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Fertility & birth rates in Moldova and Russia

Updated on by Georank team

Moldova has an annual birth rate of 10.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 8.6 for Russia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.73 in Moldova and 1.41 in Russia — 18.5% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 47.8% in Moldova and by 44% in Russia — in 1960, it was 3.32 and 2.52, respectively.

  • Moldova is ranked 138/196 by birth rate compared to 168/196 for Russia.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 25.1 years in Moldova, compared to 25.2 years in Russia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3 in Moldova — it's 29.3 in Russia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 23 in Moldova vs 13 in Russia.
  • In Moldova, 23.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23.3% in Russia.

Fertility rate in Moldova vs Russia by year

Moldova
Russia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Moldova Russia
2023 1.73 1.41
2022 1.69 1.42
2021 1.75 1.51
2020 1.77 1.51
2019 1.78 1.5
2018 1.81 1.58
2017 1.81 1.62
2016 1.89 1.76
2015 1.87 1.78
2014 1.82 1.75
2013 1.62 1.71
2012 1.66 1.69
2011 1.65 1.58
2010 1.7 1.57
2009 1.72 1.54
2008 1.64 1.5
2007 1.58 1.42
2006 1.54 1.31
2005 1.53 1.29
2004 1.54 1.34
2003 1.48 1.32
2002 1.45 1.29
2001 1.47 1.22
2000 1.5 1.2
1999 1.56 1.16
1998 1.65 1.23
1997 1.79 1.22
1996 1.71 1.27
1995 1.83 1.34
1994 1.99 1.4
1993 2.11 1.39
1992 2.22 1.55
1991 2.28 1.73
1990 2.39 1.89
1989 2.46 2.01
1988 2.63 2.12
1987 2.78 2.22
1986 2.74 2.15
1985 2.67 2.05
1984 2.67 2.06
1983 2.58 2.11
1982 2.45 2.04
1981 2.4 1.91
1980 2.38 1.89
1979 2.38 1.9
1978 2.39 1.92
1977 2.42 1.95
1976 2.47 1.97
1975 2.52 1.98
1974 2.56 2
1973 2.57 2.01
1972 2.56 2.04
1971 2.56 2.03
1970 2.57 1.99
1969 2.57 1.97
1968 2.59 1.99
1967 2.62 2.04
1966 2.65 2.1
1965 2.69 2.13
1964 2.71 2.18
1963 2.89 2.27
1962 3.04 2.36
1961 3.23 2.45
1960 3.32 2.52

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Moldova was 1.73 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.41 in Russia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Moldova vs Russia population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Moldova
Russia
1x
Year Natural population change
Moldova Russia
2023 -7,007 -503,392
2022 -6,385 -576,948
2021 -13,444 -1,027,702
2020 -7,067 -697,177
2019 -3,416 -319,997
2018 -961 -232,637
2017 1,402 -130,764
2016 4,580 0
2015 6,049 43,392
2014 7,248 28,848
2013 3,537 28,761
2012 5,581 0
2011 5,948 -128,716
2010 7,456 -242,844
2009 7,492 -257,014
2008 5,210 -356,856
2007 3,490 -471,257
2006 2,406 -686,638
2005 2,005 -846,761
2004 1,714 -792,370
2003 -322 -896,822
2002 -1,249 -944,492
2001 -718 -963,445
2000 -324 -967,540
1999 642 -927,453
1998 2,140 -694,053
1997 4,669 -769,159
1996 2,655 -785,248
1995 5,534 -845,742
1994 9,921 -920,129
1993 13,886 -757,140
1992 17,373 -222,808
1991 21,127 103,876
1990 25,824 325,533
1989 29,638 576,112
1988 35,608 778,343
1987 40,122 977,583
1986 39,463 985,279
1985 38,060 762,447
1984 38,108 756,548
1983 36,076 906,676
1982 32,814 830,855
1981 31,360 713,700
1980 30,053 681,149
1979 28,322 690,135
1978 27,622 812,766
1977 27,707 832,932
1976 27,801 852,237
1975 27,677 843,850
1974 27,219 883,186
1973 25,967 846,561
1972 24,626 872,050
1971 23,359 854,999
1970 22,314 785,554
1969 21,768 753,088
1968 22,005 787,621
1967 22,654 854,554
1966 23,720 989,279
1965 24,916 1,059,335
1964 25,860 1,233,520
1963 29,382 1,436,077
1962 32,082 1,573,701
1961 35,180 1,810,538
1960 36,352 1,962,834

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | 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 -0.29% in Moldova and -0.35% in Russia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.08% in Moldova and -0.24% in Russia.

Birth rate in Moldova vs Russia by year

Moldova
Russia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Moldova Russia
2023 10.8 8.6
2022 10.5 8.9
2021 11.5 9.6
2020 12.1 9.8
2019 12.6 10.1
2018 13.3 10.9
2017 13.8 11.5
2016 14.9 12.9
2015 15.2 13.3
2014 15.3 13.3
2013 13.8 13.2
2012 14.3 13.3
2011 14.3 12.6
2010 14.8 12.5
2009 15 12.3
2008 14.3 12
2007 13.7 11.3
2006 13.3 10.3
2005 13.1 10.2
2004 13 10.4
2003 12.2 10.2
2002 11.7 9.7
2001 11.7 9
2000 11.7 8.7
1999 12 8.3
1998 12.6 8.8
1997 13.6 8.6
1996 12.9 8.9
1995 13.8 9.3
1994 15.1 9.5
1993 16 9.4
1992 16.8 10.7
1991 17.4 12.1
1990 18.6 13.4
1989 19.6 14.6
1988 21.6 16
1987 23.4 17.2
1986 23.5 17.2
1985 23.4 16.6
1984 23.7 16.9
1983 23.1 17.5
1982 22.1 16.6
1981 21.7 16
1980 21.4 15.9
1979 21.3 15.8
1978 21.2 16.3
1977 21.3 16.3
1976 21.4 16.2
1975 21.4 16
1974 21.4 15.9
1973 21 15.4
1972 20.5 15.6
1971 20.2 15.3
1970 19.9 14.7
1969 19.7 14.3
1968 19.9 14.2
1967 20.2 14.6
1966 20.8 15.4
1965 21.5 15.9
1964 22.1 17.2
1963 24.1 19
1962 25.8 20.5
1961 27.7 22.5
1960 28.9 23.9

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.8 in Moldova and 8.6 in Russia, compared with 28.9 and 23.9, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Moldova Russia
Fertility rate 1.73 1.41
Fertility rate rank 117/196 160/196
Birth rate 10.8 8.6
Birth rate rank 138/196 168/196
Population change due to births and deaths -7,007 -503,392
Natural population change rank 170/196 194/196
Natural population change rate -0.29% -0.35%
Population growth -2.26% -0.2%
Population growth rank 196/197 177/197
Age at first childbirth 25.1 years 25.2 years
Average age at childbearing 28.3 years 29.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 21.9 11.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 96.7 78
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 12.5 11.3
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.3% 23.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 43.9% 55%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.6% 99.6%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.02% 0.009%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.08% 0.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.35% 0.37%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.47% 0.45%
Life expectancy 71.6 years 73.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Moldova
Factual

UN forecast
Russia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Moldova Russia
2100 13.1% 14.2%
2099 13.2% 14.3%
2098 13.3% 14.3%
2097 13.4% 14.4%
2096 13.5% 14.5%
2095 13.7% 14.5%
2094 13.9% 14.6%
2093 14% 14.7%
2092 14.2% 14.8%
2091 14.4% 14.9%
2090 14.5% 15%
2089 14.7% 15.1%
2088 14.8% 15.2%
2087 14.9% 15.2%
2086 14.9% 15.2%
2085 15% 15.3%
2084 15% 15.3%
2083 15% 15.2%
2082 14.9% 15.2%
2081 14.8% 15.2%
2080 14.7% 15.1%
2079 14.6% 15%
2078 14.5% 14.9%
2077 14.4% 14.8%
2076 14.3% 14.7%
2075 14.1% 14.6%
2074 14% 14.5%
2073 14% 14.4%
2072 13.9% 14.3%
2071 13.9% 14.3%
2070 13.9% 14.3%
2069 13.9% 14.2%
2068 14% 14.3%
2067 14.2% 14.3%
2066 14.3% 14.4%
2065 14.5% 14.5%
2064 14.8% 14.6%
2063 15% 14.7%
2062 15.3% 14.9%
2061 15.6% 15.1%
2060 15.9% 15.2%
2059 16.1% 15.4%
2058 16.3% 15.5%
2057 16.5% 15.6%
2056 16.7% 15.7%
2055 16.8% 15.8%
2054 16.9% 15.8%
2053 16.9% 15.8%
2052 16.8% 15.8%
2051 16.8% 15.7%
2050 16.7% 15.6%
2049 16.5% 15.5%
2048 16.4% 15.3%
2047 16.2% 15.1%
2046 16% 14.9%
2045 15.8% 14.7%
2044 15.6% 14.5%
2043 15.5% 14.3%
2042 15.3% 14.1%
2041 15.2% 13.9%
2040 15.1% 13.8%
2039 15.1% 13.7%
2038 15.1% 13.6%
2037 15.1% 13.6%
2036 15.3% 13.6%
2035 15.5% 13.7%
2034 15.7% 13.9%
2033 16.1% 14.1%
2032 16.5% 14.4%
2031 17% 14.8%
2030 17.6% 15.3%
2029 18.2% 15.7%
2028 18.7% 16.1%
2027 19.1% 16.6%
2026 19.4% 16.9%
2025 19.7% 17.2%
2024 19.8% 17.3%
2023 20% 17.5%
2022 20.1% 17.7%
2021 20.1% 17.7%
2020 20% 17.7%
2019 19.8% 17.6%
2018 19.5% 17.6%
2017 19.1% 17.5%
2016 18.7% 17.2%
2015 18.2% 16.9%
2014 17.8% 16.5%
2013 17.4% 16.1%
2012 17.3% 15.7%
2011 17.4% 15.4%
2010 17.5% 15.2%
2009 17.7% 15%
2008 18% 14.9%
2007 18.4% 14.8%
2006 18.8% 14.9%
2005 19.3% 15.2%
2004 19.9% 15.6%
2003 20.7% 16%
2002 21.6% 16.6%
2001 22.5% 17.3%
2000 23.5% 18%
1999 24.4% 18.8%
1998 25.1% 19.5%
1997 25.8% 20.2%
1996 26.3% 20.7%
1995 26.7% 21.2%
1994 27% 21.6%
1993 27.2% 22%
1992 27.4% 22.4%
1991 27.6% 22.7%
1990 27.7% 22.9%
1989 27.8% 23%
1988 27.9% 23%
1987 27.8% 22.9%
1986 27.7% 22.8%
1985 27.5% 22.6%
1984 27.3% 22.4%
1983 27.1% 22.1%
1982 27% 21.9%
1981 26.9% 21.7%
1980 26.9% 21.7%
1979 26.7% 21.7%
1978 26.5% 21.8%
1977 26.8% 22.1%
1976 27.2% 22.5%
1975 27.7% 23%
1974 28.3% 23.6%
1973 28.9% 24.2%
1972 29.5% 24.8%
1971 30.1% 25.4%
1970 30.7% 26.1%
1969 31.3% 26.9%
1968 32.1% 27.6%
1967 32.8% 28.3%
1966 33.5% 28.9%
1965 34.2% 29.5%
1964 34.7% 30.2%
1963 35.1% 30.6%
1962 35.1% 30.8%
1961 34.9% 30.9%
1960 34.5% 30.5%

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/moldova/russia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 19.8% of the population in Moldova and 17.3% in Russia in 2024, compared to 27.7% and 22.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Moldova and Russia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Moldova vs Russia

Moldova
Russia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Moldova Russia
2023 19 9
2022 19 13
2021 24 21
2020 29 19
2019 21 12
2018 20 12
2017 20 12
2016 21 14
2015 20 15
2014 20 16
2013 19 16
2012 19 18
2011 19 19
2010 20 23
2009 22 24
2008 23 27
2007 24 29
2006 25 32
2005 26 38
2004 28 41
2003 29 45
2002 31 47
2001 35 48
2000 38 51
1999 43 53
1998 48 53
1997 52 59
1996 53 69
1995 54 82
1994 56 85
1993 55 76
1992 55 62
1991 53 57
1990 53 58
1989 52 61
1988 53 63
1987 56 65
1986 60 69
1985 62 81

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in Moldova, compared to 9 deaths in Russia.

Under-five mortality rates

Moldova
Russia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Moldova Russia
2023 1.47% 0.45%
2022 1.48% 0.47%
2021 1.48% 0.51%
2020 1.49% 0.54%
2019 1.5% 0.58%
2018 1.51% 0.63%
2017 1.52% 0.69%
2016 1.53% 0.75%
2015 1.55% 0.82%
2014 1.58% 0.89%
2013 1.6% 0.95%
2012 1.63% 0.99%
2011 1.66% 1.02%
2010 1.69% 1.04%
2009 1.73% 1.07%
2008 1.77% 1.13%
2007 1.83% 1.2%
2006 1.91% 1.29%
2005 2.01% 1.39%
2004 2.16% 1.5%
2003 2.34% 1.61%
2002 2.58% 1.73%
2001 2.85% 1.84%
2000 3.13% 1.94%
1999 3.4% 2.02%
1998 3.62% 2.08%
1997 3.78% 2.13%
1996 3.85% 2.17%
1995 3.84% 2.2%
1994 3.75% 2.2%
1993 3.62% 2.19%
1992 3.48% 2.17%
1991 3.39% 2.16%
1990 3.35% 2.17%
1989 3.38% 2.2%
1988 3.48% 2.26%
1987 3.62% 2.34%
1986 3.8% 2.42%
1985 4% 2.5%
1984 4.2% 2.56%
1983 4.41% 2.62%
1982 4.61% 2.66%
1981 4.78% 2.7%
1980 4.93% 2.73%
1979 5.08% 2.75%
1978 5.23% 2.76%
1977 5.38% 2.76%
1976 5.53% 2.76%
1975 5.68% 2.76%
1974 5.86% 2.77%
1973 6.03% 2.78%
1972 6.2% 2.81%
1971 6.39% 2.84%
1970 - 2.88%
1969 - 2.94%
1968 - 3.02%
1967 - 3.11%
1966 - 3.23%
1965 - 3.38%
1964 - 3.55%
1963 - 3.76%
1962 - 3.99%
1961 - 4.26%
1960 - 4.55%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/moldova/russia | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.47% in Moldova and 0.45% in Russia. 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) (2013–2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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