Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and South Africa

Fertility rate in Ireland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Ireland

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ireland	South Africa
2023	1.5	2.22
2022	1.54	2.23
2021	1.78	2.25
2020	1.63	2.26
2019	1.71	2.26
2018	1.75	2.27
2017	1.77	2.28
2016	1.81	2.26
2015	1.85	2.36
2014	1.89	2.42
2013	1.93	2.43
2012	1.98	2.45
2011	2.03	2.44
2010	2.05	2.44
2009	2.06	2.5
2008	2.06	2.68
2007	2.01	2.55
2006	1.91	2.55
2005	1.86	2.51
2004	1.93	2.44
2003	1.96	2.36
2002	1.97	2.32
2001	1.94	2.37
2000	1.89	2.41
1999	1.9	2.56
1998	1.94	2.63
1997	1.93	2.73
1996	1.88	2.99
1995	1.84	3.17
1994	1.85	3.26
1993	1.9	3.37
1992	1.99	3.48
1991	2.08	3.62
1990	2.11	3.72
1989	2.08	3.98
1988	2.17	4.18
1987	2.32	4.35
1986	2.44	4.41
1985	2.48	4.5
1984	2.58	4.57
1983	2.74	4.63
1982	2.94	4.7
1981	3.05	4.71
1980	3.21	4.78
1979	3.21	4.82
1978	3.21	4.85
1977	3.24	4.94
1976	3.29	5.07
1975	3.37	5.19
1974	3.59	5.3
1973	3.71	5.41
1972	3.84	5.49
1971	3.93	5.57
1970	3.85	5.63
1969	3.83	5.72
1968	3.77	5.78
1967	3.84	5.85
1966	3.94	5.91
1965	4.04	5.89
1964	4.07	5.96
1963	4.01	6.01
1962	3.92	6.05
1961	3.78	6.08
1960	3.78	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 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 Ireland vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ireland

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ireland	South Africa
2023	19,652	602,793
2022	19,287	603,636
2021	26,064	456,411
2020	23,687	595,873
2019	28,365	652,130
2018	29,878	648,319
2017	31,379	645,975
2016	33,339	641,365
2015	35,265	668,771
2014	37,728	674,754
2013	39,302	652,427
2012	42,775	643,723
2011	45,801	601,708
2010	47,426	566,834
2009	47,168	554,115
2008	46,691	595,332
2007	43,109	503,567
2006	36,752	487,584
2005	33,279	464,464
2004	33,376	442,540
2003	32,372	415,018
2002	31,062	430,926
2001	27,837	484,801
2000	23,592	526,963
1999	21,402	594,643
1998	22,277	627,027
1997	21,311	667,969
1996	18,915	710,868
1995	16,601	743,488
1994	17,234	698,609
1993	17,166	789,220
1992	20,283	794,415
1991	21,206	827,296
1990	21,787	835,421
1989	20,012	884,629
1988	22,912	909,221
1987	26,904	922,330
1986	27,963	903,644
1985	29,013	893,889
1984	31,791	869,011
1983	34,053	837,013
1982	38,344	807,550
1981	39,364	767,833
1980	40,612	738,415
1979	38,798	716,541
1978	36,288	694,341
1977	35,448	680,929
1976	33,676	675,011
1975	34,128	667,862
1974	34,199	658,438
1973	34,562	651,596
1972	34,316	638,754
1971	35,606	624,761
1970	30,756	605,102
1969	29,326	590,794
1968	27,697	571,841
1967	29,895	553,741
1966	26,866	534,862
1965	30,500	506,632
1964	31,532	490,606
1963	29,667	473,821
1962	28,077	455,634
1961	25,137	437,851
1960	28,286	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 +0.37% in Ireland and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Ireland vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Ireland

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ireland	South Africa
2023	10.3	18.8
2022	10.4	19.1
2021	11.8	19.4
2020	11.1	19.5
2019	11.9	19.7
2018	12.5	19.9
2017	12.8	20
2016	13.4	20.3
2015	13.9	21
2014	14.4	21.8
2013	14.9	21.9
2012	15.6	22.1
2011	16.2	22.1
2010	16.5	22.2
2009	16.7	22.8
2008	16.7	24.3
2007	16.2	23.1
2006	15.3	23.1
2005	14.8	22.7
2004	15.2	22.1
2003	15.4	21.4
2002	15.4	20.9
2001	15	21.3
2000	14.4	21.6
1999	14.4	22.7
1998	14.5	23.2
1997	14.4	23.9
1996	13.9	24.9
1995	13.5	25.6
1994	13.4	24.6
1993	13.8	26.6
1992	14.4	27
1991	14.9	28.1
1990	15.1	28.7
1989	14.8	30.6
1988	15.5	32
1987	16.5	33.2
1986	17.4	33.6
1985	17.6	34.2
1984	18.1	34.5
1983	19.1	34.6
1982	20.3	34.8
1981	20.9	34.6
1980	21.7	34.7
1979	21.5	34.9
1978	21.1	35.1
1977	21	35.6
1976	20.9	36.3
1975	21.1	37
1974	22	37.7
1973	22.3	38.4
1972	22.6	38.9
1971	22.6	39.3
1970	21.8	39.4
1969	21.5	39.7
1968	20.9	39.8
1967	21.1	39.9
1966	21.5	40
1965	22.1	39.5
1964	22.4	39.6
1963	22.2	39.7
1962	21.8	39.7
1961	21.2	39.7
1960	21.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 21.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ireland

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ireland	South Africa
2100	12.7%	17.9%
2099	12.7%	18%
2098	12.8%	18%
2097	12.8%	18.1%
2096	12.9%	18.1%
2095	13%	18.2%
2094	13.1%	18.2%
2093	13.2%	18.3%
2092	13.3%	18.3%
2091	13.4%	18.4%
2090	13.4%	18.4%
2089	13.5%	18.5%
2088	13.6%	18.5%
2087	13.7%	18.6%
2086	13.7%	18.6%
2085	13.8%	18.7%
2084	13.8%	18.7%
2083	13.8%	18.8%
2082	13.8%	18.9%
2081	13.8%	18.9%
2080	13.7%	19%
2079	13.7%	19%
2078	13.6%	19.1%
2077	13.6%	19.2%
2076	13.5%	19.3%
2075	13.5%	19.3%
2074	13.4%	19.4%
2073	13.4%	19.5%
2072	13.4%	19.6%
2071	13.3%	19.6%
2070	13.3%	19.7%
2069	13.4%	19.8%
2068	13.4%	19.9%
2067	13.5%	20%
2066	13.5%	20.1%
2065	13.6%	20.2%
2064	13.8%	20.3%
2063	13.9%	20.4%
2062	14%	20.5%
2061	14.2%	20.6%
2060	14.4%	20.7%
2059	14.6%	20.8%
2058	14.7%	20.9%
2057	14.9%	21%
2056	15.1%	21.1%
2055	15.2%	21.1%
2054	15.3%	21.2%
2053	15.5%	21.3%
2052	15.6%	21.4%
2051	15.6%	21.5%
2050	15.7%	21.6%
2049	15.7%	21.7%
2048	15.7%	21.8%
2047	15.7%	21.9%
2046	15.6%	22%
2045	15.6%	22.1%
2044	15.5%	22.3%
2043	15.4%	22.4%
2042	15.3%	22.6%
2041	15.3%	22.8%
2040	15.2%	23%
2039	15.2%	23.3%
2038	15.1%	23.5%
2037	15.1%	23.7%
2036	15.3%	24.1%
2035	15.3%	24.4%
2034	15.5%	24.7%
2033	15.7%	24.9%
2032	15.9%	25%
2031	16.1%	25.1%
2030	16.4%	25.2%
2029	16.7%	25.3%
2028	17%	25.4%
2027	17.4%	25.5%
2026	17.9%	25.6%
2025	18.3%	25.8%
2024	18.6%	25.9%
2023	19%	26.1%
2022	19.5%	26.3%
2021	19.8%	26.6%
2020	20.1%	27%
2019	20.4%	27.4%
2018	20.7%	27.9%
2017	20.9%	28.3%
2016	21.2%	28.3%
2015	21.3%	28.3%
2014	21.4%	28.5%
2013	21.5%	28.7%
2012	21.5%	28.9%
2011	21.4%	29.1%
2010	21.1%	29.4%
2009	20.7%	29.7%
2008	20.5%	29.9%
2007	20.3%	30.2%
2006	20.4%	30.6%
2005	20.6%	31.1%
2004	20.8%	31.6%
2003	21%	32.3%
2002	21.1%	33.2%
2001	21.4%	34%
2000	21.8%	34.9%
1999	22.1%	35.7%
1998	22.5%	36.5%
1997	23%	37.2%
1996	23.6%	37.5%
1995	24.2%	37.5%
1994	24.9%	37.2%
1993	25.5%	37.3%
1992	26%	37.6%
1991	26.6%	37.5%
1990	27.1%	37.7%
1989	27.6%	38.1%
1988	28.1%	38.4%
1987	28.5%	38.7%
1986	28.9%	38.9%
1985	29.3%	39.2%
1984	29.6%	39.5%
1983	29.9%	39.8%
1982	30.1%	40.1%
1981	30.3%	40.5%
1980	30.4%	40.9%
1979	30.5%	41.3%
1978	30.7%	41.5%
1977	30.9%	41.7%
1976	31%	41.8%
1975	31.1%	41.9%
1974	31.2%	42%
1973	31.2%	42.1%
1972	31.2%	42.2%
1971	31.2%	42.2%
1970	31.1%	42.3%
1969	31.1%	42.2%
1968	31.1%	42.2%
1967	31.1%	42.2%
1966	31.1%	42.1%
1965	31.1%	42.1%
1964	30.9%	42.1%
1963	30.9%	42.1%
1962	30.9%	42.1%
1961	31%	42.1%
1960	30.9%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs South Africa

Chart Table

Ireland

South Africa

1x

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

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ireland

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ireland	South Africa
2023	0.38%	3.47%
2022	0.37%	3.44%
2021	0.36%	3.41%
2020	0.35%	3.41%
2019	0.34%	3.45%
2018	0.34%	3.49%
2017	0.35%	3.58%
2016	0.36%	3.68%
2015	0.37%	3.82%
2014	0.38%	3.96%
2013	0.39%	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	0.46%	7.19%
2006	0.49%	7.75%
2005	0.52%	8.03%
2004	0.56%	8.1%
2003	0.6%	7.93%
2002	0.65%	7.69%
2001	0.69%	7.43%
2000	0.72%	7.11%
1999	0.73%	6.85%
1998	0.73%	6.56%
1997	0.73%	6.29%
1996	0.73%	6.11%
1995	0.73%	5.95%
1994	0.74%	5.82%
1993	0.77%	5.7%
1992	0.81%	5.66%
1991	0.87%	5.7%
1990	0.92%	5.82%
1989	0.96%	6.01%
1988	0.99%	6.26%
1987	1.02%	6.56%
1986	1.04%	6.89%
1985	1.07%	7.24%
1984	1.11%	7.6%
1983	1.17%	7.98%
1982	1.23%	8.39%
1981	1.32%	8.84%
1980	1.43%	9.35%
1979	1.56%	9.88%
1978	1.69%	10.5%
1977	1.81%	11.1%
1976	1.91%	11.8%
1975	2%	12.5%
1974	2.06%	13.2%
1973	2.11%	-
1972	2.14%	-
1971	2.17%	-
1970	2.22%	-
1969	2.3%	-
1968	2.41%	-
1967	2.55%	-
1966	2.71%	-
1965	2.87%	-
1964	3.01%	-
1963	3.13%	-
1962	3.25%	-
1961	3.38%	-
1960	3.53%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.