Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and New Zealand

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has an annual birth rate of 8.9 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.9 for New Zealand. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.81 in Bulgaria and 1.56 in New Zealand — 13.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 21.6% in Bulgaria and by 63.2% in New Zealand — in 1960, it was 2.31 and 4.24, respectively.

  • Bulgaria is ranked 165/196 by birth rate compared to 134/196 for New Zealand.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 26.9 years in Bulgaria, compared to 27.8 years in New Zealand.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3 in Bulgaria — it's 30.8 in New Zealand.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 39.1 in Bulgaria vs 10.9 in New Zealand.
  • In Bulgaria, 20.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.8% in New Zealand.

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs New Zealand by year

Bulgaria
New Zealand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bulgaria New Zealand
2023 1.81 1.56
2022 1.78 1.66
2021 1.8 1.64
2020 1.77 1.61
2019 1.79 1.72
2018 1.73 1.71
2017 1.71 1.81
2016 1.67 1.87
2015 1.64 1.99
2014 1.62 1.92
2013 1.54 2.01
2012 1.5 2.1
2011 1.51 2.09
2010 1.57 2.17
2009 1.66 2.13
2008 1.56 2.19
2007 1.49 2.18
2006 1.44 2.01
2005 1.37 1.97
2004 1.33 1.98
2003 1.26 1.93
2002 1.23 1.89
2001 1.21 1.97
2000 1.26 1.98
1999 1.23 1.97
1998 1.11 1.89
1997 1.09 1.96
1996 1.23 1.96
1995 1.23 1.98
1994 1.37 1.98
1993 1.46 2.04
1992 1.55 2.06
1991 1.66 2.09
1990 1.82 2.18
1989 1.9 2.12
1988 1.97 2.1
1987 1.96 2.03
1986 2.02 1.96
1985 1.97 1.93
1984 2.01 1.93
1983 2.01 1.92
1982 2.01 1.95
1981 2 2.01
1980 2.05 2.03
1979 2.16 2.12
1978 2.15 2.07
1977 2.21 2.21
1976 2.24 2.27
1975 2.23 2.37
1974 2.29 2.58
1973 2.15 2.76
1972 2.03 3
1971 2.1 3.18
1970 2.17 3.17
1969 2.27 3.28
1968 2.27 3.34
1967 2.02 3.35
1966 2.03 3.41
1965 2.09 3.54
1964 2.19 3.8
1963 2.21 4.05
1962 2.24 4.19
1961 2.29 4.31
1960 2.31 4.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bulgaria/new-zealand | 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 1.56 in New Zealand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Bulgaria
New Zealand
1x
Year Natural population change
Bulgaria New Zealand
2023 -43,837 18,876
2022 -62,065 20,123
2021 -90,452 23,644
2020 -65,507 24,905
2019 -46,317 25,299
2018 -46,304 24,797
2017 -45,583 26,282
2016 -42,744 28,237
2015 -44,699 29,408
2014 -41,027 26,196
2013 -37,948 29,096
2012 -40,183 31,077
2011 -37,477 31,302
2010 -34,759 35,458
2009 -26,800 33,560
2008 -32,967 35,143
2007 -37,727 35,480
2006 -39,526 30,924
2005 -42,124 30,674
2004 -40,128 29,634
2003 -44,319 28,150
2002 -46,240 25,941
2001 -44,050 27,939
2000 -41,668 29,897
1999 -39,411 28,916
1998 -52,844 29,146
1997 -58,185 30,137
1996 -45,159 28,997
1995 -42,030 29,828
1994 -32,086 30,372
1993 -24,569 31,685
1992 -18,789 32,067
1991 -14,675 33,518
1990 -3,487 33,298
1989 5,326 30,749
1988 9,879 29,846
1987 8,971 27,603
1986 16,125 25,549
1985 11,649 24,126
1984 20,610 26,043
1983 21,455 24,315
1982 24,077 24,207
1981 29,341 25,374
1980 30,129 23,658
1979 40,599 26,675
1978 44,070 26,156
1977 47,543 28,020
1976 56,055 29,456
1975 54,941 31,355
1974 64,223 33,896
1973 57,760 35,239
1972 47,169 38,244
1971 52,925 40,000
1970 61,125 37,101
1969 63,256 38,098
1968 69,468 37,594
1967 49,861 37,974
1966 54,504 36,151
1965 58,249 36,982
1964 66,783 39,375
1963 66,241 42,027
1962 64,104 42,865
1961 75,460 43,482
1960 76,314 41,791

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bulgaria/new-zealand | 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 +0.36% in New Zealand.

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

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs New Zealand by year

Bulgaria
New Zealand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Bulgaria New Zealand
2023 8.9 10.9
2022 8.8 11.5
2021 9 11.5
2020 9 11.3
2019 9.3 12
2018 9.3 11.8
2017 9.4 12.4
2016 9.4 12.6
2015 9.4 13.2
2014 9.6 12.7
2013 9.3 13.2
2012 9.5 13.9
2011 9.6 14
2010 10.2 14.7
2009 10.9 14.5
2008 10.4 15.1
2007 10 15.2
2006 9.7 14.1
2005 9.3 14
2004 9.1 14.2
2003 8.7 13.9
2002 8.5 13.7
2001 8.5 14.4
2000 9 14.7
1999 8.8 14.9
1998 7.9 14.5
1997 7.7 15.2
1996 8.6 15.3
1995 8.6 15.7
1994 9.4 15.8
1993 10 16.5
1992 10.4 16.8
1991 11.1 17.1
1990 12.1 17.9
1989 12.6 17.4
1988 13.1 17.4
1987 13 16.7
1986 13.4 16.1
1985 13.3 15.8
1984 13.6 15.9
1983 13.8 15.7
1982 13.9 15.7
1981 14 16.1
1980 14.5 16.1
1979 15.3 16.7
1978 15.5 16.2
1977 16.1 17.2
1976 16.5 17.6
1975 16.6 18.3
1974 17.2 19.5
1973 16.2 20.4
1972 15.3 21.7
1971 15.9 22.5
1970 16.3 22
1969 17 22.4
1968 16.9 22.6
1967 15 22.4
1966 14.9 22.4
1965 15.3 22.8
1964 16.1 24.1
1963 16.4 25.4
1962 16.7 26.2
1961 17.4 27
1960 17.8 26.4

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 10.9 in New Zealand, compared with 17.8 and 26.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Bulgaria New Zealand
Fertility rate 1.81 1.56
Fertility rate rank 110/196 130/196
Birth rate 8.9 10.9
Birth rate rank 165/196 134/196
Population change due to births and deaths -43,837 +18,876
Natural population change rank 182/196 110/196
Natural population change rate -0.68% +0.36%
Population growth -0.08% +1.68%
Population growth rank 171/197 65/197
Age at first childbirth 26.9 years 27.8 years
Average age at childbearing 28.3 years 30.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 36 9.32
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 86.2 65.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 10.7 20.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.7% 22.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 39.6% 71.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 94.5% 96.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.006% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.26% 0.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.5% 0.4%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.61% 0.47%
Life expectancy 76.1 years 82.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Bulgaria
Factual

UN forecast
New Zealand
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Bulgaria New Zealand
2100 13% 13.6%
2099 13.1% 13.6%
2098 13.1% 13.6%
2097 13.1% 13.6%
2096 13.2% 13.7%
2095 13.2% 13.7%
2094 13.3% 13.7%
2093 13.4% 13.8%
2092 13.4% 13.8%
2091 13.4% 13.8%
2090 13.5% 13.8%
2089 13.5% 13.8%
2088 13.6% 13.9%
2087 13.6% 13.9%
2086 13.6% 13.9%
2085 13.6% 13.9%
2084 13.6% 13.9%
2083 13.6% 13.9%
2082 13.6% 13.9%
2081 13.6% 13.9%
2080 13.6% 13.9%
2079 13.6% 13.9%
2078 13.6% 13.9%
2077 13.6% 13.9%
2076 13.6% 13.9%
2075 13.5% 13.9%
2074 13.5% 14%
2073 13.5% 14%
2072 13.5% 14%
2071 13.5% 14.1%
2070 13.5% 14.1%
2069 13.6% 14.1%
2068 13.6% 14.2%
2067 13.6% 14.3%
2066 13.6% 14.3%
2065 13.6% 14.4%
2064 13.7% 14.4%
2063 13.7% 14.5%
2062 13.7% 14.6%
2061 13.8% 14.7%
2060 13.8% 14.7%
2059 13.8% 14.8%
2058 13.9% 14.9%
2057 13.9% 15%
2056 13.9% 15%
2055 13.9% 15.1%
2054 13.9% 15.1%
2053 13.9% 15.2%
2052 13.9% 15.2%
2051 13.8% 15.2%
2050 13.8% 15.2%
2049 13.8% 15.2%
2048 13.7% 15.3%
2047 13.7% 15.3%
2046 13.6% 15.3%
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% 15.5%
2039 13.6% 15.6%
2038 13.7% 15.7%
2037 13.7% 15.9%
2036 13.7% 16%
2035 13.7% 16.1%
2034 13.8% 16.2%
2033 13.8% 16.4%
2032 13.9% 16.5%
2031 14% 16.7%
2030 14.1% 16.9%
2029 14.2% 17.1%
2028 14.2% 17.3%
2027 14.3% 17.5%
2026 14.4% 17.8%
2025 14.4% 18%
2024 14.5% 18.1%
2023 14.5% 18.4%
2022 14.5% 18.6%
2021 14.5% 18.9%
2020 14.4% 19%
2019 14.4% 19.2%
2018 14.3% 19.3%
2017 14.2% 19.5%
2016 14% 19.6%
2015 13.9% 19.9%
2014 13.8% 20.2%
2013 13.7% 20.4%
2012 13.6% 20.6%
2011 13.5% 20.8%
2010 13.5% 20.9%
2009 13.4% 20.9%
2008 13.3% 21%
2007 13.4% 21.1%
2006 13.5% 21.3%
2005 13.7% 21.5%
2004 14% 21.8%
2003 14.4% 22.1%
2002 14.8% 22.4%
2001 15.2% 22.6%
2000 15.7% 22.8%
1999 16.1% 22.9%
1998 16.5% 23%
1997 17% 23%
1996 17.4% 23%
1995 17.9% 23.1%
1994 18.3% 23.1%
1993 18.8% 23.1%
1992 19.3% 23.1%
1991 19.8% 23.2%
1990 20.3% 23.3%
1989 20.8% 23.3%
1988 21.1% 23.5%
1987 21.3% 23.8%
1986 21.4% 24.2%
1985 21.6% 24.6%
1984 21.8% 25.1%
1983 22% 25.6%
1982 22.1% 26.2%
1981 22.1% 26.7%
1980 22.1% 27.2%
1979 22.1% 27.8%
1978 22.2% 28.4%
1977 22.2% 29%
1976 22.3% 29.6%
1975 22.3% 30.1%
1974 22.2% 30.5%
1973 22.3% 31%
1972 22.4% 31.4%
1971 22.6% 31.7%
1970 22.8% 31.9%
1969 23% 32.2%
1968 23.2% 32.3%
1967 23.4% 32.5%
1966 23.8% 32.6%
1965 24.2% 32.7%
1964 24.7% 32.9%
1963 25.1% 32.9%
1962 25.4% 33%
1961 25.8% 33%
1960 26.1% 32.8%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 18.1% in New Zealand in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 23.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and New Zealand compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs New Zealand

Bulgaria
New Zealand
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Bulgaria New Zealand
2023 6 7
2022 10 23
2021 9 8
2020 9 8
2019 6 8
2018 7 7
2017 7 8
2016 7 8
2015 7 8
2014 7 7
2013 7 8
2012 7 9
2011 8 10
2010 9 10
2009 9 10
2008 10 10
2007 11 10
2006 12 10
2005 13 11
2004 14 11
2003 14 11
2002 15 11
2001 17 10
2000 19 11
1999 20 12
1998 20 12
1997 23 13
1996 22 14
1995 23 14
1994 25 13
1993 23 14
1992 25 15
1991 25 16
1990 27 18
1989 25 18
1988 26 19
1987 25 19
1986 25 18
1985 26 19

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/bulgaria/new-zealand | 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 7 deaths in New Zealand.

Under-five mortality rates

Bulgaria
New Zealand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Bulgaria New Zealand
2023 0.61% 0.47%
2022 0.62% 0.48%
2021 0.63% 0.49%
2020 0.65% 0.5%
2019 0.67% 0.51%
2018 0.7% 0.52%
2017 0.73% 0.53%
2016 0.77% 0.55%
2015 0.82% 0.56%
2014 0.87% 0.57%
2013 0.93% 0.59%
2012 0.99% 0.6%
2011 1.04% 0.61%
2010 1.08% 0.62%
2009 1.12% 0.63%
2008 1.14% 0.64%
2007 1.18% 0.65%
2006 1.24% 0.65%
2005 1.33% 0.66%
2004 1.42% 0.67%
2003 1.51% 0.69%
2002 1.6% 0.7%
2001 1.68% 0.72%
2000 1.75% 0.74%
1999 1.82% 0.76%
1998 1.89% 0.78%
1997 1.93% 0.81%
1996 1.94% 0.84%
1995 1.92% 0.87%
1994 1.91% 0.91%
1993 1.92% 0.95%
1992 1.92% 1%
1991 1.89% 1.06%
1990 1.83% 1.12%
1989 1.79% 1.18%
1988 1.78% 1.24%
1987 1.8% 1.29%
1986 1.87% 1.34%
1985 1.97% 1.38%
1984 2.07% 1.41%
1983 2.15% 1.45%
1982 2.22% 1.48%
1981 2.3% 1.52%
1980 2.38% 1.56%
1979 2.49% 1.61%
1978 2.6% 1.66%
1977 2.72% 1.71%
1976 2.8% 1.77%
1975 2.86% 1.83%
1974 2.91% 1.88%
1973 2.95% 1.94%
1972 3.01% 1.98%
1971 3.11% 2.03%
1970 3.25% 2.08%
1969 3.4% 2.12%
1968 3.54% 2.16%
1967 3.64% 2.2%
1966 3.7% 2.25%
1965 3.75% 2.31%
1964 3.86% 2.39%
1963 4.08% 2.48%
1962 4.43% 2.58%
1961 4.89% 2.68%
1960 5.47% 2.78%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.61% in Bulgaria and 0.47% in New Zealand. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.