Fertility & birth rates in Costa Rica and South Africa

Fertility rate in Costa Rica vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2023	1.33	2.22
2022	1.34	2.23
2021	1.35	2.25
2020	1.45	2.26
2019	1.6	2.26
2018	1.71	2.27
2017	1.71	2.28
2016	1.75	2.26
2015	1.8	2.36
2014	1.8	2.42
2013	1.78	2.43
2012	1.85	2.45
2011	1.88	2.44
2010	1.83	2.44
2009	1.95	2.5
2008	1.98	2.68
2007	1.95	2.55
2006	1.94	2.55
2005	2.04	2.51
2004	2.03	2.44
2003	2.08	2.36
2002	2.16	2.32
2001	2.31	2.37
2000	2.41	2.41
1999	2.48	2.56
1998	2.53	2.63
1997	2.59	2.73
1996	2.68	2.99
1995	2.78	3.17
1994	2.86	3.26
1993	2.93	3.37
1992	3	3.48
1991	3.08	3.62
1990	3.17	3.72
1989	3.24	3.98
1988	3.31	4.18
1987	3.38	4.35
1986	3.45	4.41
1985	3.51	4.5
1984	3.52	4.57
1983	3.53	4.63
1982	3.54	4.7
1981	3.56	4.71
1980	3.58	4.78
1979	3.65	4.82
1978	3.66	4.85
1977	3.7	4.94
1976	3.75	5.07
1975	3.8	5.19
1974	3.89	5.3
1973	3.99	5.41
1972	4.16	5.49
1971	4.36	5.57
1970	4.59	5.63
1969	4.84	5.72
1968	5.03	5.78
1967	5.42	5.85
1966	5.7	5.91
1965	5.96	5.89
1964	6.19	5.96
1963	6.39	6.01
1962	6.54	6.05
1961	6.65	6.08
1960	6.71	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Costa Rica was 1.33 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 Costa Rica vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2023	24,109	602,793
2022	21,409	603,636
2021	20,119	456,411
2020	29,164	595,873
2019	37,682	652,130
2018	42,469	648,319
2017	43,471	645,975
2016	45,565	641,365
2015	49,077	668,771
2014	49,559	674,754
2013	49,227	652,427
2012	52,036	643,723
2011	52,884	601,708
2010	50,803	566,834
2009	55,757	554,115
2008	56,491	595,332
2007	55,244	503,567
2006	54,177	487,584
2005	57,139	464,464
2004	55,769	442,540
2003	56,743	415,018
2002	58,388	430,926
2001	62,199	484,801
2000	64,268	526,963
1999	64,922	594,643
1998	64,788	627,027
1997	64,954	667,969
1996	66,094	710,868
1995	67,585	743,488
1994	68,336	698,609
1993	69,016	789,220
1992	69,830	794,415
1991	70,506	827,296
1990	71,727	835,421
1989	72,327	884,629
1988	72,944	909,221
1987	73,188	922,330
1986	73,211	903,644
1985	72,776	893,889
1984	71,062	869,011
1983	68,972	837,013
1982	66,826	807,550
1981	64,632	767,833
1980	62,561	738,415
1979	60,984	716,541
1978	58,327	694,341
1977	56,122	680,929
1976	54,019	675,011
1975	51,979	667,862
1974	50,349	658,438
1973	48,943	651,596
1972	48,417	638,754
1971	48,341	624,761
1970	48,398	605,102
1969	48,790	590,794
1968	48,361	571,841
1967	50,193	553,741
1966	50,755	534,862
1965	51,196	506,632
1964	51,435	490,606
1963	51,403	473,821
1962	51,046	455,634
1961	50,149	437,851
1960	48,857	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 +0.47% in Costa Rica and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.74% in Costa Rica and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Costa Rica vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Costa Rica

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2023	10.2	18.8
2022	10.3	19.1
2021	10.5	19.4
2020	11.4	19.5
2019	12.7	19.7
2018	13.6	19.9
2017	13.8	20
2016	14.2	20.3
2015	14.7	21
2014	14.8	21.8
2013	14.8	21.9
2012	15.5	22.1
2011	15.8	22.1
2010	15.4	22.2
2009	16.5	22.8
2008	16.8	24.3
2007	16.6	23.1
2006	16.4	23.1
2005	17.3	22.7
2004	17.1	22.1
2003	17.6	21.4
2002	18.2	20.9
2001	19.4	21.3
2000	20.2	21.6
1999	20.7	22.7
1998	21	23.2
1997	21.5	23.9
1996	22.2	24.9
1995	23	25.6
1994	23.6	24.6
1993	24.3	26.6
1992	25	27
1991	25.7	28.1
1990	26.7	28.7
1989	27.5	30.6
1988	28.3	32
1987	29.1	33.2
1986	29.8	33.6
1985	30.4	34.2
1984	30.5	34.5
1983	30.5	34.6
1982	30.5	34.8
1981	30.4	34.6
1980	30.4	34.7
1979	30.5	34.9
1978	30.2	35.1
1977	30	35.6
1976	29.9	36.3
1975	29.8	37
1974	29.9	37.7
1973	30.1	38.4
1972	30.7	38.9
1971	31.6	39.3
1970	32.6	39.4
1969	33.8	39.7
1968	34.6	39.8
1967	36.8	39.9
1966	38.3	40
1965	39.9	39.5
1964	41.4	39.6
1963	42.7	39.7
1962	43.9	39.7
1961	44.8	39.7
1960	45.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.2 in Costa Rica and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 45.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Costa Rica

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2100	10.3%	17.9%
2099	10.3%	18%
2098	10.3%	18%
2097	10.3%	18.1%
2096	10.3%	18.1%
2095	10.4%	18.2%
2094	10.4%	18.2%
2093	10.4%	18.3%
2092	10.4%	18.3%
2091	10.4%	18.4%
2090	10.5%	18.4%
2089	10.5%	18.5%
2088	10.5%	18.5%
2087	10.5%	18.6%
2086	10.5%	18.6%
2085	10.5%	18.7%
2084	10.5%	18.7%
2083	10.6%	18.8%
2082	10.6%	18.9%
2081	10.5%	18.9%
2080	10.5%	19%
2079	10.5%	19%
2078	10.5%	19.1%
2077	10.5%	19.2%
2076	10.5%	19.3%
2075	10.5%	19.3%
2074	10.5%	19.4%
2073	10.5%	19.5%
2072	10.5%	19.6%
2071	10.5%	19.6%
2070	10.5%	19.7%
2069	10.6%	19.8%
2068	10.6%	19.9%
2067	10.7%	20%
2066	10.8%	20.1%
2065	10.8%	20.2%
2064	10.9%	20.3%
2063	11%	20.4%
2062	11.2%	20.5%
2061	11.3%	20.6%
2060	11.4%	20.7%
2059	11.5%	20.8%
2058	11.7%	20.9%
2057	11.8%	21%
2056	11.9%	21.1%
2055	12.1%	21.1%
2054	12.2%	21.2%
2053	12.3%	21.3%
2052	12.4%	21.4%
2051	12.6%	21.5%
2050	12.7%	21.6%
2049	12.8%	21.7%
2048	12.9%	21.8%
2047	13%	21.9%
2046	13%	22%
2045	13.1%	22.1%
2044	13.2%	22.3%
2043	13.3%	22.4%
2042	13.4%	22.6%
2041	13.5%	22.8%
2040	13.5%	23%
2039	13.6%	23.3%
2038	13.7%	23.5%
2037	13.9%	23.7%
2036	14%	24.1%
2035	14.2%	24.4%
2034	14.5%	24.7%
2033	14.9%	24.9%
2032	15.3%	25%
2031	15.7%	25.1%
2030	16.2%	25.2%
2029	16.7%	25.3%
2028	17.1%	25.4%
2027	17.6%	25.5%
2026	18.1%	25.6%
2025	18.5%	25.8%
2024	18.8%	25.9%
2023	19.3%	26.1%
2022	19.8%	26.3%
2021	20.3%	26.6%
2020	20.7%	27%
2019	21.1%	27.4%
2018	21.4%	27.9%
2017	21.8%	28.3%
2016	22.1%	28.3%
2015	22.5%	28.3%
2014	23%	28.5%
2013	23.4%	28.7%
2012	23.9%	28.9%
2011	24.3%	29.1%
2010	24.9%	29.4%
2009	25.4%	29.7%
2008	25.9%	29.9%
2007	26.5%	30.2%
2006	27.1%	30.6%
2005	27.7%	31.1%
2004	28.4%	31.6%
2003	29.1%	32.3%
2002	29.8%	33.2%
2001	30.5%	34%
2000	31.1%	34.9%
1999	31.8%	35.7%
1998	32.4%	36.5%
1997	33%	37.2%
1996	33.6%	37.5%
1995	34.1%	37.5%
1994	34.6%	37.2%
1993	35%	37.3%
1992	35.4%	37.6%
1991	35.7%	37.5%
1990	36%	37.7%
1989	36.1%	38.1%
1988	36.2%	38.4%
1987	36.2%	38.7%
1986	36.3%	38.9%
1985	36.3%	39.2%
1984	36.4%	39.5%
1983	36.5%	39.8%
1982	36.7%	40.1%
1981	37.1%	40.5%
1980	37.5%	40.9%
1979	38%	41.3%
1978	38.6%	41.5%
1977	39.2%	41.7%
1976	40%	41.8%
1975	40.8%	41.9%
1974	41.5%	42%
1973	42.3%	42.1%
1972	43.1%	42.2%
1971	43.8%	42.2%
1970	44.4%	42.3%
1969	45%	42.2%
1968	45.5%	42.2%
1967	45.9%	42.2%
1966	46.3%	42.1%
1965	46.5%	42.1%
1964	46.6%	42.1%
1963	46.7%	42.1%
1962	46.7%	42.1%
1961	46.6%	42.1%
1960	46.4%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.8% of the population in Costa Rica and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 36% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Costa Rica and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Costa Rica vs South Africa

Chart Table

Costa Rica

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2023	24	118
2022	27	129
2021	44	191
2020	34	118
2019	26	119
2018	28	128
2017	27	134
2016	27	141
2015	26	150
2014	27	162
2013	27	180
2012	27	194
2011	28	202
2010	29	226
2009	29	241
2008	30	272
2007	30	272
2006	30	283
2005	31	279
2004	33	259
2003	33	245
2002	34	225
2001	35	192
2000	36	175
1999	36	151
1998	37	152
1997	38	152
1996	39	150
1995	39	125
1994	39	133
1993	39	145
1992	39	152
1991	39	162
1990	40	170
1989	40	177
1988	40	184
1987	41	192
1986	42	200
1985	43	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 24 deaths per 100,000 live births in Costa Rica, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Costa Rica

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Costa Rica	South Africa
2023	1.05%	3.47%
2022	1.01%	3.44%
2021	0.97%	3.41%
2020	0.94%	3.41%
2019	0.91%	3.45%
2018	0.89%	3.49%
2017	0.89%	3.58%
2016	0.89%	3.68%
2015	0.9%	3.82%
2014	0.92%	3.96%
2013	0.95%	4.1%
2012	0.98%	4.25%
2011	1.02%	4.5%
2010	1.05%	5%
2009	1.07%	5.7%
2008	1.09%	6.42%
2007	1.11%	7.19%
2006	1.12%	7.75%
2005	1.13%	8.03%
2004	1.15%	8.1%
2003	1.18%	7.93%
2002	1.22%	7.69%
2001	1.26%	7.43%
2000	1.31%	7.11%
1999	1.36%	6.85%
1998	1.41%	6.56%
1997	1.45%	6.29%
1996	1.47%	6.11%
1995	1.49%	5.95%
1994	1.51%	5.82%
1993	1.53%	5.7%
1992	1.57%	5.66%
1991	1.62%	5.7%
1990	1.69%	5.82%
1989	1.78%	6.01%
1988	1.89%	6.26%
1987	2.01%	6.56%
1986	2.12%	6.89%
1985	2.2%	7.24%
1984	2.25%	7.6%
1983	2.27%	7.98%
1982	2.29%	8.39%
1981	2.33%	8.84%
1980	2.45%	9.35%
1979	2.65%	9.88%
1978	2.96%	10.5%
1977	3.39%	11.1%
1976	3.93%	11.8%
1975	4.54%	12.5%
1974	5.17%	13.2%
1973	5.82%	-
1972	6.45%	-
1971	7.02%	-
1970	7.48%	-
1969	7.85%	-
1968	8.17%	-
1967	8.49%	-
1966	8.78%	-
1965	9.02%	-
1964	9.18%	-
1963	9.25%	-
1962	9.27%	-
1961	9.36%	-
1960	9.62%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.05% in Costa Rica and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.