Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland
Switzerland: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 1.29 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 1.29 births per woman for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland peaked at 2.66 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.29 births per woman, in 2024.
Switzerland ranks 189th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.44 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 2.52 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 2.58 births per woman | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 2.65 births per woman | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 2.66 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 2.59 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1966 | 2.5 births per woman | -3.5% |
| 1967 | 2.39 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1968 | 2.29 births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1969 | 2.19 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 2.1 births per woman | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 2.04 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 1972 | 1.91 births per woman | -6.4% |
| 1973 | 1.81 births per woman | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 1.73 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 1.61 births per woman | -6.9% |
| 1976 | 1.55 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 1.53 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 1.51 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 1.52 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.55 births per woman | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 1.55 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.56 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 1.52 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 1.53 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 1.52 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 1.53 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 1.52 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 1.57 births per woman | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 1.58 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 1.58 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.58 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.51 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 1.49 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 1.48 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.5 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 1.48 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 1.47 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.48 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.5 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 1.38 births per woman | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 1.39 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.39 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.42 births per woman | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.42 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.44 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 1.46 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 1.48 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 1.5 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.52 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 1.52 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.52 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.52 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.54 births per woman | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.54 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.54 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.52 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 1.52 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.48 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 1.46 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 1.52 births per woman | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 1.39 births per woman | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 1.33 births per woman | -4.3% |
| 2024 | 1.29 births per woman | -3.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 1.29 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 89% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 1.29 births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44 births per woman, 90% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.48 births per woman | 2.19 births per woman | 2.66 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.73 births per woman | 1.51 births per woman | 2.1 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.54 births per woman | 1.52 births per woman | 1.57 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 births per woman | 1.47 births per woman | 1.58 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.44 births per woman | 1.38 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.52 births per woman | 1.48 births per woman | 1.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4 births per woman | 1.29 births per woman | 1.52 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More population data for Switzerland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Switzerland was 1.29 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.66 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.29 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Switzerland rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Switzerland ranks 189th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.