Croatia birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Croatia has a birth rate of 8.3 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.46 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Croatia was 2.24 children per woman — 1.53 times higher than in 2023.

Croatia birth rate statistics:

Croatia is ranked 171/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 175/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Croatia is 29.3 — it was 24.3 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31, a change from 26.1 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 44.2 in 1960 to 6.57 in 2023.
20.4% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 26.4% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Croatia by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.46	153
2022	1.53	148
2021	1.62	136
2020	1.48	160
2019	1.47	166
2018	1.47	169
2017	1.42	179
2016	1.43	177
2015	1.41	178
2014	1.46	177
2013	1.46	173
2012	1.52	169
2011	1.41	181
2010	1.46	175
2009	1.5	172
2008	1.47	175
2007	1.48	165
2006	1.47	164
2005	1.5	163
2004	1.43	168
2003	1.41	168
2002	1.42	170
2001	1.46	169
2000	1.39	174
1999	1.38	175
1998	1.45	175
1997	1.69	161
1996	1.67	162
1995	1.58	169
1994	1.47	180
1993	1.52	178
1992	1.48	188
1991	1.53	186
1990	1.63	180
1989	1.63	178
1988	1.79	173
1987	1.64	176
1986	1.76	172
1985	1.82	168
1984	1.87	165
1983	1.88	168
1982	1.9	170
1981	1.93	167
1980	1.93	168
1979	1.95	169
1978	1.96	169
1977	1.95	174
1976	1.94	178
1975	1.95	180
1974	1.98	179
1973	2.01	178
1972	2.01	185
1971	1.97	189
1970	1.88	194
1969	1.95	191
1968	2.03	191
1967	2.1	187
1966	2.23	184
1965	2.22	185
1964	2.14	188
1963	2.15	187
1962	2.19	186
1961	2.22	185
1960	2.24	186

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Croatia was 1.46 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1968. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.52 — a 3.95% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	-19,298	32,035	51,333
2022	-23,134	33,929	57,063
2021	-26,377	36,462	62,839
2020	-20,354	34,836	55,190
2019	-15,008	35,149	50,157
2018	-15,557	35,898	51,455
2017	-16,570	35,968	52,538
2016	-13,553	36,961	50,514
2015	-16,607	36,950	53,557
2014	-11,345	39,074	50,419
2013	-10,162	39,798	49,960
2012	-9,799	41,751	51,550
2011	-9,846	41,093	50,939
2010	-8,591	42,095	50,686
2009	-7,319	43,482	50,801
2008	-8,188	42,666	50,854
2007	-10,335	40,516	50,851
2006	-8,669	40,223	48,892
2005	-9,022	41,217	50,239
2004	-9,040	39,171	48,211
2003	-12,480	38,300	50,780
2002	-10,325	38,719	49,044
2001	-8,599	39,556	48,155
2000	-6,255	43,789	50,044
1999	-6,769	45,125	51,894
1998	-4,985	47,134	52,119
1997	3,175	55,326	52,151
1996	3,190	53,773	50,583
1995	0	50,358	50,358
1994	-930	48,381	49,311
1993	-2,301	48,764	51,065
1992	-4,576	47,130	51,706
1991	-2,813	52,048	54,861
1990	3,344	55,417	52,073
1989	3,337	55,776	52,439
1988	5,707	58,489	52,782
1987	6,161	59,246	53,085
1986	8,499	60,434	51,935
1985	10,343	62,528	52,185
1984	10,764	65,055	54,291
1983	10,714	65,681	54,967
1982	15,756	66,732	50,976
1981	15,680	67,328	51,648
1980	17,939	68,076	50,137
1979	21,136	69,381	48,245
1978	20,157	68,716	48,559
1977	22,798	67,937	45,139
1976	22,226	67,131	44,905
1975	21,658	67,230	45,572
1974	22,453	67,359	44,906
1973	21,904	67,499	45,595
1972	17,802	65,868	48,066
1971	19,941	64,696	44,755
1970	16,767	60,889	44,122
1969	16,688	63,676	46,988
1968	21,828	65,484	43,656
1967	26,032	67,249	41,217
1966	33,192	71,126	37,934
1965	31,251	71,063	39,812
1964	25,942	68,896	42,954
1963	31,270	69,723	38,453
1962	30,216	72,183	41,967
1961	36,255	74,177	37,922
1960	34,778	76,179	41,401

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Croatia (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been -0.45% annually. On average, 17,780 more people died each year than were born.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was -0.5% — 19,298 more people died than were born.

In 2023, Croatia ranks 177/196 for absolute natural population change and 186/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Croatia compared to other countries

	Croatia	Rank
Fertility rate	1.46	153/196
Birth rate	8.3	171/196
Population change due to births and deaths	-19,298	177/196
Natural population change rate	-0.5%	186/196
Population growth	+0.17%	157/197
Age at first childbirth	29.3 years	27/137
Average age at childbearing	31 years	40/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	5.75	155/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	59.4	158/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	12.7	168/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	20.4%	188/196
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.9%	23/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.003%	181/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.28%	151/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.39%	159/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.46%	154/192
Life expectancy	79.1 years	51/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	15.5	5.75	59.4	12.7
2025	15.6	6	61.1	12.6
2024	15.7	6.37	62	12.6
2023	15.7	6.63	62.8	12.5
2022	16.5	6.99	65.3	13.2
2021	17.8	7.57	68.8	14.4
2020	16.5	7.6	63.3	13.3
2019	16.6	8.63	62.9	13.4
2018	17	8.92	64.2	13.5
2017	16.9	9.34	63.4	13.3
2016	17.2	9.78	65.7	13.3
2015	17.2	9.73	66.8	12.8
2014	18	10.2	70.9	13.2
2013	18.1	10.5	72.8	12.9
2012	18.8	11.4	77.1	13
2011	18.6	11.6	77.2	12.5
2010	19.5	12.7	82.4	12.7
2009	20	13.8	86.4	12.4
2008	19.6	14.6	86.2	11.7
2007	18.7	14.3	83.7	10.9
2006	18.5	14.5	84.1	10.5
2005	19	15.2	87.9	10.4
2004	17.8	14.6	84.6	9.54
2003	17.7	15.2	85.7	9.22
2002	17.9	16	88	9.11
2001	18.3	16.6	90.2	9.31
2000	17.6	15.7	88.6	9.32
1999	18.1	15.9	90.1	9.54
1998	19.2	16.6	94.5	10
1997	22	19.1	106	11.4
1996	22.3	20.2	107.2	11
1995	21.1	19.6	103.8	9.81
1994	20.7	20.3	101.4	9.16
1993	21.2	21.1	102	8.87
1992	21.1	22.3	100.4	8.17
1991	22	25.2	107.8	8.05
1990	22.9	27.7	114.6	8.15
1989	23.3	29.8	117	7.77
1988	24.3	32.7	120.9	7.94
1987	25.1	34.8	123.2	8.19
1986	25.7	36.6	124.9	8.26
1985	26.8	38.6	128.3	8.44
1984	27.7	39.6	131.9	8.41
1983	28.1	40.1	132.7	8.44
1982	28.6	41.6	134	8.36
1981	29	43.4	135	8.39
1980	29.1	45.8	134.5	8.34
1979	29.4	47.8	134.3	8.45
1978	29.5	48.9	134.1	8.54
1977	29.4	49.5	132.9	8.63
1976	29.3	50.8	131.7	8.84
1975	29.5	52.2	133.3	9.21
1974	29.8	52.8	135.2	9.95
1973	30.1	53.4	137.3	10.5
1972	29.8	53.6	135.7	10.8
1971	29	52.5	132.3	11
1970	27.5	49	123.7	11.2
1969	28.3	50.1	127	12
1968	29.4	52.4	130.4	12.8
1967	30.5	51.7	134.3	13.8
1966	32.5	51.7	142.4	14.9
1965	32.8	44.1	143.9	15.4
1964	32.1	38.2	139.1	15.5
1963	32.7	38.8	138.8	15.9
1962	33.9	42	140.7	16.5
1961	34.9	43.5	140.9	17.3
1960	35.9	43.8	140.9	18

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Croatia by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 1.9% will be to women under age 20, 38.5% to women ages 20-29, and 59.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 7.96%, 70.2%, and 21.8%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Croatia	World
2100	11.6%	16.5%
2099	11.6%	16.6%
2098	11.7%	16.6%
2097	11.7%	16.7%
2096	11.7%	16.8%
2095	11.8%	16.8%
2094	11.8%	16.9%
2093	11.8%	17%
2092	11.9%	17%
2091	11.9%	17.1%
2090	12%	17.2%
2089	12%	17.2%
2088	12%	17.3%
2087	12.1%	17.4%
2086	12.1%	17.4%
2085	12.1%	17.5%
2084	12.1%	17.5%
2083	12.1%	17.6%
2082	12.1%	17.7%
2081	12.1%	17.7%
2080	12.1%	17.8%
2079	12.1%	17.8%
2078	12.1%	17.9%
2077	12%	17.9%
2076	12%	18%
2075	12%	18%
2074	12%	18.1%
2073	11.9%	18.2%
2072	11.9%	18.2%
2071	11.9%	18.3%
2070	11.9%	18.3%
2069	11.9%	18.4%
2068	11.9%	18.5%
2067	11.9%	18.6%
2066	12%	18.6%
2065	12%	18.7%
2064	12%	18.8%
2063	12.1%	18.9%
2062	12.1%	19.1%
2061	12.2%	19.2%
2060	12.3%	19.3%
2059	12.3%	19.4%
2058	12.4%	19.5%
2057	12.5%	19.6%
2056	12.5%	19.8%
2055	12.6%	19.9%
2054	12.6%	20%
2053	12.7%	20.1%
2052	12.7%	20.2%
2051	12.7%	20.3%
2050	12.8%	20.4%
2049	12.8%	20.5%
2048	12.8%	20.6%
2047	12.8%	20.7%
2046	12.7%	20.8%
2045	12.7%	20.9%
2044	12.7%	20.9%
2043	12.7%	21%
2042	12.6%	21.1%
2041	12.6%	21.2%
2040	12.6%	21.2%
2039	12.6%	21.3%
2038	12.6%	21.4%
2037	12.6%	21.5%
2036	12.7%	21.6%
2035	12.7%	21.8%
2034	12.8%	22%
2033	12.8%	22.2%
2032	12.9%	22.4%
2031	12.9%	22.7%
2030	13%	23%
2029	13.1%	23.3%
2028	13.2%	23.6%
2027	13.4%	23.9%
2026	13.6%	24.2%
2025	13.8%	24.6%
2024	13.9%	24.7%
2023	14.1%	25%
2022	14.3%	25.3%
2021	14.4%	25.6%
2020	14.5%	25.8%
2019	14.5%	26%
2018	14.6%	26.2%
2017	14.6%	26.4%
2016	14.6%	26.5%
2015	14.6%	26.6%
2014	14.7%	26.8%
2013	14.8%	26.9%
2012	15%	27%
2011	15.1%	27.1%
2010	15.3%	27.3%
2009	15.4%	27.5%
2008	15.4%	27.6%
2007	15.5%	27.9%
2006	15.7%	28.1%
2005	15.8%	28.5%
2004	16%	28.8%
2003	16.3%	29.2%
2002	16.5%	29.6%
2001	16.7%	30%
2000	16.9%	30.4%
1999	17.1%	30.8%
1998	17.3%	31.1%
1997	17.5%	31.5%
1996	17.7%	31.8%
1995	18%	32.1%
1994	18.4%	32.3%
1993	18.8%	32.5%
1992	19.2%	32.7%
1991	19.5%	32.9%
1990	19.8%	33%
1989	20.1%	33.2%
1988	20.3%	33.4%
1987	20.5%	33.6%
1986	20.7%	33.8%
1985	20.8%	34%
1984	20.9%	34.3%
1983	20.9%	34.6%
1982	21%	34.9%
1981	21%	35.2%
1980	21.1%	35.5%
1979	21.2%	35.9%
1978	21.3%	36.3%
1977	21.4%	36.7%
1976	21.6%	36.9%
1975	21.8%	37.1%
1974	22%	37.2%
1973	22.2%	37.3%
1972	22.4%	37.5%
1971	22.8%	37.6%
1970	23.2%	37.7%
1969	23.7%	37.8%
1968	24.3%	37.9%
1967	24.8%	38%
1966	25.2%	38%
1965	25.7%	38%
1964	26.1%	38%
1963	26.5%	37.8%
1962	26.8%	37.6%
1961	26.9%	37.5%
1960	27%	37.4%

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/croatia | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Croatia was 27% in 1960, 19.2% in 1992, and 13.9% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Croatia.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	3	197
2022	6	203
2021	12	242
2020	5	211
2019	4	207
2018	3	211
2017	4	215
2016	4	220
2015	4	228
2014	4	231
2013	5	235
2012	5	239
2011	5	247
2010	6	253
2009	6	258
2008	6	264
2007	6	269
2006	6	276
2005	7	283
2004	7	291
2003	8	301
2002	7	311
2001	7	321
2000	8	328
1999	8	340
1998	8	360
1997	9	358
1996	9	366
1995	9	371
1994	9	382
1993	9	389
1992	10	395
1991	10	395
1990	10	391
1989	9	401
1988	10	414
1987	10	429
1986	10	438
1985	10	460

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Croatia was 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.003% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 62.5% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Croatia	World
2023	0.46%	2.49%
2022	0.46%	2.59%
2021	0.46%	2.66%
2020	0.47%	2.75%
2019	0.47%	2.86%
2018	0.48%	2.97%
2017	0.48%	3.11%
2016	0.49%	3.22%
2015	0.49%	3.35%
2014	0.5%	3.48%
2013	0.51%	3.61%
2012	0.52%	3.77%
2011	0.53%	3.97%
2010	0.55%	4.11%
2009	0.57%	4.31%
2008	0.59%	4.5%
2007	0.61%	4.7%
2006	0.64%	4.92%
2005	0.67%	5.16%
2004	0.71%	5.43%
2003	0.82%	5.65%
2002	0.77%	5.94%
2001	0.8%	6.21%
2000	0.83%	6.48%
1999	0.86%	6.75%
1998	0.9%	7.05%
1997	0.93%	7.28%
1996	0.96%	7.52%
1995	1%	7.76%
1994	1.04%	7.98%
1993	1.09%	8.19%
1992	1.15%	8.46%
1991	1.39%	8.66%
1990	1.29%	8.81%
1989	1.38%	9.02%
1988	1.48%	9.31%
1987	1.59%	9.47%
1986	1.69%	9.81%
1985	1.8%	10.1%
1984	1.91%	10.4%
1983	2%	10.6%
1982	2.09%	10.8%
1981	2.19%	11%
1980	-	11.4%
1979	-	11.7%
1978	-	12.2%
1977	-	12.6%
1976	-	13%
1975	-	13.4%
1974	-	13.8%
1973	-	14.1%
1972	-	14.5%
1971	-	15.1%
1970	-	15.2%
1969	-	15.4%
1968	-	15.6%
1967	-	15.9%
1966	-	16.1%
1965	-	16.4%
1964	-	16.6%
1963	-	16.5%
1962	-	16.7%
1961	-	17%
1960	-	17.2%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Croatia was 4.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.46% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 8.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.