Fertility & birth rates in DR Congo and South Africa

Fertility rate in DR Congo vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	DR Congo	South Africa
2023	6.05	2.22
2022	6.11	2.23
2021	6.16	2.25
2020	6.21	2.26
2019	6.25	2.26
2018	6.3	2.27
2017	6.35	2.28
2016	6.39	2.26
2015	6.44	2.36
2014	6.48	2.42
2013	6.53	2.43
2012	6.56	2.45
2011	6.58	2.44
2010	6.59	2.44
2009	6.59	2.5
2008	6.58	2.68
2007	6.56	2.55
2006	6.55	2.55
2005	6.53	2.51
2004	6.53	2.44
2003	6.55	2.36
2002	6.61	2.32
2001	6.66	2.37
2000	6.7	2.41
1999	6.69	2.56
1998	6.7	2.63
1997	6.69	2.73
1996	6.67	2.99
1995	6.68	3.17
1994	6.64	3.26
1993	6.64	3.37
1992	6.64	3.48
1991	6.65	3.62
1990	6.65	3.72
1989	6.65	3.98
1988	6.66	4.18
1987	6.65	4.35
1986	6.63	4.41
1985	6.61	4.5
1984	6.59	4.57
1983	6.56	4.63
1982	6.54	4.7
1981	6.52	4.71
1980	6.5	4.78
1979	6.48	4.82
1978	6.46	4.85
1977	6.45	4.94
1976	6.44	5.07
1975	6.42	5.19
1974	6.4	5.3
1973	6.39	5.41
1972	6.37	5.49
1971	6.34	5.57
1970	6.33	5.63
1969	6.3	5.72
1968	6.29	5.78
1967	6.27	5.85
1966	6.24	5.91
1965	6.21	5.89
1964	6.19	5.96
1963	6.16	6.01
1962	6.14	6.05
1961	6.12	6.08
1960	6.11	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the DR Congo was 6.05 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 DR Congo vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	DR Congo	South Africa
2023	3,467,787	602,793
2022	3,347,664	603,636
2021	3,227,992	456,411
2020	3,156,152	595,873
2019	3,075,538	652,130
2018	2,993,184	648,319
2017	2,883,245	645,975
2016	2,753,687	641,365
2015	2,665,016	668,771
2014	2,580,251	674,754
2013	2,489,378	652,427
2012	2,405,462	643,723
2011	2,310,679	601,708
2010	2,212,255	566,834
2009	2,126,912	554,115
2008	2,044,210	595,332
2007	1,963,738	503,567
2006	1,889,398	487,584
2005	1,800,300	464,464
2004	1,731,022	442,540
2003	1,679,188	415,018
2002	1,631,597	430,926
2001	1,594,999	484,801
2000	1,549,518	526,963
1999	1,450,318	594,643
1998	1,375,130	627,027
1997	1,392,037	667,969
1996	1,380,490	710,868
1995	1,395,440	743,488
1994	1,259,539	698,609
1993	1,209,242	789,220
1992	1,152,781	794,415
1991	1,114,033	827,296
1990	1,063,508	835,421
1989	1,027,238	884,629
1988	995,278	909,221
1987	959,875	922,330
1986	925,334	903,644
1985	885,670	893,889
1984	844,956	869,011
1983	807,122	837,013
1982	774,823	807,550
1981	748,371	767,833
1980	724,111	738,415
1979	691,773	716,541
1978	646,411	694,341
1977	638,242	680,929
1976	624,147	675,011
1975	608,655	667,862
1974	593,539	658,438
1973	578,280	651,596
1972	564,495	638,754
1971	549,343	624,761
1970	533,300	605,102
1969	514,800	590,794
1968	497,682	571,841
1967	479,552	553,741
1966	463,397	534,862
1965	429,002	506,632
1964	406,334	490,606
1963	398,972	473,821
1962	383,406	455,634
1961	368,207	437,851
1960	363,517	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 +3.28% in the DR Congo and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3.29% in the DR Congo and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in DR Congo vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

DR Congo

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	DR Congo	South Africa
2023	41.3	18.8
2022	41.6	19.1
2021	41.9	19.4
2020	42.2	19.5
2019	42.5	19.7
2018	42.9	19.9
2017	43	20
2016	42.9	20.3
2015	43.2	21
2014	43.5	21.8
2013	43.7	21.9
2012	44	22.1
2011	44	22.1
2010	43.9	22.2
2009	44	22.8
2008	44	24.3
2007	44	23.1
2006	44	23.1
2005	43.7	22.7
2004	43.8	22.1
2003	44.2	21.4
2002	44.6	20.9
2001	45	21.3
2000	45.3	21.6
1999	45.2	22.7
1998	44.9	23.2
1997	46	23.9
1996	47	24.9
1995	47.2	25.6
1994	45.3	24.6
1993	45.9	26.6
1992	45.7	27
1991	46	28.1
1990	45.9	28.7
1989	46.1	30.6
1988	46.4	32
1987	46.5	33.2
1986	46.6	33.6
1985	46.5	34.2
1984	46.2	34.5
1983	46.1	34.6
1982	46	34.8
1981	46.1	34.6
1980	46.1	34.7
1979	45.8	34.9
1978	45.4	35.1
1977	45.9	35.6
1976	46.2	36.3
1975	46.4	37
1974	46.6	37.7
1973	46.9	38.4
1972	47.1	38.9
1971	47.4	39.3
1970	47.6	39.4
1969	47.7	39.7
1968	47.8	39.8
1967	47.9	39.9
1966	47.9	40
1965	47.8	39.5
1964	47.7	39.6
1963	47.5	39.7
1962	47.4	39.7
1961	47.2	39.7
1960	47.1	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 41.3 in the DR Congo and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 47.1 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

DR Congo

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	DR Congo	South Africa
2100	23.4%	17.9%
2099	23.6%	18%
2098	23.8%	18%
2097	24%	18.1%
2096	24.2%	18.1%
2095	24.4%	18.2%
2094	24.6%	18.2%
2093	24.8%	18.3%
2092	25%	18.3%
2091	25.2%	18.4%
2090	25.4%	18.4%
2089	25.6%	18.5%
2088	25.8%	18.5%
2087	26.1%	18.6%
2086	26.3%	18.6%
2085	26.5%	18.7%
2084	26.8%	18.7%
2083	27%	18.8%
2082	27.2%	18.9%
2081	27.5%	18.9%
2080	27.8%	19%
2079	28%	19%
2078	28.3%	19.1%
2077	28.6%	19.2%
2076	28.9%	19.3%
2075	29.2%	19.3%
2074	29.5%	19.4%
2073	29.8%	19.5%
2072	30.1%	19.6%
2071	30.4%	19.6%
2070	30.7%	19.7%
2069	31.1%	19.8%
2068	31.4%	19.9%
2067	31.7%	20%
2066	32.1%	20.1%
2065	32.4%	20.2%
2064	32.8%	20.3%
2063	33.1%	20.4%
2062	33.5%	20.5%
2061	33.8%	20.6%
2060	34.1%	20.7%
2059	34.5%	20.8%
2058	34.8%	20.9%
2057	35.1%	21%
2056	35.5%	21.1%
2055	35.8%	21.1%
2054	36.1%	21.2%
2053	36.5%	21.3%
2052	36.8%	21.4%
2051	37.1%	21.5%
2050	37.5%	21.6%
2049	37.8%	21.7%
2048	38.2%	21.8%
2047	38.6%	21.9%
2046	39%	22%
2045	39.4%	22.1%
2044	39.8%	22.3%
2043	40.2%	22.4%
2042	40.6%	22.6%
2041	41.1%	22.8%
2040	41.5%	23%
2039	42%	23.3%
2038	42.4%	23.5%
2037	42.8%	23.7%
2036	43.2%	24.1%
2035	43.6%	24.4%
2034	44%	24.7%
2033	44.3%	24.9%
2032	44.6%	25%
2031	44.9%	25.1%
2030	45.2%	25.2%
2029	45.4%	25.3%
2028	45.6%	25.4%
2027	45.8%	25.5%
2026	45.9%	25.6%
2025	46%	25.8%
2024	46%	25.9%
2023	46.1%	26.1%
2022	46.1%	26.3%
2021	46.1%	26.6%
2020	46.1%	27%
2019	46%	27.4%
2018	45.9%	27.9%
2017	45.8%	28.3%
2016	45.9%	28.3%
2015	46%	28.3%
2014	46%	28.5%
2013	46%	28.7%
2012	46%	28.9%
2011	46%	29.1%
2010	46.1%	29.4%
2009	46.1%	29.7%
2008	46%	29.9%
2007	46%	30.2%
2006	45.9%	30.6%
2005	45.9%	31.1%
2004	45.9%	31.6%
2003	45.8%	32.3%
2002	45.7%	33.2%
2001	45.7%	34%
2000	45.7%	34.9%
1999	45.6%	35.7%
1998	45.6%	36.5%
1997	45.4%	37.2%
1996	44.7%	37.5%
1995	44%	37.5%
1994	44.1%	37.2%
1993	44.5%	37.3%
1992	44.5%	37.6%
1991	44.4%	37.5%
1990	44.4%	37.7%
1989	44.3%	38.1%
1988	44.3%	38.4%
1987	44.2%	38.7%
1986	44.1%	38.9%
1985	44.1%	39.2%
1984	44.1%	39.5%
1983	44.2%	39.8%
1982	44.3%	40.1%
1981	44.3%	40.5%
1980	44.2%	40.9%
1979	44.3%	41.3%
1978	44.5%	41.5%
1977	44.6%	41.7%
1976	44.5%	41.8%
1975	44.3%	41.9%
1974	44.2%	42%
1973	44%	42.1%
1972	43.8%	42.2%
1971	43.6%	42.2%
1970	43.4%	42.3%
1969	43.3%	42.2%
1968	43.2%	42.2%
1967	43%	42.2%
1966	42.9%	42.1%
1965	42.8%	42.1%
1964	42.7%	42.1%
1963	42.7%	42.1%
1962	42.7%	42.1%
1961	42.8%	42.1%
1960	42.9%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 46% of the population in the DR Congo and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 44.4% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the DR Congo and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: DR Congo vs South Africa

Chart Table

DR Congo

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	DR Congo	South Africa
2023	427	118
2022	456	129
2021	507	191
2020	489	118
2019	493	119
2018	508	128
2017	519	134
2016	526	141
2015	545	150
2014	558	162
2013	567	180
2012	578	194
2011	589	202
2010	601	226
2009	608	241
2008	620	272
2007	631	272
2006	619	283
2005	613	279
2004	607	259
2003	605	245
2002	601	225
2001	588	192
2000	585	175
1999	601	151
1998	605	152
1997	617	152
1996	661	150
1995	644	125
1994	656	133
1993	683	145
1992	709	152
1991	735	162
1990	755	170
1989	791	177
1988	824	184
1987	863	192
1986	902	200
1985	934	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 427 deaths per 100,000 live births in the DR Congo, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

DR Congo

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	DR Congo	South Africa
2023	7.32%	3.47%
2022	7.57%	3.44%
2021	7.81%	3.41%
2020	8.07%	3.41%
2019	8.35%	3.45%
2018	8.63%	3.49%
2017	8.93%	3.58%
2016	9.23%	3.68%
2015	9.56%	3.82%
2014	9.9%	3.96%
2013	10.3%	4.1%
2012	10.6%	4.25%
2011	11%	4.5%
2010	11.4%	5%
2009	11.8%	5.7%
2008	12.2%	6.42%
2007	12.7%	7.19%
2006	13.1%	7.75%
2005	13.6%	8.03%
2004	14.1%	8.1%
2003	14.6%	7.93%
2002	15%	7.69%
2001	15.5%	7.43%
2000	15.9%	7.11%
1999	16.3%	6.85%
1998	16.7%	6.56%
1997	17%	6.29%
1996	17.3%	6.11%
1995	17.5%	5.95%
1994	17.7%	5.82%
1993	17.9%	5.7%
1992	18.1%	5.66%
1991	18.3%	5.7%
1990	18.5%	5.82%
1989	18.8%	6.01%
1988	19%	6.26%
1987	19.2%	6.56%
1986	19.5%	6.89%
1985	19.7%	7.24%
1984	20%	7.6%
1983	20.3%	7.98%
1982	20.6%	8.39%
1981	20.9%	8.84%
1980	21.2%	9.35%
1979	21.5%	9.88%
1978	21.9%	10.5%
1977	22.3%	11.1%
1976	22.6%	11.8%
1975	23%	12.5%
1974	23.4%	13.2%
1973	23.7%	-
1972	24%	-
1971	24.3%	-
1970	24.7%	-
1969	25.1%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.32% in the DR Congo and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.