Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Syria

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Syria by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Syria
2023	0.72	2.71
2022	0.78	2.75
2021	0.81	2.8
2020	0.84	2.84
2019	0.92	2.88
2018	0.98	2.93
2017	1.05	2.97
2016	1.17	3.01
2015	1.24	3.07
2014	1.21	3.12
2013	1.19	3.17
2012	1.3	3.22
2011	1.24	3.29
2010	1.23	3.36
2009	1.15	3.42
2008	1.19	3.48
2007	1.26	3.54
2006	1.13	3.56
2005	1.09	3.61
2004	1.16	3.68
2003	1.19	3.76
2002	1.18	3.87
2001	1.31	3.98
2000	1.48	4.07
1999	1.43	4.14
1998	1.46	4.25
1997	1.54	4.37
1996	1.57	4.54
1995	1.63	4.7
1994	1.66	4.86
1993	1.65	4.99
1992	1.76	5.14
1991	1.71	5.34
1990	1.57	5.56
1989	1.56	5.78
1988	1.55	6
1987	1.53	6.2
1986	1.58	6.37
1985	1.66	6.48
1984	1.74	6.59
1983	2.06	6.69
1982	2.39	6.81
1981	2.57	6.97
1980	2.82	7.12
1979	2.9	7.25
1978	2.64	7.35
1977	2.99	7.42
1976	3	7.45
1975	3.43	7.49
1974	3.77	7.52
1973	4.07	7.55
1972	4.12	7.57
1971	4.54	7.6
1970	4.53	7.62
1969	4.45	7.59
1968	4.51	7.57
1967	4.62	7.56
1966	4.78	7.55
1965	4.89	7.53
1964	5.07	7.53
1963	5.33	7.51
1962	5.56	7.51
1961	5.8	7.5
1960	5.99	7.51

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 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Syria
2023	-77,569	402,713
2022	-124,014	369,750
2021	-56,947	350,560
2020	-31,101	327,992
2019	10,353	293,762
2018	30,951	242,530
2017	71,907	237,214
2016	122,923	236,007
2015	163,248	253,977
2014	167,464	333,116
2013	166,415	419,341
2012	215,859	475,520
2011	214,728	543,950
2010	213,083	558,666
2009	197,231	559,314
2008	215,841	576,593
2007	248,286	529,162
2006	203,441	480,616
2005	187,920	468,960
2004	225,988	461,209
2003	244,251	457,000
2002	247,752	453,967
2001	312,643	451,503
2000	390,167	446,211
1999	368,272	439,261
1998	393,436	433,447
1997	422,773	429,887
1996	446,142	430,765
1995	468,967	430,172
1994	473,200	426,996
1993	477,302	420,244
1992	494,352	412,878
1991	467,594	410,830
1990	411,546	409,177
1989	403,266	406,111
1988	399,297	404,285
1987	378,758	399,159
1986	395,651	390,821
1985	416,219	379,231
1984	436,384	366,768
1983	514,844	355,375
1982	605,626	319,664
1981	631,189	330,237
1980	583,294	332,464
1979	623,068	324,943
1978	499,084	316,724
1977	578,947	306,630
1976	530,558	294,267
1975	603,300	282,299
1974	673,030	270,735
1973	699,115	254,687
1972	740,469	249,027
1971	789,185	239,610
1970	747,987	230,117
1969	694,227	219,114
1968	684,487	209,454
1967	692,169	199,223
1966	623,534	191,122
1965	641,090	182,560
1964	655,501	174,549
1963	685,824	166,555
1962	712,590	159,155
1961	730,173	151,485
1960	728,010	143,687

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 +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Syria by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Syria
2023	4.5	22.1
2022	4.9	21.2
2021	5.1	21.2
2020	5.3	20.6
2019	5.9	19.7
2018	6.4	18.9
2017	7	19.6
2016	7.9	19.6
2015	8.6	21.3
2014	8.6	23.8
2013	8.6	26.9
2012	9.6	27.7
2011	9.4	28.1
2010	9.4	28.7
2009	9	29.2
2008	9.4	30.5
2007	10.1	29.1
2006	9.2	28.3
2005	9	28.8
2004	9.8	29.1
2003	10.2	29.6
2002	10.3	30.1
2001	11.7	30.7
2000	13.5	31.2
1999	13.2	31.5
1998	13.7	32
1997	14.5	32.5
1996	15	33.3
1995	15.7	34
1994	16	34.6
1993	16	35
1992	16.7	35.4
1991	16.4	36.3
1990	15.2	37.3
1989	15.1	38.3
1988	15.1	39.4
1987	15	40.3
1986	15.4	41
1985	16.1	41.3
1984	16.7	41.5
1983	19.3	41.9
1982	21.6	42.2
1981	22.4	43
1980	22.6	43.7
1979	23	44.4
1978	20.3	44.9
1977	22.7	45.3
1976	22.2	45.4
1975	24.8	45.5
1974	26.6	45.6
1973	28.3	45.7
1972	28.4	45.9
1971	31.2	46.2
1970	31.2	46.5
1969	30.3	46.4
1968	30.7	46.5
1967	31.5	46.5
1966	32.8	46.7
1965	33.8	46.7
1964	35.2	46.9
1963	37.2	47
1962	39	47.2
1961	40.9	47.3
1960	42.1	47.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 42.1 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Syria

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Syria
2100	8.61%	15.9%
2099	8.6%	16%
2098	8.59%	16%
2097	8.59%	16.1%
2096	8.59%	16.1%
2095	8.6%	16.1%
2094	8.61%	16.2%
2093	8.62%	16.2%
2092	8.62%	16.2%
2091	8.62%	16.2%
2090	8.62%	16.2%
2089	8.6%	16.2%
2088	8.58%	16.2%
2087	8.55%	16.3%
2086	8.5%	16.4%
2085	8.45%	16.4%
2084	8.39%	16.5%
2083	8.33%	16.7%
2082	8.26%	16.8%
2081	8.18%	17%
2080	8.09%	17.2%
2079	8%	17.4%
2078	7.91%	17.6%
2077	7.82%	17.8%
2076	7.72%	18.1%
2075	7.63%	18.3%
2074	7.53%	18.6%
2073	7.44%	18.8%
2072	7.35%	19.1%
2071	7.28%	19.3%
2070	7.21%	19.5%
2069	7.16%	19.6%
2068	7.13%	19.8%
2067	7.11%	19.9%
2066	7.11%	20%
2065	7.14%	20.1%
2064	7.18%	20.1%
2063	7.23%	20.1%
2062	7.3%	20.2%
2061	7.37%	20.2%
2060	7.45%	20.2%
2059	7.52%	20.2%
2058	7.6%	20.3%
2057	7.66%	20.4%
2056	7.72%	20.5%
2055	7.76%	20.7%
2054	7.79%	21%
2053	7.81%	21.3%
2052	7.83%	21.6%
2051	7.83%	22%
2050	7.83%	22.5%
2049	7.82%	23%
2048	7.81%	23.6%
2047	7.8%	24.2%
2046	7.79%	24.8%
2045	7.78%	25.5%
2044	7.78%	26.1%
2043	7.77%	26.7%
2042	7.76%	27.2%
2041	7.74%	27.8%
2040	7.72%	28.2%
2039	7.7%	28.6%
2038	7.66%	28.9%
2037	7.65%	29%
2036	7.65%	29%
2035	7.66%	28.9%
2034	7.73%	28.7%
2033	7.85%	28.5%
2032	8.02%	28.1%
2031	8.28%	27.7%
2030	8.59%	27.4%
2029	8.9%	27.3%
2028	9.23%	27.4%
2027	9.62%	27.7%
2026	10%	28.1%
2025	10.4%	28.8%
2024	10.6%	29.2%
2023	11%	30.3%
2022	11.4%	31.9%
2021	11.8%	33.4%
2020	12.1%	34.6%
2019	12.4%	36.1%
2018	12.7%	37.9%
2017	13%	39.3%
2016	13.4%	40.2%
2015	13.8%	40.6%
2014	14.2%	39.8%
2013	14.7%	38%
2012	15.2%	36.5%
2011	15.8%	36.1%
2010	16.4%	36.1%
2009	16.9%	36.3%
2008	17.5%	36.3%
2007	18.1%	36.7%
2006	18.7%	38.1%
2005	19.2%	39.1%
2004	19.7%	39.6%
2003	20.1%	40.2%
2002	20.5%	40.8%
2001	20.8%	41.3%
2000	21%	41.9%
1999	21.2%	42.4%
1998	21.6%	42.9%
1997	22%	43.3%
1996	22.5%	43.8%
1995	23.1%	44.2%
1994	23.7%	44.7%
1993	24.2%	45.2%
1992	24.7%	45.7%
1991	25.2%	46.1%
1990	25.8%	46.6%
1989	26.5%	46.9%
1988	27.3%	47.2%
1987	28.2%	47.5%
1986	29.2%	47.7%
1985	30.2%	48%
1984	31.2%	48.2%
1983	32%	48.4%
1982	32.7%	48.5%
1981	33.3%	48.7%
1980	34%	48.7%
1979	34.8%	48.7%
1978	35.6%	48.7%
1977	36.5%	48.7%
1976	37.5%	48.6%
1975	38.5%	48.6%
1974	39.5%	48.5%
1973	40.3%	48.5%
1972	41%	48.4%
1971	41.5%	48.3%
1970	42.1%	48.2%
1969	42.7%	48%
1968	43.1%	47.8%
1967	43.3%	47.5%
1966	43.5%	47.3%
1965	43.3%	46.9%
1964	43.1%	46.6%
1963	42.7%	46.3%
1962	42.3%	46.1%
1961	41.8%	45.7%
1960	41.3%	45.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Syria compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Syria

Chart Table

South Korea

Syria

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Syria
2023	4	20
2022	7	21
2021	5	30
2020	12	23
2019	5	24
2018	5	21
2017	6	23
2016	6	23
2015	6	24
2014	7	25
2013	7	25
2012	8	22
2011	8	21
2010	8	19
2009	9	19
2008	9	20
2007	10	19
2006	10	20
2005	11	21
2004	12	22
2003	13	24
2002	13	26
2001	14	29
2000	15	31
1999	17	32
1998	18	34
1997	19	34
1996	20	34
1995	22	33
1994	23	32
1993	24	32
1992	26	33
1991	28	35
1990	28	37
1989	29	41
1988	31	44
1987	34	48
1986	35	52
1985	38	55

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 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Syria
2023	0.28%	2.06%
2022	0.28%	2.11%
2021	0.29%	2.1%
2020	0.3%	2.24%
2019	0.31%	2.5%
2018	0.32%	3.26%
2017	0.33%	3.3%
2016	0.34%	3.22%
2015	0.35%	3.7%
2014	0.36%	3.53%
2013	0.37%	3.65%
2012	0.38%	3.39%
2011	0.4%	2.17%
2010	0.41%	1.9%
2009	0.43%	1.9%
2008	0.45%	1.9%
2007	0.48%	1.92%
2006	0.52%	1.95%
2005	0.56%	1.98%
2004	0.6%	2.03%
2003	0.64%	2.09%
2002	0.68%	2.15%
2001	0.71%	2.23%
2000	0.75%	2.32%
1999	0.8%	2.42%
1998	0.85%	2.53%
1997	0.91%	2.66%
1996	0.98%	2.8%
1995	1.05%	2.94%
1994	1.14%	3.09%
1993	1.23%	3.24%
1992	1.33%	3.4%
1991	1.44%	3.55%
1990	1.57%	3.7%
1989	1.71%	3.85%
1988	1.87%	4.02%
1987	2.05%	4.19%
1986	2.25%	4.39%
1985	2.46%	4.6%
1984	2.7%	4.84%
1983	2.93%	5.1%
1982	3.17%	7.06%
1981	3.4%	6.33%
1980	3.63%	6.03%
1979	3.84%	6.4%
1978	4.04%	6.79%
1977	4.23%	7.19%
1976	4.42%	7.61%
1975	4.61%	8.03%
1974	4.82%	8.47%
1973	5.07%	8.92%
1972	5.36%	9.4%
1971	5.71%	9.91%
1970	6.12%	10.5%
1969	6.59%	11.1%
1968	7.1%	11.7%
1967	7.62%	12.3%
1966	8.16%	12.9%
1965	8.68%	13.5%
1964	9.18%	14.1%
1963	9.67%	14.7%
1962	10.1%	15.3%
1961	10.6%	16.1%
1960	11.2%	16.9%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.