Fertility & birth rates in Cuba and South Africa

Fertility rate in Cuba vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Cuba

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Cuba	South Africa
2023	1.44	2.22
2022	1.41	2.23
2021	1.43	2.25
2020	1.49	2.26
2019	1.54	2.26
2018	1.61	2.27
2017	1.59	2.28
2016	1.6	2.26
2015	1.69	2.36
2014	1.66	2.42
2013	1.68	2.43
2012	1.67	2.45
2011	1.73	2.44
2010	1.67	2.44
2009	1.68	2.5
2008	1.58	2.68
2007	1.44	2.55
2006	1.4	2.55
2005	1.49	2.51
2004	1.55	2.44
2003	1.63	2.36
2002	1.65	2.32
2001	1.6	2.37
2000	1.61	2.41
1999	1.64	2.56
1998	1.62	2.63
1997	1.59	2.73
1996	1.46	2.99
1995	1.48	3.17
1994	1.47	3.26
1993	1.49	3.37
1992	1.56	3.48
1991	1.66	3.62
1990	1.81	3.72
1989	1.83	3.98
1988	1.85	4.18
1987	1.8	4.35
1986	1.78	4.41
1985	1.77	4.5
1984	1.77	4.57
1983	1.8	4.63
1982	1.78	4.7
1981	1.59	4.71
1980	1.64	4.78
1979	1.77	4.82
1978	1.88	4.85
1977	2.21	4.94
1976	2.51	5.07
1975	2.82	5.19
1974	3.16	5.3
1973	3.4	5.41
1972	3.61	5.49
1971	3.8	5.57
1970	3.98	5.63
1969	4.12	5.72
1968	4.19	5.78
1967	4.29	5.85
1966	4.4	5.91
1965	4.5	5.89
1964	4.53	5.96
1963	4.56	6.01
1962	4.42	6.05
1961	4.26	6.08
1960	4.13	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Cuba was 1.44 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 Cuba vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Cuba

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Cuba	South Africa
2023	-15,880	602,793
2022	-17,961	603,636
2021	-71,616	456,411
2020	-12,808	595,873
2019	-4,245	652,130
2018	3,436	648,319
2017	2,306	645,975
2016	9,677	641,365
2015	20,464	668,771
2014	22,448	674,754
2013	29,827	652,427
2012	33,864	643,723
2011	40,753	601,708
2010	37,021	566,834
2009	37,543	554,115
2008	32,848	595,332
2007	24,617	503,567
2006	24,508	487,584
2005	36,660	464,464
2004	44,258	442,540
2003	56,170	415,018
2002	58,212	430,926
2001	57,325	484,801
2000	61,133	526,963
1999	69,069	594,643
1998	71,284	627,027
1997	71,828	667,969
1996	61,837	710,868
1995	66,809	743,488
1994	68,604	698,609
1993	73,221	789,220
1992	83,461	794,415
1991	95,398	827,296
1990	112,378	835,421
1989	114,865	884,629
1988	116,626	909,221
1987	109,617	922,330
1986	105,997	903,644
1985	103,228	893,889
1984	101,670	869,011
1983	101,858	837,013
1982	95,866	807,550
1981	74,067	767,833
1980	74,271	738,415
1979	81,192	716,541
1978	86,864	694,341
1977	106,875	680,929
1976	125,383	675,011
1975	144,964	667,862
1974	165,099	658,438
1973	177,387	651,596
1972	187,588	638,754
1971	195,106	624,761
1970	201,823	605,102
1969	205,581	590,794
1968	205,487	571,841
1967	207,245	553,741
1966	209,179	534,862
1965	211,322	506,632
1964	209,315	490,606
1963	205,788	473,821
1962	196,423	455,634
1961	183,806	437,851
1960	172,816	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 -0.14% in Cuba and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.06% in Cuba and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Cuba vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Cuba

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Cuba	South Africa
2023	8.71	18.8
2022	8.66	19.1
2021	8.81	19.4
2020	9.26	19.5
2019	9.67	19.7
2018	10.2	19.9
2017	10.1	20
2016	10.3	20.3
2015	10.9	21
2014	10.9	21.8
2013	11.2	21.9
2012	11.2	22.1
2011	11.8	22.1
2010	11.4	22.2
2009	11.5	22.8
2008	10.9	24.3
2007	10	23.1
2006	9.87	23.1
2005	10.6	22.7
2004	11.3	22.1
2003	12.1	21.4
2002	12.5	20.9
2001	12.4	21.3
2000	12.9	21.6
1999	13.5	22.7
1998	13.7	23.2
1997	13.8	23.9
1996	13	24.9
1995	13.5	25.6
1994	13.7	24.6
1993	14.1	26.6
1992	15	27
1991	16.1	28.1
1990	17.6	28.7
1989	17.8	30.6
1988	18	32
1987	17.3	33.2
1986	17	33.6
1985	16.7	34.2
1984	16.5	34.5
1983	16.5	34.6
1982	15.9	34.8
1981	13.9	34.6
1980	13.9	34.7
1979	14.6	34.9
1978	15.1	35.1
1977	17.3	35.6
1976	19.4	36.3
1975	21.6	37
1974	24.1	37.7
1973	25.8	38.4
1972	27.2	38.9
1971	28.5	39.3
1970	29.9	39.4
1969	31	39.7
1968	31.6	39.8
1967	32.5	39.9
1966	33.4	40
1965	34.4	39.5
1964	34.9	39.6
1963	35.4	39.7
1962	34.6	39.7
1961	33.7	39.7
1960	32.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.71 in Cuba and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 32.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Cuba

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Cuba	South Africa
2100	10.9%	17.9%
2099	10.9%	18%
2098	10.9%	18%
2097	10.9%	18.1%
2096	10.9%	18.1%
2095	10.9%	18.2%
2094	10.9%	18.2%
2093	10.9%	18.3%
2092	10.9%	18.3%
2091	10.9%	18.4%
2090	11%	18.4%
2089	11%	18.5%
2088	11%	18.5%
2087	11%	18.6%
2086	11%	18.6%
2085	11%	18.7%
2084	11%	18.7%
2083	11%	18.8%
2082	11.1%	18.9%
2081	11.1%	18.9%
2080	11.1%	19%
2079	11.1%	19%
2078	11.1%	19.1%
2077	11.1%	19.2%
2076	11.1%	19.3%
2075	11.1%	19.3%
2074	11.1%	19.4%
2073	11.1%	19.5%
2072	11.1%	19.6%
2071	11.2%	19.6%
2070	11.2%	19.7%
2069	11.2%	19.8%
2068	11.2%	19.9%
2067	11.2%	20%
2066	11.2%	20.1%
2065	11.2%	20.2%
2064	11.2%	20.3%
2063	11.3%	20.4%
2062	11.3%	20.5%
2061	11.3%	20.6%
2060	11.3%	20.7%
2059	11.4%	20.8%
2058	11.4%	20.9%
2057	11.5%	21%
2056	11.5%	21.1%
2055	11.5%	21.1%
2054	11.6%	21.2%
2053	11.7%	21.3%
2052	11.7%	21.4%
2051	11.8%	21.5%
2050	11.9%	21.6%
2049	11.9%	21.7%
2048	12%	21.8%
2047	12%	21.9%
2046	12.1%	22%
2045	12.2%	22.1%
2044	12.2%	22.3%
2043	12.3%	22.4%
2042	12.3%	22.6%
2041	12.4%	22.8%
2040	12.4%	23%
2039	12.5%	23.3%
2038	12.5%	23.5%
2037	12.6%	23.7%
2036	12.6%	24.1%
2035	12.7%	24.4%
2034	12.9%	24.7%
2033	13.1%	24.9%
2032	13.3%	25%
2031	13.5%	25.1%
2030	13.8%	25.2%
2029	14%	25.3%
2028	14.3%	25.4%
2027	14.6%	25.5%
2026	14.9%	25.6%
2025	15.2%	25.8%
2024	15.3%	25.9%
2023	15.5%	26.1%
2022	15.7%	26.3%
2021	15.8%	26.6%
2020	15.8%	27%
2019	16%	27.4%
2018	16.1%	27.9%
2017	16.3%	28.3%
2016	16.5%	28.3%
2015	16.7%	28.3%
2014	16.9%	28.5%
2013	17.1%	28.7%
2012	17.3%	28.9%
2011	17.5%	29.1%
2010	17.7%	29.4%
2009	17.9%	29.7%
2008	18.2%	29.9%
2007	18.5%	30.2%
2006	18.9%	30.6%
2005	19.4%	31.1%
2004	19.8%	31.6%
2003	20.2%	32.3%
2002	20.6%	33.2%
2001	20.9%	34%
2000	21.3%	34.9%
1999	21.5%	35.7%
1998	21.8%	36.5%
1997	22%	37.2%
1996	22.1%	37.5%
1995	22.1%	37.5%
1994	22.1%	37.2%
1993	22.2%	37.3%
1992	22.4%	37.6%
1991	22.5%	37.5%
1990	22.8%	37.7%
1989	23.1%	38.1%
1988	23.6%	38.4%
1987	24.3%	38.7%
1986	25.2%	38.9%
1985	26.1%	39.2%
1984	27.1%	39.5%
1983	28.1%	39.8%
1982	29.3%	40.1%
1981	30.5%	40.5%
1980	31.9%	40.9%
1979	33.2%	41.3%
1978	34.3%	41.5%
1977	35.4%	41.7%
1976	36.2%	41.8%
1975	36.8%	41.9%
1974	37.3%	42%
1973	37.6%	42.1%
1972	37.8%	42.2%
1971	37.9%	42.2%
1970	38%	42.3%
1969	37.9%	42.2%
1968	37.8%	42.2%
1967	37.7%	42.2%
1966	37.5%	42.1%
1965	37.3%	42.1%
1964	37.1%	42.1%
1963	36.8%	42.1%
1962	36.5%	42.1%
1961	36.2%	42.1%
1960	36%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 15.3% of the population in Cuba and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 22.8% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Cuba and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Cuba vs South Africa

Chart Table

Cuba

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Cuba	South Africa
2023	35	118
2022	41	129
2021	172	191
2020	40	118
2019	40	119
2018	39	128
2017	39	134
2016	40	141
2015	41	150
2014	42	162
2013	42	180
2012	42	194
2011	44	202
2010	44	226
2009	45	241
2008	44	272
2007	42	272
2006	42	283
2005	43	279
2004	44	259
2003	44	245
2002	45	225
2001	46	192
2000	48	175
1999	51	151
1998	54	152
1997	57	152
1996	59	150
1995	62	125
1994	64	133
1993	65	145
1992	66	152
1991	66	162
1990	66	170
1989	66	177
1988	68	184
1987	69	192
1986	70	200
1985	70	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 35 deaths per 100,000 live births in Cuba, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Cuba

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Cuba	South Africa
2023	0.83%	3.47%
2022	0.79%	3.44%
2021	0.76%	3.41%
2020	0.72%	3.41%
2019	0.69%	3.45%
2018	0.66%	3.49%
2017	0.64%	3.58%
2016	0.62%	3.68%
2015	0.61%	3.82%
2014	0.6%	3.96%
2013	0.6%	4.1%
2012	0.6%	4.25%
2011	0.61%	4.5%
2010	0.62%	5%
2009	0.63%	5.7%
2008	0.65%	6.42%
2007	0.66%	7.19%
2006	0.69%	7.75%
2005	0.71%	8.03%
2004	0.73%	8.1%
2003	0.76%	7.93%
2002	0.79%	7.69%
2001	0.82%	7.43%
2000	0.86%	7.11%
1999	0.89%	6.85%
1998	0.93%	6.56%
1997	0.97%	6.29%
1996	1.01%	6.11%
1995	1.06%	5.95%
1994	1.11%	5.82%
1993	1.16%	5.7%
1992	1.22%	5.66%
1991	1.28%	5.7%
1990	1.34%	5.82%
1989	1.41%	6.01%
1988	1.49%	6.26%
1987	1.56%	6.56%
1986	1.64%	6.89%
1985	1.73%	7.24%
1984	1.81%	7.6%
1983	1.9%	7.98%
1982	2%	8.39%
1981	2.11%	8.84%
1980	2.22%	9.35%
1979	2.34%	9.88%
1978	2.47%	10.5%
1977	2.62%	11.1%
1976	2.77%	11.8%
1975	2.94%	12.5%
1974	3.11%	13.2%
1973	3.29%	-
1972	3.47%	-
1971	3.65%	-
1970	3.82%	-
1969	3.97%	-
1968	4.11%	-
1967	4.22%	-
1966	4.31%	-
1965	4.38%	-
1964	4.43%	-
1963	4.45%	-
1962	4.45%	-
1961	4.44%	-
1960	4.41%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.83% in Cuba and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.