Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and United States

Fertility rate in South Korea vs United States by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	United States
2023	0.72	1.62
2022	0.78	1.66
2021	0.81	1.66
2020	0.84	1.64
2019	0.92	1.71
2018	0.98	1.73
2017	1.05	1.77
2016	1.17	1.82
2015	1.24	1.84
2014	1.21	1.86
2013	1.19	1.86
2012	1.3	1.88
2011	1.24	1.89
2010	1.23	1.93
2009	1.15	2
2008	1.19	2.07
2007	1.26	2.12
2006	1.13	2.11
2005	1.09	2.06
2004	1.16	2.05
2003	1.19	2.05
2002	1.18	2.02
2001	1.31	2.03
2000	1.48	2.06
1999	1.43	2.01
1998	1.46	2
1997	1.54	1.97
1996	1.57	1.98
1995	1.63	1.98
1994	1.66	2
1993	1.65	2.02
1992	1.76	2.05
1991	1.71	2.06
1990	1.57	2.08
1989	1.56	2.01
1988	1.55	1.93
1987	1.53	1.87
1986	1.58	1.84
1985	1.66	1.84
1984	1.74	1.81
1983	2.06	1.8
1982	2.39	1.83
1981	2.57	1.81
1980	2.82	1.84
1979	2.9	1.81
1978	2.64	1.76
1977	2.99	1.79
1976	3	1.74
1975	3.43	1.77
1974	3.77	1.84
1973	4.07	1.88
1972	4.12	2.01
1971	4.54	2.27
1970	4.53	2.48
1969	4.45	2.46
1968	4.51	2.46
1967	4.62	2.56
1966	4.78	2.72
1965	4.89	2.91
1964	5.07	3.19
1963	5.33	3.32
1962	5.56	3.46
1961	5.8	3.62
1960	5.99	3.65

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

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	United States
2023	-77,569	502,372
2022	-124,014	399,926
2021	-56,947	199,137
2020	-31,101	208,862
2019	10,353	887,476
2018	30,951	955,022
2017	71,907	1,028,037
2016	122,923	1,197,627
2015	163,248	1,270,126
2014	167,464	1,357,281
2013	166,415	1,322,711
2012	215,859	1,411,822
2011	214,728	1,441,697
2010	213,083	1,548,182
2009	197,231	1,717,920
2008	215,841	1,794,154
2007	248,286	1,897,757
2006	203,441	1,849,955
2005	187,920	1,684,445
2004	225,988	1,698,271
2003	244,251	1,653,615
2002	247,752	1,581,938
2001	312,643	1,595,826
2000	390,167	1,664,758
1999	368,272	1,564,050
1998	393,436	1,573,857
1997	422,773	1,501,014
1996	446,142	1,510,137
1995	468,967	1,546,031
1994	473,200	1,633,302
1993	477,302	1,717,685
1992	494,352	1,875,328
1991	467,594	1,926,543
1990	411,546	2,026,068
1989	403,266	1,875,826
1988	399,297	1,735,943
1987	378,758	1,720,252
1986	395,651	1,656,917
1985	416,219	1,689,258
1984	436,384	1,627,192
1983	514,844	1,636,544
1982	605,626	1,714,317
1981	631,189	1,652,153
1980	583,294	1,608,450
1979	623,068	1,597,894
1978	499,084	1,402,283
1977	578,947	1,431,556
1976	530,558	1,264,604
1975	603,300	1,252,644
1974	673,030	1,218,968
1973	699,115	1,165,499
1972	740,469	1,301,355
1971	789,185	1,640,519
1970	747,987	1,824,965
1969	694,227	1,702,487
1968	684,487	1,565,507
1967	692,169	1,669,181
1966	623,534	1,749,387
1965	641,090	1,943,030
1964	655,501	2,245,099
1963	685,824	2,289,826
1962	712,590	2,406,337
1961	730,173	2,571,681
1960	728,010	2,565,530

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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in South Korea vs United States by year

Chart Table

South Korea

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	United States
2023	4.5	10.7
2022	4.9	11
2021	5.1	11
2020	5.3	10.9
2019	5.9	11.4
2018	6.4	11.6
2017	7	11.8
2016	7.9	12.2
2015	8.6	12.4
2014	8.6	12.5
2013	8.6	12.4
2012	9.6	12.6
2011	9.4	12.7
2010	9.4	13
2009	9	13.5
2008	9.4	14
2007	10.1	14.3
2006	9.2	14.3
2005	9	14
2004	9.8	14
2003	10.2	14.1
2002	10.3	14
2001	11.7	14.1
2000	13.5	14.4
1999	13.2	14.2
1998	13.7	14.3
1997	14.5	14.2
1996	15	14.4
1995	15.7	14.6
1994	16	15
1993	16	15.4
1992	16.7	15.8
1991	16.4	16.2
1990	15.2	16.7
1989	15.1	16.4
1988	15.1	16
1987	15	15.7
1986	15.4	15.6
1985	16.1	15.8
1984	16.7	15.6
1983	19.3	15.6
1982	21.6	15.9
1981	22.4	15.8
1980	22.6	15.9
1979	23	15.6
1978	20.3	15
1977	22.7	15.1
1976	22.2	14.6
1975	24.8	14.6
1974	26.6	14.8
1973	28.3	14.8
1972	28.4	15.6
1971	31.2	17.2
1970	31.2	18.4
1969	30.3	17.9
1968	30.7	17.6
1967	31.5	17.8
1966	32.8	18.4
1965	33.8	19.4
1964	35.2	21.1
1963	37.2	21.7
1962	39	22.4
1961	40.9	23.3
1960	42.1	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 42.1 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	United States
2100	8.61%	14.4%
2099	8.6%	14.4%
2098	8.59%	14.4%
2097	8.59%	14.4%
2096	8.59%	14.4%
2095	8.6%	14.5%
2094	8.61%	14.5%
2093	8.62%	14.5%
2092	8.62%	14.5%
2091	8.62%	14.6%
2090	8.62%	14.6%
2089	8.6%	14.7%
2088	8.58%	14.7%
2087	8.55%	14.7%
2086	8.5%	14.8%
2085	8.45%	14.8%
2084	8.39%	14.8%
2083	8.33%	14.9%
2082	8.26%	14.9%
2081	8.18%	14.9%
2080	8.09%	14.9%
2079	8%	14.9%
2078	7.91%	14.9%
2077	7.82%	14.9%
2076	7.72%	14.9%
2075	7.63%	14.9%
2074	7.53%	14.9%
2073	7.44%	14.9%
2072	7.35%	14.9%
2071	7.28%	14.9%
2070	7.21%	14.9%
2069	7.16%	14.9%
2068	7.13%	14.9%
2067	7.11%	14.9%
2066	7.11%	14.9%
2065	7.14%	15%
2064	7.18%	15%
2063	7.23%	15%
2062	7.3%	15.1%
2061	7.37%	15.1%
2060	7.45%	15.2%
2059	7.52%	15.3%
2058	7.6%	15.4%
2057	7.66%	15.5%
2056	7.72%	15.5%
2055	7.76%	15.6%
2054	7.79%	15.7%
2053	7.81%	15.8%
2052	7.83%	15.8%
2051	7.83%	15.9%
2050	7.83%	15.9%
2049	7.82%	16%
2048	7.81%	16%
2047	7.8%	16%
2046	7.79%	16%
2045	7.78%	16%
2044	7.78%	16%
2043	7.77%	16%
2042	7.76%	16%
2041	7.74%	15.9%
2040	7.72%	15.9%
2039	7.7%	15.9%
2038	7.66%	15.9%
2037	7.65%	15.9%
2036	7.65%	15.9%
2035	7.66%	15.9%
2034	7.73%	15.9%
2033	7.85%	16%
2032	8.02%	16.1%
2031	8.28%	16.2%
2030	8.59%	16.3%
2029	8.9%	16.5%
2028	9.23%	16.6%
2027	9.62%	16.8%
2026	10%	17%
2025	10.4%	17.2%
2024	10.6%	17.3%
2023	11%	17.6%
2022	11.4%	17.9%
2021	11.8%	18.1%
2020	12.1%	18.4%
2019	12.4%	18.6%
2018	12.7%	18.8%
2017	13%	18.9%
2016	13.4%	19.1%
2015	13.8%	19.2%
2014	14.2%	19.3%
2013	14.7%	19.4%
2012	15.2%	19.5%
2011	15.8%	19.6%
2010	16.4%	19.7%
2009	16.9%	19.8%
2008	17.5%	19.9%
2007	18.1%	20%
2006	18.7%	20.2%
2005	19.2%	20.3%
2004	19.7%	20.5%
2003	20.1%	20.7%
2002	20.5%	20.9%
2001	20.8%	21%
2000	21%	21.2%
1999	21.2%	21.3%
1998	21.6%	21.4%
1997	22%	21.5%
1996	22.5%	21.7%
1995	23.1%	21.8%
1994	23.7%	21.9%
1993	24.2%	21.9%
1992	24.7%	21.8%
1991	25.2%	21.7%
1990	25.8%	21.6%
1989	26.5%	21.5%
1988	27.3%	21.3%
1987	28.2%	21.3%
1986	29.2%	21.3%
1985	30.2%	21.5%
1984	31.2%	21.7%
1983	32%	21.8%
1982	32.7%	22%
1981	33.3%	22.1%
1980	34%	22.4%
1979	34.8%	22.8%
1978	35.6%	23.2%
1977	36.5%	23.8%
1976	37.5%	24.4%
1975	38.5%	25.2%
1974	39.5%	25.9%
1973	40.3%	26.6%
1972	41%	27.4%
1971	41.5%	28%
1970	42.1%	28.6%
1969	42.7%	29%
1968	43.1%	29.5%
1967	43.3%	30%
1966	43.5%	30.4%
1965	43.3%	30.7%
1964	43.1%	30.9%
1963	42.7%	31.1%
1962	42.3%	31.3%
1961	41.8%	31.4%
1960	41.3%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs United States

Chart Table

South Korea

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	United States
2023	4	17
2022	7	20
2021	5	31
2020	12	22
2019	5	18
2018	5	18
2017	6	18
2016	6	18
2015	6	17
2014	7	17
2013	7	16
2012	8	16
2011	8	15
2010	8	15
2009	9	15
2008	9	14
2007	10	13
2006	10	13
2005	11	13
2004	12	13
2003	13	13
2002	13	13
2001	14	13
2000	15	12
1999	17	12
1998	18	11
1997	19	11
1996	20	11
1995	22	12
1994	23	11
1993	24	12
1992	26	11
1991	28	12
1990	28	12
1989	29	12
1988	31	12
1987	34	11
1986	35	11
1985	38	11

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	United States
2023	0.28%	0.65%
2022	0.28%	0.65%
2021	0.29%	0.65%
2020	0.3%	0.65%
2019	0.31%	0.65%
2018	0.32%	0.65%
2017	0.33%	0.66%
2016	0.34%	0.67%
2015	0.35%	0.68%
2014	0.36%	0.68%
2013	0.37%	0.69%
2012	0.38%	0.7%
2011	0.4%	0.72%
2010	0.41%	0.73%
2009	0.43%	0.75%
2008	0.45%	0.76%
2007	0.48%	0.77%
2006	0.52%	0.79%
2005	0.56%	0.8%
2004	0.6%	0.81%
2003	0.64%	0.81%
2002	0.68%	0.82%
2001	0.71%	0.83%
2000	0.75%	0.84%
1999	0.8%	0.86%
1998	0.85%	0.87%
1997	0.91%	0.89%
1996	0.98%	0.92%
1995	1.05%	0.95%
1994	1.14%	0.98%
1993	1.23%	1.01%
1992	1.33%	1.05%
1991	1.44%	1.09%
1990	1.57%	1.12%
1989	1.71%	1.16%
1988	1.87%	1.19%
1987	2.05%	1.21%
1986	2.25%	1.24%
1985	2.46%	1.27%
1984	2.7%	1.3%
1983	2.93%	1.34%
1982	3.17%	1.39%
1981	3.4%	1.44%
1980	3.63%	1.5%
1979	3.84%	1.56%
1978	4.04%	1.63%
1977	4.23%	1.71%
1976	4.42%	1.79%
1975	4.61%	1.88%
1974	4.82%	1.97%
1973	5.07%	2.06%
1972	5.36%	2.15%
1971	5.71%	2.24%
1970	6.12%	2.32%
1969	6.59%	2.41%
1968	7.1%	2.49%
1967	7.62%	2.57%
1966	8.16%	2.64%
1965	8.68%	2.71%
1964	9.18%	2.77%
1963	9.67%	2.83%
1962	10.1%	2.89%
1961	10.6%	2.95%
1960	11.2%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.