Fertility & birth rates in China and South Africa

Fertility rate in China vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

China

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	China	South Africa
2023	1	2.22
2022	1.03	2.23
2021	1.12	2.25
2020	1.24	2.26
2019	1.5	2.26
2018	1.54	2.27
2017	1.8	2.28
2016	1.77	2.26
2015	1.67	2.36
2014	1.77	2.42
2013	1.71	2.43
2012	1.8	2.45
2011	1.67	2.44
2010	1.69	2.44
2009	1.71	2.5
2008	1.7	2.68
2007	1.67	2.55
2006	1.64	2.55
2005	1.62	2.51
2004	1.61	2.44
2003	1.57	2.36
2002	1.57	2.32
2001	1.56	2.37
2000	1.63	2.41
1999	1.53	2.56
1998	1.52	2.63
1997	1.53	2.73
1996	1.55	2.99
1995	1.59	3.17
1994	1.63	3.26
1993	1.69	3.37
1992	1.78	3.48
1991	1.93	3.62
1990	2.51	3.72
1989	2.52	3.98
1988	2.54	4.18
1987	2.76	4.35
1986	2.72	4.41
1985	2.63	4.5
1984	2.61	4.57
1983	2.56	4.63
1982	2.97	4.7
1981	2.79	4.71
1980	2.74	4.78
1979	2.75	4.82
1978	2.72	4.85
1977	2.84	4.94
1976	3.24	5.07
1975	3.57	5.19
1974	4.17	5.3
1973	4.73	5.41
1972	5.11	5.49
1971	5.52	5.57
1970	6.09	5.63
1969	6.18	5.72
1968	6.51	5.78
1967	5.81	5.85
1966	6.31	5.91
1965	6.61	5.89
1964	6.67	5.96
1963	7.51	6.01
1962	6.09	6.05
1961	3.86	6.08
1960	4.45	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in China was 1 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 China vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

China

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	China	South Africa
2023	-2,087,851	602,793
2022	-847,305	603,636
2021	480,203	456,411
2020	2,046,095	595,873
2019	4,673,713	652,130
2018	5,302,433	648,319
2017	7,790,880	645,975
2016	9,062,269	641,365
2015	6,788,911	668,771
2014	9,205,180	674,754
2013	8,043,116	652,427
2012	10,075,174	643,723
2011	8,245,065	601,708
2010	6,407,607	566,834
2009	6,483,236	554,115
2008	6,729,247	595,332
2007	6,813,465	503,567
2006	6,922,185	487,584
2005	7,678,911	464,464
2004	7,607,960	442,540
2003	7,743,284	415,018
2002	8,258,580	430,926
2001	8,839,358	484,801
2000	9,570,849	526,963
1999	10,247,372	594,643
1998	11,351,286	627,027
1997	12,374,554	667,969
1996	12,686,872	710,868
1995	12,711,220	743,488
1994	13,360,470	698,609
1993	13,493,138	789,220
1992	13,548,601	794,415
1991	14,937,124	827,296
1990	16,335,313	835,421
1989	16,824,495	884,629
1988	17,328,640	909,221
1987	18,005,821	922,330
1986	16,609,920	903,644
1985	14,987,830	893,889
1984	13,561,671	869,011
1983	13,599,789	837,013
1982	15,815,318	807,550
1981	14,461,027	767,833
1980	11,647,260	738,415
1979	11,250,148	716,541
1978	11,473,980	694,341
1977	11,378,068	680,929
1976	11,782,472	675,011
1975	14,378,237	667,862
1974	15,738,118	658,438
1973	18,423,727	651,596
1972	19,102,585	638,754
1971	19,622,980	624,761
1970	21,137,076	605,102
1969	20,760,332	590,794
1968	21,206,083	571,841
1967	19,263,662	553,741
1966	19,282,187	534,862
1965	20,296,950	506,632
1964	19,302,532	490,606
1963	22,742,225	473,821
1962	17,969,132	455,634
1961	2,496,047	437,851
1960	-3,048,510	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 -0.15% in China and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.31% in China and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in China vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

China

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	China	South Africa
2023	6.39	18.8
2022	6.77	19.1
2021	7.52	19.4
2020	8.52	19.5
2019	10.4	19.7
2018	10.9	19.9
2017	12.6	20
2016	13.6	20.3
2015	12	21
2014	13.8	21.8
2013	13	21.9
2012	14.6	22.1
2011	13.3	22.1
2010	11.9	22.2
2009	12	22.8
2008	12.1	24.3
2007	12.1	23.1
2006	12.1	23.1
2005	12.4	22.7
2004	12.3	22.1
2003	12.4	21.4
2002	12.9	20.9
2001	13.4	21.3
2000	14	21.6
1999	14.6	22.7
1998	15.6	23.2
1997	16.6	23.9
1996	17	24.9
1995	17.1	25.6
1994	17.7	24.6
1993	18.1	26.6
1992	18.3	27
1991	19.7	28.1
1990	21.1	28.7
1989	21.6	30.6
1988	22.4	32
1987	23.3	33.2
1986	22.4	33.6
1985	21	34.2
1984	19.9	34.5
1983	20.2	34.6
1982	22.3	34.8
1981	20.9	34.6
1980	18.2	34.7
1979	17.8	34.9
1978	18.3	35.1
1977	18.9	35.6
1976	19.9	36.3
1975	23	37
1974	24.8	37.7
1973	27.9	38.4
1972	29.8	38.9
1971	30.7	39.3
1970	33.4	39.4
1969	34.1	39.7
1968	35.6	39.8
1967	34	39.9
1966	35.1	40
1965	37.9	39.5
1964	39.1	39.6
1963	43.4	39.7
1962	37	39.7
1961	18	39.7
1960	20.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.39 in China and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 20.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

China

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	China	South Africa
2100	7.83%	17.9%
2099	7.84%	18%
2098	7.87%	18%
2097	7.91%	18.1%
2096	7.96%	18.1%
2095	8.03%	18.2%
2094	8.1%	18.2%
2093	8.18%	18.3%
2092	8.26%	18.3%
2091	8.34%	18.4%
2090	8.41%	18.4%
2089	8.47%	18.5%
2088	8.52%	18.5%
2087	8.55%	18.6%
2086	8.57%	18.6%
2085	8.57%	18.7%
2084	8.56%	18.7%
2083	8.53%	18.8%
2082	8.48%	18.9%
2081	8.41%	18.9%
2080	8.34%	19%
2079	8.25%	19%
2078	8.15%	19.1%
2077	8.06%	19.2%
2076	7.96%	19.3%
2075	7.86%	19.3%
2074	7.77%	19.4%
2073	7.7%	19.5%
2072	7.64%	19.6%
2071	7.6%	19.6%
2070	7.58%	19.7%
2069	7.59%	19.8%
2068	7.63%	19.9%
2067	7.7%	20%
2066	7.8%	20.1%
2065	7.93%	20.2%
2064	8.08%	20.3%
2063	8.25%	20.4%
2062	8.44%	20.5%
2061	8.64%	20.6%
2060	8.84%	20.7%
2059	9.03%	20.8%
2058	9.22%	20.9%
2057	9.39%	21%
2056	9.54%	21.1%
2055	9.67%	21.1%
2054	9.78%	21.2%
2053	9.86%	21.3%
2052	9.92%	21.4%
2051	9.94%	21.5%
2050	9.94%	21.6%
2049	9.92%	21.7%
2048	9.88%	21.8%
2047	9.82%	21.9%
2046	9.75%	22%
2045	9.67%	22.1%
2044	9.59%	22.3%
2043	9.52%	22.4%
2042	9.46%	22.6%
2041	9.4%	22.8%
2040	9.35%	23%
2039	9.32%	23.3%
2038	9.3%	23.5%
2037	9.32%	23.7%
2036	9.42%	24.1%
2035	9.63%	24.4%
2034	10%	24.7%
2033	10.5%	24.9%
2032	11.2%	25%
2031	11.8%	25.1%
2030	12.4%	25.2%
2029	13.1%	25.3%
2028	13.8%	25.4%
2027	14.5%	25.5%
2026	15.1%	25.6%
2025	15.7%	25.8%
2024	16%	25.9%
2023	16.6%	26.1%
2022	17.1%	26.3%
2021	17.6%	26.6%
2020	18%	27%
2019	18.2%	27.4%
2018	18.3%	27.9%
2017	18.4%	28.3%
2016	18.3%	28.3%
2015	18.3%	28.3%
2014	18.3%	28.5%
2013	18.3%	28.7%
2012	18.3%	28.9%
2011	18.3%	29.1%
2010	18.5%	29.4%
2009	18.6%	29.7%
2008	18.9%	29.9%
2007	19.2%	30.2%
2006	19.6%	30.6%
2005	20.3%	31.1%
2004	21.2%	31.6%
2003	22%	32.3%
2002	22.9%	33.2%
2001	23.8%	34%
2000	24.5%	34.9%
1999	25.2%	35.7%
1998	25.7%	36.5%
1997	26.3%	37.2%
1996	27%	37.5%
1995	27.4%	37.5%
1994	27.8%	37.2%
1993	28.2%	37.3%
1992	28.4%	37.6%
1991	28.6%	37.5%
1990	28.8%	37.7%
1989	28.9%	38.1%
1988	29.3%	38.4%
1987	29.8%	38.7%
1986	30.4%	38.9%
1985	31.2%	39.2%
1984	32.2%	39.5%
1983	33.3%	39.8%
1982	34.3%	40.1%
1981	35.1%	40.5%
1980	36.1%	40.9%
1979	37.2%	41.3%
1978	38.6%	41.5%
1977	39.8%	41.7%
1976	40.3%	41.8%
1975	40.2%	41.9%
1974	40.2%	42%
1973	40.1%	42.1%
1972	40.4%	42.2%
1971	40.7%	42.2%
1970	40.8%	42.3%
1969	41%	42.2%
1968	41%	42.2%
1967	41.3%	42.2%
1966	41.5%	42.1%
1965	41.5%	42.1%
1964	41.2%	42.1%
1963	40.6%	42.1%
1962	40%	42.1%
1961	40%	42.1%
1960	40.3%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16% of the population in China and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 28.8% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of China and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: China vs South Africa

Chart Table

China

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	China	South Africa
2023	16	118
2022	18	129
2021	21	191
2020	20	118
2019	21	119
2018	22	128
2017	24	134
2016	25	141
2015	26	150
2014	28	162
2013	30	180
2012	32	194
2011	33	202
2010	34	226
2009	35	241
2008	38	272
2007	38	272
2006	40	283
2005	42	279
2004	45	259
2003	47	245
2002	50	225
2001	52	192
2000	56	175
1999	58	151
1998	60	152
1997	63	152
1996	67	150
1995	71	125
1994	76	133
1993	80	145
1992	86	152
1991	92	162
1990	102	170
1989	104	177
1988	108	184
1987	114	192
1986	120	200
1985	125	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 16 deaths per 100,000 live births in China, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

China

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	China	South Africa
2023	0.62%	3.47%
2022	0.66%	3.44%
2021	0.7%	3.41%
2020	0.75%	3.41%
2019	0.8%	3.45%
2018	0.86%	3.49%
2017	0.92%	3.58%
2016	0.99%	3.68%
2015	1.07%	3.82%
2014	1.15%	3.96%
2013	1.25%	4.1%
2012	1.35%	4.25%
2011	1.46%	4.5%
2010	1.58%	5%
2009	1.71%	5.7%
2008	1.85%	6.42%
2007	2.01%	7.19%
2006	2.19%	7.75%
2005	2.4%	8.03%
2004	2.64%	8.1%
2003	2.89%	7.93%
2002	3.15%	7.69%
2001	3.42%	7.43%
2000	3.67%	7.11%
1999	3.91%	6.85%
1998	4.14%	6.56%
1997	4.36%	6.29%
1996	4.56%	6.11%
1995	4.75%	5.95%
1994	4.93%	5.82%
1993	5.08%	5.7%
1992	5.22%	5.66%
1991	5.31%	5.7%
1990	5.37%	5.82%
1989	5.39%	6.01%
1988	5.4%	6.26%
1987	5.4%	6.56%
1986	5.4%	6.89%
1985	5.43%	7.24%
1984	5.5%	7.6%
1983	5.61%	7.98%
1982	5.78%	8.39%
1981	6%	8.84%
1980	6.28%	9.35%
1979	6.62%	9.88%
1978	7.01%	10.5%
1977	7.47%	11.1%
1976	7.97%	11.8%
1975	8.5%	12.5%
1974	9.05%	13.2%
1973	9.61%	-
1972	10.2%	-
1971	10.7%	-
1970	11.3%	-
1969	11.9%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.62% in China and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.