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Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and Israel

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has an annual birth rate of 8.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 18.6 for Israel. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.81 in Bulgaria and 2.85 in Israel — 57.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 21.6% in Bulgaria and by 26.3% in Israel — in 1960, it was 2.31 and 3.87, respectively.

  • Bulgaria is ranked 165/196 by birth rate compared to 83/196 for Israel.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 26.9 years in Bulgaria, compared to 27.8 years in Israel.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3 in Bulgaria — it's 31 in Israel.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 39.1 in Bulgaria vs 6.2 in Israel.
  • In Bulgaria, 20.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23.1% in Israel.

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs Israel by year

Bulgaria
Israel
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bulgaria Israel
2023 1.81 2.85
2022 1.78 2.89
2021 1.8 3
2020 1.77 2.9
2019 1.79 3.01
2018 1.73 3.09
2017 1.71 3.11
2016 1.67 3.11
2015 1.64 3.09
2014 1.62 3.08
2013 1.54 3.03
2012 1.5 3.05
2011 1.51 2.98
2010 1.57 3.03
2009 1.66 2.96
2008 1.56 2.96
2007 1.49 2.9
2006 1.44 2.88
2005 1.37 2.84
2004 1.33 2.9
2003 1.26 2.95
2002 1.23 2.89
2001 1.21 2.92
2000 1.26 2.95
1999 1.23 2.97
1998 1.11 2.98
1997 1.09 2.94
1996 1.23 2.9
1995 1.23 2.9
1994 1.37 2.9
1993 1.46 2.8
1992 1.55 2.7
1991 1.66 2.76
1990 1.82 2.82
1989 1.9 2.89
1988 1.97 2.95
1987 1.96 3.01
1986 2.02 3.03
1985 1.97 3.06
1984 2.01 3.08
1983 2.01 3.11
1982 2.01 3.13
1981 2 3.19
1980 2.05 3.24
1979 2.16 3.3
1978 2.15 3.35
1977 2.21 3.41
1976 2.24 3.48
1975 2.23 3.55
1974 2.29 3.63
1973 2.15 3.7
1972 2.03 3.77
1971 2.1 3.77
1970 2.17 3.78
1969 2.27 3.78
1968 2.27 3.79
1967 2.02 3.79
1966 2.03 3.8
1965 2.09 3.81
1964 2.19 3.83
1963 2.21 3.84
1962 2.24 3.85
1961 2.29 3.86
1960 2.31 3.87

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.85 in Israel in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Bulgaria
Israel
1x
Year Natural population change
Bulgaria Israel
2023 -43,837 131,977
2022 -62,065 129,982
2021 -90,452 134,011
2020 -65,507 128,089
2019 -46,317 135,810
2018 -46,304 140,348
2017 -45,583 138,541
2016 -42,744 136,736
2015 -44,699 134,082
2014 -41,027 133,916
2013 -37,948 129,758
2012 -40,183 128,941
2011 -37,477 125,030
2010 -34,759 126,552
2009 -26,800 122,015
2008 -32,967 117,672
2007 -37,727 111,292
2006 -39,526 109,332
2005 -42,124 105,338
2004 -40,128 106,901
2003 -44,319 106,366
2002 -46,240 101,178
2001 -44,050 99,160
2000 -41,668 98,737
1999 -39,411 94,325
1998 -52,844 93,744
1997 -58,185 88,707
1996 -45,159 86,518
1995 -42,030 82,066
1994 -32,086 79,365
1993 -24,569 77,337
1992 -18,789 77,357
1991 -14,675 73,740
1990 -3,487 71,764
1989 5,326 68,674
1988 9,879 71,072
1987 8,971 69,904
1986 16,125 70,073
1985 11,649 71,538
1984 20,610 70,703
1983 21,455 70,196
1982 24,077 68,931
1981 29,341 67,647
1980 30,129 68,253
1979 40,599 68,148
1978 44,070 67,158
1977 47,543 70,092
1976 56,055 74,899
1975 54,941 70,828
1974 64,223 68,891
1973 57,760 65,560
1972 47,169 62,960
1971 52,925 64,449
1970 61,125 56,506
1969 63,256 53,800
1968 69,468 51,014
1967 49,861 47,488
1966 54,504 50,477
1965 58,249 49,979
1964 66,783 48,015
1963 66,241 44,964
1962 64,104 43,337
1961 75,460 42,170
1960 76,314 44,818

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bulgaria/israel | 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 -0.68% in Bulgaria and +1.34% in Israel.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and +1.5% in Israel.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs Israel by year

Bulgaria
Israel

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Bulgaria Israel
2023 8.9 18.6
2022 8.8 19
2021 9 19.7
2020 9 19.2
2019 9.3 20.1
2018 9.3 20.8
2017 9.4 21.1
2016 9.4 21.2
2015 9.4 21.3
2014 9.6 21.5
2013 9.3 21.3
2012 9.5 21.6
2011 9.6 21.4
2010 10.2 21.8
2009 10.9 21.5
2008 10.4 21.5
2007 10 21.1
2006 9.7 21
2005 9.3 20.8
2004 9.1 21.3
2003 8.7 21.7
2002 8.5 21.2
2001 8.5 21.2
2000 9 21.7
1999 8.8 21.5
1998 7.9 21.9
1997 7.7 21.4
1996 8.6 21.3
1995 8.6 21.1
1994 9.4 21.2
1993 10 21.3
1992 10.4 21.5
1991 11.1 21.4
1990 12.1 22.2
1989 12.6 22.3
1988 13.1 22.6
1987 13 22.7
1986 13.4 23.1
1985 13.3 23.5
1984 13.6 23.7
1983 13.8 24
1982 13.9 24
1981 14 23.6
1980 14.5 24.3
1979 15.3 24.7
1978 15.5 25
1977 16.1 26.3
1976 16.5 27.9
1975 16.6 27.6
1974 17.2 27.5
1973 16.2 27
1972 15.3 27.2
1971 15.9 28
1970 16.3 26.1
1969 17 25.6
1968 16.9 24.9
1967 15 23.7
1966 14.9 25.5
1965 15.3 25.8
1964 16.1 25.7
1963 16.4 25
1962 16.7 24.9
1961 17.4 25.1
1960 17.8 26.9

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 18.6 in Israel, compared with 17.8 and 26.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Bulgaria Israel
Fertility rate 1.81 2.85
Fertility rate rank 110/196 59/196
Birth rate 8.9 18.6
Birth rate rank 165/196 83/196
Population change due to births and deaths -43,837 +131,977
Natural population change rank 182/196 72/196
Natural population change rate -0.68% +1.34%
Population growth -0.08% +1.27%
Population growth rank 171/197 84/197
Age at first childbirth 26.9 years 27.8 years
Average age at childbearing 28.3 years 31 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 36 5.07
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 86.2 117.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.7 36
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.7% 23.1%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 39.6% 51.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.5% 99%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.006% 0.002%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 0.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.5% 0.27%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.61% 0.34%
Life expectancy 76.1 years 82.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Bulgaria
Factual

UN forecast
Israel
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Bulgaria Israel
2100 13% 17.4%
2099 13.1% 17.5%
2098 13.1% 17.6%
2097 13.1% 17.7%
2096 13.2% 17.8%
2095 13.2% 17.9%
2094 13.3% 18.1%
2093 13.4% 18.2%
2092 13.4% 18.3%
2091 13.4% 18.4%
2090 13.5% 18.5%
2089 13.5% 18.6%
2088 13.6% 18.8%
2087 13.6% 18.9%
2086 13.6% 19%
2085 13.6% 19.1%
2084 13.6% 19.2%
2083 13.6% 19.3%
2082 13.6% 19.4%
2081 13.6% 19.4%
2080 13.6% 19.5%
2079 13.6% 19.6%
2078 13.6% 19.7%
2077 13.6% 19.7%
2076 13.6% 19.8%
2075 13.5% 19.9%
2074 13.5% 20%
2073 13.5% 20.1%
2072 13.5% 20.2%
2071 13.5% 20.3%
2070 13.5% 20.4%
2069 13.6% 20.5%
2068 13.6% 20.7%
2067 13.6% 20.8%
2066 13.6% 21%
2065 13.6% 21.1%
2064 13.7% 21.3%
2063 13.7% 21.5%
2062 13.7% 21.7%
2061 13.8% 21.9%
2060 13.8% 22.1%
2059 13.8% 22.3%
2058 13.9% 22.5%
2057 13.9% 22.6%
2056 13.9% 22.8%
2055 13.9% 23%
2054 13.9% 23.1%
2053 13.9% 23.3%
2052 13.9% 23.4%
2051 13.8% 23.5%
2050 13.8% 23.6%
2049 13.8% 23.6%
2048 13.7% 23.7%
2047 13.7% 23.7%
2046 13.6% 23.8%
2045 13.6% 23.8%
2044 13.6% 23.8%
2043 13.6% 23.9%
2042 13.6% 23.9%
2041 13.6% 23.9%
2040 13.6% 24%
2039 13.6% 24%
2038 13.7% 24.1%
2037 13.7% 24.3%
2036 13.7% 24.5%
2035 13.7% 24.6%
2034 13.8% 24.8%
2033 13.8% 25.1%
2032 13.9% 25.4%
2031 14% 25.7%
2030 14.1% 25.9%
2029 14.2% 26.2%
2028 14.2% 26.5%
2027 14.3% 26.8%
2026 14.4% 27%
2025 14.4% 27.3%
2024 14.5% 27.4%
2023 14.5% 27.6%
2022 14.5% 27.8%
2021 14.5% 27.9%
2020 14.4% 28%
2019 14.4% 28.1%
2018 14.3% 28.2%
2017 14.2% 28.2%
2016 14% 28.3%
2015 13.9% 28.2%
2014 13.8% 28.2%
2013 13.7% 28.2%
2012 13.6% 28.1%
2011 13.5% 28.1%
2010 13.5% 28%
2009 13.4% 27.9%
2008 13.3% 27.8%
2007 13.4% 27.8%
2006 13.5% 27.8%
2005 13.7% 27.9%
2004 14% 27.9%
2003 14.4% 27.9%
2002 14.8% 28%
2001 15.2% 28.1%
2000 15.7% 28.3%
1999 16.1% 28.5%
1998 16.5% 28.8%
1997 17% 29%
1996 17.4% 29.3%
1995 17.9% 29.6%
1994 18.3% 29.8%
1993 18.8% 30%
1992 19.3% 30.3%
1991 19.8% 30.7%
1990 20.3% 31.3%
1989 20.8% 31.7%
1988 21.1% 31.9%
1987 21.3% 32.1%
1986 21.4% 32.3%
1985 21.6% 32.5%
1984 21.8% 32.6%
1983 22% 32.7%
1982 22.1% 32.7%
1981 22.1% 32.8%
1980 22.1% 32.9%
1979 22.1% 33%
1978 22.2% 33%
1977 22.2% 32.9%
1976 22.3% 32.8%
1975 22.3% 32.7%
1974 22.2% 32.7%
1973 22.3% 32.6%
1972 22.4% 32.7%
1971 22.6% 32.9%
1970 22.8% 33.2%
1969 23% 33.5%
1968 23.2% 33.8%
1967 23.4% 34.1%
1966 23.8% 34.4%
1965 24.2% 34.6%
1964 24.7% 34.8%
1963 25.1% 34.9%
1962 25.4% 34.8%
1961 25.8% 34.9%
1960 26.1% 35.2%

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/israel | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 27.4% in Israel in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 31.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and Israel compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs Israel

Bulgaria
Israel
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Bulgaria Israel
2023 6 2
2022 10 3
2021 9 3
2020 9 3
2019 6 3
2018 7 3
2017 7 3
2016 7 3
2015 7 3
2014 7 3
2013 7 3
2012 7 3
2011 8 3
2010 9 3
2009 9 4
2008 10 4
2007 11 4
2006 12 4
2005 13 4
2004 14 5
2003 14 5
2002 15 7
2001 17 7
2000 19 9
1999 20 11
1998 20 14
1997 23 17
1996 22 20
1995 23 22
1994 25 24
1993 23 25
1992 25 27
1991 25 28
1990 27 29
1989 25 30
1988 26 31
1987 25 30
1986 25 36
1985 26 36

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bulgaria/israel | 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 Bulgaria, compared to 2 deaths in Israel.

Under-five mortality rates

Bulgaria
Israel

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Bulgaria Israel
2023 0.61% 0.34%
2022 0.62% 0.34%
2021 0.63% 0.35%
2020 0.65% 0.35%
2019 0.67% 0.36%
2018 0.7% 0.37%
2017 0.73% 0.37%
2016 0.77% 0.38%
2015 0.82% 0.39%
2014 0.87% 0.4%
2013 0.93% 0.41%
2012 0.99% 0.43%
2011 1.04% 0.44%
2010 1.08% 0.46%
2009 1.12% 0.47%
2008 1.14% 0.49%
2007 1.18% 0.51%
2006 1.24% 0.53%
2005 1.33% 0.56%
2004 1.42% 0.58%
2003 1.51% 0.61%
2002 1.6% 0.63%
2001 1.68% 0.66%
2000 1.75% 0.69%
1999 1.82% 0.72%
1998 1.89% 0.75%
1997 1.93% 0.78%
1996 1.94% 0.82%
1995 1.92% 0.87%
1994 1.91% 0.92%
1993 1.92% 0.98%
1992 1.92% 1.04%
1991 1.89% 1.1%
1990 1.83% 1.15%
1989 1.79% 1.21%
1988 1.78% 1.26%
1987 1.8% 1.31%
1986 1.87% 1.37%
1985 1.97% 1.44%
1984 2.07% 1.51%
1983 2.15% 1.59%
1982 2.22% 1.66%
1981 2.3% 1.74%
1980 2.38% 1.82%
1979 2.49% 1.93%
1978 2.6% 2.05%
1977 2.72% 2.19%
1976 2.8% 2.33%
1975 2.86% 2.48%
1974 2.91% 2.61%
1973 2.95% 2.72%
1972 3.01% 2.82%
1971 3.11% 2.91%
1970 3.25% 3.01%
1969 3.4% 3.11%
1968 3.54% 3.23%
1967 3.64% 3.36%
1966 3.7% 3.52%
1965 3.75% 3.68%
1964 3.86% 3.86%
1963 4.08% 4.06%
1962 4.43% 4.26%
1961 4.89% 4.48%
1960 5.47% 4.71%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.61% in Bulgaria and 0.34% in Israel. 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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