Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and Croatia

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has an annual birth rate of 9.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.3 for Croatia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.47 in Belgium and 1.46 in Croatia — 0.68% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.1% in Belgium and by 34.8% in Croatia — in 1960, it was 2.54 and 2.24, respectively.

  • Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate compared to 171/196 for Croatia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.5 years in Belgium, compared to 29.3 years in Croatia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3 in Belgium — it's 31 in Croatia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.67 in Belgium vs 6.57 in Croatia.
  • In Belgium, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 20.4% in Croatia.

Fertility rate in Belgium vs Croatia by year

Belgium
Croatia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium Croatia
2023 1.47 1.46
2022 1.53 1.53
2021 1.6 1.62
2020 1.55 1.48
2019 1.6 1.47
2018 1.62 1.47
2017 1.65 1.42
2016 1.68 1.43
2015 1.7 1.41
2014 1.74 1.46
2013 1.76 1.46
2012 1.8 1.52
2011 1.81 1.41
2010 1.86 1.46
2009 1.84 1.5
2008 1.85 1.47
2007 1.82 1.48
2006 1.8 1.47
2005 1.76 1.5
2004 1.72 1.43
2003 1.67 1.41
2002 1.65 1.42
2001 1.67 1.46
2000 1.67 1.39
1999 1.62 1.38
1998 1.6 1.45
1997 1.6 1.69
1996 1.59 1.67
1995 1.56 1.58
1994 1.56 1.47
1993 1.61 1.52
1992 1.65 1.48
1991 1.66 1.53
1990 1.62 1.63
1989 1.58 1.63
1988 1.57 1.79
1987 1.54 1.64
1986 1.54 1.76
1985 1.51 1.82
1984 1.54 1.87
1983 1.57 1.88
1982 1.61 1.9
1981 1.66 1.93
1980 1.68 1.93
1979 1.69 1.95
1978 1.69 1.96
1977 1.71 1.95
1976 1.73 1.94
1975 1.74 1.95
1974 1.83 1.98
1973 1.95 2.01
1972 2.09 2.01
1971 2.21 1.97
1970 2.25 1.88
1969 2.27 1.95
1968 2.31 2.03
1967 2.41 2.1
1966 2.52 2.23
1965 2.61 2.22
1964 2.71 2.14
1963 2.68 2.15
1962 2.59 2.19
1961 2.63 2.22
1960 2.54 2.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.46 in Croatia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Belgium vs Croatia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Belgium
Croatia
1x
Year Natural population change
Belgium Croatia
2023 0 -19,298
2022 -2,336 -23,134
2021 5,793 -26,377
2020 -12,692 -20,354
2019 8,042 -15,008
2018 7,999 -15,557
2017 10,238 -16,570
2016 14,731 -13,553
2015 11,274 -16,607
2014 21,297 -11,345
2013 16,739 -10,162
2012 18,882 -9,799
2011 25,388 -9,846
2010 23,970 -8,591
2009 23,752 -7,319
2008 22,491 -8,188
2007 23,376 -10,335
2006 21,096 -8,669
2005 15,718 -9,022
2004 16,673 -9,040
2003 7,263 -12,480
2002 7,233 -10,325
2001 11,315 -8,599
2000 12,302 -6,255
1999 9,203 -6,769
1998 9,183 -4,985
1997 12,218 3,175
1996 12,188 3,190
1995 11,150 0
1994 12,139 -930
1993 14,118 -2,301
1992 20,090 -4,576
1991 22,010 -2,813
1990 19,935 3,344
1989 13,912 3,337
1988 14,853 5,707
1987 11,844 6,161
1986 5,917 8,499
1985 2,958 10,343
1984 4,927 10,764
1983 2,956 10,714
1982 7,885 15,756
1981 11,831 15,680
1980 10,845 17,939
1979 11,818 21,136
1978 7,872 20,157
1977 8,847 22,798
1976 1,964 22,226
1975 0 21,658
1974 7,818 22,453
1973 11,690 21,904
1972 18,451 17,802
1971 21,281 19,941
1970 23,173 16,767
1969 21,221 16,688
1968 20,199 21,828
1967 31,618 26,032
1966 36,206 33,192
1965 39,748 31,251
1964 51,580 25,942
1963 41,804 31,270
1962 42,414 30,216
1961 52,349 36,255
1960 40,275 34,778

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | 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 +0% in Belgium and -0.5% in Croatia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and -0.45% in Croatia.

Birth rate in Belgium vs Croatia by year

Belgium
Croatia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Belgium Croatia
2023 9.4 8.3
2022 9.8 8.8
2021 10.2 9.4
2020 9.9 8.9
2019 10.2 8.9
2018 10.4 9
2017 10.5 8.9
2016 10.8 9
2015 10.8 8.9
2014 11.2 9.3
2013 11.3 9.4
2012 11.5 9.8
2011 11.7 9.6
2010 11.9 9.8
2009 11.8 10.1
2008 11.9 9.9
2007 11.7 9.4
2006 11.6 9.33
2005 11.4 9.56
2004 11.3 9.1
2003 11 8.9
2002 10.9 9
2001 11.2 9.2
2000 11.4 9.8
1999 11.2 10
1998 11.2 10.4
1997 11.4 12.2
1996 11.5 11.8
1995 11.4 10.9
1994 11.5 10.4
1993 12 10.6
1992 12.4 10.3
1991 12.6 11.1
1990 12.4 11.6
1989 12.2 11.7
1988 12.1 12.3
1987 11.9 12.5
1986 11.9 12.8
1985 11.6 13.3
1984 11.7 13.9
1983 11.9 14.1
1982 12.2 14.4
1981 12.6 14.6
1980 12.6 14.8
1979 12.6 15.1
1978 12.5 15
1977 12.4 14.9
1976 12.3 14.8
1975 12.2 14.9
1974 12.7 15
1973 13.3 15.1
1972 14 14.8
1971 14.6 14.6
1970 14.7 13.8
1969 14.7 14.5
1968 14.8 15
1967 15.3 15.5
1966 15.9 16.5
1965 16.4 16.6
1964 17.2 16.2
1963 17.1 16.5
1962 16.8 17.2
1961 17.3 17.8
1960 16.8 18.4

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 8.3 in Croatia, compared with 16.8 and 18.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Belgium Croatia
Fertility rate 1.47 1.46
Fertility rate rank 151/196 153/196
Birth rate 9.4 8.3
Birth rate rank 155/196 171/196
Population change due to births and deaths +0 -19,298
Natural population change rank 157/196 177/196
Natural population change rate +0% -0.5%
Population growth +0.67% +0.17%
Population growth rank 119/197 157/197
Age at first childbirth 29.5 years 29.3 years
Average age at childbearing 31.3 years 31 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.31 5.75
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 55.1 59.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 15.4 12.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 20.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.3% 99.9%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.21% 0.28%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 0.39%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.36% 0.46%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 79.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Belgium
Factual

UN forecast
Croatia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Belgium Croatia
2100 12.8% 11.6%
2099 12.8% 11.6%
2098 12.9% 11.7%
2097 12.9% 11.7%
2096 12.9% 11.7%
2095 13% 11.8%
2094 13% 11.8%
2093 13.1% 11.8%
2092 13.1% 11.9%
2091 13.2% 11.9%
2090 13.2% 12%
2089 13.2% 12%
2088 13.3% 12%
2087 13.3% 12.1%
2086 13.3% 12.1%
2085 13.3% 12.1%
2084 13.3% 12.1%
2083 13.3% 12.1%
2082 13.3% 12.1%
2081 13.3% 12.1%
2080 13.2% 12.1%
2079 13.2% 12.1%
2078 13.2% 12.1%
2077 13.1% 12%
2076 13.1% 12%
2075 13% 12%
2074 13% 12%
2073 12.9% 11.9%
2072 12.9% 11.9%
2071 12.9% 11.9%
2070 12.9% 11.9%
2069 12.9% 11.9%
2068 12.9% 11.9%
2067 13% 11.9%
2066 13% 12%
2065 13.1% 12%
2064 13.1% 12%
2063 13.2% 12.1%
2062 13.3% 12.1%
2061 13.4% 12.2%
2060 13.5% 12.3%
2059 13.6% 12.3%
2058 13.7% 12.4%
2057 13.7% 12.5%
2056 13.8% 12.5%
2055 13.9% 12.6%
2054 13.9% 12.6%
2053 13.9% 12.7%
2052 14% 12.7%
2051 14% 12.7%
2050 13.9% 12.8%
2049 13.9% 12.8%
2048 13.8% 12.8%
2047 13.8% 12.8%
2046 13.7% 12.7%
2045 13.7% 12.7%
2044 13.6% 12.7%
2043 13.5% 12.7%
2042 13.4% 12.6%
2041 13.4% 12.6%
2040 13.3% 12.6%
2039 13.3% 12.6%
2038 13.3% 12.6%
2037 13.3% 12.6%
2036 13.5% 12.7%
2035 13.6% 12.7%
2034 13.7% 12.8%
2033 13.9% 12.8%
2032 14.1% 12.9%
2031 14.3% 12.9%
2030 14.5% 13%
2029 14.7% 13.1%
2028 15% 13.2%
2027 15.3% 13.4%
2026 15.6% 13.6%
2025 15.9% 13.8%
2024 16% 13.9%
2023 16.3% 14.1%
2022 16.5% 14.3%
2021 16.7% 14.4%
2020 16.8% 14.5%
2019 16.9% 14.5%
2018 16.9% 14.6%
2017 17% 14.6%
2016 17% 14.6%
2015 17% 14.6%
2014 17% 14.7%
2013 17% 14.8%
2012 17% 15%
2011 17% 15.1%
2010 16.9% 15.3%
2009 16.9% 15.4%
2008 16.9% 15.4%
2007 16.9% 15.5%
2006 17% 15.7%
2005 17.1% 15.8%
2004 17.2% 16%
2003 17.3% 16.3%
2002 17.5% 16.5%
2001 17.5% 16.7%
2000 17.6% 16.9%
1999 17.7% 17.1%
1998 17.7% 17.3%
1997 17.8% 17.5%
1996 17.9% 17.7%
1995 18% 18%
1994 18.1% 18.4%
1993 18.1% 18.8%
1992 18.2% 19.2%
1991 18.2% 19.5%
1990 18.1% 19.8%
1989 18.1% 20.1%
1988 18.2% 20.3%
1987 18.3% 20.5%
1986 18.6% 20.7%
1985 18.8% 20.8%
1984 19.1% 20.9%
1983 19.4% 20.9%
1982 19.6% 21%
1981 19.9% 21%
1980 20.3% 21.1%
1979 20.6% 21.2%
1978 21% 21.3%
1977 21.4% 21.4%
1976 21.8% 21.6%
1975 22.2% 21.8%
1974 22.6% 22%
1973 23% 22.2%
1972 23.3% 22.4%
1971 23.5% 22.8%
1970 23.6% 23.2%
1969 23.8% 23.7%
1968 23.9% 24.3%
1967 23.9% 24.8%
1966 24% 25.2%
1965 24% 25.7%
1964 23.9% 26.1%
1963 23.9% 26.5%
1962 23.8% 26.8%
1961 23.8% 26.9%
1960 23.7% 27%

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/belgium/croatia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 13.9% in Croatia in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and Croatia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs Croatia

Belgium
Croatia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Belgium Croatia
2023 4 3
2022 11 6
2021 7 12
2020 4 5
2019 4 4
2018 5 3
2017 5 4
2016 5 4
2015 5 4
2014 5 4
2013 6 5
2012 5 5
2011 6 5
2010 6 6
2009 6 6
2008 6 6
2007 7 6
2006 6 6
2005 7 7
2004 7 7
2003 7 8
2002 7 7
2001 8 7
2000 8 8
1999 8 8
1998 8 8
1997 8 9
1996 9 9
1995 9 9
1994 9 9
1993 9 9
1992 9 10
1991 9 10
1990 9 10
1989 9 9
1988 9 10
1987 9 10
1986 9 10
1985 9 10

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 3 deaths in Croatia.

Under-five mortality rates

Belgium
Croatia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Belgium Croatia
2023 0.36% 0.46%
2022 0.37% 0.46%
2021 0.38% 0.46%
2020 0.39% 0.47%
2019 0.39% 0.47%
2018 0.4% 0.48%
2017 0.4% 0.48%
2016 0.41% 0.49%
2015 0.41% 0.49%
2014 0.42% 0.5%
2013 0.42% 0.51%
2012 0.43% 0.52%
2011 0.44% 0.53%
2010 0.45% 0.55%
2009 0.46% 0.57%
2008 0.47% 0.59%
2007 0.48% 0.61%
2006 0.49% 0.64%
2005 0.5% 0.67%
2004 0.52% 0.71%
2003 0.53% 0.82%
2002 0.55% 0.77%
2001 0.57% 0.8%
2000 0.59% 0.83%
1999 0.61% 0.86%
1998 0.64% 0.9%
1997 0.67% 0.93%
1996 0.72% 0.96%
1995 0.77% 1%
1994 0.82% 1.04%
1993 0.87% 1.09%
1992 0.92% 1.15%
1991 0.96% 1.39%
1990 1% 1.29%
1989 1.03% 1.38%
1988 1.07% 1.48%
1987 1.1% 1.59%
1986 1.14% 1.69%
1985 1.18% 1.8%
1984 1.22% 1.91%
1983 1.27% 2%
1982 1.33% 2.09%
1981 1.39% 2.19%
1980 1.45% -
1979 1.52% -
1978 1.59% -
1977 1.67% -
1976 1.76% -
1975 1.86% -
1974 1.97% -
1973 2.08% -
1972 2.19% -
1971 2.3% -
1970 2.39% -
1969 2.48% -
1968 2.55% -
1967 2.62% -
1966 2.7% -
1965 2.79% -
1964 2.89% -
1963 3% -
1962 3.12% -
1961 3.25% -
1960 3.39% -

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/croatia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.46% in Croatia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.