South Korea birth & fertility rate decline on charts

South Korea has a birth rate of 4.5 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 0.72 (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 South Korea was 5.99 children per woman — 8.31 times higher than in 2023.

South Korea birth rate statistics:

South Korea is ranked 196/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 112/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in South Korea is 32.2 — it was 31 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 33.4, a change from 27.2 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 29 in 1960 to 0.54 in 2023.
21.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.7% in 1960.

Fertility rate in South Korea by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	0.72	196
2022	0.78	196
2021	0.81	196
2020	0.84	196
2019	0.92	196
2018	0.98	196
2017	1.05	196
2016	1.17	194
2015	1.24	193
2014	1.21	194
2013	1.19	194
2012	1.3	190
2011	1.24	192
2010	1.23	195
2009	1.15	196
2008	1.19	196
2007	1.26	193
2006	1.13	196
2005	1.09	196
2004	1.16	196
2003	1.19	193
2002	1.18	194
2001	1.31	180
2000	1.48	172
1999	1.43	173
1998	1.46	173
1997	1.54	170
1996	1.57	169
1995	1.63	166
1994	1.66	168
1993	1.65	172
1992	1.76	164
1991	1.71	175
1990	1.57	185
1989	1.56	183
1988	1.55	186
1987	1.53	184
1986	1.58	182
1985	1.66	181
1984	1.74	178
1983	2.06	159
1982	2.39	143
1981	2.57	138
1980	2.82	136
1979	2.9	136
1978	2.64	140
1977	2.99	135
1976	3	139
1975	3.43	131
1974	3.77	129
1973	4.07	125
1972	4.12	130
1971	4.54	124
1970	4.53	128
1969	4.45	129
1968	4.51	131
1967	4.62	131
1966	4.78	131
1965	4.89	129
1964	5.07	129
1963	5.33	128
1962	5.56	124
1961	5.8	117
1960	5.99	110

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-korea | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in South Korea was 0.72 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1983. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.65 — a 56.4% 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	-77,569	232,706	310,275
2022	-124,014	253,195	377,209
2021	-56,947	264,024	320,971
2020	-31,101	274,732	305,833
2019	10,353	305,412	295,059
2018	30,951	330,144	299,193
2017	71,907	359,533	287,626
2016	122,923	404,620	281,697
2015	163,248	438,728	275,480
2014	167,464	436,421	268,957
2013	166,415	433,688	267,273
2012	215,859	481,918	266,059
2011	214,728	469,404	254,676
2010	213,083	465,808	252,725
2009	197,231	443,770	246,539
2008	215,841	461,114	245,273
2007	248,286	491,704	243,418
2006	203,441	445,632	242,191
2005	187,920	433,661	245,741
2004	225,988	471,208	245,220
2003	244,251	488,501	244,250
2002	247,752	490,740	242,988
2001	312,643	554,230	241,587
2000	390,167	634,609	244,442
1999	368,272	615,340	247,068
1998	393,436	634,125	240,689
1997	422,773	666,326	243,553
1996	446,142	682,870	236,728
1995	468,967	707,959	238,992
1994	473,200	714,264	241,064
1993	477,302	707,114	229,812
1992	494,352	730,590	236,238
1991	467,594	710,049	242,455
1990	411,546	651,613	240,067
1989	403,266	640,980	237,714
1988	399,297	634,671	235,374
1987	378,758	624,325	245,567
1986	395,651	634,690	239,039
1985	416,219	656,972	240,753
1984	436,384	674,779	238,395
1983	514,844	770,270	255,426
1982	605,626	849,449	243,823
1981	631,189	867,400	236,211
1980	583,294	861,597	278,303
1979	623,068	863,287	240,219
1978	499,084	750,474	251,390
1977	578,947	826,547	247,600
1976	530,558	795,837	265,279
1975	603,300	874,961	271,661
1974	673,030	922,814	249,784
1973	699,115	965,119	266,004
1972	740,469	951,553	211,084
1971	789,185	1,025,940	236,755
1970	747,987	1,005,913	257,926
1969	694,227	956,359	262,132
1968	684,487	948,061	263,574
1967	692,169	949,999	257,830
1966	623,534	965,104	341,570
1965	641,090	968,897	327,807
1964	655,501	984,314	328,813
1963	685,824	1,013,973	328,149
1962	712,590	1,033,318	320,728
1961	730,173	1,052,553	322,380
1960	728,010	1,052,345	324,335

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-korea | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in South Korea (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.06% annually. On average, 27,721 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.15% — 77,569 more people died than were born.

In 2023, South Korea ranks 187/196 for absolute natural population change and 167/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in South Korea compared to other countries

	South Korea	Rank
Fertility rate	0.72	196/196
Birth rate	4.5	196/196
Population change due to births and deaths	-77,569	187/196
Natural population change rate	-0.15%	167/196
Population growth	+0.07%	160/197
Age at first childbirth	32.2 years	3/137
Average age at childbearing	33.4 years	1/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	0.56	194/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	14.9	196/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	10.6	187/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	21.7%	165/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	67.6%	22/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	100%	13/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.004%	179/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.12%	187/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.23%	183/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.28%	177/192
Life expectancy	84.6 years	4/197

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	9.64	0.56	14.9	10.6
2025	9.49	0.53	14.5	10.5
2024	9.3	0.53	14	10.4
2023	9.13	0.53	13.5	10.3
2022	9.91	0.65	15.1	11.1
2021	10	0.53	16	11.1
2020	10.4	0.77	18.1	11.5
2019	11.4	0.9	20.4	12.6
2018	12.5	1.15	23.7	13.6
2017	13.9	1.09	27.3	15.1
2016	15.6	1.45	32.3	16.8
2015	16.7	1.62	35.7	18
2014	16.9	1.78	37.8	18.2
2013	17.3	1.73	41.2	18.4
2012	18.5	1.74	47.1	19.3
2011	18.5	1.86	50	18.8
2010	18.4	1.78	50.8	18.3
2009	18	1.71	52.4	17.2
2008	18.5	1.75	55.2	17.2
2007	19.3	2.14	58.1	17.5
2006	18.5	2.19	56.3	16.5
2005	18.3	2.18	56.6	15.9
2004	19.3	2.32	61.4	16.2
2003	20.1	2.49	66.8	16
2002	21	2.64	71.3	16
2001	23.3	2.45	83.3	16.6
2000	26.1	2.59	96.2	17.2
1999	26.6	2.72	101.6	16
1998	27.6	2.91	106	15.7
1997	29	3.12	112.2	15.8
1996	30.2	3.35	116.1	15.9
1995	31.4	3.58	119.9	16.1
1994	32.2	3.86	121.9	16.4
1993	32.8	4.2	124.2	16.2
1992	34.4	4.4	131.3	16
1991	34.3	4.21	132.1	14.7
1990	32.5	4.22	127.2	12.9
1989	31.8	4.6	127.3	11.4
1988	31.7	5.75	129.1	10.5
1987	31.9	7.13	131.4	9.82
1986	32.8	8.71	135	9.82
1985	34	10.1	140.6	9.85
1984	35.9	12	149.8	10.4
1983	40	13.5	169.1	13.1
1982	44.7	15.3	187.3	17.3
1981	46.8	14.7	195.4	21.9
1980	45.3	13.1	183.7	27.6
1979	44.4	14.4	184.7	27.6
1978	42.3	14.2	180.6	27.2
1977	44.9	14.5	193.8	30.8
1976	46.3	14.3	200.2	34.3
1975	48.1	13.5	208.7	39.8
1974	50.6	12.8	214.5	47.6
1973	53.4	11.8	218.1	56
1972	55.9	10.4	222.3	63.7
1971	59	11.3	230.1	69.3
1970	61.8	12.7	236.5	74.4
1969	61.7	13.6	231.6	75.8
1968	62.7	14.6	230	78.5
1967	64.4	16	233.2	81.3
1966	67.1	17.2	238.8	84.5
1965	69.5	18.1	239.9	86.8
1964	72.9	19.7	244.6	90.6
1963	77.4	22.1	252.6	96.5
1962	81.4	24.6	259	102.1
1961	85.7	27.1	266.2	108
1960	88.4	28.9	271.9	112.5

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/south-korea | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in South Korea by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 0.25% will be to women under age 20, 17.2% to women ages 20-29, and 82.5% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 1.38%, 80.7%, and 17.9%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	South Korea	World
2100	8.61%	16.5%
2099	8.6%	16.6%
2098	8.59%	16.6%
2097	8.59%	16.7%
2096	8.59%	16.8%
2095	8.6%	16.8%
2094	8.61%	16.9%
2093	8.62%	17%
2092	8.62%	17%
2091	8.62%	17.1%
2090	8.62%	17.2%
2089	8.6%	17.2%
2088	8.58%	17.3%
2087	8.55%	17.4%
2086	8.5%	17.4%
2085	8.45%	17.5%
2084	8.39%	17.5%
2083	8.33%	17.6%
2082	8.26%	17.7%
2081	8.18%	17.7%
2080	8.09%	17.8%
2079	8%	17.8%
2078	7.91%	17.9%
2077	7.82%	17.9%
2076	7.72%	18%
2075	7.63%	18%
2074	7.53%	18.1%
2073	7.44%	18.2%
2072	7.35%	18.2%
2071	7.28%	18.3%
2070	7.21%	18.3%
2069	7.16%	18.4%
2068	7.13%	18.5%
2067	7.11%	18.6%
2066	7.11%	18.6%
2065	7.14%	18.7%
2064	7.18%	18.8%
2063	7.23%	18.9%
2062	7.3%	19.1%
2061	7.37%	19.2%
2060	7.45%	19.3%
2059	7.52%	19.4%
2058	7.6%	19.5%
2057	7.66%	19.6%
2056	7.72%	19.8%
2055	7.76%	19.9%
2054	7.79%	20%
2053	7.81%	20.1%
2052	7.83%	20.2%
2051	7.83%	20.3%
2050	7.83%	20.4%
2049	7.82%	20.5%
2048	7.81%	20.6%
2047	7.8%	20.7%
2046	7.79%	20.8%
2045	7.78%	20.9%
2044	7.78%	20.9%
2043	7.77%	21%
2042	7.76%	21.1%
2041	7.74%	21.2%
2040	7.72%	21.2%
2039	7.7%	21.3%
2038	7.66%	21.4%
2037	7.65%	21.5%
2036	7.65%	21.6%
2035	7.66%	21.8%
2034	7.73%	22%
2033	7.85%	22.2%
2032	8.02%	22.4%
2031	8.28%	22.7%
2030	8.59%	23%
2029	8.9%	23.3%
2028	9.23%	23.6%
2027	9.62%	23.9%
2026	10%	24.2%
2025	10.4%	24.6%
2024	10.6%	24.7%
2023	11%	25%
2022	11.4%	25.3%
2021	11.8%	25.6%
2020	12.1%	25.8%
2019	12.4%	26%
2018	12.7%	26.2%
2017	13%	26.4%
2016	13.4%	26.5%
2015	13.8%	26.6%
2014	14.2%	26.8%
2013	14.7%	26.9%
2012	15.2%	27%
2011	15.8%	27.1%
2010	16.4%	27.3%
2009	16.9%	27.5%
2008	17.5%	27.6%
2007	18.1%	27.9%
2006	18.7%	28.1%
2005	19.2%	28.5%
2004	19.7%	28.8%
2003	20.1%	29.2%
2002	20.5%	29.6%
2001	20.8%	30%
2000	21%	30.4%
1999	21.2%	30.8%
1998	21.6%	31.1%
1997	22%	31.5%
1996	22.5%	31.8%
1995	23.1%	32.1%
1994	23.7%	32.3%
1993	24.2%	32.5%
1992	24.7%	32.7%
1991	25.2%	32.9%
1990	25.8%	33%
1989	26.5%	33.2%
1988	27.3%	33.4%
1987	28.2%	33.6%
1986	29.2%	33.8%
1985	30.2%	34%
1984	31.2%	34.3%
1983	32%	34.6%
1982	32.7%	34.9%
1981	33.3%	35.2%
1980	34%	35.5%
1979	34.8%	35.9%
1978	35.6%	36.3%
1977	36.5%	36.7%
1976	37.5%	36.9%
1975	38.5%	37.1%
1974	39.5%	37.2%
1973	40.3%	37.3%
1972	41%	37.5%
1971	41.5%	37.6%
1970	42.1%	37.7%
1969	42.7%	37.8%
1968	43.1%	37.9%
1967	43.3%	38%
1966	43.5%	38%
1965	43.3%	38%
1964	43.1%	38%
1963	42.7%	37.8%
1962	42.3%	37.6%
1961	41.8%	37.5%
1960	41.3%	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/south-korea | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in South Korea was 41.3% in 1960, 24.7% in 1992, and 10.6% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of South Korea.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-korea | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	4	197
2022	7	203
2021	5	242
2020	12	211
2019	5	207
2018	5	211
2017	6	215
2016	6	220
2015	6	228
2014	7	231
2013	7	235
2012	8	239
2011	8	247
2010	8	253
2009	9	258
2008	9	264
2007	10	269
2006	10	276
2005	11	283
2004	12	291
2003	13	301
2002	13	311
2001	14	321
2000	15	328
1999	17	340
1998	18	360
1997	19	358
1996	20	366
1995	22	371
1994	23	382
1993	24	389
1992	26	395
1991	28	395
1990	28	391
1989	29	401
1988	31	414
1987	34	429
1986	35	438
1985	38	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-korea | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in South Korea was 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.004% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 73.3% 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	South Korea	World
2023	0.28%	2.49%
2022	0.28%	2.59%
2021	0.29%	2.66%
2020	0.3%	2.75%
2019	0.31%	2.86%
2018	0.32%	2.97%
2017	0.33%	3.11%
2016	0.34%	3.22%
2015	0.35%	3.35%
2014	0.36%	3.48%
2013	0.37%	3.61%
2012	0.38%	3.77%
2011	0.4%	3.97%
2010	0.41%	4.11%
2009	0.43%	4.31%
2008	0.45%	4.5%
2007	0.48%	4.7%
2006	0.52%	4.92%
2005	0.56%	5.16%
2004	0.6%	5.43%
2003	0.64%	5.65%
2002	0.68%	5.94%
2001	0.71%	6.21%
2000	0.75%	6.48%
1999	0.8%	6.75%
1998	0.85%	7.05%
1997	0.91%	7.28%
1996	0.98%	7.52%
1995	1.05%	7.76%
1994	1.14%	7.98%
1993	1.23%	8.19%
1992	1.33%	8.46%
1991	1.44%	8.66%
1990	1.57%	8.81%
1989	1.71%	9.02%
1988	1.87%	9.31%
1987	2.05%	9.47%
1986	2.25%	9.81%
1985	2.46%	10.1%
1984	2.7%	10.4%
1983	2.93%	10.6%
1982	3.17%	10.8%
1981	3.4%	11%
1980	3.63%	11.4%
1979	3.84%	11.7%
1978	4.04%	12.2%
1977	4.23%	12.6%
1976	4.42%	13%
1975	4.61%	13.4%
1974	4.82%	13.8%
1973	5.07%	14.1%
1972	5.36%	14.5%
1971	5.71%	15.1%
1970	6.12%	15.2%
1969	6.59%	15.4%
1968	7.1%	15.6%
1967	7.62%	15.9%
1966	8.16%	16.1%
1965	8.68%	16.4%
1964	9.18%	16.6%
1963	9.67%	16.5%
1962	10.1%	16.7%
1961	10.6%	17%
1960	11.2%	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-korea | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in South Korea was 2.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.28% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 7.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.