Fertility & birth rates in East Timor and South Africa

Fertility rate in East Timor vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

East Timor

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	East Timor	South Africa
2023	2.71	2.22
2022	2.8	2.23
2021	2.89	2.25
2020	3.01	2.26
2019	3.12	2.26
2018	3.24	2.27
2017	3.4	2.28
2016	3.58	2.26
2015	3.78	2.36
2014	4	2.42
2013	4.21	2.43
2012	4.4	2.45
2011	4.61	2.44
2010	4.82	2.44
2009	4.99	2.5
2008	5.17	2.68
2007	5.33	2.55
2006	5.47	2.55
2005	5.61	2.51
2004	5.74	2.44
2003	5.85	2.36
2002	5.9	2.32
2001	5.92	2.37
2000	5.93	2.41
1999	5.97	2.56
1998	5.96	2.63
1997	5.96	2.73
1996	5.94	2.99
1995	5.94	3.17
1994	5.91	3.26
1993	5.88	3.37
1992	5.87	3.48
1991	5.84	3.62
1990	5.81	3.72
1989	5.76	3.98
1988	5.72	4.18
1987	5.68	4.35
1986	5.67	4.41
1985	5.65	4.5
1984	5.61	4.57
1983	5.59	4.63
1982	5.56	4.7
1981	5.53	4.71
1980	5.22	4.78
1979	5.14	4.82
1978	5.09	4.85
1977	5.09	4.94
1976	5.12	5.07
1975	5.19	5.19
1974	5.29	5.3
1973	5.39	5.41
1972	5.49	5.49
1971	5.58	5.57
1970	5.66	5.63
1969	5.72	5.72
1968	5.79	5.78
1967	5.86	5.85
1966	5.93	5.91
1965	6.01	5.89
1964	6.08	5.96
1963	6.16	6.01
1962	6.22	6.05
1961	6.27	6.08
1960	6.32	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in East Timor was 2.71 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 East Timor vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

East Timor

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	East Timor	South Africa
2023	20,495	602,793
2022	20,625	603,636
2021	20,101	456,411
2020	21,166	595,873
2019	21,307	652,130
2018	21,650	648,319
2017	22,145	645,975
2016	22,778	641,365
2015	23,391	668,771
2014	24,040	674,754
2013	24,538	652,427
2012	24,890	643,723
2011	25,237	601,708
2010	25,515	566,834
2009	25,696	554,115
2008	25,888	595,332
2007	26,074	503,567
2006	26,221	487,584
2005	26,412	464,464
2004	26,751	442,540
2003	26,900	415,018
2002	25,410	430,926
2001	23,314	484,801
2000	21,579	526,963
1999	21,871	594,643
1998	23,590	627,027
1997	23,501	667,969
1996	22,703	710,868
1995	21,962	743,488
1994	21,746	698,609
1993	20,770	789,220
1992	19,880	794,415
1991	18,605	827,296
1990	18,343	835,421
1989	17,758	884,629
1988	12,118	909,221
1987	11,945	922,330
1986	11,062	903,644
1985	10,788	893,889
1984	10,922	869,011
1983	9,686	837,013
1982	9,579	807,550
1981	9,336	767,833
1980	6,940	738,415
1979	987	716,541
1978	-1,000	694,341
1977	296	680,929
1976	783	675,011
1975	-1,062	667,862
1974	8,405	658,438
1973	10,033	651,596
1972	10,030	638,754
1971	9,964	624,761
1970	9,824	605,102
1969	9,611	590,794
1968	9,356	571,841
1967	9,089	553,741
1966	8,810	534,862
1965	8,526	506,632
1964	8,235	490,606
1963	7,938	473,821
1962	7,639	455,634
1961	7,330	437,851
1960	7,012	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 +1.48% in East Timor and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.7% in East Timor and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in East Timor vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

East Timor

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	East Timor	South Africa
2023	22.1	18.8
2022	22.4	19.1
2021	22.7	19.4
2020	23.4	19.5
2019	23.9	19.7
2018	24.5	19.9
2017	25.3	20
2016	26.2	20.3
2015	27.1	21
2014	28.1	21.8
2013	29	21.9
2012	29.8	22.1
2011	30.7	22.1
2010	31.5	22.2
2009	32.3	22.8
2008	33.1	24.3
2007	34	23.1
2006	35.1	23.1
2005	36.2	22.7
2004	37.5	22.1
2003	38.4	21.4
2002	38	20.9
2001	38	21.3
2000	38.6	21.6
1999	46.8	22.7
1998	40.7	23.2
1997	41	23.9
1996	41.3	24.9
1995	41.7	25.6
1994	42	24.6
1993	42.1	26.6
1992	42.3	27
1991	42.3	28.1
1990	42.7	28.7
1989	42.9	30.6
1988	43.1	32
1987	43.3	33.2
1986	43.8	33.6
1985	44.2	34.2
1984	44.5	34.5
1983	45	34.6
1982	45.6	34.8
1981	46.3	34.6
1980	43.3	34.7
1979	42	34.9
1978	40.6	35.1
1977	39.6	35.6
1976	39	36.3
1975	38.5	37
1974	39.6	37.7
1973	40.4	38.4
1972	41.3	38.9
1971	42.1	39.3
1970	42.8	39.4
1969	43.3	39.7
1968	43.8	39.8
1967	44.2	39.9
1966	44.5	40
1965	44.8	39.5
1964	45	39.6
1963	45.2	39.7
1962	45.3	39.7
1961	45.3	39.7
1960	45.2	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 22.1 in East Timor and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 45.2 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

East Timor

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	East Timor	South Africa
2100	15.2%	17.9%
2099	15.3%	18%
2098	15.3%	18%
2097	15.3%	18.1%
2096	15.4%	18.1%
2095	15.4%	18.2%
2094	15.5%	18.2%
2093	15.6%	18.3%
2092	15.6%	18.3%
2091	15.7%	18.4%
2090	15.8%	18.4%
2089	15.9%	18.5%
2088	16%	18.5%
2087	16.1%	18.6%
2086	16.2%	18.6%
2085	16.4%	18.7%
2084	16.5%	18.7%
2083	16.6%	18.8%
2082	16.8%	18.9%
2081	16.9%	18.9%
2080	17%	19%
2079	17.2%	19%
2078	17.3%	19.1%
2077	17.4%	19.2%
2076	17.5%	19.3%
2075	17.7%	19.3%
2074	17.8%	19.4%
2073	17.9%	19.5%
2072	18%	19.6%
2071	18.2%	19.6%
2070	18.3%	19.7%
2069	18.4%	19.8%
2068	18.6%	19.9%
2067	18.7%	20%
2066	18.9%	20.1%
2065	19%	20.2%
2064	19.2%	20.3%
2063	19.4%	20.4%
2062	19.6%	20.5%
2061	19.9%	20.6%
2060	20.1%	20.7%
2059	20.4%	20.8%
2058	20.7%	20.9%
2057	21%	21%
2056	21.3%	21.1%
2055	21.6%	21.1%
2054	21.9%	21.2%
2053	22.3%	21.3%
2052	22.6%	21.4%
2051	23%	21.5%
2050	23.3%	21.6%
2049	23.6%	21.7%
2048	24%	21.8%
2047	24.3%	21.9%
2046	24.6%	22%
2045	24.9%	22.1%
2044	25.2%	22.3%
2043	25.5%	22.4%
2042	25.8%	22.6%
2041	26.1%	22.8%
2040	26.3%	23%
2039	26.5%	23.3%
2038	26.8%	23.5%
2037	27%	23.7%
2036	27.4%	24.1%
2035	27.8%	24.4%
2034	28.4%	24.7%
2033	28.9%	24.9%
2032	29.5%	25%
2031	30.1%	25.1%
2030	30.8%	25.2%
2029	31.3%	25.3%
2028	31.9%	25.4%
2027	32.4%	25.5%
2026	32.9%	25.6%
2025	33.4%	25.8%
2024	33.7%	25.9%
2023	34.2%	26.1%
2022	34.8%	26.3%
2021	35.4%	26.6%
2020	36%	27%
2019	36.6%	27.4%
2018	37.2%	27.9%
2017	37.8%	28.3%
2016	38.4%	28.3%
2015	39.1%	28.3%
2014	39.8%	28.5%
2013	40.4%	28.7%
2012	40.9%	28.9%
2011	41.3%	29.1%
2010	41.6%	29.4%
2009	41.9%	29.7%
2008	42.1%	29.9%
2007	42.3%	30.2%
2006	42.2%	30.6%
2005	42.1%	31.1%
2004	42%	31.6%
2003	42.2%	32.3%
2002	42.4%	33.2%
2001	42.5%	34%
2000	42.6%	34.9%
1999	42.7%	35.7%
1998	42.9%	36.5%
1997	43%	37.2%
1996	43%	37.5%
1995	43%	37.5%
1994	42.9%	37.2%
1993	42.7%	37.3%
1992	42.6%	37.6%
1991	42.4%	37.5%
1990	42.2%	37.7%
1989	41.9%	38.1%
1988	41.3%	38.4%
1987	40.7%	38.7%
1986	40.2%	38.9%
1985	39.7%	39.2%
1984	39.3%	39.5%
1983	38.8%	39.8%
1982	38.4%	40.1%
1981	37.8%	40.5%
1980	37.4%	40.9%
1979	37.5%	41.3%
1978	38%	41.5%
1977	38.5%	41.7%
1976	39%	41.8%
1975	39.4%	41.9%
1974	39.7%	42%
1973	39.8%	42.1%
1972	39.7%	42.2%
1971	39.7%	42.2%
1970	39.6%	42.3%
1969	39.5%	42.2%
1968	39.3%	42.2%
1967	39.1%	42.2%
1966	38.9%	42.1%
1965	38.7%	42.1%
1964	38.8%	42.1%
1963	39%	42.1%
1962	39.3%	42.1%
1961	39.7%	42.1%
1960	40.1%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 33.7% of the population in East Timor and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 42.2% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of East Timor and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: East Timor vs South Africa

Chart Table

East Timor

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	East Timor	South Africa
2023	192	118
2022	235	129
2021	263	191
2020	257	118
2019	237	119
2018	251	128
2017	269	134
2016	287	141
2015	305	150
2014	327	162
2013	349	180
2012	374	194
2011	404	202
2010	439	226
2009	477	241
2008	518	272
2007	559	272
2006	600	283
2005	648	279
2004	683	259
2003	714	245
2002	724	225
2001	761	192
2000	796	175
1999	1,488	151
1998	1,157	152
1997	1,166	152
1996	1,193	150
1995	1,239	125
1994	1,254	133
1993	1,308	145
1992	1,368	152
1991	1,439	162
1990	1,477	170
1989	1,511	177
1988	1,743	184
1987	1,763	192
1986	1,860	200
1985	1,916	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 192 deaths per 100,000 live births in East Timor, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

East Timor

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	East Timor	South Africa
2023	5%	3.47%
2022	5.14%	3.44%
2021	5.28%	3.41%
2020	5.42%	3.41%
2019	5.55%	3.45%
2018	5.66%	3.49%
2017	5.78%	3.58%
2016	5.91%	3.68%
2015	6.06%	3.82%
2014	6.23%	3.96%
2013	6.42%	4.1%
2012	6.63%	4.25%
2011	6.86%	4.5%
2010	7.11%	5%
2009	7.38%	5.7%
2008	7.68%	6.42%
2007	8.01%	7.19%
2006	8.36%	7.75%
2005	8.75%	8.03%
2004	9.17%	8.1%
2003	9.61%	7.93%
2002	10.1%	7.69%
2001	10.6%	7.43%
2000	11.1%	7.11%
1999	19.4%	6.85%
1998	18%	6.56%
1997	17.7%	6.29%
1996	18.5%	6.11%
1995	19.3%	5.95%
1994	19.2%	5.82%
1993	20%	5.7%
1992	21.1%	5.66%
1991	22.2%	5.7%
1990	22.5%	5.82%
1989	23%	6.01%
1988	24.1%	6.26%
1987	24.4%	6.56%
1986	26.3%	6.89%
1985	27.1%	7.24%
1984	-	7.6%
1983	-	7.98%
1982	-	8.39%
1981	-	8.84%
1980	-	9.35%
1979	-	9.88%
1978	-	10.5%
1977	-	11.1%
1976	-	11.8%
1975	-	12.5%
1974	-	13.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5% in East Timor and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.