Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and Iran

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs Iran by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Iran

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	Iran
2023	1.81	1.7
2022	1.78	1.7
2021	1.8	1.71
2020	1.77	1.7
2019	1.79	1.77
2018	1.73	1.92
2017	1.71	2.02
2016	1.67	2.05
2015	1.64	2.02
2014	1.62	1.98
2013	1.54	1.91
2012	1.5	1.85
2011	1.51	1.79
2010	1.57	1.75
2009	1.66	1.74
2008	1.56	1.74
2007	1.49	1.75
2006	1.44	1.76
2005	1.37	1.76
2004	1.33	1.78
2003	1.26	1.8
2002	1.23	1.84
2001	1.21	1.92
2000	1.26	2
1999	1.23	2.09
1998	1.11	2.19
1997	1.09	2.32
1996	1.23	2.54
1995	1.23	2.85
1994	1.37	3.24
1993	1.46	3.67
1992	1.55	4.1
1991	1.66	4.57
1990	1.82	4.93
1989	1.9	5.17
1988	1.97	5.43
1987	1.96	5.72
1986	2.02	6.01
1985	1.97	6.24
1984	2.01	6.43
1983	2.01	6.53
1982	2.01	6.59
1981	2	6.62
1980	2.05	6.63
1979	2.16	6.55
1978	2.15	6.34
1977	2.21	6.18
1976	2.24	6.07
1975	2.23	5.95
1974	2.29	5.97
1973	2.15	6.06
1972	2.03	6.26
1971	2.1	6.55
1970	2.17	6.8
1969	2.27	7.01
1968	2.27	7.12
1967	2.02	7.19
1966	2.03	7.21
1965	2.09	7.22
1964	2.19	7.24
1963	2.21	7.32
1962	2.24	7.4
1961	2.29	7.46
1960	2.31	7.52

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.7 in Iran in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Iran

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	Iran
2023	-43,837	750,150
2022	-62,065	753,525
2021	-90,452	645,725
2020	-65,507	663,978
2019	-46,317	893,063
2018	-46,304	1,035,052
2017	-45,583	1,140,549
2016	-42,744	1,186,949
2015	-44,699	1,178,317
2014	-41,027	1,158,552
2013	-37,948	1,119,533
2012	-40,183	1,073,804
2011	-37,477	1,023,925
2010	-34,759	980,380
2009	-26,800	958,322
2008	-32,967	940,983
2007	-37,727	919,254
2006	-39,526	884,529
2005	-42,124	837,305
2004	-40,128	801,203
2003	-44,319	732,600
2002	-46,240	752,205
2001	-44,050	743,658
2000	-41,668	731,203
1999	-39,411	723,237
1998	-52,844	717,655
1997	-58,185	726,574
1996	-45,159	784,508
1995	-42,030	879,648
1994	-32,086	1,008,076
1993	-24,569	1,219,658
1992	-18,789	1,365,466
1991	-14,675	1,495,594
1990	-3,487	1,530,434
1989	5,326	1,609,739
1988	9,879	1,614,512
1987	8,971	1,639,644
1986	16,125	1,659,289
1985	11,649	1,661,750
1984	20,610	1,653,051
1983	21,455	1,573,612
1982	24,077	1,514,240
1981	29,341	1,376,830
1980	30,129	1,361,293
1979	40,599	1,294,306
1978	44,070	1,156,974
1977	47,543	1,091,542
1976	56,055	1,013,347
1975	54,941	929,481
1974	64,223	873,369
1973	57,760	831,880
1972	47,169	804,043
1971	52,925	805,830
1970	61,125	794,612
1969	63,256	780,660
1968	69,468	743,992
1967	49,861	727,276
1966	54,504	695,040
1965	58,249	663,029
1964	66,783	635,589
1963	66,241	620,126
1962	64,104	595,538
1961	75,460	594,674
1960	76,314	584,060

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 +0.83% in Iran.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and +1.1% in Iran.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs Iran by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Iran

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	Iran
2023	8.9	13
2022	8.8	13.3
2021	9	13.7
2020	9	14
2019	9.3	14.9
2018	9.3	16.7
2017	9.4	18
2016	9.4	18.8
2015	9.4	18.9
2014	9.6	18.8
2013	9.3	18.5
2012	9.5	18.1
2011	9.6	17.7
2010	10.2	17.3
2009	10.9	17.2
2008	10.4	17.1
2007	10	17
2006	9.7	16.7
2005	9.3	16.4
2004	9.1	16.2
2003	8.7	15.9
2002	8.5	15.9
2001	8.5	15.9
2000	9	16
1999	8.8	16.1
1998	7.9	16.2
1997	7.7	16.6
1996	8.6	17.7
1995	8.6	19.5
1994	9.4	22
1993	10	25.7
1992	10.4	28.3
1991	11.1	31.2
1990	12.1	33.5
1989	12.6	35.2
1988	13.1	37
1987	13	38.8
1986	13.4	40.7
1985	13.3	42.4
1984	13.6	43.9
1983	13.8	44.7
1982	13.9	45.2
1981	14	44.2
1980	14.5	45.1
1979	15.3	44.7
1978	15.5	43.4
1977	16.1	42.2
1976	16.5	41.4
1975	16.6	40.3
1974	17.2	40
1973	16.2	40.1
1972	15.3	40.9
1971	15.9	42.4
1970	16.3	43.6
1969	17	44.7
1968	16.9	45.3
1967	15	45.8
1966	14.9	46
1965	15.3	46.3
1964	16.1	46.7
1963	16.4	47.7
1962	16.7	48.8
1961	17.4	49.8
1960	17.8	51

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 13 in Iran, compared with 17.8 and 51, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

Iran

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	Iran
2100	13%	12.1%
2099	13.1%	12.2%
2098	13.1%	12.2%
2097	13.1%	12.3%
2096	13.2%	12.3%
2095	13.2%	12.4%
2094	13.3%	12.5%
2093	13.4%	12.6%
2092	13.4%	12.6%
2091	13.4%	12.7%
2090	13.5%	12.8%
2089	13.5%	12.8%
2088	13.6%	12.9%
2087	13.6%	12.9%
2086	13.6%	12.9%
2085	13.6%	13%
2084	13.6%	13%
2083	13.6%	12.9%
2082	13.6%	12.9%
2081	13.6%	12.9%
2080	13.6%	12.9%
2079	13.6%	12.8%
2078	13.6%	12.8%
2077	13.6%	12.8%
2076	13.6%	12.7%
2075	13.5%	12.7%
2074	13.5%	12.7%
2073	13.5%	12.7%
2072	13.5%	12.7%
2071	13.5%	12.7%
2070	13.5%	12.7%
2069	13.6%	12.8%
2068	13.6%	12.9%
2067	13.6%	13%
2066	13.6%	13.1%
2065	13.6%	13.2%
2064	13.7%	13.3%
2063	13.7%	13.5%
2062	13.7%	13.6%
2061	13.8%	13.8%
2060	13.8%	14%
2059	13.8%	14.1%
2058	13.9%	14.3%
2057	13.9%	14.4%
2056	13.9%	14.6%
2055	13.9%	14.7%
2054	13.9%	14.8%
2053	13.9%	14.9%
2052	13.9%	15%
2051	13.8%	15.1%
2050	13.8%	15.1%
2049	13.8%	15.2%
2048	13.7%	15.2%
2047	13.7%	15.2%
2046	13.6%	15.2%
2045	13.6%	15.3%
2044	13.6%	15.3%
2043	13.6%	15.4%
2042	13.6%	15.4%
2041	13.6%	15.5%
2040	13.6%	15.7%
2039	13.6%	15.8%
2038	13.7%	16%
2037	13.7%	16.3%
2036	13.7%	16.5%
2035	13.7%	16.8%
2034	13.8%	17.2%
2033	13.8%	17.7%
2032	13.9%	18.3%
2031	14%	19%
2030	14.1%	19.6%
2029	14.2%	20.2%
2028	14.2%	20.8%
2027	14.3%	21.3%
2026	14.4%	21.8%
2025	14.4%	22.2%
2024	14.5%	22.4%
2023	14.5%	22.8%
2022	14.5%	23.2%
2021	14.5%	23.6%
2020	14.4%	23.8%
2019	14.4%	23.9%
2018	14.3%	24%
2017	14.2%	23.9%
2016	14%	23.8%
2015	13.9%	23.6%
2014	13.8%	23.4%
2013	13.7%	23.3%
2012	13.6%	23.3%
2011	13.5%	23.3%
2010	13.5%	23.4%
2009	13.4%	23.7%
2008	13.3%	24%
2007	13.4%	24.6%
2006	13.5%	25.3%
2005	13.7%	26.2%
2004	14%	27.4%
2003	14.4%	28.7%
2002	14.8%	30.1%
2001	15.2%	31.7%
2000	15.7%	33.6%
1999	16.1%	35.4%
1998	16.5%	37.3%
1997	17%	39.1%
1996	17.4%	40.7%
1995	17.9%	42.1%
1994	18.3%	43.2%
1993	18.8%	43.6%
1992	19.3%	43.6%
1991	19.8%	43.9%
1990	20.3%	44.1%
1989	20.8%	44.2%
1988	21.1%	44%
1987	21.3%	43.9%
1986	21.4%	43.7%
1985	21.6%	43.5%
1984	21.8%	43.3%
1983	22%	43%
1982	22.1%	42.7%
1981	22.1%	42.9%
1980	22.1%	43.3%
1979	22.1%	43.1%
1978	22.2%	43%
1977	22.2%	42.9%
1976	22.3%	43%
1975	22.3%	43.2%
1974	22.2%	43.5%
1973	22.3%	43.8%
1972	22.4%	44.2%
1971	22.6%	44.4%
1970	22.8%	44.6%
1969	23%	44.7%
1968	23.2%	44.8%
1967	23.4%	44.8%
1966	23.8%	44.9%
1965	24.2%	45%
1964	24.7%	45%
1963	25.1%	44.9%
1962	25.4%	44.6%
1961	25.8%	44.1%
1960	26.1%	43.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 22.4% in Iran in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 44.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and Iran compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs Iran

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Iran

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bulgaria	Iran
2023	6	16
2022	10	21
2021	9	51
2020	9	34
2019	6	18
2018	7	19
2017	7	20
2016	7	21
2015	7	22
2014	7	23
2013	7	24
2012	7	25
2011	8	26
2010	9	27
2009	9	28
2008	10	30
2007	11	31
2006	12	32
2005	13	33
2004	14	34
2003	14	37
2002	15	38
2001	17	40
2000	19	43
1999	20	46
1998	20	50
1997	23	55
1996	22	59
1995	23	65
1994	25	71
1993	23	80
1992	25	86
1991	25	94
1990	27	107
1989	25	113
1988	26	126
1987	25	136
1986	25	148
1985	26	160

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 16 deaths in Iran.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Iran

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	Iran
2023	0.61%	1.18%
2022	0.62%	1.22%
2021	0.63%	1.26%
2020	0.65%	1.3%
2019	0.67%	1.35%
2018	0.7%	1.39%
2017	0.73%	1.45%
2016	0.77%	1.5%
2015	0.82%	1.55%
2014	0.87%	1.61%
2013	0.93%	1.68%
2012	0.99%	1.75%
2011	1.04%	1.84%
2010	1.08%	1.93%
2009	1.12%	2.04%
2008	1.14%	2.17%
2007	1.18%	2.32%
2006	1.24%	2.48%
2005	1.33%	2.65%
2004	1.42%	2.83%
2003	1.51%	3.02%
2002	1.6%	3.22%
2001	1.68%	3.42%
2000	1.75%	3.63%
1999	1.82%	3.83%
1998	1.89%	4.02%
1997	1.93%	4.21%
1996	1.94%	4.4%
1995	1.92%	4.59%
1994	1.91%	4.79%
1993	1.92%	5%
1992	1.92%	5.22%
1991	1.89%	5.48%
1990	1.83%	5.76%
1989	1.79%	6.07%
1988	1.78%	6.42%
1987	1.8%	6.8%
1986	1.87%	7.2%
1985	1.97%	7.64%
1984	2.07%	8.13%
1983	2.15%	8.67%
1982	2.22%	9.3%
1981	2.3%	10%
1980	2.38%	10.8%
1979	2.49%	11.7%
1978	2.6%	12.6%
1977	2.72%	13.5%
1976	2.8%	14.4%
1975	2.86%	15.3%
1974	2.91%	16.2%
1973	2.95%	17.1%
1972	3.01%	18%
1971	3.11%	18.9%
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 1.18% in Iran. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.