Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Bhutan and Congo

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has an annual birth rate of 12.7 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.6 for the Congo. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.46 in Bhutan and 4.16 in the Congo — 184.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 78.2% in Bhutan and by 31.7% in the Congo — in 1960, it was 6.7 and 6.09, respectively.

  • Bhutan is ranked 110/196 by birth rate compared to 28/196 for the Congo.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1 in Bhutan — it's 28.6 in the Congo.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 9.36 in Bhutan vs 109.9 in the Congo.
  • In Bhutan, 27.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24% in the Congo.

Fertility rate in Bhutan vs Congo by year

Bhutan
Congo
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bhutan Congo
2023 1.46 4.16
2022 1.48 4.22
2021 1.49 4.28
2020 1.5 4.33
2019 1.45 4.38
2018 1.52 4.44
2017 1.62 4.5
2016 1.74 4.55
2015 1.84 4.61
2014 1.92 4.67
2013 2 4.73
2012 2.07 4.79
2011 2.15 4.83
2010 2.25 4.85
2009 2.36 4.81
2008 2.48 4.73
2007 2.59 4.65
2006 2.66 4.65
2005 2.73 4.67
2004 2.78 4.69
2003 2.87 4.7
2002 3.01 4.7
2001 3.19 4.67
2000 3.38 4.72
1999 3.61 4.81
1998 3.85 4.91
1997 4.09 5
1996 4.37 5.03
1995 4.62 5.07
1994 4.87 5.1
1993 5.07 5.13
1992 5.27 5.18
1991 5.45 5.22
1990 5.6 5.27
1989 5.76 5.33
1988 5.88 5.39
1987 6 5.46
1986 6.1 5.51
1985 6.18 5.59
1984 6.26 5.66
1983 6.34 5.76
1982 6.4 5.85
1981 6.46 5.98
1980 6.51 6.07
1979 6.55 6.14
1978 6.58 6.21
1977 6.61 6.27
1976 6.62 6.32
1975 6.62 6.36
1974 6.62 6.39
1973 6.63 6.42
1972 6.64 6.44
1971 6.64 6.42
1970 6.65 6.38
1969 6.66 6.35
1968 6.66 6.33
1967 6.67 6.29
1966 6.67 6.27
1965 6.68 6.23
1964 6.68 6.18
1963 6.69 6.15
1962 6.69 6.1
1961 6.7 6.09
1960 6.7 6.09

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 1.46 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.16 in the Congo in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Bhutan
Congo
1x
Year Natural population change
Bhutan Congo
2023 5,153 150,486
2022 5,204 147,076
2021 5,162 144,241
2020 5,142 143,492
2019 4,643 139,513
2018 4,909 142,704
2017 5,367 141,973
2016 6,164 141,358
2015 6,762 141,539
2014 7,290 141,674
2013 7,689 142,080
2012 7,967 142,464
2011 8,282 140,371
2010 8,598 136,908
2009 8,913 126,904
2008 9,200 120,711
2007 9,322 112,459
2006 9,197 106,876
2005 9,102 101,344
2004 9,056 96,577
2003 9,132 91,326
2002 9,464 88,497
2001 9,904 84,876
2000 10,142 78,491
1999 10,940 76,204
1998 11,320 72,450
1997 11,668 66,149
1996 12,153 75,628
1995 12,938 74,189
1994 13,536 72,857
1993 13,915 71,119
1992 15,594 69,973
1991 15,801 68,534
1990 15,704 67,241
1989 15,516 65,944
1988 15,212 64,629
1987 14,887 63,183
1986 14,516 61,669
1985 14,061 60,359
1984 13,688 59,028
1983 13,284 58,120
1982 12,872 57,036
1981 12,444 56,603
1980 12,016 55,550
1979 11,583 54,723
1978 11,133 53,885
1977 10,679 53,179
1976 10,228 52,148
1975 9,775 51,155
1974 9,324 49,563
1973 8,939 48,017
1972 8,549 46,427
1971 8,161 44,431
1970 7,791 42,374
1969 7,435 40,532
1968 7,085 38,786
1967 6,744 36,866
1966 6,418 35,452
1965 6,109 33,865
1964 5,818 32,270
1963 5,551 30,832
1962 5,297 29,342
1961 5,081 28,220
1960 4,888 27,094

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bhutan/congo | 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 +0.66% in Bhutan and +2.43% in the Congo.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Bhutan and +2.59% in the Congo.

Birth rate in Bhutan vs Congo by year

Bhutan
Congo

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Bhutan Congo
2023 12.7 30.6
2022 12.8 30.9
2021 12.9 31.4
2020 13 31.7
2019 12.4 32.2
2018 12.9 32.8
2017 13.8 33.4
2016 14.8 34.1
2015 15.7 34.9
2014 16.4 35.8
2013 17.1 36.8
2012 17.6 37.8
2011 18.2 38.4
2010 18.9 38.9
2009 19.6 38
2008 20.3 38
2007 20.8 37.2
2006 21 37.1
2005 21.1 37
2004 21.3 37.1
2003 21.7 37
2002 22.7 37.3
2001 23.9 37.1
2000 25.2 36.2
1999 26.8 37
1998 28.3 37.5
1997 29.7 38.4
1996 31.3 38.4
1995 33.3 38.5
1994 34.6 38.6
1993 35.5 38.6
1992 38.3 38.7
1991 37.6 38.8
1990 38.2 38.9
1989 39 39.1
1988 39.8 39.2
1987 40.5 39.4
1986 41.1 39.6
1985 41.6 39.8
1984 42.3 40.1
1983 42.9 40.6
1982 43.4 40.8
1981 44 41.4
1980 44.5 41.8
1979 45 42.2
1978 45.4 42.7
1977 45.8 43.2
1976 46.1 43.6
1975 46.4 44
1974 46.6 44.1
1973 47 44.3
1972 47.2 44.5
1971 47.5 44.4
1970 47.7 44.1
1969 48 44
1968 48.2 43.9
1967 48.3 43.7
1966 48.4 43.6
1965 48.5 43.5
1964 48.6 43.4
1963 48.6 43.3
1962 48.6 43.2
1961 48.7 43.3
1960 48.8 43.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.7 in Bhutan and 30.6 in the Congo, compared with 48.8 and 43.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Bhutan Congo
Fertility rate 1.46 4.16
Fertility rate rank 152/196 23/196
Birth rate 12.7 30.6
Birth rate rank 110/196 28/196
Population change due to births and deaths +5,153 +150,486
Natural population change rank 127/196 69/196
Natural population change rate +0.66% +2.43%
Population growth +0.65% +2.43%
Population growth rank 120/197 31/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 19.6 years
Average age at childbearing 30.1 years 28.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 7.36 106.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 69.6 181.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 24.4 57.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.7% 24%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 18.3%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 98.9% 91.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.05% 0.24%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.27% 1.77%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.85% 2.76%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 2.31% 4.05%
Life expectancy 73.8 years 66.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Bhutan
Factual

UN forecast
Congo
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Bhutan Congo
2100 12.3% 22.6%
2099 12.3% 22.7%
2098 12.2% 22.8%
2097 12.2% 23%
2096 12.2% 23.1%
2095 12.2% 23.3%
2094 12.2% 23.4%
2093 12.2% 23.6%
2092 12.2% 23.8%
2091 12.2% 23.9%
2090 12.2% 24.1%
2089 12.2% 24.3%
2088 12.3% 24.4%
2087 12.3% 24.6%
2086 12.3% 24.8%
2085 12.4% 25%
2084 12.4% 25.2%
2083 12.4% 25.4%
2082 12.5% 25.6%
2081 12.5% 25.9%
2080 12.5% 26.1%
2079 12.5% 26.3%
2078 12.6% 26.5%
2077 12.6% 26.7%
2076 12.6% 26.9%
2075 12.6% 27.1%
2074 12.6% 27.3%
2073 12.6% 27.5%
2072 12.6% 27.7%
2071 12.6% 27.9%
2070 12.6% 28.1%
2069 12.6% 28.3%
2068 12.6% 28.5%
2067 12.6% 28.7%
2066 12.6% 29%
2065 12.7% 29.2%
2064 12.7% 29.4%
2063 12.8% 29.6%
2062 12.8% 29.9%
2061 12.9% 30.1%
2060 13% 30.4%
2059 13.2% 30.7%
2058 13.3% 30.9%
2057 13.4% 31.2%
2056 13.6% 31.5%
2055 13.8% 31.8%
2054 14% 32.1%
2053 14.2% 32.4%
2052 14.4% 32.7%
2051 14.5% 32.9%
2050 14.7% 33.2%
2049 14.9% 33.5%
2048 15.1% 33.8%
2047 15.3% 34.1%
2046 15.5% 34.3%
2045 15.7% 34.6%
2044 15.8% 34.8%
2043 16% 35%
2042 16.1% 35.2%
2041 16.3% 35.4%
2040 16.4% 35.6%
2039 16.5% 35.7%
2038 16.7% 35.9%
2037 16.8% 36.1%
2036 17% 36.3%
2035 17.1% 36.5%
2034 17.2% 36.7%
2033 17.3% 36.9%
2032 17.4% 37.2%
2031 17.8% 37.5%
2030 18.1% 37.8%
2029 18.5% 38.2%
2028 19% 38.6%
2027 19.5% 39.1%
2026 20.1% 39.7%
2025 20.6% 40.2%
2024 20.9% 40.4%
2023 21.5% 40.9%
2022 22% 41.3%
2021 22.7% 41.5%
2020 23.4% 41.8%
2019 24.2% 41.9%
2018 25% 42.1%
2017 25.8% 42.1%
2016 26.5% 42.1%
2015 27% 41.9%
2014 27.4% 41.7%
2013 27.8% 41.3%
2012 28.3% 41%
2011 28.8% 40.6%
2010 29.4% 40.4%
2009 30.1% 40.5%
2008 30.8% 40.7%
2007 31.6% 40.7%
2006 32.4% 40.9%
2005 33.2% 41.1%
2004 34.3% 41.4%
2003 35.5% 41.7%
2002 36.6% 41.9%
2001 37.7% 41.9%
2000 38.6% 42.5%
1999 39.4% 43.1%
1998 40.1% 43.3%
1997 40.7% 43.3%
1996 41.3% 43.2%
1995 41.7% 43.3%
1994 42.1% 43.4%
1993 42.4% 43.6%
1992 42.6% 43.8%
1991 42.8% 44%
1990 42.9% 44.2%
1989 43% 44.3%
1988 43% 44.5%
1987 43.1% 44.6%
1986 43.1% 44.7%
1985 43.1% 44.9%
1984 43.1% 45%
1983 43.1% 45.2%
1982 43% 45.4%
1981 42.9% 45.6%
1980 42.8% 45.7%
1979 42.7% 45.8%
1978 42.6% 45.8%
1977 42.5% 45.8%
1976 42.4% 45.7%
1975 42.3% 45.5%
1974 42.2% 45.4%
1973 42.1% 45.2%
1972 42% 45%
1971 41.9% 44.8%
1970 41.8% 44.7%
1969 41.8% 44.5%
1968 41.8% 44.3%
1967 41.7% 44.2%
1966 41.7% 44%
1965 41.7% 43.9%
1964 41.8% 43.7%
1963 41.8% 43.5%
1962 41.9% 43.3%
1961 42.1% 43%
1960 42.3% 42.7%

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/bhutan/congo | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 20.9% of the population in Bhutan and 40.4% in the Congo in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 44.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bhutan and the Congo compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Bhutan vs Congo

Bhutan
Congo
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Bhutan Congo
2023 47 241
2022 49 241
2021 50 301
2020 51 247
2019 52 245
2018 55 259
2017 58 262
2016 63 263
2015 68 284
2014 73 302
2013 79 320
2012 86 374
2011 96 378
2010 107 382
2009 121 414
2008 133 395
2007 149 370
2006 167 394
2005 186 385
2004 207 400
2003 229 436
2002 257 464
2001 286 489
2000 324 509
1999 346 554
1998 378 597
1997 415 650
1996 450 545
1995 498 551
1994 544 551
1993 578 541
1992 656 531
1991 671 514
1990 704 505
1989 747 506
1988 798 510
1987 857 519
1986 911 535
1985 969 546

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 47 deaths per 100,000 live births in Bhutan, compared to 241 deaths in the Congo.

Under-five mortality rates

Bhutan
Congo

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Bhutan Congo
2023 2.31% 4.05%
2022 2.39% 4.19%
2021 2.47% 4.33%
2020 2.55% 4.47%
2019 2.65% 5.24%
2018 2.74% 4.77%
2017 2.85% 4.93%
2016 2.96% 5.09%
2015 3.08% 5.27%
2014 3.22% 5.45%
2013 3.38% 5.64%
2012 3.56% 5.82%
2011 3.77% 6.02%
2010 4.03% 6.25%
2009 4.31% 6.55%
2008 4.62% 6.95%
2007 4.96% 7.43%
2006 5.32% 8.02%
2005 5.71% 8.66%
2004 6.12% 9.35%
2003 6.54% 10%
2002 6.96% 10.6%
2001 7.4% 11.1%
2000 7.85% 11.4%
1999 8.3% 11.5%
1998 8.77% 11.4%
1997 9.26% 11.2%
1996 9.75% 10.9%
1995 10.3% 10.5%
1994 10.8% 10.2%
1993 11.3% 9.84%
1992 11.8% 9.54%
1991 12.3% 9.31%
1990 12.8% 9.15%
1989 13.4% 9.05%
1988 14% 9.04%
1987 14.6% 9.11%
1986 15.3% 9.25%
1985 15.9% 9.44%
1984 16.6% 9.68%
1983 17.3% 9.95%
1982 18% 10.2%
1981 18.7% 10.5%
1980 19.5% 10.7%
1979 20.2% 11%
1978 20.9% 11.2%
1977 21.6% 11.5%
1976 22.3% 11.8%
1975 22.9% 12.1%
1974 23.6% 12.4%
1973 24.3% 12.6%
1972 24.9% 13%
1971 25.5% 13.4%
1970 26.2% 13.7%
1969 26.7% 14.2%
1968 27.4% 14.6%
1967 - 15.1%
1966 - 15.6%
1965 - 16.1%
1964 - 16.7%
1963 - 17.3%
1962 - 18%
1961 - 18.6%
1960 - 19.4%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.31% in Bhutan and 4.05% in the Congo. 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.