Fertility & birth rates in Cameroon and South Africa

Fertility rate in Cameroon vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Cameroon	South Africa
2023	4.32	2.22
2022	4.4	2.23
2021	4.47	2.25
2020	4.56	2.26
2019	4.65	2.26
2018	4.74	2.27
2017	4.8	2.28
2016	4.84	2.26
2015	4.84	2.36
2014	4.84	2.42
2013	4.91	2.43
2012	4.98	2.45
2011	5.05	2.44
2010	5.15	2.44
2009	5.24	2.5
2008	5.29	2.68
2007	5.34	2.55
2006	5.37	2.55
2005	5.42	2.51
2004	5.44	2.44
2003	5.43	2.36
2002	5.44	2.32
2001	5.44	2.37
2000	5.51	2.41
1999	5.6	2.56
1998	5.66	2.63
1997	5.71	2.73
1996	5.8	2.99
1995	5.92	3.17
1994	6.04	3.26
1993	6.16	3.37
1992	6.26	3.48
1991	6.32	3.62
1990	6.36	3.72
1989	6.41	3.98
1988	6.48	4.18
1987	6.54	4.35
1986	6.57	4.41
1985	6.56	4.5
1984	6.56	4.57
1983	6.58	4.63
1982	6.59	4.7
1981	6.61	4.71
1980	6.61	4.78
1979	6.58	4.82
1978	6.55	4.85
1977	6.51	4.94
1976	6.45	5.07
1975	6.4	5.19
1974	6.36	5.3
1973	6.33	5.41
1972	6.29	5.49
1971	6.26	5.57
1970	6.2	5.63
1969	6.14	5.72
1968	6.04	5.78
1967	5.95	5.85
1966	5.85	5.91
1965	5.8	5.89
1964	5.74	5.96
1963	5.73	6.01
1962	5.73	6.05
1961	5.73	6.08
1960	5.73	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cameroon was 4.32 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 Cameroon vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Cameroon	South Africa
2023	754,486	602,793
2022	734,893	603,636
2021	713,806	456,411
2020	716,361	595,873
2019	714,681	652,130
2018	706,188	648,319
2017	696,496	645,975
2016	677,051	641,365
2015	649,190	668,771
2014	619,243	674,754
2013	606,072	652,427
2012	594,029	643,723
2011	580,607	601,708
2010	569,921	566,834
2009	557,841	554,115
2008	542,919	595,332
2007	526,949	503,567
2006	511,366	487,584
2005	496,547	464,464
2004	478,880	442,540
2003	459,422	415,018
2002	439,544	430,926
2001	422,511	484,801
2000	411,633	526,963
1999	401,969	594,643
1998	388,432	627,027
1997	377,138	667,969
1996	370,355	710,868
1995	367,532	743,488
1994	364,390	698,609
1993	360,785	789,220
1992	356,072	794,415
1991	350,493	827,296
1990	342,901	835,421
1989	334,649	884,629
1988	328,168	909,221
1987	320,134	922,330
1986	308,188	903,644
1985	296,317	893,889
1984	284,110	869,011
1983	276,112	837,013
1982	274,652	807,550
1981	262,076	767,833
1980	247,808	738,415
1979	238,875	716,541
1978	229,958	694,341
1977	222,785	680,929
1976	214,916	675,011
1975	206,986	667,862
1974	200,693	658,438
1973	193,997	651,596
1972	186,521	638,754
1971	179,317	624,761
1970	170,713	605,102
1969	162,603	590,794
1968	153,080	571,841
1967	144,370	553,741
1966	135,927	534,862
1965	129,428	506,632
1964	123,469	490,606
1963	119,784	473,821
1962	116,232	455,634
1961	82,471	437,851
1960	77,948	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 +2.66% in Cameroon and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.78% in Cameroon and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Cameroon vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Cameroon

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Cameroon	South Africa
2023	33.7	18.8
2022	34.3	19.1
2021	34.8	19.4
2020	35.4	19.5
2019	36.2	19.7
2018	36.9	19.9
2017	37.5	20
2016	37.8	20.3
2015	37.7	21
2014	37.5	21.8
2013	38.1	21.9
2012	38.7	22.1
2011	39.2	22.1
2010	39.8	22.2
2009	40.4	22.8
2008	40.7	24.3
2007	40.9	23.1
2006	41.1	23.1
2005	41.3	22.7
2004	41.3	22.1
2003	41.1	21.4
2002	40.8	20.9
2001	40.7	21.3
2000	40.9	21.6
1999	41.1	22.7
1998	41	23.2
1997	40.9	23.9
1996	41.2	24.9
1995	41.7	25.6
1994	42.2	24.6
1993	42.7	26.6
1992	43.1	27
1991	43.5	28.1
1990	43.6	28.7
1989	43.8	30.6
1988	44.3	32
1987	44.6	33.2
1986	44.8	33.6
1985	44.6	34.2
1984	44.7	34.5
1983	45.1	34.6
1982	46.1	34.8
1981	45.7	34.6
1980	45.4	34.7
1979	45.6	34.9
1978	45.4	35.1
1977	45.5	35.6
1976	45.3	36.3
1975	45.1	37
1974	45.1	37.7
1973	45.1	38.4
1972	45	38.9
1971	45.1	39.3
1970	44.9	39.4
1969	44.8	39.7
1968	44.4	39.8
1967	44.1	39.9
1966	43.7	40
1965	43.6	39.5
1964	43.4	39.6
1963	43.7	39.7
1962	43.9	39.7
1961	43.9	39.7
1960	43.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 33.7 in Cameroon and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 43.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Cameroon

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Cameroon	South Africa
2100	21.8%	17.9%
2099	21.9%	18%
2098	22.1%	18%
2097	22.2%	18.1%
2096	22.4%	18.1%
2095	22.6%	18.2%
2094	22.7%	18.2%
2093	22.9%	18.3%
2092	23.1%	18.3%
2091	23.3%	18.4%
2090	23.4%	18.4%
2089	23.6%	18.5%
2088	23.8%	18.5%
2087	24%	18.6%
2086	24.2%	18.6%
2085	24.4%	18.7%
2084	24.6%	18.7%
2083	24.8%	18.8%
2082	25%	18.9%
2081	25.2%	18.9%
2080	25.4%	19%
2079	25.6%	19%
2078	25.8%	19.1%
2077	26.1%	19.2%
2076	26.3%	19.3%
2075	26.5%	19.3%
2074	26.7%	19.4%
2073	26.9%	19.5%
2072	27.2%	19.6%
2071	27.4%	19.6%
2070	27.6%	19.7%
2069	27.8%	19.8%
2068	28.1%	19.9%
2067	28.3%	20%
2066	28.6%	20.1%
2065	28.8%	20.2%
2064	29.1%	20.3%
2063	29.3%	20.4%
2062	29.6%	20.5%
2061	29.9%	20.6%
2060	30.1%	20.7%
2059	30.4%	20.8%
2058	30.7%	20.9%
2057	31%	21%
2056	31.3%	21.1%
2055	31.5%	21.1%
2054	31.8%	21.2%
2053	32.1%	21.3%
2052	32.4%	21.4%
2051	32.7%	21.5%
2050	33%	21.6%
2049	33.3%	21.7%
2048	33.6%	21.8%
2047	33.9%	21.9%
2046	34.2%	22%
2045	34.5%	22.1%
2044	34.8%	22.3%
2043	35.1%	22.4%
2042	35.4%	22.6%
2041	35.7%	22.8%
2040	36%	23%
2039	36.4%	23.3%
2038	36.7%	23.5%
2037	37%	23.7%
2036	37.3%	24.1%
2035	37.7%	24.4%
2034	38.1%	24.7%
2033	38.5%	24.9%
2032	38.9%	25%
2031	39.3%	25.1%
2030	39.7%	25.2%
2029	40%	25.3%
2028	40.3%	25.4%
2027	40.6%	25.5%
2026	41%	25.6%
2025	41.3%	25.8%
2024	41.4%	25.9%
2023	41.8%	26.1%
2022	42.1%	26.3%
2021	42.3%	26.6%
2020	42.5%	27%
2019	42.7%	27.4%
2018	42.9%	27.9%
2017	43%	28.3%
2016	43%	28.3%
2015	43.2%	28.3%
2014	43.4%	28.5%
2013	43.5%	28.7%
2012	43.6%	28.9%
2011	43.7%	29.1%
2010	43.7%	29.4%
2009	43.8%	29.7%
2008	43.8%	29.9%
2007	43.9%	30.2%
2006	44%	30.6%
2005	44.1%	31.1%
2004	44.2%	31.6%
2003	44.3%	32.3%
2002	44.5%	33.2%
2001	44.7%	34%
2000	44.9%	34.9%
1999	45.1%	35.7%
1998	45.3%	36.5%
1997	45.5%	37.2%
1996	45.7%	37.5%
1995	45.9%	37.5%
1994	46%	37.2%
1993	46.1%	37.3%
1992	46.2%	37.6%
1991	46.2%	37.5%
1990	46.2%	37.7%
1989	46.1%	38.1%
1988	46.1%	38.4%
1987	46%	38.7%
1986	45.9%	38.9%
1985	45.8%	39.2%
1984	45.7%	39.5%
1983	45.6%	39.8%
1982	45%	40.1%
1981	44.6%	40.5%
1980	44.5%	40.9%
1979	44.4%	41.3%
1978	44.1%	41.5%
1977	43.8%	41.7%
1976	43.5%	41.8%
1975	43.2%	41.9%
1974	43%	42%
1973	42.8%	42.1%
1972	42.5%	42.2%
1971	42.3%	42.2%
1970	42%	42.3%
1969	41.8%	42.2%
1968	41.6%	42.2%
1967	41.3%	42.2%
1966	41.1%	42.1%
1965	40.9%	42.1%
1964	40.7%	42.1%
1963	40.4%	42.1%
1962	40.2%	42.1%
1961	39.9%	42.1%
1960	39.5%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 41.4% of the population in Cameroon and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 46.2% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cameroon and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Cameroon vs South Africa

Chart Table

Cameroon

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Cameroon	South Africa
2023	258	118
2022	276	129
2021	342	191
2020	316	118
2019	336	119
2018	354	128
2017	372	134
2016	393	141
2015	417	150
2014	440	162
2013	469	180
2012	500	194
2011	541	202
2010	562	226
2009	579	241
2008	592	272
2007	605	272
2006	615	283
2005	629	279
2004	633	259
2003	645	245
2002	658	225
2001	672	192
2000	678	175
1999	672	151
1998	666	152
1997	652	152
1996	648	150
1995	641	125
1994	628	133
1993	606	145
1992	595	152
1991	584	162
1990	570	170
1989	564	177
1988	559	184
1987	557	192
1986	579	200
1985	572	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 258 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cameroon, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Cameroon

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Cameroon	South Africa
2023	6.72%	3.47%
2022	6.95%	3.44%
2021	7.21%	3.41%
2020	7.46%	3.41%
2019	7.72%	3.45%
2018	7.97%	3.49%
2017	8.25%	3.58%
2016	8.56%	3.68%
2015	8.9%	3.82%
2014	9.31%	3.96%
2013	9.73%	4.1%
2012	10.2%	4.25%
2011	10.6%	4.5%
2010	11%	5%
2009	11.4%	5.7%
2008	11.8%	6.42%
2007	12.1%	7.19%
2006	12.5%	7.75%
2005	12.8%	8.03%
2004	13.1%	8.1%
2003	13.5%	7.93%
2002	13.8%	7.69%
2001	14.1%	7.43%
2000	14.4%	7.11%
1999	14.7%	6.85%
1998	14.8%	6.56%
1997	14.9%	6.29%
1996	14.8%	6.11%
1995	14.7%	5.95%
1994	14.5%	5.82%
1993	14.3%	5.7%
1992	14%	5.66%
1991	13.8%	5.7%
1990	13.7%	5.82%
1989	13.6%	6.01%
1988	13.8%	6.26%
1987	14%	6.56%
1986	14.4%	6.89%
1985	14.9%	7.24%
1984	15.5%	7.6%
1983	16.2%	7.98%
1982	16.8%	8.39%
1981	17.4%	8.84%
1980	17.9%	9.35%
1979	18.3%	9.88%
1978	18.7%	10.5%
1977	18.9%	11.1%
1976	19%	11.8%
1975	19.2%	12.5%
1974	19.3%	13.2%
1973	19.6%	-
1972	20%	-
1971	20.6%	-
1970	21.3%	-
1969	22.2%	-
1968	23.1%	-
1967	24%	-
1966	24.7%	-
1965	25.4%	-
1964	26%	-
1963	26.4%	-
1962	26.9%	-
1961	27.4%	-
1960	28%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 6.72% in Cameroon and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.