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Fertility & birth rates in Bhutan and Malawi

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has an annual birth rate of 12.7 births per 1,000 people, compared to 31.4 for Malawi. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.46 in Bhutan and 3.65 in Malawi — 149.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 78.2% in Bhutan and by 48.2% in Malawi — in 1960, it was 6.7 and 7.04, respectively.

  • Bhutan is ranked 110/196 by birth rate compared to 25/196 for Malawi.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 30.1 in Bhutan — it's 27.5 in Malawi.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 9.36 in Bhutan vs 113.6 in Malawi.
  • In Bhutan, 27.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.2% in Malawi.

Fertility rate in Bhutan vs Malawi by year

Bhutan
Malawi
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bhutan Malawi
2023 1.46 3.65
2022 1.48 3.72
2021 1.49 3.79
2020 1.5 3.88
2019 1.45 3.95
2018 1.52 4.02
2017 1.62 4.11
2016 1.74 4.22
2015 1.84 4.38
2014 1.92 4.57
2013 2 4.76
2012 2.07 4.9
2011 2.15 5.08
2010 2.25 5.26
2009 2.36 5.45
2008 2.48 5.61
2007 2.59 5.72
2006 2.66 5.8
2005 2.73 5.85
2004 2.78 5.86
2003 2.87 5.88
2002 3.01 5.9
2001 3.19 5.94
2000 3.38 6
1999 3.61 6.12
1998 3.85 6.21
1997 4.09 6.23
1996 4.37 6.29
1995 4.62 6.39
1994 4.87 6.49
1993 5.07 6.57
1992 5.27 6.63
1991 5.45 6.68
1990 5.6 6.74
1989 5.76 6.8
1988 5.88 6.88
1987 6 6.97
1986 6.1 7.07
1985 6.18 7.17
1984 6.26 7.27
1983 6.34 7.36
1982 6.4 7.45
1981 6.46 7.49
1980 6.51 7.52
1979 6.55 7.47
1978 6.58 7.43
1977 6.61 7.41
1976 6.62 7.39
1975 6.62 7.36
1974 6.62 7.34
1973 6.63 7.34
1972 6.64 7.33
1971 6.64 7.31
1970 6.65 7.3
1969 6.66 7.27
1968 6.66 7.26
1967 6.67 7.21
1966 6.67 7.17
1965 6.68 7.13
1964 6.68 7.11
1963 6.69 7.13
1962 6.69 7.1
1961 6.7 7.07
1960 6.7 7.04

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bhutan/malawi | 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 3.65 in Malawi in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Bhutan
Malawi
1x
Year Natural population change
Bhutan Malawi
2023 5,153 549,096
2022 5,204 533,450
2021 5,162 517,400
2020 5,142 514,659
2019 4,643 506,104
2018 4,909 494,348
2017 5,367 484,655
2016 6,164 474,779
2015 6,762 472,484
2014 7,290 472,418
2013 7,689 470,293
2012 7,967 460,684
2011 8,282 454,149
2010 8,598 444,468
2009 8,913 434,811
2008 9,200 421,781
2007 9,322 410,290
2006 9,197 397,123
2005 9,102 381,130
2004 9,056 361,133
2003 9,132 341,133
2002 9,464 322,863
2001 9,904 310,833
2000 10,142 300,439
1999 10,940 295,629
1998 11,320 285,407
1997 11,668 277,433
1996 12,153 270,048
1995 12,938 266,745
1994 13,536 275,439
1993 13,915 276,538
1992 15,594 269,066
1991 15,801 260,193
1990 15,704 250,159
1989 15,516 237,967
1988 15,212 226,911
1987 14,887 220,566
1986 14,516 218,519
1985 14,061 216,179
1984 13,688 212,146
1983 13,284 209,422
1982 12,872 205,386
1981 12,444 199,436
1980 12,016 192,746
1979 11,583 182,123
1978 11,133 172,503
1977 10,679 161,930
1976 10,228 153,422
1975 9,775 145,254
1974 9,324 137,819
1973 8,939 131,529
1972 8,549 125,728
1971 8,161 121,015
1970 7,791 116,822
1969 7,435 113,120
1968 7,085 110,329
1967 6,744 106,668
1966 6,418 103,512
1965 6,109 100,040
1964 5,818 97,658
1963 5,551 95,933
1962 5,297 92,463
1961 5,081 89,091
1960 4,888 85,718

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bhutan/malawi | 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 +2.6% in Malawi.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Bhutan and +2.67% in Malawi.

Birth rate in Bhutan vs Malawi by year

Bhutan
Malawi

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Bhutan Malawi
2023 12.7 31.4
2022 12.8 31.7
2021 12.9 32.1
2020 13 32.5
2019 12.4 32.9
2018 12.9 33.2
2017 13.8 33.7
2016 14.8 34.2
2015 15.7 35.3
2014 16.4 36.5
2013 17.1 37.7
2012 17.6 38.6
2011 18.2 39.7
2010 18.9 40.7
2009 19.6 41.7
2008 20.3 42.6
2007 20.8 43.3
2006 21 43.8
2005 21.1 44
2004 21.3 44
2003 21.7 43.9
2002 22.7 44
2001 23.9 44.2
2000 25.2 44.6
1999 26.8 45.4
1998 28.3 45.9
1997 29.7 46
1996 31.3 46.2
1995 33.3 46.8
1994 34.6 48.4
1993 35.5 48.4
1992 38.3 48.1
1991 37.6 48.4
1990 38.2 48.4
1989 39 48.5
1988 39.8 48.8
1987 40.5 48.6
1986 41.1 49.8
1985 41.6 50.4
1984 42.3 50.8
1983 42.9 51.4
1982 43.4 52
1981 44 52.4
1980 44.5 52.7
1979 45 52.4
1978 45.4 52.4
1977 45.8 52.4
1976 46.1 52.6
1975 46.4 52.7
1974 46.6 52.9
1973 47 53.2
1972 47.2 53.5
1971 47.5 53.7
1970 47.7 54
1969 48 54.1
1968 48.2 54.4
1967 48.3 54.3
1966 48.4 54.3
1965 48.5 54.1
1964 48.6 54.2
1963 48.6 54.4
1962 48.6 54.2
1961 48.7 54
1960 48.8 53.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.7 in Bhutan and 31.4 in Malawi, compared with 48.8 and 53.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Bhutan Malawi
Fertility rate 1.46 3.65
Fertility rate rank 152/196 39/196
Birth rate 12.7 31.4
Birth rate rank 110/196 25/196
Population change due to births and deaths +5,153 +549,096
Natural population change rank 127/196 35/196
Natural population change rate +0.66% +2.6%
Population growth +0.65% +2.61%
Population growth rank 120/197 26/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 19.1 years
Average age at childbearing 30.1 years 27.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 7.36 112.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 69.6 171.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 24.4 50.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.7% 26.2%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 65.4% 64.7%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 98.9% 96.4%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.05% 0.23%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.27% 1.88%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.85% 2.94%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 2.31% 3.83%
Life expectancy 73.8 years 67.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Bhutan
Factual

UN forecast
Malawi
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Bhutan Malawi
2100 12.3% 19.9%
2099 12.3% 20%
2098 12.2% 20.2%
2097 12.2% 20.3%
2096 12.2% 20.4%
2095 12.2% 20.6%
2094 12.2% 20.7%
2093 12.2% 20.9%
2092 12.2% 21%
2091 12.2% 21.2%
2090 12.2% 21.3%
2089 12.2% 21.5%
2088 12.3% 21.6%
2087 12.3% 21.8%
2086 12.3% 22%
2085 12.4% 22.1%
2084 12.4% 22.3%
2083 12.4% 22.5%
2082 12.5% 22.7%
2081 12.5% 22.9%
2080 12.5% 23.1%
2079 12.5% 23.2%
2078 12.6% 23.4%
2077 12.6% 23.6%
2076 12.6% 23.8%
2075 12.6% 24.1%
2074 12.6% 24.3%
2073 12.6% 24.5%
2072 12.6% 24.7%
2071 12.6% 24.9%
2070 12.6% 25.2%
2069 12.6% 25.4%
2068 12.6% 25.6%
2067 12.6% 25.9%
2066 12.6% 26.1%
2065 12.7% 26.3%
2064 12.7% 26.6%
2063 12.8% 26.8%
2062 12.8% 27.1%
2061 12.9% 27.3%
2060 13% 27.6%
2059 13.2% 27.9%
2058 13.3% 28.1%
2057 13.4% 28.4%
2056 13.6% 28.7%
2055 13.8% 29%
2054 14% 29.3%
2053 14.2% 29.6%
2052 14.4% 29.9%
2051 14.5% 30.3%
2050 14.7% 30.6%
2049 14.9% 31%
2048 15.1% 31.4%
2047 15.3% 31.7%
2046 15.5% 32.1%
2045 15.7% 32.5%
2044 15.8% 32.9%
2043 16% 33.3%
2042 16.1% 33.7%
2041 16.3% 34%
2040 16.4% 34.4%
2039 16.5% 34.8%
2038 16.7% 35.1%
2037 16.8% 35.5%
2036 17% 35.9%
2035 17.1% 36.2%
2034 17.2% 36.5%
2033 17.3% 36.9%
2032 17.4% 37.2%
2031 17.8% 37.5%
2030 18.1% 37.9%
2029 18.5% 38.3%
2028 19% 38.8%
2027 19.5% 39.3%
2026 20.1% 39.9%
2025 20.6% 40.4%
2024 20.9% 40.7%
2023 21.5% 41.3%
2022 22% 41.9%
2021 22.7% 42.5%
2020 23.4% 43.1%
2019 24.2% 43.7%
2018 25% 44.2%
2017 25.8% 44.6%
2016 26.5% 45.1%
2015 27% 45.4%
2014 27.4% 45.7%
2013 27.8% 46%
2012 28.3% 46.1%
2011 28.8% 46.2%
2010 29.4% 46.2%
2009 30.1% 46.2%
2008 30.8% 46.1%
2007 31.6% 46.1%
2006 32.4% 46.1%
2005 33.2% 46%
2004 34.3% 46%
2003 35.5% 46.1%
2002 36.6% 46.1%
2001 37.7% 46.1%
2000 38.6% 46.2%
1999 39.4% 46.2%
1998 40.1% 46.2%
1997 40.7% 46.2%
1996 41.3% 46.2%
1995 41.7% 46.1%
1994 42.1% 46.1%
1993 42.4% 46%
1992 42.6% 45.8%
1991 42.8% 45.6%
1990 42.9% 45.4%
1989 43% 45.2%
1988 43% 45%
1987 43.1% 45.1%
1986 43.1% 45.4%
1985 43.1% 45.4%
1984 43.1% 45.5%
1983 43.1% 45.5%
1982 43% 45.4%
1981 42.9% 45.4%
1980 42.8% 45.4%
1979 42.7% 45.3%
1978 42.6% 45.3%
1977 42.5% 45.3%
1976 42.4% 45.2%
1975 42.3% 45.2%
1974 42.2% 45.1%
1973 42.1% 44.9%
1972 42% 44.8%
1971 41.9% 44.6%
1970 41.8% 44.4%
1969 41.8% 44.2%
1968 41.8% 43.9%
1967 41.7% 43.7%
1966 41.7% 43.4%
1965 41.7% 43.2%
1964 41.8% 43%
1963 41.8% 42.9%
1962 41.9% 42.8%
1961 42.1% 42.9%
1960 42.3% 43.1%

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/malawi | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 20.9% of the population in Bhutan and 40.7% in Malawi in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 45.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bhutan and Malawi compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Bhutan vs Malawi

Bhutan
Malawi
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Bhutan Malawi
2023 47 225
2022 49 239
2021 50 286
2020 51 256
2019 52 260
2018 55 267
2017 58 284
2016 63 312
2015 68 354
2014 73 367
2013 79 410
2012 86 447
2011 96 486
2010 107 517
2009 121 512
2008 133 430
2007 149 333
2006 167 286
2005 186 283
2004 207 304
2003 229 346
2002 257 404
2001 286 447
2000 324 506
1999 346 576
1998 378 658
1997 415 672
1996 450 713
1995 498 782
1994 544 912
1993 578 1,000
1992 656 1,042
1991 671 1,080
1990 704 1,112
1989 747 1,136
1988 798 1,154
1987 857 1,123
1986 911 1,118
1985 969 1,115

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bhutan/malawi | 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 225 deaths in Malawi.

Under-five mortality rates

Bhutan
Malawi

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Bhutan Malawi
2023 2.31% 3.83%
2022 2.39% 3.99%
2021 2.47% 4.15%
2020 2.55% 4.31%
2019 2.65% 4.55%
2018 2.74% 4.75%
2017 2.85% 5.06%
2016 2.96% 5.35%
2015 3.08% 5.67%
2014 3.22% 6.02%
2013 3.38% 6.4%
2012 3.56% 6.98%
2011 3.77% 7.67%
2010 4.03% 8.3%
2009 4.31% 8.81%
2008 4.62% 9.31%
2007 4.96% 9.83%
2006 5.32% 10.3%
2005 5.71% 11%
2004 6.12% 11.9%
2003 6.54% 13.2%
2002 6.96% 14.6%
2001 7.4% 16%
2000 7.85% 17.3%
1999 8.3% 18.4%
1998 8.77% 19.2%
1997 9.26% 19.7%
1996 9.75% 20.2%
1995 10.3% 20.7%
1994 10.8% 21.3%
1993 11.3% 22%
1992 11.8% 22.8%
1991 12.3% 23.6%
1990 12.8% 24.3%
1989 13.4% 24.9%
1988 14% 25.3%
1987 14.6% 25.5%
1986 15.3% 25.4%
1985 15.9% 25.1%
1984 16.6% 24.8%
1983 17.3% 24.5%
1982 18% 24.5%
1981 18.7% 24.9%
1980 19.5% 25.6%
1979 20.2% 26.5%
1978 20.9% 27.6%
1977 21.6% 28.7%
1976 22.3% 29.7%
1975 22.9% 30.6%
1974 23.6% 31.5%
1973 24.3% 32.4%
1972 24.9% 33.2%
1971 25.5% 33.9%
1970 26.2% 34.4%
1969 26.7% 34.7%
1968 27.4% 35%
1967 - 35.1%
1966 - 35.3%
1965 - 35.4%
1964 - 35.5%
1963 - 35.7%
1962 - 35.8%
1961 - 35.9%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1961–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.31% in Bhutan and 3.83% in Malawi. 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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