Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Zambia

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Zambia
2023	0.72	4.1
2022	0.78	4.18
2021	0.81	4.25
2020	0.84	4.32
2019	0.92	4.42
2018	0.98	4.49
2017	1.05	4.57
2016	1.17	4.67
2015	1.24	4.78
2014	1.21	4.89
2013	1.19	5.01
2012	1.3	5.14
2011	1.24	5.26
2010	1.23	5.36
2009	1.15	5.45
2008	1.19	5.53
2007	1.26	5.61
2006	1.13	5.68
2005	1.09	5.7
2004	1.16	5.7
2003	1.19	5.71
2002	1.18	5.77
2001	1.31	5.85
2000	1.48	5.92
1999	1.43	6
1998	1.46	6.07
1997	1.54	6.12
1996	1.57	6.18
1995	1.63	6.23
1994	1.66	6.26
1993	1.65	6.3
1992	1.76	6.35
1991	1.71	6.46
1990	1.57	6.57
1989	1.56	6.64
1988	1.55	6.7
1987	1.53	6.8
1986	1.58	6.87
1985	1.66	6.93
1984	1.74	6.97
1983	2.06	7.01
1982	2.39	7.04
1981	2.57	7.07
1980	2.82	7.14
1979	2.9	7.22
1978	2.64	7.29
1977	2.99	7.35
1976	3	7.39
1975	3.43	7.42
1974	3.77	7.36
1973	4.07	7.34
1972	4.12	7.3
1971	4.54	7.26
1970	4.53	7.22
1969	4.45	7.18
1968	4.51	7.18
1967	4.62	7.15
1966	4.78	7.14
1965	4.89	7.12
1964	5.07	7.09
1963	5.33	7.06
1962	5.56	7.01
1961	5.8	6.98
1960	5.99	6.95

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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Zambia
2023	-77,569	577,660
2022	-124,014	563,456
2021	-56,947	535,629
2020	-31,101	536,484
2019	10,353	528,089
2018	30,951	515,644
2017	71,907	504,630
2016	122,923	497,521
2015	163,248	491,021
2014	167,464	483,663
2013	166,415	476,846
2012	215,859	469,406
2011	214,728	459,743
2010	213,083	448,337
2009	197,231	434,458
2008	215,841	419,560
2007	248,286	403,729
2006	203,441	387,891
2005	187,920	368,756
2004	225,988	349,352
2003	244,251	331,189
2002	247,752	316,041
2001	312,643	302,682
2000	390,167	293,186
1999	368,272	283,297
1998	393,436	275,568
1997	422,773	268,198
1996	446,142	262,468
1995	468,967	257,897
1994	473,200	252,023
1993	477,302	245,917
1992	494,352	239,953
1991	467,594	237,957
1990	411,546	235,835
1989	403,266	233,429
1988	399,297	230,118
1987	378,758	227,813
1986	395,651	224,768
1985	416,219	221,351
1984	436,384	216,695
1983	514,844	212,712
1982	605,626	207,621
1981	631,189	202,822
1980	583,294	198,817
1979	623,068	197,578
1978	499,084	194,933
1977	578,947	191,557
1976	530,558	186,762
1975	603,300	182,258
1974	673,030	174,484
1973	699,115	168,258
1972	740,469	161,648
1971	789,185	155,249
1970	747,987	149,380
1969	694,227	142,660
1968	684,487	137,315
1967	692,169	131,938
1966	623,534	127,164
1965	641,090	122,814
1964	655,501	117,197
1963	685,824	114,555
1962	712,590	110,173
1961	730,173	106,318
1960	728,010	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Zambia
2023	4.5	33.1
2022	4.9	33.5
2021	5.1	33.9
2020	5.3	34.4
2019	5.9	35
2018	6.4	35.5
2017	7	35.9
2016	7.9	36.6
2015	8.6	37.3
2014	8.6	38.1
2013	8.6	39
2012	9.6	39.9
2011	9.4	40.7
2010	9.4	41.4
2009	9	42
2008	9.4	42.6
2007	10.1	43.2
2006	9.2	43.7
2005	9	43.8
2004	9.8	43.9
2003	10.2	43.9
2002	10.3	44.3
2001	11.7	44.8
2000	13.5	45.5
1999	13.2	45.9
1998	13.7	46.2
1997	14.5	46.3
1996	15	46.6
1995	15.7	46.8
1994	16	46.7
1993	16	46.6
1992	16.7	46.6
1991	16.4	46.9
1990	15.2	47
1989	15.1	47.1
1988	15.1	47.1
1987	15	47.3
1986	15.4	47.4
1985	16.1	47.4
1984	16.7	47.3
1983	19.3	47.3
1982	21.6	47.3
1981	22.4	47.3
1980	22.6	47.5
1979	23	48.2
1978	20.3	48.7
1977	22.7	49.2
1976	22.2	49.5
1975	24.8	50
1974	26.6	49.7
1973	28.3	49.7
1972	28.4	49.6
1971	31.2	49.4
1970	31.2	49.3
1969	30.3	48.9
1968	30.7	48.9
1967	31.5	48.8
1966	32.8	48.8
1965	33.8	48.8
1964	35.2	48.9
1963	37.2	48.9
1962	39	48.9
1961	40.9	48.9
1960	42.1	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 42.1 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Zambia
2100	8.61%	21.6%
2099	8.6%	21.7%
2098	8.59%	21.9%
2097	8.59%	22%
2096	8.59%	22.2%
2095	8.6%	22.3%
2094	8.61%	22.5%
2093	8.62%	22.7%
2092	8.62%	22.8%
2091	8.62%	23%
2090	8.62%	23.1%
2089	8.6%	23.3%
2088	8.58%	23.5%
2087	8.55%	23.6%
2086	8.5%	23.8%
2085	8.45%	24%
2084	8.39%	24.2%
2083	8.33%	24.3%
2082	8.26%	24.5%
2081	8.18%	24.7%
2080	8.09%	24.9%
2079	8%	25.1%
2078	7.91%	25.3%
2077	7.82%	25.5%
2076	7.72%	25.7%
2075	7.63%	25.9%
2074	7.53%	26.1%
2073	7.44%	26.4%
2072	7.35%	26.6%
2071	7.28%	26.8%
2070	7.21%	27%
2069	7.16%	27.2%
2068	7.13%	27.5%
2067	7.11%	27.7%
2066	7.11%	27.9%
2065	7.14%	28.1%
2064	7.18%	28.4%
2063	7.23%	28.6%
2062	7.3%	28.9%
2061	7.37%	29.1%
2060	7.45%	29.3%
2059	7.52%	29.6%
2058	7.6%	29.8%
2057	7.66%	30.1%
2056	7.72%	30.4%
2055	7.76%	30.6%
2054	7.79%	30.9%
2053	7.81%	31.2%
2052	7.83%	31.5%
2051	7.83%	31.8%
2050	7.83%	32.2%
2049	7.82%	32.5%
2048	7.81%	32.8%
2047	7.8%	33.2%
2046	7.79%	33.5%
2045	7.78%	33.9%
2044	7.78%	34.2%
2043	7.77%	34.6%
2042	7.76%	34.9%
2041	7.74%	35.3%
2040	7.72%	35.6%
2039	7.7%	36%
2038	7.66%	36.3%
2037	7.65%	36.6%
2036	7.65%	37%
2035	7.66%	37.3%
2034	7.73%	37.6%
2033	7.85%	38%
2032	8.02%	38.3%
2031	8.28%	38.7%
2030	8.59%	39%
2029	8.9%	39.4%
2028	9.23%	39.8%
2027	9.62%	40.3%
2026	10%	40.7%
2025	10.4%	41.2%
2024	10.6%	41.5%
2023	11%	42%
2022	11.4%	42.4%
2021	11.8%	42.9%
2020	12.1%	43.3%
2019	12.4%	43.8%
2018	12.7%	44.1%
2017	13%	44.5%
2016	13.4%	44.9%
2015	13.8%	45.2%
2014	14.2%	45.5%
2013	14.7%	45.7%
2012	15.2%	45.9%
2011	15.8%	46.1%
2010	16.4%	46.3%
2009	16.9%	46.4%
2008	17.5%	46.6%
2007	18.1%	46.8%
2006	18.7%	47%
2005	19.2%	47.1%
2004	19.7%	47.3%
2003	20.1%	47.4%
2002	20.5%	47.6%
2001	20.8%	47.8%
2000	21%	48%
1999	21.2%	48.1%
1998	21.6%	48.2%
1997	22%	48.2%
1996	22.5%	48.2%
1995	23.1%	48.2%
1994	23.7%	48.2%
1993	24.2%	48.2%
1992	24.7%	48.2%
1991	25.2%	48.3%
1990	25.8%	48.4%
1989	26.5%	48.5%
1988	27.3%	48.6%
1987	28.2%	48.7%
1986	29.2%	48.8%
1985	30.2%	48.9%
1984	31.2%	49%
1983	32%	49.1%
1982	32.7%	49.3%
1981	33.3%	49.4%
1980	34%	49.5%
1979	34.8%	49.5%
1978	35.6%	49.4%
1977	36.5%	49.2%
1976	37.5%	49.1%
1975	38.5%	48.8%
1974	39.5%	48.6%
1973	40.3%	48.3%
1972	41%	48%
1971	41.5%	47.7%
1970	42.1%	47.4%
1969	42.7%	47.2%
1968	43.1%	47.1%
1967	43.3%	47%
1966	43.5%	46.9%
1965	43.3%	46.9%
1964	43.1%	46.7%
1963	42.7%	46.5%
1962	42.3%	46.3%
1961	41.8%	46.2%
1960	41.3%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Zambia

Chart Table

South Korea

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Zambia
2023	4	85
2022	7	89
2021	5	140
2020	12	99
2019	5	103
2018	5	117
2017	6	141
2016	6	158
2015	6	154
2014	7	174
2013	7	213
2012	8	256
2011	8	291
2010	8	332
2009	9	406
2008	9	394
2007	10	324
2006	10	262
2005	11	264
2004	12	260
2003	13	250
2002	13	274
2001	14	306
2000	15	340
1999	17	378
1998	18	392
1997	19	403
1996	20	433
1995	22	466
1994	23	507
1993	24	532
1992	26	581
1991	28	611
1990	28	625
1989	29	635
1988	31	635
1987	34	630
1986	35	619
1985	38	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Zambia
2023	0.28%	4.47%
2022	0.28%	4.67%
2021	0.29%	4.92%
2020	0.3%	5.24%
2019	0.31%	5.41%
2018	0.32%	5.52%
2017	0.33%	5.61%
2016	0.34%	5.9%
2015	0.35%	6.15%
2014	0.36%	6.38%
2013	0.37%	6.72%
2012	0.38%	7.04%
2011	0.4%	7.31%
2010	0.41%	7.57%
2009	0.43%	8%
2008	0.45%	8.62%
2007	0.48%	9.14%
2006	0.52%	9.71%
2005	0.56%	10.5%
2004	0.6%	11.4%
2003	0.64%	12.4%
2002	0.68%	13.4%
2001	0.71%	14.4%
2000	0.75%	15.3%
1999	0.8%	15.9%
1998	0.85%	16.3%
1997	0.91%	16.7%
1996	0.98%	17%
1995	1.05%	17.3%
1994	1.14%	17.7%
1993	1.23%	17.9%
1992	1.33%	18.1%
1991	1.44%	18.1%
1990	1.57%	18.1%
1989	1.71%	17.9%
1988	1.87%	17.7%
1987	2.05%	17.3%
1986	2.25%	17%
1985	2.46%	16.6%
1984	2.7%	16.2%
1983	2.93%	15.9%
1982	3.17%	15.7%
1981	3.4%	15.6%
1980	3.63%	15.5%
1979	3.84%	15.4%
1978	4.04%	15.3%
1977	4.23%	15.3%
1976	4.42%	15.4%
1975	4.61%	15.5%
1974	4.82%	15.9%
1973	5.07%	16.3%
1972	5.36%	16.9%
1971	5.71%	17.4%
1970	6.12%	17.9%
1969	6.59%	18.3%
1968	7.1%	18.5%
1967	7.62%	18.7%
1966	8.16%	18.9%
1965	8.68%	19%
1964	9.18%	19.2%
1963	9.67%	19.5%
1962	10.1%	19.8%
1961	10.6%	20.1%
1960	11.2%	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.