Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Sri Lanka

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Sri Lanka by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Sri Lanka

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2023	0.72	1.97
2022	0.78	1.98
2021	0.81	2
2020	0.84	2.01
2019	0.92	2.02
2018	0.98	2.03
2017	1.05	2.04
2016	1.17	2.06
2015	1.24	2.09
2014	1.21	2.13
2013	1.19	2.18
2012	1.3	2.17
2011	1.24	2.14
2010	1.23	2.13
2009	1.15	2.18
2008	1.19	2.23
2007	1.26	2.3
2006	1.13	2.29
2005	1.09	2.26
2004	1.16	2.27
2003	1.19	2.3
2002	1.18	2.31
2001	1.31	2.28
2000	1.48	2.21
1999	1.43	2.14
1998	1.46	2.14
1997	1.54	2.22
1996	1.57	2.29
1995	1.63	2.35
1994	1.66	2.4
1993	1.65	2.44
1992	1.76	2.49
1991	1.71	2.51
1990	1.57	2.54
1989	1.56	2.58
1988	1.55	2.57
1987	1.53	2.64
1986	1.58	2.74
1985	1.66	2.9
1984	1.74	3.01
1983	2.06	3.11
1982	2.39	3.32
1981	2.57	3.65
1980	2.82	3.73
1979	2.9	3.82
1978	2.64	3.81
1977	2.99	3.74
1976	3	3.78
1975	3.43	3.82
1974	3.77	3.86
1973	4.07	4
1972	4.12	4.16
1971	4.54	4.27
1970	4.53	4.39
1969	4.45	4.5
1968	4.51	4.66
1967	4.62	4.79
1966	4.78	4.83
1965	4.89	4.93
1964	5.07	5.06
1963	5.33	5.12
1962	5.56	5.18
1961	5.8	5.24
1960	5.99	5.35

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 1.97 in Sri Lanka in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Sri Lanka

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2023	-77,569	66,111
2022	-124,014	95,378
2021	-56,947	121,858
2020	-31,101	170,968
2019	10,353	172,243
2018	30,951	183,610
2017	71,907	187,993
2016	122,923	194,232
2015	163,248	201,815
2014	167,464	211,541
2013	166,415	221,021
2012	215,859	229,138
2011	214,728	224,461
2010	213,083	224,325
2009	197,231	200,175
2008	215,841	232,225
2007	248,286	248,287
2006	203,441	248,706
2005	187,920	248,683
2004	225,988	212,527
2003	244,251	252,008
2002	247,752	252,840
2001	312,643	244,377
2000	390,167	227,060
1999	368,272	206,876
1998	393,436	201,059
1997	422,773	208,193
1996	446,142	215,290
1995	468,967	221,957
1994	473,200	228,904
1993	477,302	226,257
1992	494,352	222,230
1991	467,594	218,117
1990	411,546	224,454
1989	403,266	212,401
1988	399,297	219,184
1987	378,758	226,414
1986	395,651	233,782
1985	416,219	247,836
1984	436,384	263,175
1983	514,844	277,768
1982	605,626	300,030
1981	631,189	328,096
1980	583,294	328,155
1979	623,068	329,791
1978	499,084	317,055
1977	578,947	300,038
1976	530,558	291,816
1975	603,300	282,496
1974	673,030	275,521
1973	699,115	278,577
1972	740,469	282,494
1971	789,185	281,200
1970	747,987	286,719
1969	694,227	286,218
1968	684,487	286,642
1967	692,169	284,738
1966	623,534	275,549
1965	641,090	272,422
1964	655,501	269,584
1963	685,824	262,880
1962	712,590	256,719
1961	730,173	251,087
1960	728,010	247,631

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 +0.3% in Sri Lanka.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +0.75% in Sri Lanka.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Sri Lanka by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2023	4.5	11.2
2022	4.9	12.4
2021	5.1	12.9
2020	5.3	13.8
2019	5.9	14.6
2018	6.4	15.2
2017	7	15.4
2016	7.9	15.7
2015	8.6	16
2014	8.6	16.5
2013	8.6	17
2012	9.6	17.1
2011	9.4	17.1
2010	9.4	17.1
2009	9	17.6
2008	9.4	18.2
2007	10.1	18.8
2006	9.2	18.9
2005	9	18.7
2004	9.8	18.8
2003	10.2	19.1
2002	10.3	19.2
2001	11.7	19
2000	13.5	18.4
1999	13.2	17.9
1998	13.7	17.8
1997	14.5	18.5
1996	15	19
1995	15.7	19.6
1994	16	20
1993	16	20
1992	16.7	20.1
1991	16.4	20.2
1990	15.2	20.5
1989	15.1	20.6
1988	15.1	20.3
1987	15	20.8
1986	15.4	21.4
1985	16.1	22.4
1984	16.7	23.5
1983	19.3	24.4
1982	21.6	26
1981	22.4	28.1
1980	22.6	28.6
1979	23	29.3
1978	20.3	29
1977	22.7	28.3
1976	22.2	28.3
1975	24.8	28.2
1974	26.6	28.2
1973	28.3	28.9
1972	28.4	29.7
1971	31.2	30.2
1970	31.2	31.2
1969	30.3	31.8
1968	30.7	32.6
1967	31.5	33.2
1966	32.8	33.2
1965	33.8	33.8
1964	35.2	34.5
1963	37.2	34.7
1962	39	35.1
1961	40.9	35.6
1960	42.1	36.3

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 11.2 in Sri Lanka, compared with 42.1 and 36.3, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Sri Lanka

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2100	8.61%	13.1%
2099	8.6%	13.1%
2098	8.59%	13.2%
2097	8.59%	13.2%
2096	8.59%	13.2%
2095	8.6%	13.3%
2094	8.61%	13.3%
2093	8.62%	13.4%
2092	8.62%	13.4%
2091	8.62%	13.5%
2090	8.62%	13.6%
2089	8.6%	13.7%
2088	8.58%	13.7%
2087	8.55%	13.8%
2086	8.5%	13.9%
2085	8.45%	14%
2084	8.39%	14%
2083	8.33%	14.1%
2082	8.26%	14.2%
2081	8.18%	14.3%
2080	8.09%	14.3%
2079	8%	14.4%
2078	7.91%	14.5%
2077	7.82%	14.5%
2076	7.72%	14.6%
2075	7.63%	14.6%
2074	7.53%	14.7%
2073	7.44%	14.7%
2072	7.35%	14.8%
2071	7.28%	14.9%
2070	7.21%	14.9%
2069	7.16%	15%
2068	7.13%	15%
2067	7.11%	15.1%
2066	7.11%	15.2%
2065	7.14%	15.3%
2064	7.18%	15.4%
2063	7.23%	15.5%
2062	7.3%	15.6%
2061	7.37%	15.7%
2060	7.45%	15.8%
2059	7.52%	16%
2058	7.6%	16.1%
2057	7.66%	16.3%
2056	7.72%	16.4%
2055	7.76%	16.6%
2054	7.79%	16.8%
2053	7.81%	16.9%
2052	7.83%	17.1%
2051	7.83%	17.2%
2050	7.83%	17.4%
2049	7.82%	17.5%
2048	7.81%	17.7%
2047	7.8%	17.8%
2046	7.79%	17.9%
2045	7.78%	18%
2044	7.78%	18.2%
2043	7.77%	18.3%
2042	7.76%	18.4%
2041	7.74%	18.5%
2040	7.72%	18.6%
2039	7.7%	18.7%
2038	7.66%	18.9%
2037	7.65%	19%
2036	7.65%	19.1%
2035	7.66%	19.3%
2034	7.73%	19.5%
2033	7.85%	19.7%
2032	8.02%	19.9%
2031	8.28%	20.1%
2030	8.59%	20.3%
2029	8.9%	20.6%
2028	9.23%	20.9%
2027	9.62%	21.2%
2026	10%	21.5%
2025	10.4%	21.9%
2024	10.6%	22%
2023	11%	22.4%
2022	11.4%	22.7%
2021	11.8%	23%
2020	12.1%	23.3%
2019	12.4%	23.7%
2018	12.7%	24%
2017	13%	24.2%
2016	13.4%	24.5%
2015	13.8%	24.7%
2014	14.2%	24.9%
2013	14.7%	25%
2012	15.2%	25.2%
2011	15.8%	25.3%
2010	16.4%	25.4%
2009	16.9%	25.5%
2008	17.5%	25.6%
2007	18.1%	25.7%
2006	18.7%	25.7%
2005	19.2%	25.8%
2004	19.7%	26%
2003	20.1%	26.1%
2002	20.5%	26.3%
2001	20.8%	26.6%
2000	21%	27%
1999	21.2%	27.4%
1998	21.6%	27.8%
1997	22%	28.2%
1996	22.5%	28.6%
1995	23.1%	29.2%
1994	23.7%	29.9%
1993	24.2%	30.6%
1992	24.7%	31.4%
1991	25.2%	32.1%
1990	25.8%	32.5%
1989	26.5%	33%
1988	27.3%	33.5%
1987	28.2%	34%
1986	29.2%	34.6%
1985	30.2%	35.2%
1984	31.2%	35.5%
1983	32%	35.8%
1982	32.7%	36%
1981	33.3%	36.2%
1980	34%	36.4%
1979	34.8%	36.7%
1978	35.6%	36.9%
1977	36.5%	37.2%
1976	37.5%	37.6%
1975	38.5%	38%
1974	39.5%	38.4%
1973	40.3%	38.8%
1972	41%	39.2%
1971	41.5%	39.5%
1970	42.1%	39.7%
1969	42.7%	39.9%
1968	43.1%	40.1%
1967	43.3%	40.3%
1966	43.5%	40.4%
1965	43.3%	40.5%
1964	43.1%	40.6%
1963	42.7%	40.7%
1962	42.3%	40.8%
1961	41.8%	40.9%
1960	41.3%	41%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 22% in Sri Lanka in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 32.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Sri Lanka compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Sri Lanka

Chart Table

South Korea

Sri Lanka

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2023	4	18
2022	7	22
2021	5	34
2020	12	23
2019	5	20
2018	5	21
2017	6	21
2016	6	22
2015	6	22
2014	7	23
2013	7	23
2012	8	24
2011	8	25
2010	8	26
2009	9	28
2008	9	30
2007	10	31
2006	10	32
2005	11	32
2004	12	37
2003	13	35
2002	13	36
2001	14	37
2000	15	39
1999	17	41
1998	18	43
1997	19	45
1996	20	47
1995	22	48
1994	23	49
1993	24	51
1992	26	54
1991	28	57
1990	28	59
1989	29	61
1988	31	62
1987	34	64
1986	35	66
1985	38	68

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 18 deaths in Sri Lanka.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Sri Lanka
2023	0.28%	0.61%
2022	0.28%	0.64%
2021	0.29%	0.66%
2020	0.3%	0.69%
2019	0.31%	0.72%
2018	0.32%	0.76%
2017	0.33%	0.79%
2016	0.34%	0.83%
2015	0.35%	0.87%
2014	0.36%	0.92%
2013	0.37%	0.98%
2012	0.38%	1.03%
2011	0.4%	1.08%
2010	0.41%	1.12%
2009	0.43%	2.08%
2008	0.45%	1.2%
2007	0.48%	1.26%
2006	0.52%	1.33%
2005	0.56%	1.4%
2004	0.6%	2.88%
2003	0.64%	1.52%
2002	0.68%	1.55%
2001	0.71%	1.58%
2000	0.75%	1.63%
1999	0.8%	1.69%
1998	0.85%	1.76%
1997	0.91%	1.86%
1996	0.98%	1.95%
1995	1.05%	2.05%
1994	1.14%	2.14%
1993	1.23%	2.22%
1992	1.33%	2.29%
1991	1.44%	2.32%
1990	1.57%	2.33%
1989	1.71%	2.74%
1988	1.87%	2.41%
1987	2.05%	2.54%
1986	2.25%	2.74%
1985	2.46%	3.02%
1984	2.7%	3.35%
1983	2.93%	3.67%
1982	3.17%	3.98%
1981	3.4%	4.29%
1980	3.63%	4.63%
1979	3.84%	4.99%
1978	4.04%	5.38%
1977	4.23%	5.77%
1976	4.42%	6.12%
1975	4.61%	6.41%
1974	4.82%	6.62%
1973	5.07%	6.77%
1972	5.36%	6.86%
1971	5.71%	6.94%
1970	6.12%	7.02%
1969	6.59%	7.14%
1968	7.1%	7.32%
1967	7.62%	7.55%
1966	8.16%	7.81%
1965	8.68%	8.07%
1964	9.18%	8.3%
1963	9.67%	8.48%
1962	10.1%	8.66%
1961	10.6%	8.95%
1960	11.2%	9.41%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.61% in Sri Lanka. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.