005 3.16 5.56
2004 3.26 5.71
2003 3.47 5.84
2002 3.71 5.97
2001 3.96 6.14
2000 4.21 6.32
1999 4.35 6.49
1998 4.52 6.64
1997 4.66 6.82
1996 4.81 7
1995 4.99 7.53
1994 5.16 7.8
1993 5.33 8.05
1992 5.49 8.27
1991 5.64 8.46
1990 5.8 8.61
1989 5.98 8.71
1988 6.15 8.79
1987 6.34 8.83
1986 6.52 8.86
1985 6.65 8.86
1984 6.78 8.85
1983 6.88 8.83
1982 6.98 8.79
1981 7.07 8.75
1980 7.15 8.71
1979 7.23 8.67
1978 7.26 8.5
1977 7.3 8.47
1976 7.33 8.42
1975 7.37 8.37
1974 7.43 8.33
1973 7.48 8.29
1972 7.54 8.27
1971 7.56 8.26
1970 7.58 8.23
1969 7.6 8.22
1968 7.63 8.19
1967 7.66 8.17
1966 7.66 8.14
1965 7.66 8.1
1964 7.67 8.07
1963 7.65 8.03
1962 7.64 8.01
1961 7.63 8
1960 7.63 7.99

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/yemen | 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 4.59 in Yemen in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Saudi Arabia
Yemen
1x
Year Natural population change
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2023 474,366 1,198,150
2022 406,920 1,153,375
2021 409,032 1,103,622
2020 447,036 1,086,322
2019 474,407 1,056,432
2018 528,767 1,020,238
2017 546,751 1,006,725
2016 537,829 975,697
2015 511,023 939,922
2014 493,431 920,330
2013 475,299 884,929
2012 465,649 845,645
2011 443,675 806,359
2010 418,641 803,246
2009 438,557 798,911
2008 433,457 779,123
2007 425,199 764,780
2006 399,333 750,082
2005 375,938 726,708
2004 362,843 710,493
2003 364,520 694,457
2002 372,099 672,494
2001 382,153 658,704
2000 392,407 646,694
1999 390,112 633,166
1998 389,499 615,488
1997 385,033 604,443
1996 382,248 588,786
1995 380,231 607,966
1994 377,351 602,363
1993 372,621 595,459
1992 366,763 582,072
1991 361,329 565,837
1990 355,495 549,654
1989 349,399 530,464
1988 342,865 513,296
1987 333,088 493,337
1986 322,340 464,665
1985 310,558 455,576
1984 296,615 434,674
1983 280,616 414,823
1982 264,831 392,302
1981 249,156 374,482
1980 234,372 355,767
1979 220,186 336,378
1978 205,331 312,439
1977 191,103 296,115
1976 178,024 281,078
1975 166,223 266,815
1974 155,478 252,737
1973 145,450 240,235
1972 136,360 229,322
1971 127,600 219,095
1970 120,440 207,613
1969 113,859 196,305
1968 108,281 182,518
1967 103,343 173,637
1966 98,361 164,091
1965 93,820 155,398
1964 89,776 147,299
1963 85,480 133,781
1962 81,393 131,262
1961 77,743 129,787
1960 74,143 122,994

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/yemen | 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 +3.04% in Yemen.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.57% in Saudi Arabia and +3.02% in Yemen.

Birth rate in Saudi Arabia vs Yemen by year

Saudi Arabia
Yemen

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2023 16.4 35.2
2022 15.2 35.4
2021 15.9 35.7
2020 16.6 35.9
2019 18.1 35.9
2018 19.7 36
2017 19.8 36.1
2016 19.6 36
2015 19.4 35.9
2014 19.8 35.7
2013 19.7 35.5
2012 20.4 35.2
2011 20.3 34.7
2010 20.1 35.6
2009 20.8 36.6
2008 21.3 36.9
2007 21.7 37.5
2006 21.4 38.2
2005 21.1 38.4
2004 21.3 38.9
2003 22.3 39.4
2002 23.8 39.6
2001 25.5 40.2
2000 27.5 40.9
1999 28.5 41.5
1998 29.5 41.9
1997 30.3 42.6
1996 31.2 43.2
1995 32.3 45.9
1994 33.4 47.3
1993 34.5 48.6
1992 35.5 49.5
1991 36.7 50.2
1990 38 50.9
1989 39.3 51.4
1988 40.7 52.1
1987 41.9 52.5
1986 43.1 53.1
1985 44.2 53.6
1984 45 53.9
1983 45.6 54.3
1982 46.1 54.5
1981 46.6 54.6
1980 47.1 54.9
1979 47.5 54.9
1978 47.5 54.2
1977 47.5 54.4
1976 47.6 54.6
1975 47.7 54.7
1974 47.8 54.8
1973 48 55
1972 48.3 55.4
1971 48.4 55.8
1970 48.7 56.1
1969 48.9 56.2
1968 49.3 56.5
1967 49.8 56.8
1966 50.1 56.9
1965 50.4 56.8
1964 50.8 56.8
1963 51 56.5
1962 51.1 56.3
1961 51.4 56.2
1960 51.5 56

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.4 in Saudi Arabia and 35.2 in Yemen, compared with 51.5 and 56, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Saudi Arabia Yemen
Fertility rate 2.28 4.59
Fertility rate rank 83/196 13/196
Birth rate 16.4 35.2
Birth rate rank 92/196 11/196
Population change due to births and deaths +474,366 +1,198,150
Natural population change rank 38/196 14/196
Natural population change rate +1.41% +3.04%
Population growth +4.74% +3.03%
Population growth rank 4/197 13/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 20.8 years
Average age at childbearing 30.3 years 29.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 10.6 71.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 113.4 202.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 45.5 79.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23% 24.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 32.9% 29.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.8% 44.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.007% 0.12%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.3% 2.14%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.49% 3.47%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.62% 3.93%
Life expectancy 79.4 years 69.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
Yemen
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2100 17.3% 19.3%
2099 17.3% 19.4%
2098 17.3% 19.6%
2097 17.3% 19.7%
2096 17.3% 19.9%
2095 17.3% 20.1%
2094 17.4% 20.2%
2093 17.4% 20.4%
2092 17.4% 20.6%
2091 17.4% 20.8%
2090 17.4% 20.9%
2089 17.5% 21.1%
2088 17.5% 21.3%
2087 17.5% 21.5%
2086 17.6% 21.7%
2085 17.6% 21.9%
2084 17.7% 22.1%
2083 17.7% 22.3%
2082 17.7% 22.5%
2081 17.8% 22.7%
2080 17.8% 22.9%
2079 17.9% 23.1%
2078 17.9% 23.4%
2077 18% 23.6%
2076 18% 23.8%
2075 18.1% 24.1%
2074 18.2% 24.3%
2073 18.2% 24.6%
2072 18.3% 24.9%
2071 18.3% 25.1%
2070 18.4% 25.4%
2069 18.4% 25.7%
2068 18.5% 26%
2067 18.6% 26.3%
2066 18.6% 26.6%
2065 18.7% 26.9%
2064 18.7% 27.2%
2063 18.8% 27.5%
2062 18.9% 27.9%
2061 19% 28.2%
2060 19% 28.5%
2059 19.1% 28.8%
2058 19.2% 29.1%
2057 19.3% 29.4%
2056 19.4% 29.6%
2055 19.5% 29.9%
2054 19.6% 30.2%
2053 19.8% 30.4%
2052 19.9% 30.7%
2051 20% 30.9%
2050 20.1% 31.2%
2049 20.3% 31.5%
2048 20.4% 31.8%
2047 20.6% 32.1%
2046 20.7% 32.4%
2045 20.9% 32.8%
2044 21.1% 33.2%
2043 21.2% 33.6%
2042 21.4% 34.1%
2041 21.6% 34.6%
2040 21.8% 35.1%
2039 22% 35.7%
2038 22.1% 36.3%
2037 22.1% 36.8%
2036 22.2% 37.4%
2035 22.2% 37.9%
2034 22.3% 38.4%
2033 22.4% 38.9%
2032 22.5% 39.4%
2031 22.7% 39.8%
2030 22.8% 40.2%
2029 23% 40.5%
2028 23.2% 40.7%
2027 23.3% 40.9%
2026 23.5% 41%
2025 23.7% 41.1%
2024 23.8% 41.1%
2023 24.1% 41.2%
2022 24.6% 41.3%
2021 25.2% 41.4%
2020 25.5% 41.4%
2019 25.8% 41.4%
2018 25.7% 41.5%
2017 25.2% 41.6%
2016 24.9% 41.7%
2015 25.1% 41.8%
2014 25.4% 42.1%
2013 25.8% 42.3%
2012 26.3% 42.7%
2011 26.9% 43%
2010 27.6% 43.5%
2009 28.5% 44.1%
2008 29.5% 44.7%
2007 30.6% 45.3%
2006 31.9% 45.9%
2005 33.2% 46.5%
2004 34.5% 47.1%
2003 35.7% 47.6%
2002 36.8% 48.1%
2001 37.7% 48.6%
2000 38.3% 49%
1999 38.9% 49.5%
1998 39.5% 49.9%
1997 40.1% 50.3%
1996 40.7% 50.6%
1995 41.2% 50.9%
1994 41.7% 51.1%
1993 42.1% 51.2%
1992 42.4% 51.2%
1991 42.7% 51.2%
1990 43% 51.1%
1989 43.2% 50.9%
1988 43.3% 50.7%
1987 43.4% 50.5%
1986 43.5% 50.3%
1985 43.6% 50%
1984 43.6% 49.7%
1983 43.7% 49.4%
1982 43.8% 49.1%
1981 43.9% 48.7%
1980 44.1% 48.3%
1979 44.2% 47.9%
1978 44.3% 47.5%
1977 44.5% 47%
1976 44.6% 46.6%
1975 44.8% 46.2%
1974 45% 45.7%
1973 45.2% 45.3%
1972 45.3% 44.8%
1971 45.5% 44.3%
1970 45.5% 43.8%
1969 45.5% 43.3%
1968 45.4% 42.8%
1967 45.3% 42.3%
1966 45.1% 41.8%
1965 44.8% 41.3%
1964 44.6% 40.9%
1963 44.3% 40.6%
1962 43.9% 40.4%
1961 43.6% 40.4%
1960 43.4% 40.3%

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/yemen | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 23.8% of the population in Saudi Arabia and 41.1% in Yemen in 2024, compared to 43% and 51.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Saudi Arabia and Yemen compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Saudi Arabia vs Yemen

Saudi Arabia
Yemen
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2023 7 118
2022 9 125
2021 12 156
2020 11 135
2019 8 131
2018 8 134
2017 8 142
2016 8 134
2015 8 135
2014 8 134
2013 9 135
2012 9 137
2011 10 140
2010 11 144
2009 11 149
2008 12 153
2007 13 161
2006 14 171
2005 15 181
2004 16 194
2003 16 205
2002 18 218
2001 19 231
2000 20 241
1999 21 250
1998 22 260
1997 23 271
1996 23 282
1995 24 296
1994 25 311
1993 26 319
1992 27 330
1991 29 341
1990 30 359
1989 32 371
1988 34 388
1987 36 400
1986 38 430
1985 40 430

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/saudi-arabia/yemen | 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 118 deaths in Yemen.

Under-five mortality rates

Saudi Arabia
Yemen

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Saudi Arabia Yemen
2023 0.62% 3.93%
2022 0.64% 4.08%
2021 0.66% 4.24%
2020 0.69% 4.32%
2019 0.72% 4.59%
2018 0.76% 4.7%
2017 0.8% 4.66%
2016 0.85% 4.77%
2015 0.9% 4.9%
2014 0.96% 4.84%
2013 1.02% 4.95%
2012 1.08% 5.14%
2011 1.15% 5.3%
2010 1.22% 5.49%
2009 1.3% 5.74%
2008 1.38% 6.02%
2007 1.47% 6.33%
2006 1.56% 6.68%
2005 1.65% 7.06%
2004 1.75% 7.47%
2003 1.85% 7.9%
2002 1.96% 8.36%
2001 2.08% 8.84%
2000 2.21% 9.32%
1999 2.35% 9.77%
1998 2.5% 10.2%
1997 2.67% 10.5%
1996 2.86% 10.8%
1995 3.06% 11.1%
1994 3.29% 11.3%
1993 3.54% 11.6%
1992 3.81% 11.8%
1991 4.11% 12.1%
1990 4.44% 12.5%
1989 4.8% 12.9%
1988 5.19% 13.4%
1987 5.62% 14%
1986 6.07% 14.6%
1985 6.55% 15.3%
1984 7.04% 16.2%
1983 7.56% 17.2%
1982 8.12% 18.4%
1981 8.71% 19.6%
1980 9.34% 20.8%
1979 9.99% 22.1%
1978 10.7% 23.4%
1977 11.4% 24.7%
1976 12.2% 26%
1975 13.1% 27.2%
1974 14% 28.4%
1973 14.9% 29.5%
1972 16% 30.6%
1971 - 31.8%
1970 - 33%
1969 - 34.3%
1968 - 35.6%
1967 - 36.8%
1966 - 38%
1965 - 39%
1964 - 40%
1963 - 40.8%
1962 - 41.5%
1961 - 42.2%
1960 - 42.9%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in Saudi Arabia and 3.93% in Yemen. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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