Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and United Kingdom

Fertility rate in South Korea vs United Kingdom by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2023	0.72	1.56
2022	0.78	1.56
2021	0.81	1.58
2020	0.84	1.57
2019	0.92	1.63
2018	0.98	1.68
2017	1.05	1.74
2016	1.17	1.79
2015	1.24	1.8
2014	1.21	1.81
2013	1.19	1.83
2012	1.3	1.92
2011	1.24	1.91
2010	1.23	1.92
2009	1.15	1.89
2008	1.19	1.91
2007	1.26	1.86
2006	1.13	1.82
2005	1.09	1.76
2004	1.16	1.75
2003	1.19	1.7
2002	1.18	1.63
2001	1.31	1.63
2000	1.48	1.64
1999	1.43	1.68
1998	1.46	1.71
1997	1.54	1.72
1996	1.57	1.73
1995	1.63	1.71
1994	1.66	1.74
1993	1.65	1.76
1992	1.76	1.79
1991	1.71	1.82
1990	1.57	1.83
1989	1.56	1.79
1988	1.55	1.82
1987	1.53	1.81
1986	1.58	1.78
1985	1.66	1.79
1984	1.74	1.77
1983	2.06	1.77
1982	2.39	1.78
1981	2.57	1.82
1980	2.82	1.9
1979	2.9	1.86
1978	2.64	1.75
1977	2.99	1.69
1976	3	1.74
1975	3.43	1.81
1974	3.77	1.92
1973	4.07	2.04
1972	4.12	2.2
1971	4.54	2.41
1970	4.53	2.44
1969	4.45	2.51
1968	4.51	2.6
1967	4.62	2.68
1966	4.78	2.78
1965	4.89	2.86
1964	5.07	2.93
1963	5.33	2.88
1962	5.56	2.86
1961	5.8	2.78
1960	5.99	2.69

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 1.56 in the United Kingdom in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2023	-77,569	34,589
2022	-124,014	39,751
2021	-56,947	30,612
2020	-31,101	-4,272
2019	10,353	108,342
2018	30,951	119,321
2017	71,907	145,125
2016	122,923	177,139
2015	163,248	175,738
2014	167,464	206,784
2013	166,415	198,830
2012	215,859	248,473
2011	214,728	259,361
2010	213,083	251,066
2009	197,231	230,422
2008	215,841	216,325
2007	248,286	196,232
2006	203,441	176,455
2005	187,920	144,963
2004	225,988	131,974
2003	244,251	89,471
2002	247,752	65,308
2001	312,643	65,032
2000	390,167	70,671
1999	368,272	64,551
1998	393,436	87,730
1997	422,773	99,138
1996	446,142	98,884
1995	468,967	87,028
1994	473,200	127,304
1993	477,302	103,893
1992	494,352	149,709
1991	467,594	143,562
1990	411,546	154,569
1989	403,266	119,861
1988	399,297	136,628
1987	378,758	136,325
1986	395,651	90,690
1985	416,219	79,170
1984	436,384	84,633
1983	514,844	61,966
1982	605,626	56,314
1981	631,189	73,234
1980	583,294	95,734
1979	623,068	61,872
1978	499,084	16,859
1977	578,947	0
1976	530,558	-5,621
1975	603,300	33,735
1974	673,030	67,476
1973	699,115	112,389
1972	740,469	162,650
1971	789,185	257,123
1970	747,987	244,918
1969	694,227	260,577
1968	684,487	292,622
1967	692,169	346,145
1966	623,534	333,356
1965	641,090	364,132
1964	655,501	405,000
1963	685,824	337,995
1962	712,590	340,800
1961	730,173	311,519
1960	728,010	314,400

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 +0.05% in the United Kingdom.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +0.16% in the United Kingdom.

Birth rate in South Korea vs United Kingdom by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United Kingdom

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2023	4.5	10
2022	4.9	10.1
2021	5.1	10.2
2020	5.3	10.2
2019	5.9	10.6
2018	6.4	11
2017	7	11.4
2016	7.9	11.8
2015	8.6	11.9
2014	8.6	12
2013	8.6	12.1
2012	9.6	12.8
2011	9.4	12.8
2010	9.4	12.9
2009	9	12.7
2008	9.4	12.9
2007	10.1	12.6
2006	9.2	12.3
2005	9	12
2004	9.8	11.9
2003	10.2	11.7
2002	10.3	11.3
2001	11.7	11.3
2000	13.5	11.5
1999	13.2	11.9
1998	13.7	12.3
1997	14.5	12.5
1996	15	12.6
1995	15.7	12.6
1994	16	13
1993	16	13.2
1992	16.7	13.6
1991	16.4	13.8
1990	15.2	13.9
1989	15.1	13.6
1988	15.1	13.8
1987	15	13.7
1986	15.4	13.3
1985	16.1	13.3
1984	16.7	12.9
1983	19.3	12.8
1982	21.6	12.8
1981	22.4	13
1980	22.6	13.4
1979	23	13.1
1978	20.3	12.2
1977	22.7	11.7
1976	22.2	12
1975	24.8	12.4
1974	26.6	13.1
1973	28.3	13.9
1972	28.4	14.9
1971	31.2	16.1
1970	31.2	16.2
1969	30.3	16.6
1968	30.7	17.2
1967	31.5	17.5
1966	32.8	17.9
1965	33.8	18.3
1964	35.2	18.8
1963	37.2	18.5
1962	39	18.3
1961	40.9	17.9
1960	42.1	17.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 10 in the United Kingdom, compared with 42.1 and 17.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

United Kingdom

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2100	8.61%	13.4%
2099	8.6%	13.4%
2098	8.59%	13.4%
2097	8.59%	13.5%
2096	8.59%	13.5%
2095	8.6%	13.6%
2094	8.61%	13.6%
2093	8.62%	13.7%
2092	8.62%	13.7%
2091	8.62%	13.8%
2090	8.62%	13.8%
2089	8.6%	13.8%
2088	8.58%	13.9%
2087	8.55%	13.9%
2086	8.5%	13.9%
2085	8.45%	13.9%
2084	8.39%	13.9%
2083	8.33%	13.9%
2082	8.26%	13.9%
2081	8.18%	13.9%
2080	8.09%	13.9%
2079	8%	13.8%
2078	7.91%	13.8%
2077	7.82%	13.8%
2076	7.72%	13.8%
2075	7.63%	13.8%
2074	7.53%	13.8%
2073	7.44%	13.8%
2072	7.35%	13.8%
2071	7.28%	13.8%
2070	7.21%	13.8%
2069	7.16%	13.8%
2068	7.13%	13.9%
2067	7.11%	13.9%
2066	7.11%	14%
2065	7.14%	14.1%
2064	7.18%	14.2%
2063	7.23%	14.3%
2062	7.3%	14.4%
2061	7.37%	14.5%
2060	7.45%	14.5%
2059	7.52%	14.6%
2058	7.6%	14.7%
2057	7.66%	14.8%
2056	7.72%	14.9%
2055	7.76%	15%
2054	7.79%	15%
2053	7.81%	15%
2052	7.83%	15.1%
2051	7.83%	15.1%
2050	7.83%	15.1%
2049	7.82%	15%
2048	7.81%	15%
2047	7.8%	15%
2046	7.79%	14.9%
2045	7.78%	14.9%
2044	7.78%	14.9%
2043	7.77%	14.8%
2042	7.76%	14.8%
2041	7.74%	14.8%
2040	7.72%	14.8%
2039	7.7%	14.8%
2038	7.66%	14.9%
2037	7.65%	14.9%
2036	7.65%	14.9%
2035	7.66%	15%
2034	7.73%	15.1%
2033	7.85%	15.3%
2032	8.02%	15.4%
2031	8.28%	15.6%
2030	8.59%	15.9%
2029	8.9%	16.1%
2028	9.23%	16.3%
2027	9.62%	16.6%
2026	10%	16.8%
2025	10.4%	17.1%
2024	10.6%	17.2%
2023	11%	17.4%
2022	11.4%	17.6%
2021	11.8%	17.8%
2020	12.1%	18%
2019	12.4%	18%
2018	12.7%	18.1%
2017	13%	18%
2016	13.4%	18%
2015	13.8%	17.9%
2014	14.2%	17.8%
2013	14.7%	17.8%
2012	15.2%	17.8%
2011	15.8%	17.7%
2010	16.4%	17.8%
2009	16.9%	17.8%
2008	17.5%	17.8%
2007	18.1%	17.9%
2006	18.7%	18%
2005	19.2%	18.2%
2004	19.7%	18.3%
2003	20.1%	18.4%
2002	20.5%	18.5%
2001	20.8%	18.7%
2000	21%	18.9%
1999	21.2%	19.2%
1998	21.6%	19.3%
1997	22%	19.3%
1996	22.5%	19.4%
1995	23.1%	19.5%
1994	23.7%	19.6%
1993	24.2%	19.5%
1992	24.7%	19.4%
1991	25.2%	19.3%
1990	25.8%	19.1%
1989	26.5%	19.1%
1988	27.3%	18.9%
1987	28.2%	18.9%
1986	29.2%	19.1%
1985	30.2%	19.3%
1984	31.2%	19.5%
1983	32%	19.8%
1982	32.7%	20.2%
1981	33.3%	20.6%
1980	34%	21%
1979	34.8%	21.4%
1978	35.6%	21.9%
1977	36.5%	22.4%
1976	37.5%	22.9%
1975	38.5%	23.3%
1974	39.5%	23.6%
1973	40.3%	23.9%
1972	41%	24%
1971	41.5%	24.1%
1970	42.1%	24.1%
1969	42.7%	24%
1968	43.1%	23.9%
1967	43.3%	23.7%
1966	43.5%	23.5%
1965	43.3%	23.4%
1964	43.1%	23.3%
1963	42.7%	23.2%
1962	42.3%	23.2%
1961	41.8%	23.3%
1960	41.3%	23.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 17.2% in the United Kingdom in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 19.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and the United Kingdom compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs United Kingdom

Chart Table

South Korea

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2023	4	8
2022	7	15
2021	5	13
2020	12	14
2019	5	9
2018	5	9
2017	6	9
2016	6	9
2015	6	9
2014	7	9
2013	7	9
2012	8	9
2011	8	10
2010	8	10
2009	9	11
2008	9	11
2007	10	11
2006	10	12
2005	11	12
2004	12	13
2003	13	14
2002	13	13
2001	14	13
2000	15	12
1999	17	11
1998	18	10
1997	19	9
1996	20	8
1995	22	9
1994	23	9
1993	24	8
1992	26	7
1991	28	7
1990	28	6
1989	29	5
1988	31	4
1987	34	3
1986	35	2
1985	38	2

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 8 deaths in the United Kingdom.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

United Kingdom

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	United Kingdom
2023	0.28%	0.45%
2022	0.28%	0.45%
2021	0.29%	0.44%
2020	0.3%	0.44%
2019	0.31%	0.44%
2018	0.32%	0.44%
2017	0.33%	0.44%
2016	0.34%	0.44%
2015	0.35%	0.45%
2014	0.36%	0.45%
2013	0.37%	0.46%
2012	0.38%	0.48%
2011	0.4%	0.5%
2010	0.41%	0.52%
2009	0.43%	0.54%
2008	0.45%	0.56%
2007	0.48%	0.58%
2006	0.52%	0.59%
2005	0.56%	0.6%
2004	0.6%	0.61%
2003	0.64%	0.63%
2002	0.68%	0.63%
2001	0.71%	0.64%
2000	0.75%	0.65%
1999	0.8%	0.67%
1998	0.85%	0.68%
1997	0.91%	0.69%
1996	0.98%	0.7%
1995	1.05%	0.72%
1994	1.14%	0.74%
1993	1.23%	0.77%
1992	1.33%	0.82%
1991	1.44%	0.87%
1990	1.57%	0.93%
1989	1.71%	0.99%
1988	1.87%	1.04%
1987	2.05%	1.08%
1986	2.25%	1.11%
1985	2.46%	1.14%
1984	2.7%	1.17%
1983	2.93%	1.22%
1982	3.17%	1.27%
1981	3.4%	1.34%
1980	3.63%	1.41%
1979	3.84%	1.49%
1978	4.04%	1.57%
1977	4.23%	1.64%
1976	4.42%	1.72%
1975	4.61%	1.8%
1974	4.82%	1.87%
1973	5.07%	1.94%
1972	5.36%	2%
1971	5.71%	2.06%
1970	6.12%	2.1%
1969	6.59%	2.14%
1968	7.1%	2.18%
1967	7.62%	2.22%
1966	8.16%	2.28%
1965	8.68%	2.34%
1964	9.18%	2.42%
1963	9.67%	2.49%
1962	10.1%	2.56%
1961	10.6%	2.61%
1960	11.2%	2.66%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.45% in the United Kingdom. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.