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Fertility & birth rates in Sweden and Syria

Updated on by Georank team

Sweden has an annual birth rate of 9.5 births per 1,000 people, compared to 22.1 for Syria. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.45 in Sweden and 2.71 in Syria — 87% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 33.2% in Sweden and by 63.9% in Syria — in 1960, it was 2.17 and 7.51, respectively.

  • Sweden is ranked 153/196 by birth rate compared to 61/196 for Syria.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.7 in Sweden — it's 28.8 in Syria.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 1.79 in Sweden vs 38.9 in Syria.
  • In Sweden, 21.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.7% in Syria.

Fertility rate in Sweden vs Syria by year

Sweden
Syria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Sweden Syria
2023 1.45 2.71
2022 1.53 2.75
2021 1.67 2.8
2020 1.67 2.84
2019 1.71 2.88
2018 1.76 2.93
2017 1.78 2.97
2016 1.85 3.01
2015 1.85 3.07
2014 1.88 3.12
2013 1.89 3.17
2012 1.91 3.22
2011 1.9 3.29
2010 1.98 3.36
2009 1.94 3.42
2008 1.91 3.48
2007 1.88 3.54
2006 1.85 3.56
2005 1.77 3.61
2004 1.75 3.68
2003 1.71 3.76
2002 1.65 3.87
2001 1.57 3.98
2000 1.54 4.07
1999 1.5 4.14
1998 1.5 4.25
1997 1.52 4.37
1996 1.6 4.54
1995 1.73 4.7
1994 1.88 4.86
1993 1.99 4.99
1992 2.09 5.14
1991 2.11 5.34
1990 2.13 5.56
1989 2.01 5.78
1988 1.96 6
1987 1.84 6.2
1986 1.8 6.37
1985 1.74 6.48
1984 1.66 6.59
1983 1.61 6.69
1982 1.62 6.81
1981 1.63 6.97
1980 1.68 7.12
1979 1.66 7.25
1978 1.6 7.35
1977 1.64 7.42
1976 1.68 7.45
1975 1.77 7.49
1974 1.87 7.52
1973 1.87 7.55
1972 1.91 7.57
1971 1.96 7.6
1970 1.92 7.62
1969 1.93 7.59
1968 2.07 7.57
1967 2.28 7.56
1966 2.37 7.55
1965 2.39 7.53
1964 2.47 7.53
1963 2.33 7.51
1962 2.25 7.51
1961 2.21 7.5
1960 2.17 7.51

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Sweden was 1.45 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.71 in Syria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Sweden vs Syria population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Sweden
Syria
1x
Year Natural population change
Sweden Syria
2023 5,269 402,713
2022 10,487 369,750
2021 22,914 350,560
2020 14,495 327,992
2019 25,697 293,762
2018 23,403 242,530
2017 24,138 237,214
2016 25,800 236,007
2015 23,518 253,977
2014 26,179 333,116
2013 23,041 419,341
2012 20,943 475,520
2011 21,733 543,950
2010 25,320 558,666
2009 21,387 559,314
2008 18,439 576,593
2007 15,552 529,162
2006 15,436 480,616
2005 9,030 468,960
2004 9,893 461,209
2003 6,271 457,000
2002 893 453,967
2001 -1,779 451,503
2000 -2,662 446,211
1999 -6,201 439,261
1998 -3,541 433,447
1997 -3,539 429,887
1996 1,768 430,765
1995 9,710 430,172
1994 20,196 426,996
1993 20,924 420,244
1992 28,605 412,878
1991 29,299 410,830
1990 29,100 409,177
1989 24,629 406,111
1988 15,186 404,285
1987 11,757 399,159
1986 9,206 390,821
1985 4,175 379,231
1984 3,335 366,768
1983 833 355,375
1982 1,665 319,664
1981 1,664 330,237
1980 5,818 332,464
1979 4,976 324,943
1978 4,138 316,724
1977 7,426 306,630
1976 8,222 294,267
1975 14,746 282,299
1974 23,664 270,735
1973 24,409 254,687
1972 28,428 249,027
1971 31,583 239,610
1970 30,563 230,117
1969 23,904 219,114
1968 30,858 209,454
1967 41,700 199,223
1966 45,286 191,122
1965 44,857 182,560
1964 45,968 174,549
1963 35,741 166,555
1962 30,246 159,155
1961 30,832 151,485
1960 27,693 143,687

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

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 +0.05% in Sweden and +1.71% in Syria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.2% in Sweden and +1.46% in Syria.

Birth rate in Sweden vs Syria by year

Sweden
Syria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Sweden Syria
2023 9.5 22.1
2022 10 21.2
2021 11 21.2
2020 10.9 20.6
2019 11.1 19.7
2018 11.4 18.9
2017 11.5 19.6
2016 11.8 19.6
2015 11.7 21.3
2014 11.9 23.8
2013 11.8 26.9
2012 11.9 27.7
2011 11.8 28.1
2010 12.3 28.7
2009 12 29.2
2008 11.9 30.5
2007 11.7 29.1
2006 11.7 28.3
2005 11.2 28.8
2004 11.2 29.1
2003 11.1 29.6
2002 10.7 30.1
2001 10.3 30.7
2000 10.2 31.2
1999 10 31.5
1998 10.1 32
1997 10.2 32.5
1996 10.8 33.3
1995 11.7 34
1994 12.8 34.6
1993 13.5 35
1992 14.2 35.4
1991 14.4 36.3
1990 14.5 37.3
1989 13.7 38.3
1988 13.3 39.4
1987 12.5 40.3
1986 12.2 41
1985 11.8 41.3
1984 11.3 41.5
1983 11 41.9
1982 11.1 42.2
1981 11.3 43
1980 11.7 43.7
1979 11.6 44.4
1978 11.3 44.9
1977 11.6 45.3
1976 12 45.4
1975 12.6 45.5
1974 13.5 45.6
1973 13.5 45.7
1972 13.8 45.9
1971 14.1 46.2
1970 13.7 46.5
1969 13.5 46.4
1968 14.3 46.5
1967 15.4 46.5
1966 15.8 46.7
1965 15.9 46.7
1964 16 46.9
1963 14.8 47
1962 14.2 47.2
1961 13.9 47.3
1960 13.7 47.4

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.5 in Sweden and 22.1 in Syria, compared with 13.7 and 47.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Sweden Syria
Fertility rate 1.45 2.71
Fertility rate rank 156/196 64/196
Birth rate 9.5 22.1
Birth rate rank 153/196 61/196
Population change due to births and deaths +5,269 +402,713
Natural population change rank 125/196 44/196
Natural population change rate +0.05% +1.71%
Population growth +0.31% +4.57%
Population growth rank 149/197 6/197
Age at first childbirth 30 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 31.7 years 28.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 1.6 37.9
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 53.3 136.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 18.2 36.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.3% 27.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 n/a 37.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 100% 96.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.14% 1%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.2% 1.9%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.25% 2.06%
Life expectancy 83.7 years 73.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Sweden
Factual

UN forecast
Syria
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Sweden Syria
2100 13% 15.9%
2099 13% 16%
2098 13.1% 16%
2097 13.1% 16.1%
2096 13.2% 16.1%
2095 13.2% 16.1%
2094 13.3% 16.2%
2093 13.3% 16.2%
2092 13.4% 16.2%
2091 13.4% 16.2%
2090 13.5% 16.2%
2089 13.5% 16.2%
2088 13.5% 16.2%
2087 13.5% 16.3%
2086 13.6% 16.4%
2085 13.6% 16.4%
2084 13.5% 16.5%
2083 13.5% 16.7%
2082 13.5% 16.8%
2081 13.4% 17%
2080 13.4% 17.2%
2079 13.3% 17.4%
2078 13.3% 17.6%
2077 13.2% 17.8%
2076 13.2% 18.1%
2075 13.2% 18.3%
2074 13.1% 18.6%
2073 13.1% 18.8%
2072 13.1% 19.1%
2071 13.1% 19.3%
2070 13.1% 19.5%
2069 13.1% 19.6%
2068 13.2% 19.8%
2067 13.2% 19.9%
2066 13.3% 20%
2065 13.4% 20.1%
2064 13.5% 20.1%
2063 13.6% 20.1%
2062 13.7% 20.2%
2061 13.8% 20.2%
2060 13.9% 20.2%
2059 14.1% 20.2%
2058 14.2% 20.3%
2057 14.2% 20.4%
2056 14.3% 20.5%
2055 14.4% 20.7%
2054 14.4% 21%
2053 14.4% 21.3%
2052 14.4% 21.6%
2051 14.4% 22%
2050 14.4% 22.5%
2049 14.3% 23%
2048 14.3% 23.6%
2047 14.2% 24.2%
2046 14.1% 24.8%
2045 14% 25.5%
2044 14% 26.1%
2043 13.9% 26.7%
2042 13.8% 27.2%
2041 13.8% 27.8%
2040 13.8% 28.2%
2039 13.8% 28.6%
2038 13.8% 28.9%
2037 13.8% 29%
2036 14% 29%
2035 14.2% 28.9%
2034 14.4% 28.7%
2033 14.7% 28.5%
2032 14.9% 28.1%
2031 15.2% 27.7%
2030 15.5% 27.4%
2029 15.8% 27.3%
2028 16% 27.4%
2027 16.3% 27.7%
2026 16.6% 28.1%
2025 16.9% 28.8%
2024 17% 29.2%
2023 17.2% 30.3%
2022 17.5% 31.9%
2021 17.7% 33.4%
2020 17.7% 34.6%
2019 17.8% 36.1%
2018 17.8% 37.9%
2017 17.7% 39.3%
2016 17.5% 40.2%
2015 17.3% 40.6%
2014 17.2% 39.8%
2013 17% 38%
2012 16.8% 36.5%
2011 16.7% 36.1%
2010 16.6% 36.1%
2009 16.6% 36.3%
2008 16.7% 36.3%
2007 16.9% 36.7%
2006 17.1% 38.1%
2005 17.4% 39.1%
2004 17.7% 39.6%
2003 17.9% 40.2%
2002 18.1% 40.8%
2001 18.3% 41.3%
2000 18.4% 41.9%
1999 18.6% 42.4%
1998 18.7% 42.9%
1997 18.7% 43.3%
1996 18.8% 43.8%
1995 18.9% 44.2%
1994 18.8% 44.7%
1993 18.6% 45.2%
1992 18.4% 45.7%
1991 18.1% 46.1%
1990 17.9% 46.6%
1989 17.8% 46.9%
1988 17.8% 47.2%
1987 17.9% 47.5%
1986 18% 47.7%
1985 18.2% 48%
1984 18.3% 48.2%
1983 18.6% 48.4%
1982 18.9% 48.5%
1981 19.2% 48.7%
1980 19.6% 48.7%
1979 19.9% 48.7%
1978 20.3% 48.7%
1977 20.5% 48.7%
1976 20.6% 48.6%
1975 20.7% 48.6%
1974 20.7% 48.5%
1973 20.7% 48.5%
1972 20.8% 48.4%
1971 20.8% 48.3%
1970 20.8% 48.2%
1969 20.9% 48%
1968 20.9% 47.8%
1967 21% 47.5%
1966 20.9% 47.3%
1965 20.9% 46.9%
1964 21% 46.6%
1963 21.2% 46.3%
1962 21.5% 46.1%
1961 22% 45.7%
1960 22.4% 45.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 17% of the population in Sweden and 29.2% in Syria in 2024, compared to 17.9% and 46.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sweden and Syria compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Sweden vs Syria

Sweden
Syria
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Sweden Syria
2023 4 20
2022 5 21
2021 5 30
2020 5 23
2019 4 24
2018 5 21
2017 5 23
2016 5 23
2015 5 24
2014 5 25
2013 5 25
2012 5 22
2011 5 21
2010 5 19
2009 5 19
2008 5 20
2007 5 19
2006 5 20
2005 5 21
2004 5 22
2003 5 24
2002 5 26
2001 5 29
2000 5 31
1999 6 32
1998 6 34
1997 6 34
1996 6 34
1995 7 33
1994 7 32
1993 8 32
1992 8 33
1991 8 35
1990 8 37
1989 9 41
1988 9 44
1987 8 48
1986 8 52
1985 8 55

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

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 Sweden, compared to 20 deaths in Syria.

Under-five mortality rates

Sweden
Syria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Sweden Syria
2023 0.25% 2.06%
2022 0.25% 2.11%
2021 0.25% 2.1%
2020 0.26% 2.24%
2019 0.26% 2.5%
2018 0.27% 3.26%
2017 0.28% 3.3%
2016 0.28% 3.22%
2015 0.29% 3.7%
2014 0.29% 3.53%
2013 0.29% 3.65%
2012 0.3% 3.39%
2011 0.3% 2.17%
2010 0.31% 1.9%
2009 0.31% 1.9%
2008 0.32% 1.9%
2007 0.33% 1.92%
2006 0.35% 1.95%
2005 0.36% 1.98%
2004 0.37% 2.03%
2003 0.39% 2.09%
2002 0.4% 2.15%
2001 0.4% 2.23%
2000 0.41% 2.32%
1999 0.41% 2.42%
1998 0.42% 2.53%
1997 0.44% 2.66%
1996 0.46% 2.8%
1995 0.48% 2.94%
1994 0.52% 3.09%
1993 0.57% 3.24%
1992 0.62% 3.4%
1991 0.66% 3.55%
1990 0.7% 3.7%
1989 0.72% 3.85%
1988 0.73% 4.02%
1987 0.74% 4.19%
1986 0.75% 4.39%
1985 0.76% 4.6%
1984 0.77% 4.84%
1983 0.78% 5.1%
1982 0.8% 7.06%
1981 0.82% 6.33%
1980 0.84% 6.03%
1979 0.87% 6.4%
1978 0.9% 6.79%
1977 0.94% 7.19%
1976 0.98% 7.61%
1975 1.03% 8.03%
1974 1.09% 8.47%
1973 1.16% 8.92%
1972 1.23% 9.4%
1971 1.29% 9.91%
1970 1.34% 10.5%
1969 1.39% 11.1%
1968 1.44% 11.7%
1967 1.49% 12.3%
1966 1.56% 12.9%
1965 1.63% 13.5%
1964 1.71% 14.1%
1963 1.79% 14.7%
1962 1.86% 15.3%
1961 1.92% 16.1%
1960 1.96% 16.9%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/sweden/syria | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.25% in Sweden and 2.06% in Syria. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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