Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and Serbia

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs Serbia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Serbia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	Serbia
2023	1.81	1.61
2022	1.78	1.59
2021	1.8	1.52
2020	1.77	1.48
2019	1.79	1.52
2018	1.73	1.49
2017	1.71	1.49
2016	1.67	1.46
2015	1.64	1.46
2014	1.62	1.46
2013	1.54	1.43
2012	1.5	1.45
2011	1.51	1.4
2010	1.57	1.4
2009	1.66	1.44
2008	1.56	1.4
2007	1.49	1.38
2006	1.44	1.43
2005	1.37	1.45
2004	1.33	1.57
2003	1.26	1.59
2002	1.23	1.57
2001	1.21	1.58
2000	1.26	1.48
1999	1.23	1.35
1998	1.11	1.37
1997	1.09	1.4
1996	1.23	1.44
1995	1.23	1.47
1994	1.37	1.51
1993	1.46	1.54
1992	1.55	1.57
1991	1.66	1.61
1990	1.82	1.65
1989	1.9	1.69
1988	1.97	1.72
1987	1.96	1.75
1986	2.02	1.78
1985	1.97	1.8
1984	2.01	1.81
1983	2.01	1.83
1982	2.01	1.84
1981	2	1.85
1980	2.05	1.86
1979	2.16	1.88
1978	2.15	1.89
1977	2.21	1.9
1976	2.24	1.91
1975	2.23	1.92
1974	2.29	1.93
1973	2.15	1.94
1972	2.03	1.95
1971	2.1	1.96
1970	2.17	1.97
1969	2.27	1.99
1968	2.27	2.01
1967	2.02	2.02
1966	2.03	2.04
1965	2.09	2.06
1964	2.19	2.07
1963	2.21	2.08
1962	2.24	2.11
1961	2.29	2.13
1960	2.31	2.15

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.61 in Serbia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Serbia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	Serbia
2023	-43,837	-36,427
2022	-62,065	-46,651
2021	-90,452	-74,494
2020	-65,507	-55,193
2019	-46,317	-36,810
2018	-46,304	-37,707
2017	-45,583	-39,317
2016	-42,744	-35,998
2015	-44,699	-37,605
2014	-41,027	-34,946
2013	-37,948	-34,399
2012	-40,183	-35,288
2011	-37,477	-36,906
2010	-34,759	-34,999
2009	-26,800	-33,676
2008	-32,967	-33,590
2007	-37,727	-34,693
2006	-39,526	-31,870
2005	-42,124	-34,227
2004	-40,128	-26,121
2003	-44,319	-24,686
2002	-46,240	-24,750
2001	-44,050	-20,259
2000	-41,668	-30,065
1999	-39,411	-29,408
1998	-52,844	-23,006
1997	-58,185	-18,389
1996	-45,159	-16,007
1995	-42,030	-7,628
1994	-32,086	-7,157
1993	-24,569	-5,703
1992	-18,789	-3,779
1991	-14,675	2,210
1990	-3,487	7,416
1989	5,326	11,872
1988	9,879	13,852
1987	8,971	16,711
1986	16,125	19,407
1985	11,649	22,090
1984	20,610	23,815
1983	21,455	27,515
1982	24,077	30,603
1981	29,341	34,304
1980	30,129	36,273
1979	40,599	39,022
1978	44,070	43,636
1977	47,543	48,105
1976	56,055	51,399
1975	54,941	52,502
1974	64,223	51,583
1973	57,760	49,596
1972	47,169	48,248
1971	52,925	47,424
1970	61,125	48,343
1969	63,256	50,304
1968	69,468	51,653
1967	49,861	53,120
1966	54,504	53,338
1965	58,249	53,383
1964	66,783	54,185
1963	66,241	55,580
1962	64,104	59,307
1961	75,460	61,065
1960	76,314	63,642

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 -0.55% in Serbia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and -0.63% in Serbia.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs Serbia by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Serbia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	Serbia
2023	8.9	9.2
2022	8.8	9.3
2021	9	9.1
2020	9	8.9
2019	9.3	9.3
2018	9.3	9.2
2017	9.4	9.2
2016	9.4	9.2
2015	9.4	9.3
2014	9.6	9.3
2013	9.3	9.2
2012	9.5	9.3
2011	9.6	9.1
2010	10.2	9.4
2009	10.9	9.6
2008	10.4	9.4
2007	10	9.22
2006	9.7	9.58
2005	9.3	9.7
2004	9.1	10.5
2003	8.7	10.6
2002	8.5	10.4
2001	8.5	10.5
2000	9	9.8
1999	8.8	9.6
1998	7.9	10.1
1997	7.7	10.5
1996	8.6	10.8
1995	8.6	11.3
1994	9.4	10.3
1993	10	10.6
1992	10.4	10.8
1991	11.1	11.2
1990	12.1	11.5
1989	12.6	11.8
1988	13.1	12.2
1987	13	12.5
1986	13.4	12.9
1985	13.3	13.3
1984	13.6	13.6
1983	13.8	13.9
1982	13.9	14.2
1981	14	14.4
1980	14.5	14.6
1979	15.3	14.9
1978	15.5	15.1
1977	16.1	15.3
1976	16.5	15.4
1975	16.6	15.6
1974	17.2	15.6
1973	16.2	15.6
1972	15.3	15.6
1971	15.9	15.5
1970	16.3	15.5
1969	17	15.5
1968	16.9	15.5
1967	15	15.6
1966	14.9	15.8
1965	15.3	16.1
1964	16.1	16.4
1963	16.4	16.9
1962	16.7	17.4
1961	17.4	18
1960	17.8	18.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 9.2 in Serbia, compared with 17.8 and 18.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

Serbia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	Serbia
2100	13%	12%
2099	13.1%	12.1%
2098	13.1%	12.1%
2097	13.1%	12.1%
2096	13.2%	12.2%
2095	13.2%	12.2%
2094	13.3%	12.3%
2093	13.4%	12.3%
2092	13.4%	12.3%
2091	13.4%	12.3%
2090	13.5%	12.4%
2089	13.5%	12.4%
2088	13.6%	12.4%
2087	13.6%	12.4%
2086	13.6%	12.4%
2085	13.6%	12.4%
2084	13.6%	12.4%
2083	13.6%	12.4%
2082	13.6%	12.4%
2081	13.6%	12.4%
2080	13.6%	12.4%
2079	13.6%	12.4%
2078	13.6%	12.4%
2077	13.6%	12.4%
2076	13.6%	12.4%
2075	13.5%	12.4%
2074	13.5%	12.4%
2073	13.5%	12.5%
2072	13.5%	12.5%
2071	13.5%	12.5%
2070	13.5%	12.5%
2069	13.6%	12.6%
2068	13.6%	12.6%
2067	13.6%	12.7%
2066	13.6%	12.7%
2065	13.6%	12.7%
2064	13.7%	12.8%
2063	13.7%	12.8%
2062	13.7%	12.9%
2061	13.8%	12.9%
2060	13.8%	13%
2059	13.8%	13%
2058	13.9%	13%
2057	13.9%	13.1%
2056	13.9%	13.1%
2055	13.9%	13.1%
2054	13.9%	13.1%
2053	13.9%	13.1%
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%	13.1%
2046	13.6%	13.1%
2045	13.6%	13.1%
2044	13.6%	13.1%
2043	13.6%	13.1%
2042	13.6%	13.1%
2041	13.6%	13.1%
2040	13.6%	13.1%
2039	13.6%	13.2%
2038	13.7%	13.2%
2037	13.7%	13.3%
2036	13.7%	13.4%
2035	13.7%	13.5%
2034	13.8%	13.6%
2033	13.8%	13.7%
2032	13.9%	13.8%
2031	14%	13.9%
2030	14.1%	14%
2029	14.2%	14%
2028	14.2%	14.1%
2027	14.3%	14.2%
2026	14.4%	14.2%
2025	14.4%	14.3%
2024	14.5%	14.3%
2023	14.5%	14.4%
2022	14.5%	14.4%
2021	14.5%	14.3%
2020	14.4%	14.3%
2019	14.4%	14.3%
2018	14.3%	14.3%
2017	14.2%	14.3%
2016	14%	14.3%
2015	13.9%	14.3%
2014	13.8%	14.3%
2013	13.7%	14.3%
2012	13.6%	14.3%
2011	13.5%	14.4%
2010	13.5%	14.5%
2009	13.4%	14.6%
2008	13.3%	14.7%
2007	13.4%	14.9%
2006	13.5%	15%
2005	13.7%	15.2%
2004	14%	15.4%
2003	14.4%	15.6%
2002	14.8%	15.8%
2001	15.2%	16.1%
2000	15.7%	16.4%
1999	16.1%	16.7%
1998	16.5%	17.1%
1997	17%	17.4%
1996	17.4%	17.7%
1995	17.9%	18%
1994	18.3%	18.3%
1993	18.8%	18.6%
1992	19.3%	18.8%
1991	19.8%	19.1%
1990	20.3%	19.3%
1989	20.8%	19.6%
1988	21.1%	19.8%
1987	21.3%	20%
1986	21.4%	20.2%
1985	21.6%	20.3%
1984	21.8%	20.5%
1983	22%	20.5%
1982	22.1%	20.6%
1981	22.1%	20.6%
1980	22.1%	20.6%
1979	22.1%	20.7%
1978	22.2%	20.9%
1977	22.2%	21%
1976	22.3%	21.3%
1975	22.3%	21.5%
1974	22.2%	21.7%
1973	22.3%	22%
1972	22.4%	22.2%
1971	22.6%	22.5%
1970	22.8%	23%
1969	23%	23.5%
1968	23.2%	24.1%
1967	23.4%	24.7%
1966	23.8%	25.3%
1965	24.2%	25.8%
1964	24.7%	26.3%
1963	25.1%	26.7%
1962	25.4%	27%
1961	25.8%	27.1%
1960	26.1%	27.2%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 14.3% in Serbia in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 19.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and Serbia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs Serbia

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Serbia

1x

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

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 11 deaths in Serbia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Serbia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	Serbia
2023	0.61%	0.52%
2022	0.62%	0.53%
2021	0.63%	0.54%
2020	0.65%	0.55%
2019	0.67%	0.57%
2018	0.7%	0.58%
2017	0.73%	0.59%
2016	0.77%	0.61%
2015	0.82%	0.63%
2014	0.87%	0.66%
2013	0.93%	0.68%
2012	0.99%	0.71%
2011	1.04%	0.73%
2010	1.08%	0.76%
2009	1.12%	0.78%
2008	1.14%	0.79%
2007	1.18%	0.82%
2006	1.24%	0.85%
2005	1.33%	0.9%
2004	1.42%	0.97%
2003	1.51%	1.05%
2002	1.6%	1.14%
2001	1.68%	1.2%
2000	1.75%	1.26%
1999	1.82%	1.32%
1998	1.89%	1.42%
1997	1.93%	1.56%
1996	1.94%	1.74%
1995	1.92%	1.95%
1994	1.91%	2.14%
1993	1.92%	2.29%
1992	1.92%	2.43%
1991	1.89%	2.61%
1990	1.83%	2.85%
1989	1.79%	3.1%
1988	1.78%	3.36%
1987	1.8%	3.59%
1986	1.87%	3.78%
1985	1.97%	3.93%
1984	2.07%	4.07%
1983	2.15%	-
1982	2.22%	-
1981	2.3%	-
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 0.52% in Serbia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.