Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and North Korea

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Korea

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2023	1.81	1.78
2022	1.78	1.8
2021	1.8	1.81
2020	1.77	1.82
2019	1.79	1.83
2018	1.73	1.83
2017	1.71	1.85
2016	1.67	1.86
2015	1.64	1.86
2014	1.62	1.87
2013	1.54	1.88
2012	1.5	1.88
2011	1.51	1.88
2010	1.57	1.89
2009	1.66	1.91
2008	1.56	1.97
2007	1.49	1.94
2006	1.44	1.94
2005	1.37	1.87
2004	1.33	1.9
2003	1.26	1.91
2002	1.23	1.92
2001	1.21	1.94
2000	1.26	1.94
1999	1.23	1.97
1998	1.11	1.99
1997	1.09	2.03
1996	1.23	2.09
1995	1.23	2.15
1994	1.37	2.18
1993	1.46	2.22
1992	1.55	2.29
1991	1.66	2.35
1990	1.82	2.39
1989	1.9	2.41
1988	1.97	2.47
1987	1.96	2.53
1986	2.02	2.59
1985	1.97	2.65
1984	2.01	2.71
1983	2.01	2.78
1982	2.01	2.85
1981	2	2.92
1980	2.05	2.84
1979	2.16	2.85
1978	2.15	2.79
1977	2.21	2.77
1976	2.24	2.84
1975	2.23	3.05
1974	2.29	3.14
1973	2.15	3.35
1972	2.03	3.89
1971	2.1	3.74
1970	2.17	3.85
1969	2.27	3.86
1968	2.27	3.87
1967	2.02	4.05
1966	2.03	3.71
1965	2.09	3.56
1964	2.19	3.55
1963	2.21	3.63
1962	2.24	3.41
1961	2.29	3.26
1960	2.31	3.57

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in North Korea in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Korea

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2023	-43,837	86,203
2022	-62,065	96,495
2021	-90,452	99,710
2020	-65,507	95,920
2019	-46,317	106,208
2018	-46,304	113,164
2017	-45,583	120,181
2016	-42,744	125,048
2015	-44,699	127,365
2014	-41,027	127,078
2013	-37,948	122,519
2012	-40,183	118,773
2011	-37,477	114,798
2010	-34,759	112,443
2009	-26,800	111,530
2008	-32,967	122,015
2007	-37,727	120,521
2006	-39,526	129,171
2005	-42,124	132,765
2004	-40,128	155,838
2003	-44,319	178,775
2002	-46,240	119,504
2001	-44,050	143,321
2000	-41,668	161,591
1999	-39,411	181,613
1998	-52,844	197,589
1997	-58,185	211,325
1996	-45,159	226,095
1995	-42,030	233,381
1994	-32,086	320,861
1993	-24,569	320,880
1992	-18,789	324,002
1991	-14,675	320,551
1990	-3,487	312,460
1989	5,326	303,078
1988	9,879	299,305
1987	8,971	296,030
1986	16,125	293,227
1985	11,649	287,714
1984	20,610	282,987
1983	21,455	279,046
1982	24,077	276,332
1981	29,341	273,800
1980	30,129	255,206
1979	40,599	251,409
1978	44,070	243,533
1977	47,543	242,870
1976	56,055	255,841
1975	54,941	288,966
1974	64,223	306,902
1973	57,760	338,600
1972	47,169	411,997
1971	52,925	393,220
1970	61,125	406,129
1969	63,256	404,189
1968	69,468	399,837
1967	49,861	414,632
1966	54,504	363,882
1965	58,249	335,587
1964	66,783	323,623
1963	66,241	321,805
1962	64,104	286,534
1961	75,460	257,788
1960	76,314	277,717

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 +0.33% in North Korea.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and +0.42% in North Korea.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs North Korea by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Korea

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2023	8.9	12.9
2022	8.8	13.1
2021	9	13.3
2020	9	13.4
2019	9.3	13.4
2018	9.3	13.4
2017	9.4	13.5
2016	9.4	13.5
2015	9.4	13.4
2014	9.6	13.4
2013	9.3	13.4
2012	9.5	13.3
2011	9.6	13.3
2010	10.2	13.3
2009	10.9	13.4
2008	10.4	13.9
2007	10	13.9
2006	9.7	14
2005	9.3	13.9
2004	9.1	14.6
2003	8.7	15.3
2002	8.5	16.1
2001	8.5	16.9
2000	9	17.5
1999	8.8	18.3
1998	7.9	18.9
1997	7.7	19.4
1996	8.6	20
1995	8.6	20.3
1994	9.4	20.4
1993	10	20.4
1992	10.4	20.5
1991	11.1	20.6
1990	12.1	20.5
1989	12.6	20.2
1988	13.1	20.2
1987	13	20.3
1986	13.4	20.4
1985	13.3	20.4
1984	13.6	20.4
1983	13.8	20.5
1982	13.9	20.6
1981	14	20.8
1980	14.5	20.1
1979	15.3	20.2
1978	15.5	20.1
1977	16.1	20.4
1976	16.5	21.5
1975	16.6	23.9
1974	17.2	25.6
1973	16.2	28.2
1972	15.3	33.7
1971	15.9	33.4
1970	16.3	35.3
1969	17	36.2
1968	16.9	37.1
1967	15	39.3
1966	14.9	36.6
1965	15.3	35.4
1964	16.1	35.4
1963	16.4	36.1
1962	16.7	34
1961	17.4	32.3
1960	17.8	34.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 12.9 in North Korea, compared with 17.8 and 34.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

North Korea

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2100	13%	13%
2099	13.1%	13.1%
2098	13.1%	13.2%
2097	13.1%	13.3%
2096	13.2%	13.4%
2095	13.2%	13.4%
2094	13.3%	13.5%
2093	13.4%	13.6%
2092	13.4%	13.7%
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%	13.8%
2084	13.6%	13.8%
2083	13.6%	13.8%
2082	13.6%	13.7%
2081	13.6%	13.7%
2080	13.6%	13.7%
2079	13.6%	13.6%
2078	13.6%	13.6%
2077	13.6%	13.6%
2076	13.6%	13.6%
2075	13.5%	13.7%
2074	13.5%	13.7%
2073	13.5%	13.8%
2072	13.5%	13.8%
2071	13.5%	14%
2070	13.5%	14.1%
2069	13.6%	14.2%
2068	13.6%	14.3%
2067	13.6%	14.5%
2066	13.6%	14.6%
2065	13.6%	14.8%
2064	13.7%	14.9%
2063	13.7%	15%
2062	13.7%	15.1%
2061	13.8%	15.2%
2060	13.8%	15.3%
2059	13.8%	15.4%
2058	13.9%	15.4%
2057	13.9%	15.4%
2056	13.9%	15.4%
2055	13.9%	15.4%
2054	13.9%	15.4%
2053	13.9%	15.3%
2052	13.9%	15.3%
2051	13.8%	15.2%
2050	13.8%	15.2%
2049	13.8%	15.2%
2048	13.7%	15.2%
2047	13.7%	15.2%
2046	13.6%	15.3%
2045	13.6%	15.3%
2044	13.6%	15.5%
2043	13.6%	15.6%
2042	13.6%	15.8%
2041	13.6%	16%
2040	13.6%	16.2%
2039	13.6%	16.5%
2038	13.7%	16.7%
2037	13.7%	17%
2036	13.7%	17.2%
2035	13.7%	17.5%
2034	13.8%	17.8%
2033	13.8%	18%
2032	13.9%	18.2%
2031	14%	18.4%
2030	14.1%	18.6%
2029	14.2%	18.7%
2028	14.2%	18.8%
2027	14.3%	18.9%
2026	14.4%	18.9%
2025	14.4%	18.9%
2024	14.5%	18.9%
2023	14.5%	19%
2022	14.5%	19%
2021	14.5%	19.1%
2020	14.4%	19.1%
2019	14.4%	19.1%
2018	14.3%	19.2%
2017	14.2%	19.4%
2016	14%	19.6%
2015	13.9%	19.8%
2014	13.8%	20.1%
2013	13.7%	20.4%
2012	13.6%	20.8%
2011	13.5%	21.2%
2010	13.5%	21.6%
2009	13.4%	22.1%
2008	13.3%	22.5%
2007	13.4%	23%
2006	13.5%	23.4%
2005	13.7%	23.9%
2004	14%	24.3%
2003	14.4%	24.6%
2002	14.8%	25%
2001	15.2%	25.3%
2000	15.7%	25.6%
1999	16.1%	25.8%
1998	16.5%	26%
1997	17%	26.2%
1996	17.4%	26.3%
1995	17.9%	26.4%
1994	18.3%	26.4%
1993	18.8%	26.4%
1992	19.3%	26.3%
1991	19.8%	26.4%
1990	20.3%	26.5%
1989	20.8%	26.8%
1988	21.1%	27.3%
1987	21.3%	28%
1986	21.4%	29%
1985	21.6%	29.9%
1984	21.8%	30.9%
1983	22%	32%
1982	22.1%	33.1%
1981	22.1%	34.2%
1980	22.1%	35.1%
1979	22.1%	36%
1978	22.2%	36.9%
1977	22.2%	37.7%
1976	22.3%	38.3%
1975	22.3%	38.8%
1974	22.2%	39.3%
1973	22.3%	39.8%
1972	22.4%	40.2%
1971	22.6%	40.3%
1970	22.8%	40.1%
1969	23%	39.8%
1968	23.2%	39.2%
1967	23.4%	38.3%
1966	23.8%	37.3%
1965	24.2%	36.7%
1964	24.7%	36.6%
1963	25.1%	36.5%
1962	25.4%	36.6%
1961	25.8%	37%
1960	26.1%	37.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 18.9% in North Korea in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 26.5% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and North Korea compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs North Korea

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Korea

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2023	6	67
2022	10	67
2021	9	72
2020	9	66
2019	6	66
2018	7	69
2017	7	70
2016	7	71
2015	7	72
2014	7	73
2013	7	75
2012	7	76
2011	8	76
2010	9	77
2009	9	78
2008	10	79
2007	11	80
2006	12	80
2005	13	78
2004	14	77
2003	14	76
2002	15	131
2001	17	130
2000	19	129
1999	20	129
1998	20	129
1997	23	128
1996	22	128
1995	23	127
1994	25	57
1993	23	46
1992	25	37
1991	25	38
1990	27	43
1989	25	49
1988	26	55
1987	25	62
1986	25	68
1985	26	76

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 67 deaths in North Korea.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Korea

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	North Korea
2023	0.61%	1.8%
2022	0.62%	1.77%
2021	0.63%	1.74%
2020	0.65%	1.74%
2019	0.67%	1.77%
2018	0.7%	1.84%
2017	0.73%	1.91%
2016	0.77%	2.06%
2015	0.82%	2.14%
2014	0.87%	2.26%
2013	0.93%	2.41%
2012	0.99%	2.57%
2011	1.04%	2.72%
2010	1.08%	2.87%
2009	1.12%	3%
2008	1.14%	3.1%
2007	1.18%	3.24%
2006	1.24%	3.28%
2005	1.33%	3.33%
2004	1.42%	3.38%
2003	1.51%	3.45%
2002	1.6%	9.78%
2001	1.68%	9.9%
2000	1.75%	10%
1999	1.82%	10.2%
1998	1.89%	10.3%
1997	1.93%	10.5%
1996	1.94%	10.6%
1995	1.92%	10.8%
1994	1.91%	4.25%
1993	1.92%	4.27%
1992	1.92%	4.25%
1991	1.89%	4.18%
1990	1.83%	4.07%
1989	1.79%	3.95%
1988	1.78%	3.83%
1987	1.8%	3.78%
1986	1.87%	3.68%
1985	1.97%	3.68%
1984	2.07%	3.71%
1983	2.15%	3.8%
1982	2.22%	3.91%
1981	2.3%	4.05%
1980	2.38%	4.22%
1979	2.49%	4.4%
1978	2.6%	4.59%
1977	2.72%	4.8%
1976	2.8%	5.03%
1975	2.86%	5.28%
1974	2.91%	5.56%
1973	2.95%	5.86%
1972	3.01%	6.2%
1971	3.11%	6.58%
1970	3.25%	6.99%
1969	3.4%	7.45%
1968	3.54%	7.94%
1967	3.64%	8.45%
1966	3.7%	8.96%
1965	3.75%	9.46%
1964	3.86%	9.92%
1963	4.08%	10.4%
1962	4.43%	10.8%
1961	4.89%	11.2%
1960	5.47%	11.6%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.61% in Bulgaria and 1.8% in North Korea. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.