The fertility rate of a country is the average number of children that women from that country will have throughout their reproductive years. In 1855, New Zealand's women of childbearing age would go on to have approximately 5.3 children on average during their lifetime. Over the course of the next eighty years, the fertility rate would increase to 5.7 in 1870 (due to the continued arrival of settlers to the islands), before decreasing to 2.4 in 1935. During and after the Second World War, from 1935 until the 1970s, New Zealand experienced its 'Baby Boom', where the fertility rate increased to 4.1 births per woman in 1960, before dropping sharply to two births per woman in 1985, and it has remained between 1.9 and 2.2 since then.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in New Zealand was reported at 10.86 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in New Zealand amounted to 10.86. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 15.55, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

New Zealand NZ: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.870 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.990 Ratio for 2015. New Zealand NZ: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 2.100 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.107 Ratio in 1962 and a record low of 1.870 Ratio in 2016. New Zealand NZ: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

Graph and download economic data for Crude Birth Rate for New Zealand (SPDYNCBRTINNZL) from 1960 to 2023 about New Zealand, birth, crude, and rate.

New Zealand: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from 2023 is 10.86 births per 1000 people, a decline from 11.49 births per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 17.86 births per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1960 to 2023 is 16.81 births per 1000 people. The minimum value, 10.86 births per 1000 people, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 26.95 births per 1000 people was recorded in 1961.

Historical dataset showing New Zealand birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

New Zealand NZ: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 12.650 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.270 Ratio for 2015. New Zealand NZ: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 16.200 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.100 Ratio in 1961 and a record low of 12.650 Ratio in 2016. New Zealand NZ: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

In New Zealand, the crude birth rate in 1850 was 37 live births per thousand people, meaning that 3.7 percent of the population had been born in that year. This rate fluctuates over the next thirty years, reaching it's highest recorded number in 1870 (42.3 births per thousand), before dropping consistently from 1880 until 1935. In 1935, New Zealand's crude birth rate was just 17.4 births per thousand people, however New Zealand then experienced a relatively large baby boom after the Second World War, and did not fall to it's pre-war level again until the late 1970s. From the 1980s onwards, New Zealand's crude birth rate has remained around the mid-teens, although it is expected to fall to a record-low of 12.6 births per thousand in 2020.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in New Zealand was reported at 1.56 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in New Zealand was reported at 1.053 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

New Zealand NZ: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data was reported at 10.200 NA in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.300 NA for 2049. New Zealand NZ: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 13.100 NA from Jun 1986 (Median) to 2050, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.600 NA in 1990 and a record low of 10.200 NA in 2050. New Zealand NZ: Crude Birth Rate: per 1000 Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

New Zealand: Fertility rate, births per woman: The latest value from 2023 is 1.56 births per woman, a decline from 1.66 births per woman in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 2.41 births per woman, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1960 to 2023 is 2.33 births per woman. The minimum value, 1.56 births per woman, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 4.31 births per woman was recorded in 1961.

In 2023, the total fertility rate in children per woman in New Zealand was 1.56. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 2.68, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) in New Zealand was reported at 10.88 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 4.400 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.500 Ratio for 2016. New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 9.950 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.600 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 4.400 Ratio in 2017. New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 5.800 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.100 Ratio for 2015. New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 6.800 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.500 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 5.800 Ratio in 2017. New Zealand NZ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Male: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, male is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn male baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to male age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

In 2023, the age group which had the highest rate of births in New Zealand was 30 to 34 years old, with ****** births for every 1,000 women. Comparatively, the age range which had the lowest number of births per 1,000 women was 45 to 49 years old in the same year.

Historical dataset showing New Zealand fertility rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Adolescent Fertility Rate for New Zealand (SPADOTFRTNZL) from 1960 to 2023 about 15 to 19 years, New Zealand, fertility, and rate.