Fertility & birth rates in Barbados and South Africa

Fertility rate in Barbados vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Barbados

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Barbados	South Africa
2023	1.71	2.22
2022	1.71	2.23
2021	1.71	2.25
2020	1.71	2.26
2019	1.72	2.26
2018	1.72	2.27
2017	1.72	2.28
2016	1.72	2.26
2015	1.73	2.36
2014	1.73	2.42
2013	1.73	2.43
2012	1.73	2.45
2011	1.76	2.44
2010	1.79	2.44
2009	1.77	2.5
2008	1.76	2.68
2007	1.76	2.55
2006	1.7	2.55
2005	1.74	2.51
2004	1.8	2.44
2003	1.86	2.36
2002	1.86	2.32
2001	1.96	2.37
2000	1.93	2.41
1999	1.78	2.56
1998	1.62	2.63
1997	1.65	2.73
1996	1.67	2.99
1995	1.7	3.17
1994	1.73	3.26
1993	1.77	3.37
1992	1.8	3.48
1991	1.84	3.62
1990	1.84	3.72
1989	1.64	3.98
1988	1.58	4.18
1987	1.61	4.35
1986	1.69	4.41
1985	1.77	4.5
1984	1.75	4.57
1983	1.86	4.63
1982	1.86	4.7
1981	1.85	4.71
1980	1.78	4.78
1979	1.86	4.82
1978	1.84	4.85
1977	2.2	4.94
1976	2.24	5.07
1975	2.45	5.19
1974	2.65	5.3
1973	2.87	5.41
1972	3.15	5.49
1971	3.2	5.57
1970	3.08	5.63
1969	3.34	5.72
1968	3.57	5.78
1967	3.6	5.85
1966	4.14	5.91
1965	4.18	5.89
1964	4.21	5.96
1963	4.3	6.01
1962	4.3	6.05
1961	4.15	6.08
1960	4.71	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Barbados was 1.71 children per woman in 2023, compared to 2.22 in South Africa in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Barbados vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Barbados

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Barbados	South Africa
2023	158	602,793
2022	43	603,636
2021	415	456,411
2020	503	595,873
2019	542	652,130
2018	584	648,319
2017	616	645,975
2016	655	641,365
2015	690	668,771
2014	730	674,754
2013	772	652,427
2012	815	643,723
2011	897	601,708
2010	981	566,834
2009	1,000	554,115
2008	989	595,332
2007	1,028	503,567
2006	927	487,584
2005	1,018	464,464
2004	1,204	442,540
2003	1,321	415,018
2002	1,369	430,926
2001	1,578	484,801
2000	1,577	526,963
1999	1,351	594,643
1998	1,093	627,027
1997	1,172	667,969
1996	1,334	710,868
1995	1,467	743,488
1994	1,607	698,609
1993	1,765	789,220
1992	1,912	794,415
1991	2,055	827,296
1990	2,101	835,421
1989	1,719	884,629
1988	1,684	909,221
1987	1,841	922,330
1986	2,111	903,644
1985	2,356	893,889
1984	2,388	869,011
1983	2,656	837,013
1982	2,660	807,550
1981	2,605	767,833
1980	2,393	738,415
1979	2,485	716,541
1978	2,367	694,341
1977	2,988	680,929
1976	2,988	675,011
1975	3,321	667,862
1974	3,644	658,438
1973	3,996	651,596
1972	4,505	638,754
1971	4,530	624,761
1970	4,271	605,102
1969	4,710	590,794
1968	5,035	571,841
1967	4,984	553,741
1966	5,842	534,862
1965	5,762	506,632
1964	5,688	490,606
1963	5,706	473,821
1962	5,589	455,634
1961	5,208	437,851
1960	5,949	421,263

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 +0.06% in Barbados and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.18% in Barbados and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Barbados vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Barbados

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Barbados	South Africa
2023	11.2	18.8
2022	11.2	19.1
2021	11.3	19.4
2020	11.3	19.5
2019	11.4	19.7
2018	11.5	19.9
2017	11.6	20
2016	11.7	20.3
2015	11.8	21
2014	11.9	21.8
2013	12	21.9
2012	12.2	22.1
2011	12.5	22.1
2010	12.8	22.2
2009	12.8	22.8
2008	12.8	24.3
2007	12.9	23.1
2006	12.6	23.1
2005	12.9	22.7
2004	13.5	22.1
2003	14	21.4
2002	14.2	20.9
2001	15.1	21.3
2000	15.1	21.6
1999	14.1	22.7
1998	13.1	23.2
1997	13.5	23.9
1996	14	24.9
1995	14.5	25.6
1994	15	24.6
1993	15.5	26.6
1992	16	27
1991	16.4	28.1
1990	16.6	28.7
1989	14.9	30.6
1988	14.4	32
1987	14.7	33.2
1986	15.5	33.6
1985	16.3	34.2
1984	16.1	34.5
1983	17	34.6
1982	16.9	34.8
1981	16.6	34.6
1980	15.7	34.7
1979	16.2	34.9
1978	15.8	35.1
1977	18.4	35.6
1976	18.5	36.3
1975	20	37
1974	21.4	37.7
1973	22.9	38.4
1972	24.9	38.9
1971	25.1	39.3
1970	24.1	39.4
1969	25.9	39.7
1968	27.4	39.8
1967	27.4	39.9
1966	31.3	40
1965	31.4	39.5
1964	31.6	39.6
1963	32.1	39.7
1962	32.1	39.7
1961	31	39.7
1960	35	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11.2 in Barbados and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 35 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Barbados

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Barbados	South Africa
2100	12.9%	17.9%
2099	12.9%	18%
2098	12.9%	18%
2097	13%	18.1%
2096	13%	18.1%
2095	13%	18.2%
2094	13%	18.2%
2093	13%	18.3%
2092	13.1%	18.3%
2091	13.1%	18.4%
2090	13.1%	18.4%
2089	13.1%	18.5%
2088	13.2%	18.5%
2087	13.2%	18.6%
2086	13.2%	18.6%
2085	13.2%	18.7%
2084	13.3%	18.7%
2083	13.3%	18.8%
2082	13.4%	18.9%
2081	13.4%	18.9%
2080	13.4%	19%
2079	13.5%	19%
2078	13.5%	19.1%
2077	13.6%	19.2%
2076	13.6%	19.3%
2075	13.7%	19.3%
2074	13.7%	19.4%
2073	13.7%	19.5%
2072	13.8%	19.6%
2071	13.8%	19.6%
2070	13.9%	19.7%
2069	13.9%	19.8%
2068	14%	19.9%
2067	14%	20%
2066	14.1%	20.1%
2065	14.1%	20.2%
2064	14.1%	20.3%
2063	14.2%	20.4%
2062	14.2%	20.5%
2061	14.3%	20.6%
2060	14.3%	20.7%
2059	14.4%	20.8%
2058	14.4%	20.9%
2057	14.5%	21%
2056	14.5%	21.1%
2055	14.6%	21.1%
2054	14.6%	21.2%
2053	14.7%	21.3%
2052	14.8%	21.4%
2051	14.8%	21.5%
2050	14.9%	21.6%
2049	15%	21.7%
2048	15%	21.8%
2047	15.1%	21.9%
2046	15.2%	22%
2045	15.3%	22.1%
2044	15.4%	22.3%
2043	15.5%	22.4%
2042	15.5%	22.6%
2041	15.6%	22.8%
2040	15.7%	23%
2039	15.8%	23.3%
2038	15.9%	23.5%
2037	16%	23.7%
2036	16.1%	24.1%
2035	16.1%	24.4%
2034	16.2%	24.7%
2033	16.3%	24.9%
2032	16.4%	25%
2031	16.5%	25.1%
2030	16.6%	25.2%
2029	16.7%	25.3%
2028	16.8%	25.4%
2027	16.9%	25.5%
2026	17%	25.6%
2025	17.1%	25.8%
2024	17.2%	25.9%
2023	17.5%	26.1%
2022	17.7%	26.3%
2021	17.9%	26.6%
2020	18.1%	27%
2019	18.2%	27.4%
2018	18.4%	27.9%
2017	18.7%	28.3%
2016	18.9%	28.3%
2015	19.2%	28.3%
2014	19.4%	28.5%
2013	19.7%	28.7%
2012	19.9%	28.9%
2011	20%	29.1%
2010	20.2%	29.4%
2009	20.2%	29.7%
2008	20.3%	29.9%
2007	20.5%	30.2%
2006	20.7%	30.6%
2005	21%	31.1%
2004	21.3%	31.6%
2003	21.5%	32.3%
2002	21.6%	33.2%
2001	21.7%	34%
2000	21.9%	34.9%
1999	22.1%	35.7%
1998	22.3%	36.5%
1997	22.6%	37.2%
1996	22.8%	37.5%
1995	23%	37.5%
1994	23.2%	37.2%
1993	23.4%	37.3%
1992	23.6%	37.6%
1991	23.9%	37.5%
1990	24.2%	37.7%
1989	24.5%	38.1%
1988	24.8%	38.4%
1987	25.1%	38.7%
1986	25.5%	38.9%
1985	25.8%	39.2%
1984	26.2%	39.5%
1983	26.7%	39.8%
1982	27.2%	40.1%
1981	28%	40.5%
1980	29%	40.9%
1979	30%	41.3%
1978	31.1%	41.5%
1977	32.1%	41.7%
1976	32.8%	41.8%
1975	33.6%	41.9%
1974	34.4%	42%
1973	34.9%	42.1%
1972	35.3%	42.2%
1971	35.7%	42.2%
1970	36%	42.3%
1969	36.4%	42.2%
1968	36.7%	42.2%
1967	36.9%	42.2%
1966	37.1%	42.1%
1965	37.1%	42.1%
1964	37.1%	42.1%
1963	37.1%	42.1%
1962	37.1%	42.1%
1961	37.2%	42.1%
1960	37.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.2% of the population in Barbados and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 24.2% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Barbados and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Barbados vs South Africa

Chart Table

Barbados

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Barbados	South Africa
2023	35	118
2022	38	129
2021	38	191
2020	39	118
2019	36	119
2018	37	128
2017	37	134
2016	36	141
2015	37	150
2014	39	162
2013	40	180
2012	40	194
2011	41	202
2010	42	226
2009	42	241
2008	42	272
2007	42	272
2006	45	283
2005	44	279
2004	43	259
2003	45	245
2002	43	225
2001	46	192
2000	46	175
1999	44	151
1998	45	152
1997	51	152
1996	51	150
1995	52	125
1994	53	133
1993	55	145
1992	61	152
1991	60	162
1990	59	170
1989	57	177
1988	55	184
1987	57	192
1986	56	200
1985	55	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 35 deaths per 100,000 live births in Barbados, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Barbados

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Barbados	South Africa
2023	1%	3.47%
2022	1.04%	3.44%
2021	1.07%	3.41%
2020	1.11%	3.41%
2019	1.14%	3.45%
2018	1.18%	3.49%
2017	1.21%	3.58%
2016	1.25%	3.68%
2015	1.28%	3.82%
2014	1.31%	3.96%
2013	1.33%	4.1%
2012	1.35%	4.25%
2011	1.37%	4.5%
2010	1.39%	5%
2009	1.41%	5.7%
2008	1.43%	6.42%
2007	1.45%	7.19%
2006	1.47%	7.75%
2005	1.48%	8.03%
2004	1.49%	8.1%
2003	1.48%	7.93%
2002	1.47%	7.69%
2001	1.45%	7.43%
2000	1.44%	7.11%
1999	1.42%	6.85%
1998	1.42%	6.56%
1997	1.43%	6.29%
1996	1.45%	6.11%
1995	1.49%	5.95%
1994	1.53%	5.82%
1993	1.59%	5.7%
1992	1.66%	5.66%
1991	1.73%	5.7%
1990	1.81%	5.82%
1989	1.89%	6.01%
1988	1.97%	6.26%
1987	2.05%	6.56%
1986	2.12%	6.89%
1985	2.19%	7.24%
1984	2.26%	7.6%
1983	2.34%	7.98%
1982	2.44%	8.39%
1981	2.55%	8.84%
1980	2.69%	9.35%
1979	2.86%	9.88%
1978	3.04%	10.5%
1977	3.23%	11.1%
1976	3.43%	11.8%
1975	3.64%	12.5%
1974	3.86%	13.2%
1973	4.08%	-
1972	4.32%	-
1971	4.55%	-
1970	4.79%	-
1969	5.03%	-
1968	5.28%	-
1967	5.52%	-
1966	5.79%	-
1965	6.1%	-
1964	6.45%	-
1963	6.86%	-
1962	7.33%	-
1961	7.86%	-
1960	8.47%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1% in Barbados and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.