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China's birth rate, 1960 to 2024

China's birth rate fell from 33.4 births per 1,000 people in 1970 to 6.8 in 2024, well below India's 16.0 and the US at 10.6.

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What the data shows

  • China: 20.9 in 1960, 6.8 in 2024 (67% lower). It peaked at 43.4 in 1963.
  • India: 42.9 in 1960, 16.0 in 2024 (63% lower).
  • United States: 23.7 in 1960, 10.6 in 2024 (55% lower).
  • Japan: 17.2 in 1960, 5.7 in 2024 (67% lower). It peaked at 19.4 in 1967.

About this chart

Of the years charted, China's crude birth rate was highest in 1970, at 33.4 births per 1,000 people, and it then dropped to 18.2 by 1980. It rose again to 21.1 in 1990, then kept falling: 14.0 in 2000, 11.9 in 2010, 8.5 in 2020 and 6.8 in 2024. In 1960 the rate was 20.9. The 2024 figure is about a fifth of the 1970 level. China's rate is now lower than that of the United States (10.6) and India (16.0), though still above Japan's 5.7.

The crude birth rate counts live births in a year per 1,000 people in the whole population, so it depends on the age structure as well as on how many children women have. The data is from the World Bank. India's rate has fallen more slowly, from 42.9 in 1960 to 16.0 in 2024, which shrank the gap with China from 22.0 births per 1,000 in 1960 to 9.2 in 2024, though India's rate is still more than double China's.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.CBRT.IN), crude birth rate per 1,000 people. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

China's birth rate, Births per 1,000 people, 1960–2024
Date🇨🇳 China🇮🇳 India🇺🇸 United States🇯🇵 Japan
196020.942.923.717.2
196118.042.723.316.9
196237.042.522.417.0
196343.442.321.717.3
196439.142.121.117.7
196537.941.619.418.6
196635.041.218.413.7
196734.040.817.819.4
196835.640.517.618.6
196934.140.117.918.5
197033.439.818.418.8
197130.639.717.219.2
197229.839.515.619.3
197327.939.314.819.4
197424.839.014.818.6
197523.038.414.617.1
197619.938.214.616.3
197718.937.615.115.5
197818.237.115.014.9
197917.837.015.614.2
198018.237.115.913.6
198120.936.815.813.0
198222.336.415.912.8
198320.236.115.612.7
198419.935.915.612.5
198521.035.415.811.9
198622.435.215.611.4
198723.334.415.711.1
198822.433.916.010.8
198921.633.316.410.2
199021.132.616.710.0
199119.732.016.29.9
199218.331.415.89.8
199318.130.815.49.6
199417.730.315.010.0
199517.129.814.69.6
199617.029.214.49.7
199716.628.714.29.5
199815.628.214.39.6
199914.627.714.29.4
200014.027.514.49.5
200113.427.214.19.3
200212.926.514.09.2
200312.425.814.18.9
200412.325.114.08.8
200512.424.314.08.4
200612.123.614.38.7
200712.122.914.38.6
200812.122.514.08.7
200911.922.213.58.5
201011.921.613.08.5
201113.321.212.78.3
201214.620.712.68.2
201313.020.112.48.2
201413.819.112.58.0
201512.018.912.48.0
201613.618.812.27.8
201712.618.011.87.6
201810.917.911.67.4
201910.417.411.47.0
20208.516.710.96.8
20217.516.511.06.6
20226.816.311.06.3
20236.416.110.76.0
20246.816.010.65.7

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Frequently asked questions

What is China's birth rate?

China's crude birth rate was 6.8 births per 1,000 people in 2024. That is down from 8.5 in 2020 and 11.9 in 2010. It is lower than India's 16.0 and the United States' 10.6 in the same year.

When was China's birth rate highest?

Among the years charted, China's birth rate was highest in 1970, at 33.4 births per 1,000 people. It fell to 18.2 by 1980. The figure then rose slightly to 21.1 in 1990 before resuming a long decline.

How does China's birth rate compare with Japan's?

Japan's crude birth rate was 5.7 in 2024, still below China's 6.8. In 1970 the gap was far larger: China was at 33.4 and Japan at 18.8. Both countries have seen rates fall by large amounts.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SP.DYN.CBRT.IN), crude birth rate per 1,000 people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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