Fertility & birth rates in Denmark and South Africa

Fertility rate in Denmark vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Denmark

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Denmark	South Africa
2023	1.5	2.22
2022	1.55	2.23
2021	1.72	2.25
2020	1.68	2.26
2019	1.7	2.26
2018	1.73	2.27
2017	1.75	2.28
2016	1.79	2.26
2015	1.71	2.36
2014	1.69	2.42
2013	1.67	2.43
2012	1.73	2.45
2011	1.75	2.44
2010	1.87	2.44
2009	1.84	2.5
2008	1.89	2.68
2007	1.84	2.55
2006	1.85	2.55
2005	1.8	2.51
2004	1.78	2.44
2003	1.76	2.36
2002	1.72	2.32
2001	1.74	2.37
2000	1.77	2.41
1999	1.73	2.56
1998	1.72	2.63
1997	1.75	2.73
1996	1.75	2.99
1995	1.8	3.17
1994	1.81	3.26
1993	1.75	3.37
1992	1.76	3.48
1991	1.68	3.62
1990	1.67	3.72
1989	1.62	3.98
1988	1.56	4.18
1987	1.5	4.35
1986	1.48	4.41
1985	1.45	4.5
1984	1.4	4.57
1983	1.38	4.63
1982	1.43	4.7
1981	1.44	4.71
1980	1.55	4.78
1979	1.6	4.82
1978	1.67	4.85
1977	1.66	4.94
1976	1.75	5.07
1975	1.92	5.19
1974	1.9	5.3
1973	1.92	5.41
1972	2.03	5.49
1971	2.04	5.57
1970	1.95	5.63
1969	2	5.72
1968	2.12	5.78
1967	2.35	5.85
1966	2.62	5.91
1965	2.61	5.89
1964	2.6	5.96
1963	2.67	6.01
1962	2.55	6.05
1961	2.55	6.08
1960	2.57	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Denmark was 1.5 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 Denmark vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Denmark

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Denmark	South Africa
2023	-595	602,793
2022	-1,180	603,636
2021	5,857	456,411
2020	5,831	595,873
2019	6,977	652,130
2018	6,373	648,319
2017	8,071	645,975
2016	9,165	641,365
2015	5,683	668,771
2014	5,644	674,754
2013	3,931	652,427
2012	5,592	643,723
2011	6,685	601,708
2010	8,876	566,834
2009	8,285	554,115
2008	10,438	595,332
2007	8,192	503,567
2006	9,787	487,584
2005	9,755	464,464
2004	9,188	442,540
2003	7,007	415,018
2002	5,376	430,926
2001	6,967	484,801
2000	9,078	526,963
1999	6,919	594,643
1998	7,956	627,027
1997	7,927	667,969
1996	6,842	710,868
1995	6,280	743,488
1994	8,850	698,609
1993	4,670	789,220
1992	6,722	794,415
1991	4,639	827,296
1990	2,056	835,421
1989	2,053	884,629
1988	0	909,221
1987	-1,538	922,330
1986	-2,561	903,644
1985	-4,603	893,889
1984	-5,623	869,011
1983	-6,649	837,013
1982	-2,559	807,550
1981	-3,073	767,833
1980	1,537	738,415
1979	4,605	716,541
1978	9,187	694,341
1977	11,703	680,929
1976	11,667	675,011
1975	20,746	667,862
1974	19,676	658,438
1973	21,092	651,596
1972	24,958	638,754
1971	26,801	624,761
1970	22,673	605,102
1969	23,481	590,794
1968	27,243	571,841
1967	33,363	553,741
1966	38,858	534,862
1965	37,596	506,632
1964	36,832	490,606
1963	36,539	473,821
1962	32,070	455,634
1961	33,205	437,851
1960	32,515	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 -0.01% in Denmark and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.09% in Denmark and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Denmark vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Denmark

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Denmark	South Africa
2023	9.7	18.8
2022	9.9	19.1
2021	10.8	19.4
2020	10.4	19.5
2019	10.5	19.7
2018	10.6	19.9
2017	10.6	20
2016	10.8	20.3
2015	10.2	21
2014	10.1	21.8
2013	10	21.9
2012	10.4	22.1
2011	10.6	22.1
2010	11.4	22.2
2009	11.4	22.8
2008	11.8	24.3
2007	11.7	23.1
2006	12	23.1
2005	11.9	22.7
2004	12	22.1
2003	12	21.4
2002	11.9	20.9
2001	12.2	21.3
2000	12.6	21.6
1999	12.4	22.7
1998	12.5	23.2
1997	12.8	23.9
1996	12.9	24.9
1995	13.3	25.6
1994	13.4	24.6
1993	13	26.6
1992	13.1	27
1991	12.5	28.1
1990	12.3	28.7
1989	12	30.6
1988	11.5	32
1987	11	33.2
1986	10.8	33.6
1985	10.5	34.2
1984	10.1	34.5
1983	9.9	34.6
1982	10.3	34.8
1981	10.4	34.6
1980	11.2	34.7
1979	11.6	34.9
1978	12.2	35.1
1977	12.2	35.6
1976	12.9	36.3
1975	14.2	37
1974	14.1	37.7
1973	14.3	38.4
1972	15.1	38.9
1971	15.2	39.3
1970	14.4	39.4
1969	14.6	39.7
1968	15.3	39.8
1967	16.8	39.9
1966	18.4	40
1965	18	39.5
1964	17.7	39.6
1963	17.6	39.7
1962	16.7	39.7
1961	16.6	39.7
1960	16.6	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.7 in Denmark and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 16.6 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Denmark

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Denmark	South Africa
2100	13.7%	17.9%
2099	13.7%	18%
2098	13.7%	18%
2097	13.7%	18.1%
2096	13.7%	18.1%
2095	13.7%	18.2%
2094	13.7%	18.2%
2093	13.7%	18.3%
2092	13.7%	18.3%
2091	13.7%	18.4%
2090	13.7%	18.4%
2089	13.7%	18.5%
2088	13.7%	18.5%
2087	13.7%	18.6%
2086	13.7%	18.6%
2085	13.8%	18.7%
2084	13.8%	18.7%
2083	13.8%	18.8%
2082	13.8%	18.9%
2081	13.8%	18.9%
2080	13.8%	19%
2079	13.9%	19%
2078	13.9%	19.1%
2077	13.9%	19.2%
2076	13.9%	19.3%
2075	14%	19.3%
2074	14%	19.4%
2073	14%	19.5%
2072	14%	19.6%
2071	14.1%	19.6%
2070	14.1%	19.7%
2069	14.1%	19.8%
2068	14.1%	19.9%
2067	14.1%	20%
2066	14.1%	20.1%
2065	14.1%	20.2%
2064	14.2%	20.3%
2063	14.2%	20.4%
2062	14.2%	20.5%
2061	14.2%	20.6%
2060	14.2%	20.7%
2059	14.2%	20.8%
2058	14.2%	20.9%
2057	14.3%	21%
2056	14.3%	21.1%
2055	14.3%	21.1%
2054	14.3%	21.2%
2053	14.4%	21.3%
2052	14.4%	21.4%
2051	14.5%	21.5%
2050	14.5%	21.6%
2049	14.6%	21.7%
2048	14.6%	21.8%
2047	14.6%	21.9%
2046	14.7%	22%
2045	14.7%	22.1%
2044	14.8%	22.3%
2043	14.8%	22.4%
2042	14.9%	22.6%
2041	14.9%	22.8%
2040	14.9%	23%
2039	15%	23.3%
2038	15%	23.5%
2037	15%	23.7%
2036	15.1%	24.1%
2035	15.1%	24.4%
2034	15.2%	24.7%
2033	15.3%	24.9%
2032	15.3%	25%
2031	15.4%	25.1%
2030	15.4%	25.2%
2029	15.4%	25.3%
2028	15.4%	25.4%
2027	15.4%	25.5%
2026	15.5%	25.6%
2025	15.6%	25.8%
2024	15.7%	25.9%
2023	15.9%	26.1%
2022	16%	26.3%
2021	16.2%	26.6%
2020	16.3%	27%
2019	16.4%	27.4%
2018	16.6%	27.9%
2017	16.7%	28.3%
2016	16.8%	28.3%
2015	16.9%	28.3%
2014	17.1%	28.5%
2013	17.3%	28.7%
2012	17.6%	28.9%
2011	17.8%	29.1%
2010	18%	29.4%
2009	18.2%	29.7%
2008	18.4%	29.9%
2007	18.5%	30.2%
2006	18.7%	30.6%
2005	18.8%	31.1%
2004	18.8%	31.6%
2003	18.8%	32.3%
2002	18.8%	33.2%
2001	18.7%	34%
2000	18.5%	34.9%
1999	18.3%	35.7%
1998	18.1%	36.5%
1997	17.9%	37.2%
1996	17.6%	37.5%
1995	17.4%	37.5%
1994	17.2%	37.2%
1993	17.1%	37.3%
1992	17%	37.6%
1991	17%	37.5%
1990	17.1%	37.7%
1989	17.2%	38.1%
1988	17.5%	38.4%
1987	17.7%	38.7%
1986	18.1%	38.9%
1985	18.4%	39.2%
1984	18.8%	39.5%
1983	19.2%	39.8%
1982	19.7%	40.1%
1981	20.3%	40.5%
1980	20.8%	40.9%
1979	21.3%	41.3%
1978	21.8%	41.5%
1977	22.1%	41.7%
1976	22.4%	41.8%
1975	22.6%	41.9%
1974	22.7%	42%
1973	22.9%	42.1%
1972	23%	42.2%
1971	23.1%	42.2%
1970	23.3%	42.3%
1969	23.5%	42.2%
1968	23.7%	42.2%
1967	23.8%	42.2%
1966	23.8%	42.1%
1965	23.8%	42.1%
1964	23.8%	42.1%
1963	24%	42.1%
1962	24.2%	42.1%
1961	24.7%	42.1%
1960	25.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 15.7% of the population in Denmark and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 17.1% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Denmark and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Denmark vs South Africa

Chart Table

Denmark

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Denmark	South Africa
2023	4	118
2022	6	129
2021	8	191
2020	4	118
2019	4	119
2018	5	128
2017	5	134
2016	5	141
2015	5	150
2014	5	162
2013	5	180
2012	6	194
2011	6	202
2010	7	226
2009	7	241
2008	7	272
2007	7	272
2006	7	283
2005	8	279
2004	8	259
2003	8	245
2002	9	225
2001	9	192
2000	9	175
1999	9	151
1998	9	152
1997	10	152
1996	11	150
1995	12	125
1994	12	133
1993	12	145
1992	12	152
1991	12	162
1990	12	170
1989	13	177
1988	13	184
1987	12	192
1986	12	200
1985	12	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Denmark, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Denmark

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Denmark	South Africa
2023	0.34%	3.47%
2022	0.35%	3.44%
2021	0.36%	3.41%
2020	0.37%	3.41%
2019	0.38%	3.45%
2018	0.39%	3.49%
2017	0.4%	3.58%
2016	0.4%	3.68%
2015	0.41%	3.82%
2014	0.41%	3.96%
2013	0.41%	4.1%
2012	0.41%	4.25%
2011	0.41%	4.5%
2010	0.41%	5%
2009	0.42%	5.7%
2008	0.43%	6.42%
2007	0.45%	7.19%
2006	0.46%	7.75%
2005	0.48%	8.03%
2004	0.5%	8.1%
2003	0.52%	7.93%
2002	0.54%	7.69%
2001	0.55%	7.43%
2000	0.56%	7.11%
1999	0.57%	6.85%
1998	0.59%	6.56%
1997	0.6%	6.29%
1996	0.63%	6.11%
1995	0.65%	5.95%
1994	0.69%	5.82%
1993	0.74%	5.7%
1992	0.79%	5.66%
1991	0.84%	5.7%
1990	0.89%	5.82%
1989	0.93%	6.01%
1988	0.96%	6.26%
1987	0.97%	6.56%
1986	0.97%	6.89%
1985	0.97%	7.24%
1984	0.96%	7.6%
1983	0.96%	7.98%
1982	0.96%	8.39%
1981	0.98%	8.84%
1980	1%	9.35%
1979	1.03%	9.88%
1978	1.06%	10.5%
1977	1.11%	11.1%
1976	1.17%	11.8%
1975	1.23%	12.5%
1974	1.31%	13.2%
1973	1.39%	-
1972	1.49%	-
1971	1.58%	-
1970	1.66%	-
1969	1.73%	-
1968	1.81%	-
1967	1.9%	-
1966	2.01%	-
1965	2.11%	-
1964	2.21%	-
1963	2.3%	-
1962	2.38%	-
1961	2.45%	-
1960	2.5%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.34% in Denmark and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.