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Fertility & birth rates in Costa Rica and New Zealand

Updated on by Georank team

Costa Rica has an annual birth rate of 10.2 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.9 for New Zealand. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.33 in Costa Rica and 1.56 in New Zealand — 17.3% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 80.2% in Costa Rica and by 63.2% in New Zealand — in 1960, it was 6.71 and 4.24, respectively.

  • Costa Rica is ranked 145/196 by birth rate compared to 134/196 for New Zealand.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.6 in Costa Rica — it's 30.8 in New Zealand.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 26.3 in Costa Rica vs 10.9 in New Zealand.
  • In Costa Rica, 25.9% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.8% in New Zealand.

Fertility rate in Costa Rica vs New Zealand by year

Costa Rica
New Zealand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 1.33 1.56
2022 1.34 1.66
2021 1.35 1.64
2020 1.45 1.61
2019 1.6 1.72
2018 1.71 1.71
2017 1.71 1.81
2016 1.75 1.87
2015 1.8 1.99
2014 1.8 1.92
2013 1.78 2.01
2012 1.85 2.1
2011 1.88 2.09
2010 1.83 2.17
2009 1.95 2.13
2008 1.98 2.19
2007 1.95 2.18
2006 1.94 2.01
2005 2.04 1.97
2004 2.03 1.98
2003 2.08 1.93
2002 2.16 1.89
2001 2.31 1.97
2000 2.41 1.98
1999 2.48 1.97
1998 2.53 1.89
1997 2.59 1.96
1996 2.68 1.96
1995 2.78 1.98
1994 2.86 1.98
1993 2.93 2.04
1992 3 2.06
1991 3.08 2.09
1990 3.17 2.18
1989 3.24 2.12
1988 3.31 2.1
1987 3.38 2.03
1986 3.45 1.96
1985 3.51 1.93
1984 3.52 1.93
1983 3.53 1.92
1982 3.54 1.95
1981 3.56 2.01
1980 3.58 2.03
1979 3.65 2.12
1978 3.66 2.07
1977 3.7 2.21
1976 3.75 2.27
1975 3.8 2.37
1974 3.89 2.58
1973 3.99 2.76
1972 4.16 3
1971 4.36 3.18
1970 4.59 3.17
1969 4.84 3.28
1968 5.03 3.34
1967 5.42 3.35
1966 5.7 3.41
1965 5.96 3.54
1964 6.19 3.8
1963 6.39 4.05
1962 6.54 4.19
1961 6.65 4.31
1960 6.71 4.24

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/new-zealand | 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 1.56 in New Zealand in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Costa Rica
New Zealand
1x
Year Natural population change
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 24,109 18,876
2022 21,409 20,123
2021 20,119 23,644
2020 29,164 24,905
2019 37,682 25,299
2018 42,469 24,797
2017 43,471 26,282
2016 45,565 28,237
2015 49,077 29,408
2014 49,559 26,196
2013 49,227 29,096
2012 52,036 31,077
2011 52,884 31,302
2010 50,803 35,458
2009 55,757 33,560
2008 56,491 35,143
2007 55,244 35,480
2006 54,177 30,924
2005 57,139 30,674
2004 55,769 29,634
2003 56,743 28,150
2002 58,388 25,941
2001 62,199 27,939
2000 64,268 29,897
1999 64,922 28,916
1998 64,788 29,146
1997 64,954 30,137
1996 66,094 28,997
1995 67,585 29,828
1994 68,336 30,372
1993 69,016 31,685
1992 69,830 32,067
1991 70,506 33,518
1990 71,727 33,298
1989 72,327 30,749
1988 72,944 29,846
1987 73,188 27,603
1986 73,211 25,549
1985 72,776 24,126
1984 71,062 26,043
1983 68,972 24,315
1982 66,826 24,207
1981 64,632 25,374
1980 62,561 23,658
1979 60,984 26,675
1978 58,327 26,156
1977 56,122 28,020
1976 54,019 29,456
1975 51,979 31,355
1974 50,349 33,896
1973 48,943 35,239
1972 48,417 38,244
1971 48,341 40,000
1970 48,398 37,101
1969 48,790 38,098
1968 48,361 37,594
1967 50,193 37,974
1966 50,755 36,151
1965 51,196 36,982
1964 51,435 39,375
1963 51,403 42,027
1962 51,046 42,865
1961 50,149 43,482
1960 48,857 41,791

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/new-zealand | 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 +0.36% in New Zealand.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Costa Rica and +0.51% in New Zealand.

Birth rate in Costa Rica vs New Zealand by year

Costa Rica
New Zealand

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 10.2 10.9
2022 10.3 11.5
2021 10.5 11.5
2020 11.4 11.3
2019 12.7 12
2018 13.6 11.8
2017 13.8 12.4
2016 14.2 12.6
2015 14.7 13.2
2014 14.8 12.7
2013 14.8 13.2
2012 15.5 13.9
2011 15.8 14
2010 15.4 14.7
2009 16.5 14.5
2008 16.8 15.1
2007 16.6 15.2
2006 16.4 14.1
2005 17.3 14
2004 17.1 14.2
2003 17.6 13.9
2002 18.2 13.7
2001 19.4 14.4
2000 20.2 14.7
1999 20.7 14.9
1998 21 14.5
1997 21.5 15.2
1996 22.2 15.3
1995 23 15.7
1994 23.6 15.8
1993 24.3 16.5
1992 25 16.8
1991 25.7 17.1
1990 26.7 17.9
1989 27.5 17.4
1988 28.3 17.4
1987 29.1 16.7
1986 29.8 16.1
1985 30.4 15.8
1984 30.5 15.9
1983 30.5 15.7
1982 30.5 15.7
1981 30.4 16.1
1980 30.4 16.1
1979 30.5 16.7
1978 30.2 16.2
1977 30 17.2
1976 29.9 17.6
1975 29.8 18.3
1974 29.9 19.5
1973 30.1 20.4
1972 30.7 21.7
1971 31.6 22.5
1970 32.6 22
1969 33.8 22.4
1968 34.6 22.6
1967 36.8 22.4
1966 38.3 22.4
1965 39.9 22.8
1964 41.4 24.1
1963 42.7 25.4
1962 43.9 26.2
1961 44.8 27
1960 45.5 26.4

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.2 in Costa Rica and 10.9 in New Zealand, compared with 45.5 and 26.4, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Costa Rica New Zealand
Fertility rate 1.33 1.56
Fertility rate rank 171/196 130/196
Birth rate 10.2 10.9
Birth rate rank 145/196 134/196
Population change due to births and deaths +24,109 +18,876
Natural population change rank 105/196 110/196
Natural population change rate +0.47% +0.36%
Population growth +0.48% +1.68%
Population growth rank 138/197 65/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 27.8 years
Average age at childbearing 28.6 years 30.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 22.8 9.32
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 65.4 65.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 13.4 20.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 25.9% 22.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70% 71.6%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99% 96.5%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.02% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.72% 0.27%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.92% 0.4%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.05% 0.47%
Life expectancy 81.4 years 82.5 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Costa Rica
Factual

UN forecast
New Zealand
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Costa Rica New Zealand
2100 10.3% 13.6%
2099 10.3% 13.6%
2098 10.3% 13.6%
2097 10.3% 13.6%
2096 10.3% 13.7%
2095 10.4% 13.7%
2094 10.4% 13.7%
2093 10.4% 13.8%
2092 10.4% 13.8%
2091 10.4% 13.8%
2090 10.5% 13.8%
2089 10.5% 13.8%
2088 10.5% 13.9%
2087 10.5% 13.9%
2086 10.5% 13.9%
2085 10.5% 13.9%
2084 10.5% 13.9%
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% 14%
2073 10.5% 14%
2072 10.5% 14%
2071 10.5% 14.1%
2070 10.5% 14.1%
2069 10.6% 14.1%
2068 10.6% 14.2%
2067 10.7% 14.3%
2066 10.8% 14.3%
2065 10.8% 14.4%
2064 10.9% 14.4%
2063 11% 14.5%
2062 11.2% 14.6%
2061 11.3% 14.7%
2060 11.4% 14.7%
2059 11.5% 14.8%
2058 11.7% 14.9%
2057 11.8% 15%
2056 11.9% 15%
2055 12.1% 15.1%
2054 12.2% 15.1%
2053 12.3% 15.2%
2052 12.4% 15.2%
2051 12.6% 15.2%
2050 12.7% 15.2%
2049 12.8% 15.2%
2048 12.9% 15.3%
2047 13% 15.3%
2046 13% 15.3%
2045 13.1% 15.3%
2044 13.2% 15.3%
2043 13.3% 15.4%
2042 13.4% 15.4%
2041 13.5% 15.5%
2040 13.5% 15.5%
2039 13.6% 15.6%
2038 13.7% 15.7%
2037 13.9% 15.9%
2036 14% 16%
2035 14.2% 16.1%
2034 14.5% 16.2%
2033 14.9% 16.4%
2032 15.3% 16.5%
2031 15.7% 16.7%
2030 16.2% 16.9%
2029 16.7% 17.1%
2028 17.1% 17.3%
2027 17.6% 17.5%
2026 18.1% 17.8%
2025 18.5% 18%
2024 18.8% 18.1%
2023 19.3% 18.4%
2022 19.8% 18.6%
2021 20.3% 18.9%
2020 20.7% 19%
2019 21.1% 19.2%
2018 21.4% 19.3%
2017 21.8% 19.5%
2016 22.1% 19.6%
2015 22.5% 19.9%
2014 23% 20.2%
2013 23.4% 20.4%
2012 23.9% 20.6%
2011 24.3% 20.8%
2010 24.9% 20.9%
2009 25.4% 20.9%
2008 25.9% 21%
2007 26.5% 21.1%
2006 27.1% 21.3%
2005 27.7% 21.5%
2004 28.4% 21.8%
2003 29.1% 22.1%
2002 29.8% 22.4%
2001 30.5% 22.6%
2000 31.1% 22.8%
1999 31.8% 22.9%
1998 32.4% 23%
1997 33% 23%
1996 33.6% 23%
1995 34.1% 23.1%
1994 34.6% 23.1%
1993 35% 23.1%
1992 35.4% 23.1%
1991 35.7% 23.2%
1990 36% 23.3%
1989 36.1% 23.3%
1988 36.2% 23.5%
1987 36.2% 23.8%
1986 36.3% 24.2%
1985 36.3% 24.6%
1984 36.4% 25.1%
1983 36.5% 25.6%
1982 36.7% 26.2%
1981 37.1% 26.7%
1980 37.5% 27.2%
1979 38% 27.8%
1978 38.6% 28.4%
1977 39.2% 29%
1976 40% 29.6%
1975 40.8% 30.1%
1974 41.5% 30.5%
1973 42.3% 31%
1972 43.1% 31.4%
1971 43.8% 31.7%
1970 44.4% 31.9%
1969 45% 32.2%
1968 45.5% 32.3%
1967 45.9% 32.5%
1966 46.3% 32.6%
1965 46.5% 32.7%
1964 46.6% 32.9%
1963 46.7% 32.9%
1962 46.7% 33%
1961 46.6% 33%
1960 46.4% 32.8%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.8% of the population in Costa Rica and 18.1% in New Zealand in 2024, compared to 36% and 23.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Costa Rica and New Zealand compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Costa Rica vs New Zealand

Costa Rica
New Zealand
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 24 7
2022 27 23
2021 44 8
2020 34 8
2019 26 8
2018 28 7
2017 27 8
2016 27 8
2015 26 8
2014 27 7
2013 27 8
2012 27 9
2011 28 10
2010 29 10
2009 29 10
2008 30 10
2007 30 10
2006 30 10
2005 31 11
2004 33 11
2003 33 11
2002 34 11
2001 35 10
2000 36 11
1999 36 12
1998 37 12
1997 38 13
1996 39 14
1995 39 14
1994 39 13
1993 39 14
1992 39 15
1991 39 16
1990 40 18
1989 40 18
1988 40 19
1987 41 19
1986 42 18
1985 43 19

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/costa-rica/new-zealand | 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 7 deaths in New Zealand.

Under-five mortality rates

Costa Rica
New Zealand

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Costa Rica New Zealand
2023 1.05% 0.47%
2022 1.01% 0.48%
2021 0.97% 0.49%
2020 0.94% 0.5%
2019 0.91% 0.51%
2018 0.89% 0.52%
2017 0.89% 0.53%
2016 0.89% 0.55%
2015 0.9% 0.56%
2014 0.92% 0.57%
2013 0.95% 0.59%
2012 0.98% 0.6%
2011 1.02% 0.61%
2010 1.05% 0.62%
2009 1.07% 0.63%
2008 1.09% 0.64%
2007 1.11% 0.65%
2006 1.12% 0.65%
2005 1.13% 0.66%
2004 1.15% 0.67%
2003 1.18% 0.69%
2002 1.22% 0.7%
2001 1.26% 0.72%
2000 1.31% 0.74%
1999 1.36% 0.76%
1998 1.41% 0.78%
1997 1.45% 0.81%
1996 1.47% 0.84%
1995 1.49% 0.87%
1994 1.51% 0.91%
1993 1.53% 0.95%
1992 1.57% 1%
1991 1.62% 1.06%
1990 1.69% 1.12%
1989 1.78% 1.18%
1988 1.89% 1.24%
1987 2.01% 1.29%
1986 2.12% 1.34%
1985 2.2% 1.38%
1984 2.25% 1.41%
1983 2.27% 1.45%
1982 2.29% 1.48%
1981 2.33% 1.52%
1980 2.45% 1.56%
1979 2.65% 1.61%
1978 2.96% 1.66%
1977 3.39% 1.71%
1976 3.93% 1.77%
1975 4.54% 1.83%
1974 5.17% 1.88%
1973 5.82% 1.94%
1972 6.45% 1.98%
1971 7.02% 2.03%
1970 7.48% 2.08%
1969 7.85% 2.12%
1968 8.17% 2.16%
1967 8.49% 2.2%
1966 8.78% 2.25%
1965 9.02% 2.31%
1964 9.18% 2.39%
1963 9.25% 2.48%
1962 9.27% 2.58%
1961 9.36% 2.68%
1960 9.62% 2.78%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.05% in Costa Rica and 0.47% in New Zealand. 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)
  3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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