Fertility & birth rates in Bhutan and South Africa

Fertility rate in Bhutan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Bhutan	South Africa
2023	1.46	2.22
2022	1.48	2.23
2021	1.49	2.25
2020	1.5	2.26
2019	1.45	2.26
2018	1.52	2.27
2017	1.62	2.28
2016	1.74	2.26
2015	1.84	2.36
2014	1.92	2.42
2013	2	2.43
2012	2.07	2.45
2011	2.15	2.44
2010	2.25	2.44
2009	2.36	2.5
2008	2.48	2.68
2007	2.59	2.55
2006	2.66	2.55
2005	2.73	2.51
2004	2.78	2.44
2003	2.87	2.36
2002	3.01	2.32
2001	3.19	2.37
2000	3.38	2.41
1999	3.61	2.56
1998	3.85	2.63
1997	4.09	2.73
1996	4.37	2.99
1995	4.62	3.17
1994	4.87	3.26
1993	5.07	3.37
1992	5.27	3.48
1991	5.45	3.62
1990	5.6	3.72
1989	5.76	3.98
1988	5.88	4.18
1987	6	4.35
1986	6.1	4.41
1985	6.18	4.5
1984	6.26	4.57
1983	6.34	4.63
1982	6.4	4.7
1981	6.46	4.71
1980	6.51	4.78
1979	6.55	4.82
1978	6.58	4.85
1977	6.61	4.94
1976	6.62	5.07
1975	6.62	5.19
1974	6.62	5.3
1973	6.63	5.41
1972	6.64	5.49
1971	6.64	5.57
1970	6.65	5.63
1969	6.66	5.72
1968	6.66	5.78
1967	6.67	5.85
1966	6.67	5.91
1965	6.68	5.89
1964	6.68	5.96
1963	6.69	6.01
1962	6.69	6.05
1961	6.7	6.08
1960	6.7	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Bhutan was 1.46 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 Bhutan vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Bhutan	South Africa
2023	5,153	602,793
2022	5,204	603,636
2021	5,162	456,411
2020	5,142	595,873
2019	4,643	652,130
2018	4,909	648,319
2017	5,367	645,975
2016	6,164	641,365
2015	6,762	668,771
2014	7,290	674,754
2013	7,689	652,427
2012	7,967	643,723
2011	8,282	601,708
2010	8,598	566,834
2009	8,913	554,115
2008	9,200	595,332
2007	9,322	503,567
2006	9,197	487,584
2005	9,102	464,464
2004	9,056	442,540
2003	9,132	415,018
2002	9,464	430,926
2001	9,904	484,801
2000	10,142	526,963
1999	10,940	594,643
1998	11,320	627,027
1997	11,668	667,969
1996	12,153	710,868
1995	12,938	743,488
1994	13,536	698,609
1993	13,915	789,220
1992	15,594	794,415
1991	15,801	827,296
1990	15,704	835,421
1989	15,516	884,629
1988	15,212	909,221
1987	14,887	922,330
1986	14,516	903,644
1985	14,061	893,889
1984	13,688	869,011
1983	13,284	837,013
1982	12,872	807,550
1981	12,444	767,833
1980	12,016	738,415
1979	11,583	716,541
1978	11,133	694,341
1977	10,679	680,929
1976	10,228	675,011
1975	9,775	667,862
1974	9,324	658,438
1973	8,939	651,596
1972	8,549	638,754
1971	8,161	624,761
1970	7,791	605,102
1969	7,435	590,794
1968	7,085	571,841
1967	6,744	553,741
1966	6,418	534,862
1965	6,109	506,632
1964	5,818	490,606
1963	5,551	473,821
1962	5,297	455,634
1961	5,081	437,851
1960	4,888	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 +0.66% in Bhutan and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Bhutan and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Bhutan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Bhutan	South Africa
2023	12.7	18.8
2022	12.8	19.1
2021	12.9	19.4
2020	13	19.5
2019	12.4	19.7
2018	12.9	19.9
2017	13.8	20
2016	14.8	20.3
2015	15.7	21
2014	16.4	21.8
2013	17.1	21.9
2012	17.6	22.1
2011	18.2	22.1
2010	18.9	22.2
2009	19.6	22.8
2008	20.3	24.3
2007	20.8	23.1
2006	21	23.1
2005	21.1	22.7
2004	21.3	22.1
2003	21.7	21.4
2002	22.7	20.9
2001	23.9	21.3
2000	25.2	21.6
1999	26.8	22.7
1998	28.3	23.2
1997	29.7	23.9
1996	31.3	24.9
1995	33.3	25.6
1994	34.6	24.6
1993	35.5	26.6
1992	38.3	27
1991	37.6	28.1
1990	38.2	28.7
1989	39	30.6
1988	39.8	32
1987	40.5	33.2
1986	41.1	33.6
1985	41.6	34.2
1984	42.3	34.5
1983	42.9	34.6
1982	43.4	34.8
1981	44	34.6
1980	44.5	34.7
1979	45	34.9
1978	45.4	35.1
1977	45.8	35.6
1976	46.1	36.3
1975	46.4	37
1974	46.6	37.7
1973	47	38.4
1972	47.2	38.9
1971	47.5	39.3
1970	47.7	39.4
1969	48	39.7
1968	48.2	39.8
1967	48.3	39.9
1966	48.4	40
1965	48.5	39.5
1964	48.6	39.6
1963	48.6	39.7
1962	48.6	39.7
1961	48.7	39.7
1960	48.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.7 in Bhutan and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 48.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Bhutan

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Bhutan	South Africa
2100	12.3%	17.9%
2099	12.3%	18%
2098	12.2%	18%
2097	12.2%	18.1%
2096	12.2%	18.1%
2095	12.2%	18.2%
2094	12.2%	18.2%
2093	12.2%	18.3%
2092	12.2%	18.3%
2091	12.2%	18.4%
2090	12.2%	18.4%
2089	12.2%	18.5%
2088	12.3%	18.5%
2087	12.3%	18.6%
2086	12.3%	18.6%
2085	12.4%	18.7%
2084	12.4%	18.7%
2083	12.4%	18.8%
2082	12.5%	18.9%
2081	12.5%	18.9%
2080	12.5%	19%
2079	12.5%	19%
2078	12.6%	19.1%
2077	12.6%	19.2%
2076	12.6%	19.3%
2075	12.6%	19.3%
2074	12.6%	19.4%
2073	12.6%	19.5%
2072	12.6%	19.6%
2071	12.6%	19.6%
2070	12.6%	19.7%
2069	12.6%	19.8%
2068	12.6%	19.9%
2067	12.6%	20%
2066	12.6%	20.1%
2065	12.7%	20.2%
2064	12.7%	20.3%
2063	12.8%	20.4%
2062	12.8%	20.5%
2061	12.9%	20.6%
2060	13%	20.7%
2059	13.2%	20.8%
2058	13.3%	20.9%
2057	13.4%	21%
2056	13.6%	21.1%
2055	13.8%	21.1%
2054	14%	21.2%
2053	14.2%	21.3%
2052	14.4%	21.4%
2051	14.5%	21.5%
2050	14.7%	21.6%
2049	14.9%	21.7%
2048	15.1%	21.8%
2047	15.3%	21.9%
2046	15.5%	22%
2045	15.7%	22.1%
2044	15.8%	22.3%
2043	16%	22.4%
2042	16.1%	22.6%
2041	16.3%	22.8%
2040	16.4%	23%
2039	16.5%	23.3%
2038	16.7%	23.5%
2037	16.8%	23.7%
2036	17%	24.1%
2035	17.1%	24.4%
2034	17.2%	24.7%
2033	17.3%	24.9%
2032	17.4%	25%
2031	17.8%	25.1%
2030	18.1%	25.2%
2029	18.5%	25.3%
2028	19%	25.4%
2027	19.5%	25.5%
2026	20.1%	25.6%
2025	20.6%	25.8%
2024	20.9%	25.9%
2023	21.5%	26.1%
2022	22%	26.3%
2021	22.7%	26.6%
2020	23.4%	27%
2019	24.2%	27.4%
2018	25%	27.9%
2017	25.8%	28.3%
2016	26.5%	28.3%
2015	27%	28.3%
2014	27.4%	28.5%
2013	27.8%	28.7%
2012	28.3%	28.9%
2011	28.8%	29.1%
2010	29.4%	29.4%
2009	30.1%	29.7%
2008	30.8%	29.9%
2007	31.6%	30.2%
2006	32.4%	30.6%
2005	33.2%	31.1%
2004	34.3%	31.6%
2003	35.5%	32.3%
2002	36.6%	33.2%
2001	37.7%	34%
2000	38.6%	34.9%
1999	39.4%	35.7%
1998	40.1%	36.5%
1997	40.7%	37.2%
1996	41.3%	37.5%
1995	41.7%	37.5%
1994	42.1%	37.2%
1993	42.4%	37.3%
1992	42.6%	37.6%
1991	42.8%	37.5%
1990	42.9%	37.7%
1989	43%	38.1%
1988	43%	38.4%
1987	43.1%	38.7%
1986	43.1%	38.9%
1985	43.1%	39.2%
1984	43.1%	39.5%
1983	43.1%	39.8%
1982	43%	40.1%
1981	42.9%	40.5%
1980	42.8%	40.9%
1979	42.7%	41.3%
1978	42.6%	41.5%
1977	42.5%	41.7%
1976	42.4%	41.8%
1975	42.3%	41.9%
1974	42.2%	42%
1973	42.1%	42.1%
1972	42%	42.2%
1971	41.9%	42.2%
1970	41.8%	42.3%
1969	41.8%	42.2%
1968	41.8%	42.2%
1967	41.7%	42.2%
1966	41.7%	42.1%
1965	41.7%	42.1%
1964	41.8%	42.1%
1963	41.8%	42.1%
1962	41.9%	42.1%
1961	42.1%	42.1%
1960	42.3%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 20.9% of the population in Bhutan and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Bhutan and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Bhutan vs South Africa

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Bhutan	South Africa
2023	47	118
2022	49	129
2021	50	191
2020	51	118
2019	52	119
2018	55	128
2017	58	134
2016	63	141
2015	68	150
2014	73	162
2013	79	180
2012	86	194
2011	96	202
2010	107	226
2009	121	241
2008	133	272
2007	149	272
2006	167	283
2005	186	279
2004	207	259
2003	229	245
2002	257	225
2001	286	192
2000	324	175
1999	346	151
1998	378	152
1997	415	152
1996	450	150
1995	498	125
1994	544	133
1993	578	145
1992	656	152
1991	671	162
1990	704	170
1989	747	177
1988	798	184
1987	857	192
1986	911	200
1985	969	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 47 deaths per 100,000 live births in Bhutan, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Bhutan

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Bhutan	South Africa
2023	2.31%	3.47%
2022	2.39%	3.44%
2021	2.47%	3.41%
2020	2.55%	3.41%
2019	2.65%	3.45%
2018	2.74%	3.49%
2017	2.85%	3.58%
2016	2.96%	3.68%
2015	3.08%	3.82%
2014	3.22%	3.96%
2013	3.38%	4.1%
2012	3.56%	4.25%
2011	3.77%	4.5%
2010	4.03%	5%
2009	4.31%	5.7%
2008	4.62%	6.42%
2007	4.96%	7.19%
2006	5.32%	7.75%
2005	5.71%	8.03%
2004	6.12%	8.1%
2003	6.54%	7.93%
2002	6.96%	7.69%
2001	7.4%	7.43%
2000	7.85%	7.11%
1999	8.3%	6.85%
1998	8.77%	6.56%
1997	9.26%	6.29%
1996	9.75%	6.11%
1995	10.3%	5.95%
1994	10.8%	5.82%
1993	11.3%	5.7%
1992	11.8%	5.66%
1991	12.3%	5.7%
1990	12.8%	5.82%
1989	13.4%	6.01%
1988	14%	6.26%
1987	14.6%	6.56%
1986	15.3%	6.89%
1985	15.9%	7.24%
1984	16.6%	7.6%
1983	17.3%	7.98%
1982	18%	8.39%
1981	18.7%	8.84%
1980	19.5%	9.35%
1979	20.2%	9.88%
1978	20.9%	10.5%
1977	21.6%	11.1%
1976	22.3%	11.8%
1975	22.9%	12.5%
1974	23.6%	13.2%
1973	24.3%	-
1972	24.9%	-
1971	25.5%	-
1970	26.2%	-
1969	26.7%	-
1968	27.4%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.31% in Bhutan and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.