Malaysia vs North Korea
Malaysia vs North Korea: Fertility rate
Fertility rate in 2023: 1.55 births per woman in Malaysia and 1.78 births per woman in North Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in North Korea, by 0.23 births per woman, or 1.15 times that in Malaysia.
births per woman · UN
What the numbers say
- North Korea has been higher since 2019, when it overtook Malaysia.
- In 2023, Malaysia ranked 151 and North Korea ranked 123 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Malaysia at 1.56 births per woman and North Korea at 1.64 births per woman in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 2.25 births per woman in 2023.
Every year
births per woman · UN
| Year | Malaysia | North Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.55 | 1.78 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 1.55 | 1.8 | 2.27 |
| 2021 | 1.56 | 1.81 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 1.68 | 1.82 | 2.32 |
| 2019 | 1.78 | 1.83 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 1.84 | 1.83 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 1.89 | 1.85 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 1.94 | 1.86 | 2.54 |
| 2015 | 2.01 | 1.86 | 2.54 |
| 2014 | 2.06 | 1.87 | 2.56 |
| 2013 | 2.07 | 1.88 | 2.57 |
| 2012 | 2.12 | 1.88 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 2.15 | 1.88 | 2.59 |
| 2010 | 2.14 | 1.89 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 2.22 | 1.91 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 2.26 | 1.97 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 2.25 | 1.94 | 2.62 |
| 2006 | 2.31 | 1.94 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 2.39 | 1.87 | 2.63 |
| 2004 | 2.49 | 1.9 | 2.65 |
| 2003 | 2.6 | 1.91 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 2.66 | 1.92 | 2.68 |
| 2001 | 2.81 | 1.94 | 2.71 |
| 2000 | 2.94 | 1.94 | 2.75 |
| 1999 | 3.07 | 1.97 | 2.75 |
| 1998 | 3.12 | 1.99 | 2.78 |
| 1997 | 3.23 | 2.03 | 2.81 |
| 1996 | 3.3 | 2.09 | 2.85 |
| 1995 | 3.32 | 2.15 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 3.35 | 2.18 | 2.93 |
| 1993 | 3.36 | 2.22 | 2.98 |
| 1992 | 3.37 | 2.29 | 3.04 |
| 1991 | 3.34 | 2.35 | 3.13 |
| 1990 | 3.3 | 2.39 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 3.31 | 2.41 | 3.35 |
| 1988 | 3.5 | 2.47 | 3.39 |
| 1987 | 3.57 | 2.53 | 3.48 |
| 1986 | 3.7 | 2.59 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 3.8 | 2.65 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 3.89 | 2.71 | 3.55 |
| 1983 | 3.93 | 2.78 | 3.58 |
| 1982 | 3.97 | 2.85 | 3.71 |
| 1981 | 4 | 2.92 | 3.71 |
| 1980 | 4.04 | 2.84 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 4.09 | 2.85 | 3.77 |
| 1978 | 4.18 | 2.79 | 3.79 |
| 1977 | 4.28 | 2.77 | 3.85 |
| 1976 | 4.4 | 2.84 | 3.97 |
| 1975 | 4.5 | 3.05 | 4.08 |
| 1974 | 4.62 | 3.14 | 4.26 |
| 1973 | 4.73 | 3.35 | 4.42 |
| 1972 | 4.82 | 3.89 | 4.55 |
| 1971 | 4.92 | 3.74 | 4.68 |
| 1970 | 5.04 | 3.85 | 4.83 |
| 1969 | 5.16 | 3.86 | 4.87 |
| 1968 | 5.29 | 3.87 | 4.96 |
| 1967 | 5.43 | 4.05 | 4.85 |
| 1966 | 5.64 | 3.71 | 4.96 |
| 1965 | 5.84 | 3.56 | 5.07 |
| 1964 | 6.03 | 3.55 | 5.12 |
| 1963 | 6.19 | 3.63 | 5.31 |
| 1962 | 6.3 | 3.41 | 5.02 |
| 1961 | 6.37 | 3.26 | 4.57 |
| 1960 | 6.41 | 3.57 | 4.7 |
| 1959 | 6.44 | 3.56 | 4.74 |
| 1958 | 6.46 | 4.27 | 4.93 |
| 1957 | 6.47 | 4.28 | 5.07 |
| 1956 | 6.46 | 3.51 | 4.93 |
| 1955 | 6.45 | 3.67 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6.45 | 3.5 | 5 |
| 1953 | 6.44 | 3.08 | 4.92 |
| 1952 | 6.43 | 2.61 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6.43 | 2.6 | 4.82 |
| 1950 | 6.43 | 4.99 | 4.85 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Malaysia | North Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.541.21–1.89 | 1.781.2–2.41 | 2.25 |
| 2025 | 1.531.16–1.9 | 1.771.19–2.4 | 2.24 |
| 2026 | 1.521.12–1.91 | 1.751.15–2.41 | 2.23 |
| 2027 | 1.511.09–1.91 | 1.741.12–2.42 | 2.22 |
| 2028 | 1.511.05–1.93 | 1.731.1–2.41 | 2.21 |
| 2029 | 1.511.03–1.94 | 1.731.07–2.4 | 2.2 |
| 2030 | 1.511.02–1.95 | 1.721.03–2.42 | 2.2 |
| 2031 | 1.51–1.94 | 1.721.04–2.43 | 2.19 |
| 2032 | 1.50.98–1.95 | 1.711.03–2.44 | 2.18 |
| 2033 | 1.50.99–1.96 | 1.711.01–2.43 | 2.17 |
| 2034 | 1.50.96–1.97 | 1.710.99–2.46 | 2.16 |
| 2035 | 1.50.98–1.98 | 1.71–2.43 | 2.15 |
| 2036 | 1.510.98–1.99 | 1.70.99–2.42 | 2.15 |
| 2037 | 1.510.96–1.99 | 1.70.98–2.4 | 2.14 |
| 2038 | 1.510.97–2.02 | 1.690.99–2.41 | 2.13 |
| 2039 | 1.510.96–2.02 | 1.691.01–2.42 | 2.13 |
| 2040 | 1.510.95–2.02 | 1.690.98–2.42 | 2.13 |
| 2041 | 1.510.96–2.02 | 1.691.02–2.41 | 2.12 |
| 2042 | 1.510.97–2.03 | 1.691.03–2.41 | 2.12 |
| 2043 | 1.520.97–2.03 | 1.691.01–2.43 | 2.12 |
| 2044 | 1.520.94–2.04 | 1.681–2.45 | 2.12 |
| 2045 | 1.520.94–2.04 | 1.681–2.42 | 2.12 |
| 2046 | 1.520.92–2.03 | 1.681–2.39 | 2.11 |
| 2047 | 1.530.92–2.03 | 1.681.01–2.39 | 2.11 |
| 2048 | 1.530.93–2.07 | 1.670.99–2.44 | 2.11 |
| 2049 | 1.530.92–2.07 | 1.670.98–2.42 | 2.1 |
| 2050 | 1.530.92–2.08 | 1.670.97–2.44 | 2.1 |
| 2051 | 1.530.93–2.07 | 1.670.98–2.41 | 2.09 |
| 2052 | 1.530.91–2.09 | 1.670.98–2.39 | 2.09 |
| 2053 | 1.530.91–2.08 | 1.670.99–2.38 | 2.08 |
| 2054 | 1.530.89–2.07 | 1.670.99–2.39 | 2.07 |
| 2055 | 1.530.89–2.09 | 1.670.99–2.37 | 2.07 |
| 2056 | 1.530.91–2.1 | 1.670.98–2.37 | 2.06 |
| 2057 | 1.530.89–2.1 | 1.670.97–2.36 | 2.05 |
| 2058 | 1.530.89–2.09 | 1.670.99–2.37 | 2.04 |
| 2059 | 1.530.86–2.1 | 1.670.97–2.38 | 2.04 |
| 2060 | 1.530.87–2.12 | 1.660.96–2.37 | 2.03 |
| 2061 | 1.540.88–2.13 | 1.660.98–2.36 | 2.02 |
| 2062 | 1.540.87–2.12 | 1.660.97–2.37 | 2.02 |
| 2063 | 1.540.87–2.13 | 1.660.97–2.36 | 2.01 |
| 2064 | 1.540.88–2.13 | 1.660.98–2.37 | 2 |
| 2065 | 1.540.89–2.11 | 1.660.99–2.38 | 2 |
| 2066 | 1.540.88–2.14 | 1.660.98–2.38 | 1.99 |
| 2067 | 1.550.9–2.13 | 1.660.98–2.38 | 1.98 |
| 2068 | 1.550.88–2.15 | 1.660.97–2.36 | 1.98 |
| 2069 | 1.540.89–2.16 | 1.660.98–2.37 | 1.97 |
| 2070 | 1.550.89–2.15 | 1.660.97–2.37 | 1.97 |
| 2071 | 1.550.9–2.15 | 1.650.96–2.37 | 1.96 |
| 2072 | 1.550.89–2.15 | 1.660.97–2.38 | 1.96 |
| 2073 | 1.550.9–2.16 | 1.650.95–2.37 | 1.95 |
| 2074 | 1.550.87–2.16 | 1.650.96–2.37 | 1.95 |
| 2075 | 1.550.89–2.15 | 1.650.96–2.39 | 1.94 |
| 2076 | 1.550.9–2.16 | 1.650.95–2.39 | 1.94 |
| 2077 | 1.550.9–2.17 | 1.650.95–2.38 | 1.94 |
| 2078 | 1.550.9–2.17 | 1.650.95–2.4 | 1.93 |
| 2079 | 1.550.88–2.18 | 1.650.96–2.36 | 1.93 |
| 2080 | 1.560.89–2.19 | 1.650.95–2.37 | 1.92 |
| 2081 | 1.560.87–2.18 | 1.650.95–2.38 | 1.92 |
| 2082 | 1.560.87–2.2 | 1.650.97–2.36 | 1.91 |
| 2083 | 1.560.88–2.2 | 1.650.96–2.38 | 1.91 |
| 2084 | 1.560.88–2.2 | 1.650.96–2.38 | 1.91 |
| 2085 | 1.560.89–2.19 | 1.650.97–2.41 | 1.9 |
| 2086 | 1.560.88–2.19 | 1.650.95–2.41 | 1.9 |
| 2087 | 1.560.88–2.19 | 1.650.95–2.44 | 1.89 |
| 2088 | 1.560.87–2.21 | 1.650.94–2.41 | 1.89 |
| 2089 | 1.560.87–2.22 | 1.650.93–2.44 | 1.88 |
| 2090 | 1.560.85–2.2 | 1.650.94–2.41 | 1.88 |
| 2091 | 1.560.81–2.2 | 1.650.95–2.4 | 1.88 |
| 2092 | 1.560.83–2.21 | 1.650.93–2.39 | 1.87 |
| 2093 | 1.560.82–2.23 | 1.650.92–2.39 | 1.87 |
| 2094 | 1.560.83–2.21 | 1.650.92–2.4 | 1.86 |
| 2095 | 1.560.83–2.21 | 1.650.93–2.38 | 1.86 |
| 2096 | 1.560.82–2.22 | 1.650.92–2.39 | 1.85 |
| 2097 | 1.560.83–2.21 | 1.650.93–2.42 | 1.85 |
| 2098 | 1.560.82–2.23 | 1.650.92–2.41 | 1.85 |
| 2099 | 1.560.84–2.21 | 1.640.9–2.4 | 1.84 |
| 2100 | 1.560.85–2.22 | 1.640.89–2.4 | 1.84 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The children a woman would have over her life at the year’s birth rates for each age.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Malaysia vs North Korea
Health
- Life expectancyMalaysia: 76.7 years in 2023North Korea: 73.6 years in 2023
- Child mortalityMalaysia: 0.8 per 100 live births in 2024North Korea: 1.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityMalaysia: 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023North Korea: 14.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterMalaysia: 93.9% in 2022North Korea: 66.5% in 2022
- DepressionMalaysia: 3.52% in 2017North Korea: 3.09% in 2017
- Suicide rateMalaysia: 7.8 per 100,000 people in 2017North Korea: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationMalaysia: 35.1 million people in 2023North Korea: 26.4 million people in 2023
- Population growthMalaysia: 1.24% a year in 2023North Korea: 0.32% a year in 2023
- Urban populationMalaysia: 77.4% in 2025North Korea: 64.2% in 2025
- Median ageMalaysia: 30.1 years in 2023North Korea: 36.1 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overMalaysia: 7.5% in 2023North Korea: 12% in 2023
- Net migration rateMalaysia: 5.2 per 1,000 people in 2023North Korea: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spending per personMalaysia: $138 in 2025North Korea: $62 in 2018
- Armed forces personnelMalaysia: 136,000 people in 2020North Korea: 1.47 million people in 2020
- National powerMalaysia: 0.46% of world capability in 2022North Korea: 1.41% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersMalaysia: 0.81% of the labour force in 2020North Korea: 8.62% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsMalaysia: 7 million TIV in 2024North Korea: 1 million TIV in 2010
- Arms exportsMalaysia: 20 million TIV in 2024North Korea: 44 million TIV in 2025