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Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and North Macedonia

Updated on by Georank team

Belgium has an annual birth rate of 9.4 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.2 for North Macedonia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.47 in Belgium and 1.5 in North Macedonia — 2.04% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 42.1% in Belgium and by 60.8% in North Macedonia — in 1960, it was 2.54 and 3.83, respectively.

  • Belgium is ranked 155/196 by birth rate compared to 158/196 for North Macedonia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.5 years in Belgium, compared to 27.4 years in North Macedonia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.3 in Belgium — it's 29.3 in North Macedonia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.67 in Belgium vs 13 in North Macedonia.
  • In Belgium, 21.5% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in North Macedonia.

Fertility rate in Belgium vs North Macedonia by year

Belgium
North Macedonia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Belgium North Macedonia
2023 1.47 1.5
2022 1.53 1.6
2021 1.6 1.6
2020 1.55 1.31
2019 1.6 1.34
2018 1.62 1.42
2017 1.65 1.43
2016 1.68 1.5
2015 1.7 1.49
2014 1.74 1.5
2013 1.76 1.5
2012 1.8 1.5
2011 1.81 1.46
2010 1.86 1.6
2009 1.84 1.5
2008 1.85 1.47
2007 1.82 1.46
2006 1.8 1.46
2005 1.76 1.5
2004 1.72 1.52
2003 1.67 1.75
2002 1.65 1.79
2001 1.67 1.73
2000 1.67 1.86
1999 1.62 1.77
1998 1.6 1.89
1997 1.6 1.92
1996 1.59 2.06
1995 1.56 2.13
1994 1.56 2.23
1993 1.61 2.26
1992 1.65 2.28
1991 1.66 2.31
1990 1.62 2.27
1989 1.58 2.25
1988 1.57 2.32
1987 1.54 2.32
1986 1.54 2.25
1985 1.51 2.25
1984 1.54 2.24
1983 1.57 2.25
1982 1.61 2.29
1981 1.66 2.29
1980 1.68 2.36
1979 1.69 2.4
1978 1.69 2.42
1977 1.71 2.49
1976 1.73 2.62
1975 1.74 2.69
1974 1.83 2.7
1973 1.95 2.72
1972 2.09 2.87
1971 2.21 2.93
1970 2.25 3.01
1969 2.27 3.1
1968 2.31 3.22
1967 2.41 3.33
1966 2.52 3.43
1965 2.61 3.52
1964 2.71 3.56
1963 2.68 3.62
1962 2.59 3.5
1961 2.63 3.62
1960 2.54 3.83

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/north-macedonia | 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 1.5 in North Macedonia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Belgium
North Macedonia
1x
Year Natural population change
Belgium North Macedonia
2023 0 -3,290
2022 -2,336 -4,397
2021 5,793 -9,737
2020 -12,692 -5,939
2019 8,042 -375
2018 7,999 1,512
2017 10,238 1,329
2016 14,731 2,374
2015 11,274 2,294
2014 21,297 3,644
2013 16,739 3,653
2012 18,882 3,087
2011 25,388 3,100
2010 23,970 4,866
2009 23,752 4,309
2008 22,491 3,746
2007 23,376 2,974
2006 21,096 3,988
2005 15,718 4,011
2004 16,673 5,444
2003 7,263 8,900
2002 7,233 9,697
2001 11,315 10,174
2000 12,302 12,159
1999 9,203 10,489
1998 9,183 12,446
1997 12,218 12,979
1996 12,188 14,806
1995 11,150 17,239
1994 12,139 19,103
1993 14,118 20,797
1992 20,090 21,659
1991 22,010 23,387
1990 19,935 22,868
1989 13,912 22,912
1988 14,853 24,064
1987 11,844 24,359
1986 5,917 23,720
1985 2,958 24,167
1984 4,927 24,436
1983 2,956 24,690
1982 7,885 25,810
1981 11,831 25,689
1980 10,845 26,547
1979 11,818 27,096
1978 7,872 27,150
1977 8,847 27,410
1976 1,964 28,799
1975 0 28,983
1974 7,818 28,400
1973 11,690 28,032
1972 18,451 28,236
1971 21,281 28,010
1970 23,173 28,022
1969 21,221 27,464
1968 20,199 28,378
1967 31,618 28,401
1966 36,206 28,766
1965 39,748 28,564
1964 51,580 27,889
1963 41,804 28,124
1962 42,414 25,317
1961 52,349 27,846
1960 40,275 28,816

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/north-macedonia | 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 -0.18% in North Macedonia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and -0.07% in North Macedonia.

Birth rate in Belgium vs North Macedonia by year

Belgium
North Macedonia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Belgium North Macedonia
2023 9.4 9.2
2022 9.8 9.9
2021 10.2 10.2
2020 9.9 9.2
2019 10.2 9.6
2018 10.4 10.3
2017 10.5 10.5
2016 10.8 11.1
2015 10.8 11.1
2014 11.2 11.4
2013 11.3 11.2
2012 11.5 11.4
2011 11.7 11.1
2010 11.9 11.8
2009 11.8 11.5
2008 11.9 11.2
2007 11.7 11.1
2006 11.6 11.1
2005 11.4 11
2004 11.3 11.5
2003 11 13.3
2002 10.9 13.7
2001 11.2 13.3
2000 11.4 14.5
1999 11.2 13.5
1998 11.2 14.6
1997 11.4 14.8
1996 11.5 16.1
1995 11.4 16.7
1994 11.5 17.7
1993 12 18.2
1992 12.4 18.4
1991 12.6 18.7
1990 12.4 18.4
1989 12.2 18.4
1988 12.1 19.1
1987 11.9 19.3
1986 11.9 18.9
1985 11.6 19.1
1984 11.7 19.2
1983 11.9 19.5
1982 12.2 19.9
1981 12.6 20.1
1980 12.6 20.8
1979 12.6 21.1
1978 12.5 21.3
1977 12.4 21.9
1976 12.3 23
1975 12.2 23.6
1974 12.7 23.5
1973 13.3 23.5
1972 14 24.5
1971 14.6 24.7
1970 14.7 25.1
1969 14.7 25.4
1968 14.8 26.1
1967 15.3 26.7
1966 15.9 27.5
1965 16.4 28.1
1964 17.2 28.4
1963 17.1 29
1962 16.8 28.3
1961 17.3 29.2
1960 16.8 31

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/north-macedonia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 9.2 in North Macedonia, compared with 16.8 and 31, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Belgium North Macedonia
Fertility rate 1.47 1.5
Fertility rate rank 151/196 146/196
Birth rate 9.4 9.2
Birth rate rank 155/196 158/196
Population change due to births and deaths +0 -3,290
Natural population change rank 157/196 165/196
Natural population change rate +0% -0.18%
Population growth +0.67% -0.19%
Population growth rank 119/197 176/197
Age at first childbirth 29.5 years 27.4 years
Average age at childbearing 31.3 years 29.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 3.31 11.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 55.1 76.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 15.4 11.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 21.5% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 14%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.3% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.21% 0.14%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.3% 0.28%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.36% 0.33%
Life expectancy 82.6 years 77.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Belgium
Factual

UN forecast
North Macedonia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Belgium North Macedonia
2100 12.8% 10.6%
2099 12.8% 10.7%
2098 12.9% 10.7%
2097 12.9% 10.8%
2096 12.9% 10.8%
2095 13% 10.9%
2094 13% 11%
2093 13.1% 11%
2092 13.1% 11.1%
2091 13.2% 11.2%
2090 13.2% 11.2%
2089 13.2% 11.3%
2088 13.3% 11.3%
2087 13.3% 11.4%
2086 13.3% 11.4%
2085 13.3% 11.4%
2084 13.3% 11.4%
2083 13.3% 11.4%
2082 13.3% 11.4%
2081 13.3% 11.4%
2080 13.2% 11.4%
2079 13.2% 11.3%
2078 13.2% 11.3%
2077 13.1% 11.3%
2076 13.1% 11.2%
2075 13% 11.2%
2074 13% 11.2%
2073 12.9% 11.2%
2072 12.9% 11.1%
2071 12.9% 11.2%
2070 12.9% 11.2%
2069 12.9% 11.2%
2068 12.9% 11.3%
2067 13% 11.4%
2066 13% 11.5%
2065 13.1% 11.6%
2064 13.1% 11.7%
2063 13.2% 11.9%
2062 13.3% 12%
2061 13.4% 12.2%
2060 13.5% 12.3%
2059 13.6% 12.4%
2058 13.7% 12.6%
2057 13.7% 12.7%
2056 13.8% 12.8%
2055 13.9% 12.9%
2054 13.9% 13%
2053 13.9% 13%
2052 14% 13.1%
2051 14% 13.1%
2050 13.9% 13.1%
2049 13.9% 13.1%
2048 13.8% 13.1%
2047 13.8% 13%
2046 13.7% 13%
2045 13.7% 13%
2044 13.6% 13%
2043 13.5% 12.9%
2042 13.4% 12.9%
2041 13.4% 12.9%
2040 13.3% 13%
2039 13.3% 13%
2038 13.3% 13%
2037 13.3% 13.2%
2036 13.5% 13.4%
2035 13.6% 13.6%
2034 13.7% 13.8%
2033 13.9% 14.1%
2032 14.1% 14.4%
2031 14.3% 14.7%
2030 14.5% 15.1%
2029 14.7% 15.4%
2028 15% 15.8%
2027 15.3% 16.1%
2026 15.6% 16.4%
2025 15.9% 16.7%
2024 16% 16.8%
2023 16.3% 17.1%
2022 16.5% 17.2%
2021 16.7% 17.2%
2020 16.8% 17.2%
2019 16.9% 17.2%
2018 16.9% 17.4%
2017 17% 17.5%
2016 17% 17.8%
2015 17% 18%
2014 17% 18.3%
2013 17% 18.6%
2012 17% 18.8%
2011 17% 19%
2010 16.9% 19.3%
2009 16.9% 19.7%
2008 16.9% 20%
2007 16.9% 20.4%
2006 17% 20.8%
2005 17.1% 21.2%
2004 17.2% 21.7%
2003 17.3% 22.1%
2002 17.5% 22.5%
2001 17.5% 22.9%
2000 17.6% 23.4%
1999 17.7% 23.9%
1998 17.7% 24.4%
1997 17.8% 24.8%
1996 17.9% 25.1%
1995 18% 25.4%
1994 18.1% 25.5%
1993 18.1% 25.7%
1992 18.2% 26.1%
1991 18.2% 26.5%
1990 18.1% 26.9%
1989 18.1% 27.1%
1988 18.2% 27.4%
1987 18.3% 27.6%
1986 18.6% 27.8%
1985 18.8% 28.1%
1984 19.1% 28.3%
1983 19.4% 28.5%
1982 19.6% 28.8%
1981 19.9% 29.1%
1980 20.3% 29.5%
1979 20.6% 29.9%
1978 21% 30.3%
1977 21.4% 30.6%
1976 21.8% 30.9%
1975 22.2% 31.3%
1974 22.6% 31.7%
1973 23% 32.2%
1972 23.3% 32.6%
1971 23.5% 33%
1970 23.6% 33.5%
1969 23.8% 34.1%
1968 23.9% 34.7%
1967 23.9% 35.2%
1966 24% 35.8%
1965 24% 36.3%
1964 23.9% 36.7%
1963 23.9% 37.2%
1962 23.8% 37.6%
1961 23.8% 37.8%
1960 23.7% 37.7%

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/north-macedonia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 16.8% in North Macedonia in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 26.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and North Macedonia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/north-macedonia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs North Macedonia

Belgium
North Macedonia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Belgium North Macedonia
2023 4 3
2022 11 3
2021 7 12
2020 4 7
2019 4 3
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 5
2009 6 6
2008 6 6
2007 7 7
2006 6 7
2005 7 7
2004 7 8
2003 7 8
2002 7 10
2001 8 9
2000 8 11
1999 8 12
1998 8 13
1997 8 13
1996 9 14
1995 9 13
1994 9 13
1993 9 14
1992 9 14
1991 9 15
1990 9 16
1989 9 14
1988 9 16
1987 9 15
1986 9 16
1985 9 17

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/belgium/north-macedonia | 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 North Macedonia.

Under-five mortality rates

Belgium
North Macedonia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Belgium North Macedonia
2023 0.36% 0.33%
2022 0.37% 0.41%
2021 0.38% 0.5%
2020 0.39% 0.59%
2019 0.39% 0.7%
2018 0.4% 0.83%
2017 0.4% 0.97%
2016 0.41% 1.08%
2015 0.41% 1.13%
2014 0.42% 1.11%
2013 0.42% 1.07%
2012 0.43% 1.02%
2011 0.44% 1%
2010 0.45% 1.04%
2009 0.46% 1.1%
2008 0.47% 1.17%
2007 0.48% 1.23%
2006 0.49% 1.3%
2005 0.5% 1.37%
2004 0.52% 1.42%
2003 0.53% 1.43%
2002 0.55% 1.43%
2001 0.57% 1.48%
2000 0.59% 1.59%
1999 0.61% 1.73%
1998 0.64% 1.83%
1997 0.67% 1.93%
1996 0.72% 2.12%
1995 0.77% 2.45%
1994 0.82% 2.85%
1993 0.87% 3.13%
1992 0.92% 3.3%
1991 0.96% 3.46%
1990 1% 3.7%
1989 1.03% 4.01%
1988 1.07% 4.36%
1987 1.1% 4.69%
1986 1.14% 4.91%
1985 1.18% 5%
1984 1.22% 5.06%
1983 1.27% 5.25%
1982 1.33% 5.53%
1981 1.39% 5.79%
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/north-macedonia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 0.33% in North Macedonia. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2022–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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