Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 1.72 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.72 births per woman
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
125th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.31 births per woman
in 1960
All-time low
1.09 births per woman
in 1997
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria stood at 1.72 births per woman.
The figure is down 5.0% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria peaked at 2.31 births per woman in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1.09 births per woman, in 1997.
That places Bulgaria 125th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.31 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 2.29 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 2.24 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.21 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 2.19 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 2.09 births per woman | -4.6% |
| 1966 | 2.03 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 2.02 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 2.27 births per woman | +12.4% |
| 1969 | 2.27 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.17 births per woman | -4.4% |
| 1971 | 2.1 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 2.03 births per woman | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 2.15 births per woman | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 2.29 births per woman | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 2.23 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 2.24 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 2.21 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 2.15 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 2.16 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 2.05 births per woman | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 2 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 2.01 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 2.01 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2.01 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.97 births per woman | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 2.02 births per woman | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 1.96 births per woman | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 1.97 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 1.9 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 1.82 births per woman | -4.2% |
| 1991 | 1.66 births per woman | -8.8% |
| 1992 | 1.55 births per woman | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.46 births per woman | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 1.37 births per woman | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 1.23 births per woman | -10.2% |
| 1996 | 1.23 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.09 births per woman | -11.4% |
| 1998 | 1.11 births per woman | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 1.23 births per woman | +10.8% |
| 2000 | 1.26 births per woman | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.21 births per woman | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 1.23 births per woman | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 1.26 births per woman | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 1.33 births per woman | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 1.37 births per woman | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 1.44 births per woman | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 1.49 births per woman | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 1.56 births per woman | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 1.66 births per woman | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 1.57 births per woman | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.51 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 1.5 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 1.54 births per woman | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 1.62 births per woman | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 1.64 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 1.67 births per woman | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 1.71 births per woman | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 1.73 births per woman | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 1.79 births per woman | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 1.77 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 1.8 births per woman | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 1.78 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 1.81 births per woman | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 1.72 births per woman | -5.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.72 births per woman is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.72 births per woman is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44 births per woman, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.19 births per woman | 2.02 births per woman | 2.31 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.17 births per woman | 2.03 births per woman | 2.29 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.99 births per woman | 1.9 births per woman | 2.05 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.38 births per woman | 1.09 births per woman | 1.82 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.38 births per woman | 1.21 births per woman | 1.66 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.63 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman | 1.79 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.78 births per woman | 1.72 births per woman | 1.81 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More population data for Bulgaria
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Bulgaria was 1.72 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.31 births per woman in 1960.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.09 births per woman in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Bulgaria ranks 125th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.