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Fertility & birth rates in Afghanistan and Bhutan

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has an annual birth rate of 35.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 12.7 for Bhutan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 4.84 in Afghanistan and 1.46 in Bhutan — 69.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 33.5% in Afghanistan and by 78.2% in Bhutan — in 1960, it was 7.28 and 6.7, respectively.

  • Afghanistan is ranked 9/196 by birth rate compared to 110/196 for Bhutan.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.6 in Afghanistan — it's 30.1 in Bhutan.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 64.1 in Afghanistan vs 9.36 in Bhutan.
  • In Afghanistan, 24% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.7% in Bhutan.

Fertility rate in Afghanistan vs Bhutan by year

Afghanistan
Bhutan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Afghanistan Bhutan
2023 4.84 1.46
2022 4.93 1.48
2021 5.04 1.49
2020 5.15 1.5
2019 5.24 1.45
2018 5.33 1.52
2017 5.43 1.62
2016 5.54 1.74
2015 5.65 1.84
2014 5.77 1.92
2013 5.88 2
2012 5.99 2.07
2011 6.09 2.15
2010 6.2 2.25
2009 6.3 2.36
2008 6.39 2.48
2007 6.51 2.59
2006 6.69 2.66
2005 6.86 2.73
2004 7.02 2.78
2003 7.17 2.87
2002 7.32 3.01
2001 7.45 3.19
2000 7.57 3.38
1999 7.64 3.61
1998 7.69 3.85
1997 7.73 4.09
1996 7.76 4.37
1995 7.77 4.62
1994 7.77 4.87
1993 7.76 5.07
1992 7.7 5.27
1991 7.63 5.45
1990 7.58 5.6
1989 7.56 5.76
1988 7.55 5.88
1987 7.55 6
1986 7.55 6.1
1985 7.55 6.18
1984 7.55 6.26
1983 7.57 6.34
1982 7.6 6.4
1981 7.62 6.46
1980 7.64 6.51
1979 7.61 6.55
1978 7.6 6.58
1977 7.59 6.61
1976 7.56 6.62
1975 7.54 6.62
1974 7.53 6.62
1973 7.49 6.63
1972 7.45 6.64
1971 7.43 6.64
1970 7.4 6.65
1969 7.39 6.66
1968 7.36 6.66
1967 7.34 6.67
1966 7.32 6.67
1965 7.31 6.68
1964 7.3 6.68
1963 7.3 6.69
1962 7.29 6.69
1961 7.28 6.7
1960 7.28 6.7

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Afghanistan was 4.84 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.46 in Bhutan in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Afghanistan vs Bhutan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Afghanistan
Bhutan
1x
Year Natural population change
Afghanistan Bhutan
2023 1,228,719 5,153
2022 1,219,475 5,204
2021 1,133,611 5,162
2020 1,134,407 5,142
2019 1,138,485 4,643
2018 1,115,262 4,909
2017 1,101,218 5,367
2016 1,090,016 6,164
2015 1,077,068 6,762
2014 1,053,788 7,290
2013 1,033,778 7,689
2012 1,004,814 7,967
2011 966,743 8,282
2010 943,473 8,598
2009 920,581 8,913
2008 891,246 9,200
2007 889,848 9,322
2006 875,301 9,197
2005 855,112 9,102
2004 850,940 9,056
2003 826,165 9,132
2002 776,048 9,464
2001 764,090 9,904
2000 782,727 10,142
1999 760,727 10,940
1998 719,860 11,320
1997 709,778 11,668
1996 685,005 12,153
1995 653,280 12,938
1994 609,096 13,536
1993 541,257 13,915
1992 440,132 15,594
1991 409,954 15,801
1990 402,433 15,704
1989 381,158 15,516
1988 358,397 15,212
1987 314,361 14,887
1986 310,066 14,516
1985 228,469 14,061
1984 205,262 13,688
1983 263,778 13,284
1982 263,210 12,872
1981 343,468 12,444
1980 365,396 12,016
1979 361,750 11,583
1978 369,101 11,133
1977 372,567 10,679
1976 357,775 10,228
1975 343,850 9,775
1974 330,232 9,324
1973 315,062 8,939
1972 300,633 8,549
1971 288,267 8,161
1970 275,129 7,791
1969 263,823 7,435
1968 251,798 7,085
1967 239,967 6,744
1966 228,786 6,418
1965 217,741 6,109
1964 207,867 5,818
1963 198,035 5,551
1962 188,427 5,297
1961 179,094 5,081
1960 170,257 4,888

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +2.96% in Afghanistan and +0.66% in Bhutan.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.04% in Afghanistan and +0.74% in Bhutan.

Birth rate in Afghanistan vs Bhutan by year

Afghanistan
Bhutan

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Afghanistan Bhutan
2023 35.4 12.7
2022 36 12.8
2021 36.3 12.9
2020 36.6 13
2019 37.1 12.4
2018 37.6 12.9
2017 38.2 13.8
2016 38.7 14.8
2015 39.4 15.7
2014 39.6 16.4
2013 40.3 17.1
2012 40.7 17.6
2011 41 18.2
2010 41.8 18.9
2009 42.2 19.6
2008 42.5 20.3
2007 43.8 20.8
2006 44.1 21
2005 45 21.1
2004 46.5 21.3
2003 47.1 21.7
2002 47.5 22.7
2001 49.6 23.9
2000 51.5 25.2
1999 50.9 26.8
1998 51.5 28.3
1997 52.1 29.7
1996 52.5 31.3
1995 52.7 33.3
1994 52.4 34.6
1993 50.8 35.5
1992 50.3 38.3
1991 52.3 37.6
1990 52.9 38.2
1989 51.7 39
1988 51.7 39.8
1987 52.2 40.5
1986 52.2 41.1
1985 51.7 41.6
1984 50.4 42.3
1983 51.2 42.9
1982 52 43.4
1981 55.2 44
1980 53.5 44.5
1979 52 45
1978 51.3 45.4
1977 51.3 45.8
1976 51.3 46.1
1975 51.3 46.4
1974 51.4 46.6
1973 51.3 47
1972 51.2 47.2
1971 51.3 47.5
1970 51.2 47.7
1969 51.3 48
1968 51.2 48.2
1967 51.1 48.3
1966 51 48.4
1965 50.9 48.5
1964 50.9 48.6
1963 50.8 48.6
1962 50.7 48.6
1961 50.6 48.7
1960 50.5 48.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 35.4 in Afghanistan and 12.7 in Bhutan, compared with 50.5 and 48.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Afghanistan Bhutan
Fertility rate 4.84 1.46
Fertility rate rank 9/196 152/196
Birth rate 35.4 12.7
Birth rate rank 9/196 110/196
Population change due to births and deaths +1,228,719 +5,153
Natural population change rank 13/196 127/196
Natural population change rate +2.96% +0.66%
Population growth +2.88% +0.65%
Population growth rank 20/197 120/197
Age at first childbirth 19.9 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 30.6 years 30.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 56.8 7.36
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 195.6 69.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 93.7 24.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 24% 27.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 19.8% 65.4%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 61.8% 98.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.52% 0.05%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 3.43% 1.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 5.04% 1.85%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 5.55% 2.31%
Life expectancy 66.8 years 73.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Afghanistan
Factual

UN forecast
Bhutan
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Afghanistan Bhutan
2100 21% 12.3%
2099 21.2% 12.3%
2098 21.3% 12.2%
2097 21.5% 12.2%
2096 21.6% 12.2%
2095 21.8% 12.2%
2094 21.9% 12.2%
2093 22.1% 12.2%
2092 22.3% 12.2%
2091 22.4% 12.2%
2090 22.6% 12.2%
2089 22.8% 12.2%
2088 23% 12.3%
2087 23.1% 12.3%
2086 23.3% 12.3%
2085 23.5% 12.4%
2084 23.7% 12.4%
2083 23.9% 12.4%
2082 24.2% 12.5%
2081 24.4% 12.5%
2080 24.6% 12.5%
2079 24.8% 12.5%
2078 25% 12.6%
2077 25.3% 12.6%
2076 25.5% 12.6%
2075 25.8% 12.6%
2074 26% 12.6%
2073 26.2% 12.6%
2072 26.5% 12.6%
2071 26.7% 12.6%
2070 27% 12.6%
2069 27.3% 12.6%
2068 27.5% 12.6%
2067 27.8% 12.6%
2066 28% 12.6%
2065 28.3% 12.7%
2064 28.6% 12.7%
2063 28.8% 12.8%
2062 29.1% 12.8%
2061 29.4% 12.9%
2060 29.6% 13%
2059 29.9% 13.2%
2058 30.2% 13.3%
2057 30.4% 13.4%
2056 30.7% 13.6%
2055 31.1% 13.8%
2054 31.4% 14%
2053 31.7% 14.2%
2052 32% 14.4%
2051 32.4% 14.5%
2050 32.7% 14.7%
2049 33.1% 14.9%
2048 33.4% 15.1%
2047 33.8% 15.3%
2046 34.2% 15.5%
2045 34.6% 15.7%
2044 35% 15.8%
2043 35.4% 16%
2042 35.8% 16.1%
2041 36.3% 16.3%
2040 36.7% 16.4%
2039 37.2% 16.5%
2038 37.6% 16.7%
2037 38% 16.8%
2036 38.4% 17%
2035 38.8% 17.1%
2034 39.2% 17.2%
2033 39.6% 17.3%
2032 40.1% 17.4%
2031 40.5% 17.8%
2030 40.9% 18.1%
2029 41.3% 18.5%
2028 41.7% 19%
2027 42% 19.5%
2026 42.4% 20.1%
2025 42.7% 20.6%
2024 42.9% 20.9%
2023 43.2% 21.5%
2022 43.6% 22%
2021 43.9% 22.7%
2020 44.2% 23.4%
2019 44.6% 24.2%
2018 45% 25%
2017 45.4% 25.8%
2016 45.8% 26.5%
2015 46.3% 27%
2014 46.7% 27.4%
2013 47.2% 27.8%
2012 47.6% 28.3%
2011 48% 28.8%
2010 48.5% 29.4%
2009 48.9% 30.1%
2008 49.3% 30.8%
2007 49.6% 31.6%
2006 49.9% 32.4%
2005 50% 33.2%
2004 50.2% 34.3%
2003 50.2% 35.5%
2002 50.2% 36.6%
2001 50.2% 37.7%
2000 50% 38.6%
1999 49.8% 39.4%
1998 49.6% 40.1%
1997 49.3% 40.7%
1996 49% 41.3%
1995 48.7% 41.7%
1994 48.5% 42.1%
1993 48.2% 42.4%
1992 48% 42.6%
1991 47.8% 42.8%
1990 47.7% 42.9%
1989 47.5% 43%
1988 47.4% 43%
1987 47.3% 43.1%
1986 47.2% 43.1%
1985 47% 43.1%
1984 46.8% 43.1%
1983 46.6% 43.1%
1982 46.5% 43%
1981 46.3% 42.9%
1980 46.1% 42.8%
1979 45.8% 42.7%
1978 45.6% 42.6%
1977 45.4% 42.5%
1976 45.2% 42.4%
1975 45% 42.3%
1974 44.8% 42.2%
1973 44.6% 42.1%
1972 44.4% 42%
1971 44.2% 41.9%
1970 43.9% 41.8%
1969 43.7% 41.8%
1968 43.4% 41.8%
1967 43.2% 41.7%
1966 42.9% 41.7%
1965 42.6% 41.7%
1964 42.4% 41.8%
1963 42.2% 41.8%
1962 42.1% 41.9%
1961 42% 42.1%
1960 41.9% 42.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.9% of the population in Afghanistan and 20.9% in Bhutan in 2024, compared to 47.7% and 42.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Afghanistan and Bhutan compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Afghanistan vs Bhutan

Afghanistan
Bhutan
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Afghanistan Bhutan
2023 521 47
2022 551 49
2021 660 50
2020 634 51
2019 601 52
2018 629 55
2017 659 58
2016 702 63
2015 741 68
2014 755 73
2013 778 79
2012 810 86
2011 838 96
2010 893 107
2009 925 121
2008 955 133
2007 1,032 149
2006 1,069 167
2005 1,108 186
2004 1,166 207
2003 1,201 229
2002 1,263 257
2001 1,311 286
2000 1,372 324
1999 1,346 346
1998 1,464 378
1997 1,376 415
1996 1,389 450
1995 1,414 498
1994 1,396 544
1993 1,347 578
1992 1,443 656
1991 1,534 671
1990 1,550 704
1989 1,520 747
1988 1,572 798
1987 1,821 857
1986 1,857 911
1985 2,232 969

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 521 deaths per 100,000 live births in Afghanistan, compared to 47 deaths in Bhutan.

Under-five mortality rates

Afghanistan
Bhutan

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Afghanistan Bhutan
2023 5.55% 2.31%
2022 5.74% 2.39%
2021 5.93% 2.47%
2020 6.13% 2.55%
2019 6.33% 2.65%
2018 6.54% 2.74%
2017 6.76% 2.85%
2016 7% 2.96%
2015 7.24% 3.08%
2014 7.51% 3.22%
2013 7.8% 3.38%
2012 8.12% 3.56%
2011 8.46% 3.77%
2010 8.83% 4.03%
2009 9.22% 4.31%
2008 9.63% 4.62%
2007 10.1% 4.96%
2006 10.5% 5.32%
2005 11% 5.71%
2004 11.4% 6.12%
2003 11.9% 6.54%
2002 12.3% 6.96%
2001 12.7% 7.4%
2000 13.2% 7.85%
1999 13.6% 8.3%
1998 14% 8.77%
1997 14.4% 9.26%
1996 14.8% 9.75%
1995 15.3% 10.3%
1994 15.8% 10.8%
1993 16.3% 11.3%
1992 16.9% 11.8%
1991 17.4% 12.3%
1990 18.1% 12.8%
1989 18.7% 13.4%
1988 21.8% 14%
1987 24.7% 14.6%
1986 25.3% 15.3%
1985 30.1% 15.9%
1984 30.9% 16.6%
1983 27.4% 17.3%
1982 28% 18%
1981 23.9% 18.7%
1980 24.6% 19.5%
1979 25.2% 20.2%
1978 25.8% 20.9%
1977 26.4% 21.6%
1976 27% 22.3%
1975 27.5% 22.9%
1974 28.1% 23.6%
1973 28.6% 24.3%
1972 29.1% 24.9%
1971 29.7% 25.5%
1970 30.2% 26.2%
1969 30.6% 26.7%
1968 31.2% 27.4%
1967 31.7% -
1966 32.2% -
1965 32.7% -
1964 33.2% -
1963 33.7% -
1962 34.2% -
1961 34.8% -
1960 35.3% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/afghanistan/bhutan | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.55% in Afghanistan and 2.31% in Bhutan. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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