Share of births by age of mother in China
China: Share of births by age of mother was 2.21 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of births by age of mother in China, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of births by age of mother in China is 2.21, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births by age of mother in China peaked at 9.54 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 1.35, in 1998.
That places China 184th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of births by age of mother in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.52 | — |
| 1951 | 9.52 | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 9.54 | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 9.38 | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 9.09 | -3.1% |
| 1955 | 8.73 | -3.9% |
| 1956 | 8.35 | -4.3% |
| 1957 | 8.03 | -3.8% |
| 1958 | 7.81 | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 7.73 | -1.1% |
| 1960 | 7.66 | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 7.68 | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 7.65 | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 7.9 | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 7.99 | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 7.98 | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 7.74 | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 7.19 | -7.0% |
| 1968 | 7.5 | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 7.33 | -2.4% |
| 1970 | 7.18 | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 6.84 | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 6.27 | -8.4% |
| 1973 | 5.8 | -7.4% |
| 1974 | 5.51 | -5.1% |
| 1975 | 5.14 | -6.7% |
| 1976 | 4.81 | -6.4% |
| 1977 | 4.13 | -14.1% |
| 1978 | 3.2 | -22.6% |
| 1979 | 2.77 | -13.3% |
| 1980 | 2.91 | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 4.18 | +43.5% |
| 1982 | 6.09 | +45.9% |
| 1983 | 7.24 | +18.8% |
| 1984 | 7.35 | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 7.27 | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 6.98 | -4.0% |
| 1987 | 7.03 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 7.07 | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 6.37 | -9.9% |
| 1990 | 4.99 | -21.7% |
| 1991 | 4.76 | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 4.13 | -13.2% |
| 1993 | 3.4 | -17.7% |
| 1994 | 2.18 | -35.8% |
| 1995 | 2.16 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 1.89 | -12.3% |
| 1997 | 1.76 | -7.0% |
| 1998 | 1.35 | -23.2% |
| 1999 | 1.84 | +36.3% |
| 2000 | 1.89 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.94 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.03 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 2.23 | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 1.98 | -11.0% |
| 2005 | 2.38 | +20.3% |
| 2006 | 3 | +25.9% |
| 2007 | 3.04 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.37 | +11.0% |
| 2009 | 3.39 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.2 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 2.93 | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 2.76 | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 2.69 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 2.56 | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 2.42 | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 2.24 | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 2.11 | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 2.1 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 2.09 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 2.09 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 2.1 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 2.14 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 2.21 | +3.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.21 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.73, 25% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 2.21 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.08, 31% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of births by age of mother 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +45.9% | 4.18 | 6.09 |
| 1981 | +43.5% | 2.91 | 4.18 |
| 1999 | +36.3% | 1.35 | 1.84 |
| 1994 | -35.8% | 3.4 | 2.18 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.77 | 7.73 | 9.54 | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.66 | 7.19 | 7.99 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.16 | 2.77 | 7.18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.25 | 2.91 | 7.35 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.85 | 1.35 | 4.99 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.52 | 1.89 | 3.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.51 | 2.09 | 3.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.13 | 2.09 | 2.21 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More population data for China
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -12.97 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 1.31 million Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1671 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3489 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.68 (2100)
- Population density 67.46 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 15.54 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births by age of mother in China?
- Share of births by age of mother in China was 2.21 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births by age of mother recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.54 in 1952.
- What is the lowest share of births by age of mother recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.35 in 1998.
- How does China rank for share of births by age of mother?
- China ranks 184th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of births by age of mother rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. 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 Share of births by age of mother. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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