Fertility & birth rates in Costa Rica and El Salvador

Fertility rate in Costa Rica vs El Salvador by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

El Salvador

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2023	1.33	1.78
2022	1.34	1.79
2021	1.35	1.8
2020	1.45	1.82
2019	1.6	1.84
2018	1.71	1.85
2017	1.71	1.9
2016	1.75	1.97
2015	1.8	2.07
2014	1.8	2.13
2013	1.78	2.15
2012	1.85	2.19
2011	1.88	2.22
2010	1.83	2.24
2009	1.95	2.26
2008	1.98	2.29
2007	1.95	2.35
2006	1.94	2.4
2005	2.04	2.44
2004	2.03	2.52
2003	2.08	2.64
2002	2.16	2.78
2001	2.31	2.93
2000	2.41	3.08
1999	2.48	3.22
1998	2.53	3.34
1997	2.59	3.38
1996	2.68	3.48
1995	2.78	3.57
1994	2.86	3.61
1993	2.93	3.69
1992	3	3.8
1991	3.08	3.89
1990	3.17	3.96
1989	3.24	4.03
1988	3.31	4.1
1987	3.38	4.18
1986	3.45	4.19
1985	3.51	4.32
1984	3.52	4.48
1983	3.53	4.65
1982	3.54	4.83
1981	3.56	4.99
1980	3.58	5.11
1979	3.65	5.23
1978	3.66	5.36
1977	3.7	5.47
1976	3.75	5.59
1975	3.8	5.71
1974	3.89	5.82
1973	3.99	5.93
1972	4.16	6.03
1971	4.36	6.13
1970	4.59	6.18
1969	4.84	6.28
1968	5.03	6.39
1967	5.42	6.49
1966	5.7	6.57
1965	5.96	6.64
1964	6.19	6.68
1963	6.39	6.69
1962	6.54	6.68
1961	6.65	6.64
1960	6.71	6.62

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Costa Rica was 1.33 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.78 in El Salvador in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Costa Rica vs El Salvador population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

El Salvador

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2023	24,109	51,985
2022	21,409	53,138
2021	20,119	46,530
2020	29,164	48,244
2019	37,682	56,816
2018	42,469	57,509
2017	43,471	59,824
2016	45,565	63,751
2015	49,077	69,263
2014	49,559	72,581
2013	49,227	73,869
2012	52,036	75,495
2011	52,884	76,182
2010	50,803	75,695
2009	55,757	74,908
2008	56,491	75,107
2007	55,244	76,776
2006	54,177	80,887
2005	57,139	84,883
2004	55,769	90,905
2003	56,743	97,849
2002	58,388	106,137
2001	62,199	114,313
2000	64,268	122,315
1999	64,922	128,947
1998	64,788	134,065
1997	64,954	134,448
1996	66,094	136,929
1995	67,585	138,268
1994	68,336	137,974
1993	69,016	138,432
1992	69,830	139,221
1991	70,506	140,691
1990	71,727	140,311
1989	72,327	139,093
1988	72,944	136,230
1987	73,188	133,667
1986	73,211	130,177
1985	72,776	127,248
1984	71,062	125,036
1983	68,972	121,700
1982	66,826	120,938
1981	64,632	117,346
1980	62,561	111,771
1979	60,984	123,838
1978	58,327	124,468
1977	56,122	121,446
1976	54,019	120,511
1975	51,979	116,737
1974	50,349	113,846
1973	48,943	111,546
1972	48,417	107,604
1971	48,341	104,714
1970	48,398	100,499
1969	48,790	99,848
1968	48,361	98,851
1967	50,193	98,424
1966	50,755	97,156
1965	51,196	95,341
1964	51,435	93,328
1963	51,403	90,794
1962	51,046	88,237
1961	50,149	84,614
1960	48,857	81,544

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 +0.47% in Costa Rica and +0.82% in El Salvador.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Costa Rica and +0.93% in El Salvador.

Birth rate in Costa Rica vs El Salvador by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2023	10.2	15.8
2022	10.3	15.9
2021	10.5	16.2
2020	11.4	16.3
2019	12.7	16.6
2018	13.6	16.7
2017	13.8	17.1
2016	14.2	17.7
2015	14.7	18.6
2014	14.8	19
2013	14.8	19.2
2012	15.5	19.4
2011	15.8	19.6
2010	15.4	19.7
2009	16.5	19.8
2008	16.8	20
2007	16.6	20.6
2006	16.4	21
2005	17.3	21.4
2004	17.1	22.1
2003	17.6	23.1
2002	18.2	24.4
2001	19.4	25.8
2000	20.2	27.1
1999	20.7	28.3
1998	21	29.4
1997	21.5	29.6
1996	22.2	30.3
1995	23	30.8
1994	23.6	31
1993	24.3	31.3
1992	25	32.2
1991	25.7	33.1
1990	26.7	33.7
1989	27.5	34.4
1988	28.3	34.9
1987	29.1	35.2
1986	29.8	35.1
1985	30.4	35.7
1984	30.5	36.7
1983	30.5	37.7
1982	30.5	38.6
1981	30.4	39.6
1980	30.4	39.8
1979	30.5	40.1
1978	30.2	40.4
1977	30	40.8
1976	29.9	41.2
1975	29.8	41.5
1974	29.9	41.9
1973	30.1	42.2
1972	30.7	42.5
1971	31.6	42.8
1970	32.6	42.8
1969	33.8	43.5
1968	34.6	44.3
1967	36.8	45.1
1966	38.3	45.7
1965	39.9	46.3
1964	41.4	46.8
1963	42.7	47
1962	43.9	47.1
1961	44.8	47
1960	45.5	47

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.2 in Costa Rica and 15.8 in El Salvador, compared with 45.5 and 47, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Costa Rica

Factual

UN forecast

El Salvador

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2100	10.3%	12.6%
2099	10.3%	12.6%
2098	10.3%	12.7%
2097	10.3%	12.7%
2096	10.3%	12.7%
2095	10.4%	12.7%
2094	10.4%	12.8%
2093	10.4%	12.8%
2092	10.4%	12.8%
2091	10.4%	12.9%
2090	10.5%	12.9%
2089	10.5%	12.9%
2088	10.5%	13%
2087	10.5%	13%
2086	10.5%	13.1%
2085	10.5%	13.1%
2084	10.5%	13.2%
2083	10.6%	13.2%
2082	10.6%	13.3%
2081	10.5%	13.3%
2080	10.5%	13.4%
2079	10.5%	13.5%
2078	10.5%	13.6%
2077	10.5%	13.6%
2076	10.5%	13.7%
2075	10.5%	13.8%
2074	10.5%	13.9%
2073	10.5%	14%
2072	10.5%	14%
2071	10.5%	14.1%
2070	10.5%	14.2%
2069	10.6%	14.3%
2068	10.6%	14.5%
2067	10.7%	14.6%
2066	10.8%	14.7%
2065	10.8%	14.8%
2064	10.9%	14.9%
2063	11%	15%
2062	11.2%	15.2%
2061	11.3%	15.3%
2060	11.4%	15.5%
2059	11.5%	15.6%
2058	11.7%	15.8%
2057	11.8%	15.9%
2056	11.9%	16.1%
2055	12.1%	16.3%
2054	12.2%	16.4%
2053	12.3%	16.6%
2052	12.4%	16.8%
2051	12.6%	17%
2050	12.7%	17.2%
2049	12.8%	17.5%
2048	12.9%	17.7%
2047	13%	17.9%
2046	13%	18.2%
2045	13.1%	18.4%
2044	13.2%	18.7%
2043	13.3%	18.9%
2042	13.4%	19.2%
2041	13.5%	19.4%
2040	13.5%	19.7%
2039	13.6%	19.9%
2038	13.7%	20.2%
2037	13.9%	20.5%
2036	14%	20.7%
2035	14.2%	21%
2034	14.5%	21.2%
2033	14.9%	21.5%
2032	15.3%	21.8%
2031	15.7%	22.1%
2030	16.2%	22.5%
2029	16.7%	22.9%
2028	17.1%	23.3%
2027	17.6%	23.7%
2026	18.1%	24.2%
2025	18.5%	24.6%
2024	18.8%	24.8%
2023	19.3%	25.2%
2022	19.8%	25.6%
2021	20.3%	26%
2020	20.7%	26.3%
2019	21.1%	26.7%
2018	21.4%	27%
2017	21.8%	27.5%
2016	22.1%	28%
2015	22.5%	28.6%
2014	23%	29.2%
2013	23.4%	29.9%
2012	23.9%	30.6%
2011	24.3%	31.3%
2010	24.9%	32%
2009	25.4%	32.7%
2008	25.9%	33.4%
2007	26.5%	33.9%
2006	27.1%	34.4%
2005	27.7%	34.9%
2004	28.4%	35.4%
2003	29.1%	35.9%
2002	29.8%	36.3%
2001	30.5%	36.7%
2000	31.1%	37.1%
1999	31.8%	37.5%
1998	32.4%	38%
1997	33%	38.5%
1996	33.6%	39.1%
1995	34.1%	39.8%
1994	34.6%	40.5%
1993	35%	41.1%
1992	35.4%	41.5%
1991	35.7%	41.7%
1990	36%	41.7%
1989	36.1%	41.8%
1988	36.2%	41.9%
1987	36.2%	42.1%
1986	36.3%	42.4%
1985	36.3%	42.7%
1984	36.4%	43.1%
1983	36.5%	43.4%
1982	36.7%	43.7%
1981	37.1%	43.9%
1980	37.5%	44.2%
1979	38%	44.5%
1978	38.6%	44.9%
1977	39.2%	45.3%
1976	40%	45.6%
1975	40.8%	45.9%
1974	41.5%	46.2%
1973	42.3%	46.4%
1972	43.1%	46.6%
1971	43.8%	46.7%
1970	44.4%	46.8%
1969	45%	46.8%
1968	45.5%	46.6%
1967	45.9%	46.5%
1966	46.3%	46.3%
1965	46.5%	46.2%
1964	46.6%	46.1%
1963	46.7%	46%
1962	46.7%	45.8%
1961	46.6%	45.7%
1960	46.4%	45.5%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.8% of the population in Costa Rica and 24.8% in El Salvador in 2024, compared to 36% and 41.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Costa Rica and El Salvador compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Costa Rica vs El Salvador

Chart Table

Costa Rica

El Salvador

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2023	24	39
2022	27	39
2021	44	58
2020	34	48
2019	26	40
2018	28	43
2017	27	44
2016	27	43
2015	26	43
2014	27	41
2013	27	39
2012	27	36
2011	28	35
2010	29	34
2009	29	35
2008	30	33
2007	30	33
2006	30	33
2005	31	34
2004	33	35
2003	33	38
2002	34	40
2001	35	45
2000	36	48
1999	36	53
1998	37	61
1997	38	67
1996	39	78
1995	39	89
1994	39	101
1993	39	114
1992	39	121
1991	39	129
1990	40	145
1989	40	155
1988	40	173
1987	41	178
1986	42	169
1985	43	193

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 24 deaths per 100,000 live births in Costa Rica, compared to 39 deaths in El Salvador.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Costa Rica	El Salvador
2023	1.05%	1.04%
2022	1.01%	1.08%
2021	0.97%	1.12%
2020	0.94%	1.17%
2019	0.91%	1.22%
2018	0.89%	1.27%
2017	0.89%	1.33%
2016	0.89%	1.39%
2015	0.9%	1.45%
2014	0.92%	1.52%
2013	0.95%	1.59%
2012	0.98%	1.67%
2011	1.02%	1.75%
2010	1.05%	1.84%
2009	1.07%	1.94%
2008	1.09%	2.04%
2007	1.11%	2.15%
2006	1.12%	2.27%
2005	1.13%	2.4%
2004	1.15%	2.55%
2003	1.18%	2.7%
2002	1.22%	2.86%
2001	1.26%	3.04%
2000	1.31%	3.23%
1999	1.36%	3.43%
1998	1.41%	3.65%
1997	1.45%	3.89%
1996	1.47%	4.15%
1995	1.49%	4.42%
1994	1.51%	4.71%
1993	1.53%	5%
1992	1.57%	5.3%
1991	1.62%	5.61%
1990	1.69%	5.94%
1989	1.78%	6.28%
1988	1.89%	6.65%
1987	2.01%	7.04%
1986	2.12%	7.47%
1985	2.2%	7.93%
1984	2.25%	8.42%
1983	2.27%	8.94%
1982	2.29%	9.46%
1981	2.33%	10%
1980	2.45%	12.5%
1979	2.65%	11.1%
1978	2.96%	11.6%
1977	3.39%	12.1%
1976	3.93%	12.6%
1975	4.54%	13.1%
1974	5.17%	13.5%
1973	5.82%	13.9%
1972	6.45%	14.3%
1971	7.02%	14.6%
1970	7.48%	15%
1969	7.85%	15.3%
1968	8.17%	15.6%
1967	8.49%	16%
1966	8.78%	16.3%
1965	9.02%	16.6%
1964	9.18%	17%
1963	9.25%	17.3%
1962	9.27%	17.7%
1961	9.36%	18.1%
1960	9.62%	18.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.05% in Costa Rica and 1.04% in El Salvador. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.