Birth rate in Canada
Canada: Birth rate was 9.08 births per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
9.08 births per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
188th
of 236 countries
All-time high
29.5 births per 1,000 people
in 1921
All-time low
9.08 births per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
103
1921–2023
Birth rate in Canada, 1921–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rate in Canada is 9.08 births per 1,000 people, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 103 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rate in Canada peaked at 29.5 births per 1,000 people in 1921 and was at its lowest, 9.08 births per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Canada 188th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 103 years of available data.
Birth rate in Canada, year by year
| Year | births per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 29.5 births per 1,000 people | — |
| 1922 | 28.52 births per 1,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1923 | 26.82 births per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 1924 | 26.92 births per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 26.27 births per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1926 | 24.81 births per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1927 | 24.51 births per 1,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1928 | 24.29 births per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1929 | 23.68 births per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1930 | 24.05 births per 1,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 23.35 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1932 | 22.56 births per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1933 | 21.07 births per 1,000 people | -6.6% |
| 1934 | 20.7 births per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1935 | 20.51 births per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1936 | 20.22 births per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1937 | 20.03 births per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1938 | 20.67 births per 1,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1939 | 20.47 births per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1940 | 21.58 births per 1,000 people | +5.4% |
| 1941 | 22.31 births per 1,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 23.51 births per 1,000 people | +5.4% |
| 1943 | 24.18 births per 1,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1944 | 23.94 births per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1945 | 24.04 births per 1,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1946 | 27.14 births per 1,000 people | +12.9% |
| 1947 | 28.9 births per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1948 | 27.37 births per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1949 | 27.52 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1950 | 26.14 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1951 | 26.19 births per 1,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1952 | 26.9 births per 1,000 people | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 27.11 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 27.48 births per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 27.11 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1956 | 26.85 births per 1,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1957 | 27.07 births per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 26.57 births per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1959 | 26.46 births per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1960 | 25.83 births per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 25.11 births per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 24.33 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 23.62 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 22.55 births per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1965 | 20.39 births per 1,000 people | -9.6% |
| 1966 | 18.52 births per 1,000 people | -9.2% |
| 1967 | 17.47 births per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1968 | 16.94 births per 1,000 people | -3.0% |
| 1969 | 16.94 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 16.61 births per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 15.93 births per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1972 | 15.15 births per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 1973 | 14.79 births per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 14.77 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 15.05 births per 1,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 14.94 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 14.92 births per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 14.72 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 14.8 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 14.79 births per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 14.66 births per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 14.62 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 14.56 births per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 14.55 births per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 14.36 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 14.09 births per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 13.83 births per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 13.88 births per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 14.21 births per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 14.5 births per 1,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 14.43 births per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 14.1 births per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 13.62 births per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 13.33 births per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 12.92 births per 1,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 12.35 births per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 11.66 births per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1998 | 11.32 births per 1,000 people | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 11.05 births per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 10.67 births per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 10.69 births per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 10.46 births per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 10.52 births per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 10.49 births per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 10.57 births per 1,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 10.82 births per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 11.1 births per 1,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 11.28 births per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.24 births per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 11.05 births per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 10.97 births per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 10.97 births per 1,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 10.84 births per 1,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 10.84 births per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 10.69 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 10.55 births per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 10.27 births per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 10.04 births per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 9.86 births per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 9.49 births per 1,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 9.62 births per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 9.14 births per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 9.08 births per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 9.08 births per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.6 births per 1,000 people, 95% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 26.15 births per 1,000 people | 23.68 births per 1,000 people | 29.5 births per 1,000 people | 9 |
| 1930s | 21.36 births per 1,000 people | 20.03 births per 1,000 people | 24.05 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.05 births per 1,000 people | 21.58 births per 1,000 people | 28.9 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 26.79 births per 1,000 people | 26.14 births per 1,000 people | 27.48 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 21.17 births per 1,000 people | 16.94 births per 1,000 people | 25.83 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.17 births per 1,000 people | 14.72 births per 1,000 people | 16.61 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.35 births per 1,000 people | 13.83 births per 1,000 people | 14.79 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.93 births per 1,000 people | 11.05 births per 1,000 people | 14.5 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.78 births per 1,000 people | 10.46 births per 1,000 people | 11.28 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.61 births per 1,000 people | 9.86 births per 1,000 people | 11.05 births per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.33 births per 1,000 people | 9.08 births per 1,000 people | 9.62 births per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 185 Bulgaria 9.22 births per 1,000 people compare
- 186 North Macedonia 9.21 births per 1,000 people compare
- 187 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 9.13 births per 1,000 people compare
- 189 Anguilla 9.03 births per 1,000 people compare
- 190 Chile 8.96 births per 1,000 people compare
- 191 Montserrat 8.93 births per 1,000 people compare
More population data for Canada
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2634 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 45,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7644 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.3863 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.3% (2100)
- Population density 6.1 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.33 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is birth rate in Canada?
- Birth rate in Canada was 9.08 births per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 29.5 births per 1,000 people in 1921.
- What is the lowest birth rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.08 births per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Canada rank for birth rate?
- Canada ranks 188th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of births per 1,000 people in a given year.