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Fertility & birth rates in Croatia and Iraq

Updated on by Georank team

Croatia has an annual birth rate of 8.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 25.7 for Iraq. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.46 in Croatia and 3.25 in Iraq — 122.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 34.8% in Croatia and by 38.7% in Iraq — in 1960, it was 2.24 and 5.3, respectively.

  • Croatia is ranked 171/196 by birth rate compared to 51/196 for Iraq.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31 in Croatia — it's 28.6 in Iraq.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 6.57 in Croatia vs 58 in Iraq.
  • In Croatia, 20.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.3% in Iraq.

Fertility rate in Croatia vs Iraq by year

Croatia
Iraq
1x
Year Fertility rate
Croatia Iraq
2023 1.46 3.25
2022 1.53 3.29
2021 1.62 3.36
2020 1.48 3.42
2019 1.47 3.48
2018 1.47 3.55
2017 1.42 3.64
2016 1.43 3.84
2015 1.41 4.08
2014 1.46 4.31
2013 1.46 4.44
2012 1.52 4.54
2011 1.41 4.59
2010 1.46 4.46
2009 1.5 4.38
2008 1.47 4.37
2007 1.48 4.4
2006 1.47 4.46
2005 1.5 4.45
2004 1.43 4.53
2003 1.41 4.58
2002 1.42 4.67
2001 1.46 4.8
2000 1.39 4.92
1999 1.38 5.04
1998 1.45 5.11
1997 1.69 5.19
1996 1.67 5.25
1995 1.58 5.36
1994 1.47 5.49
1993 1.52 5.61
1992 1.48 5.72
1991 1.53 5.83
1990 1.63 5.93
1989 1.63 5.99
1988 1.79 6.05
1987 1.64 6.11
1986 1.76 6.18
1985 1.82 6.25
1984 1.87 6.32
1983 1.88 6.39
1982 1.9 6.46
1981 1.93 6.53
1980 1.93 6.59
1979 1.95 6.66
1978 1.96 6.73
1977 1.95 6.8
1976 1.94 6.86
1975 1.95 6.91
1974 1.98 6.95
1973 2.01 6.99
1972 2.01 7.02
1971 1.97 7.06
1970 1.88 7.07
1969 1.95 7.08
1968 2.03 7.06
1967 2.1 7.03
1966 2.23 7.02
1965 2.22 7.02
1964 2.14 7.01
1963 2.15 7.01
1962 2.19 6.99
1961 2.22 5.8
1960 2.24 5.3

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Croatia was 1.46 children per woman in 2023, compared to 3.25 in Iraq in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Croatia vs Iraq population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Croatia
Iraq
1x
Year Natural population change
Croatia Iraq
2023 -19,298 973,420
2022 -23,134 962,501
2021 -26,377 941,924
2020 -20,354 919,953
2019 -15,008 942,972
2018 -15,557 938,310
2017 -16,570 924,507
2016 -13,553 946,968
2015 -16,607 1,007,561
2014 -11,345 1,040,726
2013 -10,162 1,026,036
2012 -9,799 999,987
2011 -9,846 971,082
2010 -8,591 906,369
2009 -7,319 855,096
2008 -8,188 802,382
2007 -10,335 784,119
2006 -8,669 797,342
2005 -9,022 776,603
2004 -9,040 761,563
2003 -12,480 746,159
2002 -10,325 739,419
2001 -8,599 729,704
2000 -6,255 715,771
1999 -6,769 702,170
1998 -4,985 684,152
1997 3,175 667,582
1996 3,190 652,866
1995 0 642,977
1994 -930 634,344
1993 -2,301 606,700
1992 -4,576 591,886
1991 -2,813 550,146
1990 3,344 518,575
1989 3,337 496,852
1988 5,707 476,778
1987 6,161 488,742
1986 8,499 474,348
1985 10,343 467,445
1984 10,764 455,740
1983 10,714 439,800
1982 15,756 428,336
1981 15,680 416,998
1980 17,939 419,653
1979 21,136 428,458
1978 20,157 418,756
1977 22,798 410,229
1976 22,226 402,260
1975 21,658 385,916
1974 22,453 376,197
1973 21,904 373,191
1972 17,802 362,334
1971 19,941 351,464
1970 16,767 338,030
1969 16,688 324,792
1968 21,828 310,644
1967 26,032 298,192
1966 33,192 285,507
1965 31,251 274,551
1964 25,942 262,825
1963 31,270 254,046
1962 30,216 247,520
1961 36,255 184,792
1960 34,778 155,651

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/iraq | 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 -0.5% in Croatia and +2.16% in Iraq.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.45% in Croatia and +2.37% in Iraq.

Birth rate in Croatia vs Iraq by year

Croatia
Iraq

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Croatia Iraq
2023 8.3 25.7
2022 8.8 26
2021 9.4 26.4
2020 8.9 26.8
2019 8.9 27.3
2018 9 27.7
2017 8.9 28.3
2016 9 29.8
2015 8.9 31.6
2014 9.3 33.3
2013 9.4 34.1
2012 9.8 34.8
2011 9.6 35.5
2010 9.8 34.6
2009 10.1 33.9
2008 9.9 33.6
2007 9.4 34.5
2006 9.33 35
2005 9.56 33.9
2004 9.1 34.3
2003 8.9 34.5
2002 9 34.8
2001 9.2 35.5
2000 9.8 36.1
1999 10 36.7
1998 10.4 37
1997 12.2 37.3
1996 11.8 37.5
1995 10.9 38
1994 10.4 38.6
1993 10.6 38.6
1992 10.3 39.5
1991 11.1 40
1990 11.6 40.6
1989 11.7 39.6
1988 12.3 39.4
1987 12.5 39
1986 12.8 39
1985 13.3 39.5
1984 13.9 39.6
1983 14.1 39.6
1982 14.4 39.9
1981 14.6 40.2
1980 14.8 40.5
1979 15.1 41
1978 15 41.4
1977 14.9 42.1
1976 14.8 42.8
1975 14.9 43.4
1974 15 44
1973 15.1 44.4
1972 14.8 44.9
1971 14.6 45.4
1970 13.8 45.6
1969 14.5 45.9
1968 15 46
1967 15.5 46.1
1966 16.5 46.4
1965 16.6 46.7
1964 16.2 47.1
1963 16.5 47.5
1962 17.2 47.9
1961 17.8 40
1960 18.4 36.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.3 in Croatia and 25.7 in Iraq, compared with 18.4 and 36.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Croatia Iraq
Fertility rate 1.46 3.25
Fertility rate rank 153/196 49/196
Birth rate 8.3 25.7
Birth rate rank 171/196 51/196
Population change due to births and deaths -19,298 +973,420
Natural population change rank 177/196 20/196
Natural population change rate -0.5% +2.16%
Population growth +0.17% +2.15%
Population growth rank 157/197 46/197
Age at first childbirth 29.3 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 31 years 28.6 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 5.75 56
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 59.4 162.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 12.7 44.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.4% 25.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 n/a 36.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 95.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.07%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.28% 1.29%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.39% 2.08%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.46% 2.26%
Life expectancy 79.1 years 72.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Croatia
Factual

UN forecast
Iraq
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Croatia Iraq
2100 11.6% 18.2%
2099 11.6% 18.3%
2098 11.7% 18.4%
2097 11.7% 18.5%
2096 11.7% 18.6%
2095 11.8% 18.8%
2094 11.8% 18.9%
2093 11.8% 19%
2092 11.9% 19.1%
2091 11.9% 19.2%
2090 12% 19.4%
2089 12% 19.5%
2088 12% 19.7%
2087 12.1% 19.8%
2086 12.1% 19.9%
2085 12.1% 20.1%
2084 12.1% 20.3%
2083 12.1% 20.4%
2082 12.1% 20.6%
2081 12.1% 20.8%
2080 12.1% 20.9%
2079 12.1% 21.1%
2078 12.1% 21.3%
2077 12% 21.5%
2076 12% 21.6%
2075 12% 21.8%
2074 12% 22%
2073 11.9% 22.2%
2072 11.9% 22.3%
2071 11.9% 22.5%
2070 11.9% 22.7%
2069 11.9% 22.8%
2068 11.9% 23%
2067 11.9% 23.2%
2066 12% 23.4%
2065 12% 23.6%
2064 12% 23.8%
2063 12.1% 24%
2062 12.1% 24.2%
2061 12.2% 24.4%
2060 12.3% 24.6%
2059 12.3% 24.9%
2058 12.4% 25.1%
2057 12.5% 25.4%
2056 12.5% 25.7%
2055 12.6% 26%
2054 12.6% 26.3%
2053 12.7% 26.6%
2052 12.7% 26.9%
2051 12.7% 27.2%
2050 12.8% 27.5%
2049 12.8% 27.8%
2048 12.8% 28.1%
2047 12.8% 28.4%
2046 12.7% 28.7%
2045 12.7% 29%
2044 12.7% 29.3%
2043 12.7% 29.5%
2042 12.6% 29.8%
2041 12.6% 30%
2040 12.6% 30.3%
2039 12.6% 30.5%
2038 12.6% 30.7%
2037 12.6% 31%
2036 12.7% 31.2%
2035 12.7% 31.5%
2034 12.8% 31.7%
2033 12.8% 32%
2032 12.9% 32.3%
2031 12.9% 32.7%
2030 13% 33.2%
2029 13.1% 33.7%
2028 13.2% 34.4%
2027 13.4% 35.1%
2026 13.6% 35.7%
2025 13.8% 36.3%
2024 13.9% 36.6%
2023 14.1% 37.1%
2022 14.3% 37.6%
2021 14.4% 38.1%
2020 14.5% 38.5%
2019 14.5% 38.9%
2018 14.6% 39.3%
2017 14.6% 39.7%
2016 14.6% 40.1%
2015 14.6% 40.4%
2014 14.7% 40.6%
2013 14.8% 40.8%
2012 15% 41%
2011 15.1% 41.1%
2010 15.3% 41.2%
2009 15.4% 41.5%
2008 15.4% 41.8%
2007 15.5% 42.1%
2006 15.7% 42.3%
2005 15.8% 42.6%
2004 16% 42.9%
2003 16.3% 43.1%
2002 16.5% 43.3%
2001 16.7% 43.5%
2000 16.9% 43.7%
1999 17.1% 43.8%
1998 17.3% 44%
1997 17.5% 44.1%
1996 17.7% 44.3%
1995 18% 44.4%
1994 18.4% 44.6%
1993 18.8% 44.7%
1992 19.2% 44.9%
1991 19.5% 45%
1990 19.8% 45.2%
1989 20.1% 45.4%
1988 20.3% 45.6%
1987 20.5% 45.8%
1986 20.7% 46%
1985 20.8% 46.2%
1984 20.9% 46.3%
1983 20.9% 46.5%
1982 21% 46.6%
1981 21% 46.7%
1980 21.1% 46.8%
1979 21.2% 47%
1978 21.3% 47.1%
1977 21.4% 47.3%
1976 21.6% 47.2%
1975 21.8% 46.7%
1974 22% 46.2%
1973 22.2% 45.5%
1972 22.4% 44.7%
1971 22.8% 44.1%
1970 23.2% 43.6%
1969 23.7% 43.3%
1968 24.3% 43%
1967 24.8% 42.8%
1966 25.2% 42.5%
1965 25.7% 42.1%
1964 26.1% 41.5%
1963 26.5% 41%
1962 26.8% 40.4%
1961 26.9% 39.9%
1960 27% 39.8%

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/croatia/iraq | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 13.9% of the population in Croatia and 36.6% in Iraq in 2024, compared to 19.8% and 45.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Croatia and Iraq compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Croatia vs Iraq

Croatia
Iraq
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Croatia Iraq
2023 3 66
2022 6 59
2021 12 77
2020 5 63
2019 4 74
2018 3 76
2017 4 81
2016 4 87
2015 4 86
2014 4 90
2013 5 96
2012 5 100
2011 5 105
2010 6 107
2009 6 107
2008 6 109
2007 6 117
2006 6 120
2005 7 118
2004 7 122
2003 8 125
2002 7 128
2001 7 137
2000 8 146
1999 8 156
1998 8 163
1997 9 165
1996 9 158
1995 9 152
1994 9 142
1993 9 132
1992 10 126
1991 10 157
1990 10 195
1989 9 190
1988 10 174
1987 10 145
1986 10 147
1985 10 152

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

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Croatia, compared to 66 deaths in Iraq.

Under-five mortality rates

Croatia
Iraq

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Croatia Iraq
2023 0.46% 2.26%
2022 0.46% 2.33%
2021 0.46% 2.41%
2020 0.47% 2.49%
2019 0.47% 2.57%
2018 0.48% 2.66%
2017 0.48% 2.75%
2016 0.49% 2.84%
2015 0.49% 2.94%
2014 0.5% 3.04%
2013 0.51% 3.14%
2012 0.52% 3.24%
2011 0.53% 3.35%
2010 0.55% 3.46%
2009 0.57% 3.56%
2008 0.59% 3.67%
2007 0.61% 3.78%
2006 0.64% 3.88%
2005 0.67% 3.97%
2004 0.71% 4.07%
2003 0.82% 4.16%
2002 0.77% 4.24%
2001 0.8% 4.33%
2000 0.83% 4.43%
1999 0.86% 4.52%
1998 0.9% 4.61%
1997 0.93% 4.71%
1996 0.96% 4.8%
1995 1% 4.89%
1994 1.04% 4.98%
1993 1.09% 5.07%
1992 1.15% 5.17%
1991 1.39% 6.49%
1990 1.29% 7.97%
1989 1.38% 8.12%
1988 1.48% 6.92%
1987 1.59% 5.75%
1986 1.69% 5.91%
1985 1.8% 6.09%
1984 1.91% 6.28%
1983 2% 6.49%
1982 2.09% 6.71%
1981 2.19% 6.96%
1980 - 7.23%
1979 - 7.52%
1978 - 7.83%
1977 - 8.17%
1976 - 8.54%
1975 - 8.93%
1974 - 9.35%
1973 - 9.79%
1972 - 10.3%
1971 - 10.7%
1970 - 11.2%
1969 - 11.8%
1968 - 12.4%
1967 - 13%
1966 - 13.6%
1965 - 14.4%
1964 - 15.1%
1963 - 16%
1962 - 16.9%
1961 - 17.9%
1960 - 19%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.46% in Croatia and 2.26% in Iraq. 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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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