Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Tonga

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Tonga by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Tonga

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Tonga
2023	0.72	3.13
2022	0.78	3.17
2021	0.81	3.2
2020	0.84	3.23
2019	0.92	3.27
2018	0.98	3.33
2017	1.05	3.39
2016	1.17	3.46
2015	1.24	3.54
2014	1.21	3.62
2013	1.19	3.7
2012	1.3	3.77
2011	1.24	3.83
2010	1.23	3.88
2009	1.15	3.95
2008	1.19	4.01
2007	1.26	4.09
2006	1.13	4.14
2005	1.09	4.2
2004	1.16	4.19
2003	1.19	4.18
2002	1.18	4.14
2001	1.31	4.13
2000	1.48	4.16
1999	1.43	4.23
1998	1.46	4.31
1997	1.54	4.38
1996	1.57	4.46
1995	1.63	4.56
1994	1.66	4.66
1993	1.65	4.73
1992	1.76	4.79
1991	1.71	4.85
1990	1.57	4.93
1989	1.56	5.01
1988	1.55	5.1
1987	1.53	5.19
1986	1.58	5.27
1985	1.66	5.34
1984	1.74	5.41
1983	2.06	5.45
1982	2.39	5.5
1981	2.57	5.55
1980	2.82	5.6
1979	2.9	5.65
1978	2.64	5.68
1977	2.99	5.7
1976	3	5.73
1975	3.43	5.75
1974	3.77	5.77
1973	4.07	5.8
1972	4.12	5.86
1971	4.54	5.96
1970	4.53	6.07
1969	4.45	6.17
1968	4.51	6.23
1967	4.62	6.29
1966	4.78	6.35
1965	4.89	6.41
1964	5.07	6.46
1963	5.33	6.52
1962	5.56	6.57
1961	5.8	6.61
1960	5.99	6.65

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 3.13 in Tonga in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Tonga

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Tonga
2023	-77,569	1,744
2022	-124,014	1,772
2021	-56,947	1,773
2020	-31,101	1,816
2019	10,353	1,841
2018	30,951	1,873
2017	71,907	1,912
2016	122,923	1,989
2015	163,248	2,064
2014	167,464	2,135
2013	166,415	2,199
2012	215,859	2,255
2011	214,728	2,298
2010	213,083	2,332
2009	197,231	2,358
2008	215,841	2,397
2007	248,286	2,423
2006	203,441	2,459
2005	187,920	2,495
2004	225,988	2,478
2003	244,251	2,448
2002	247,752	2,396
2001	312,643	2,358
2000	390,167	2,346
1999	368,272	2,352
1998	393,436	2,344
1997	422,773	2,332
1996	446,142	2,393
1995	468,967	2,476
1994	473,200	2,547
1993	477,302	2,594
1992	494,352	2,622
1991	467,594	2,637
1990	411,546	2,641
1989	403,266	2,644
1988	399,297	2,649
1987	378,758	2,646
1986	395,651	2,704
1985	416,219	2,762
1984	436,384	2,814
1983	514,844	2,840
1982	605,626	2,853
1981	631,189	2,882
1980	583,294	2,885
1979	623,068	2,884
1978	499,084	2,862
1977	578,947	2,822
1976	530,558	2,769
1975	603,300	2,709
1974	673,030	2,650
1973	699,115	2,617
1972	740,469	2,605
1971	789,185	2,611
1970	747,987	2,628
1969	694,227	2,632
1968	684,487	2,614
1967	692,169	2,603
1966	623,534	2,550
1965	641,090	2,498
1964	655,501	2,445
1963	685,824	2,394
1962	712,590	2,343
1961	730,173	2,284
1960	728,010	2,230

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 +1.67% in Tonga.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +1.79% in Tonga.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Tonga by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Tonga

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Tonga
2023	4.5	23.1
2022	4.9	23.4
2021	5.1	23.5
2020	5.3	23.6
2019	5.9	23.8
2018	6.4	24.1
2017	7	24.5
2016	7.9	25.2
2015	8.6	25.8
2014	8.6	26.4
2013	8.6	26.9
2012	9.6	27.3
2011	9.4	27.7
2010	9.4	28
2009	9	28.4
2008	9.4	28.7
2007	10.1	29
2006	9.2	29.5
2005	9	30
2004	9.8	30
2003	10.2	29.9
2002	10.3	29.5
2001	11.7	29.4
2000	13.5	29.4
1999	13.2	29.6
1998	13.7	29.7
1997	14.5	29.8
1996	15	30.6
1995	15.7	31.4
1994	16	32.2
1993	16	32.7
1992	16.7	33
1991	16.4	33.2
1990	15.2	33.3
1989	15.1	33.4
1988	15.1	33.5
1987	15	33.7
1986	15.4	34.4
1985	16.1	34.9
1984	16.7	35.4
1983	19.3	35.6
1982	21.6	35.8
1981	22.4	36
1980	22.6	36.1
1979	23	36.1
1978	20.3	36
1977	22.7	35.7
1976	22.2	35.6
1975	24.8	35.8
1974	26.6	36
1973	28.3	36.5
1972	28.4	37
1971	31.2	37.8
1970	31.2	38.8
1969	30.3	39.6
1968	30.7	40.3
1967	31.5	41
1966	32.8	41.4
1965	33.8	41.9
1964	35.2	42.4
1963	37.2	42.9
1962	39	43.4
1961	40.9	43.9
1960	42.1	44.3

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 23.1 in Tonga, compared with 42.1 and 44.3, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Tonga

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Tonga
2100	8.61%	17.5%
2099	8.6%	17.6%
2098	8.59%	17.7%
2097	8.59%	17.7%
2096	8.59%	17.9%
2095	8.6%	18%
2094	8.61%	18.1%
2093	8.62%	18.3%
2092	8.62%	18.4%
2091	8.62%	18.6%
2090	8.62%	18.8%
2089	8.6%	19%
2088	8.58%	19.3%
2087	8.55%	19.5%
2086	8.5%	19.7%
2085	8.45%	20%
2084	8.39%	20.2%
2083	8.33%	20.4%
2082	8.26%	20.7%
2081	8.18%	20.9%
2080	8.09%	21.1%
2079	8%	21.3%
2078	7.91%	21.5%
2077	7.82%	21.7%
2076	7.72%	21.9%
2075	7.63%	22%
2074	7.53%	22.2%
2073	7.44%	22.3%
2072	7.35%	22.4%
2071	7.28%	22.6%
2070	7.21%	22.7%
2069	7.16%	22.8%
2068	7.13%	23%
2067	7.11%	23.2%
2066	7.11%	23.4%
2065	7.14%	23.6%
2064	7.18%	23.8%
2063	7.23%	24.1%
2062	7.3%	24.4%
2061	7.37%	24.7%
2060	7.45%	25%
2059	7.52%	25.4%
2058	7.6%	25.8%
2057	7.66%	26.2%
2056	7.72%	26.6%
2055	7.76%	27%
2054	7.79%	27.4%
2053	7.81%	27.8%
2052	7.83%	28.2%
2051	7.83%	28.5%
2050	7.83%	28.9%
2049	7.82%	29.1%
2048	7.81%	29.4%
2047	7.8%	29.6%
2046	7.79%	29.7%
2045	7.78%	29.8%
2044	7.78%	29.9%
2043	7.77%	30%
2042	7.76%	30.1%
2041	7.74%	30.1%
2040	7.72%	30.2%
2039	7.7%	30.2%
2038	7.66%	30.3%
2037	7.65%	30.4%
2036	7.65%	30.6%
2035	7.66%	30.7%
2034	7.73%	30.9%
2033	7.85%	31.1%
2032	8.02%	31.4%
2031	8.28%	31.8%
2030	8.59%	32.3%
2029	8.9%	33%
2028	9.23%	33.6%
2027	9.62%	34.1%
2026	10%	34.6%
2025	10.4%	35.2%
2024	10.6%	35.4%
2023	11%	35.6%
2022	11.4%	35.6%
2021	11.8%	35.7%
2020	12.1%	35.8%
2019	12.4%	36%
2018	12.7%	36.2%
2017	13%	36.4%
2016	13.4%	36.5%
2015	13.8%	36.7%
2014	14.2%	36.9%
2013	14.7%	37.1%
2012	15.2%	37.2%
2011	15.8%	37.4%
2010	16.4%	37.6%
2009	16.9%	37.8%
2008	17.5%	38%
2007	18.1%	38.3%
2006	18.7%	38.3%
2005	19.2%	38.3%
2004	19.7%	38.2%
2003	20.1%	38.1%
2002	20.5%	38.1%
2001	20.8%	38.2%
2000	21%	38.3%
1999	21.2%	38.6%
1998	21.6%	38.9%
1997	22%	39.3%
1996	22.5%	39.7%
1995	23.1%	39.9%
1994	23.7%	40.1%
1993	24.2%	40.3%
1992	24.7%	40.5%
1991	25.2%	40.6%
1990	25.8%	40.8%
1989	26.5%	40.9%
1988	27.3%	41.2%
1987	28.2%	41.5%
1986	29.2%	41.7%
1985	30.2%	42%
1984	31.2%	42.4%
1983	32%	42.9%
1982	32.7%	43.4%
1981	33.3%	43.9%
1980	34%	44.3%
1979	34.8%	44.8%
1978	35.6%	45.3%
1977	36.5%	45.8%
1976	37.5%	46.1%
1975	38.5%	46.2%
1974	39.5%	46.2%
1973	40.3%	46.2%
1972	41%	46.3%
1971	41.5%	46.4%
1970	42.1%	46.4%
1969	42.7%	46.3%
1968	43.1%	46.2%
1967	43.3%	46%
1966	43.5%	45.9%
1965	43.3%	45.9%
1964	43.1%	45.9%
1963	42.7%	45.9%
1962	42.3%	45.8%
1961	41.8%	45.7%
1960	41.3%	45.7%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 35.4% in Tonga in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 40.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Tonga compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Tonga

Chart Table

South Korea

Tonga

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Tonga
2023	4	67
2022	7	72
2021	5	76
2020	12	74
2019	5	73
2018	5	74
2017	6	77
2016	6	78
2015	6	79
2014	7	80
2013	7	80
2012	8	83
2011	8	84
2010	8	85
2009	9	91
2008	9	88
2007	10	88
2006	10	89
2005	11	92
2004	12	92
2003	13	95
2002	13	98
2001	14	98
2000	15	100
1999	17	99
1998	18	104
1997	19	111
1996	20	113
1995	22	117
1994	23	123
1993	24	127
1992	26	129
1991	28	134
1990	28	138
1989	29	139
1988	31	145
1987	34	147
1986	35	149
1985	38	148

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 67 deaths in Tonga.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Tonga

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Tonga
2023	0.28%	0.99%
2022	0.28%	1.02%
2021	0.29%	1.05%
2020	0.3%	1.08%
2019	0.31%	1.1%
2018	0.32%	1.12%
2017	0.33%	1.15%
2016	0.34%	1.17%
2015	0.35%	1.19%
2014	0.36%	1.22%
2013	0.37%	1.24%
2012	0.38%	1.26%
2011	0.4%	1.29%
2010	0.41%	1.31%
2009	0.43%	1.34%
2008	0.45%	1.37%
2007	0.48%	1.41%
2006	0.52%	1.44%
2005	0.56%	1.48%
2004	0.6%	1.52%
2003	0.64%	1.56%
2002	0.68%	1.61%
2001	0.71%	1.65%
2000	0.75%	1.7%
1999	0.8%	1.74%
1998	0.85%	1.78%
1997	0.91%	1.81%
1996	0.98%	1.85%
1995	1.05%	1.89%
1994	1.14%	1.94%
1993	1.23%	2%
1992	1.33%	2.06%
1991	1.44%	2.14%
1990	1.57%	2.21%
1989	1.71%	2.29%
1988	1.87%	2.37%
1987	2.05%	2.44%
1986	2.25%	2.51%
1985	2.46%	2.57%
1984	2.7%	2.63%
1983	2.93%	2.7%
1982	3.17%	2.78%
1981	3.4%	2.87%
1980	3.63%	2.97%
1979	3.84%	3.09%
1978	4.04%	3.22%
1977	4.23%	3.37%
1976	4.42%	3.53%
1975	4.61%	3.71%
1974	4.82%	3.9%
1973	5.07%	4.11%
1972	5.36%	4.35%
1971	5.71%	4.61%
1970	6.12%	4.91%
1969	6.59%	5.25%
1968	7.1%	5.63%
1967	7.62%	6.03%
1966	8.16%	6.45%
1965	8.68%	6.89%
1964	9.18%	7.35%
1963	9.67%	7.83%
1962	10.1%	-
1961	10.6%	-
1960	11.2%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.99% in Tonga. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.