Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Thailand

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Thailand by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Thailand

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Thailand
2023	0.72	1.21
2022	0.78	1.22
2021	0.81	1.23
2020	0.84	1.26
2019	0.92	1.29
2018	0.98	1.32
2017	1.05	1.36
2016	1.17	1.4
2015	1.24	1.45
2014	1.21	1.48
2013	1.19	1.53
2012	1.3	1.56
2011	1.24	1.57
2010	1.23	1.56
2009	1.15	1.57
2008	1.19	1.59
2007	1.26	1.62
2006	1.13	1.63
2005	1.09	1.64
2004	1.16	1.67
2003	1.19	1.67
2002	1.18	1.69
2001	1.31	1.71
2000	1.48	1.73
1999	1.43	1.77
1998	1.46	1.82
1997	1.54	1.85
1996	1.57	1.87
1995	1.63	1.89
1994	1.66	1.93
1993	1.65	1.97
1992	1.76	2.01
1991	1.71	2.04
1990	1.57	2.07
1989	1.56	2.14
1988	1.55	2.17
1987	1.53	2.26
1986	1.58	2.36
1985	1.66	2.45
1984	1.74	2.58
1983	2.06	2.76
1982	2.39	2.94
1981	2.57	3.13
1980	2.82	3.29
1979	2.9	3.45
1978	2.64	3.62
1977	2.99	3.87
1976	3	4.12
1975	3.43	4.36
1974	3.77	4.6
1973	4.07	4.85
1972	4.12	5.08
1971	4.54	5.25
1970	4.53	5.45
1969	4.45	5.7
1968	4.51	5.93
1967	4.62	6.08
1966	4.78	6.18
1965	4.89	6.26
1964	5.07	6.31
1963	5.33	6.34
1962	5.56	6.33
1961	5.8	6.32
1960	5.99	6.33

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 1.21 in Thailand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Thailand

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Thailand
2023	-77,569	-46,105
2022	-124,014	-61,046
2021	-56,947	57,382
2020	-31,101	84,107
2019	10,353	116,867
2018	30,951	159,383
2017	71,907	194,695
2016	122,923	226,255
2015	163,248	266,362
2014	167,464	294,628
2013	166,415	325,059
2012	215,859	351,485
2011	214,728	365,670
2010	213,083	370,466
2009	197,231	382,636
2008	215,841	401,730
2007	248,286	425,362
2006	203,441	441,211
2005	187,920	456,378
2004	225,988	466,542
2003	244,251	488,003
2002	247,752	504,299
2001	312,643	524,230
2000	390,167	543,884
1999	368,272	578,073
1998	393,436	617,318
1997	422,773	644,834
1996	446,142	661,397
1995	468,967	682,703
1994	473,200	712,589
1993	477,302	737,696
1992	494,352	754,999
1991	467,594	760,508
1990	411,546	760,808
1989	403,266	774,563
1988	399,297	765,252
1987	378,758	774,498
1986	395,651	783,430
1985	416,219	776,935
1984	436,384	779,856
1983	514,844	794,239
1982	605,626	817,951
1981	631,189	839,297
1980	583,294	845,575
1979	623,068	843,434
1978	499,084	847,799
1977	578,947	871,232
1976	530,558	894,072
1975	603,300	911,980
1974	673,030	923,151
1973	699,115	933,540
1972	740,469	940,420
1971	789,185	936,215
1970	747,987	937,116
1969	694,227	948,314
1968	684,487	953,806
1967	692,169	944,980
1966	623,534	929,469
1965	641,090	909,000
1964	655,501	885,137
1963	685,824	860,728
1962	712,590	828,741
1961	730,173	801,140
1960	728,010	774,190

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 -0.06% in Thailand.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +0.18% in Thailand.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Thailand by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Thailand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Thailand
2023	4.5	8.24
2022	4.9	8.38
2021	5.1	8.54
2020	5.3	8.79
2019	5.9	9.06
2018	6.4	9.4
2017	7	9.77
2016	7.9	10.1
2015	8.6	10.6
2014	8.6	11
2013	8.6	11.4
2012	9.6	11.8
2011	9.4	11.9
2010	9.4	12
2009	9	12.2
2008	9.4	12.5
2007	10.1	12.9
2006	9.2	13.2
2005	9	13.5
2004	9.8	13.8
2003	10.2	14.1
2002	10.3	14.3
2001	11.7	14.7
2000	13.5	15
1999	13.2	15.6
1998	13.7	16.3
1997	14.5	16.8
1996	15	17.3
1995	15.7	17.7
1994	16	18.2
1993	16	18.7
1992	16.7	19.2
1991	16.4	19.5
1990	15.2	19.6
1989	15.1	20.1
1988	15.1	20.2
1987	15	20.7
1986	15.4	21.3
1985	16.1	21.7
1984	16.7	22.3
1983	19.3	23.3
1982	21.6	24.5
1981	22.4	25.5
1980	22.6	26.3
1979	23	26.8
1978	20.3	27.5
1977	22.7	28.6
1976	22.2	29.8
1975	24.8	31.1
1974	26.6	32.3
1973	28.3	33.5
1972	28.4	34.7
1971	31.2	35.6
1970	31.2	36.7
1969	30.3	38.3
1968	30.7	39.7
1967	31.5	40.8
1966	32.8	41.6
1965	33.8	42.2
1964	35.2	42.8
1963	37.2	43.2
1962	39	43.4
1961	40.9	43.6
1960	42.1	43.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 8.24 in Thailand, compared with 42.1 and 43.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Thailand

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Thailand
2100	8.61%	11.4%
2099	8.6%	11.4%
2098	8.59%	11.4%
2097	8.59%	11.4%
2096	8.59%	11.4%
2095	8.6%	11.3%
2094	8.61%	11.3%
2093	8.62%	11.3%
2092	8.62%	11.3%
2091	8.62%	11.3%
2090	8.62%	11.3%
2089	8.6%	11.3%
2088	8.58%	11.3%
2087	8.55%	11.3%
2086	8.5%	11.3%
2085	8.45%	11.3%
2084	8.39%	11.3%
2083	8.33%	11.3%
2082	8.26%	11.3%
2081	8.18%	11.3%
2080	8.09%	11.2%
2079	8%	11.2%
2078	7.91%	11.2%
2077	7.82%	11.2%
2076	7.72%	11.1%
2075	7.63%	11.1%
2074	7.53%	11.1%
2073	7.44%	11%
2072	7.35%	11%
2071	7.28%	11%
2070	7.21%	11%
2069	7.16%	10.9%
2068	7.13%	10.9%
2067	7.11%	10.9%
2066	7.11%	10.9%
2065	7.14%	10.9%
2064	7.18%	10.9%
2063	7.23%	11%
2062	7.3%	11%
2061	7.37%	11%
2060	7.45%	11.1%
2059	7.52%	11.1%
2058	7.6%	11.1%
2057	7.66%	11.2%
2056	7.72%	11.2%
2055	7.76%	11.3%
2054	7.79%	11.3%
2053	7.81%	11.4%
2052	7.83%	11.4%
2051	7.83%	11.5%
2050	7.83%	11.5%
2049	7.82%	11.6%
2048	7.81%	11.6%
2047	7.8%	11.6%
2046	7.79%	11.7%
2045	7.78%	11.7%
2044	7.78%	11.7%
2043	7.77%	11.7%
2042	7.76%	11.8%
2041	7.74%	11.8%
2040	7.72%	11.8%
2039	7.7%	11.9%
2038	7.66%	11.9%
2037	7.65%	12%
2036	7.65%	12%
2035	7.66%	12.1%
2034	7.73%	12.2%
2033	7.85%	12.4%
2032	8.02%	12.6%
2031	8.28%	12.8%
2030	8.59%	13%
2029	8.9%	13.3%
2028	9.23%	13.6%
2027	9.62%	13.9%
2026	10%	14.2%
2025	10.4%	14.6%
2024	10.6%	14.7%
2023	11%	15.1%
2022	11.4%	15.4%
2021	11.8%	15.8%
2020	12.1%	16.2%
2019	12.4%	16.6%
2018	12.7%	16.9%
2017	13%	17.3%
2016	13.4%	17.7%
2015	13.8%	18.1%
2014	14.2%	18.5%
2013	14.7%	18.8%
2012	15.2%	19.2%
2011	15.8%	19.7%
2010	16.4%	20.1%
2009	16.9%	20.6%
2008	17.5%	20.9%
2007	18.1%	21.3%
2006	18.7%	21.7%
2005	19.2%	22.2%
2004	19.7%	22.6%
2003	20.1%	23%
2002	20.5%	23.4%
2001	20.8%	23.9%
2000	21%	24.4%
1999	21.2%	24.9%
1998	21.6%	25.4%
1997	22%	25.9%
1996	22.5%	26.4%
1995	23.1%	26.9%
1994	23.7%	27.4%
1993	24.2%	28%
1992	24.7%	28.5%
1991	25.2%	29.2%
1990	25.8%	30%
1989	26.5%	30.7%
1988	27.3%	31.5%
1987	28.2%	32.4%
1986	29.2%	33.2%
1985	30.2%	34.1%
1984	31.2%	35.1%
1983	32%	36%
1982	32.7%	37%
1981	33.3%	37.8%
1980	34%	38.7%
1979	34.8%	39.5%
1978	35.6%	40.3%
1977	36.5%	41.1%
1976	37.5%	41.8%
1975	38.5%	42.4%
1974	39.5%	43%
1973	40.3%	43.5%
1972	41%	44%
1971	41.5%	44.4%
1970	42.1%	44.8%
1969	42.7%	45%
1968	43.1%	45.2%
1967	43.3%	45.3%
1966	43.5%	45.4%
1965	43.3%	45.4%
1964	43.1%	45.3%
1963	42.7%	45.1%
1962	42.3%	44.8%
1961	41.8%	44.6%
1960	41.3%	44.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 14.7% in Thailand in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 30% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Thailand compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Thailand

Chart Table

South Korea

Thailand

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Thailand
2023	4	34
2022	7	112
2021	5	38
2020	12	36
2019	5	34
2018	5	34
2017	6	34
2016	6	34
2015	6	34
2014	7	34
2013	7	35
2012	8	36
2011	8	37
2010	8	37
2009	9	37
2008	9	37
2007	10	38
2006	10	38
2005	11	40
2004	12	44
2003	13	42
2002	13	44
2001	14	47
2000	15	49
1999	17	48
1998	18	47
1997	19	48
1996	20	49
1995	22	52
1994	23	54
1993	24	57
1992	26	58
1991	28	59
1990	28	60
1989	29	64
1988	31	67
1987	34	72
1986	35	78
1985	38	88

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 34 deaths in Thailand.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Thailand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Thailand
2023	0.28%	0.92%
2022	0.28%	0.95%
2021	0.29%	0.98%
2020	0.3%	1.01%
2019	0.31%	1.04%
2018	0.32%	1.08%
2017	0.33%	1.11%
2016	0.34%	1.15%
2015	0.35%	1.19%
2014	0.36%	1.23%
2013	0.37%	1.27%
2012	0.38%	1.32%
2011	0.4%	1.37%
2010	0.41%	1.42%
2009	0.43%	1.47%
2008	0.45%	1.53%
2007	0.48%	1.59%
2006	0.52%	1.66%
2005	0.56%	1.73%
2004	0.6%	1.81%
2003	0.64%	1.89%
2002	0.68%	1.98%
2001	0.71%	2.08%
2000	0.75%	2.18%
1999	0.8%	2.29%
1998	0.85%	2.41%
1997	0.91%	2.53%
1996	0.98%	2.67%
1995	1.05%	2.81%
1994	1.14%	2.96%
1993	1.23%	3.12%
1992	1.33%	3.3%
1991	1.44%	3.49%
1990	1.57%	3.69%
1989	1.71%	3.91%
1988	1.87%	4.12%
1987	2.05%	4.34%
1986	2.25%	4.57%
1985	2.46%	4.8%
1984	2.7%	5.03%
1983	2.93%	5.28%
1982	3.17%	5.53%
1981	3.4%	5.79%
1980	3.63%	6.07%
1979	3.84%	6.36%
1978	4.04%	6.67%
1977	4.23%	7%
1976	4.42%	7.35%
1975	4.61%	7.73%
1974	4.82%	8.14%
1973	5.07%	8.56%
1972	5.36%	9.01%
1971	5.71%	9.47%
1970	6.12%	9.95%
1969	6.59%	10.4%
1968	7.1%	10.9%
1967	7.62%	11.4%
1966	8.16%	11.8%
1965	8.68%	12.3%
1964	9.18%	12.8%
1963	9.67%	13.2%
1962	10.1%	13.7%
1961	10.6%	14.2%
1960	11.2%	14.7%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.92% in Thailand. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.