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Fertility & birth rates in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria

Updated on by Georank team

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an annual birth rate of 7.71 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.9 for Bulgaria. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.49 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1.81 in Bulgaria — 21.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 62.5% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and by 21.6% in Bulgaria — in 1960, it was 3.96 and 2.31, respectively.

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked 180/196 by birth rate compared to 165/196 for Bulgaria.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 28 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 26.9 years in Bulgaria.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.3 in Bosnia and Herzegovina — it's 28.3 in Bulgaria.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 11.2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina vs 39.1 in Bulgaria.
  • In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 20.9% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 20.7% in Bulgaria.

Fertility rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Bulgaria by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bosnia Bulgaria
2023 1.49 1.81
2022 1.48 1.78
2021 1.49 1.8
2020 1.52 1.77
2019 1.51 1.79
2018 1.5 1.73
2017 1.42 1.71
2016 1.36 1.67
2015 1.32 1.64
2014 1.26 1.62
2013 1.28 1.54
2012 1.25 1.5
2011 1.21 1.51
2010 1.26 1.57
2009 1.27 1.66
2008 1.21 1.56
2007 1.19 1.49
2006 1.18 1.44
2005 1.2 1.37
2004 1.22 1.33
2003 1.22 1.26
2002 1.23 1.23
2001 1.23 1.21
2000 1.28 1.26
1999 1.37 1.23
1998 1.56 1.11
1997 1.69 1.09
1996 1.65 1.23
1995 1.67 1.23
1994 1.7 1.37
1993 1.73 1.46
1992 1.76 1.55
1991 1.78 1.66
1990 1.79 1.82
1989 1.79 1.9
1988 1.85 1.97
1987 1.88 1.96
1986 1.91 2.02
1985 1.96 1.97
1984 2.02 2.01
1983 2.05 2.01
1982 2.05 2.01
1981 2.02 2
1980 1.98 2.05
1979 1.99 2.16
1978 2.08 2.15
1977 2.2 2.21
1976 2.31 2.24
1975 2.39 2.23
1974 2.45 2.29
1973 2.54 2.15
1972 2.67 2.03
1971 2.75 2.1
1970 2.79 2.17
1969 2.95 2.27
1968 3.08 2.27
1967 3.22 2.02
1966 3.39 2.03
1965 3.53 2.09
1964 3.6 2.19
1963 3.7 2.21
1962 3.81 2.24
1961 3.89 2.29
1960 3.96 2.31

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 1.49 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.81 in Bulgaria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Bulgaria population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
1x
Year Natural population change
Bosnia Bulgaria
2023 -18,292 -43,837
2022 -20,197 -62,065
2021 -33,670 -90,452
2020 -22,502 -65,507
2019 -15,192 -46,317
2018 -10,761 -46,304
2017 -12,810 -45,583
2016 -13,009 -42,744
2015 -11,942 -44,699
2014 -11,009 -41,027
2013 -8,367 -37,948
2012 -6,761 -40,183
2011 -5,354 -37,477
2010 -1,895 -34,759
2009 652 -26,800
2008 161 -32,967
2007 1,557 -37,727
2006 2,714 -39,526
2005 6,546 -42,124
2004 9,549 -40,128
2003 10,781 -44,319
2002 10,972 -46,240
2001 10,424 -44,050
2000 11,722 -41,668
1999 13,568 -39,411
1998 18,492 -52,844
1997 19,311 -58,185
1996 13,327 -45,159
1995 5,926 -42,030
1994 4,895 -32,086
1993 -27,199 -24,569
1992 -17,883 -18,789
1991 33,692 -14,675
1990 34,993 -3,487
1989 36,802 5,326
1988 39,058 9,879
1987 41,172 8,971
1986 42,884 16,125
1985 44,983 11,649
1984 46,413 20,610
1983 47,135 21,455
1982 47,023 24,077
1981 45,423 29,341
1980 42,911 30,129
1979 42,157 40,599
1978 44,800 44,070
1977 48,643 47,543
1976 52,107 56,055
1975 53,629 54,941
1974 53,600 64,223
1973 52,989 57,760
1972 54,072 47,169
1971 54,352 52,925
1970 54,455 61,125
1969 58,454 63,256
1968 61,422 69,468
1967 65,618 49,861
1966 70,085 54,504
1965 72,896 58,249
1964 74,151 66,783
1963 75,380 66,241
1962 77,582 64,104
1961 77,601 75,460
1960 76,840 76,314

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | 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 -0.57% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and -0.68% in Bulgaria.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.51% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and -0.79% in Bulgaria.

Birth rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Bulgaria by year

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Bosnia Bulgaria
2023 7.71 8.9
2022 7.75 8.8
2021 8.01 9
2020 8.35 9
2019 8.56 9.3
2018 8.8 9.3
2017 8.57 9.4
2016 8.48 9.4
2015 8.52 9.4
2014 8.4 9.6
2013 8.74 9.3
2012 8.87 9.5
2011 8.87 9.6
2010 9.46 10.2
2009 9.76 10.9
2008 9.53 10.4
2007 9.56 10
2006 9.55 9.7
2005 9.81 9.3
2004 10.1 9.1
2003 10.1 8.7
2002 10.1 8.5
2001 9.98 8.5
2000 10.2 9
1999 10.7 8.8
1998 12 7.9
1997 12.4 7.7
1996 11.2 8.6
1995 10.7 8.6
1994 12 9.4
1993 13 10
1992 15.3 10.4
1991 15.1 11.1
1990 15.4 12.1
1989 15.7 12.6
1988 16.4 13.1
1987 16.9 13
1986 17.2 13.4
1985 17.8 13.3
1984 18.2 13.6
1983 18.4 13.8
1982 18.3 13.9
1981 17.9 14
1980 17.4 14.5
1979 17.4 15.3
1978 18 15.5
1977 18.9 16.1
1976 19.7 16.5
1975 20.2 16.6
1974 20.5 17.2
1973 20.9 16.2
1972 21.8 15.3
1971 22.1 15.9
1970 22.3 16.3
1969 23.5 17
1968 24.6 16.9
1967 26 15
1966 27.7 14.9
1965 29.3 15.3
1964 30.4 16.1
1963 31.7 16.4
1962 33 16.7
1961 34 17.4
1960 34.6 17.8

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.71 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 8.9 in Bulgaria, compared with 34.6 and 17.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Bosnia Bulgaria
Fertility rate 1.49 1.81
Fertility rate rank 149/196 110/196
Birth rate 7.71 8.9
Birth rate rank 180/196 165/196
Population change due to births and deaths -18,292 -43,837
Natural population change rank 176/196 182/196
Natural population change rate -0.57% -0.68%
Population growth -0.65% -0.08%
Population growth rank 190/197 171/197
Age at first childbirth 28 years 26.9 years
Average age at childbearing 29.3 years 28.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 9.85 36
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 79.7 86.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 8.49 10.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.9% 20.7%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 12.1% 39.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 94.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.006% 0.006%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.45% 0.26%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.53% 0.5%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.6% 0.61%
Life expectancy 78.4 years 76.1 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Factual

UN forecast
Bulgaria
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Bosnia Bulgaria
2100 11.4% 13%
2099 11.4% 13.1%
2098 11.4% 13.1%
2097 11.4% 13.1%
2096 11.4% 13.2%
2095 11.4% 13.2%
2094 11.4% 13.3%
2093 11.4% 13.4%
2092 11.4% 13.4%
2091 11.4% 13.4%
2090 11.4% 13.5%
2089 11.4% 13.5%
2088 11.5% 13.6%
2087 11.5% 13.6%
2086 11.5% 13.6%
2085 11.5% 13.6%
2084 11.6% 13.6%
2083 11.6% 13.6%
2082 11.6% 13.6%
2081 11.6% 13.6%
2080 11.6% 13.6%
2079 11.6% 13.6%
2078 11.6% 13.6%
2077 11.6% 13.6%
2076 11.5% 13.6%
2075 11.5% 13.5%
2074 11.5% 13.5%
2073 11.5% 13.5%
2072 11.4% 13.5%
2071 11.4% 13.5%
2070 11.4% 13.5%
2069 11.3% 13.6%
2068 11.3% 13.6%
2067 11.3% 13.6%
2066 11.3% 13.6%
2065 11.3% 13.6%
2064 11.3% 13.7%
2063 11.3% 13.7%
2062 11.3% 13.7%
2061 11.3% 13.8%
2060 11.3% 13.8%
2059 11.3% 13.8%
2058 11.4% 13.9%
2057 11.4% 13.9%
2056 11.4% 13.9%
2055 11.5% 13.9%
2054 11.5% 13.9%
2053 11.6% 13.9%
2052 11.6% 13.9%
2051 11.7% 13.8%
2050 11.7% 13.8%
2049 11.8% 13.8%
2048 11.8% 13.7%
2047 11.8% 13.7%
2046 11.9% 13.6%
2045 11.9% 13.6%
2044 11.9% 13.6%
2043 11.9% 13.6%
2042 11.9% 13.6%
2041 11.9% 13.6%
2040 11.9% 13.6%
2039 11.9% 13.6%
2038 11.9% 13.7%
2037 11.9% 13.7%
2036 11.9% 13.7%
2035 12% 13.7%
2034 12.1% 13.8%
2033 12.2% 13.8%
2032 12.3% 13.9%
2031 12.3% 14%
2030 12.4% 14.1%
2029 12.4% 14.2%
2028 12.5% 14.2%
2027 12.7% 14.3%
2026 12.8% 14.4%
2025 12.9% 14.4%
2024 13% 14.5%
2023 13.2% 14.5%
2022 13.4% 14.5%
2021 13.5% 14.5%
2020 13.6% 14.4%
2019 13.7% 14.4%
2018 13.8% 14.3%
2017 14% 14.2%
2016 14.1% 14%
2015 14.3% 13.9%
2014 14.5% 13.8%
2013 14.8% 13.7%
2012 15.1% 13.6%
2011 15.4% 13.5%
2010 15.6% 13.5%
2009 15.7% 13.4%
2008 15.8% 13.3%
2007 16.1% 13.4%
2006 16.4% 13.5%
2005 16.9% 13.7%
2004 17.3% 14%
2003 17.8% 14.4%
2002 18.4% 14.8%
2001 19.1% 15.2%
2000 19.9% 15.7%
1999 20.7% 16.1%
1998 21.5% 16.5%
1997 22.4% 17%
1996 23.5% 17.4%
1995 24.8% 17.9%
1994 25.5% 18.3%
1993 25.5% 18.8%
1992 24.7% 19.3%
1991 24.3% 19.8%
1990 24.6% 20.3%
1989 24.9% 20.8%
1988 25.1% 21.1%
1987 25.4% 21.3%
1986 25.7% 21.4%
1985 25.9% 21.6%
1984 26.2% 21.8%
1983 26.5% 22%
1982 26.9% 22.1%
1981 27.5% 22.1%
1980 28.1% 22.1%
1979 28.7% 22.1%
1978 29.3% 22.2%
1977 30% 22.2%
1976 30.7% 22.3%
1975 31.5% 22.3%
1974 32.2% 22.2%
1973 33% 22.3%
1972 33.7% 22.4%
1971 34.4% 22.6%
1970 35.2% 22.8%
1969 36% 23%
1968 36.7% 23.2%
1967 37.3% 23.4%
1966 37.8% 23.8%
1965 38.1% 24.2%
1964 38.4% 24.7%
1963 38.6% 25.1%
1962 38.6% 25.4%
1961 38.5% 25.8%
1960 38.2% 26.1%

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/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 13% of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14.5% in Bulgaria in 2024, compared to 24.6% and 20.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Bulgaria

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Bosnia Bulgaria
2023 6 6
2022 12 10
2021 13 9
2020 7 9
2019 6 6
2018 7 7
2017 7 7
2016 7 7
2015 7 7
2014 7 7
2013 7 7
2012 7 7
2011 7 8
2010 8 9
2009 8 9
2008 8 10
2007 9 11
2006 9 12
2005 9 13
2004 10 14
2003 10 14
2002 10 15
2001 11 17
2000 11 19
1999 13 20
1998 14 20
1997 16 23
1996 17 22
1995 19 23
1994 22 25
1993 26 23
1992 30 25
1991 23 25
1990 25 27
1989 26 25
1988 29 26
1987 31 25
1986 33 25
1985 35 26

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to 6 deaths in Bulgaria.

Under-five mortality rates

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Bosnia Bulgaria
2023 0.6% 0.61%
2022 0.62% 0.62%
2021 0.64% 0.63%
2020 0.66% 0.65%
2019 0.67% 0.67%
2018 0.68% 0.7%
2017 0.68% 0.73%
2016 0.68% 0.77%
2015 0.67% 0.82%
2014 0.67% 0.87%
2013 0.67% 0.93%
2012 0.67% 0.99%
2011 0.68% 1.04%
2010 0.68% 1.08%
2009 0.69% 1.12%
2008 0.7% 1.14%
2007 0.71% 1.18%
2006 0.72% 1.24%
2005 0.74% 1.33%
2004 0.76% 1.42%
2003 0.8% 1.51%
2002 0.84% 1.6%
2001 0.89% 1.68%
2000 0.95% 1.75%
1999 1.02% 1.82%
1998 1.09% 1.89%
1997 1.17% 1.93%
1996 1.24% 1.94%
1995 1.94% 1.92%
1994 1.4% 1.91%
1993 5.87% 1.92%
1992 5.78% 1.92%
1991 1.69% 1.89%
1990 1.82% 1.83%
1989 1.96% 1.79%
1988 2.12% 1.78%
1987 2.3% 1.8%
1986 2.49% 1.87%
1985 2.7% 1.97%
1984 2.94% 2.07%
1983 - 2.15%
1982 - 2.22%
1981 - 2.3%
1980 - 2.38%
1979 - 2.49%
1978 - 2.6%
1977 - 2.72%
1976 - 2.8%
1975 - 2.86%
1974 - 2.91%
1973 - 2.95%
1972 - 3.01%
1971 - 3.11%
1970 - 3.25%
1969 - 3.4%
1968 - 3.54%
1967 - 3.64%
1966 - 3.7%
1965 - 3.75%
1964 - 3.86%
1963 - 4.08%
1962 - 4.43%
1961 - 4.89%
1960 - 5.47%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bulgaria | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.6% in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 0.61% in Bulgaria. 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) (2021–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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