Bulgaria birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Bulgaria has a birth rate of 8.9 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.81 (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 Bulgaria was 2.31 children per woman — 1.28 times higher than in 2023.

Bulgaria birth rate statistics:

Bulgaria is ranked 165/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 178/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Bulgaria is 26.9 — it was 22 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3, a change from 23.9 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 72.6 in 1960 to 39.1 in 2023.
20.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 25.5% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Bulgaria by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.81	110
2022	1.78	115
2021	1.8	117
2020	1.77	117
2019	1.79	120
2018	1.73	130
2017	1.71	140
2016	1.67	149
2015	1.64	154
2014	1.62	157
2013	1.54	162
2012	1.5	173
2011	1.51	169
2010	1.57	163
2009	1.66	159
2008	1.56	165
2007	1.49	164
2006	1.44	167
2005	1.37	176
2004	1.33	178
2003	1.26	186
2002	1.23	189
2001	1.21	191
2000	1.26	188
1999	1.23	188
1998	1.11	195
1997	1.09	196
1996	1.23	191
1995	1.23	193
1994	1.37	189
1993	1.46	185
1992	1.55	183
1991	1.66	179
1990	1.82	172
1989	1.9	163
1988	1.97	161
1987	1.96	161
1986	2.02	157
1985	1.97	158
1984	2.01	160
1983	2.01	161
1982	2.01	160
1981	2	162
1980	2.05	160
1979	2.16	159
1978	2.15	159
1977	2.21	158
1976	2.24	163
1975	2.23	165
1974	2.29	164
1973	2.15	173
1972	2.03	181
1971	2.1	181
1970	2.17	177
1969	2.27	175
1968	2.27	176
1967	2.02	190
1966	2.03	189
1965	2.09	189
1964	2.19	186
1963	2.21	186
1962	2.24	185
1961	2.29	182
1960	2.31	183

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

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

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1980. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.46 — a 24% increase 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	-43,837	57,374	101,211
2022	-62,065	56,892	118,957
2021	-90,452	58,565	149,017
2020	-65,507	58,956	124,463
2019	-46,317	61,535	107,852
2018	-46,304	62,410	108,714
2017	-45,583	63,952	109,535
2016	-42,744	64,804	107,548
2015	-44,699	65,651	110,350
2014	-41,027	67,906	108,933
2013	-37,948	66,588	104,536
2012	-40,183	69,405	109,588
2011	-37,477	70,543	108,020
2010	-34,759	75,435	110,194
2009	-26,800	81,144	107,944
2008	-32,967	77,922	110,889
2007	-37,727	75,453	113,180
2006	-39,526	73,729	113,255
2005	-42,124	71,228	113,352
2004	-40,128	70,223	110,351
2003	-44,319	67,645	111,964
2002	-46,240	66,615	112,855
2001	-44,050	68,077	112,127
2000	-41,668	73,531	115,199
1999	-39,411	72,253	111,664
1998	-52,844	65,228	118,072
1997	-58,185	64,002	122,187
1996	-45,159	71,920	117,079
1995	-42,030	72,292	114,322
1994	-32,086	79,369	111,455
1993	-24,569	84,723	109,292
1992	-18,789	88,817	107,606
1991	-14,675	95,819	110,494
1990	-3,487	105,491	108,978
1989	5,326	111,849	106,523
1988	9,879	117,656	107,777
1987	8,971	116,627	107,656
1986	16,125	120,039	103,914
1985	11,649	119,175	107,526
1984	20,610	121,865	101,255
1983	21,455	123,368	101,913
1982	24,077	123,952	99,875
1981	29,341	124,475	95,134
1980	30,129	128,492	98,363
1979	40,599	135,036	94,437
1978	44,070	136,617	92,547
1977	47,543	141,747	94,204
1976	56,055	144,516	88,461
1975	54,941	144,764	89,823
1974	64,223	149,274	85,051
1973	57,760	139,659	81,899
1972	47,169	131,215	84,046
1971	52,925	135,728	82,803
1970	61,125	138,380	77,255
1969	63,256	143,380	80,124
1968	69,468	141,446	71,978
1967	49,861	124,653	74,792
1966	54,504	123,045	68,541
1965	58,249	125,523	67,274
1964	66,783	131,123	64,340
1963	66,241	132,481	66,240
1962	64,104	133,816	69,712
1961	75,460	138,210	62,750
1960	76,314	140,039	63,725

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

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

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Bulgaria (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been -0.79% annually. On average, 52,853 more people died each year than were born.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.68% — 43,837 more people died than were born.

In 2023, Bulgaria ranks 182/196 for absolute natural population change and 192/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Bulgaria compared to other countries

	Bulgaria	Rank
Fertility rate	1.81	110/196
Birth rate	8.9	165/196
Population change due to births and deaths	-43,837	182/196
Natural population change rate	-0.68%	192/196
Population growth	-0.08%	171/197
Age at first childbirth	26.9 years	49/137
Average age at childbearing	28.3 years	147/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	36	87/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	86.2	112/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	10.7	186/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	20.7%	185/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	39.6%	102/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	94.5%	125/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.006%	163/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.26%	157/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.5%	146/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.61%	143/192
Life expectancy	76.1 years	84/197

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	18	36	86.2	10.7
2025	18.2	37.2	86.9	10.8
2024	18.4	38.5	87.4	11
2023	18.7	39.5	88.1	11.2
2022	19.1	39.8	89	11.5
2021	17.5	36.7	79.7	10.4
2020	17.3	37.5	78.6	10.1
2019	18	39.1	80.1	10.3
2018	17.9	39.1	78.9	10.1
2017	18.2	38.5	79.4	10.1
2016	18.3	38	79.1	9.94
2015	18.3	39.2	78.4	9.77
2014	18.5	41.3	79	9.65
2013	18	41.5	77.4	9.15
2012	18.4	41.8	78.7	9.36
2011	18.8	41.2	79.4	9.55
2010	19.9	41.9	84.2	9.9
2009	21.1	46.6	90.3	9.8
2008	20.2	44	87.8	8.88
2007	19.5	41.9	85.6	8.14
2006	19	40.7	84.8	7.42
2005	18.1	39.4	81.9	6.62
2004	17.7	40.6	80.9	5.83
2003	16.9	39.8	78.7	5.1
2002	16.6	40.5	78.2	4.64
2001	16.4	42.7	78.5	4.49
2000	17.1	46.5	83.1	4.45
1999	16.8	48	81.4	3.96
1998	15.2	44.4	74	3.34
1997	14.9	44.3	73.5	3.13
1996	16.5	50.4	82.7	3.32
1995	16.7	52.3	83.6	3.26
1994	18.3	59.1	91.7	3.52
1993	19.4	64.9	97	3.64
1992	20.5	67.4	102.6	3.78
1991	22	68.7	111.6	4.03
1990	24	70.4	122.6	4.65
1989	25.2	74	129.8	4.98
1988	25.7	77.5	134.1	5.18
1987	25.6	75.8	132.3	5.31
1986	26.3	74.7	135	5.62
1985	26.3	74.4	133.6	5.46
1984	26.9	77.6	136.3	5.48
1983	27.3	80.9	136.4	5.44
1982	27.6	82.5	136.8	5.38
1981	27.9	79.3	137.6	5.56
1980	28.8	80.4	140	5.61
1979	30.4	80.1	147.2	6
1978	31	77.2	148.1	6.13
1977	32.1	77.4	152.8	6.53
1976	33	77.1	156	6.83
1975	33.3	75.6	157.1	6.84
1974	34.3	75	163.5	7.1
1973	32.4	71.9	154.3	6.7
1972	30.7	68.3	145.6	6.64
1971	31.7	69.1	150.5	7.27
1970	32.7	70.8	156.1	7.96
1969	33.9	74.8	162.1	8.64
1968	33.7	75.2	161.5	8.81
1967	30	67.8	142.5	8.25
1966	29.7	64.2	140.3	8.83
1965	30.7	67.7	140.8	9.87
1964	31.9	68.6	144	10.7
1963	32.5	66.5	145	11.3
1962	33.2	66.5	145.4	12
1961	34.5	71.2	149	12.3
1960	35.5	73.2	150.4	12.6

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/bulgaria | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Bulgaria by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 10.3% will be to women under age 20, 44.4% to women ages 20-29, and 45.3% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 20.9%, 67.2%, and 11.9%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Bulgaria	World
2100	13%	16.5%
2099	13.1%	16.6%
2098	13.1%	16.6%
2097	13.1%	16.7%
2096	13.2%	16.8%
2095	13.2%	16.8%
2094	13.3%	16.9%
2093	13.4%	17%
2092	13.4%	17%
2091	13.4%	17.1%
2090	13.5%	17.2%
2089	13.5%	17.2%
2088	13.6%	17.3%
2087	13.6%	17.4%
2086	13.6%	17.4%
2085	13.6%	17.5%
2084	13.6%	17.5%
2083	13.6%	17.6%
2082	13.6%	17.7%
2081	13.6%	17.7%
2080	13.6%	17.8%
2079	13.6%	17.8%
2078	13.6%	17.9%
2077	13.6%	17.9%
2076	13.6%	18%
2075	13.5%	18%
2074	13.5%	18.1%
2073	13.5%	18.2%
2072	13.5%	18.2%
2071	13.5%	18.3%
2070	13.5%	18.3%
2069	13.6%	18.4%
2068	13.6%	18.5%
2067	13.6%	18.6%
2066	13.6%	18.6%
2065	13.6%	18.7%
2064	13.7%	18.8%
2063	13.7%	18.9%
2062	13.7%	19.1%
2061	13.8%	19.2%
2060	13.8%	19.3%
2059	13.8%	19.4%
2058	13.9%	19.5%
2057	13.9%	19.6%
2056	13.9%	19.8%
2055	13.9%	19.9%
2054	13.9%	20%
2053	13.9%	20.1%
2052	13.9%	20.2%
2051	13.8%	20.3%
2050	13.8%	20.4%
2049	13.8%	20.5%
2048	13.7%	20.6%
2047	13.7%	20.7%
2046	13.6%	20.8%
2045	13.6%	20.9%
2044	13.6%	20.9%
2043	13.6%	21%
2042	13.6%	21.1%
2041	13.6%	21.2%
2040	13.6%	21.2%
2039	13.6%	21.3%
2038	13.7%	21.4%
2037	13.7%	21.5%
2036	13.7%	21.6%
2035	13.7%	21.8%
2034	13.8%	22%
2033	13.8%	22.2%
2032	13.9%	22.4%
2031	14%	22.7%
2030	14.1%	23%
2029	14.2%	23.3%
2028	14.2%	23.6%
2027	14.3%	23.9%
2026	14.4%	24.2%
2025	14.4%	24.6%
2024	14.5%	24.7%
2023	14.5%	25%
2022	14.5%	25.3%
2021	14.5%	25.6%
2020	14.4%	25.8%
2019	14.4%	26%
2018	14.3%	26.2%
2017	14.2%	26.4%
2016	14%	26.5%
2015	13.9%	26.6%
2014	13.8%	26.8%
2013	13.7%	26.9%
2012	13.6%	27%
2011	13.5%	27.1%
2010	13.5%	27.3%
2009	13.4%	27.5%
2008	13.3%	27.6%
2007	13.4%	27.9%
2006	13.5%	28.1%
2005	13.7%	28.5%
2004	14%	28.8%
2003	14.4%	29.2%
2002	14.8%	29.6%
2001	15.2%	30%
2000	15.7%	30.4%
1999	16.1%	30.8%
1998	16.5%	31.1%
1997	17%	31.5%
1996	17.4%	31.8%
1995	17.9%	32.1%
1994	18.3%	32.3%
1993	18.8%	32.5%
1992	19.3%	32.7%
1991	19.8%	32.9%
1990	20.3%	33%
1989	20.8%	33.2%
1988	21.1%	33.4%
1987	21.3%	33.6%
1986	21.4%	33.8%
1985	21.6%	34%
1984	21.8%	34.3%
1983	22%	34.6%
1982	22.1%	34.9%
1981	22.1%	35.2%
1980	22.1%	35.5%
1979	22.1%	35.9%
1978	22.2%	36.3%
1977	22.2%	36.7%
1976	22.3%	36.9%
1975	22.3%	37.1%
1974	22.2%	37.2%
1973	22.3%	37.3%
1972	22.4%	37.5%
1971	22.6%	37.6%
1970	22.8%	37.7%
1969	23%	37.8%
1968	23.2%	37.9%
1967	23.4%	38%
1966	23.8%	38%
1965	24.2%	38%
1964	24.7%	38%
1963	25.1%	37.8%
1962	25.4%	37.6%
1961	25.8%	37.5%
1960	26.1%	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/bulgaria | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Bulgaria was 26.1% in 1960, 19.3% in 1992, and 14.5% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Bulgaria.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	6	197
2022	10	203
2021	9	242
2020	9	211
2019	6	207
2018	7	211
2017	7	215
2016	7	220
2015	7	228
2014	7	231
2013	7	235
2012	7	239
2011	8	247
2010	9	253
2009	9	258
2008	10	264
2007	11	269
2006	12	276
2005	13	283
2004	14	291
2003	14	301
2002	15	311
2001	17	321
2000	19	328
1999	20	340
1998	20	360
1997	23	358
1996	22	366
1995	23	371
1994	25	382
1993	23	389
1992	25	395
1991	25	395
1990	27	391
1989	25	401
1988	26	414
1987	25	429
1986	25	438
1985	26	460

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

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

The maternal mortality rate in Bulgaria was 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.006% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 68.4% 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	Bulgaria	World
2023	0.61%	2.49%
2022	0.62%	2.59%
2021	0.63%	2.66%
2020	0.65%	2.75%
2019	0.67%	2.86%
2018	0.7%	2.97%
2017	0.73%	3.11%
2016	0.77%	3.22%
2015	0.82%	3.35%
2014	0.87%	3.48%
2013	0.93%	3.61%
2012	0.99%	3.77%
2011	1.04%	3.97%
2010	1.08%	4.11%
2009	1.12%	4.31%
2008	1.14%	4.5%
2007	1.18%	4.7%
2006	1.24%	4.92%
2005	1.33%	5.16%
2004	1.42%	5.43%
2003	1.51%	5.65%
2002	1.6%	5.94%
2001	1.68%	6.21%
2000	1.75%	6.48%
1999	1.82%	6.75%
1998	1.89%	7.05%
1997	1.93%	7.28%
1996	1.94%	7.52%
1995	1.92%	7.76%
1994	1.91%	7.98%
1993	1.92%	8.19%
1992	1.92%	8.46%
1991	1.89%	8.66%
1990	1.83%	8.81%
1989	1.79%	9.02%
1988	1.78%	9.31%
1987	1.8%	9.47%
1986	1.87%	9.81%
1985	1.97%	10.1%
1984	2.07%	10.4%
1983	2.15%	10.6%
1982	2.22%	10.8%
1981	2.3%	11%
1980	2.38%	11.4%
1979	2.49%	11.7%
1978	2.6%	12.2%
1977	2.72%	12.6%
1976	2.8%	13%
1975	2.86%	13.4%
1974	2.91%	13.8%
1973	2.95%	14.1%
1972	3.01%	14.5%
1971	3.11%	15.1%
1970	3.25%	15.2%
1969	3.4%	15.4%
1968	3.54%	15.6%
1967	3.64%	15.9%
1966	3.7%	16.1%
1965	3.75%	16.4%
1964	3.86%	16.6%
1963	4.08%	16.5%
1962	4.43%	16.7%
1961	4.89%	17%
1960	5.47%	17.2%

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

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

The under-5 mortality rate in Bulgaria was 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.61% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 17.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.