Fertility & birth rates in Central African Republic and South Africa

Fertility rate in Central African Republic vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Central African Republic

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	CAR	South Africa
2023	6.01	2.22
2022	6.02	2.23
2021	6.05	2.25
2020	6.06	2.26
2019	6.09	2.26
2018	6.11	2.27
2017	6.13	2.28
2016	6.13	2.26
2015	6.13	2.36
2014	6.1	2.42
2013	6.08	2.43
2012	6.05	2.45
2011	6.01	2.44
2010	5.96	2.44
2009	5.94	2.5
2008	5.9	2.68
2007	5.87	2.55
2006	5.84	2.55
2005	5.81	2.51
2004	5.78	2.44
2003	5.8	2.36
2002	5.79	2.32
2001	5.81	2.37
2000	5.85	2.41
1999	5.88	2.56
1998	5.89	2.63
1997	5.92	2.73
1996	5.96	2.99
1995	5.94	3.17
1994	5.92	3.26
1993	5.93	3.37
1992	5.96	3.48
1991	6.03	3.62
1990	6.05	3.72
1989	6.07	3.98
1988	6.1	4.18
1987	6.12	4.35
1986	6.11	4.41
1985	6.12	4.5
1984	6.14	4.57
1983	6.15	4.63
1982	6.16	4.7
1981	6.17	4.71
1980	6.13	4.78
1979	6.09	4.82
1978	6.04	4.85
1977	5.99	4.94
1976	5.94	5.07
1975	5.88	5.19
1974	5.9	5.3
1973	5.93	5.41
1972	5.96	5.49
1971	5.99	5.57
1970	6.03	5.63
1969	6.06	5.72
1968	6.1	5.78
1967	6.08	5.85
1966	6.06	5.91
1965	6.03	5.89
1964	6.01	5.96
1963	5.99	6.01
1962	5.97	6.05
1961	5.96	6.08
1960	5.95	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Central African Republic was 6.01 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 the Central African Republic vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Central African Republic

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	CAR	South Africa
2023	190,325	602,793
2022	-49,456	603,636
2021	124,408	456,411
2020	156,911	595,873
2019	68,523	652,130
2018	153,361	648,319
2017	128,461	645,975
2016	142,419	641,365
2015	141,912	668,771
2014	107,448	674,754
2013	140,489	652,427
2012	146,791	643,723
2011	142,913	601,708
2010	130,539	566,834
2009	-130,613	554,115
2008	128,627	595,332
2007	123,137	503,567
2006	118,882	487,584
2005	113,534	464,464
2004	108,548	442,540
2003	105,540	415,018
2002	100,588	430,926
2001	99,598	484,801
2000	97,468	526,963
1999	96,108	594,643
1998	94,361	627,027
1997	93,378	667,969
1996	93,369	710,868
1995	92,748	743,488
1994	90,943	698,609
1993	89,873	789,220
1992	88,939	794,415
1991	88,688	827,296
1990	87,507	835,421
1989	85,969	884,629
1988	84,654	909,221
1987	83,408	922,330
1986	81,149	903,644
1985	79,266	893,889
1984	77,395	869,011
1983	75,399	837,013
1982	73,330	807,550
1981	71,391	767,833
1980	68,759	738,415
1979	66,104	716,541
1978	63,285	694,341
1977	60,436	680,929
1976	57,725	675,011
1975	55,106	667,862
1974	53,777	658,438
1973	52,525	651,596
1972	51,390	638,754
1971	50,142	624,761
1970	48,690	605,102
1969	47,066	590,794
1968	45,377	571,841
1967	42,979	553,741
1966	40,804	534,862
1965	38,710	506,632
1964	36,878	490,606
1963	35,218	473,821
1962	33,731	455,634
1961	32,383	437,851
1960	31,131	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 +3.69% in the Central African Republic and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.39% in the Central African Republic and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Central African Republic vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Central African Republic

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	CAR	South Africa
2023	46.4	18.8
2022	45.4	19.1
2021	45.2	19.4
2020	44.5	19.5
2019	44.1	19.7
2018	43.8	19.9
2017	43.7	20
2016	43.4	20.3
2015	43.3	21
2014	44.6	21.8
2013	44.7	21.9
2012	45.1	22.1
2011	45.3	22.1
2010	45	22.2
2009	43.6	22.8
2008	42.5	24.3
2007	42.2	23.1
2006	42.2	23.1
2005	41.8	22.7
2004	41.6	22.1
2003	41.7	21.4
2002	41.4	20.9
2001	42	21.3
2000	42.1	21.6
1999	42.3	22.7
1998	42.6	23.2
1997	43	23.9
1996	43.7	24.9
1995	44.1	25.6
1994	44.2	24.6
1993	44.7	26.6
1992	45.4	27
1991	46.2	28.1
1990	46.8	28.7
1989	47.3	30.6
1988	47.8	32
1987	47.9	33.2
1986	47.5	33.6
1985	47.2	34.2
1984	46.9	34.5
1983	46.5	34.6
1982	46.1	34.8
1981	45.8	34.6
1980	45.1	34.7
1979	44.4	34.9
1978	43.7	35.1
1977	42.9	35.6
1976	42.2	36.3
1975	41.7	37
1974	42	37.7
1973	42.4	38.4
1972	42.8	38.9
1971	43.1	39.3
1970	43.4	39.4
1969	43.7	39.7
1968	43.8	39.8
1967	43.6	39.9
1966	43.4	40
1965	43.3	39.5
1964	43.2	39.6
1963	43.2	39.7
1962	43.3	39.7
1961	43.4	39.7
1960	43.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 46.4 in the Central African Republic and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 43.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Central African Republic

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	CAR	South Africa
2100	22.2%	17.9%
2099	22.4%	18%
2098	22.6%	18%
2097	22.7%	18.1%
2096	22.9%	18.1%
2095	23.1%	18.2%
2094	23.3%	18.2%
2093	23.5%	18.3%
2092	23.7%	18.3%
2091	23.9%	18.4%
2090	24.1%	18.4%
2089	24.3%	18.5%
2088	24.5%	18.5%
2087	24.7%	18.6%
2086	25%	18.6%
2085	25.2%	18.7%
2084	25.5%	18.7%
2083	25.7%	18.8%
2082	26%	18.9%
2081	26.3%	18.9%
2080	26.6%	19%
2079	26.9%	19%
2078	27.2%	19.1%
2077	27.6%	19.2%
2076	27.9%	19.3%
2075	28.2%	19.3%
2074	28.6%	19.4%
2073	28.9%	19.5%
2072	29.3%	19.6%
2071	29.7%	19.6%
2070	30%	19.7%
2069	30.4%	19.8%
2068	30.8%	19.9%
2067	31.2%	20%
2066	31.5%	20.1%
2065	31.9%	20.2%
2064	32.3%	20.3%
2063	32.7%	20.4%
2062	33%	20.5%
2061	33.4%	20.6%
2060	33.8%	20.7%
2059	34.2%	20.8%
2058	34.5%	20.9%
2057	34.9%	21%
2056	35.3%	21.1%
2055	35.7%	21.1%
2054	36.2%	21.2%
2053	36.6%	21.3%
2052	37.1%	21.4%
2051	37.6%	21.5%
2050	38.1%	21.6%
2049	38.7%	21.7%
2048	39.3%	21.8%
2047	39.9%	21.9%
2046	40.5%	22%
2045	41.2%	22.1%
2044	41.9%	22.3%
2043	42.5%	22.4%
2042	43.2%	22.6%
2041	43.8%	22.8%
2040	44.4%	23%
2039	45%	23.3%
2038	45.6%	23.5%
2037	45.9%	23.7%
2036	46.2%	24.1%
2035	46.4%	24.4%
2034	46.6%	24.7%
2033	46.7%	24.9%
2032	46.9%	25%
2031	47%	25.1%
2030	47.1%	25.2%
2029	47.3%	25.3%
2028	47.6%	25.4%
2027	48%	25.5%
2026	48.5%	25.6%
2025	48.9%	25.8%
2024	49%	25.9%
2023	49.2%	26.1%
2022	49.2%	26.3%
2021	49%	26.6%
2020	48.9%	27%
2019	49%	27.4%
2018	49%	27.9%
2017	49%	28.3%
2016	49%	28.3%
2015	49%	28.3%
2014	48.5%	28.5%
2013	47.6%	28.7%
2012	46.9%	28.9%
2011	46.3%	29.1%
2010	45.9%	29.4%
2009	45.6%	29.7%
2008	45.4%	29.9%
2007	45.3%	30.2%
2006	45.1%	30.6%
2005	45.1%	31.1%
2004	45.1%	31.6%
2003	45.2%	32.3%
2002	45.3%	33.2%
2001	45.4%	34%
2000	45.5%	34.9%
1999	45.6%	35.7%
1998	45.7%	36.5%
1997	45.7%	37.2%
1996	45.7%	37.5%
1995	45.6%	37.5%
1994	45.5%	37.2%
1993	45.4%	37.3%
1992	45.2%	37.6%
1991	44.9%	37.5%
1990	44.5%	37.7%
1989	44.1%	38.1%
1988	43.8%	38.4%
1987	43.5%	38.7%
1986	43.3%	38.9%
1985	43.2%	39.2%
1984	43%	39.5%
1983	43%	39.8%
1982	42.9%	40.1%
1981	42.8%	40.5%
1980	42.8%	40.9%
1979	42.8%	41.3%
1978	42.8%	41.5%
1977	42.8%	41.7%
1976	42.9%	41.8%
1975	42.9%	41.9%
1974	42.7%	42%
1973	42.6%	42.1%
1972	42.4%	42.2%
1971	42.2%	42.2%
1970	42.1%	42.3%
1969	41.9%	42.2%
1968	41.9%	42.2%
1967	41.8%	42.2%
1966	41.7%	42.1%
1965	41.7%	42.1%
1964	41.6%	42.1%
1963	41.4%	42.1%
1962	41.1%	42.1%
1961	40.8%	42.1%
1960	40.5%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 49% of the population in the Central African Republic and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 44.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Central African Republic and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Central African Republic vs South Africa

Chart Table

Central African Republic

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	CAR	South Africa
2023	692	118
2022	841	129
2021	1,127	191
2020	1,296	118
2019	1,650	119
2018	881	128
2017	1,093	134
2016	962	141
2015	981	150
2014	1,034	162
2013	1,092	180
2012	1,092	194
2011	1,131	202
2010	1,230	226
2009	1,272	241
2008	1,234	272
2007	1,271	272
2006	1,337	283
2005	1,389	279
2004	1,450	259
2003	1,487	245
2002	1,496	225
2001	1,504	192
2000	1,490	175
1999	1,411	151
1998	1,346	152
1997	1,270	152
1996	1,191	150
1995	1,123	125
1994	1,053	133
1993	997	145
1992	956	152
1991	910	162
1990	866	170
1989	835	177
1988	815	184
1987	803	192
1986	795	200
1985	796	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 692 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Central African Republic, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Central African Republic

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	CAR	South Africa
2023	9.22%	3.47%
2022	38.7%	3.44%
2021	17.1%	3.41%
2020	12.3%	3.41%
2019	24.3%	3.45%
2018	12%	3.49%
2017	15.2%	3.58%
2016	12.6%	3.68%
2015	11.4%	3.82%
2014	18.3%	3.96%
2013	13.4%	4.1%
2012	12.2%	4.25%
2011	12.5%	4.5%
2010	14.9%	5%
2009	47.9%	5.7%
2008	13.6%	6.42%
2007	14%	7.19%
2006	14.4%	7.75%
2005	14.8%	8.03%
2004	15.2%	8.1%
2003	15.6%	7.93%
2002	15.9%	7.69%
2001	16.3%	7.43%
2000	16.6%	7.11%
1999	16.8%	6.85%
1998	17%	6.56%
1997	17.2%	6.29%
1996	17.3%	6.11%
1995	17.5%	5.95%
1994	17.5%	5.82%
1993	17.6%	5.7%
1992	17.7%	5.66%
1991	17.7%	5.7%
1990	17.8%	5.82%
1989	17.8%	6.01%
1988	17.8%	6.26%
1987	17.9%	6.56%
1986	17.9%	6.89%
1985	18%	7.24%
1984	18.1%	7.6%
1983	18.2%	7.98%
1982	18.4%	8.39%
1981	18.6%	8.84%
1980	18.8%	9.35%
1979	19.1%	9.88%
1978	19.4%	10.5%
1977	19.7%	11.1%
1976	20%	11.8%
1975	20.4%	12.5%
1974	20.8%	13.2%
1973	21.2%	-
1972	21.7%	-
1971	22.1%	-
1970	22.6%	-
1969	23.2%	-
1968	23.7%	-
1967	24.3%	-
1966	24.9%	-
1965	25.5%	-
1964	26.1%	-
1963	26.7%	-
1962	27.2%	-
1961	27.8%	-
1960	28.3%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.22% in the Central African Republic and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.