Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths was 159 deaths in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
159 deaths
Change on year
down 4.8%
World rank
138th
of 199 countries
All-time high
2,026 deaths
in 1974
All-time low
159 deaths
in 2024
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria, 1965–2024
Source: United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria is 159 deaths, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 60 years on record.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria peaked at 2,026 deaths in 1974 and was at its lowest, 159 deaths, in 2024.
That places Bulgaria 138th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1,827 deaths | — |
| 1966 | 1,761 deaths | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 1,784 deaths | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 1,986 deaths | +11.3% |
| 1969 | 1,962 deaths | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 1,863 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1971 | 1,816 deaths | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 1,796 deaths | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 1,920 deaths | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 2,026 deaths | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 1,926 deaths | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 1,822 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 1,678 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1978 | 1,540 deaths | -8.2% |
| 1979 | 1,457 deaths | -5.4% |
| 1980 | 1,342 deaths | -7.9% |
| 1981 | 1,256 deaths | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 1,201 deaths | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 1,138 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 1,079 deaths | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 1,008 deaths | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 962 deaths | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 904 deaths | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 897 deaths | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 881 deaths | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 856 deaths | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 813 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 778 deaths | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 739 deaths | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 685 deaths | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 610 deaths | -10.9% |
| 1996 | 596 deaths | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 535 deaths | -10.2% |
| 1998 | 537 deaths | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 575 deaths | +7.1% |
| 2000 | 567 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 515 deaths | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 484 deaths | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 463 deaths | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 450 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 428 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 417 deaths | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 405 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 406 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 418 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 389 deaths | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 354 deaths | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 328 deaths | -7.3% |
| 2013 | 300 deaths | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 288 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 268 deaths | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 251 deaths | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 234 deaths | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 215 deaths | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 199 deaths | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 179 deaths | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 170 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 176 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 167 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 159 deaths | -4.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 159 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 155 deaths, 1.0× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 159 deaths is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 167 deaths, 95% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,864 deaths | 1,761 deaths | 1,986 deaths | 5 |
| 1970s | 1,784 deaths | 1,457 deaths | 2,026 deaths | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,067 deaths | 881 deaths | 1,342 deaths | 10 |
| 1990s | 672.4 deaths | 535 deaths | 856 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 455.3 deaths | 405 deaths | 567 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 282.6 deaths | 199 deaths | 389 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 170.2 deaths | 159 deaths | 179 deaths | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 136 Slovak Republic 167 deaths compare
- 137 Austria 166 deaths compare
- 139 Denmark 158 deaths compare
- 139 New Zealand 158 deaths compare
- 141 Greece 155 deaths compare
More health data for Bulgaria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.615 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 39 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.2564 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0222 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.3643 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0235 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria?
- Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Bulgaria was 159 deaths in 2024, according to United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2,026 deaths in 1974.
- What is the lowest number of neonatal, infant and child deaths recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 159 deaths in 2024.
- How does Bulgaria rank for number of neonatal, infant and child deaths?
- Bulgaria ranks 138th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of neonatal, infant and child deaths rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of neonatal, infant and child deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths of children aged less than 28 days .