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Fertility & birth rates in Croatia and Zimbabwe

Updated on by Georank team

Croatia has an annual birth rate of 8.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 30.4 for Zimbabwe. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.46 in Croatia and 3.72 in Zimbabwe — 155.1% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 34.8% in Croatia and by 48.2% in Zimbabwe — in 1960, it was 2.24 and 7.2, respectively.

  • Croatia is ranked 171/196 by birth rate compared to 31/196 for Zimbabwe.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 29.3 years in Croatia, compared to 20.3 years in Zimbabwe.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31 in Croatia — it's 28.1 in Zimbabwe.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 6.57 in Croatia vs 98.1 in Zimbabwe.
  • In Croatia, 20.4% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 26.5% in Zimbabwe.

Fertility rate in Croatia vs Zimbabwe by year

Croatia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Fertility rate
Croatia Zimbabwe
2023 1.46 3.72
2022 1.53 3.77
2021 1.62 3.77
2020 1.48 3.75
2019 1.47 3.75
2018 1.47 3.74
2017 1.42 3.77
2016 1.43 3.83
2015 1.41 3.91
2014 1.46 4.01
2013 1.46 4.11
2012 1.52 4.13
2011 1.41 4.13
2010 1.46 4.04
2009 1.5 3.95
2008 1.47 3.78
2007 1.48 3.68
2006 1.47 3.64
2005 1.5 3.69
2004 1.43 3.78
2003 1.41 3.86
2002 1.42 3.93
2001 1.46 3.98
2000 1.39 4.01
1999 1.38 4.06
1998 1.45 4.07
1997 1.69 4.08
1996 1.67 4.11
1995 1.58 4.15
1994 1.47 4.28
1993 1.52 4.39
1992 1.48 4.57
1991 1.53 4.72
1990 1.63 4.88
1989 1.63 5.07
1988 1.79 5.28
1987 1.64 5.5
1986 1.76 5.69
1985 1.82 5.87
1984 1.87 6.04
1983 1.88 6.2
1982 1.9 6.33
1981 1.93 6.45
1980 1.93 6.52
1979 1.95 6.59
1978 1.96 6.66
1977 1.95 6.71
1976 1.94 6.77
1975 1.95 6.83
1974 1.98 6.88
1973 2.01 6.94
1972 2.01 6.94
1971 1.97 6.94
1970 1.88 6.98
1969 1.95 7.04
1968 2.03 7.11
1967 2.1 7.16
1966 2.23 7.2
1965 2.22 7.23
1964 2.14 7.23
1963 2.15 7.23
1962 2.19 7.23
1961 2.22 7.21
1960 2.24 7.2

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/zimbabwe | 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 3.72 in Zimbabwe in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Croatia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Natural population change
Croatia Zimbabwe
2023 -19,298 372,505
2022 -23,134 371,243
2021 -26,377 349,908
2020 -20,354 354,790
2019 -15,008 348,798
2018 -15,557 345,883
2017 -16,570 344,035
2016 -13,553 348,772
2015 -16,607 356,203
2014 -11,345 366,350
2013 -10,162 374,757
2012 -9,799 371,135
2011 -9,846 359,572
2010 -8,591 335,570
2009 -7,319 309,316
2008 -8,188 280,527
2007 -10,335 261,805
2006 -8,669 248,963
2005 -9,022 248,545
2004 -9,040 248,307
2003 -12,480 243,057
2002 -10,325 244,170
2001 -8,599 227,909
2000 -6,255 236,343
1999 -6,769 232,393
1998 -4,985 225,614
1997 3,175 216,288
1996 3,190 205,269
1995 0 206,695
1994 -930 216,343
1993 -2,301 228,045
1992 -4,576 255,291
1991 -2,813 260,943
1990 3,344 265,444
1989 3,337 270,838
1988 5,707 277,498
1987 6,161 286,766
1986 8,499 289,894
1985 10,343 290,756
1984 10,764 290,052
1983 10,714 286,545
1982 15,756 279,934
1981 15,680 271,361
1980 17,939 241,179
1979 21,136 223,657
1978 20,157 222,979
1977 22,798 225,139
1976 22,226 221,419
1975 21,658 216,947
1974 22,453 208,806
1973 21,904 201,885
1972 17,802 193,725
1971 19,941 185,427
1970 16,767 178,979
1969 16,688 172,626
1968 21,828 166,865
1967 26,032 161,205
1966 33,192 156,014
1965 31,251 151,164
1964 25,942 145,848
1963 31,270 140,984
1962 30,216 136,317
1961 36,255 131,531
1960 34,778 126,959

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/zimbabwe | 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 +2.28% in Zimbabwe.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.45% in Croatia and +2.34% in Zimbabwe.

Birth rate in Croatia vs Zimbabwe by year

Croatia
Zimbabwe

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Croatia Zimbabwe
2023 8.3 30.4
2022 8.8 30.9
2021 9.4 30.9
2020 8.9 31
2019 8.9 31.1
2018 9 31.3
2017 8.9 31.8
2016 9 32.7
2015 8.9 33.9
2014 9.3 35.4
2013 9.4 37
2012 9.8 37.8
2011 9.6 38.1
2010 9.8 37.9
2009 10.1 37.5
2008 9.9 36.4
2007 9.4 35.7
2006 9.33 35.2
2005 9.56 35.8
2004 9.1 36.3
2003 8.9 36.6
2002 9 36.5
2001 9.2 36.5
2000 9.8 36.1
1999 10 35.6
1998 10.4 34.5
1997 12.2 33.4
1996 11.8 32.4
1995 10.9 31.7
1994 10.4 32
1993 10.6 32.4
1992 10.3 34.3
1991 11.1 34.9
1990 11.6 35.5
1989 11.7 36.4
1988 12.3 37.7
1987 12.5 39.5
1986 12.8 40.9
1985 13.3 42.3
1984 13.9 43.7
1983 14.1 45
1982 14.4 45.7
1981 14.6 46.3
1980 14.8 44.8
1979 15.1 46.3
1978 15 46.8
1977 14.9 46.5
1976 14.8 46.5
1975 14.9 46.6
1974 15 46.4
1973 15.1 46.4
1972 14.8 46
1971 14.6 45.6
1970 13.8 45.5
1969 14.5 45.5
1968 15 45.7
1967 15.5 45.8
1966 16.5 46.1
1965 16.6 46.4
1964 16.2 46.6
1963 16.5 46.8
1962 17.2 47.1
1961 17.8 47.3
1960 18.4 47.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.3 in Croatia and 30.4 in Zimbabwe, compared with 18.4 and 47.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Croatia Zimbabwe
Fertility rate 1.46 3.72
Fertility rate rank 153/196 36/196
Birth rate 8.3 30.4
Birth rate rank 171/196 31/196
Population change due to births and deaths -19,298 +372,505
Natural population change rank 177/196 45/196
Natural population change rate -0.5% +2.28%
Population growth +0.17% +1.8%
Population growth rank 157/197 60/197
Age at first childbirth 29.3 years 20.3 years
Average age at childbearing 31 years 28.1 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 5.75 93.2
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 59.4 176.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 12.7 47.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 20.4% 26.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 n/a 65.8%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.9% 86%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.36%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.28% 2.24%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.39% 4.06%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.46% 4.42%
Life expectancy 79.1 years 63.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Croatia
Factual

UN forecast
Zimbabwe
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Croatia Zimbabwe
2100 11.6% 20.3%
2099 11.6% 20.5%
2098 11.7% 20.6%
2097 11.7% 20.8%
2096 11.7% 20.9%
2095 11.8% 21.1%
2094 11.8% 21.3%
2093 11.8% 21.4%
2092 11.9% 21.6%
2091 11.9% 21.8%
2090 12% 22%
2089 12% 22.2%
2088 12% 22.4%
2087 12.1% 22.6%
2086 12.1% 22.8%
2085 12.1% 23%
2084 12.1% 23.2%
2083 12.1% 23.4%
2082 12.1% 23.6%
2081 12.1% 23.8%
2080 12.1% 24%
2079 12.1% 24.2%
2078 12.1% 24.4%
2077 12% 24.6%
2076 12% 24.9%
2075 12% 25.1%
2074 12% 25.3%
2073 11.9% 25.5%
2072 11.9% 25.7%
2071 11.9% 25.9%
2070 11.9% 26.2%
2069 11.9% 26.4%
2068 11.9% 26.6%
2067 11.9% 26.8%
2066 12% 27.1%
2065 12% 27.3%
2064 12% 27.6%
2063 12.1% 27.8%
2062 12.1% 28.1%
2061 12.2% 28.4%
2060 12.3% 28.7%
2059 12.3% 29%
2058 12.4% 29.3%
2057 12.5% 29.6%
2056 12.5% 30%
2055 12.6% 30.3%
2054 12.6% 30.6%
2053 12.7% 31%
2052 12.7% 31.3%
2051 12.7% 31.7%
2050 12.8% 32%
2049 12.8% 32.4%
2048 12.8% 32.7%
2047 12.8% 33.1%
2046 12.7% 33.4%
2045 12.7% 33.7%
2044 12.7% 34%
2043 12.7% 34.2%
2042 12.6% 34.5%
2041 12.6% 34.7%
2040 12.6% 34.9%
2039 12.6% 35.2%
2038 12.6% 35.4%
2037 12.6% 35.7%
2036 12.7% 35.9%
2035 12.7% 36.2%
2034 12.8% 36.4%
2033 12.8% 36.6%
2032 12.9% 36.9%
2031 12.9% 37.2%
2030 13% 37.6%
2029 13.1% 38.1%
2028 13.2% 38.7%
2027 13.4% 39.3%
2026 13.6% 40%
2025 13.8% 40.6%
2024 13.9% 40.9%
2023 14.1% 41.3%
2022 14.3% 41.6%
2021 14.4% 41.9%
2020 14.5% 42.2%
2019 14.5% 42.5%
2018 14.6% 42.9%
2017 14.6% 43.3%
2016 14.6% 43.6%
2015 14.6% 43.8%
2014 14.7% 43.9%
2013 14.8% 43.9%
2012 15% 43.7%
2011 15.1% 43.4%
2010 15.3% 43%
2009 15.4% 42.7%
2008 15.4% 42.4%
2007 15.5% 42.1%
2006 15.7% 42%
2005 15.8% 41.9%
2004 16% 41.7%
2003 16.3% 41.5%
2002 16.5% 41.4%
2001 16.7% 41.5%
2000 16.9% 41.9%
1999 17.1% 42.4%
1998 17.3% 43.1%
1997 17.5% 44%
1996 17.7% 45%
1995 18% 45.9%
1994 18.4% 46.6%
1993 18.8% 47.1%
1992 19.2% 46.8%
1991 19.5% 46.6%
1990 19.8% 47.1%
1989 20.1% 47.6%
1988 20.3% 47.9%
1987 20.5% 47.9%
1986 20.7% 47.9%
1985 20.8% 48%
1984 20.9% 48.1%
1983 20.9% 48.2%
1982 21% 48.3%
1981 21% 48.4%
1980 21.1% 48.7%
1979 21.2% 48.8%
1978 21.3% 48.5%
1977 21.4% 48.3%
1976 21.6% 48.2%
1975 21.8% 48.1%
1974 22% 48.1%
1973 22.2% 48.1%
1972 22.4% 48.2%
1971 22.8% 48.2%
1970 23.2% 48.3%
1969 23.7% 48.4%
1968 24.3% 48.5%
1967 24.8% 48.5%
1966 25.2% 48.6%
1965 25.7% 48.7%
1964 26.1% 48.8%
1963 26.5% 48.5%
1962 26.8% 48.1%
1961 26.9% 47.7%
1960 27% 47.3%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 13.9% of the population in Croatia and 40.9% in Zimbabwe in 2024, compared to 19.8% and 47.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Croatia and Zimbabwe compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Croatia vs Zimbabwe

Croatia
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Croatia Zimbabwe
2023 3 358
2022 6 368
2021 12 446
2020 5 380
2019 4 388
2018 3 386
2017 4 389
2016 4 411
2015 4 428
2014 4 468
2013 5 525
2012 5 558
2011 5 564
2010 6 567
2009 6 540
2008 6 526
2007 6 519
2006 6 480
2005 7 454
2004 7 451
2003 8 455
2002 7 418
2001 7 467
2000 8 405
1999 8 399
1998 8 368
1997 9 357
1996 9 352
1995 9 332
1994 9 332
1993 9 331
1992 10 333
1991 10 332
1990 10 353
1989 9 382
1988 10 431
1987 10 480
1986 10 525
1985 10 573

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/croatia/zimbabwe | 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 358 deaths in Zimbabwe.

Under-five mortality rates

Croatia
Zimbabwe

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Croatia Zimbabwe
2023 0.46% 4.42%
2022 0.46% 4.6%
2021 0.46% 4.76%
2020 0.47% 5.01%
2019 0.47% 5.11%
2018 0.48% 5.23%
2017 0.48% 5.5%
2016 0.49% 5.69%
2015 0.49% 5.98%
2014 0.5% 6.18%
2013 0.51% 6.55%
2012 0.52% 7.14%
2011 0.53% 7.88%
2010 0.55% 8.5%
2009 0.57% 9.03%
2008 0.59% 9.34%
2007 0.61% 9.47%
2006 0.64% 9.4%
2005 0.67% 9.23%
2004 0.71% 9.17%
2003 0.82% 8.85%
2002 0.77% 8.48%
2001 0.8% 9.79%
2000 0.83% 9.83%
1999 0.86% 9.92%
1998 0.9% 10%
1997 0.93% 10.1%
1996 0.96% 10%
1995 1% 9.83%
1994 1.04% 9.52%
1993 1.09% 9.16%
1992 1.15% 8.73%
1991 1.39% 8.33%
1990 1.29% 7.97%
1989 1.38% 7.69%
1988 1.48% 7.55%
1987 1.59% 7.61%
1986 1.69% 7.86%
1985 1.8% 8.31%
1984 1.91% 8.87%
1983 2% 9.5%
1982 2.09% 10.1%
1981 2.19% 10.7%
1980 - 11.1%
1979 - 11.3%
1978 - 11.5%
1977 - 11.5%
1976 - 11.5%
1975 - 11.4%
1974 - 11.4%
1973 - 11.4%
1972 - 11.5%
1971 - 11.5%
1970 - 11.7%
1969 - 11.8%
1968 - 12.1%
1967 - 12.4%
1966 - 12.7%
1965 - 13.1%
1964 - 13.5%
1963 - 14%
1962 - 14.4%
1961 - 14.8%
1960 - 15.2%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.46% in Croatia and 4.42% in Zimbabwe. 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)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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