Fertility & birth rates in Singapore and South Korea

Fertility rate in Singapore vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Singapore	South Korea
2023	0.97	0.72
2022	1.04	0.78
2021	1.12	0.81
2020	1.1	0.84
2019	1.14	0.92
2018	1.14	0.98
2017	1.16	1.05
2016	1.2	1.17
2015	1.24	1.24
2014	1.25	1.21
2013	1.19	1.19
2012	1.29	1.3
2011	1.2	1.24
2010	1.15	1.23
2009	1.22	1.15
2008	1.28	1.19
2007	1.29	1.26
2006	1.28	1.13
2005	1.26	1.09
2004	1.26	1.16
2003	1.27	1.19
2002	1.37	1.18
2001	1.41	1.31
2000	1.6	1.48
1999	1.47	1.43
1998	1.48	1.46
1997	1.61	1.54
1996	1.66	1.57
1995	1.67	1.63
1994	1.71	1.66
1993	1.74	1.65
1992	1.72	1.76
1991	1.73	1.71
1990	1.83	1.57
1989	1.75	1.56
1988	1.96	1.55
1987	1.62	1.53
1986	1.43	1.58
1985	1.61	1.66
1984	1.62	1.74
1983	1.61	2.06
1982	1.74	2.39
1981	1.78	2.57
1980	1.82	2.82
1979	1.79	2.9
1978	1.79	2.64
1977	1.82	2.99
1976	2.11	3
1975	2.07	3.43
1974	2.35	3.77
1973	2.79	4.07
1972	3.04	4.12
1971	3.02	4.54
1970	3.07	4.53
1969	3.22	4.45
1968	3.53	4.51
1967	3.91	4.62
1966	4.46	4.78
1965	4.66	4.89
1964	4.97	5.07
1963	5.16	5.33
1962	5.21	5.56
1961	5.41	5.8
1960	5.76	5.99

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Singapore was 0.97 children per woman in 2023, compared to 0.72 in South Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Singapore vs South Korea population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Singapore	South Korea
2023	7,101	-77,569
2022	9,019	-124,014
2021	15,270	-56,947
2020	18,763	-31,101
2019	21,674	10,353
2018	21,427	30,951
2017	21,888	71,907
2016	25,794	122,923
2015	27,121	163,248
2014	27,896	167,464
2013	25,376	166,415
2012	29,750	215,859
2011	25,919	214,728
2010	24,876	213,083
2009	27,930	197,231
2008	28,068	215,841
2007	26,614	248,286
2006	25,968	203,441
2005	24,741	187,920
2004	24,583	225,988
2003	24,689	244,251
2002	29,231	247,752
2001	31,035	312,643
2000	37,057	390,167
1999	32,857	368,272
1998	33,381	393,436
1997	37,960	422,773
1996	38,542	446,142
1995	38,065	468,967
1994	39,319	473,200
1993	40,425	477,302
1992	39,091	494,352
1991	39,188	467,594
1990	41,136	411,546
1989	36,929	403,266
1988	42,407	399,297
1987	33,020	378,758
1986	27,880	395,651
1985	32,010	416,219
1984	31,967	436,384
1983	30,296	514,844
1982	33,346	605,626
1981	32,167	631,189
1980	30,657	583,294
1979	28,363	623,068
1978	27,537	499,084
1977	26,508	578,947
1976	31,189	530,558
1975	28,509	603,300
1974	31,664	673,030
1973	36,404	699,115
1972	38,098	740,469
1971	35,708	789,185
1970	35,059	747,987
1969	34,314	694,227
1968	36,216	684,487
1967	40,145	692,169
1966	44,298	623,534
1965	45,474	641,090
1964	47,697	655,501
1963	49,542	685,824
1962	48,830	712,590
1961	49,880	730,173
1960	51,533	728,010

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 +0.12% in Singapore and -0.15% in South Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.35% in Singapore and +0.06% in South Korea.

Birth rate in Singapore vs South Korea by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Singapore	South Korea
2023	7.4	4.5
2022	7.9	4.9
2021	8.6	5.1
2020	8.5	5.3
2019	8.8	5.9
2018	8.8	6.4
2017	8.9	7
2016	9.4	7.9
2015	9.7	8.6
2014	9.8	8.6
2013	9.3	8.6
2012	10.1	9.6
2011	9.5	9.4
2010	9.3	9.4
2009	9.9	9
2008	10.2	9.4
2007	10.3	10.1
2006	10.3	9.2
2005	10.2	9
2004	10.3	9.8
2003	10.5	10.2
2002	11.4	10.3
2001	11.8	11.7
2000	13.7	13.5
1999	12.8	13.2
1998	13.1	13.7
1997	14.5	14.5
1996	15.2	15
1995	15.6	15.7
1994	16.2	16
1993	16.8	16
1992	16.8	16.7
1991	17.1	16.4
1990	18.2	15.2
1989	17.5	15.1
1988	19.8	15.1
1987	16.6	15
1986	14.8	15.4
1985	16.6	16.1
1984	16.5	16.7
1983	16.3	19.3
1982	17.5	21.6
1981	17.6	22.4
1980	17.6	22.6
1979	17.1	23
1978	16.8	20.3
1977	16.5	22.7
1976	18.7	22.2
1975	17.7	24.8
1974	19.4	26.6
1973	22	28.3
1972	23.1	28.4
1971	22.3	31.2
1970	22.1	31.2
1969	21.8	30.3
1968	23.5	30.7
1967	25.6	31.5
1966	28.3	32.8
1965	29.5	33.8
1964	31.6	35.2
1963	33.2	37.2
1962	33.7	39
1961	35.2	40.9
1960	37.5	42.1

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.4 in Singapore and 4.5 in South Korea, compared with 37.5 and 42.1, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Singapore

Factual

UN forecast

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Singapore	South Korea
2100	10.2%	8.61%
2099	10.1%	8.6%
2098	9.95%	8.59%
2097	9.84%	8.59%
2096	9.72%	8.59%
2095	9.6%	8.6%
2094	9.48%	8.61%
2093	9.37%	8.62%
2092	9.27%	8.62%
2091	9.18%	8.62%
2090	9.1%	8.62%
2089	9.04%	8.6%
2088	8.99%	8.58%
2087	8.96%	8.55%
2086	8.95%	8.5%
2085	8.95%	8.45%
2084	8.97%	8.39%
2083	9%	8.33%
2082	9.04%	8.26%
2081	9.09%	8.18%
2080	9.15%	8.09%
2079	9.21%	8%
2078	9.27%	7.91%
2077	9.32%	7.82%
2076	9.38%	7.72%
2075	9.42%	7.63%
2074	9.45%	7.53%
2073	9.46%	7.44%
2072	9.47%	7.35%
2071	9.45%	7.28%
2070	9.42%	7.21%
2069	9.37%	7.16%
2068	9.31%	7.13%
2067	9.24%	7.11%
2066	9.15%	7.11%
2065	9.05%	7.14%
2064	8.95%	7.18%
2063	8.85%	7.23%
2062	8.75%	7.3%
2061	8.65%	7.37%
2060	8.57%	7.45%
2059	8.5%	7.52%
2058	8.45%	7.6%
2057	8.43%	7.66%
2056	8.44%	7.72%
2055	8.48%	7.76%
2054	8.56%	7.79%
2053	8.67%	7.81%
2052	8.83%	7.83%
2051	9.02%	7.83%
2050	9.23%	7.83%
2049	9.47%	7.82%
2048	9.73%	7.81%
2047	10%	7.8%
2046	10.3%	7.79%
2045	10.6%	7.78%
2044	10.8%	7.78%
2043	11.1%	7.77%
2042	11.4%	7.76%
2041	11.6%	7.74%
2040	11.8%	7.72%
2039	11.9%	7.7%
2038	12%	7.66%
2037	12.1%	7.65%
2036	12.1%	7.65%
2035	12.1%	7.66%
2034	12.1%	7.73%
2033	12.1%	7.85%
2032	12.1%	8.02%
2031	12%	8.28%
2030	12%	8.59%
2029	11.9%	8.9%
2028	11.8%	9.23%
2027	11.8%	9.62%
2026	11.7%	10%
2025	11.7%	10.4%
2024	11.7%	10.6%
2023	11.8%	11%
2022	12%	11.4%
2021	12.2%	11.8%
2020	12.2%	12.1%
2019	12.2%	12.4%
2018	12.3%	12.7%
2017	12.4%	13%
2016	12.5%	13.4%
2015	12.7%	13.8%
2014	12.9%	14.2%
2013	13.1%	14.7%
2012	13.4%	15.2%
2011	13.7%	15.8%
2010	14.1%	16.4%
2009	14.6%	16.9%
2008	15.1%	17.5%
2007	15.8%	18.1%
2006	16.6%	18.7%
2005	17.2%	19.2%
2004	17.8%	19.7%
2003	18.2%	20.1%
2002	18.4%	20.5%
2001	18.6%	20.8%
2000	18.8%	21%
1999	19%	21.2%
1998	19.2%	21.6%
1997	19.5%	22%
1996	20%	22.5%
1995	20.4%	23.1%
1994	20.7%	23.7%
1993	21%	24.2%
1992	21.1%	24.7%
1991	21.2%	25.2%
1990	21.4%	25.8%
1989	21.7%	26.5%
1988	22%	27.3%
1987	22.4%	28.2%
1986	22.9%	29.2%
1985	23.1%	30.2%
1984	23.3%	31.2%
1983	23.7%	32%
1982	24.2%	32.7%
1981	25.2%	33.3%
1980	26.4%	34%
1979	27.6%	34.8%
1978	28.8%	35.6%
1977	30%	36.5%
1976	31.2%	37.5%
1975	32.5%	38.5%
1974	33.7%	39.5%
1973	35%	40.3%
1972	36.2%	41%
1971	37.5%	41.5%
1970	38.7%	42.1%
1969	39.8%	42.7%
1968	40.8%	43.1%
1967	41.7%	43.3%
1966	42.5%	43.5%
1965	43.2%	43.3%
1964	43.8%	43.1%
1963	44.4%	42.7%
1962	44.7%	42.3%
1961	44.8%	41.8%
1960	44.7%	41.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.7% of the population in Singapore and 10.6% in South Korea in 2024, compared to 21.4% and 25.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Singapore and South Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Singapore vs South Korea

Chart Table

Singapore

South Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Singapore	South Korea
2023	6	4
2022	34	7
2021	20	5
2020	13	12
2019	7	5
2018	8	5
2017	8	6
2016	8	6
2015	8	6
2014	9	7
2013	9	7
2012	10	8
2011	10	8
2010	10	8
2009	10	9
2008	11	9
2007	12	10
2006	13	10
2005	14	11
2004	14	12
2003	15	13
2002	16	13
2001	16	14
2000	17	15
1999	17	17
1998	17	18
1997	17	19
1996	17	20
1995	17	22
1994	16	23
1993	16	24
1992	16	26
1991	16	28
1990	17	28
1989	18	29
1988	18	31
1987	18	34
1986	18	35
1985	18	38

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Singapore, compared to 4 deaths in South Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Singapore

South Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Singapore	South Korea
2023	0.21%	0.28%
2022	0.22%	0.28%
2021	0.22%	0.29%
2020	0.23%	0.3%
2019	0.24%	0.31%
2018	0.25%	0.32%
2017	0.26%	0.33%
2016	0.27%	0.34%
2015	0.27%	0.35%
2014	0.27%	0.36%
2013	0.28%	0.37%
2012	0.28%	0.38%
2011	0.28%	0.4%
2010	0.28%	0.41%
2009	0.28%	0.43%
2008	0.28%	0.45%
2007	0.29%	0.48%
2006	0.29%	0.52%
2005	0.3%	0.56%
2004	0.31%	0.6%
2003	0.32%	0.64%
2002	0.34%	0.68%
2001	0.36%	0.71%
2000	0.38%	0.75%
1999	0.41%	0.8%
1998	0.44%	0.85%
1997	0.46%	0.91%
1996	0.48%	0.98%
1995	0.51%	1.05%
1994	0.54%	1.14%
1993	0.58%	1.23%
1992	0.63%	1.33%
1991	0.7%	1.44%
1990	0.77%	1.57%
1989	0.84%	1.71%
1988	0.91%	1.87%
1987	0.97%	2.05%
1986	1.03%	2.25%
1985	1.09%	2.46%
1984	1.16%	2.7%
1983	1.23%	2.93%
1982	1.32%	3.17%
1981	1.4%	3.4%
1980	1.46%	3.63%
1979	1.49%	3.84%
1978	1.51%	4.04%
1977	1.54%	4.23%
1976	1.62%	4.42%
1975	1.75%	4.61%
1974	1.95%	4.82%
1973	2.18%	5.07%
1972	2.39%	5.36%
1971	2.56%	5.71%
1970	2.71%	6.12%
1969	2.86%	6.59%
1968	3.01%	7.1%
1967	3.18%	7.62%
1966	3.34%	8.16%
1965	3.5%	8.68%
1964	3.64%	9.18%
1963	3.81%	9.67%
1962	4.05%	10.1%
1961	4.37%	10.6%
1960	4.76%	11.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.21% in Singapore and 0.28% in South Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.