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Fertility & birth rates in Croatia and Malta

Updated on by Georank team

Croatia has an annual birth rate of 8.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.1 for Malta. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.46 in Croatia and 1.06 in Malta — 27.4% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 34.8% in Croatia and by 70.7% in Malta — in 1960, it was 2.24 and 3.62, respectively.

  • Croatia is ranked 171/196 by birth rate compared to 174/196 for Malta.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.3 years in Croatia, compared to 29.8 years in Malta.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31 in Croatia — it's 31.3 in Malta.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 6.57 in Croatia vs 10.4 in Malta.
  • In Croatia, 20.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.6% in Malta.

Fertility rate in Croatia vs Malta by year

Croatia
Malta
1x
Year Fertility rate
Croatia Malta
2023 1.46 1.06
2022 1.53 1.08
2021 1.62 1.13
2020 1.48 1.13
2019 1.47 1.14
2018 1.47 1.23
2017 1.42 1.26
2016 1.43 1.37
2015 1.41 1.37
2014 1.46 1.38
2013 1.46 1.36
2012 1.52 1.42
2011 1.41 1.45
2010 1.46 1.36
2009 1.5 1.42
2008 1.47 1.43
2007 1.48 1.35
2006 1.47 1.36
2005 1.5 1.38
2004 1.43 1.4
2003 1.41 1.48
2002 1.42 1.45
2001 1.46 1.48
2000 1.39 1.68
1999 1.38 1.73
1998 1.45 1.84
1997 1.69 1.93
1996 1.67 1.99
1995 1.58 1.77
1994 1.47 1.84
1993 1.52 1.96
1992 1.48 2.07
1991 1.53 1.99
1990 1.63 2.02
1989 1.63 2.1
1988 1.79 2.06
1987 1.64 1.97
1986 1.76 1.93
1985 1.82 1.95
1984 1.87 1.95
1983 1.88 1.92
1982 1.9 1.9
1981 1.93 1.87
1980 1.93 1.99
1979 1.95 2.1
1978 1.96 2.05
1977 1.95 2.14
1976 1.94 2.21
1975 1.95 2.27
1974 1.98 1.64
1973 2.01 1.65
1972 2.01 2.01
1971 1.97 2.06
1970 1.88 2.03
1969 1.95 2.02
1968 2.03 2.12
1967 2.1 2.24
1966 2.23 2.33
1965 2.22 2.52
1964 2.14 2.79
1963 2.15 2.9
1962 2.19 3.24
1961 2.22 3.27
1960 2.24 3.62

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/malta | 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 1.06 in Malta in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Croatia
Malta
1x
Year Natural population change
Croatia Malta
2023 -19,298 442
2022 -23,134 54
2021 -26,377 259
2020 -20,354 361
2019 -15,008 655
2018 -15,557 774
2017 -16,570 747
2016 -13,553 1,091
2015 -16,607 888
2014 -11,345 910
2013 -10,162 807
2012 -9,799 714
2011 -9,846 916
2010 -8,591 871
2009 -7,319 825
2008 -8,188 777
2007 -10,335 691
2006 -8,669 568
2005 -9,022 727
2004 -9,040 883
2003 -12,480 917
2002 -10,325 911
2001 -8,599 1,061
2000 -6,255 1,482
1999 -6,769 1,357
1998 -4,985 1,656
1997 3,175 1,991
1996 3,190 2,279
1995 0 1,887
1994 -930 2,136
1993 -2,301 2,451
1992 -4,576 2,573
1991 -2,813 2,438
1990 3,344 2,621
1989 3,337 2,981
1988 5,707 2,813
1987 6,161 2,412
1986 8,499 2,395
1985 10,343 2,590
1984 10,764 2,678
1983 10,714 2,512
1982 15,756 2,835
1981 15,680 2,233
1980 17,939 2,375
1979 21,136 2,852
1978 20,157 2,389
1977 22,798 2,916
1976 22,226 2,721
1975 21,658 2,829
1974 22,453 2,687
1973 21,904 2,327
1972 17,802 2,480
1971 19,941 2,482
1970 16,767 2,270
1969 16,688 2,069
1968 21,828 2,247
1967 26,032 2,306
1966 33,192 2,458
1965 31,251 2,646
1964 25,942 3,630
1963 31,270 3,709
1962 30,216 4,664
1961 36,255 4,748
1960 34,778 5,747

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/malta | 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 +0.08% in Malta.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.45% in Croatia and +0.13% in Malta.

Birth rate in Croatia vs Malta by year

Croatia
Malta

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Croatia Malta
2023 8.3 8.1
2022 8.8 8.1
2021 9.4 8.5
2020 8.9 8.6
2019 8.9 8.6
2018 9 9.2
2017 8.9 9.2
2016 9 9.8
2015 8.9 9.7
2014 9.3 9.6
2013 9.4 9.5
2012 9.8 9.8
2011 9.6 10
2010 9.8 9.4
2009 10.1 9.8
2008 9.9 9.8
2007 9.4 9.3
2006 9.33 9.3
2005 9.56 9.6
2004 9.1 9.7
2003 8.9 10.2
2002 9 9.9
2001 9.2 10.1
2000 9.8 11.3
1999 10 11.4
1998 10.4 12.1
1997 12.2 12.7
1996 11.8 13.3
1995 10.9 12.2
1994 10.4 12.9
1993 10.6 13.9
1992 10.3 14.9
1991 11.1 14.6
1990 11.6 15.2
1989 11.7 15.9
1988 12.3 15.9
1987 12.5 15.4
1986 12.8 15.3
1985 13.3 16.1
1984 13.9 16.9
1983 14.1 17.1
1982 14.4 18.1
1981 14.6 16.6
1980 14.8 17.7
1979 15.1 18.6
1978 15 18.2
1977 14.9 18.9
1976 14.8 18.6
1975 14.9 18.8
1974 15 18
1973 15.1 17.4
1972 14.8 17.8
1971 14.6 18.4
1970 13.8 17.6
1969 14.5 16.7
1968 15 16.7
1967 15.5 17
1966 16.5 16.9
1965 16.6 17.7
1964 16.2 19.9
1963 16.5 20.7
1962 17.2 23.2
1961 17.8 23.6
1960 18.4 26.2

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.3 in Croatia and 8.1 in Malta, compared with 18.4 and 26.2, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Croatia Malta
Fertility rate 1.46 1.06
Fertility rate rank 153/196 191/196
Birth rate 8.3 8.1
Birth rate rank 171/196 174/196
Population change due to births and deaths -19,298 +442
Natural population change rank 177/196 147/196
Natural population change rate -0.5% +0.08%
Population growth +0.17% +2.91%
Population growth rank 157/197 19/197
Age at first childbirth 29.3 years 29.8 years
Average age at childbearing 31 years 31.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 5.75 9.69
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 59.4 38.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 12.7 16
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.4% 22.6%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 n/a 46%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 99.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.008%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.28% 0.37%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.39% 0.48%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.46% 0.55%
Life expectancy 79.1 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Croatia
Factual

UN forecast
Malta
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Croatia Malta
2100 11.6% 10.1%
2099 11.6% 10.1%
2098 11.7% 10.1%
2097 11.7% 10.1%
2096 11.7% 10.1%
2095 11.8% 10.1%
2094 11.8% 10%
2093 11.8% 9.98%
2092 11.9% 9.93%
2091 11.9% 9.87%
2090 12% 9.81%
2089 12% 9.75%
2088 12% 9.68%
2087 12.1% 9.61%
2086 12.1% 9.55%
2085 12.1% 9.49%
2084 12.1% 9.43%
2083 12.1% 9.39%
2082 12.1% 9.34%
2081 12.1% 9.31%
2080 12.1% 9.28%
2079 12.1% 9.26%
2078 12.1% 9.26%
2077 12% 9.25%
2076 12% 9.26%
2075 12% 9.27%
2074 12% 9.29%
2073 11.9% 9.32%
2072 11.9% 9.35%
2071 11.9% 9.38%
2070 11.9% 9.42%
2069 11.9% 9.45%
2068 11.9% 9.49%
2067 11.9% 9.53%
2066 12% 9.57%
2065 12% 9.61%
2064 12% 9.64%
2063 12.1% 9.67%
2062 12.1% 9.69%
2061 12.2% 9.7%
2060 12.3% 9.71%
2059 12.3% 9.71%
2058 12.4% 9.7%
2057 12.5% 9.68%
2056 12.5% 9.66%
2055 12.6% 9.63%
2054 12.6% 9.6%
2053 12.7% 9.57%
2052 12.7% 9.54%
2051 12.7% 9.52%
2050 12.8% 9.51%
2049 12.8% 9.51%
2048 12.8% 9.53%
2047 12.8% 9.57%
2046 12.7% 9.62%
2045 12.7% 9.7%
2044 12.7% 9.8%
2043 12.7% 9.92%
2042 12.6% 10.1%
2041 12.6% 10.2%
2040 12.6% 10.4%
2039 12.6% 10.5%
2038 12.6% 10.7%
2037 12.6% 10.8%
2036 12.7% 11%
2035 12.7% 11.2%
2034 12.8% 11.4%
2033 12.8% 11.6%
2032 12.9% 11.8%
2031 12.9% 12.1%
2030 13% 12.3%
2029 13.1% 12.4%
2028 13.2% 12.5%
2027 13.4% 12.7%
2026 13.6% 12.8%
2025 13.8% 13%
2024 13.9% 13%
2023 14.1% 13.2%
2022 14.3% 13.2%
2021 14.4% 13.2%
2020 14.5% 13.3%
2019 14.5% 13.6%
2018 14.6% 13.8%
2017 14.6% 14%
2016 14.6% 14.2%
2015 14.6% 14.2%
2014 14.7% 14.3%
2013 14.8% 14.5%
2012 15% 14.7%
2011 15.1% 14.9%
2010 15.3% 15.2%
2009 15.4% 15.5%
2008 15.4% 15.9%
2007 15.5% 16.4%
2006 15.7% 16.9%
2005 15.8% 17.4%
2004 16% 17.9%
2003 16.3% 18.4%
2002 16.5% 18.9%
2001 16.7% 19.4%
2000 16.9% 19.8%
1999 17.1% 20.2%
1998 17.3% 20.7%
1997 17.5% 21.2%
1996 17.7% 21.6%
1995 18% 22%
1994 18.4% 22.3%
1993 18.8% 22.6%
1992 19.2% 22.9%
1991 19.5% 23.1%
1990 19.8% 23.4%
1989 20.1% 23.6%
1988 20.3% 23.8%
1987 20.5% 24%
1986 20.7% 24.1%
1985 20.8% 24.1%
1984 20.9% 24%
1983 20.9% 23.8%
1982 21% 23.6%
1981 21% 23.5%
1980 21.1% 23.4%
1979 21.2% 23.5%
1978 21.3% 23.6%
1977 21.4% 23.8%
1976 21.6% 24.1%
1975 21.8% 24.5%
1974 22% 25%
1973 22.2% 25.6%
1972 22.4% 26.3%
1971 22.8% 26.9%
1970 23.2% 27.7%
1969 23.7% 28.5%
1968 24.3% 29.3%
1967 24.8% 30.1%
1966 25.2% 30.9%
1965 25.7% 31.7%
1964 26.1% 32.6%
1963 26.5% 33.4%
1962 26.8% 34.2%
1961 26.9% 35%
1960 27% 35.8%

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/malta | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 13.9% of the population in Croatia and 13% in Malta in 2024, compared to 19.8% and 23.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Croatia and Malta compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Croatia vs Malta

Croatia
Malta
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Croatia Malta
2023 3 8
2022 6 10
2021 12 10
2020 5 10
2019 4 8
2018 3 9
2017 4 7
2016 4 10
2015 4 7
2014 4 8
2013 5 7
2012 5 9
2011 5 11
2010 6 9
2009 6 11
2008 6 10
2007 6 10
2006 6 12
2005 7 11
2004 7 11
2003 8 13
2002 7 13
2001 7 12
2000 8 13
1999 8 15
1998 8 14
1997 9 15
1996 9 16
1995 9 15
1994 9 16
1993 9 16
1992 10 17
1991 10 17
1990 10 17
1989 9 17
1988 10 17
1987 10 19
1986 10 19
1985 10 21

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/malta | 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 8 deaths in Malta.

Under-five mortality rates

Croatia
Malta

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Croatia Malta
2023 0.46% 0.55%
2022 0.46% 0.57%
2021 0.46% 0.58%
2020 0.47% 0.6%
2019 0.47% 0.61%
2018 0.48% 0.63%
2017 0.48% 0.64%
2016 0.49% 0.65%
2015 0.49% 0.66%
2014 0.5% 0.67%
2013 0.51% 0.67%
2012 0.52% 0.68%
2011 0.53% 0.68%
2010 0.55% 0.69%
2009 0.57% 0.69%
2008 0.59% 0.69%
2007 0.61% 0.69%
2006 0.64% 0.69%
2005 0.67% 0.69%
2004 0.71% 0.7%
2003 0.82% 0.71%
2002 0.77% 0.72%
2001 0.8% 0.74%
2000 0.83% 0.76%
1999 0.86% 0.79%
1998 0.9% 0.82%
1997 0.93% 0.86%
1996 0.96% 0.9%
1995 1% 0.94%
1994 1.04% 0.98%
1993 1.09% 1.02%
1992 1.15% 1.06%
1991 1.39% 1.1%
1990 1.29% 1.13%
1989 1.38% 1.18%
1988 1.48% 1.23%
1987 1.59% 1.28%
1986 1.69% 1.33%
1985 1.8% 1.39%
1984 1.91% 1.45%
1983 2% 1.51%
1982 2.09% 1.57%
1981 2.19% 1.62%
1980 - 1.69%
1979 - 1.76%
1978 - 1.84%
1977 - 1.93%
1976 - 2.03%
1975 - 2.14%
1974 - 2.26%
1973 - 2.39%
1972 - 2.52%
1971 - 2.66%
1970 - 2.79%
1969 - 2.93%
1968 - 3.06%
1967 - 3.19%
1966 - 3.31%
1965 - 3.43%
1964 - 3.53%
1963 - 3.63%
1962 - 3.73%
1961 - 3.85%
1960 - 4%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.46% in Croatia and 0.55% in Malta. 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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