Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Switzerland

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Switzerland by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Switzerland

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Switzerland
2023	0.72	1.33
2022	0.78	1.39
2021	0.81	1.52
2020	0.84	1.46
2019	0.92	1.48
2018	0.98	1.52
2017	1.05	1.52
2016	1.17	1.54
2015	1.24	1.54
2014	1.21	1.54
2013	1.19	1.52
2012	1.3	1.52
2011	1.24	1.52
2010	1.23	1.52
2009	1.15	1.5
2008	1.19	1.48
2007	1.26	1.46
2006	1.13	1.44
2005	1.09	1.42
2004	1.16	1.42
2003	1.19	1.39
2002	1.18	1.39
2001	1.31	1.38
2000	1.48	1.5
1999	1.43	1.48
1998	1.46	1.47
1997	1.54	1.48
1996	1.57	1.5
1995	1.63	1.48
1994	1.66	1.49
1993	1.65	1.51
1992	1.76	1.58
1991	1.71	1.58
1990	1.57	1.58
1989	1.56	1.56
1988	1.55	1.57
1987	1.53	1.52
1986	1.58	1.53
1985	1.66	1.52
1984	1.74	1.53
1983	2.06	1.52
1982	2.39	1.56
1981	2.57	1.55
1980	2.82	1.55
1979	2.9	1.52
1978	2.64	1.51
1977	2.99	1.53
1976	3	1.55
1975	3.43	1.61
1974	3.77	1.73
1973	4.07	1.81
1972	4.12	1.91
1971	4.54	2.04
1970	4.53	2.1
1969	4.45	2.19
1968	4.51	2.29
1967	4.62	2.39
1966	4.78	2.5
1965	4.89	2.59
1964	5.07	2.66
1963	5.33	2.65
1962	5.56	2.58
1961	5.8	2.52
1960	5.99	2.44

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 1.33 in Switzerland in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Switzerland

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Switzerland
2023	-77,569	8,000
2022	-124,014	7,899
2021	-56,947	18,279
2020	-31,101	9,502
2019	10,353	18,008
2018	30,951	20,434
2017	71,907	20,284
2016	122,923	22,608
2015	163,248	19,050
2014	167,464	21,290
2013	166,415	17,797
2012	215,859	18,393
2011	214,728	18,990
2010	213,083	17,997
2009	197,231	15,487
2008	215,841	15,295
2007	248,286	13,592
2006	203,441	12,723
2005	187,920	11,899
2004	225,988	13,302
2003	244,251	8,807
2002	247,752	10,199
2001	312,643	10,845
2000	390,167	15,806
1999	368,272	16,431
1998	393,436	16,353
1997	422,773	17,722
1996	446,142	19,801
1995	468,967	19,010
1994	473,200	20,982
1993	477,302	21,509
1992	494,352	24,064
1991	467,594	23,800
1990	411,546	20,146
1989	403,266	19,941
1988	399,297	21,099
1987	378,758	15,708
1986	395,651	16,261
1985	416,219	14,882
1984	436,384	16,105
1983	514,844	12,837
1982	605,626	15,339
1981	631,189	13,979
1980	583,294	14,535
1979	623,068	14,477
1978	499,084	13,820
1977	578,947	16,959
1976	530,558	17,017
1975	603,300	22,820
1974	673,030	27,902
1973	699,115	30,906
1972	740,469	35,061
1971	789,185	38,523
1970	747,987	42,648
1969	694,227	44,182
1968	684,487	47,328
1967	692,169	52,128
1966	623,534	53,854
1965	641,090	56,222
1964	655,501	59,050
1963	685,824	52,956
1962	712,590	49,050
1961	730,173	48,365
1960	728,010	42,090

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 +0.09% in Switzerland.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +0.2% in Switzerland.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Switzerland by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Switzerland

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Switzerland
2023	4.5	9
2022	4.9	9.4
2021	5.1	10.3
2020	5.3	9.9
2019	5.9	10
2018	6.4	10.3
2017	7	10.3
2016	7.9	10.5
2015	8.6	10.5
2014	8.6	10.4
2013	8.6	10.2
2012	9.6	10.3
2011	9.4	10.2
2010	9.4	10.3
2009	9	10.1
2008	9.4	10
2007	10.1	9.9
2006	9.2	9.8
2005	9	9.8
2004	9.8	9.9
2003	10.2	9.8
2002	10.3	9.9
2001	11.7	10
2000	13.5	10.9
1999	13.2	11
1998	13.7	11.1
1997	14.5	11.4
1996	15	11.7
1995	15.7	11.7
1994	16	11.9
1993	16	12.1
1992	16.7	12.6
1991	16.4	12.7
1990	15.2	12.5
1989	15.1	12.2
1988	15.1	12.2
1987	15	11.7
1986	15.4	11.7
1985	16.1	11.5
1984	16.7	11.6
1983	19.3	11.5
1982	21.6	11.7
1981	22.4	11.6
1980	22.6	11.7
1979	23	11.4
1978	20.3	11.4
1977	22.7	11.6
1976	22.2	11.8
1975	24.8	12.4
1974	26.6	13.3
1973	28.3	13.9
1972	28.4	14.6
1971	31.2	15.5
1970	31.2	16.1
1969	30.3	16.7
1968	30.7	17.3
1967	31.5	17.9
1966	32.8	18.5
1965	33.8	19.1
1964	35.2	19.5
1963	37.2	19.3
1962	39	18.7
1961	40.9	18.3
1960	42.1	17.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 9 in Switzerland, compared with 42.1 and 17.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Switzerland

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Switzerland
2100	8.61%	13.4%
2099	8.6%	13.4%
2098	8.59%	13.5%
2097	8.59%	13.5%
2096	8.59%	13.5%
2095	8.6%	13.6%
2094	8.61%	13.6%
2093	8.62%	13.6%
2092	8.62%	13.6%
2091	8.62%	13.7%
2090	8.62%	13.7%
2089	8.6%	13.6%
2088	8.58%	13.6%
2087	8.55%	13.6%
2086	8.5%	13.6%
2085	8.45%	13.5%
2084	8.39%	13.5%
2083	8.33%	13.5%
2082	8.26%	13.4%
2081	8.18%	13.4%
2080	8.09%	13.3%
2079	8%	13.3%
2078	7.91%	13.2%
2077	7.82%	13.2%
2076	7.72%	13.2%
2075	7.63%	13.2%
2074	7.53%	13.2%
2073	7.44%	13.2%
2072	7.35%	13.2%
2071	7.28%	13.2%
2070	7.21%	13.3%
2069	7.16%	13.3%
2068	7.13%	13.3%
2067	7.11%	13.4%
2066	7.11%	13.4%
2065	7.14%	13.5%
2064	7.18%	13.5%
2063	7.23%	13.5%
2062	7.3%	13.6%
2061	7.37%	13.6%
2060	7.45%	13.6%
2059	7.52%	13.6%
2058	7.6%	13.6%
2057	7.66%	13.5%
2056	7.72%	13.5%
2055	7.76%	13.4%
2054	7.79%	13.4%
2053	7.81%	13.3%
2052	7.83%	13.2%
2051	7.83%	13.1%
2050	7.83%	13.1%
2049	7.82%	13%
2048	7.81%	12.9%
2047	7.8%	12.8%
2046	7.79%	12.8%
2045	7.78%	12.8%
2044	7.78%	12.7%
2043	7.77%	12.8%
2042	7.76%	12.8%
2041	7.74%	12.8%
2040	7.72%	12.9%
2039	7.7%	13%
2038	7.66%	13.1%
2037	7.65%	13.2%
2036	7.65%	13.4%
2035	7.66%	13.6%
2034	7.73%	13.7%
2033	7.85%	13.9%
2032	8.02%	14.1%
2031	8.28%	14.2%
2030	8.59%	14.4%
2029	8.9%	14.5%
2028	9.23%	14.7%
2027	9.62%	14.8%
2026	10%	14.8%
2025	10.4%	14.9%
2024	10.6%	15%
2023	11%	15%
2022	11.4%	15.1%
2021	11.8%	15.1%
2020	12.1%	15.1%
2019	12.4%	15%
2018	12.7%	15%
2017	13%	14.9%
2016	13.4%	14.9%
2015	13.8%	14.9%
2014	14.2%	14.9%
2013	14.7%	14.9%
2012	15.2%	15%
2011	15.8%	15.1%
2010	16.4%	15.2%
2009	16.9%	15.3%
2008	17.5%	15.4%
2007	18.1%	15.6%
2006	18.7%	15.9%
2005	19.2%	16.1%
2004	19.7%	16.4%
2003	20.1%	16.6%
2002	20.5%	16.8%
2001	20.8%	17.1%
2000	21%	17.4%
1999	21.2%	17.5%
1998	21.6%	17.6%
1997	22%	17.6%
1996	22.5%	17.7%
1995	23.1%	17.6%
1994	23.7%	17.6%
1993	24.2%	17.5%
1992	24.7%	17.3%
1991	25.2%	17.2%
1990	25.8%	17.1%
1989	26.5%	17%
1988	27.3%	17.1%
1987	28.2%	17.2%
1986	29.2%	17.4%
1985	30.2%	17.6%
1984	31.2%	18%
1983	32%	18.3%
1982	32.7%	18.8%
1981	33.3%	19.2%
1980	34%	19.7%
1979	34.8%	20.3%
1978	35.6%	20.9%
1977	36.5%	21.4%
1976	37.5%	22%
1975	38.5%	22.4%
1974	39.5%	22.8%
1973	40.3%	23.2%
1972	41%	23.5%
1971	41.5%	23.7%
1970	42.1%	23.8%
1969	42.7%	23.8%
1968	43.1%	24%
1967	43.3%	24.1%
1966	43.5%	24.2%
1965	43.3%	24.1%
1964	43.1%	24.1%
1963	42.7%	24.1%
1962	42.3%	24.1%
1961	41.8%	24%
1960	41.3%	24%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 15% in Switzerland in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 17.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Switzerland compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Switzerland

Chart Table

South Korea

Switzerland

1x

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

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 5 deaths in Switzerland.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Switzerland

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Switzerland
2023	0.28%	0.39%
2022	0.28%	0.4%
2021	0.29%	0.4%
2020	0.3%	0.4%
2019	0.31%	0.4%
2018	0.32%	0.41%
2017	0.33%	0.41%
2016	0.34%	0.42%
2015	0.35%	0.43%
2014	0.36%	0.43%
2013	0.37%	0.44%
2012	0.38%	0.44%
2011	0.4%	0.45%
2010	0.41%	0.46%
2009	0.43%	0.46%
2008	0.45%	0.47%
2007	0.48%	0.48%
2006	0.52%	0.49%
2005	0.56%	0.51%
2004	0.6%	0.52%
2003	0.64%	0.53%
2002	0.68%	0.54%
2001	0.71%	0.55%
2000	0.75%	0.56%
1999	0.8%	0.57%
1998	0.85%	0.58%
1997	0.91%	0.6%
1996	0.98%	0.62%
1995	1.05%	0.64%
1994	1.14%	0.67%
1993	1.23%	0.71%
1992	1.33%	0.75%
1991	1.44%	0.78%
1990	1.57%	0.82%
1989	1.71%	0.84%
1988	1.87%	0.86%
1987	2.05%	0.88%
1986	2.25%	0.89%
1985	2.46%	0.9%
1984	2.7%	0.92%
1983	2.93%	0.94%
1982	3.17%	0.97%
1981	3.4%	1%
1980	3.63%	1.04%
1979	3.84%	1.09%
1978	4.04%	1.14%
1977	4.23%	1.21%
1976	4.42%	1.29%
1975	4.61%	1.38%
1974	4.82%	1.48%
1973	5.07%	1.57%
1972	5.36%	1.67%
1971	5.71%	1.76%
1970	6.12%	1.84%
1969	6.59%	1.92%
1968	7.1%	1.99%
1967	7.62%	2.07%
1966	8.16%	2.16%
1965	8.68%	2.26%
1964	9.18%	2.36%
1963	9.67%	2.45%
1962	10.1%	2.53%
1961	10.6%	2.6%
1960	11.2%	2.65%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.39% in Switzerland. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.