Birth rates and death rates in China
China: Birth rates and death rates was 8.21 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
8.21
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
93rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.79
in 1960
All-time low
6.07
in 1998
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in China, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, birth rates and death rates in China stood at 8.21.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in China peaked at 29.79 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 6.07, in 1998.
China ranks 93rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Birth rates and death rates in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.09 | — |
| 1951 | 22.41 | -2.9% |
| 1952 | 22.05 | -1.6% |
| 1953 | 21.31 | -3.3% |
| 1954 | 20.58 | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 20.13 | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 19.33 | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 18.91 | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 18.17 | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 24.36 | +34.1% |
| 1960 | 29.79 | +22.3% |
| 1961 | 22.41 | -24.8% |
| 1962 | 15.56 | -30.6% |
| 1963 | 15.95 | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 15.38 | -3.5% |
| 1965 | 14.76 | -4.1% |
| 1966 | 14.14 | -4.2% |
| 1967 | 13.39 | -5.3% |
| 1968 | 13.03 | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 12.49 | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 11.93 | -4.5% |
| 1971 | 11.24 | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 10.62 | -5.5% |
| 1973 | 10.01 | -5.7% |
| 1974 | 9.49 | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 8.99 | -5.2% |
| 1976 | 8.8 | -2.1% |
| 1977 | 8.19 | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 7.94 | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 7.77 | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 7.64 | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 7.51 | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 7.45 | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 7.24 | -2.8% |
| 1984 | 7.16 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 7.12 | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 7.1 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 7.06 | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 6.96 | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 6.91 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 6.91 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 6.65 | -3.8% |
| 1992 | 6.48 | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 6.36 | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 6.31 | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 6.19 | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 6.11 | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 6.08 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 6.07 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 6.08 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 6.13 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 6.12 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.15 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 6.19 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 6.24 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 6.27 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 6.33 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 6.34 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 6.51 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 6.49 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 6.5 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 6.59 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 6.63 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 6.7 | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 6.76 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 6.82 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 6.9 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 7.12 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 7.02 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 7.12 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 7.3 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 7.54 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 7.72 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 8.21 | +6.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.21 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.02, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 8.21 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.87, 1.2× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Birth rates and death rates in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | +34.1% | 18.17 | 24.36 |
| 1962 | -30.6% | 22.41 | 15.56 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.03 | 18.17 | 24.36 | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.69 | 12.49 | 29.79 | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5 | 7.77 | 11.93 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.21 | 6.91 | 7.64 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.32 | 6.07 | 6.91 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.28 | 6.12 | 6.51 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.82 | 6.5 | 7.12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.69 | 7.3 | 8.21 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 90 Switzerland 8.32 compare
- 91 Sierra Leone 8.29 compare
- 92 Seychelles 8.22 compare
- 94 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 8.13 compare
- 95 Jamaica 8.08 compare
- 96 Liberia 8.07 compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 4,642 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 10 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -8.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0159 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -8.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0176 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rates and death rates in China?
- Birth rates and death rates in China was 8.21 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 29.79 in 1960.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.07 in 1998.
- How does China rank for birth rates and death rates?
- China ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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