Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and Croatia

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs Croatia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Croatia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2023	1.81	1.46
2022	1.78	1.53
2021	1.8	1.62
2020	1.77	1.48
2019	1.79	1.47
2018	1.73	1.47
2017	1.71	1.42
2016	1.67	1.43
2015	1.64	1.41
2014	1.62	1.46
2013	1.54	1.46
2012	1.5	1.52
2011	1.51	1.41
2010	1.57	1.46
2009	1.66	1.5
2008	1.56	1.47
2007	1.49	1.48
2006	1.44	1.47
2005	1.37	1.5
2004	1.33	1.43
2003	1.26	1.41
2002	1.23	1.42
2001	1.21	1.46
2000	1.26	1.39
1999	1.23	1.38
1998	1.11	1.45
1997	1.09	1.69
1996	1.23	1.67
1995	1.23	1.58
1994	1.37	1.47
1993	1.46	1.52
1992	1.55	1.48
1991	1.66	1.53
1990	1.82	1.63
1989	1.9	1.63
1988	1.97	1.79
1987	1.96	1.64
1986	2.02	1.76
1985	1.97	1.82
1984	2.01	1.87
1983	2.01	1.88
1982	2.01	1.9
1981	2	1.93
1980	2.05	1.93
1979	2.16	1.95
1978	2.15	1.96
1977	2.21	1.95
1976	2.24	1.94
1975	2.23	1.95
1974	2.29	1.98
1973	2.15	2.01
1972	2.03	2.01
1971	2.1	1.97
1970	2.17	1.88
1969	2.27	1.95
1968	2.27	2.03
1967	2.02	2.1
1966	2.03	2.23
1965	2.09	2.22
1964	2.19	2.14
1963	2.21	2.15
1962	2.24	2.19
1961	2.29	2.22
1960	2.31	2.24

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.46 in Croatia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Bulgaria vs Croatia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Croatia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2023	-43,837	-19,298
2022	-62,065	-23,134
2021	-90,452	-26,377
2020	-65,507	-20,354
2019	-46,317	-15,008
2018	-46,304	-15,557
2017	-45,583	-16,570
2016	-42,744	-13,553
2015	-44,699	-16,607
2014	-41,027	-11,345
2013	-37,948	-10,162
2012	-40,183	-9,799
2011	-37,477	-9,846
2010	-34,759	-8,591
2009	-26,800	-7,319
2008	-32,967	-8,188
2007	-37,727	-10,335
2006	-39,526	-8,669
2005	-42,124	-9,022
2004	-40,128	-9,040
2003	-44,319	-12,480
2002	-46,240	-10,325
2001	-44,050	-8,599
2000	-41,668	-6,255
1999	-39,411	-6,769
1998	-52,844	-4,985
1997	-58,185	3,175
1996	-45,159	3,190
1995	-42,030	0
1994	-32,086	-930
1993	-24,569	-2,301
1992	-18,789	-4,576
1991	-14,675	-2,813
1990	-3,487	3,344
1989	5,326	3,337
1988	9,879	5,707
1987	8,971	6,161
1986	16,125	8,499
1985	11,649	10,343
1984	20,610	10,764
1983	21,455	10,714
1982	24,077	15,756
1981	29,341	15,680
1980	30,129	17,939
1979	40,599	21,136
1978	44,070	20,157
1977	47,543	22,798
1976	56,055	22,226
1975	54,941	21,658
1974	64,223	22,453
1973	57,760	21,904
1972	47,169	17,802
1971	52,925	19,941
1970	61,125	16,767
1969	63,256	16,688
1968	69,468	21,828
1967	49,861	26,032
1966	54,504	33,192
1965	58,249	31,251
1964	66,783	25,942
1963	66,241	31,270
1962	64,104	30,216
1961	75,460	36,255
1960	76,314	34,778

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 -0.68% in Bulgaria and -0.5% in Croatia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and -0.45% in Croatia.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs Croatia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Croatia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2023	8.9	8.3
2022	8.8	8.8
2021	9	9.4
2020	9	8.9
2019	9.3	8.9
2018	9.3	9
2017	9.4	8.9
2016	9.4	9
2015	9.4	8.9
2014	9.6	9.3
2013	9.3	9.4
2012	9.5	9.8
2011	9.6	9.6
2010	10.2	9.8
2009	10.9	10.1
2008	10.4	9.9
2007	10	9.4
2006	9.7	9.33
2005	9.3	9.56
2004	9.1	9.1
2003	8.7	8.9
2002	8.5	9
2001	8.5	9.2
2000	9	9.8
1999	8.8	10
1998	7.9	10.4
1997	7.7	12.2
1996	8.6	11.8
1995	8.6	10.9
1994	9.4	10.4
1993	10	10.6
1992	10.4	10.3
1991	11.1	11.1
1990	12.1	11.6
1989	12.6	11.7
1988	13.1	12.3
1987	13	12.5
1986	13.4	12.8
1985	13.3	13.3
1984	13.6	13.9
1983	13.8	14.1
1982	13.9	14.4
1981	14	14.6
1980	14.5	14.8
1979	15.3	15.1
1978	15.5	15
1977	16.1	14.9
1976	16.5	14.8
1975	16.6	14.9
1974	17.2	15
1973	16.2	15.1
1972	15.3	14.8
1971	15.9	14.6
1970	16.3	13.8
1969	17	14.5
1968	16.9	15
1967	15	15.5
1966	14.9	16.5
1965	15.3	16.6
1964	16.1	16.2
1963	16.4	16.5
1962	16.7	17.2
1961	17.4	17.8
1960	17.8	18.4

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 8.3 in Croatia, compared with 17.8 and 18.4, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

Croatia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2100	13%	11.6%
2099	13.1%	11.6%
2098	13.1%	11.7%
2097	13.1%	11.7%
2096	13.2%	11.7%
2095	13.2%	11.8%
2094	13.3%	11.8%
2093	13.4%	11.8%
2092	13.4%	11.9%
2091	13.4%	11.9%
2090	13.5%	12%
2089	13.5%	12%
2088	13.6%	12%
2087	13.6%	12.1%
2086	13.6%	12.1%
2085	13.6%	12.1%
2084	13.6%	12.1%
2083	13.6%	12.1%
2082	13.6%	12.1%
2081	13.6%	12.1%
2080	13.6%	12.1%
2079	13.6%	12.1%
2078	13.6%	12.1%
2077	13.6%	12%
2076	13.6%	12%
2075	13.5%	12%
2074	13.5%	12%
2073	13.5%	11.9%
2072	13.5%	11.9%
2071	13.5%	11.9%
2070	13.5%	11.9%
2069	13.6%	11.9%
2068	13.6%	11.9%
2067	13.6%	11.9%
2066	13.6%	12%
2065	13.6%	12%
2064	13.7%	12%
2063	13.7%	12.1%
2062	13.7%	12.1%
2061	13.8%	12.2%
2060	13.8%	12.3%
2059	13.8%	12.3%
2058	13.9%	12.4%
2057	13.9%	12.5%
2056	13.9%	12.5%
2055	13.9%	12.6%
2054	13.9%	12.6%
2053	13.9%	12.7%
2052	13.9%	12.7%
2051	13.8%	12.7%
2050	13.8%	12.8%
2049	13.8%	12.8%
2048	13.7%	12.8%
2047	13.7%	12.8%
2046	13.6%	12.7%
2045	13.6%	12.7%
2044	13.6%	12.7%
2043	13.6%	12.7%
2042	13.6%	12.6%
2041	13.6%	12.6%
2040	13.6%	12.6%
2039	13.6%	12.6%
2038	13.7%	12.6%
2037	13.7%	12.6%
2036	13.7%	12.7%
2035	13.7%	12.7%
2034	13.8%	12.8%
2033	13.8%	12.8%
2032	13.9%	12.9%
2031	14%	12.9%
2030	14.1%	13%
2029	14.2%	13.1%
2028	14.2%	13.2%
2027	14.3%	13.4%
2026	14.4%	13.6%
2025	14.4%	13.8%
2024	14.5%	13.9%
2023	14.5%	14.1%
2022	14.5%	14.3%
2021	14.5%	14.4%
2020	14.4%	14.5%
2019	14.4%	14.5%
2018	14.3%	14.6%
2017	14.2%	14.6%
2016	14%	14.6%
2015	13.9%	14.6%
2014	13.8%	14.7%
2013	13.7%	14.8%
2012	13.6%	15%
2011	13.5%	15.1%
2010	13.5%	15.3%
2009	13.4%	15.4%
2008	13.3%	15.4%
2007	13.4%	15.5%
2006	13.5%	15.7%
2005	13.7%	15.8%
2004	14%	16%
2003	14.4%	16.3%
2002	14.8%	16.5%
2001	15.2%	16.7%
2000	15.7%	16.9%
1999	16.1%	17.1%
1998	16.5%	17.3%
1997	17%	17.5%
1996	17.4%	17.7%
1995	17.9%	18%
1994	18.3%	18.4%
1993	18.8%	18.8%
1992	19.3%	19.2%
1991	19.8%	19.5%
1990	20.3%	19.8%
1989	20.8%	20.1%
1988	21.1%	20.3%
1987	21.3%	20.5%
1986	21.4%	20.7%
1985	21.6%	20.8%
1984	21.8%	20.9%
1983	22%	20.9%
1982	22.1%	21%
1981	22.1%	21%
1980	22.1%	21.1%
1979	22.1%	21.2%
1978	22.2%	21.3%
1977	22.2%	21.4%
1976	22.3%	21.6%
1975	22.3%	21.8%
1974	22.2%	22%
1973	22.3%	22.2%
1972	22.4%	22.4%
1971	22.6%	22.8%
1970	22.8%	23.2%
1969	23%	23.7%
1968	23.2%	24.3%
1967	23.4%	24.8%
1966	23.8%	25.2%
1965	24.2%	25.7%
1964	24.7%	26.1%
1963	25.1%	26.5%
1962	25.4%	26.8%
1961	25.8%	26.9%
1960	26.1%	27%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 13.9% in Croatia in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and Croatia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs Croatia

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Croatia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2023	6	3
2022	10	6
2021	9	12
2020	9	5
2019	6	4
2018	7	3
2017	7	4
2016	7	4
2015	7	4
2014	7	4
2013	7	5
2012	7	5
2011	8	5
2010	9	6
2009	9	6
2008	10	6
2007	11	6
2006	12	6
2005	13	7
2004	14	7
2003	14	8
2002	15	7
2001	17	7
2000	19	8
1999	20	8
1998	20	8
1997	23	9
1996	22	9
1995	23	9
1994	25	9
1993	23	9
1992	25	10
1991	25	10
1990	27	10
1989	25	9
1988	26	10
1987	25	10
1986	25	10
1985	26	10

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 Bulgaria, compared to 3 deaths in Croatia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Croatia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	Croatia
2023	0.61%	0.46%
2022	0.62%	0.46%
2021	0.63%	0.46%
2020	0.65%	0.47%
2019	0.67%	0.47%
2018	0.7%	0.48%
2017	0.73%	0.48%
2016	0.77%	0.49%
2015	0.82%	0.49%
2014	0.87%	0.5%
2013	0.93%	0.51%
2012	0.99%	0.52%
2011	1.04%	0.53%
2010	1.08%	0.55%
2009	1.12%	0.57%
2008	1.14%	0.59%
2007	1.18%	0.61%
2006	1.24%	0.64%
2005	1.33%	0.67%
2004	1.42%	0.71%
2003	1.51%	0.82%
2002	1.6%	0.77%
2001	1.68%	0.8%
2000	1.75%	0.83%
1999	1.82%	0.86%
1998	1.89%	0.9%
1997	1.93%	0.93%
1996	1.94%	0.96%
1995	1.92%	1%
1994	1.91%	1.04%
1993	1.92%	1.09%
1992	1.92%	1.15%
1991	1.89%	1.39%
1990	1.83%	1.29%
1989	1.79%	1.38%
1988	1.78%	1.48%
1987	1.8%	1.59%
1986	1.87%	1.69%
1985	1.97%	1.8%
1984	2.07%	1.91%
1983	2.15%	2%
1982	2.22%	2.09%
1981	2.3%	2.19%
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%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.61% in Bulgaria and 0.46% in Croatia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.