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Fertility & birth rates in Costa Rica and Malaysia

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has an annual birth rate of 10.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 12.4 for Malaysia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.33 in Costa Rica and 1.55 in Malaysia — 16.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 80.2% in Costa Rica and by 75.8% in Malaysia — in 1960, it was 6.71 and 6.41, respectively.

  • Costa Rica is ranked 145/196 by birth rate compared to 112/196 for Malaysia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in Costa Rica — it's 31 in Malaysia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 26.3 in Costa Rica vs 5.96 in Malaysia.
  • In Costa Rica, 25.9% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.5% in Malaysia.

Fertility rate in Costa Rica vs Malaysia by year

Costa Rica
Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 1.33 1.55
2022 1.34 1.55
2021 1.35 1.56
2020 1.45 1.68
2019 1.6 1.78
2018 1.71 1.84
2017 1.71 1.89
2016 1.75 1.94
2015 1.8 2.01
2014 1.8 2.06
2013 1.78 2.07
2012 1.85 2.12
2011 1.88 2.15
2010 1.83 2.14
2009 1.95 2.22
2008 1.98 2.26
2007 1.95 2.25
2006 1.94 2.31
2005 2.04 2.39
2004 2.03 2.49
2003 2.08 2.6
2002 2.16 2.66
2001 2.31 2.81
2000 2.41 2.94
1999 2.48 3.07
1998 2.53 3.12
1997 2.59 3.23
1996 2.68 3.3
1995 2.78 3.32
1994 2.86 3.35
1993 2.93 3.36
1992 3 3.37
1991 3.08 3.34
1990 3.17 3.3
1989 3.24 3.31
1988 3.31 3.5
1987 3.38 3.57
1986 3.45 3.7
1985 3.51 3.8
1984 3.52 3.89
1983 3.53 3.93
1982 3.54 3.97
1981 3.56 4
1980 3.58 4.04
1979 3.65 4.09
1978 3.66 4.18
1977 3.7 4.28
1976 3.75 4.4
1975 3.8 4.5
1974 3.89 4.62
1973 3.99 4.73
1972 4.16 4.82
1971 4.36 4.92
1970 4.59 5.04
1969 4.84 5.16
1968 5.03 5.29
1967 5.42 5.43
1966 5.7 5.64
1965 5.96 5.84
1964 6.19 6.03
1963 6.39 6.19
1962 6.54 6.3
1961 6.65 6.37
1960 6.71 6.41

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

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 1.55 in Malaysia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Costa Rica
Malaysia
1x
Year Natural population change
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 24,109 254,806
2022 21,409 237,560
2021 20,119 212,002
2020 29,164 283,282
2019 37,682 309,426
2018 42,469 324,568
2017 43,471 336,434
2016 45,565 345,681
2015 49,077 358,302
2014 49,559 367,587
2013 49,227 366,738
2012 52,036 371,497
2011 52,884 372,836
2010 50,803 360,260
2009 55,757 366,157
2008 56,491 362,380
2007 55,244 348,711
2006 54,177 349,509
2005 57,139 355,324
2004 55,769 365,138
2003 56,743 377,425
2002 58,388 381,084
2001 62,199 400,939
2000 64,268 417,371
1999 64,922 432,355
1998 64,788 436,316
1997 64,954 447,768
1996 66,094 450,174
1995 67,585 443,349
1994 68,336 437,873
1993 69,016 429,910
1992 69,830 418,900
1991 70,506 401,938
1990 71,727 384,518
1989 72,327 373,277
1988 72,944 386,507
1987 73,188 381,999
1986 73,211 385,799
1985 72,776 383,243
1984 71,062 376,797
1983 68,972 365,290
1982 66,826 353,138
1981 64,632 339,991
1980 62,561 326,947
1979 60,984 317,439
1978 58,327 311,027
1977 56,122 305,515
1976 54,019 300,615
1975 51,979 294,541
1974 50,349 289,880
1973 48,943 284,611
1972 48,417 276,263
1971 48,341 272,323
1970 48,398 269,341
1969 48,790 264,327
1968 48,361 260,705
1967 50,193 258,764
1966 50,755 262,162
1965 51,196 264,836
1964 51,435 266,406
1963 51,403 265,815
1962 51,046 262,140
1961 50,149 257,270
1960 48,857 251,090

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

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 +0.73% in Malaysia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Costa Rica and +0.92% in Malaysia.

Birth rate in Costa Rica vs Malaysia by year

Costa Rica
Malaysia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 10.2 12.4
2022 10.3 12.4
2021 10.5 12.4
2020 11.4 13.4
2019 12.7 14.2
2018 13.6 14.8
2017 13.8 15.3
2016 14.2 15.8
2015 14.7 16.3
2014 14.8 16.7
2013 14.8 16.8
2012 15.5 17
2011 15.8 17.2
2010 15.4 16.9
2009 16.5 17.3
2008 16.8 17.4
2007 16.6 17.1
2006 16.4 17.4
2005 17.3 17.9
2004 17.1 18.7
2003 17.6 19.6
2002 18.2 20.1
2001 19.4 21.4
2000 20.2 22.6
1999 20.7 23.8
1998 21 24.4
1997 21.5 25.4
1996 22.2 26.1
1995 23 26.3
1994 23.6 26.6
1993 24.3 26.8
1992 25 26.8
1991 25.7 26.5
1990 26.7 26.2
1989 27.5 26.3
1988 28.3 27.8
1987 29.1 28.3
1986 29.8 29.4
1985 30.4 30.1
1984 30.5 30.6
1983 30.5 30.7
1982 30.5 30.8
1981 30.4 30.8
1980 30.4 30.7
1979 30.5 30.8
1978 30.2 31
1977 30 31.3
1976 29.9 31.7
1975 29.8 32
1974 29.9 32.3
1973 30.1 32.7
1972 30.7 32.7
1971 31.6 33.2
1970 32.6 33.7
1969 33.8 34
1968 34.6 34.5
1967 36.8 35.1
1966 38.3 36.4
1965 39.9 37.7
1964 41.4 39.1
1963 42.7 40.4
1962 43.9 41.3
1961 44.8 42.2
1960 45.5 42.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.2 in Costa Rica and 12.4 in Malaysia, compared with 45.5 and 42.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Costa Rica Malaysia
Fertility rate 1.33 1.55
Fertility rate rank 171/196 133/196
Birth rate 10.2 12.4
Birth rate rank 145/196 112/196
Population change due to births and deaths +24,109 +254,806
Natural population change rank 105/196 54/196
Natural population change rate +0.47% +0.73%
Population growth +0.48% +1.23%
Population growth rank 138/197 89/197
Average age at childbearing 28.6 years 31 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 22.8 5.24
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 65.4 66
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 13.4 25.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.9% 26.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70% 34.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99% 99.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.02% 0.03%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.72% 0.41%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.92% 0.68%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.05% 0.81%
Life expectancy 81.4 years 77.2 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Costa Rica
Factual

UN forecast
Malaysia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Costa Rica Malaysia
2100 10.3% 13.3%
2099 10.3% 13.3%
2098 10.3% 13.4%
2097 10.3% 13.4%
2096 10.3% 13.4%
2095 10.4% 13.4%
2094 10.4% 13.5%
2093 10.4% 13.5%
2092 10.4% 13.5%
2091 10.4% 13.6%
2090 10.5% 13.6%
2089 10.5% 13.7%
2088 10.5% 13.7%
2087 10.5% 13.7%
2086 10.5% 13.8%
2085 10.5% 13.8%
2084 10.5% 13.8%
2083 10.6% 13.9%
2082 10.6% 13.9%
2081 10.5% 13.9%
2080 10.5% 13.9%
2079 10.5% 13.9%
2078 10.5% 13.9%
2077 10.5% 13.9%
2076 10.5% 13.9%
2075 10.5% 13.9%
2074 10.5% 13.9%
2073 10.5% 13.9%
2072 10.5% 13.9%
2071 10.5% 13.9%
2070 10.5% 13.9%
2069 10.6% 14%
2068 10.6% 14%
2067 10.7% 14.1%
2066 10.8% 14.1%
2065 10.8% 14.2%
2064 10.9% 14.3%
2063 11% 14.4%
2062 11.2% 14.5%
2061 11.3% 14.6%
2060 11.4% 14.8%
2059 11.5% 14.9%
2058 11.7% 15.1%
2057 11.8% 15.2%
2056 11.9% 15.4%
2055 12.1% 15.5%
2054 12.2% 15.7%
2053 12.3% 15.8%
2052 12.4% 16%
2051 12.6% 16.1%
2050 12.7% 16.2%
2049 12.8% 16.3%
2048 12.9% 16.4%
2047 13% 16.5%
2046 13% 16.6%
2045 13.1% 16.7%
2044 13.2% 16.8%
2043 13.3% 16.9%
2042 13.4% 16.9%
2041 13.5% 17%
2040 13.5% 17.1%
2039 13.6% 17.1%
2038 13.7% 17.2%
2037 13.9% 17.3%
2036 14% 17.3%
2035 14.2% 17.5%
2034 14.5% 17.7%
2033 14.9% 18%
2032 15.3% 18.3%
2031 15.7% 18.7%
2030 16.2% 19.2%
2029 16.7% 19.7%
2028 17.1% 20.1%
2027 17.6% 20.6%
2026 18.1% 21.1%
2025 18.5% 21.6%
2024 18.8% 21.8%
2023 19.3% 22.3%
2022 19.8% 22.8%
2021 20.3% 23.4%
2020 20.7% 24%
2019 21.1% 24.5%
2018 21.4% 24.9%
2017 21.8% 25.2%
2016 22.1% 25.5%
2015 22.5% 25.8%
2014 23% 26.2%
2013 23.4% 26.6%
2012 23.9% 27%
2011 24.3% 27.4%
2010 24.9% 27.9%
2009 25.4% 28.6%
2008 25.9% 29.4%
2007 26.5% 30%
2006 27.1% 30.7%
2005 27.7% 31.4%
2004 28.4% 32%
2003 29.1% 32.6%
2002 29.8% 33.2%
2001 30.5% 33.7%
2000 31.1% 34.2%
1999 31.8% 34.6%
1998 32.4% 35%
1997 33% 35.3%
1996 33.6% 35.5%
1995 34.1% 35.7%
1994 34.6% 36%
1993 35% 36.3%
1992 35.4% 36.6%
1991 35.7% 36.9%
1990 36% 37.2%
1989 36.1% 37.5%
1988 36.2% 37.7%
1987 36.2% 37.9%
1986 36.3% 38%
1985 36.3% 38.1%
1984 36.4% 38.2%
1983 36.5% 38.4%
1982 36.7% 38.6%
1981 37.1% 38.8%
1980 37.5% 39.2%
1979 38% 39.6%
1978 38.6% 40.1%
1977 39.2% 40.6%
1976 40% 41.1%
1975 40.8% 41.7%
1974 41.5% 42.2%
1973 42.3% 42.8%
1972 43.1% 43.4%
1971 43.8% 44%
1970 44.4% 44.5%
1969 45% 45%
1968 45.5% 45.5%
1967 45.9% 45.9%
1966 46.3% 46.2%
1965 46.5% 46.5%
1964 46.6% 46.6%
1963 46.7% 46.5%
1962 46.7% 46.3%
1961 46.6% 45.9%
1960 46.4% 45.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.8% of the population in Costa Rica and 21.8% in Malaysia in 2024, compared to 36% and 37.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Costa Rica and Malaysia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Costa Rica vs Malaysia

Costa Rica
Malaysia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 24 26
2022 27 38
2021 44 52
2020 34 29
2019 26 28
2018 28 29
2017 27 29
2016 27 30
2015 26 30
2014 27 30
2013 27 29
2012 27 29
2011 28 29
2010 29 29
2009 29 29
2008 30 29
2007 30 30
2006 30 30
2005 31 31
2004 33 33
2003 33 34
2002 34 34
2001 35 36
2000 36 37
1999 36 38
1998 37 39
1997 38 40
1996 39 42
1995 39 43
1994 39 44
1993 39 46
1992 39 48
1991 39 49
1990 40 51
1989 40 52
1988 40 55
1987 41 56
1986 42 59
1985 43 63

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

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 26 deaths in Malaysia.

Under-five mortality rates

Costa Rica
Malaysia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Costa Rica Malaysia
2023 1.05% 0.81%
2022 1.01% 0.81%
2021 0.97% 0.81%
2020 0.94% 0.81%
2019 0.91% 0.82%
2018 0.89% 0.82%
2017 0.89% 0.82%
2016 0.89% 0.82%
2015 0.9% 0.81%
2014 0.92% 0.81%
2013 0.95% 0.81%
2012 0.98% 0.8%
2011 1.02% 0.81%
2010 1.05% 0.81%
2009 1.07% 0.82%
2008 1.09% 0.82%
2007 1.11% 0.82%
2006 1.12% 0.83%
2005 1.13% 0.83%
2004 1.15% 0.84%
2003 1.18% 0.85%
2002 1.22% 0.88%
2001 1.26% 0.93%
2000 1.31% 1%
1999 1.36% 1.07%
1998 1.41% 1.15%
1997 1.45% 1.23%
1996 1.47% 1.29%
1995 1.49% 1.34%
1994 1.51% 1.39%
1993 1.53% 1.45%
1992 1.57% 1.51%
1991 1.62% 1.58%
1990 1.69% 1.66%
1989 1.78% 1.74%
1988 1.89% 1.83%
1987 2.01% 1.93%
1986 2.12% 2.05%
1985 2.2% 2.18%
1984 2.25% 2.32%
1983 2.27% 2.47%
1982 2.29% 2.65%
1981 2.33% 2.84%
1980 2.45% 3.04%
1979 2.65% 3.25%
1978 2.96% 3.48%
1977 3.39% 3.71%
1976 3.93% 3.97%
1975 4.54% 4.23%
1974 5.17% 4.5%
1973 5.82% 4.79%
1972 6.45% 5.06%
1971 7.02% 5.32%
1970 7.48% 5.56%
1969 7.85% 5.79%
1968 8.17% 6.02%
1967 8.49% 6.27%
1966 8.78% 6.56%
1965 9.02% 6.89%
1964 9.18% 7.28%
1963 9.25% 7.74%
1962 9.27% 8.25%
1961 9.36% 8.83%
1960 9.62% 9.46%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/malaysia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.05% in Costa Rica and 0.81% in Malaysia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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