Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and North Macedonia

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs North Macedonia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Macedonia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2023	1.81	1.5
2022	1.78	1.6
2021	1.8	1.6
2020	1.77	1.31
2019	1.79	1.34
2018	1.73	1.42
2017	1.71	1.43
2016	1.67	1.5
2015	1.64	1.49
2014	1.62	1.5
2013	1.54	1.5
2012	1.5	1.5
2011	1.51	1.46
2010	1.57	1.6
2009	1.66	1.5
2008	1.56	1.47
2007	1.49	1.46
2006	1.44	1.46
2005	1.37	1.5
2004	1.33	1.52
2003	1.26	1.75
2002	1.23	1.79
2001	1.21	1.73
2000	1.26	1.86
1999	1.23	1.77
1998	1.11	1.89
1997	1.09	1.92
1996	1.23	2.06
1995	1.23	2.13
1994	1.37	2.23
1993	1.46	2.26
1992	1.55	2.28
1991	1.66	2.31
1990	1.82	2.27
1989	1.9	2.25
1988	1.97	2.32
1987	1.96	2.32
1986	2.02	2.25
1985	1.97	2.25
1984	2.01	2.24
1983	2.01	2.25
1982	2.01	2.29
1981	2	2.29
1980	2.05	2.36
1979	2.16	2.4
1978	2.15	2.42
1977	2.21	2.49
1976	2.24	2.62
1975	2.23	2.69
1974	2.29	2.7
1973	2.15	2.72
1972	2.03	2.87
1971	2.1	2.93
1970	2.17	3.01
1969	2.27	3.1
1968	2.27	3.22
1967	2.02	3.33
1966	2.03	3.43
1965	2.09	3.52
1964	2.19	3.56
1963	2.21	3.62
1962	2.24	3.5
1961	2.29	3.62
1960	2.31	3.83

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.5 in North Macedonia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Macedonia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2023	-43,837	-3,290
2022	-62,065	-4,397
2021	-90,452	-9,737
2020	-65,507	-5,939
2019	-46,317	-375
2018	-46,304	1,512
2017	-45,583	1,329
2016	-42,744	2,374
2015	-44,699	2,294
2014	-41,027	3,644
2013	-37,948	3,653
2012	-40,183	3,087
2011	-37,477	3,100
2010	-34,759	4,866
2009	-26,800	4,309
2008	-32,967	3,746
2007	-37,727	2,974
2006	-39,526	3,988
2005	-42,124	4,011
2004	-40,128	5,444
2003	-44,319	8,900
2002	-46,240	9,697
2001	-44,050	10,174
2000	-41,668	12,159
1999	-39,411	10,489
1998	-52,844	12,446
1997	-58,185	12,979
1996	-45,159	14,806
1995	-42,030	17,239
1994	-32,086	19,103
1993	-24,569	20,797
1992	-18,789	21,659
1991	-14,675	23,387
1990	-3,487	22,868
1989	5,326	22,912
1988	9,879	24,064
1987	8,971	24,359
1986	16,125	23,720
1985	11,649	24,167
1984	20,610	24,436
1983	21,455	24,690
1982	24,077	25,810
1981	29,341	25,689
1980	30,129	26,547
1979	40,599	27,096
1978	44,070	27,150
1977	47,543	27,410
1976	56,055	28,799
1975	54,941	28,983
1974	64,223	28,400
1973	57,760	28,032
1972	47,169	28,236
1971	52,925	28,010
1970	61,125	28,022
1969	63,256	27,464
1968	69,468	28,378
1967	49,861	28,401
1966	54,504	28,766
1965	58,249	28,564
1964	66,783	27,889
1963	66,241	28,124
1962	64,104	25,317
1961	75,460	27,846
1960	76,314	28,816

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 -0.18% in North Macedonia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and -0.07% in North Macedonia.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs North Macedonia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Macedonia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2023	8.9	9.2
2022	8.8	9.9
2021	9	10.2
2020	9	9.2
2019	9.3	9.6
2018	9.3	10.3
2017	9.4	10.5
2016	9.4	11.1
2015	9.4	11.1
2014	9.6	11.4
2013	9.3	11.2
2012	9.5	11.4
2011	9.6	11.1
2010	10.2	11.8
2009	10.9	11.5
2008	10.4	11.2
2007	10	11.1
2006	9.7	11.1
2005	9.3	11
2004	9.1	11.5
2003	8.7	13.3
2002	8.5	13.7
2001	8.5	13.3
2000	9	14.5
1999	8.8	13.5
1998	7.9	14.6
1997	7.7	14.8
1996	8.6	16.1
1995	8.6	16.7
1994	9.4	17.7
1993	10	18.2
1992	10.4	18.4
1991	11.1	18.7
1990	12.1	18.4
1989	12.6	18.4
1988	13.1	19.1
1987	13	19.3
1986	13.4	18.9
1985	13.3	19.1
1984	13.6	19.2
1983	13.8	19.5
1982	13.9	19.9
1981	14	20.1
1980	14.5	20.8
1979	15.3	21.1
1978	15.5	21.3
1977	16.1	21.9
1976	16.5	23
1975	16.6	23.6
1974	17.2	23.5
1973	16.2	23.5
1972	15.3	24.5
1971	15.9	24.7
1970	16.3	25.1
1969	17	25.4
1968	16.9	26.1
1967	15	26.7
1966	14.9	27.5
1965	15.3	28.1
1964	16.1	28.4
1963	16.4	29
1962	16.7	28.3
1961	17.4	29.2
1960	17.8	31

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 9.2 in North Macedonia, compared with 17.8 and 31, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

North Macedonia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2100	13%	10.6%
2099	13.1%	10.7%
2098	13.1%	10.7%
2097	13.1%	10.8%
2096	13.2%	10.8%
2095	13.2%	10.9%
2094	13.3%	11%
2093	13.4%	11%
2092	13.4%	11.1%
2091	13.4%	11.2%
2090	13.5%	11.2%
2089	13.5%	11.3%
2088	13.6%	11.3%
2087	13.6%	11.4%
2086	13.6%	11.4%
2085	13.6%	11.4%
2084	13.6%	11.4%
2083	13.6%	11.4%
2082	13.6%	11.4%
2081	13.6%	11.4%
2080	13.6%	11.4%
2079	13.6%	11.3%
2078	13.6%	11.3%
2077	13.6%	11.3%
2076	13.6%	11.2%
2075	13.5%	11.2%
2074	13.5%	11.2%
2073	13.5%	11.2%
2072	13.5%	11.1%
2071	13.5%	11.2%
2070	13.5%	11.2%
2069	13.6%	11.2%
2068	13.6%	11.3%
2067	13.6%	11.4%
2066	13.6%	11.5%
2065	13.6%	11.6%
2064	13.7%	11.7%
2063	13.7%	11.9%
2062	13.7%	12%
2061	13.8%	12.2%
2060	13.8%	12.3%
2059	13.8%	12.4%
2058	13.9%	12.6%
2057	13.9%	12.7%
2056	13.9%	12.8%
2055	13.9%	12.9%
2054	13.9%	13%
2053	13.9%	13%
2052	13.9%	13.1%
2051	13.8%	13.1%
2050	13.8%	13.1%
2049	13.8%	13.1%
2048	13.7%	13.1%
2047	13.7%	13%
2046	13.6%	13%
2045	13.6%	13%
2044	13.6%	13%
2043	13.6%	12.9%
2042	13.6%	12.9%
2041	13.6%	12.9%
2040	13.6%	13%
2039	13.6%	13%
2038	13.7%	13%
2037	13.7%	13.2%
2036	13.7%	13.4%
2035	13.7%	13.6%
2034	13.8%	13.8%
2033	13.8%	14.1%
2032	13.9%	14.4%
2031	14%	14.7%
2030	14.1%	15.1%
2029	14.2%	15.4%
2028	14.2%	15.8%
2027	14.3%	16.1%
2026	14.4%	16.4%
2025	14.4%	16.7%
2024	14.5%	16.8%
2023	14.5%	17.1%
2022	14.5%	17.2%
2021	14.5%	17.2%
2020	14.4%	17.2%
2019	14.4%	17.2%
2018	14.3%	17.4%
2017	14.2%	17.5%
2016	14%	17.8%
2015	13.9%	18%
2014	13.8%	18.3%
2013	13.7%	18.6%
2012	13.6%	18.8%
2011	13.5%	19%
2010	13.5%	19.3%
2009	13.4%	19.7%
2008	13.3%	20%
2007	13.4%	20.4%
2006	13.5%	20.8%
2005	13.7%	21.2%
2004	14%	21.7%
2003	14.4%	22.1%
2002	14.8%	22.5%
2001	15.2%	22.9%
2000	15.7%	23.4%
1999	16.1%	23.9%
1998	16.5%	24.4%
1997	17%	24.8%
1996	17.4%	25.1%
1995	17.9%	25.4%
1994	18.3%	25.5%
1993	18.8%	25.7%
1992	19.3%	26.1%
1991	19.8%	26.5%
1990	20.3%	26.9%
1989	20.8%	27.1%
1988	21.1%	27.4%
1987	21.3%	27.6%
1986	21.4%	27.8%
1985	21.6%	28.1%
1984	21.8%	28.3%
1983	22%	28.5%
1982	22.1%	28.8%
1981	22.1%	29.1%
1980	22.1%	29.5%
1979	22.1%	29.9%
1978	22.2%	30.3%
1977	22.2%	30.6%
1976	22.3%	30.9%
1975	22.3%	31.3%
1974	22.2%	31.7%
1973	22.3%	32.2%
1972	22.4%	32.6%
1971	22.6%	33%
1970	22.8%	33.5%
1969	23%	34.1%
1968	23.2%	34.7%
1967	23.4%	35.2%
1966	23.8%	35.8%
1965	24.2%	36.3%
1964	24.7%	36.7%
1963	25.1%	37.2%
1962	25.4%	37.6%
1961	25.8%	37.8%
1960	26.1%	37.7%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 16.8% in North Macedonia in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 26.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and North Macedonia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs North Macedonia

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Macedonia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2023	6	3
2022	10	3
2021	9	12
2020	9	7
2019	6	3
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	5
2009	9	6
2008	10	6
2007	11	7
2006	12	7
2005	13	7
2004	14	8
2003	14	8
2002	15	10
2001	17	9
2000	19	11
1999	20	12
1998	20	13
1997	23	13
1996	22	14
1995	23	13
1994	25	13
1993	23	14
1992	25	14
1991	25	15
1990	27	16
1989	25	14
1988	26	16
1987	25	15
1986	25	16
1985	26	17

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 North Macedonia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

North Macedonia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	North Macedonia
2023	0.61%	0.33%
2022	0.62%	0.41%
2021	0.63%	0.5%
2020	0.65%	0.59%
2019	0.67%	0.7%
2018	0.7%	0.83%
2017	0.73%	0.97%
2016	0.77%	1.08%
2015	0.82%	1.13%
2014	0.87%	1.11%
2013	0.93%	1.07%
2012	0.99%	1.02%
2011	1.04%	1%
2010	1.08%	1.04%
2009	1.12%	1.1%
2008	1.14%	1.17%
2007	1.18%	1.23%
2006	1.24%	1.3%
2005	1.33%	1.37%
2004	1.42%	1.42%
2003	1.51%	1.43%
2002	1.6%	1.43%
2001	1.68%	1.48%
2000	1.75%	1.59%
1999	1.82%	1.73%
1998	1.89%	1.83%
1997	1.93%	1.93%
1996	1.94%	2.12%
1995	1.92%	2.45%
1994	1.91%	2.85%
1993	1.92%	3.13%
1992	1.92%	3.3%
1991	1.89%	3.46%
1990	1.83%	3.7%
1989	1.79%	4.01%
1988	1.78%	4.36%
1987	1.8%	4.69%
1986	1.87%	4.91%
1985	1.97%	5%
1984	2.07%	5.06%
1983	2.15%	5.25%
1982	2.22%	5.53%
1981	2.3%	5.79%
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 0.33% in North Macedonia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.