Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Spain

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Spain by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Spain

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Spain
2023	0.72	1.12
2022	0.78	1.16
2021	0.81	1.18
2020	0.84	1.18
2019	0.92	1.23
2018	0.98	1.26
2017	1.05	1.31
2016	1.17	1.33
2015	1.24	1.33
2014	1.21	1.32
2013	1.19	1.27
2012	1.3	1.32
2011	1.24	1.34
2010	1.23	1.37
2009	1.15	1.38
2008	1.19	1.45
2007	1.26	1.38
2006	1.13	1.36
2005	1.09	1.33
2004	1.16	1.31
2003	1.19	1.3
2002	1.18	1.25
2001	1.31	1.23
2000	1.48	1.22
1999	1.43	1.17
1998	1.46	1.13
1997	1.54	1.15
1996	1.57	1.14
1995	1.63	1.16
1994	1.66	1.19
1993	1.65	1.26
1992	1.76	1.31
1991	1.71	1.33
1990	1.57	1.36
1989	1.56	1.4
1988	1.55	1.45
1987	1.53	1.49
1986	1.58	1.56
1985	1.66	1.64
1984	1.74	1.73
1983	2.06	1.8
1982	2.39	1.94
1981	2.57	2.04
1980	2.82	2.22
1979	2.9	2.37
1978	2.64	2.54
1977	2.99	2.65
1976	3	2.77
1975	3.43	2.77
1974	3.77	2.88
1973	4.07	2.84
1972	4.12	2.87
1971	4.54	2.9
1970	4.53	2.84
1969	4.45	2.86
1968	4.51	2.87
1967	4.62	2.94
1966	4.78	2.91
1965	4.89	2.94
1964	5.07	3.01
1963	5.33	2.88
1962	5.56	2.8
1961	5.8	2.77
1960	5.99	2.86

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in South Korea was 0.72 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.12 in Spain in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Spain

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Spain
2023	-77,569	-111,211
2022	-124,014	-133,801
2021	-56,947	-113,865
2020	-31,101	-151,551
2019	10,353	-56,542
2018	30,951	-56,139
2017	71,907	-32,600
2016	122,923	0
2015	163,248	-4,642
2014	167,464	32,522
2013	166,415	37,284
2012	215,859	51,450
2011	214,728	84,137
2010	213,083	102,469
2009	197,231	106,635
2008	215,841	133,267
2007	248,286	108,545
2006	203,441	110,994
2005	187,920	78,576
2004	225,988	85,844
2003	244,251	54,844
2002	247,752	53,861
2001	312,643	44,936
2000	390,167	36,512
1999	368,272	8,077
1998	393,436	4,022
1997	422,773	20,028
1996	446,142	11,967
1995	468,967	15,889
1994	473,200	31,639
1993	477,302	47,234
1992	494,352	62,652
1991	467,594	58,450
1990	411,546	66,075
1989	403,266	81,538
1988	399,297	100,794
1987	378,758	116,054
1986	395,651	131,188
1985	416,219	146,184
1984	436,384	172,487
1983	514,844	183,223
1982	605,626	231,714
1981	631,189	237,879
1980	583,294	281,184
1979	623,068	312,407
1978	499,084	339,157
1977	578,947	361,465
1976	530,558	375,834
1975	603,300	371,882
1974	673,030	396,182
1973	699,115	374,381
1972	740,469	391,030
1971	789,185	369,625
1970	747,987	378,723
1969	694,227	367,851
1968	684,487	387,423
1967	692,169	402,001
1966	623,534	397,084
1965	641,090	405,819
1964	655,501	429,885
1963	685,824	394,338
1962	712,590	384,690
1961	730,173	396,537
1960	728,010	398,960

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 -0.15% in South Korea and -0.23% in Spain.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and -0.13% in Spain.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Spain by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Spain

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Spain
2023	4.5	6.7
2022	4.9	6.9
2021	5.1	7.1
2020	5.3	7.2
2019	5.9	7.6
2018	6.4	7.9
2017	7	8.4
2016	7.9	8.8
2015	8.6	9
2014	8.6	9.2
2013	8.6	9.1
2012	9.6	9.7
2011	9.4	10.1
2010	9.4	10.4
2009	9	10.6
2008	9.4	11.3
2007	10.1	10.9
2006	9.2	10.8
2005	9	10.6
2004	9.8	10.6
2003	10.2	10.4
2002	10.3	10.1
2001	11.7	9.9
2000	13.5	9.8
1999	13.2	9.4
1998	13.7	9.1
1997	14.5	9.2
1996	15	9.1
1995	15.7	9.1
1994	16	9.4
1993	16	9.8
1992	16.7	10.1
1991	16.4	10.2
1990	15.2	10.3
1989	15.1	10.5
1988	15.1	10.8
1987	15	11
1986	15.4	11.4
1985	16.1	11.9
1984	16.7	12.3
1983	19.3	12.7
1982	21.6	13.6
1981	22.4	14.1
1980	22.6	15.2
1979	23	16.2
1978	20.3	17.3
1977	22.7	18
1976	22.2	18.7
1975	24.8	18.7
1974	26.6	19.5
1973	28.3	19.2
1972	28.4	19.4
1971	31.2	19.6
1970	31.2	19.5
1969	30.3	19.9
1968	30.7	20.1
1967	31.5	20.7
1966	32.8	20.7
1965	33.8	21.1
1964	35.2	22
1963	37.2	21.4
1962	39	21.1
1961	40.9	21.2
1960	42.1	21.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 6.7 in Spain, compared with 42.1 and 21.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Spain

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Spain
2100	8.61%	11.6%
2099	8.6%	11.6%
2098	8.59%	11.7%
2097	8.59%	11.7%
2096	8.59%	11.7%
2095	8.6%	11.8%
2094	8.61%	11.8%
2093	8.62%	11.9%
2092	8.62%	11.9%
2091	8.62%	11.9%
2090	8.62%	12%
2089	8.6%	12%
2088	8.58%	12%
2087	8.55%	12.1%
2086	8.5%	12.1%
2085	8.45%	12.1%
2084	8.39%	12%
2083	8.33%	12%
2082	8.26%	12%
2081	8.18%	11.9%
2080	8.09%	11.9%
2079	8%	11.8%
2078	7.91%	11.7%
2077	7.82%	11.6%
2076	7.72%	11.6%
2075	7.63%	11.5%
2074	7.53%	11.4%
2073	7.44%	11.3%
2072	7.35%	11.2%
2071	7.28%	11.2%
2070	7.21%	11.1%
2069	7.16%	11.1%
2068	7.13%	11%
2067	7.11%	11%
2066	7.11%	11%
2065	7.14%	11%
2064	7.18%	11%
2063	7.23%	11.1%
2062	7.3%	11.1%
2061	7.37%	11.2%
2060	7.45%	11.2%
2059	7.52%	11.3%
2058	7.6%	11.4%
2057	7.66%	11.4%
2056	7.72%	11.5%
2055	7.76%	11.5%
2054	7.79%	11.5%
2053	7.81%	11.5%
2052	7.83%	11.5%
2051	7.83%	11.5%
2050	7.83%	11.5%
2049	7.82%	11.4%
2048	7.81%	11.4%
2047	7.8%	11.3%
2046	7.79%	11.2%
2045	7.78%	11.1%
2044	7.78%	11.1%
2043	7.77%	11%
2042	7.76%	10.9%
2041	7.74%	10.9%
2040	7.72%	10.8%
2039	7.7%	10.8%
2038	7.66%	10.7%
2037	7.65%	10.7%
2036	7.65%	10.7%
2035	7.66%	10.7%
2034	7.73%	10.8%
2033	7.85%	10.9%
2032	8.02%	11.1%
2031	8.28%	11.3%
2030	8.59%	11.5%
2029	8.9%	11.7%
2028	9.23%	11.9%
2027	9.62%	12.2%
2026	10%	12.5%
2025	10.4%	12.8%
2024	10.6%	12.9%
2023	11%	13.3%
2022	11.4%	13.6%
2021	11.8%	13.9%
2020	12.1%	14.2%
2019	12.4%	14.4%
2018	12.7%	14.7%
2017	13%	14.8%
2016	13.4%	14.9%
2015	13.8%	15%
2014	14.2%	15.1%
2013	14.7%	15.1%
2012	15.2%	15.1%
2011	15.8%	15%
2010	16.4%	14.9%
2009	16.9%	14.8%
2008	17.5%	14.7%
2007	18.1%	14.6%
2006	18.7%	14.5%
2005	19.2%	14.5%
2004	19.7%	14.5%
2003	20.1%	14.5%
2002	20.5%	14.6%
2001	20.8%	14.7%
2000	21%	14.8%
1999	21.2%	15%
1998	21.6%	15.3%
1997	22%	15.7%
1996	22.5%	16.1%
1995	23.1%	16.6%
1994	23.7%	17.2%
1993	24.2%	17.8%
1992	24.7%	18.4%
1991	25.2%	19.1%
1990	25.8%	19.8%
1989	26.5%	20.5%
1988	27.3%	21.2%
1987	28.2%	21.9%
1986	29.2%	22.5%
1985	30.2%	23.2%
1984	31.2%	23.8%
1983	32%	24.4%
1982	32.7%	24.9%
1981	33.3%	25.5%
1980	34%	26%
1979	34.8%	26.4%
1978	35.6%	26.8%
1977	36.5%	27%
1976	37.5%	27.2%
1975	38.5%	27.3%
1974	39.5%	27.5%
1973	40.3%	27.7%
1972	41%	27.8%
1971	41.5%	27.8%
1970	42.1%	27.9%
1969	42.7%	27.8%
1968	43.1%	27.8%
1967	43.3%	27.7%
1966	43.5%	27.6%
1965	43.3%	27.5%
1964	43.1%	27.4%
1963	42.7%	27.4%
1962	42.3%	27.4%
1961	41.8%	27.4%
1960	41.3%	27.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 12.9% in Spain in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Spain compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Spain

Chart Table

South Korea

Spain

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Spain
2023	4	3
2022	7	4
2021	5	4
2020	12	4
2019	5	3
2018	5	3
2017	6	3
2016	6	3
2015	6	4
2014	7	4
2013	7	4
2012	8	4
2011	8	4
2010	8	4
2009	9	4
2008	9	4
2007	10	4
2006	10	4
2005	11	5
2004	12	5
2003	13	4
2002	13	5
2001	14	5
2000	15	5
1999	17	5
1998	18	5
1997	19	5
1996	20	6
1995	22	6
1994	23	6
1993	24	6
1992	26	6
1991	28	6
1990	28	6
1989	29	7
1988	31	7
1987	34	7
1986	35	7
1985	38	6

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in South Korea, compared to 3 deaths in Spain.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Spain

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Spain
2023	0.28%	0.31%
2022	0.28%	0.31%
2021	0.29%	0.31%
2020	0.3%	0.32%
2019	0.31%	0.32%
2018	0.32%	0.32%
2017	0.33%	0.32%
2016	0.34%	0.33%
2015	0.35%	0.33%
2014	0.36%	0.34%
2013	0.37%	0.35%
2012	0.38%	0.36%
2011	0.4%	0.37%
2010	0.41%	0.38%
2009	0.43%	0.4%
2008	0.45%	0.42%
2007	0.48%	0.44%
2006	0.52%	0.45%
2005	0.56%	0.47%
2004	0.6%	0.49%
2003	0.64%	0.5%
2002	0.68%	0.51%
2001	0.71%	0.53%
2000	0.75%	0.54%
1999	0.8%	0.56%
1998	0.85%	0.58%
1997	0.91%	0.61%
1996	0.98%	0.65%
1995	1.05%	0.69%
1994	1.14%	0.74%
1993	1.23%	0.79%
1992	1.33%	0.83%
1991	1.44%	0.88%
1990	1.57%	0.92%
1989	1.71%	0.95%
1988	1.87%	0.99%
1987	2.05%	1.03%
1986	2.25%	1.07%
1985	2.46%	1.11%
1984	2.7%	1.17%
1983	2.93%	1.23%
1982	3.17%	1.3%
1981	3.4%	1.38%
1980	3.63%	1.49%
1979	3.84%	1.61%
1978	4.04%	1.74%
1977	4.23%	1.87%
1976	4.42%	2.02%
1975	4.61%	2.17%
1974	4.82%	2.33%
1973	5.07%	2.52%
1972	5.36%	2.72%
1971	5.71%	2.94%
1970	6.12%	3.16%
1969	6.59%	3.39%
1968	7.1%	3.61%
1967	7.62%	3.83%
1966	8.16%	4.03%
1965	8.68%	4.23%
1964	9.18%	4.45%
1963	9.67%	4.68%
1962	10.1%	4.94%
1961	10.6%	5.2%
1960	11.2%	5.47%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.31% in Spain. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.