Fertility & birth rates in Brazil and South Africa

Fertility rate in Brazil vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Brazil

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Brazil	South Africa
2023	1.62	2.22
2022	1.63	2.23
2021	1.64	2.25
2020	1.65	2.26
2019	1.71	2.26
2018	1.74	2.27
2017	1.74	2.28
2016	1.73	2.26
2015	1.78	2.36
2014	1.78	2.42
2013	1.76	2.43
2012	1.77	2.45
2011	1.78	2.44
2010	1.79	2.44
2009	1.8	2.5
2008	1.82	2.68
2007	1.85	2.55
2006	1.9	2.55
2005	1.94	2.51
2004	1.97	2.44
2003	2.01	2.36
2002	2.08	2.32
2001	2.16	2.37
2000	2.25	2.41
1999	2.34	2.56
1998	2.42	2.63
1997	2.47	2.73
1996	2.51	2.99
1995	2.57	3.17
1994	2.6	3.26
1993	2.66	3.37
1992	2.71	3.48
1991	2.81	3.62
1990	2.9	3.72
1989	3.01	3.98
1988	3.11	4.18
1987	3.23	4.35
1986	3.36	4.41
1985	3.48	4.5
1984	3.6	4.57
1983	3.72	4.63
1982	3.84	4.7
1981	3.94	4.71
1980	4.04	4.78
1979	4.12	4.82
1978	4.2	4.85
1977	4.27	4.94
1976	4.34	5.07
1975	4.42	5.19
1974	4.5	5.3
1973	4.64	5.41
1972	4.74	5.49
1971	4.84	5.57
1970	4.93	5.63
1969	5.04	5.72
1968	5.17	5.78
1967	5.34	5.85
1966	5.52	5.91
1965	5.68	5.89
1964	5.82	5.96
1963	5.93	6.01
1962	5.98	6.05
1961	6.02	6.08
1960	6.05	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Brazil was 1.62 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 Brazil vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Brazil

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Brazil	South Africa
2023	1,107,434	602,793
2022	1,054,897	603,636
2021	919,507	456,411
2020	1,146,174	595,873
2019	1,472,104	652,130
2018	1,583,935	648,319
2017	1,610,402	645,975
2016	1,609,488	641,365
2015	1,742,275	668,771
2014	1,757,948	674,754
2013	1,758,716	652,427
2012	1,782,516	643,723
2011	1,815,758	601,708
2010	1,847,336	566,834
2009	1,878,542	554,115
2008	1,908,051	595,332
2007	1,970,372	503,567
2006	2,026,119	487,584
2005	2,083,281	464,464
2004	2,108,072	442,540
2003	2,128,819	415,018
2002	2,207,017	430,926
2001	2,291,210	484,801
2000	2,372,043	526,963
1999	2,450,869	594,643
1998	2,514,728	627,027
1997	2,531,758	667,969
1996	2,530,690	710,868
1995	2,546,195	743,488
1994	2,532,951	698,609
1993	2,545,874	789,220
1992	2,547,698	794,415
1991	2,606,167	827,296
1990	2,652,959	835,421
1989	2,717,923	884,629
1988	2,768,082	909,221
1987	2,825,485	922,330
1986	2,880,440	903,644
1985	2,912,908	893,889
1984	2,931,496	869,011
1983	2,952,335	837,013
1982	2,948,552	807,550
1981	2,928,262	767,833
1980	2,887,768	738,415
1979	2,836,759	716,541
1978	2,778,815	694,341
1977	2,715,328	680,929
1976	2,648,647	675,011
1975	2,585,130	667,862
1974	2,524,254	658,438
1973	2,501,309	651,596
1972	2,454,698	638,754
1971	2,407,319	624,761
1970	2,362,073	605,102
1969	2,324,190	590,794
1968	2,301,561	571,841
1967	2,307,560	553,741
1966	2,325,332	534,862
1965	2,336,415	506,632
1964	2,338,478	490,606
1963	2,326,400	473,821
1962	2,286,666	455,634
1961	2,240,178	437,851
1960	2,190,392	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 +0.52% in Brazil and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.68% in Brazil and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Brazil vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Brazil

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Brazil	South Africa
2023	12.3	18.8
2022	12.6	19.1
2021	12.8	19.4
2020	13	19.5
2019	13.5	19.7
2018	14	19.9
2017	14.1	20
2016	14.1	20.3
2015	14.7	21
2014	14.8	21.8
2013	14.8	21.9
2012	14.9	22.1
2011	15.1	22.1
2010	15.3	22.2
2009	15.6	22.8
2008	15.8	24.3
2007	16.2	23.1
2006	16.7	23.1
2005	17.2	22.7
2004	17.5	22.1
2003	17.8	21.4
2002	18.5	20.9
2001	19.2	21.3
2000	19.9	21.6
1999	20.6	22.7
1998	21.2	23.2
1997	21.6	23.9
1996	21.9	24.9
1995	22.3	25.6
1994	22.5	24.6
1993	23	26.6
1992	23.3	27
1991	24.1	28.1
1990	24.8	28.7
1989	25.6	30.6
1988	26.5	32
1987	27.4	33.2
1986	28.3	33.6
1985	29.2	34.2
1984	30	34.5
1983	30.8	34.6
1982	31.5	34.8
1981	32	34.6
1980	32.4	34.7
1979	32.7	34.9
1978	33	35.1
1977	33.2	35.6
1976	33.3	36.3
1975	33.5	37
1974	33.7	37.7
1973	34.2	38.4
1972	34.5	38.9
1971	34.9	39.3
1970	35.2	39.4
1969	35.7	39.7
1968	36.3	39.8
1967	37.4	39.9
1966	38.6	40
1965	39.8	39.5
1964	41	39.6
1963	42	39.7
1962	42.7	39.7
1961	43.3	39.7
1960	43.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.3 in Brazil and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 43.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Brazil

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Brazil	South Africa
2100	12.4%	17.9%
2099	12.4%	18%
2098	12.4%	18%
2097	12.4%	18.1%
2096	12.5%	18.1%
2095	12.5%	18.2%
2094	12.5%	18.2%
2093	12.5%	18.3%
2092	12.6%	18.3%
2091	12.6%	18.4%
2090	12.6%	18.4%
2089	12.6%	18.5%
2088	12.7%	18.5%
2087	12.7%	18.6%
2086	12.7%	18.6%
2085	12.7%	18.7%
2084	12.8%	18.7%
2083	12.8%	18.8%
2082	12.8%	18.9%
2081	12.8%	18.9%
2080	12.8%	19%
2079	12.9%	19%
2078	12.9%	19.1%
2077	12.9%	19.2%
2076	12.9%	19.3%
2075	12.9%	19.3%
2074	13%	19.4%
2073	13%	19.5%
2072	13%	19.6%
2071	13.1%	19.6%
2070	13.1%	19.7%
2069	13.2%	19.8%
2068	13.2%	19.9%
2067	13.3%	20%
2066	13.3%	20.1%
2065	13.4%	20.2%
2064	13.4%	20.3%
2063	13.5%	20.4%
2062	13.6%	20.5%
2061	13.7%	20.6%
2060	13.8%	20.7%
2059	13.8%	20.8%
2058	13.9%	20.9%
2057	14%	21%
2056	14.1%	21.1%
2055	14.2%	21.1%
2054	14.3%	21.2%
2053	14.4%	21.3%
2052	14.5%	21.4%
2051	14.6%	21.5%
2050	14.7%	21.6%
2049	14.8%	21.7%
2048	14.9%	21.8%
2047	15%	21.9%
2046	15.1%	22%
2045	15.2%	22.1%
2044	15.3%	22.3%
2043	15.5%	22.4%
2042	15.6%	22.6%
2041	15.7%	22.8%
2040	15.8%	23%
2039	16%	23.3%
2038	16.2%	23.5%
2037	16.3%	23.7%
2036	16.5%	24.1%
2035	16.7%	24.4%
2034	17%	24.7%
2033	17.3%	24.9%
2032	17.5%	25%
2031	17.8%	25.1%
2030	18.1%	25.2%
2029	18.4%	25.3%
2028	18.7%	25.4%
2027	19%	25.5%
2026	19.2%	25.6%
2025	19.5%	25.8%
2024	19.7%	25.9%
2023	19.9%	26.1%
2022	20.2%	26.3%
2021	20.5%	26.6%
2020	20.8%	27%
2019	21.1%	27.4%
2018	21.4%	27.9%
2017	21.7%	28.3%
2016	22%	28.3%
2015	22.4%	28.3%
2014	22.8%	28.5%
2013	23.3%	28.7%
2012	23.7%	28.9%
2011	24.2%	29.1%
2010	24.7%	29.4%
2009	25.2%	29.7%
2008	25.7%	29.9%
2007	26.1%	30.2%
2006	26.6%	30.6%
2005	27.1%	31.1%
2004	27.6%	31.6%
2003	28.2%	32.3%
2002	28.7%	33.2%
2001	29.3%	34%
2000	29.9%	34.9%
1999	30.5%	35.7%
1998	31%	36.5%
1997	31.6%	37.2%
1996	32.2%	37.5%
1995	32.8%	37.5%
1994	33.4%	37.2%
1993	34%	37.3%
1992	34.5%	37.6%
1991	35%	37.5%
1990	35.5%	37.7%
1989	35.9%	38.1%
1988	36.3%	38.4%
1987	36.6%	38.7%
1986	36.9%	38.9%
1985	37.2%	39.2%
1984	37.4%	39.5%
1983	37.7%	39.8%
1982	37.9%	40.1%
1981	38.1%	40.5%
1980	38.4%	40.9%
1979	38.8%	41.3%
1978	39.1%	41.5%
1977	39.6%	41.7%
1976	40%	41.8%
1975	40.5%	41.9%
1974	40.9%	42%
1973	41.4%	42.1%
1972	41.8%	42.2%
1971	42.2%	42.2%
1970	42.7%	42.3%
1969	43%	42.2%
1968	43.4%	42.2%
1967	43.8%	42.2%
1966	44%	42.1%
1965	44.2%	42.1%
1964	44.4%	42.1%
1963	44.5%	42.1%
1962	44.4%	42.1%
1961	44.3%	42.1%
1960	44.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 19.7% of the population in Brazil and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 35.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Brazil and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Brazil vs South Africa

Chart Table

Brazil

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Brazil	South Africa
2023	67	118
2022	104	129
2021	128	191
2020	85	118
2019	65	119
2018	62	128
2017	61	134
2016	64	141
2015	63	150
2014	63	162
2013	61	180
2012	60	194
2011	62	202
2010	66	226
2009	69	241
2008	71	272
2007	73	272
2006	72	283
2005	71	279
2004	70	259
2003	67	245
2002	66	225
2001	66	192
2000	69	175
1999	75	151
1998	84	152
1997	92	152
1996	98	150
1995	103	125
1994	108	133
1993	113	145
1992	118	152
1991	128	162
1990	140	170
1989	150	177
1988	161	184
1987	167	192
1986	176	200
1985	186	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 67 deaths per 100,000 live births in Brazil, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Brazil

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Brazil	South Africa
2023	1.44%	3.47%
2022	1.46%	3.44%
2021	1.47%	3.41%
2020	1.49%	3.41%
2019	1.5%	3.45%
2018	1.52%	3.49%
2017	1.54%	3.58%
2016	1.68%	3.68%
2015	1.6%	3.82%
2014	1.63%	3.96%
2013	1.67%	4.1%
2012	1.72%	4.25%
2011	1.79%	4.5%
2010	1.86%	5%
2009	1.95%	5.7%
2008	2.05%	6.42%
2007	2.17%	7.19%
2006	2.31%	7.75%
2005	2.46%	8.03%
2004	2.63%	8.1%
2003	2.81%	7.93%
2002	3.01%	7.69%
2001	3.22%	7.43%
2000	3.45%	7.11%
1999	3.68%	6.85%
1998	3.93%	6.56%
1997	4.19%	6.29%
1996	4.47%	6.11%
1995	4.77%	5.95%
1994	5.09%	5.82%
1993	5.41%	5.7%
1992	5.72%	5.66%
1991	6.02%	5.7%
1990	6.31%	5.82%
1989	6.58%	6.01%
1988	6.84%	6.26%
1987	7.11%	6.56%
1986	7.38%	6.89%
1985	7.67%	7.24%
1984	7.98%	7.6%
1983	8.34%	7.98%
1982	8.73%	8.39%
1981	9.14%	8.84%
1980	9.57%	9.35%
1979	10%	9.88%
1978	10.4%	10.5%
1977	10.8%	11.1%
1976	11.2%	11.8%
1975	11.6%	12.5%
1974	11.9%	13.2%
1973	12.2%	-
1972	12.6%	-
1971	12.9%	-
1970	13.2%	-
1969	13.6%	-
1968	13.9%	-
1967	14.2%	-
1966	14.5%	-
1965	14.9%	-
1964	15.2%	-
1963	15.6%	-
1962	16%	-
1961	16.5%	-
1960	16.9%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.44% in Brazil and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.