Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Cape Verde and South Africa

Updated on by Georank team

Cape Verde has an annual birth rate of 12.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 18.8 for South Africa. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.52 in Cape Verde and 2.22 in South Africa — 45.6% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 77.9% in Cape Verde and by 63.7% in South Africa — in 1960, it was 6.89 and 6.11, respectively.

  • Cape Verde is ranked 113/196 by birth rate compared to 82/196 for South Africa.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.9 in Cape Verde — it's 28.3 in South Africa.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 38.8 in Cape Verde vs 51.6 in South Africa.
  • In Cape Verde, 26.3% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 27.8% in South Africa.

Fertility rate in Cape Verde vs South Africa by year

Cape Verde
South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cape Verde South Africa
2023 1.52 2.22
2022 1.53 2.23
2021 1.55 2.25
2020 1.59 2.26
2019 1.7 2.26
2018 1.8 2.27
2017 1.93 2.28
2016 1.97 2.26
2015 1.97 2.36
2014 2.03 2.42
2013 2.07 2.43
2012 2.15 2.45
2011 2.33 2.44
2010 2.33 2.44
2009 2.25 2.5
2008 2.3 2.68
2007 2.41 2.55
2006 2.56 2.55
2005 2.73 2.51
2004 2.9 2.44
2003 3.03 2.36
2002 3.19 2.32
2001 3.37 2.37
2000 3.55 2.41
1999 3.73 2.56
1998 3.9 2.63
1997 4.05 2.73
1996 4.26 2.99
1995 4.49 3.17
1994 4.72 3.26
1993 4.95 3.37
1992 5.12 3.48
1991 5.26 3.62
1990 5.36 3.72
1989 5.45 3.98
1988 5.55 4.18
1987 5.68 4.35
1986 5.81 4.41
1985 5.92 4.5
1984 5.97 4.57
1983 6.07 4.63
1982 6.17 4.7
1981 6.27 4.71
1980 6.38 4.78
1979 6.47 4.82
1978 6.56 4.85
1977 6.65 4.94
1976 6.71 5.07
1975 6.77 5.19
1974 6.82 5.3
1973 6.86 5.41
1972 6.89 5.49
1971 6.91 5.57
1970 6.94 5.63
1969 6.95 5.72
1968 6.97 5.78
1967 6.98 5.85
1966 6.99 5.91
1965 6.99 5.89
1964 6.99 5.96
1963 6.98 6.01
1962 6.95 6.05
1961 6.92 6.08
1960 6.89 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cape Verde was 1.52 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 Cape Verde vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Cape Verde
South Africa
1x
Year Natural population change
Cape Verde South Africa
2023 3,798 602,793
2022 3,864 603,636
2021 3,575 456,411
2020 3,734 595,873
2019 4,773 652,130
2018 5,282 648,319
2017 5,993 645,975
2016 6,238 641,365
2015 6,314 668,771
2014 6,622 674,754
2013 6,780 652,427
2012 7,157 643,723
2011 7,874 601,708
2010 7,746 566,834
2009 7,216 554,115
2008 7,313 595,332
2007 7,559 503,567
2006 7,980 487,584
2005 8,428 464,464
2004 8,825 442,540
2003 9,037 415,018
2002 9,278 430,926
2001 9,510 484,801
2000 9,752 526,963
1999 9,989 594,643
1998 10,187 627,027
1997 10,323 667,969
1996 10,613 710,868
1995 10,764 743,488
1994 11,410 698,609
1993 11,805 789,220
1992 11,915 794,415
1991 11,899 827,296
1990 11,738 835,421
1989 11,608 884,629
1988 11,523 909,221
1987 11,426 922,330
1986 11,295 903,644
1985 11,105 893,889
1984 10,835 869,011
1983 10,736 837,013
1982 10,597 807,550
1981 10,470 767,833
1980 10,276 738,415
1979 10,223 716,541
1978 10,152 694,341
1977 10,036 680,929
1976 9,833 675,011
1975 9,601 667,862
1974 9,295 658,438
1973 9,003 651,596
1972 8,716 638,754
1971 8,359 624,761
1970 7,878 605,102
1969 7,625 590,794
1968 7,408 571,841
1967 7,214 553,741
1966 7,039 534,862
1965 6,877 506,632
1964 6,725 490,606
1963 6,589 473,821
1962 6,468 455,634
1961 6,247 437,851
1960 6,098 421,263

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

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 +0.73% in Cape Verde and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.98% in Cape Verde and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Cape Verde vs South Africa by year

Cape Verde
South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Cape Verde South Africa
2023 12.3 18.8
2022 12.4 19.1
2021 12.6 19.4
2020 13.1 19.5
2019 14.3 19.7
2018 15.5 19.9
2017 16.8 20
2016 17.3 20.3
2015 17.5 21
2014 18.1 21.8
2013 18.4 21.9
2012 19.1 22.1
2011 20.6 22.1
2010 20.4 22.2
2009 19.5 22.8
2008 19.9 24.3
2007 20.6 23.1
2006 21.6 23.1
2005 22.8 22.7
2004 23.9 22.1
2003 24.7 21.4
2002 25.7 20.9
2001 26.8 21.3
2000 27.9 21.6
1999 29 22.7
1998 30.1 23.2
1997 31.1 23.9
1996 32.5 24.9
1995 34.2 25.6
1994 36 24.6
1993 37.7 26.6
1992 38.8 27
1991 39.7 28.1
1990 40.2 28.7
1989 40.7 30.6
1988 41.2 32
1987 41.7 33.2
1986 42 33.6
1985 42.1 34.2
1984 42 34.5
1983 42.3 34.6
1982 42.5 34.8
1981 42.7 34.6
1980 42.7 34.7
1979 43.2 34.9
1978 43.6 35.1
1977 43.8 35.6
1976 43.9 36.3
1975 43.8 37
1974 43.3 37.7
1973 42.8 38.4
1972 42.3 38.9
1971 41.5 39.3
1970 40.6 39.4
1969 40.7 39.7
1968 41.2 39.8
1967 41.8 39.9
1966 42.5 40
1965 43.3 39.5
1964 44.3 39.6
1963 45.4 39.7
1962 46.5 39.7
1961 47.2 39.7
1960 47.9 39.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.3 in Cape Verde and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 47.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Cape Verde South Africa
Fertility rate 1.52 2.22
Fertility rate rank 137/196 89/196
Birth rate 12.3 18.8
Birth rate rank 113/196 82/196
Population change due to births and deaths +3,798 +602,793
Natural population change rank 133/196 33/196
Natural population change rate +0.73% +0.95%
Population growth +0.49% +1.26%
Population growth rank 136/197 85/197
Average age at childbearing 28.9 years 28.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 36.1 51.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 64.5 106.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.6 27.1
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 26.3% 27.8%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 54.6% 54%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 97.3% 96.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.04% 0.12%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.83% 1.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 1.1% 2.44%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 1.16% 3.47%
Life expectancy 76.6 years 66.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Cape Verde
Factual

UN forecast
South Africa
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Cape Verde South Africa
2100 11.1% 17.9%
2099 11.1% 18%
2098 11.2% 18%
2097 11.2% 18.1%
2096 11.3% 18.1%
2095 11.3% 18.2%
2094 11.4% 18.2%
2093 11.5% 18.3%
2092 11.6% 18.3%
2091 11.6% 18.4%
2090 11.7% 18.4%
2089 11.8% 18.5%
2088 11.8% 18.5%
2087 11.9% 18.6%
2086 11.9% 18.6%
2085 11.9% 18.7%
2084 12% 18.7%
2083 12% 18.8%
2082 11.9% 18.9%
2081 11.9% 18.9%
2080 11.9% 19%
2079 11.9% 19%
2078 11.8% 19.1%
2077 11.8% 19.2%
2076 11.7% 19.3%
2075 11.7% 19.3%
2074 11.7% 19.4%
2073 11.7% 19.5%
2072 11.7% 19.6%
2071 11.7% 19.6%
2070 11.8% 19.7%
2069 11.9% 19.8%
2068 12% 19.9%
2067 12.2% 20%
2066 12.3% 20.1%
2065 12.5% 20.2%
2064 12.7% 20.3%
2063 13% 20.4%
2062 13.2% 20.5%
2061 13.5% 20.6%
2060 13.7% 20.7%
2059 14% 20.8%
2058 14.2% 20.9%
2057 14.5% 21%
2056 14.7% 21.1%
2055 14.9% 21.1%
2054 15.1% 21.2%
2053 15.3% 21.3%
2052 15.4% 21.4%
2051 15.6% 21.5%
2050 15.7% 21.6%
2049 15.8% 21.7%
2048 15.9% 21.8%
2047 15.9% 21.9%
2046 16% 22%
2045 16.1% 22.1%
2044 16.1% 22.3%
2043 16.2% 22.4%
2042 16.2% 22.6%
2041 16.3% 22.8%
2040 16.3% 23%
2039 16.4% 23.3%
2038 16.5% 23.5%
2037 16.6% 23.7%
2036 16.7% 24.1%
2035 17.2% 24.4%
2034 17.9% 24.7%
2033 18.6% 24.9%
2032 19.4% 25%
2031 20.2% 25.1%
2030 21% 25.2%
2029 21.8% 25.3%
2028 22.6% 25.4%
2027 23.4% 25.5%
2026 24.3% 25.6%
2025 25.1% 25.8%
2024 25.5% 25.9%
2023 26.4% 26.1%
2022 27.2% 26.3%
2021 28% 26.6%
2020 28.4% 27%
2019 28.4% 27.4%
2018 28.4% 27.9%
2017 28.4% 28.3%
2016 28.5% 28.3%
2015 28.8% 28.3%
2014 29.2% 28.5%
2013 29.8% 28.7%
2012 30.4% 28.9%
2011 31.3% 29.1%
2010 32.2% 29.4%
2009 33.1% 29.7%
2008 34.1% 29.9%
2007 35% 30.2%
2006 36% 30.6%
2005 36.9% 31.1%
2004 37.9% 31.6%
2003 38.9% 32.3%
2002 39.9% 33.2%
2001 40.9% 34%
2000 41.8% 34.9%
1999 42.5% 35.7%
1998 43.2% 36.5%
1997 43.7% 37.2%
1996 44.2% 37.5%
1995 44.6% 37.5%
1994 44.9% 37.2%
1993 45.2% 37.3%
1992 45.5% 37.6%
1991 45.6% 37.5%
1990 45.7% 37.7%
1989 45.8% 38.1%
1988 45.9% 38.4%
1987 46.1% 38.7%
1986 46.2% 38.9%
1985 46.4% 39.2%
1984 46.6% 39.5%
1983 46.8% 39.8%
1982 47% 40.1%
1981 47.3% 40.5%
1980 47.4% 40.9%
1979 47.3% 41.3%
1978 46.9% 41.5%
1977 46.5% 41.7%
1976 45.9% 41.8%
1975 45.3% 41.9%
1974 44.9% 42%
1973 45% 42.1%
1972 45% 42.2%
1971 45% 42.2%
1970 45.2% 42.3%
1969 45.5% 42.2%
1968 45.9% 42.2%
1967 46.1% 42.2%
1966 46.2% 42.1%
1965 46.2% 42.1%
1964 46% 42.1%
1963 45.6% 42.1%
1962 45.1% 42.1%
1961 44.3% 42.1%
1960 43.6% 42.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.5% of the population in Cape Verde and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 45.7% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cape Verde and South Africa compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Cape Verde vs South Africa

Cape Verde
South Africa
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Cape Verde South Africa
2023 40 118
2022 42 129
2021 56 191
2020 56 118
2019 41 119
2018 43 128
2017 43 134
2016 44 141
2015 46 150
2014 48 162
2013 50 180
2012 51 194
2011 55 202
2010 61 226
2009 62 241
2008 68 272
2007 73 272
2006 76 283
2005 75 279
2004 80 259
2003 86 245
2002 92 225
2001 101 192
2000 110 175
1999 122 151
1998 134 152
1997 147 152
1996 167 150
1995 196 125
1994 214 133
1993 233 145
1992 255 152
1991 277 162
1990 298 170
1989 322 177
1988 346 184
1987 366 192
1986 394 200
1985 420 208

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 40 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cape Verde, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Cape Verde
South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Cape Verde South Africa
2023 1.16% 3.47%
2022 1.21% 3.44%
2021 1.27% 3.41%
2020 1.33% 3.41%
2019 1.41% 3.45%
2018 1.51% 3.49%
2017 1.62% 3.58%
2016 1.76% 3.68%
2015 1.91% 3.82%
2014 2.09% 3.96%
2013 2.26% 4.1%
2012 2.42% 4.25%
2011 2.56% 4.5%
2010 2.67% 5%
2009 2.75% 5.7%
2008 2.79% 6.42%
2007 2.8% 7.19%
2006 2.8% 7.75%
2005 2.8% 8.03%
2004 2.82% 8.1%
2003 2.9% 7.93%
2002 3.05% 7.69%
2001 3.28% 7.43%
2000 3.6% 7.11%
1999 4% 6.85%
1998 4.44% 6.56%
1997 4.84% 6.29%
1996 5.17% 6.11%
1995 5.37% 5.95%
1994 5.45% 5.82%
1993 5.46% 5.7%
1992 5.46% 5.66%
1991 5.5% 5.7%
1990 5.64% 5.82%
1989 5.88% 6.01%
1988 6.21% 6.26%
1987 6.59% 6.56%
1986 6.95% 6.89%
1985 7.25% 7.24%
1984 7.46% 7.6%
1983 7.59% 7.98%
1982 7.65% 8.39%
1981 7.72% 8.84%
1980 7.82% 9.35%
1979 8% 9.88%
1978 8.27% 10.5%
1977 8.65% 11.1%
1976 9.09% 11.8%
1975 9.6% 12.5%
1974 10.2% 13.2%
1973 10.8% -
1972 11.5% -
1971 12.1% -
1970 12.8% -
1969 13.4% -
1968 14% -
1967 14.5% -
1966 15% -
1965 15.4% -
1964 15.9% -
1963 16.2% -
1962 16.6% -
1961 16.9% -
1960 17.2% -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.16% in Cape Verde and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.