Fertility & birth rates in Belgium and South Africa

Fertility rate in Belgium vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Belgium

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Belgium	South Africa
2023	1.47	2.22
2022	1.53	2.23
2021	1.6	2.25
2020	1.55	2.26
2019	1.6	2.26
2018	1.62	2.27
2017	1.65	2.28
2016	1.68	2.26
2015	1.7	2.36
2014	1.74	2.42
2013	1.76	2.43
2012	1.8	2.45
2011	1.81	2.44
2010	1.86	2.44
2009	1.84	2.5
2008	1.85	2.68
2007	1.82	2.55
2006	1.8	2.55
2005	1.76	2.51
2004	1.72	2.44
2003	1.67	2.36
2002	1.65	2.32
2001	1.67	2.37
2000	1.67	2.41
1999	1.62	2.56
1998	1.6	2.63
1997	1.6	2.73
1996	1.59	2.99
1995	1.56	3.17
1994	1.56	3.26
1993	1.61	3.37
1992	1.65	3.48
1991	1.66	3.62
1990	1.62	3.72
1989	1.58	3.98
1988	1.57	4.18
1987	1.54	4.35
1986	1.54	4.41
1985	1.51	4.5
1984	1.54	4.57
1983	1.57	4.63
1982	1.61	4.7
1981	1.66	4.71
1980	1.68	4.78
1979	1.69	4.82
1978	1.69	4.85
1977	1.71	4.94
1976	1.73	5.07
1975	1.74	5.19
1974	1.83	5.3
1973	1.95	5.41
1972	2.09	5.49
1971	2.21	5.57
1970	2.25	5.63
1969	2.27	5.72
1968	2.31	5.78
1967	2.41	5.85
1966	2.52	5.91
1965	2.61	5.89
1964	2.71	5.96
1963	2.68	6.01
1962	2.59	6.05
1961	2.63	6.08
1960	2.54	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Belgium was 1.47 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 Belgium vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Belgium

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Belgium	South Africa
2023	0	602,793
2022	-2,336	603,636
2021	5,793	456,411
2020	-12,692	595,873
2019	8,042	652,130
2018	7,999	648,319
2017	10,238	645,975
2016	14,731	641,365
2015	11,274	668,771
2014	21,297	674,754
2013	16,739	652,427
2012	18,882	643,723
2011	25,388	601,708
2010	23,970	566,834
2009	23,752	554,115
2008	22,491	595,332
2007	23,376	503,567
2006	21,096	487,584
2005	15,718	464,464
2004	16,673	442,540
2003	7,263	415,018
2002	7,233	430,926
2001	11,315	484,801
2000	12,302	526,963
1999	9,203	594,643
1998	9,183	627,027
1997	12,218	667,969
1996	12,188	710,868
1995	11,150	743,488
1994	12,139	698,609
1993	14,118	789,220
1992	20,090	794,415
1991	22,010	827,296
1990	19,935	835,421
1989	13,912	884,629
1988	14,853	909,221
1987	11,844	922,330
1986	5,917	903,644
1985	2,958	893,889
1984	4,927	869,011
1983	2,956	837,013
1982	7,885	807,550
1981	11,831	767,833
1980	10,845	738,415
1979	11,818	716,541
1978	7,872	694,341
1977	8,847	680,929
1976	1,964	675,011
1975	0	667,862
1974	7,818	658,438
1973	11,690	651,596
1972	18,451	638,754
1971	21,281	624,761
1970	23,173	605,102
1969	21,221	590,794
1968	20,199	571,841
1967	31,618	553,741
1966	36,206	534,862
1965	39,748	506,632
1964	51,580	490,606
1963	41,804	473,821
1962	42,414	455,634
1961	52,349	437,851
1960	40,275	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% in Belgium and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.06% in Belgium and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Belgium vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Belgium

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Belgium	South Africa
2023	9.4	18.8
2022	9.8	19.1
2021	10.2	19.4
2020	9.9	19.5
2019	10.2	19.7
2018	10.4	19.9
2017	10.5	20
2016	10.8	20.3
2015	10.8	21
2014	11.2	21.8
2013	11.3	21.9
2012	11.5	22.1
2011	11.7	22.1
2010	11.9	22.2
2009	11.8	22.8
2008	11.9	24.3
2007	11.7	23.1
2006	11.6	23.1
2005	11.4	22.7
2004	11.3	22.1
2003	11	21.4
2002	10.9	20.9
2001	11.2	21.3
2000	11.4	21.6
1999	11.2	22.7
1998	11.2	23.2
1997	11.4	23.9
1996	11.5	24.9
1995	11.4	25.6
1994	11.5	24.6
1993	12	26.6
1992	12.4	27
1991	12.6	28.1
1990	12.4	28.7
1989	12.2	30.6
1988	12.1	32
1987	11.9	33.2
1986	11.9	33.6
1985	11.6	34.2
1984	11.7	34.5
1983	11.9	34.6
1982	12.2	34.8
1981	12.6	34.6
1980	12.6	34.7
1979	12.6	34.9
1978	12.5	35.1
1977	12.4	35.6
1976	12.3	36.3
1975	12.2	37
1974	12.7	37.7
1973	13.3	38.4
1972	14	38.9
1971	14.6	39.3
1970	14.7	39.4
1969	14.7	39.7
1968	14.8	39.8
1967	15.3	39.9
1966	15.9	40
1965	16.4	39.5
1964	17.2	39.6
1963	17.1	39.7
1962	16.8	39.7
1961	17.3	39.7
1960	16.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Belgium and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 16.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Belgium

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Belgium	South Africa
2100	12.8%	17.9%
2099	12.8%	18%
2098	12.9%	18%
2097	12.9%	18.1%
2096	12.9%	18.1%
2095	13%	18.2%
2094	13%	18.2%
2093	13.1%	18.3%
2092	13.1%	18.3%
2091	13.2%	18.4%
2090	13.2%	18.4%
2089	13.2%	18.5%
2088	13.3%	18.5%
2087	13.3%	18.6%
2086	13.3%	18.6%
2085	13.3%	18.7%
2084	13.3%	18.7%
2083	13.3%	18.8%
2082	13.3%	18.9%
2081	13.3%	18.9%
2080	13.2%	19%
2079	13.2%	19%
2078	13.2%	19.1%
2077	13.1%	19.2%
2076	13.1%	19.3%
2075	13%	19.3%
2074	13%	19.4%
2073	12.9%	19.5%
2072	12.9%	19.6%
2071	12.9%	19.6%
2070	12.9%	19.7%
2069	12.9%	19.8%
2068	12.9%	19.9%
2067	13%	20%
2066	13%	20.1%
2065	13.1%	20.2%
2064	13.1%	20.3%
2063	13.2%	20.4%
2062	13.3%	20.5%
2061	13.4%	20.6%
2060	13.5%	20.7%
2059	13.6%	20.8%
2058	13.7%	20.9%
2057	13.7%	21%
2056	13.8%	21.1%
2055	13.9%	21.1%
2054	13.9%	21.2%
2053	13.9%	21.3%
2052	14%	21.4%
2051	14%	21.5%
2050	13.9%	21.6%
2049	13.9%	21.7%
2048	13.8%	21.8%
2047	13.8%	21.9%
2046	13.7%	22%
2045	13.7%	22.1%
2044	13.6%	22.3%
2043	13.5%	22.4%
2042	13.4%	22.6%
2041	13.4%	22.8%
2040	13.3%	23%
2039	13.3%	23.3%
2038	13.3%	23.5%
2037	13.3%	23.7%
2036	13.5%	24.1%
2035	13.6%	24.4%
2034	13.7%	24.7%
2033	13.9%	24.9%
2032	14.1%	25%
2031	14.3%	25.1%
2030	14.5%	25.2%
2029	14.7%	25.3%
2028	15%	25.4%
2027	15.3%	25.5%
2026	15.6%	25.6%
2025	15.9%	25.8%
2024	16%	25.9%
2023	16.3%	26.1%
2022	16.5%	26.3%
2021	16.7%	26.6%
2020	16.8%	27%
2019	16.9%	27.4%
2018	16.9%	27.9%
2017	17%	28.3%
2016	17%	28.3%
2015	17%	28.3%
2014	17%	28.5%
2013	17%	28.7%
2012	17%	28.9%
2011	17%	29.1%
2010	16.9%	29.4%
2009	16.9%	29.7%
2008	16.9%	29.9%
2007	16.9%	30.2%
2006	17%	30.6%
2005	17.1%	31.1%
2004	17.2%	31.6%
2003	17.3%	32.3%
2002	17.5%	33.2%
2001	17.5%	34%
2000	17.6%	34.9%
1999	17.7%	35.7%
1998	17.7%	36.5%
1997	17.8%	37.2%
1996	17.9%	37.5%
1995	18%	37.5%
1994	18.1%	37.2%
1993	18.1%	37.3%
1992	18.2%	37.6%
1991	18.2%	37.5%
1990	18.1%	37.7%
1989	18.1%	38.1%
1988	18.2%	38.4%
1987	18.3%	38.7%
1986	18.6%	38.9%
1985	18.8%	39.2%
1984	19.1%	39.5%
1983	19.4%	39.8%
1982	19.6%	40.1%
1981	19.9%	40.5%
1980	20.3%	40.9%
1979	20.6%	41.3%
1978	21%	41.5%
1977	21.4%	41.7%
1976	21.8%	41.8%
1975	22.2%	41.9%
1974	22.6%	42%
1973	23%	42.1%
1972	23.3%	42.2%
1971	23.5%	42.2%
1970	23.6%	42.3%
1969	23.8%	42.2%
1968	23.9%	42.2%
1967	23.9%	42.2%
1966	24%	42.1%
1965	24%	42.1%
1964	23.9%	42.1%
1963	23.9%	42.1%
1962	23.8%	42.1%
1961	23.8%	42.1%
1960	23.7%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in Belgium and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 18.1% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Belgium and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Belgium vs South Africa

Chart Table

Belgium

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Belgium	South Africa
2023	4	118
2022	11	129
2021	7	191
2020	4	118
2019	4	119
2018	5	128
2017	5	134
2016	5	141
2015	5	150
2014	5	162
2013	6	180
2012	5	194
2011	6	202
2010	6	226
2009	6	241
2008	6	272
2007	7	272
2006	6	283
2005	7	279
2004	7	259
2003	7	245
2002	7	225
2001	8	192
2000	8	175
1999	8	151
1998	8	152
1997	8	152
1996	9	150
1995	9	125
1994	9	133
1993	9	145
1992	9	152
1991	9	162
1990	9	170
1989	9	177
1988	9	184
1987	9	192
1986	9	200
1985	9	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Belgium, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Belgium

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Belgium	South Africa
2023	0.36%	3.47%
2022	0.37%	3.44%
2021	0.38%	3.41%
2020	0.39%	3.41%
2019	0.39%	3.45%
2018	0.4%	3.49%
2017	0.4%	3.58%
2016	0.41%	3.68%
2015	0.41%	3.82%
2014	0.42%	3.96%
2013	0.42%	4.1%
2012	0.43%	4.25%
2011	0.44%	4.5%
2010	0.45%	5%
2009	0.46%	5.7%
2008	0.47%	6.42%
2007	0.48%	7.19%
2006	0.49%	7.75%
2005	0.5%	8.03%
2004	0.52%	8.1%
2003	0.53%	7.93%
2002	0.55%	7.69%
2001	0.57%	7.43%
2000	0.59%	7.11%
1999	0.61%	6.85%
1998	0.64%	6.56%
1997	0.67%	6.29%
1996	0.72%	6.11%
1995	0.77%	5.95%
1994	0.82%	5.82%
1993	0.87%	5.7%
1992	0.92%	5.66%
1991	0.96%	5.7%
1990	1%	5.82%
1989	1.03%	6.01%
1988	1.07%	6.26%
1987	1.1%	6.56%
1986	1.14%	6.89%
1985	1.18%	7.24%
1984	1.22%	7.6%
1983	1.27%	7.98%
1982	1.33%	8.39%
1981	1.39%	8.84%
1980	1.45%	9.35%
1979	1.52%	9.88%
1978	1.59%	10.5%
1977	1.67%	11.1%
1976	1.76%	11.8%
1975	1.86%	12.5%
1974	1.97%	13.2%
1973	2.08%	-
1972	2.19%	-
1971	2.3%	-
1970	2.39%	-
1969	2.48%	-
1968	2.55%	-
1967	2.62%	-
1966	2.7%	-
1965	2.79%	-
1964	2.89%	-
1963	3%	-
1962	3.12%	-
1961	3.25%	-
1960	3.39%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.36% in Belgium and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.