Fertility & birth rates in India and South Africa

Fertility rate in India vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

India

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	India	South Africa
2023	1.98	2.22
2022	1.99	2.23
2021	2.01	2.25
2020	2.05	2.26
2019	2.12	2.26
2018	2.18	2.27
2017	2.19	2.28
2016	2.28	2.26
2015	2.29	2.36
2014	2.29	2.42
2013	2.4	2.43
2012	2.47	2.45
2011	2.53	2.44
2010	2.6	2.44
2009	2.67	2.5
2008	2.71	2.68
2007	2.78	2.55
2006	2.87	2.55
2005	2.96	2.51
2004	3.05	2.44
2003	3.12	2.36
2002	3.22	2.32
2001	3.3	2.37
2000	3.35	2.41
1999	3.38	2.56
1998	3.45	2.63
1997	3.51	2.73
1996	3.58	2.99
1995	3.65	3.17
1994	3.72	3.26
1993	3.8	3.37
1992	3.88	3.48
1991	3.96	3.62
1990	4.05	3.72
1989	4.13	3.98
1988	4.22	4.18
1987	4.31	4.35
1986	4.4	4.41
1985	4.43	4.5
1984	4.52	4.57
1983	4.57	4.63
1982	4.62	4.7
1981	4.7	4.71
1980	4.78	4.78
1979	4.81	4.82
1978	4.89	4.85
1977	5.01	4.94
1976	5.13	5.07
1975	5.2	5.19
1974	5.33	5.3
1973	5.4	5.41
1972	5.48	5.49
1971	5.57	5.57
1970	5.62	5.63
1969	5.68	5.72
1968	5.76	5.78
1967	5.83	5.85
1966	5.88	5.91
1965	5.94	5.89
1964	5.98	5.96
1963	5.97	6.01
1962	5.95	6.05
1961	5.94	6.08
1960	5.92	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in India was 1.98 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 India vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

India

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	India	South Africa
2023	13,711,993	602,793
2022	13,912,130	603,636
2021	10,227,523	456,411
2020	13,366,946	595,873
2019	14,859,846	652,130
2018	15,451,168	648,319
2017	15,394,041	645,975
2016	16,202,593	641,365
2015	16,211,195	668,771
2014	16,165,943	674,754
2013	17,107,541	652,427
2012	17,552,365	643,723
2011	17,793,362	601,708
2010	17,991,935	566,834
2009	18,286,055	554,115
2008	18,234,926	595,332
2007	18,331,648	503,567
2006	18,641,737	487,584
2005	19,034,839	464,464
2004	19,469,758	442,540
2003	19,720,507	415,018
2002	20,024,621	430,926
2001	20,182,573	484,801
2000	19,984,160	526,963
1999	19,648,424	594,643
1998	19,569,575	627,027
1997	19,494,098	667,969
1996	19,442,699	710,868
1995	19,396,161	743,488
1994	19,310,798	698,609
1993	19,152,399	789,220
1992	19,132,757	794,415
1991	19,049,524	827,296
1990	18,893,588	835,421
1989	18,848,915	884,629
1988	18,702,916	909,221
1987	18,496,213	922,330
1986	18,455,495	903,644
1985	17,968,697	893,889
1984	17,698,810	869,011
1983	17,219,127	837,013
1982	16,790,507	807,550
1981	16,422,159	767,833
1980	16,018,786	738,415
1979	15,392,957	716,541
1978	14,898,145	694,341
1977	14,575,662	680,929
1976	14,435,504	675,011
1975	13,958,642	667,862
1974	13,795,836	658,438
1973	13,412,707	651,596
1972	13,041,792	638,754
1971	12,787,104	624,761
1970	12,417,866	605,102
1969	12,167,671	590,794
1968	12,006,807	571,841
1967	11,279,897	553,741
1966	11,089,894	534,862
1965	10,925,714	506,632
1964	11,285,378	490,606
1963	11,016,705	473,821
1962	10,743,409	455,634
1961	10,468,816	437,851
1960	10,237,489	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 +0.95% in India and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.06% in India and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in India vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

India

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	India	South Africa
2023	16.1	18.8
2022	16.3	19.1
2021	16.5	19.4
2020	16.7	19.5
2019	17.4	19.7
2018	17.9	19.9
2017	18	20
2016	18.8	20.3
2015	18.9	21
2014	19.1	21.8
2013	20.1	21.9
2012	20.7	22.1
2011	21.2	22.1
2010	21.6	22.2
2009	22.2	22.8
2008	22.5	24.3
2007	22.9	23.1
2006	23.6	23.1
2005	24.3	22.7
2004	25.1	22.1
2003	25.8	21.4
2002	26.5	20.9
2001	27.2	21.3
2000	27.5	21.6
1999	27.7	22.7
1998	28.2	23.2
1997	28.7	23.9
1996	29.2	24.9
1995	29.8	25.6
1994	30.3	24.6
1993	30.8	26.6
1992	31.4	27
1991	32	28.1
1990	32.6	28.7
1989	33.3	30.6
1988	33.9	32
1987	34.4	33.2
1986	35.2	33.6
1985	35.4	34.2
1984	35.9	34.5
1983	36.1	34.6
1982	36.4	34.8
1981	36.8	34.6
1980	37.1	34.7
1979	37	34.9
1978	37.1	35.1
1977	37.6	35.6
1976	38.2	36.3
1975	38.4	37
1974	39	37.7
1973	39.3	38.4
1972	39.5	38.9
1971	39.7	39.3
1970	39.8	39.4
1969	40.1	39.7
1968	40.5	39.8
1967	40.8	39.9
1966	41.2	40
1965	41.7	39.5
1964	42.1	39.6
1963	42.3	39.7
1962	42.5	39.7
1961	42.7	39.7
1960	42.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 16.1 in India and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 42.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

India

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	India	South Africa
2100	13.8%	17.9%
2099	13.8%	18%
2098	13.8%	18%
2097	13.9%	18.1%
2096	13.9%	18.1%
2095	13.9%	18.2%
2094	13.9%	18.2%
2093	14%	18.3%
2092	14%	18.3%
2091	14%	18.4%
2090	14.1%	18.4%
2089	14.1%	18.5%
2088	14.2%	18.5%
2087	14.2%	18.6%
2086	14.2%	18.6%
2085	14.3%	18.7%
2084	14.4%	18.7%
2083	14.4%	18.8%
2082	14.5%	18.9%
2081	14.6%	18.9%
2080	14.6%	19%
2079	14.7%	19%
2078	14.8%	19.1%
2077	14.8%	19.2%
2076	14.9%	19.3%
2075	15%	19.3%
2074	15.1%	19.4%
2073	15.2%	19.5%
2072	15.2%	19.6%
2071	15.3%	19.6%
2070	15.4%	19.7%
2069	15.5%	19.8%
2068	15.6%	19.9%
2067	15.6%	20%
2066	15.7%	20.1%
2065	15.8%	20.2%
2064	15.9%	20.3%
2063	16%	20.4%
2062	16.1%	20.5%
2061	16.2%	20.6%
2060	16.3%	20.7%
2059	16.4%	20.8%
2058	16.6%	20.9%
2057	16.7%	21%
2056	16.8%	21.1%
2055	17%	21.1%
2054	17.2%	21.2%
2053	17.3%	21.3%
2052	17.5%	21.4%
2051	17.7%	21.5%
2050	17.9%	21.6%
2049	18.1%	21.7%
2048	18.3%	21.8%
2047	18.5%	21.9%
2046	18.7%	22%
2045	18.9%	22.1%
2044	19.2%	22.3%
2043	19.4%	22.4%
2042	19.6%	22.6%
2041	19.8%	22.8%
2040	20%	23%
2039	20.3%	23.3%
2038	20.5%	23.5%
2037	20.7%	23.7%
2036	20.9%	24.1%
2035	21.1%	24.4%
2034	21.4%	24.7%
2033	21.7%	24.9%
2032	21.9%	25%
2031	22.2%	25.1%
2030	22.5%	25.2%
2029	22.8%	25.3%
2028	23.2%	25.4%
2027	23.6%	25.5%
2026	24%	25.6%
2025	24.4%	25.8%
2024	24.6%	25.9%
2023	25.1%	26.1%
2022	25.5%	26.3%
2021	25.9%	26.6%
2020	26.3%	27%
2019	26.8%	27.4%
2018	27.3%	27.9%
2017	27.8%	28.3%
2016	28.4%	28.3%
2015	28.9%	28.3%
2014	29.4%	28.5%
2013	29.9%	28.7%
2012	30.4%	28.9%
2011	30.9%	29.1%
2010	31.3%	29.4%
2009	31.8%	29.7%
2008	32.2%	29.9%
2007	32.7%	30.2%
2006	33.1%	30.6%
2005	33.6%	31.1%
2004	34%	31.6%
2003	34.4%	32.3%
2002	34.8%	33.2%
2001	35.2%	34%
2000	35.6%	34.9%
1999	35.9%	35.7%
1998	36.3%	36.5%
1997	36.7%	37.2%
1996	37%	37.5%
1995	37.3%	37.5%
1994	37.6%	37.2%
1993	37.9%	37.3%
1992	38.1%	37.6%
1991	38.4%	37.5%
1990	38.6%	37.7%
1989	38.8%	38.1%
1988	38.9%	38.4%
1987	39.1%	38.7%
1986	39.2%	38.9%
1985	39.3%	39.2%
1984	39.4%	39.5%
1983	39.5%	39.8%
1982	39.6%	40.1%
1981	39.7%	40.5%
1980	39.8%	40.9%
1979	40%	41.3%
1978	40.1%	41.5%
1977	40.3%	41.7%
1976	40.5%	41.8%
1975	40.7%	41.9%
1974	40.8%	42%
1973	41%	42.1%
1972	41.1%	42.2%
1971	41.2%	42.2%
1970	41.4%	42.3%
1969	41.5%	42.2%
1968	41.5%	42.2%
1967	41.6%	42.2%
1966	41.7%	42.1%
1965	41.7%	42.1%
1964	41.6%	42.1%
1963	41.5%	42.1%
1962	41.2%	42.1%
1961	40.9%	42.1%
1960	40.6%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 24.6% of the population in India and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 38.6% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of India and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: India vs South Africa

Chart Table

India

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	India	South Africa
2023	80	118
2022	90	129
2021	155	191
2020	101	118
2019	101	119
2018	107	128
2017	113	134
2016	121	141
2015	129	150
2014	137	162
2013	148	180
2012	160	194
2011	173	202
2010	188	226
2009	205	241
2008	223	272
2007	240	272
2006	258	283
2005	277	279
2004	296	259
2003	313	245
2002	330	225
2001	349	192
2000	362	175
1999	378	151
1998	393	152
1997	407	152
1996	422	150
1995	437	125
1994	451	133
1993	467	145
1992	482	152
1991	498	162
1990	516	170
1989	538	177
1988	562	184
1987	592	192
1986	624	200
1985	658	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 80 deaths per 100,000 live births in India, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

India

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	India	South Africa
2023	2.77%	3.47%
2022	2.91%	3.44%
2021	3.06%	3.41%
2020	3.24%	3.41%
2019	3.43%	3.45%
2018	3.64%	3.49%
2017	3.87%	3.58%
2016	4.11%	3.68%
2015	4.36%	3.82%
2014	4.63%	3.96%
2013	4.91%	4.1%
2012	5.2%	4.25%
2011	5.5%	4.5%
2010	5.82%	5%
2009	6.14%	5.7%
2008	6.46%	6.42%
2007	6.79%	7.19%
2006	7.11%	7.75%
2005	7.44%	8.03%
2004	7.77%	8.1%
2003	8.11%	7.93%
2002	8.45%	7.69%
2001	8.8%	7.43%
2000	9.16%	7.11%
1999	9.53%	6.85%
1998	9.89%	6.56%
1997	10.3%	6.29%
1996	10.6%	6.11%
1995	11%	5.95%
1994	11.3%	5.82%
1993	11.6%	5.7%
1992	12%	5.66%
1991	12.3%	5.7%
1990	12.7%	5.82%
1989	13%	6.01%
1988	13.4%	6.26%
1987	13.8%	6.56%
1986	14.2%	6.89%
1985	14.6%	7.24%
1984	15%	7.6%
1983	15.5%	7.98%
1982	15.9%	8.39%
1981	16.4%	8.84%
1980	16.9%	9.35%
1979	17.5%	9.88%
1978	18%	10.5%
1977	18.6%	11.1%
1976	19.1%	11.8%
1975	19.6%	12.5%
1974	20.1%	13.2%
1973	20.5%	-
1972	20.8%	-
1971	21.2%	-
1970	21.5%	-
1969	21.7%	-
1968	22%	-
1967	22.2%	-
1966	22.4%	-
1965	22.7%	-
1964	22.9%	-
1963	23.2%	-
1962	23.5%	-
1961	23.8%	-
1960	24.1%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 2.77% in India and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.