Fertility & birth rates in Bulgaria and South Africa

Fertility rate in Bulgaria vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2023	1.81	2.22
2022	1.78	2.23
2021	1.8	2.25
2020	1.77	2.26
2019	1.79	2.26
2018	1.73	2.27
2017	1.71	2.28
2016	1.67	2.26
2015	1.64	2.36
2014	1.62	2.42
2013	1.54	2.43
2012	1.5	2.45
2011	1.51	2.44
2010	1.57	2.44
2009	1.66	2.5
2008	1.56	2.68
2007	1.49	2.55
2006	1.44	2.55
2005	1.37	2.51
2004	1.33	2.44
2003	1.26	2.36
2002	1.23	2.32
2001	1.21	2.37
2000	1.26	2.41
1999	1.23	2.56
1998	1.11	2.63
1997	1.09	2.73
1996	1.23	2.99
1995	1.23	3.17
1994	1.37	3.26
1993	1.46	3.37
1992	1.55	3.48
1991	1.66	3.62
1990	1.82	3.72
1989	1.9	3.98
1988	1.97	4.18
1987	1.96	4.35
1986	2.02	4.41
1985	1.97	4.5
1984	2.01	4.57
1983	2.01	4.63
1982	2.01	4.7
1981	2	4.71
1980	2.05	4.78
1979	2.16	4.82
1978	2.15	4.85
1977	2.21	4.94
1976	2.24	5.07
1975	2.23	5.19
1974	2.29	5.3
1973	2.15	5.41
1972	2.03	5.49
1971	2.1	5.57
1970	2.17	5.63
1969	2.27	5.72
1968	2.27	5.78
1967	2.02	5.85
1966	2.03	5.91
1965	2.09	5.89
1964	2.19	5.96
1963	2.21	6.01
1962	2.24	6.05
1961	2.29	6.08
1960	2.31	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.81 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.22 in South Africa in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2023	-43,837	602,793
2022	-62,065	603,636
2021	-90,452	456,411
2020	-65,507	595,873
2019	-46,317	652,130
2018	-46,304	648,319
2017	-45,583	645,975
2016	-42,744	641,365
2015	-44,699	668,771
2014	-41,027	674,754
2013	-37,948	652,427
2012	-40,183	643,723
2011	-37,477	601,708
2010	-34,759	566,834
2009	-26,800	554,115
2008	-32,967	595,332
2007	-37,727	503,567
2006	-39,526	487,584
2005	-42,124	464,464
2004	-40,128	442,540
2003	-44,319	415,018
2002	-46,240	430,926
2001	-44,050	484,801
2000	-41,668	526,963
1999	-39,411	594,643
1998	-52,844	627,027
1997	-58,185	667,969
1996	-45,159	710,868
1995	-42,030	743,488
1994	-32,086	698,609
1993	-24,569	789,220
1992	-18,789	794,415
1991	-14,675	827,296
1990	-3,487	835,421
1989	5,326	884,629
1988	9,879	909,221
1987	8,971	922,330
1986	16,125	903,644
1985	11,649	893,889
1984	20,610	869,011
1983	21,455	837,013
1982	24,077	807,550
1981	29,341	767,833
1980	30,129	738,415
1979	40,599	716,541
1978	44,070	694,341
1977	47,543	680,929
1976	56,055	675,011
1975	54,941	667,862
1974	64,223	658,438
1973	57,760	651,596
1972	47,169	638,754
1971	52,925	624,761
1970	61,125	605,102
1969	63,256	590,794
1968	69,468	571,841
1967	49,861	553,741
1966	54,504	534,862
1965	58,249	506,632
1964	66,783	490,606
1963	66,241	473,821
1962	64,104	455,634
1961	75,460	437,851
1960	76,314	421,263

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 +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.79% in Bulgaria and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Bulgaria vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Bulgaria

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2023	8.9	18.8
2022	8.8	19.1
2021	9	19.4
2020	9	19.5
2019	9.3	19.7
2018	9.3	19.9
2017	9.4	20
2016	9.4	20.3
2015	9.4	21
2014	9.6	21.8
2013	9.3	21.9
2012	9.5	22.1
2011	9.6	22.1
2010	10.2	22.2
2009	10.9	22.8
2008	10.4	24.3
2007	10	23.1
2006	9.7	23.1
2005	9.3	22.7
2004	9.1	22.1
2003	8.7	21.4
2002	8.5	20.9
2001	8.5	21.3
2000	9	21.6
1999	8.8	22.7
1998	7.9	23.2
1997	7.7	23.9
1996	8.6	24.9
1995	8.6	25.6
1994	9.4	24.6
1993	10	26.6
1992	10.4	27
1991	11.1	28.1
1990	12.1	28.7
1989	12.6	30.6
1988	13.1	32
1987	13	33.2
1986	13.4	33.6
1985	13.3	34.2
1984	13.6	34.5
1983	13.8	34.6
1982	13.9	34.8
1981	14	34.6
1980	14.5	34.7
1979	15.3	34.9
1978	15.5	35.1
1977	16.1	35.6
1976	16.5	36.3
1975	16.6	37
1974	17.2	37.7
1973	16.2	38.4
1972	15.3	38.9
1971	15.9	39.3
1970	16.3	39.4
1969	17	39.7
1968	16.9	39.8
1967	15	39.9
1966	14.9	40
1965	15.3	39.5
1964	16.1	39.6
1963	16.4	39.7
1962	16.7	39.7
1961	17.4	39.7
1960	17.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.9 in Bulgaria and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 17.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bulgaria

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2100	13%	17.9%
2099	13.1%	18%
2098	13.1%	18%
2097	13.1%	18.1%
2096	13.2%	18.1%
2095	13.2%	18.2%
2094	13.3%	18.2%
2093	13.4%	18.3%
2092	13.4%	18.3%
2091	13.4%	18.4%
2090	13.5%	18.4%
2089	13.5%	18.5%
2088	13.6%	18.5%
2087	13.6%	18.6%
2086	13.6%	18.6%
2085	13.6%	18.7%
2084	13.6%	18.7%
2083	13.6%	18.8%
2082	13.6%	18.9%
2081	13.6%	18.9%
2080	13.6%	19%
2079	13.6%	19%
2078	13.6%	19.1%
2077	13.6%	19.2%
2076	13.6%	19.3%
2075	13.5%	19.3%
2074	13.5%	19.4%
2073	13.5%	19.5%
2072	13.5%	19.6%
2071	13.5%	19.6%
2070	13.5%	19.7%
2069	13.6%	19.8%
2068	13.6%	19.9%
2067	13.6%	20%
2066	13.6%	20.1%
2065	13.6%	20.2%
2064	13.7%	20.3%
2063	13.7%	20.4%
2062	13.7%	20.5%
2061	13.8%	20.6%
2060	13.8%	20.7%
2059	13.8%	20.8%
2058	13.9%	20.9%
2057	13.9%	21%
2056	13.9%	21.1%
2055	13.9%	21.1%
2054	13.9%	21.2%
2053	13.9%	21.3%
2052	13.9%	21.4%
2051	13.8%	21.5%
2050	13.8%	21.6%
2049	13.8%	21.7%
2048	13.7%	21.8%
2047	13.7%	21.9%
2046	13.6%	22%
2045	13.6%	22.1%
2044	13.6%	22.3%
2043	13.6%	22.4%
2042	13.6%	22.6%
2041	13.6%	22.8%
2040	13.6%	23%
2039	13.6%	23.3%
2038	13.7%	23.5%
2037	13.7%	23.7%
2036	13.7%	24.1%
2035	13.7%	24.4%
2034	13.8%	24.7%
2033	13.8%	24.9%
2032	13.9%	25%
2031	14%	25.1%
2030	14.1%	25.2%
2029	14.2%	25.3%
2028	14.2%	25.4%
2027	14.3%	25.5%
2026	14.4%	25.6%
2025	14.4%	25.8%
2024	14.5%	25.9%
2023	14.5%	26.1%
2022	14.5%	26.3%
2021	14.5%	26.6%
2020	14.4%	27%
2019	14.4%	27.4%
2018	14.3%	27.9%
2017	14.2%	28.3%
2016	14%	28.3%
2015	13.9%	28.3%
2014	13.8%	28.5%
2013	13.7%	28.7%
2012	13.6%	28.9%
2011	13.5%	29.1%
2010	13.5%	29.4%
2009	13.4%	29.7%
2008	13.3%	29.9%
2007	13.4%	30.2%
2006	13.5%	30.6%
2005	13.7%	31.1%
2004	14%	31.6%
2003	14.4%	32.3%
2002	14.8%	33.2%
2001	15.2%	34%
2000	15.7%	34.9%
1999	16.1%	35.7%
1998	16.5%	36.5%
1997	17%	37.2%
1996	17.4%	37.5%
1995	17.9%	37.5%
1994	18.3%	37.2%
1993	18.8%	37.3%
1992	19.3%	37.6%
1991	19.8%	37.5%
1990	20.3%	37.7%
1989	20.8%	38.1%
1988	21.1%	38.4%
1987	21.3%	38.7%
1986	21.4%	38.9%
1985	21.6%	39.2%
1984	21.8%	39.5%
1983	22%	39.8%
1982	22.1%	40.1%
1981	22.1%	40.5%
1980	22.1%	40.9%
1979	22.1%	41.3%
1978	22.2%	41.5%
1977	22.2%	41.7%
1976	22.3%	41.8%
1975	22.3%	41.9%
1974	22.2%	42%
1973	22.3%	42.1%
1972	22.4%	42.2%
1971	22.6%	42.2%
1970	22.8%	42.3%
1969	23%	42.2%
1968	23.2%	42.2%
1967	23.4%	42.2%
1966	23.8%	42.1%
1965	24.2%	42.1%
1964	24.7%	42.1%
1963	25.1%	42.1%
1962	25.4%	42.1%
1961	25.8%	42.1%
1960	26.1%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.5% of the population in Bulgaria and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 20.3% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bulgaria and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bulgaria vs South Africa

Chart Table

Bulgaria

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2023	6	118
2022	10	129
2021	9	191
2020	9	118
2019	6	119
2018	7	128
2017	7	134
2016	7	141
2015	7	150
2014	7	162
2013	7	180
2012	7	194
2011	8	202
2010	9	226
2009	9	241
2008	10	272
2007	11	272
2006	12	283
2005	13	279
2004	14	259
2003	14	245
2002	15	225
2001	17	192
2000	19	175
1999	20	151
1998	20	152
1997	23	152
1996	22	150
1995	23	125
1994	25	133
1993	23	145
1992	25	152
1991	25	162
1990	27	170
1989	25	177
1988	26	184
1987	25	192
1986	25	200
1985	26	208

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 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bulgaria

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bulgaria	South Africa
2023	0.61%	3.47%
2022	0.62%	3.44%
2021	0.63%	3.41%
2020	0.65%	3.41%
2019	0.67%	3.45%
2018	0.7%	3.49%
2017	0.73%	3.58%
2016	0.77%	3.68%
2015	0.82%	3.82%
2014	0.87%	3.96%
2013	0.93%	4.1%
2012	0.99%	4.25%
2011	1.04%	4.5%
2010	1.08%	5%
2009	1.12%	5.7%
2008	1.14%	6.42%
2007	1.18%	7.19%
2006	1.24%	7.75%
2005	1.33%	8.03%
2004	1.42%	8.1%
2003	1.51%	7.93%
2002	1.6%	7.69%
2001	1.68%	7.43%
2000	1.75%	7.11%
1999	1.82%	6.85%
1998	1.89%	6.56%
1997	1.93%	6.29%
1996	1.94%	6.11%
1995	1.92%	5.95%
1994	1.91%	5.82%
1993	1.92%	5.7%
1992	1.92%	5.66%
1991	1.89%	5.7%
1990	1.83%	5.82%
1989	1.79%	6.01%
1988	1.78%	6.26%
1987	1.8%	6.56%
1986	1.87%	6.89%
1985	1.97%	7.24%
1984	2.07%	7.6%
1983	2.15%	7.98%
1982	2.22%	8.39%
1981	2.3%	8.84%
1980	2.38%	9.35%
1979	2.49%	9.88%
1978	2.6%	10.5%
1977	2.72%	11.1%
1976	2.8%	11.8%
1975	2.86%	12.5%
1974	2.91%	13.2%
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 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.