Fertility & birth rates in Germany and South Africa

Fertility rate in Germany vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Germany

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Germany	South Africa
2023	1.39	2.22
2022	1.46	2.23
2021	1.58	2.25
2020	1.53	2.26
2019	1.54	2.26
2018	1.57	2.27
2017	1.57	2.28
2016	1.6	2.26
2015	1.5	2.36
2014	1.47	2.42
2013	1.42	2.43
2012	1.41	2.45
2011	1.39	2.44
2010	1.39	2.44
2009	1.36	2.5
2008	1.38	2.68
2007	1.37	2.55
2006	1.33	2.55
2005	1.34	2.51
2004	1.36	2.44
2003	1.34	2.36
2002	1.34	2.32
2001	1.35	2.37
2000	1.38	2.41
1999	1.36	2.56
1998	1.36	2.63
1997	1.35	2.73
1996	1.3	2.99
1995	1.25	3.17
1994	1.24	3.26
1993	1.28	3.37
1992	1.29	3.48
1991	1.33	3.62
1990	1.45	3.72
1989	1.42	3.98
1988	1.46	4.18
1987	1.43	4.35
1986	1.43	4.41
1985	1.37	4.5
1984	1.29	4.57
1983	1.33	4.63
1982	1.41	4.7
1981	1.43	4.71
1980	1.44	4.78
1979	1.38	4.82
1978	1.38	4.85
1977	1.4	4.94
1976	1.45	5.07
1975	1.45	5.19
1974	1.51	5.3
1973	1.54	5.41
1972	1.71	5.49
1971	1.92	5.57
1970	2.03	5.63
1969	2.21	5.72
1968	2.38	5.78
1967	2.48	5.85
1966	2.53	5.91
1965	2.5	5.89
1964	2.54	5.96
1963	2.51	6.01
1962	2.44	6.05
1961	2.45	6.08
1960	2.37	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Germany was 1.39 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 Germany vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Germany

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Germany	South Africa
2023	-333,149	602,793
2022	-324,394	603,636
2021	-224,629	456,411
2020	-216,218	595,873
2019	-157,877	652,130
2018	-165,812	648,319
2017	-148,783	645,975
2016	-123,523	641,365
2015	-187,879	668,771
2014	-153,866	674,754
2013	-209,679	652,427
2012	-193,022	643,723
2011	-184,632	601,708
2010	-179,909	566,834
2009	-188,375	554,115
2008	-164,220	595,332
2007	-148,080	503,567
2006	-148,278	487,584
2005	-148,445	464,464
2004	-107,271	442,540
2003	-140,309	415,018
2002	-123,733	430,926
2001	-98,820	484,801
2000	-73,990	526,963
1999	-73,890	594,643
1998	-65,637	627,027
1997	-49,221	667,969
1996	-90,107	710,868
1995	-114,349	743,488
1994	-114,013	698,609
1993	-105,503	789,220
1992	-80,625	794,415
1991	-80,014	827,296
1990	-15,887	835,421
1989	-23,625	884,629
1988	-7,815	909,221
1987	-31,136	922,330
1986	-77,721	903,644
1985	-116,527	893,889
1984	-109,002	869,011
1983	-109,380	837,013
1982	-78,333	807,550
1981	-94,090	767,833
1980	-86,117	738,415
1979	-125,002	716,541
1978	-140,566	694,341
1977	-125,055	680,929
1976	-164,508	675,011
1975	-212,418	667,862
1974	-150,038	658,438
1973	-149,980	651,596
1972	-62,950	638,754
1971	46,988	624,761
1970	70,352	605,102
1969	155,820	590,794
1968	239,612	571,841
1967	353,977	553,741
1966	405,982	534,862
1965	410,204	506,632
1964	482,038	490,606
1963	455,757	473,821
1962	436,752	455,634
1961	462,279	437,851
1960	385,919	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 -0.4% in Germany and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.25% in Germany and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Germany vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Germany

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Germany	South Africa
2023	8.3	18.8
2022	8.8	19.1
2021	9.6	19.4
2020	9.3	19.5
2019	9.4	19.7
2018	9.5	19.9
2017	9.5	20
2016	9.6	20.3
2015	9	21
2014	8.8	21.8
2013	8.5	21.9
2012	8.4	22.1
2011	8.3	22.1
2010	8.3	22.2
2009	8.1	22.8
2008	8.3	24.3
2007	8.3	23.1
2006	8.2	23.1
2005	8.3	22.7
2004	8.6	22.1
2003	8.6	21.4
2002	8.7	20.9
2001	8.9	21.3
2000	9.3	21.6
1999	9.4	22.7
1998	9.6	23.2
1997	9.9	23.9
1996	9.7	24.9
1995	9.4	25.6
1994	9.5	24.6
1993	9.8	26.6
1992	10	27
1991	10.4	28.1
1990	11.4	28.7
1989	11.2	30.6
1988	11.4	32
1987	11.2	33.2
1986	10.9	33.6
1985	10.5	34.2
1984	10.4	34.5
1983	10.6	34.6
1982	11	34.8
1981	11	34.6
1980	11.1	34.7
1979	10.5	34.9
1978	10.4	35.1
1977	10.3	35.6
1976	10.2	36.3
1975	9.9	37
1974	10.2	37.7
1973	10.3	38.4
1972	11.5	38.9
1971	12.9	39.3
1970	13.4	39.4
1969	14.7	39.7
1968	15.7	39.8
1967	16.5	39.9
1966	17.2	40
1965	17.4	39.5
1964	18	39.6
1963	18.1	39.7
1962	17.8	39.7
1961	17.9	39.7
1960	17.3	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.3 in Germany and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 17.3 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Germany

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Germany	South Africa
2100	13.7%	17.9%
2099	13.7%	18%
2098	13.8%	18%
2097	13.8%	18.1%
2096	13.8%	18.1%
2095	13.9%	18.2%
2094	13.9%	18.2%
2093	13.9%	18.3%
2092	13.9%	18.3%
2091	13.9%	18.4%
2090	13.9%	18.4%
2089	13.8%	18.5%
2088	13.8%	18.5%
2087	13.8%	18.6%
2086	13.7%	18.6%
2085	13.7%	18.7%
2084	13.7%	18.7%
2083	13.6%	18.8%
2082	13.6%	18.9%
2081	13.5%	18.9%
2080	13.5%	19%
2079	13.4%	19%
2078	13.4%	19.1%
2077	13.4%	19.2%
2076	13.4%	19.3%
2075	13.4%	19.3%
2074	13.4%	19.4%
2073	13.4%	19.5%
2072	13.5%	19.6%
2071	13.5%	19.6%
2070	13.6%	19.7%
2069	13.6%	19.8%
2068	13.7%	19.9%
2067	13.7%	20%
2066	13.8%	20.1%
2065	13.8%	20.2%
2064	13.9%	20.3%
2063	13.9%	20.4%
2062	13.9%	20.5%
2061	13.9%	20.6%
2060	13.9%	20.7%
2059	13.9%	20.8%
2058	13.8%	20.9%
2057	13.8%	21%
2056	13.7%	21.1%
2055	13.6%	21.1%
2054	13.5%	21.2%
2053	13.4%	21.3%
2052	13.3%	21.4%
2051	13.2%	21.5%
2050	13.1%	21.6%
2049	13%	21.7%
2048	12.9%	21.8%
2047	12.8%	21.9%
2046	12.7%	22%
2045	12.6%	22.1%
2044	12.6%	22.3%
2043	12.6%	22.4%
2042	12.5%	22.6%
2041	12.5%	22.8%
2040	12.6%	23%
2039	12.6%	23.3%
2038	12.6%	23.5%
2037	12.7%	23.7%
2036	12.9%	24.1%
2035	13%	24.4%
2034	13.1%	24.7%
2033	13.3%	24.9%
2032	13.4%	25%
2031	13.6%	25.1%
2030	13.7%	25.2%
2029	13.8%	25.3%
2028	13.8%	25.4%
2027	13.9%	25.5%
2026	13.9%	25.6%
2025	13.9%	25.8%
2024	13.9%	25.9%
2023	13.9%	26.1%
2022	13.9%	26.3%
2021	13.9%	26.6%
2020	13.8%	27%
2019	13.7%	27.4%
2018	13.6%	27.9%
2017	13.5%	28.3%
2016	13.3%	28.3%
2015	13.2%	28.3%
2014	13.2%	28.5%
2013	13.2%	28.7%
2012	13.4%	28.9%
2011	13.6%	29.1%
2010	13.7%	29.4%
2009	13.8%	29.7%
2008	13.8%	29.9%
2007	14%	30.2%
2006	14.2%	30.6%
2005	14.5%	31.1%
2004	14.8%	31.6%
2003	15%	32.3%
2002	15.3%	33.2%
2001	15.5%	34%
2000	15.7%	34.9%
1999	15.8%	35.7%
1998	15.9%	36.5%
1997	16.1%	37.2%
1996	16.2%	37.5%
1995	16.3%	37.5%
1994	16.3%	37.2%
1993	16.3%	37.3%
1992	16.3%	37.6%
1991	16.3%	37.5%
1990	16.1%	37.7%
1989	15.9%	38.1%
1988	15.7%	38.4%
1987	15.6%	38.7%
1986	15.8%	38.9%
1985	16%	39.2%
1984	16.4%	39.5%
1983	16.9%	39.8%
1982	17.4%	40.1%
1981	17.9%	40.5%
1980	18.5%	40.9%
1979	19.1%	41.3%
1978	19.7%	41.5%
1977	20.3%	41.7%
1976	20.9%	41.8%
1975	21.5%	41.9%
1974	22%	42%
1973	22.4%	42.1%
1972	22.8%	42.2%
1971	23%	42.2%
1970	23.2%	42.3%
1969	23.3%	42.2%
1968	23.3%	42.2%
1967	23.1%	42.2%
1966	23%	42.1%
1965	22.8%	42.1%
1964	22.6%	42.1%
1963	22.3%	42.1%
1962	22%	42.1%
1961	21.7%	42.1%
1960	21.3%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 13.9% of the population in Germany and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 16.1% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Germany and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Germany vs South Africa

Chart Table

Germany

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Germany	South Africa
2023	4	118
2022	4	129
2021	4	191
2020	4	118
2019	4	119
2018	4	128
2017	4	134
2016	4	141
2015	5	150
2014	5	162
2013	5	180
2012	5	194
2011	5	202
2010	5	226
2009	6	241
2008	6	272
2007	5	272
2006	6	283
2005	6	279
2004	6	259
2003	6	245
2002	6	225
2001	6	192
2000	7	175
1999	7	151
1998	7	152
1997	8	152
1996	8	150
1995	8	125
1994	9	133
1993	9	145
1992	10	152
1991	11	162
1990	12	170
1989	12	177
1988	13	184
1987	13	192
1986	14	200
1985	14	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 Germany, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Germany

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Germany	South Africa
2023	0.37%	3.47%
2022	0.37%	3.44%
2021	0.37%	3.41%
2020	0.37%	3.41%
2019	0.37%	3.45%
2018	0.38%	3.49%
2017	0.38%	3.58%
2016	0.39%	3.68%
2015	0.39%	3.82%
2014	0.4%	3.96%
2013	0.4%	4.1%
2012	0.4%	4.25%
2011	0.41%	4.5%
2010	0.42%	5%
2009	0.43%	5.7%
2008	0.44%	6.42%
2007	0.45%	7.19%
2006	0.46%	7.75%
2005	0.47%	8.03%
2004	0.48%	8.1%
2003	0.5%	7.93%
2002	0.51%	7.69%
2001	0.52%	7.43%
2000	0.54%	7.11%
1999	0.55%	6.85%
1998	0.57%	6.56%
1997	0.59%	6.29%
1996	0.62%	6.11%
1995	0.65%	5.95%
1994	0.68%	5.82%
1993	0.72%	5.7%
1992	0.76%	5.66%
1991	0.8%	5.7%
1990	0.85%	5.82%
1989	0.9%	6.01%
1988	0.95%	6.26%
1987	1.01%	6.56%
1986	1.06%	6.89%
1985	1.11%	7.24%
1984	1.18%	7.6%
1983	1.25%	7.98%
1982	1.32%	8.39%
1981	1.41%	8.84%
1980	1.5%	9.35%
1979	1.6%	9.88%
1978	1.71%	10.5%
1977	1.83%	11.1%
1976	1.95%	11.8%
1975	2.08%	12.5%
1974	2.2%	13.2%
1973	2.31%	-
1972	2.4%	-
1971	2.49%	-
1970	2.57%	-
1969	2.64%	-
1968	2.71%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.37% in Germany and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.