Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China
China: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.01 births per woman in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China, 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
The most recent figure for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China is 1.01 births per woman, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China peaked at 7.51 births per woman in 1963 and was at its lowest, 0.999 births per woman, in 2023.
That places China 208th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6 births per woman | 3.86 births per woman | 7.51 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.07 births per woman | 2.72 births per woman | 6.08 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.68 births per woman | 2.52 births per woman | 2.97 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.73 births per woman | 1.52 births per woman | 2.51 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.63 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman | 1.71 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.69 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman | 1.8 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.08 births per woman | 0.999 births per woman | 1.24 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 15.54 million people (2100)
- Population density 67.46 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 303,405 people (2020)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.01 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 0.999 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in China was 1.01 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 fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.51 births per woman in 1963.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.999 births per woman in 2023.
- How does China rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- China ranks 208th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.