Bhutan birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Bhutan has a birth rate of 12.7 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.46 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 6.7 children per woman — 4.59 times higher than in 2023.

Bhutan birth rate statistics:

Bhutan is ranked 110/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 32/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1, a change from 28.4 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 114.7 in 1960 to 9.36 in 2023.
27.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.8% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Bhutan by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.46	152
2022	1.48	156
2021	1.49	162
2020	1.5	156
2019	1.45	169
2018	1.52	163
2017	1.62	145
2016	1.74	139
2015	1.84	131
2014	1.92	126
2013	2	119
2012	2.07	116
2011	2.15	109
2010	2.25	106
2009	2.36	104
2008	2.48	97
2007	2.59	91
2006	2.66	87
2005	2.73	85
2004	2.78	85
2003	2.87	84
2002	3.01	80
2001	3.19	80
2000	3.38	77
1999	3.61	76
1998	3.85	72
1997	4.09	67
1996	4.37	65
1995	4.62	63
1994	4.87	59
1993	5.07	55
1992	5.27	54
1991	5.45	52
1990	5.6	52
1989	5.76	52
1988	5.88	52
1987	6	50
1986	6.1	50
1985	6.18	51
1984	6.26	51
1983	6.34	50
1982	6.4	48
1981	6.46	47
1980	6.51	47
1979	6.55	46
1978	6.58	48
1977	6.61	49
1976	6.62	49
1975	6.62	50
1974	6.62	51
1973	6.63	50
1972	6.64	50
1971	6.64	50
1970	6.65	52
1969	6.66	51
1968	6.66	54
1967	6.67	54
1966	6.67	56
1965	6.68	59
1964	6.68	59
1963	6.69	60
1962	6.69	59
1961	6.7	59
1960	6.7	60

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

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

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 1.46 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2012. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.07 — a 71.2% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	5,153	9,957	4,804
2022	5,204	10,001	4,797
2021	5,162	9,996	4,834
2020	5,142	9,973	4,831
2019	4,643	9,499	4,856
2018	4,909	9,832	4,923
2017	5,367	10,378	5,011
2016	6,164	11,075	4,911
2015	6,762	11,595	4,833
2014	7,290	12,039	4,749
2013	7,689	12,376	4,687
2012	7,967	12,616	4,649
2011	8,282	12,927	4,645
2010	8,598	13,261	4,663
2009	8,913	13,630	4,717
2008	9,200	13,928	4,728
2007	9,322	14,112	4,790
2006	9,197	14,067	4,870
2005	9,102	13,974	4,872
2004	9,056	13,831	4,775
2003	9,132	13,841	4,709
2002	9,464	14,147	4,683
2001	9,904	14,576	4,672
2000	10,142	15,029	4,887
1999	10,940	15,632	4,692
1998	11,320	16,109	4,789
1997	11,668	16,568	4,900
1996	12,153	17,165	5,012
1995	12,938	18,249	5,311
1994	13,536	19,170	5,634
1993	13,915	19,673	5,758
1992	15,594	22,130	6,536
1991	15,801	22,547	6,746
1990	15,704	22,521	6,817
1989	15,516	22,389	6,873
1988	15,212	22,144	6,932
1987	14,887	21,881	6,994
1986	14,516	21,571	7,055
1985	14,061	21,170	7,109
1984	13,688	20,828	7,140
1983	13,284	20,461	7,177
1982	12,872	20,086	7,214
1981	12,444	19,695	7,251
1980	12,016	19,285	7,269
1979	11,583	18,854	7,271
1978	11,133	18,396	7,263
1977	10,679	17,925	7,246
1976	10,228	17,445	7,217
1975	9,775	16,960	7,185
1974	9,324	16,476	7,152
1973	8,939	16,045	7,106
1972	8,549	15,601	7,052
1971	8,161	15,159	6,998
1970	7,791	14,730	6,939
1969	7,435	14,307	6,872
1968	7,085	13,887	6,802
1967	6,744	13,475	6,731
1966	6,418	13,071	6,653
1965	6,109	12,674	6,565
1964	5,818	12,284	6,466
1963	5,551	11,913	6,362
1962	5,297	11,548	6,251
1961	5,081	11,229	6,148
1960	4,888	10,927	6,039

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

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

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Bhutan (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.74% annually. On average, 5,579 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.66% — 5,153 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Bhutan ranks 127/196 for absolute natural population change and 116/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Bhutan compared to other countries

	Bhutan	Rank
Fertility rate	1.46	152/196
Birth rate	12.7	110/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+5,153	127/196
Natural population change rate	+0.66%	116/196
Population growth	+0.65%	120/197
Average age at childbearing	30.1 years	62/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	7.36	147/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	69.6	140/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	24.4	94/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.7%	8/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	65.4%	30/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	98.9%	83/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.05%	96/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	1.27%	70/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	1.85%	73/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	2.31%	69/192
Life expectancy	73.8 years	106/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	26.2	7.36	69.6	24.4
2025	26.5	7.93	70.6	24.8
2024	26.9	8.63	72	25.2
2023	27.2	9.23	73.5	25.5
2022	27.6	9.3	74.4	26.1
2021	27.8	9.58	75.6	26.2
2020	27.9	8.73	74.8	27.2
2019	26.8	8.17	71.7	26.4
2018	28	9.41	76.8	26.7
2017	29.8	11.4	84.3	27.2
2016	32.1	14.2	92.9	27.7
2015	33.9	16.5	99.4	28.5
2014	35.5	19.2	105.7	28.9
2013	36.9	22	111.3	29.1
2012	38	24.5	116.2	29.4
2011	39.4	27.7	121.9	29.8
2010	40.8	31.6	128.2	30.3
2009	42.4	36.1	135.3	30.9
2008	43.8	38.5	141.8	32.3
2007	44.9	40.8	147.1	33.7
2006	45.3	42	150.7	34.6
2005	45.6	43.2	154.1	35.4
2004	45.6	44.7	156.9	36.2
2003	46.2	46.9	160.9	37.5
2002	47.9	50.4	168.1	39.6
2001	50.1	54.8	176.6	42.3
2000	52.4	58.8	185.7	45.1
1999	55.4	62.9	198.3	48.3
1998	58.2	67.1	212	51.5
1997	61.1	71.1	224.9	54.6
1996	64.5	76	240.3	58.3
1995	68.8	80.3	254.4	61.8
1994	71.5	84.5	267.6	65.1
1993	73.5	88	278.9	68
1992	79.4	91.4	289.6	71
1991	78.1	94.6	299.5	73.8
1990	79.5	97.3	308	76.2
1989	81.3	99.9	316	78.7
1988	82.9	102.1	323	80.8
1987	84.4	104.1	329	82.9
1986	85.9	105.9	334	84.8
1985	87	107.1	338	86.3
1984	88.4	108.6	342	88.1
1983	89.6	109.8	346	89.7
1982	90.9	111.1	350	91.2
1981	92.1	112.1	353	92.6
1980	93.2	113	355	93.9
1979	94.2	113.8	357	95
1978	95.1	114.5	359	95.9
1977	95.8	114.8	359	96.7
1976	96.5	115.1	360	97
1975	97.1	115.3	360	97.1
1974	97.5	115.2	360	97.2
1973	98.2	115.5	361	97.5
1972	98.7	115.5	362	97.8
1971	99.2	115.6	362	98
1970	99.6	115.7	363	98.2
1969	100	116	363	98.5
1968	100.3	116.4	362	98.7
1967	100.6	116	364	98.8
1966	100.7	116.8	364	98.8
1965	100.8	116.9	364	98.8
1964	100.7	117	364	98.7
1963	100.7	115.7	364	98.6
1962	100.6	115.8	365	98.5
1961	100.7	115.9	365	98.5
1960	100.7	116.2	365	98.4

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

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

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Bhutan by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 2.37% will be to women under age 20, 49.2% to women ages 20-29, and 48.4% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 12.3%, 59%, and 28.6%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Bhutan	World
2100	12.3%	16.5%
2099	12.3%	16.6%
2098	12.2%	16.6%
2097	12.2%	16.7%
2096	12.2%	16.8%
2095	12.2%	16.8%
2094	12.2%	16.9%
2093	12.2%	17%
2092	12.2%	17%
2091	12.2%	17.1%
2090	12.2%	17.2%
2089	12.2%	17.2%
2088	12.3%	17.3%
2087	12.3%	17.4%
2086	12.3%	17.4%
2085	12.4%	17.5%
2084	12.4%	17.5%
2083	12.4%	17.6%
2082	12.5%	17.7%
2081	12.5%	17.7%
2080	12.5%	17.8%
2079	12.5%	17.8%
2078	12.6%	17.9%
2077	12.6%	17.9%
2076	12.6%	18%
2075	12.6%	18%
2074	12.6%	18.1%
2073	12.6%	18.2%
2072	12.6%	18.2%
2071	12.6%	18.3%
2070	12.6%	18.3%
2069	12.6%	18.4%
2068	12.6%	18.5%
2067	12.6%	18.6%
2066	12.6%	18.6%
2065	12.7%	18.7%
2064	12.7%	18.8%
2063	12.8%	18.9%
2062	12.8%	19.1%
2061	12.9%	19.2%
2060	13%	19.3%
2059	13.2%	19.4%
2058	13.3%	19.5%
2057	13.4%	19.6%
2056	13.6%	19.8%
2055	13.8%	19.9%
2054	14%	20%
2053	14.2%	20.1%
2052	14.4%	20.2%
2051	14.5%	20.3%
2050	14.7%	20.4%
2049	14.9%	20.5%
2048	15.1%	20.6%
2047	15.3%	20.7%
2046	15.5%	20.8%
2045	15.7%	20.9%
2044	15.8%	20.9%
2043	16%	21%
2042	16.1%	21.1%
2041	16.3%	21.2%
2040	16.4%	21.2%
2039	16.5%	21.3%
2038	16.7%	21.4%
2037	16.8%	21.5%
2036	17%	21.6%
2035	17.1%	21.8%
2034	17.2%	22%
2033	17.3%	22.2%
2032	17.4%	22.4%
2031	17.8%	22.7%
2030	18.1%	23%
2029	18.5%	23.3%
2028	19%	23.6%
2027	19.5%	23.9%
2026	20.1%	24.2%
2025	20.6%	24.6%
2024	20.9%	24.7%
2023	21.5%	25%
2022	22%	25.3%
2021	22.7%	25.6%
2020	23.4%	25.8%
2019	24.2%	26%
2018	25%	26.2%
2017	25.8%	26.4%
2016	26.5%	26.5%
2015	27%	26.6%
2014	27.4%	26.8%
2013	27.8%	26.9%
2012	28.3%	27%
2011	28.8%	27.1%
2010	29.4%	27.3%
2009	30.1%	27.5%
2008	30.8%	27.6%
2007	31.6%	27.9%
2006	32.4%	28.1%
2005	33.2%	28.5%
2004	34.3%	28.8%
2003	35.5%	29.2%
2002	36.6%	29.6%
2001	37.7%	30%
2000	38.6%	30.4%
1999	39.4%	30.8%
1998	40.1%	31.1%
1997	40.7%	31.5%
1996	41.3%	31.8%
1995	41.7%	32.1%
1994	42.1%	32.3%
1993	42.4%	32.5%
1992	42.6%	32.7%
1991	42.8%	32.9%
1990	42.9%	33%
1989	43%	33.2%
1988	43%	33.4%
1987	43.1%	33.6%
1986	43.1%	33.8%
1985	43.1%	34%
1984	43.1%	34.3%
1983	43.1%	34.6%
1982	43%	34.9%
1981	42.9%	35.2%
1980	42.8%	35.5%
1979	42.7%	35.9%
1978	42.6%	36.3%
1977	42.5%	36.7%
1976	42.4%	36.9%
1975	42.3%	37.1%
1974	42.2%	37.2%
1973	42.1%	37.3%
1972	42%	37.5%
1971	41.9%	37.6%
1970	41.8%	37.7%
1969	41.8%	37.8%
1968	41.8%	37.9%
1967	41.7%	38%
1966	41.7%	38%
1965	41.7%	38%
1964	41.8%	38%
1963	41.8%	37.8%
1962	41.9%	37.6%
1961	42.1%	37.5%
1960	42.3%	37.4%

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/bhutan | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Bhutan was 42.3% in 1960, 42.6% in 1992, and 20.9% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Bhutan.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	47	197
2022	49	203
2021	50	242
2020	51	211
2019	52	207
2018	55	211
2017	58	215
2016	63	220
2015	68	228
2014	73	231
2013	79	235
2012	86	239
2011	96	247
2010	107	253
2009	121	258
2008	133	264
2007	149	269
2006	167	276
2005	186	283
2004	207	291
2003	229	301
2002	257	311
2001	286	321
2000	324	328
1999	346	340
1998	378	360
1997	415	358
1996	450	366
1995	498	371
1994	544	382
1993	578	389
1992	656	395
1991	671	395
1990	704	391
1989	747	401
1988	798	414
1987	857	429
1986	911	438
1985	969	460

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

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

The maternal mortality rate in Bhutan was 47 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.05% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 85.5% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Bhutan	World
2023	2.31%	2.49%
2022	2.39%	2.59%
2021	2.47%	2.66%
2020	2.55%	2.75%
2019	2.65%	2.86%
2018	2.74%	2.97%
2017	2.85%	3.11%
2016	2.96%	3.22%
2015	3.08%	3.35%
2014	3.22%	3.48%
2013	3.38%	3.61%
2012	3.56%	3.77%
2011	3.77%	3.97%
2010	4.03%	4.11%
2009	4.31%	4.31%
2008	4.62%	4.5%
2007	4.96%	4.7%
2006	5.32%	4.92%
2005	5.71%	5.16%
2004	6.12%	5.43%
2003	6.54%	5.65%
2002	6.96%	5.94%
2001	7.4%	6.21%
2000	7.85%	6.48%
1999	8.3%	6.75%
1998	8.77%	7.05%
1997	9.26%	7.28%
1996	9.75%	7.52%
1995	10.3%	7.76%
1994	10.8%	7.98%
1993	11.3%	8.19%
1992	11.8%	8.46%
1991	12.3%	8.66%
1990	12.8%	8.81%
1989	13.4%	9.02%
1988	14%	9.31%
1987	14.6%	9.47%
1986	15.3%	9.81%
1985	15.9%	10.1%
1984	16.6%	10.4%
1983	17.3%	10.6%
1982	18%	10.8%
1981	18.7%	11%
1980	19.5%	11.4%
1979	20.2%	11.7%
1978	20.9%	12.2%
1977	21.6%	12.6%
1976	22.3%	13%
1975	22.9%	13.4%
1974	23.6%	13.8%
1973	24.3%	14.1%
1972	24.9%	14.5%
1971	25.5%	15.1%
1970	26.2%	15.2%
1969	26.7%	15.4%
1968	27.4%	15.6%
1967	-	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

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

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

The under-5 mortality rate in Bhutan was 23.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 2.31% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 78.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.