Fertility & birth rates in South Korea and Zimbabwe

Fertility rate in South Korea vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2023	0.72	3.72
2022	0.78	3.77
2021	0.81	3.77
2020	0.84	3.75
2019	0.92	3.75
2018	0.98	3.74
2017	1.05	3.77
2016	1.17	3.83
2015	1.24	3.91
2014	1.21	4.01
2013	1.19	4.11
2012	1.3	4.13
2011	1.24	4.13
2010	1.23	4.04
2009	1.15	3.95
2008	1.19	3.78
2007	1.26	3.68
2006	1.13	3.64
2005	1.09	3.69
2004	1.16	3.78
2003	1.19	3.86
2002	1.18	3.93
2001	1.31	3.98
2000	1.48	4.01
1999	1.43	4.06
1998	1.46	4.07
1997	1.54	4.08
1996	1.57	4.11
1995	1.63	4.15
1994	1.66	4.28
1993	1.65	4.39
1992	1.76	4.57
1991	1.71	4.72
1990	1.57	4.88
1989	1.56	5.07
1988	1.55	5.28
1987	1.53	5.5
1986	1.58	5.69
1985	1.66	5.87
1984	1.74	6.04
1983	2.06	6.2
1982	2.39	6.33
1981	2.57	6.45
1980	2.82	6.52
1979	2.9	6.59
1978	2.64	6.66
1977	2.99	6.71
1976	3	6.77
1975	3.43	6.83
1974	3.77	6.88
1973	4.07	6.94
1972	4.12	6.94
1971	4.54	6.94
1970	4.53	6.98
1969	4.45	7.04
1968	4.51	7.11
1967	4.62	7.16
1966	4.78	7.2
1965	4.89	7.23
1964	5.07	7.23
1963	5.33	7.23
1962	5.56	7.23
1961	5.8	7.21
1960	5.99	7.2

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 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2023	-77,569	372,505
2022	-124,014	371,243
2021	-56,947	349,908
2020	-31,101	354,790
2019	10,353	348,798
2018	30,951	345,883
2017	71,907	344,035
2016	122,923	348,772
2015	163,248	356,203
2014	167,464	366,350
2013	166,415	374,757
2012	215,859	371,135
2011	214,728	359,572
2010	213,083	335,570
2009	197,231	309,316
2008	215,841	280,527
2007	248,286	261,805
2006	203,441	248,963
2005	187,920	248,545
2004	225,988	248,307
2003	244,251	243,057
2002	247,752	244,170
2001	312,643	227,909
2000	390,167	236,343
1999	368,272	232,393
1998	393,436	225,614
1997	422,773	216,288
1996	446,142	205,269
1995	468,967	206,695
1994	473,200	216,343
1993	477,302	228,045
1992	494,352	255,291
1991	467,594	260,943
1990	411,546	265,444
1989	403,266	270,838
1988	399,297	277,498
1987	378,758	286,766
1986	395,651	289,894
1985	416,219	290,756
1984	436,384	290,052
1983	514,844	286,545
1982	605,626	279,934
1981	631,189	271,361
1980	583,294	241,179
1979	623,068	223,657
1978	499,084	222,979
1977	578,947	225,139
1976	530,558	221,419
1975	603,300	216,947
1974	673,030	208,806
1973	699,115	201,885
1972	740,469	193,725
1971	789,185	185,427
1970	747,987	178,979
1969	694,227	172,626
1968	684,487	166,865
1967	692,169	161,205
1966	623,534	156,014
1965	641,090	151,164
1964	655,501	145,848
1963	685,824	140,984
1962	712,590	136,317
1961	730,173	131,531
1960	728,010	126,959

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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in South Korea and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in South Korea vs Zimbabwe by year

Chart Table

South Korea

Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2023	4.5	30.4
2022	4.9	30.9
2021	5.1	30.9
2020	5.3	31
2019	5.9	31.1
2018	6.4	31.3
2017	7	31.8
2016	7.9	32.7
2015	8.6	33.9
2014	8.6	35.4
2013	8.6	37
2012	9.6	37.8
2011	9.4	38.1
2010	9.4	37.9
2009	9	37.5
2008	9.4	36.4
2007	10.1	35.7
2006	9.2	35.2
2005	9	35.8
2004	9.8	36.3
2003	10.2	36.6
2002	10.3	36.5
2001	11.7	36.5
2000	13.5	36.1
1999	13.2	35.6
1998	13.7	34.5
1997	14.5	33.4
1996	15	32.4
1995	15.7	31.7
1994	16	32
1993	16	32.4
1992	16.7	34.3
1991	16.4	34.9
1990	15.2	35.5
1989	15.1	36.4
1988	15.1	37.7
1987	15	39.5
1986	15.4	40.9
1985	16.1	42.3
1984	16.7	43.7
1983	19.3	45
1982	21.6	45.7
1981	22.4	46.3
1980	22.6	44.8
1979	23	46.3
1978	20.3	46.8
1977	22.7	46.5
1976	22.2	46.5
1975	24.8	46.6
1974	26.6	46.4
1973	28.3	46.4
1972	28.4	46
1971	31.2	45.6
1970	31.2	45.5
1969	30.3	45.5
1968	30.7	45.7
1967	31.5	45.8
1966	32.8	46.1
1965	33.8	46.4
1964	35.2	46.6
1963	37.2	46.8
1962	39	47.1
1961	40.9	47.3
1960	42.1	47.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 4.5 in South Korea and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 42.1 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Korea

Factual

UN forecast

Zimbabwe

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2100	8.61%	20.3%
2099	8.6%	20.5%
2098	8.59%	20.6%
2097	8.59%	20.8%
2096	8.59%	20.9%
2095	8.6%	21.1%
2094	8.61%	21.3%
2093	8.62%	21.4%
2092	8.62%	21.6%
2091	8.62%	21.8%
2090	8.62%	22%
2089	8.6%	22.2%
2088	8.58%	22.4%
2087	8.55%	22.6%
2086	8.5%	22.8%
2085	8.45%	23%
2084	8.39%	23.2%
2083	8.33%	23.4%
2082	8.26%	23.6%
2081	8.18%	23.8%
2080	8.09%	24%
2079	8%	24.2%
2078	7.91%	24.4%
2077	7.82%	24.6%
2076	7.72%	24.9%
2075	7.63%	25.1%
2074	7.53%	25.3%
2073	7.44%	25.5%
2072	7.35%	25.7%
2071	7.28%	25.9%
2070	7.21%	26.2%
2069	7.16%	26.4%
2068	7.13%	26.6%
2067	7.11%	26.8%
2066	7.11%	27.1%
2065	7.14%	27.3%
2064	7.18%	27.6%
2063	7.23%	27.8%
2062	7.3%	28.1%
2061	7.37%	28.4%
2060	7.45%	28.7%
2059	7.52%	29%
2058	7.6%	29.3%
2057	7.66%	29.6%
2056	7.72%	30%
2055	7.76%	30.3%
2054	7.79%	30.6%
2053	7.81%	31%
2052	7.83%	31.3%
2051	7.83%	31.7%
2050	7.83%	32%
2049	7.82%	32.4%
2048	7.81%	32.7%
2047	7.8%	33.1%
2046	7.79%	33.4%
2045	7.78%	33.7%
2044	7.78%	34%
2043	7.77%	34.2%
2042	7.76%	34.5%
2041	7.74%	34.7%
2040	7.72%	34.9%
2039	7.7%	35.2%
2038	7.66%	35.4%
2037	7.65%	35.7%
2036	7.65%	35.9%
2035	7.66%	36.2%
2034	7.73%	36.4%
2033	7.85%	36.6%
2032	8.02%	36.9%
2031	8.28%	37.2%
2030	8.59%	37.6%
2029	8.9%	38.1%
2028	9.23%	38.7%
2027	9.62%	39.3%
2026	10%	40%
2025	10.4%	40.6%
2024	10.6%	40.9%
2023	11%	41.3%
2022	11.4%	41.6%
2021	11.8%	41.9%
2020	12.1%	42.2%
2019	12.4%	42.5%
2018	12.7%	42.9%
2017	13%	43.3%
2016	13.4%	43.6%
2015	13.8%	43.8%
2014	14.2%	43.9%
2013	14.7%	43.9%
2012	15.2%	43.7%
2011	15.8%	43.4%
2010	16.4%	43%
2009	16.9%	42.7%
2008	17.5%	42.4%
2007	18.1%	42.1%
2006	18.7%	42%
2005	19.2%	41.9%
2004	19.7%	41.7%
2003	20.1%	41.5%
2002	20.5%	41.4%
2001	20.8%	41.5%
2000	21%	41.9%
1999	21.2%	42.4%
1998	21.6%	43.1%
1997	22%	44%
1996	22.5%	45%
1995	23.1%	45.9%
1994	23.7%	46.6%
1993	24.2%	47.1%
1992	24.7%	46.8%
1991	25.2%	46.6%
1990	25.8%	47.1%
1989	26.5%	47.6%
1988	27.3%	47.9%
1987	28.2%	47.9%
1986	29.2%	47.9%
1985	30.2%	48%
1984	31.2%	48.1%
1983	32%	48.2%
1982	32.7%	48.3%
1981	33.3%	48.4%
1980	34%	48.7%
1979	34.8%	48.8%
1978	35.6%	48.5%
1977	36.5%	48.3%
1976	37.5%	48.2%
1975	38.5%	48.1%
1974	39.5%	48.1%
1973	40.3%	48.1%
1972	41%	48.2%
1971	41.5%	48.2%
1970	42.1%	48.3%
1969	42.7%	48.4%
1968	43.1%	48.5%
1967	43.3%	48.5%
1966	43.5%	48.6%
1965	43.3%	48.7%
1964	43.1%	48.8%
1963	42.7%	48.5%
1962	42.3%	48.1%
1961	41.8%	47.7%
1960	41.3%	47.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 10.6% of the population in South Korea and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 25.8% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Korea and Zimbabwe compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Korea vs Zimbabwe

Chart Table

South Korea

Zimbabwe

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2023	4	358
2022	7	368
2021	5	446
2020	12	380
2019	5	388
2018	5	386
2017	6	389
2016	6	411
2015	6	428
2014	7	468
2013	7	525
2012	8	558
2011	8	564
2010	8	567
2009	9	540
2008	9	526
2007	10	519
2006	10	480
2005	11	454
2004	12	451
2003	13	455
2002	13	418
2001	14	467
2000	15	405
1999	17	399
1998	18	368
1997	19	357
1996	20	352
1995	22	332
1994	23	332
1993	24	331
1992	26	333
1991	28	332
1990	28	353
1989	29	382
1988	31	431
1987	34	480
1986	35	525
1985	38	573

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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Korea

Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Korea	Zimbabwe
2023	0.28%	4.42%
2022	0.28%	4.6%
2021	0.29%	4.76%
2020	0.3%	5.01%
2019	0.31%	5.11%
2018	0.32%	5.23%
2017	0.33%	5.5%
2016	0.34%	5.69%
2015	0.35%	5.98%
2014	0.36%	6.18%
2013	0.37%	6.55%
2012	0.38%	7.14%
2011	0.4%	7.88%
2010	0.41%	8.5%
2009	0.43%	9.03%
2008	0.45%	9.34%
2007	0.48%	9.47%
2006	0.52%	9.4%
2005	0.56%	9.23%
2004	0.6%	9.17%
2003	0.64%	8.85%
2002	0.68%	8.48%
2001	0.71%	9.79%
2000	0.75%	9.83%
1999	0.8%	9.92%
1998	0.85%	10%
1997	0.91%	10.1%
1996	0.98%	10%
1995	1.05%	9.83%
1994	1.14%	9.52%
1993	1.23%	9.16%
1992	1.33%	8.73%
1991	1.44%	8.33%
1990	1.57%	7.97%
1989	1.71%	7.69%
1988	1.87%	7.55%
1987	2.05%	7.61%
1986	2.25%	7.86%
1985	2.46%	8.31%
1984	2.7%	8.87%
1983	2.93%	9.5%
1982	3.17%	10.1%
1981	3.4%	10.7%
1980	3.63%	11.1%
1979	3.84%	11.3%
1978	4.04%	11.5%
1977	4.23%	11.5%
1976	4.42%	11.5%
1975	4.61%	11.4%
1974	4.82%	11.4%
1973	5.07%	11.4%
1972	5.36%	11.5%
1971	5.71%	11.5%
1970	6.12%	11.7%
1969	6.59%	11.8%
1968	7.1%	12.1%
1967	7.62%	12.4%
1966	8.16%	12.7%
1965	8.68%	13.1%
1964	9.18%	13.5%
1963	9.67%	14%
1962	10.1%	14.4%
1961	10.6%	14.8%
1960	11.2%	15.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in South Korea and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.