Fertility & birth rates in Finland and South Africa

Fertility rate in Finland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Finland

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Finland	South Africa
2023	1.26	2.22
2022	1.32	2.23
2021	1.46	2.25
2020	1.37	2.26
2019	1.35	2.26
2018	1.41	2.27
2017	1.49	2.28
2016	1.57	2.26
2015	1.65	2.36
2014	1.71	2.42
2013	1.75	2.43
2012	1.8	2.45
2011	1.83	2.44
2010	1.87	2.44
2009	1.86	2.5
2008	1.85	2.68
2007	1.83	2.55
2006	1.84	2.55
2005	1.8	2.51
2004	1.8	2.44
2003	1.76	2.36
2002	1.72	2.32
2001	1.73	2.37
2000	1.73	2.41
1999	1.73	2.56
1998	1.7	2.63
1997	1.75	2.73
1996	1.78	2.99
1995	1.81	3.17
1994	1.85	3.26
1993	1.81	3.37
1992	1.85	3.48
1991	1.79	3.62
1990	1.78	3.72
1989	1.71	3.98
1988	1.69	4.18
1987	1.59	4.35
1986	1.6	4.41
1985	1.64	4.5
1984	1.69	4.57
1983	1.74	4.63
1982	1.71	4.7
1981	1.64	4.71
1980	1.63	4.78
1979	1.64	4.82
1978	1.64	4.85
1977	1.68	4.94
1976	1.7	5.07
1975	1.68	5.19
1974	1.61	5.3
1973	1.49	5.41
1972	1.58	5.49
1971	1.68	5.57
1970	1.83	5.63
1969	1.93	5.72
1968	2.14	5.78
1967	2.32	5.85
1966	2.41	5.91
1965	2.48	5.89
1964	2.59	5.96
1963	2.68	6.01
1962	2.68	6.05
1961	2.72	6.08
1960	2.72	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Finland was 1.26 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 Finland vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Finland

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Finland	South Africa
2023	-17,869	602,793
2022	-18,335	603,636
2021	-7,757	456,411
2020	-8,847	595,873
2019	-8,282	652,130
2018	-7,170	648,319
2017	-3,856	645,975
2016	-1,099	641,365
2015	2,740	668,771
2014	4,915	674,754
2013	6,527	652,427
2012	7,579	643,723
2011	9,160	601,708
2010	10,191	566,834
2009	10,678	554,115
2008	10,627	595,332
2007	9,519	503,567
2006	11,059	487,584
2005	9,968	464,464
2004	9,933	442,540
2003	7,819	415,018
2002	6,241	430,926
2001	7,263	484,801
2000	7,765	526,963
1999	7,748	594,643
1998	7,730	627,027
1997	9,766	667,969
1996	11,274	710,868
1995	13,791	743,488
1994	17,300	698,609
1993	13,679	789,220
1992	16,639	794,415
1991	16,044	827,296
1990	15,458	835,421
1989	14,396	884,629
1988	14,344	909,221
1987	11,837	922,330
1986	13,279	903,644
1985	14,707	893,889
1984	20,015	869,011
1983	21,851	837,013
1982	22,686	807,550
1981	18,720	767,833
1980	18,640	738,415
1979	19,535	716,541
1978	20,436	694,341
1977	21,799	680,929
1976	21,738	675,011
1975	21,673	667,862
1974	17,824	658,438
1973	13,532	651,596
1972	14,847	638,754
1971	15,220	624,761
1970	20,268	605,102
1969	21,732	590,794
1968	28,684	571,841
1967	33,622	553,741
1966	34,356	534,862
1965	33,771	506,632
1964	38,208	490,606
1963	40,258	473,821
1962	38,627	455,634
1961	41,487	437,851
1960	42,082	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 -0.32% in Finland and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.12% in Finland and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Finland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Finland

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Finland	South Africa
2023	7.8	18.8
2022	8.1	19.1
2021	9	19.4
2020	8.4	19.5
2019	8.3	19.7
2018	8.6	19.9
2017	9.1	20
2016	9.6	20.3
2015	10.1	21
2014	10.5	21.8
2013	10.7	21.9
2012	11	22.1
2011	11.1	22.1
2010	11.4	22.2
2009	11.3	22.8
2008	11.2	24.3
2007	11.1	23.1
2006	11.2	23.1
2005	11	22.7
2004	11	22.1
2003	10.9	21.4
2002	10.7	20.9
2001	10.8	21.3
2000	11	21.6
1999	11.1	22.7
1998	11.1	23.2
1997	11.5	23.9
1996	11.8	24.9
1995	12.3	25.6
1994	12.8	24.6
1993	12.8	26.6
1992	13.2	27
1991	13	28.1
1990	13.1	28.7
1989	12.8	30.6
1988	12.8	32
1987	12.1	33.2
1986	12.3	33.6
1985	12.8	34.2
1984	13.3	34.5
1983	13.8	34.6
1982	13.7	34.8
1981	13.2	34.6
1980	13.2	34.7
1979	13.3	34.9
1978	13.5	35.1
1977	13.9	35.6
1976	14.1	36.3
1975	13.9	37
1974	13.3	37.7
1973	12.2	38.4
1972	12.7	38.9
1971	13.2	39.3
1970	14	39.4
1969	14.6	39.7
1968	15.9	39.8
1967	16.8	39.9
1966	17	40
1965	17.1	39.5
1964	17.7	39.6
1963	18.2	39.7
1962	18.1	39.7
1961	18.4	39.7
1960	18.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.8 in Finland and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 18.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Finland

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Finland	South Africa
2100	12%	17.9%
2099	12%	18%
2098	12%	18%
2097	12%	18.1%
2096	12.1%	18.1%
2095	12.1%	18.2%
2094	12.1%	18.2%
2093	12.2%	18.3%
2092	12.2%	18.3%
2091	12.2%	18.4%
2090	12.3%	18.4%
2089	12.3%	18.5%
2088	12.3%	18.5%
2087	12.4%	18.6%
2086	12.4%	18.6%
2085	12.4%	18.7%
2084	12.4%	18.7%
2083	12.4%	18.8%
2082	12.4%	18.9%
2081	12.4%	18.9%
2080	12.3%	19%
2079	12.3%	19%
2078	12.3%	19.1%
2077	12.2%	19.2%
2076	12.2%	19.3%
2075	12.1%	19.3%
2074	12.1%	19.4%
2073	12%	19.5%
2072	12%	19.6%
2071	12%	19.6%
2070	11.9%	19.7%
2069	11.9%	19.8%
2068	11.9%	19.9%
2067	12%	20%
2066	12%	20.1%
2065	12%	20.2%
2064	12.1%	20.3%
2063	12.2%	20.4%
2062	12.2%	20.5%
2061	12.3%	20.6%
2060	12.4%	20.7%
2059	12.6%	20.8%
2058	12.7%	20.9%
2057	12.8%	21%
2056	12.9%	21.1%
2055	12.9%	21.1%
2054	13%	21.2%
2053	13.1%	21.3%
2052	13.1%	21.4%
2051	13.1%	21.5%
2050	13.1%	21.6%
2049	13.1%	21.7%
2048	13.1%	21.8%
2047	13%	21.9%
2046	12.9%	22%
2045	12.9%	22.1%
2044	12.8%	22.3%
2043	12.7%	22.4%
2042	12.6%	22.6%
2041	12.6%	22.8%
2040	12.5%	23%
2039	12.4%	23.3%
2038	12.4%	23.5%
2037	12.3%	23.7%
2036	12.4%	24.1%
2035	12.4%	24.4%
2034	12.5%	24.7%
2033	12.5%	24.9%
2032	12.6%	25%
2031	12.8%	25.1%
2030	13%	25.2%
2029	13.3%	25.3%
2028	13.6%	25.4%
2027	13.9%	25.5%
2026	14.2%	25.6%
2025	14.5%	25.8%
2024	14.6%	25.9%
2023	14.9%	26.1%
2022	15.2%	26.3%
2021	15.5%	26.6%
2020	15.7%	27%
2019	15.9%	27.4%
2018	16.1%	27.9%
2017	16.2%	28.3%
2016	16.3%	28.3%
2015	16.4%	28.3%
2014	16.4%	28.5%
2013	16.4%	28.7%
2012	16.4%	28.9%
2011	16.5%	29.1%
2010	16.6%	29.4%
2009	16.7%	29.7%
2008	16.8%	29.9%
2007	17%	30.2%
2006	17.2%	30.6%
2005	17.4%	31.1%
2004	17.5%	31.6%
2003	17.7%	32.3%
2002	17.9%	33.2%
2001	18%	34%
2000	18.2%	34.9%
1999	18.3%	35.7%
1998	18.6%	36.5%
1997	18.8%	37.2%
1996	18.9%	37.5%
1995	19%	37.5%
1994	19.1%	37.2%
1993	19.1%	37.3%
1992	19.2%	37.6%
1991	19.2%	37.5%
1990	19.3%	37.7%
1989	19.4%	38.1%
1988	19.3%	38.4%
1987	19.3%	38.7%
1986	19.3%	38.9%
1985	19.4%	39.2%
1984	19.5%	39.5%
1983	19.6%	39.8%
1982	19.8%	40.1%
1981	20%	40.5%
1980	20.3%	40.9%
1979	20.6%	41.3%
1978	21%	41.5%
1977	21.3%	41.7%
1976	21.7%	41.8%
1975	22%	41.9%
1974	22.4%	42%
1973	22.9%	42.1%
1972	23.4%	42.2%
1971	24%	42.2%
1970	24.6%	42.3%
1969	25.2%	42.2%
1968	25.7%	42.2%
1967	26.2%	42.2%
1966	26.6%	42.1%
1965	27.1%	42.1%
1964	27.7%	42.1%
1963	28.4%	42.1%
1962	29.1%	42.1%
1961	29.8%	42.1%
1960	30.4%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.6% of the population in Finland and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 19.3% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Finland and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Finland vs South Africa

Chart Table

Finland

South Africa

1x

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

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 8 deaths per 100,000 live births in Finland, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Finland

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Finland	South Africa
2023	0.23%	3.47%
2022	0.23%	3.44%
2021	0.23%	3.41%
2020	0.23%	3.41%
2019	0.23%	3.45%
2018	0.24%	3.49%
2017	0.24%	3.58%
2016	0.24%	3.68%
2015	0.25%	3.82%
2014	0.26%	3.96%
2013	0.26%	4.1%
2012	0.28%	4.25%
2011	0.29%	4.5%
2010	0.3%	5%
2009	0.32%	5.7%
2008	0.33%	6.42%
2007	0.35%	7.19%
2006	0.36%	7.75%
2005	0.37%	8.03%
2004	0.39%	8.1%
2003	0.4%	7.93%
2002	0.41%	7.69%
2001	0.42%	7.43%
2000	0.43%	7.11%
1999	0.44%	6.85%
1998	0.46%	6.56%
1997	0.47%	6.29%
1996	0.49%	6.11%
1995	0.52%	5.95%
1994	0.55%	5.82%
1993	0.58%	5.7%
1992	0.61%	5.66%
1991	0.64%	5.7%
1990	0.67%	5.82%
1989	0.69%	6.01%
1988	0.71%	6.26%
1987	0.72%	6.56%
1986	0.73%	6.89%
1985	0.73%	7.24%
1984	0.75%	7.6%
1983	0.76%	7.98%
1982	0.79%	8.39%
1981	0.82%	8.84%
1980	0.87%	9.35%
1979	0.92%	9.88%
1978	0.99%	10.5%
1977	1.06%	11.1%
1976	1.14%	11.8%
1975	1.23%	12.5%
1974	1.31%	13.2%
1973	1.39%	-
1972	1.46%	-
1971	1.54%	-
1970	1.61%	-
1969	1.68%	-
1968	1.76%	-
1967	1.84%	-
1966	1.92%	-
1965	2.02%	-
1964	2.13%	-
1963	2.25%	-
1962	2.38%	-
1961	2.53%	-
1960	2.68%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.23% in Finland and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.