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Fertility & birth rates in Iceland and North Macedonia

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has an annual birth rate of 11 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.2 for North Macedonia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.59 in Iceland and 1.5 in North Macedonia — 5.66% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 62.9% in Iceland and by 60.8% in North Macedonia — in 1960, it was 4.29 and 3.83, respectively.

  • Iceland is ranked 132/196 by birth rate compared to 158/196 for North Macedonia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 28.8 years in Iceland, compared to 27.4 years in North Macedonia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31 in Iceland — it's 29.3 in North Macedonia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 3.37 in Iceland vs 13 in North Macedonia.
  • In Iceland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in North Macedonia.

Fertility rate in Iceland vs North Macedonia by year

Iceland
North Macedonia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland North Macedonia
2023 1.59 1.5
2022 1.59 1.6
2021 1.82 1.6
2020 1.72 1.31
2019 1.74 1.34
2018 1.71 1.42
2017 1.71 1.43
2016 1.74 1.5
2015 1.8 1.49
2014 1.93 1.5
2013 1.93 1.5
2012 2.04 1.5
2011 2.02 1.46
2010 2.2 1.6
2009 2.23 1.5
2008 2.15 1.47
2007 2.09 1.46
2006 2.08 1.46
2005 2.05 1.5
2004 2.04 1.52
2003 1.99 1.75
2002 1.93 1.79
2001 1.95 1.73
2000 2.08 1.86
1999 1.99 1.77
1998 2.05 1.89
1997 2.04 1.92
1996 2.12 2.06
1995 2.08 2.13
1994 2.14 2.23
1993 2.22 2.26
1992 2.21 2.28
1991 2.18 2.31
1990 2.3 2.27
1989 2.19 2.25
1988 2.26 2.32
1987 2.06 2.32
1986 1.92 2.25
1985 1.93 2.25
1984 2.08 2.24
1983 2.24 2.25
1982 2.27 2.29
1981 2.33 2.29
1980 2.48 2.36
1979 2.49 2.4
1978 2.35 2.42
1977 2.31 2.49
1976 2.52 2.62
1975 2.65 2.69
1974 2.66 2.7
1973 2.94 2.72
1972 3.09 2.87
1971 2.92 2.93
1970 2.81 3.01
1969 2.99 3.1
1968 3.06 3.22
1967 3.28 3.33
1966 3.59 3.43
1965 3.73 3.52
1964 3.88 3.56
1963 3.99 3.62
1962 3.98 3.5
1961 3.88 3.62
1960 4.29 3.83

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.5 in North Macedonia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Iceland vs North Macedonia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Iceland
North Macedonia
1x
Year Natural population change
Iceland North Macedonia
2023 1,697 -3,290
2022 1,719 -4,397
2021 2,534 -9,737
2020 2,199 -5,939
2019 2,163 -375
2018 1,975 1,512
2017 1,854 1,329
2016 1,711 2,374
2015 1,952 2,294
2014 2,324 3,644
2013 2,169 3,653
2012 2,566 3,087
2011 2,521 3,100
2010 2,862 4,866
2009 3,026 4,309
2008 2,825 3,746
2007 2,617 2,974
2006 2,491 3,988
2005 2,433 4,011
2004 2,425 5,444
2003 2,317 8,900
2002 2,243 9,697
2001 2,365 10,174
2000 2,475 12,159
1999 2,192 10,489
1998 2,357 12,446
1997 2,305 12,979
1996 2,447 14,806
1995 2,354 17,239
1994 2,713 19,103
1993 2,875 20,797
1992 2,898 21,659
1991 2,733 23,387
1990 3,058 22,868
1989 2,832 22,912
1988 2,847 24,064
1987 2,360 24,359
1986 2,384 23,720
1985 2,221 24,167
1984 2,539 24,436
1983 2,702 24,690
1982 2,736 25,810
1981 2,677 25,689
1980 2,966 26,547
1979 2,980 27,096
1978 2,727 27,150
1977 2,551 27,410
1976 2,951 28,799
1975 2,965 28,983
1974 2,776 28,400
1973 3,121 28,032
1972 3,241 28,236
1971 2,782 28,010
1970 2,576 28,022
1969 2,766 27,464
1968 2,841 28,378
1967 3,021 28,401
1966 3,305 28,766
1965 3,442 28,564
1964 3,459 27,889
1963 3,490 28,124
1962 3,465 25,317
1961 3,312 27,846
1960 3,758 28,816

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | 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 +0.44% in Iceland and -0.18% in North Macedonia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.57% in Iceland and -0.07% in North Macedonia.

Birth rate in Iceland vs North Macedonia by year

Iceland
North Macedonia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Iceland North Macedonia
2023 11 9.2
2022 11.5 9.9
2021 13.1 10.2
2020 12.3 9.2
2019 12.3 9.6
2018 12 10.3
2017 11.9 10.5
2016 12 11.1
2015 12.5 11.1
2014 13.4 11.4
2013 13.4 11.2
2012 14.1 11.4
2011 14.1 11.1
2010 15.4 11.8
2009 15.8 11.5
2008 15.2 11.2
2007 14.6 11.1
2006 14.5 11.1
2005 14.4 11
2004 14.5 11.5
2003 14.3 13.3
2002 14.1 13.7
2001 14.4 13.3
2000 15.3 14.5
1999 14.8 13.5
1998 15.2 14.6
1997 15.3 14.8
1996 16.1 16.1
1995 16 16.7
1994 16.7 17.7
1993 17.5 18.2
1992 17.7 18.4
1991 17.6 18.7
1990 18.7 18.4
1989 18 18.4
1988 18.7 19.1
1987 16.6 19.3
1986 16.4 18.9
1985 16 19.1
1984 17.2 19.2
1983 18.4 19.5
1982 18.5 19.9
1981 18.8 20.1
1980 19.8 20.8
1979 19.8 21.1
1978 18.6 21.3
1977 18 21.9
1976 19.5 23
1975 20.1 23.6
1974 19.9 23.5
1973 21.7 23.5
1972 22.4 24.5
1971 20.8 24.7
1970 19.7 25.1
1969 20.7 25.4
1968 21 26.1
1967 22.2 26.7
1966 24 27.5
1965 24.6 28.1
1964 25.3 28.4
1963 26 29
1962 25.8 28.3
1961 25.5 29.2
1960 28 31

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11 in Iceland and 9.2 in North Macedonia, compared with 28 and 31, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Iceland North Macedonia
Fertility rate 1.59 1.5
Fertility rate rank 127/196 146/196
Birth rate 11 9.2
Birth rate rank 132/196 158/196
Population change due to births and deaths +1,697 -3,290
Natural population change rank 138/196 165/196
Natural population change rate +0.44% -0.18%
Population growth +0.22% -0.19%
Population growth rank 155/197 176/197
Age at first childbirth 28.8 years 27.4 years
Average age at childbearing 31 years 29.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 2.72 11.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 67.1 76.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 20.4 11.9
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 n/a 14%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 97.4% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.003% 0.003%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.13% 0.14%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.19% 0.28%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.26% 0.33%
Life expectancy 83.3 years 77.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Iceland
Factual

UN forecast
North Macedonia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Iceland North Macedonia
2100 11.8% 10.6%
2099 11.8% 10.7%
2098 11.8% 10.7%
2097 11.8% 10.8%
2096 11.9% 10.8%
2095 11.9% 10.9%
2094 11.9% 11%
2093 11.9% 11%
2092 11.9% 11.1%
2091 11.9% 11.2%
2090 11.9% 11.2%
2089 11.9% 11.3%
2088 11.9% 11.3%
2087 11.9% 11.4%
2086 11.9% 11.4%
2085 11.9% 11.4%
2084 11.9% 11.4%
2083 11.9% 11.4%
2082 11.9% 11.4%
2081 11.9% 11.4%
2080 11.9% 11.4%
2079 12% 11.3%
2078 12% 11.3%
2077 12% 11.3%
2076 12% 11.2%
2075 12.1% 11.2%
2074 12.1% 11.2%
2073 12.1% 11.2%
2072 12.2% 11.1%
2071 12.2% 11.2%
2070 12.3% 11.2%
2069 12.4% 11.2%
2068 12.4% 11.3%
2067 12.5% 11.4%
2066 12.6% 11.5%
2065 12.6% 11.6%
2064 12.7% 11.7%
2063 12.8% 11.9%
2062 12.8% 12%
2061 12.9% 12.2%
2060 13% 12.3%
2059 13% 12.4%
2058 13.1% 12.6%
2057 13.2% 12.7%
2056 13.2% 12.8%
2055 13.3% 12.9%
2054 13.4% 13%
2053 13.4% 13%
2052 13.5% 13.1%
2051 13.6% 13.1%
2050 13.7% 13.1%
2049 13.8% 13.1%
2048 13.8% 13.1%
2047 14% 13%
2046 14.1% 13%
2045 14.2% 13%
2044 14.3% 13%
2043 14.4% 12.9%
2042 14.6% 12.9%
2041 14.8% 12.9%
2040 14.9% 13%
2039 15.1% 13%
2038 15.3% 13%
2037 15.5% 13.2%
2036 15.8% 13.4%
2035 16% 13.6%
2034 16.2% 13.8%
2033 16.4% 14.1%
2032 16.5% 14.4%
2031 16.6% 14.7%
2030 16.7% 15.1%
2029 16.9% 15.4%
2028 17% 15.8%
2027 17.2% 16.1%
2026 17.4% 16.4%
2025 17.6% 16.7%
2024 17.8% 16.8%
2023 18.1% 17.1%
2022 18.4% 17.2%
2021 18.6% 17.2%
2020 18.7% 17.2%
2019 18.9% 17.2%
2018 19.2% 17.4%
2017 19.6% 17.5%
2016 19.9% 17.8%
2015 20.2% 18%
2014 20.4% 18.3%
2013 20.6% 18.6%
2012 20.7% 18.8%
2011 20.8% 19%
2010 20.9% 19.3%
2009 20.9% 19.7%
2008 20.9% 20%
2007 21.1% 20.4%
2006 21.5% 20.8%
2005 22.1% 21.2%
2004 22.5% 21.7%
2003 22.8% 22.1%
2002 23% 22.5%
2001 23.2% 22.9%
2000 23.3% 23.4%
1999 23.4% 23.9%
1998 23.6% 24.4%
1997 23.9% 24.8%
1996 24.1% 25.1%
1995 24.4% 25.4%
1994 24.7% 25.5%
1993 24.8% 25.7%
1992 24.8% 26.1%
1991 24.8% 26.5%
1990 25% 26.9%
1989 25% 27.1%
1988 25.2% 27.4%
1987 25.6% 27.6%
1986 25.9% 27.8%
1985 26.2% 28.1%
1984 26.5% 28.3%
1983 26.7% 28.5%
1982 26.9% 28.8%
1981 27.2% 29.1%
1980 27.5% 29.5%
1979 27.9% 29.9%
1978 28.4% 30.3%
1977 29% 30.6%
1976 29.5% 30.9%
1975 30.1% 31.3%
1974 30.7% 31.7%
1973 31.2% 32.2%
1972 31.6% 32.6%
1971 32.1% 33%
1970 32.6% 33.5%
1969 33.2% 34.1%
1968 33.6% 34.7%
1967 34% 35.2%
1966 34.3% 35.8%
1965 34.5% 36.3%
1964 34.7% 36.7%
1963 34.9% 37.2%
1962 34.9% 37.6%
1961 35% 37.8%
1960 34.9% 37.7%

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/iceland/north-macedonia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.8% of the population in Iceland and 16.8% in North Macedonia in 2024, compared to 25% and 26.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iceland and North Macedonia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Iceland vs North Macedonia

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

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | 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 Iceland, compared to 3 deaths in North Macedonia.

Under-five mortality rates

Iceland
North Macedonia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Iceland North Macedonia
2023 0.26% 0.33%
2022 0.26% 0.41%
2021 0.27% 0.5%
2020 0.27% 0.59%
2019 0.27% 0.7%
2018 0.27% 0.83%
2017 0.26% 0.97%
2016 0.26% 1.08%
2015 0.26% 1.13%
2014 0.26% 1.11%
2013 0.26% 1.07%
2012 0.26% 1.02%
2011 0.27% 1%
2010 0.27% 1.04%
2009 0.27% 1.1%
2008 0.28% 1.17%
2007 0.29% 1.23%
2006 0.3% 1.3%
2005 0.31% 1.37%
2004 0.33% 1.42%
2003 0.34% 1.43%
2002 0.36% 1.43%
2001 0.38% 1.48%
2000 0.4% 1.59%
1999 0.42% 1.73%
1998 0.45% 1.83%
1997 0.47% 1.93%
1996 0.49% 2.12%
1995 0.52% 2.45%
1994 0.54% 2.85%
1993 0.56% 3.13%
1992 0.58% 3.3%
1991 0.61% 3.46%
1990 0.63% 3.7%
1989 0.65% 4.01%
1988 0.67% 4.36%
1987 0.7% 4.69%
1986 0.73% 4.91%
1985 0.75% 5%
1984 0.79% 5.06%
1983 0.83% 5.25%
1982 0.87% 5.53%
1981 0.92% 5.79%
1980 0.97% -
1979 1.03% -
1978 1.09% -
1977 1.15% -
1976 1.22% -
1975 1.29% -
1974 1.35% -
1973 1.41% -
1972 1.48% -
1971 1.54% -
1970 1.6% -
1969 1.66% -
1968 1.72% -
1967 1.79% -
1966 1.85% -
1965 1.92% -
1964 1.97% -
1963 2.02% -
1962 2.07% -
1961 2.11% -
1960 2.14% -

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland/north-macedonia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.26% in Iceland and 0.33% in North Macedonia. 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) (2022–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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