Fertility & birth rates in Iceland and South Africa

Fertility rate in Iceland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iceland	South Africa
2023	1.59	2.22
2022	1.59	2.23
2021	1.82	2.25
2020	1.72	2.26
2019	1.74	2.26
2018	1.71	2.27
2017	1.71	2.28
2016	1.74	2.26
2015	1.8	2.36
2014	1.93	2.42
2013	1.93	2.43
2012	2.04	2.45
2011	2.02	2.44
2010	2.2	2.44
2009	2.23	2.5
2008	2.15	2.68
2007	2.09	2.55
2006	2.08	2.55
2005	2.05	2.51
2004	2.04	2.44
2003	1.99	2.36
2002	1.93	2.32
2001	1.95	2.37
2000	2.08	2.41
1999	1.99	2.56
1998	2.05	2.63
1997	2.04	2.73
1996	2.12	2.99
1995	2.08	3.17
1994	2.14	3.26
1993	2.22	3.37
1992	2.21	3.48
1991	2.18	3.62
1990	2.3	3.72
1989	2.19	3.98
1988	2.26	4.18
1987	2.06	4.35
1986	1.92	4.41
1985	1.93	4.5
1984	2.08	4.57
1983	2.24	4.63
1982	2.27	4.7
1981	2.33	4.71
1980	2.48	4.78
1979	2.49	4.82
1978	2.35	4.85
1977	2.31	4.94
1976	2.52	5.07
1975	2.65	5.19
1974	2.66	5.3
1973	2.94	5.41
1972	3.09	5.49
1971	2.92	5.57
1970	2.81	5.63
1969	2.99	5.72
1968	3.06	5.78
1967	3.28	5.85
1966	3.59	5.91
1965	3.73	5.89
1964	3.88	5.96
1963	3.99	6.01
1962	3.98	6.05
1961	3.88	6.08
1960	4.29	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 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 Iceland vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iceland	South Africa
2023	1,697	602,793
2022	1,719	603,636
2021	2,534	456,411
2020	2,199	595,873
2019	2,163	652,130
2018	1,975	648,319
2017	1,854	645,975
2016	1,711	641,365
2015	1,952	668,771
2014	2,324	674,754
2013	2,169	652,427
2012	2,566	643,723
2011	2,521	601,708
2010	2,862	566,834
2009	3,026	554,115
2008	2,825	595,332
2007	2,617	503,567
2006	2,491	487,584
2005	2,433	464,464
2004	2,425	442,540
2003	2,317	415,018
2002	2,243	430,926
2001	2,365	484,801
2000	2,475	526,963
1999	2,192	594,643
1998	2,357	627,027
1997	2,305	667,969
1996	2,447	710,868
1995	2,354	743,488
1994	2,713	698,609
1993	2,875	789,220
1992	2,898	794,415
1991	2,733	827,296
1990	3,058	835,421
1989	2,832	884,629
1988	2,847	909,221
1987	2,360	922,330
1986	2,384	903,644
1985	2,221	893,889
1984	2,539	869,011
1983	2,702	837,013
1982	2,736	807,550
1981	2,677	767,833
1980	2,966	738,415
1979	2,980	716,541
1978	2,727	694,341
1977	2,551	680,929
1976	2,951	675,011
1975	2,965	667,862
1974	2,776	658,438
1973	3,121	651,596
1972	3,241	638,754
1971	2,782	624,761
1970	2,576	605,102
1969	2,766	590,794
1968	2,841	571,841
1967	3,021	553,741
1966	3,305	534,862
1965	3,442	506,632
1964	3,459	490,606
1963	3,490	473,821
1962	3,465	455,634
1961	3,312	437,851
1960	3,758	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 +0.44% in Iceland and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.57% in Iceland and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Iceland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Iceland

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iceland	South Africa
2023	11	18.8
2022	11.5	19.1
2021	13.1	19.4
2020	12.3	19.5
2019	12.3	19.7
2018	12	19.9
2017	11.9	20
2016	12	20.3
2015	12.5	21
2014	13.4	21.8
2013	13.4	21.9
2012	14.1	22.1
2011	14.1	22.1
2010	15.4	22.2
2009	15.8	22.8
2008	15.2	24.3
2007	14.6	23.1
2006	14.5	23.1
2005	14.4	22.7
2004	14.5	22.1
2003	14.3	21.4
2002	14.1	20.9
2001	14.4	21.3
2000	15.3	21.6
1999	14.8	22.7
1998	15.2	23.2
1997	15.3	23.9
1996	16.1	24.9
1995	16	25.6
1994	16.7	24.6
1993	17.5	26.6
1992	17.7	27
1991	17.6	28.1
1990	18.7	28.7
1989	18	30.6
1988	18.7	32
1987	16.6	33.2
1986	16.4	33.6
1985	16	34.2
1984	17.2	34.5
1983	18.4	34.6
1982	18.5	34.8
1981	18.8	34.6
1980	19.8	34.7
1979	19.8	34.9
1978	18.6	35.1
1977	18	35.6
1976	19.5	36.3
1975	20.1	37
1974	19.9	37.7
1973	21.7	38.4
1972	22.4	38.9
1971	20.8	39.3
1970	19.7	39.4
1969	20.7	39.7
1968	21	39.8
1967	22.2	39.9
1966	24	40
1965	24.6	39.5
1964	25.3	39.6
1963	26	39.7
1962	25.8	39.7
1961	25.5	39.7
1960	28	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11 in Iceland and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 28 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iceland

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iceland	South Africa
2100	11.8%	17.9%
2099	11.8%	18%
2098	11.8%	18%
2097	11.8%	18.1%
2096	11.9%	18.1%
2095	11.9%	18.2%
2094	11.9%	18.2%
2093	11.9%	18.3%
2092	11.9%	18.3%
2091	11.9%	18.4%
2090	11.9%	18.4%
2089	11.9%	18.5%
2088	11.9%	18.5%
2087	11.9%	18.6%
2086	11.9%	18.6%
2085	11.9%	18.7%
2084	11.9%	18.7%
2083	11.9%	18.8%
2082	11.9%	18.9%
2081	11.9%	18.9%
2080	11.9%	19%
2079	12%	19%
2078	12%	19.1%
2077	12%	19.2%
2076	12%	19.3%
2075	12.1%	19.3%
2074	12.1%	19.4%
2073	12.1%	19.5%
2072	12.2%	19.6%
2071	12.2%	19.6%
2070	12.3%	19.7%
2069	12.4%	19.8%
2068	12.4%	19.9%
2067	12.5%	20%
2066	12.6%	20.1%
2065	12.6%	20.2%
2064	12.7%	20.3%
2063	12.8%	20.4%
2062	12.8%	20.5%
2061	12.9%	20.6%
2060	13%	20.7%
2059	13%	20.8%
2058	13.1%	20.9%
2057	13.2%	21%
2056	13.2%	21.1%
2055	13.3%	21.1%
2054	13.4%	21.2%
2053	13.4%	21.3%
2052	13.5%	21.4%
2051	13.6%	21.5%
2050	13.7%	21.6%
2049	13.8%	21.7%
2048	13.8%	21.8%
2047	14%	21.9%
2046	14.1%	22%
2045	14.2%	22.1%
2044	14.3%	22.3%
2043	14.4%	22.4%
2042	14.6%	22.6%
2041	14.8%	22.8%
2040	14.9%	23%
2039	15.1%	23.3%
2038	15.3%	23.5%
2037	15.5%	23.7%
2036	15.8%	24.1%
2035	16%	24.4%
2034	16.2%	24.7%
2033	16.4%	24.9%
2032	16.5%	25%
2031	16.6%	25.1%
2030	16.7%	25.2%
2029	16.9%	25.3%
2028	17%	25.4%
2027	17.2%	25.5%
2026	17.4%	25.6%
2025	17.6%	25.8%
2024	17.8%	25.9%
2023	18.1%	26.1%
2022	18.4%	26.3%
2021	18.6%	26.6%
2020	18.7%	27%
2019	18.9%	27.4%
2018	19.2%	27.9%
2017	19.6%	28.3%
2016	19.9%	28.3%
2015	20.2%	28.3%
2014	20.4%	28.5%
2013	20.6%	28.7%
2012	20.7%	28.9%
2011	20.8%	29.1%
2010	20.9%	29.4%
2009	20.9%	29.7%
2008	20.9%	29.9%
2007	21.1%	30.2%
2006	21.5%	30.6%
2005	22.1%	31.1%
2004	22.5%	31.6%
2003	22.8%	32.3%
2002	23%	33.2%
2001	23.2%	34%
2000	23.3%	34.9%
1999	23.4%	35.7%
1998	23.6%	36.5%
1997	23.9%	37.2%
1996	24.1%	37.5%
1995	24.4%	37.5%
1994	24.7%	37.2%
1993	24.8%	37.3%
1992	24.8%	37.6%
1991	24.8%	37.5%
1990	25%	37.7%
1989	25%	38.1%
1988	25.2%	38.4%
1987	25.6%	38.7%
1986	25.9%	38.9%
1985	26.2%	39.2%
1984	26.5%	39.5%
1983	26.7%	39.8%
1982	26.9%	40.1%
1981	27.2%	40.5%
1980	27.5%	40.9%
1979	27.9%	41.3%
1978	28.4%	41.5%
1977	29%	41.7%
1976	29.5%	41.8%
1975	30.1%	41.9%
1974	30.7%	42%
1973	31.2%	42.1%
1972	31.6%	42.2%
1971	32.1%	42.2%
1970	32.6%	42.3%
1969	33.2%	42.2%
1968	33.6%	42.2%
1967	34%	42.2%
1966	34.3%	42.1%
1965	34.5%	42.1%
1964	34.7%	42.1%
1963	34.9%	42.1%
1962	34.9%	42.1%
1961	35%	42.1%
1960	34.9%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.8% of the population in Iceland and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 25% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iceland and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iceland vs South Africa

Chart Table

Iceland

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iceland	South Africa
2023	3	118
2022	5	129
2021	5	191
2020	12	118
2019	4	119
2018	4	128
2017	3	134
2016	3	141
2015	4	150
2014	4	162
2013	4	180
2012	4	194
2011	4	202
2010	5	226
2009	5	241
2008	4	272
2007	5	272
2006	5	283
2005	5	279
2004	6	259
2003	6	245
2002	7	225
2001	6	192
2000	7	175
1999	7	151
1998	8	152
1997	8	152
1996	7	150
1995	13	125
1994	9	133
1993	10	145
1992	12	152
1991	11	162
1990	13	170
1989	14	177
1988	11	184
1987	13	192
1986	15	200
1985	11	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iceland, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iceland

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iceland	South Africa
2023	0.26%	3.47%
2022	0.26%	3.44%
2021	0.27%	3.41%
2020	0.27%	3.41%
2019	0.27%	3.45%
2018	0.27%	3.49%
2017	0.26%	3.58%
2016	0.26%	3.68%
2015	0.26%	3.82%
2014	0.26%	3.96%
2013	0.26%	4.1%
2012	0.26%	4.25%
2011	0.27%	4.5%
2010	0.27%	5%
2009	0.27%	5.7%
2008	0.28%	6.42%
2007	0.29%	7.19%
2006	0.3%	7.75%
2005	0.31%	8.03%
2004	0.33%	8.1%
2003	0.34%	7.93%
2002	0.36%	7.69%
2001	0.38%	7.43%
2000	0.4%	7.11%
1999	0.42%	6.85%
1998	0.45%	6.56%
1997	0.47%	6.29%
1996	0.49%	6.11%
1995	0.52%	5.95%
1994	0.54%	5.82%
1993	0.56%	5.7%
1992	0.58%	5.66%
1991	0.61%	5.7%
1990	0.63%	5.82%
1989	0.65%	6.01%
1988	0.67%	6.26%
1987	0.7%	6.56%
1986	0.73%	6.89%
1985	0.75%	7.24%
1984	0.79%	7.6%
1983	0.83%	7.98%
1982	0.87%	8.39%
1981	0.92%	8.84%
1980	0.97%	9.35%
1979	1.03%	9.88%
1978	1.09%	10.5%
1977	1.15%	11.1%
1976	1.22%	11.8%
1975	1.29%	12.5%
1974	1.35%	13.2%
1973	1.41%	-
1972	1.48%	-
1971	1.54%	-
1970	1.6%	-
1969	1.66%	-
1968	1.72%	-
1967	1.79%	-
1966	1.85%	-
1965	1.92%	-
1964	1.97%	-
1963	2.02%	-
1962	2.07%	-
1961	2.11%	-
1960	2.14%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.26% in Iceland and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.