Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.81 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.81 births per woman
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
119th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.29 births per woman
in 1974
All-time low
1.09 births per woman
in 1997
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Fertility rate, total in Bulgaria, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate, total in Bulgaria is 1.81 births per woman, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in Bulgaria peaked at 2.29 births per woman in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.09 births per woman, in 1997.
That places Bulgaria 119th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.17 births per woman | — |
| 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% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.81 births per woman is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.49 births per woman, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.81 births per woman is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.49 births per woman, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1.79 births per woman | 1.77 births per woman | 1.81 births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 116 Tunisia 1.83 births per woman compare
- 117 Bahrain 1.82 births per woman compare
- 118 Ecuador 1.82 births per woman compare
- 119 Georgia 1.81 births per woman compare
- 121 North Korea 1.78 births per woman compare
- 122 El Salvador 1.77 births per woman compare
- 122 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.77 births per woman compare
More population data for Bulgaria
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.733 (2100)
- Population density 32.53 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 146,527 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in Bulgaria?
- Fertility rate, total in Bulgaria was 1.81 births per woman in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.29 births per woman in 1974.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.09 births per woman in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for fertility rate, total?
- Bulgaria ranks 119th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release