Fertility & birth rates in Italy and South Africa

Fertility rate in Italy vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Italy

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Italy	South Africa
2023	1.2	2.22
2022	1.24	2.23
2021	1.25	2.25
2020	1.24	2.26
2019	1.27	2.26
2018	1.31	2.27
2017	1.34	2.28
2016	1.36	2.26
2015	1.36	2.36
2014	1.38	2.42
2013	1.39	2.43
2012	1.42	2.45
2011	1.42	2.44
2010	1.44	2.44
2009	1.44	2.5
2008	1.44	2.68
2007	1.39	2.55
2006	1.37	2.55
2005	1.33	2.51
2004	1.34	2.44
2003	1.29	2.36
2002	1.27	2.32
2001	1.25	2.37
2000	1.26	2.41
1999	1.23	2.56
1998	1.22	2.63
1997	1.22	2.73
1996	1.2	2.99
1995	1.19	3.17
1994	1.21	3.26
1993	1.25	3.37
1992	1.3	3.48
1991	1.3	3.62
1990	1.33	3.72
1989	1.33	3.98
1988	1.36	4.18
1987	1.33	4.35
1986	1.35	4.41
1985	1.42	4.5
1984	1.46	4.57
1983	1.51	4.63
1982	1.56	4.7
1981	1.58	4.71
1980	1.64	4.78
1979	1.73	4.82
1978	1.84	4.85
1977	1.93	4.94
1976	2.04	5.07
1975	2.17	5.19
1974	2.28	5.3
1973	2.3	5.41
1972	2.35	5.49
1971	2.4	5.57
1970	2.38	5.63
1969	2.47	5.72
1968	2.46	5.78
1967	2.5	5.85
1966	2.58	5.91
1965	2.6	5.89
1964	2.66	5.96
1963	2.51	6.01
1962	2.46	6.05
1961	2.44	6.08
1960	2.4	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Italy was 1.2 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 Italy vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Italy

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Italy	South Africa
2023	-283,125	602,793
2022	-318,674	603,636
2021	-301,579	456,411
2020	-338,801	595,873
2019	-215,025	652,130
2018	-192,475	648,319
2017	-192,007	645,975
2016	-138,265	641,365
2015	-162,620	668,771
2014	-96,513	674,754
2013	-90,468	652,427
2012	-78,248	643,723
2011	-48,021	601,708
2010	-23,928	566,834
2009	-17,866	554,115
2008	-11,842	595,332
2007	-5,876	503,567
2006	0	487,584
2005	-17,450	464,464
2004	11,566	442,540
2003	-40,179	415,018
2002	-22,836	430,926
2001	-11,396	484,801
2000	-17,082	526,963
1999	-22,766	594,643
1998	-39,835	627,027
1997	-22,756	667,969
1996	-22,744	710,868
1995	-34,107	743,488
1994	-17,053	698,609
1993	0	789,220
1992	22,718	794,415
1991	11,352	827,296
1990	22,688	835,421
1989	28,336	884,629
1988	33,977	909,221
1987	16,980	922,330
1986	11,319	903,644
1985	28,297	893,889
1984	50,919	869,011
1983	33,939	837,013
1982	79,161	807,550
1981	73,452	767,833
1980	84,650	738,415
1979	129,531	716,541
1978	168,465	694,341
1977	190,248	680,929
1976	228,445	675,011
1975	271,660	667,862
1974	336,176	658,438
1973	328,508	651,596
1972	364,355	638,754
1971	383,922	624,761
1970	376,753	605,102
1969	390,827	590,794
1968	399,268	571,841
1967	439,074	553,741
1966	488,427	534,862
1965	474,222	506,632
1964	527,089	490,606
1963	440,767	473,821
1962	427,387	455,634
1961	459,880	437,851
1960	426,697	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 -0.48% in Italy and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.38% in Italy and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Italy vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Italy

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Italy	South Africa
2023	6.4	18.8
2022	6.7	19.1
2021	6.8	19.4
2020	6.8	19.5
2019	7	19.7
2018	7.3	19.9
2017	7.6	20
2016	7.9	20.3
2015	8.1	21
2014	8.3	21.8
2013	8.5	21.9
2012	8.9	22.1
2011	9.1	22.1
2010	9.4	22.2
2009	9.6	22.8
2008	9.7	24.3
2007	9.6	23.1
2006	9.6	23.1
2005	9.5	22.7
2004	9.7	22.1
2003	9.5	21.4
2002	9.4	20.9
2001	9.4	21.3
2000	9.5	21.6
1999	9.4	22.7
1998	9.3	23.2
1997	9.4	23.9
1996	9.3	24.9
1995	9.2	25.6
1994	9.4	24.6
1993	9.7	26.6
1992	10	27
1991	9.9	28.1
1990	10	28.7
1989	9.9	30.6
1988	10.1	32
1987	9.7	33.2
1986	9.8	33.6
1985	10.2	34.2
1984	10.4	34.5
1983	10.6	34.6
1982	10.9	34.8
1981	11	34.6
1980	11.3	34.7
1979	11.9	34.9
1978	12.6	35.1
1977	13.2	35.6
1976	14	36.3
1975	14.9	37
1974	15.8	37.7
1973	16	38.4
1972	16.3	38.9
1971	16.8	39.3
1970	16.7	39.4
1969	17.4	39.7
1968	17.5	39.8
1967	17.9	39.9
1966	18.7	40
1965	19	39.5
1964	19.7	39.6
1963	18.7	39.7
1962	18.4	39.7
1961	18.4	39.7
1960	18.1	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6.4 in Italy and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 18.1 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Italy

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Italy	South Africa
2100	11.1%	17.9%
2099	11.1%	18%
2098	11.1%	18%
2097	11.1%	18.1%
2096	11.1%	18.1%
2095	11.1%	18.2%
2094	11.1%	18.2%
2093	11.2%	18.3%
2092	11.2%	18.3%
2091	11.2%	18.4%
2090	11.2%	18.4%
2089	11.3%	18.5%
2088	11.3%	18.5%
2087	11.3%	18.6%
2086	11.3%	18.6%
2085	11.3%	18.7%
2084	11.3%	18.7%
2083	11.3%	18.8%
2082	11.3%	18.9%
2081	11.2%	18.9%
2080	11.2%	19%
2079	11.2%	19%
2078	11.1%	19.1%
2077	11.1%	19.2%
2076	11%	19.3%
2075	10.9%	19.3%
2074	10.9%	19.4%
2073	10.8%	19.5%
2072	10.8%	19.6%
2071	10.7%	19.6%
2070	10.7%	19.7%
2069	10.6%	19.8%
2068	10.6%	19.9%
2067	10.6%	20%
2066	10.5%	20.1%
2065	10.5%	20.2%
2064	10.5%	20.3%
2063	10.6%	20.4%
2062	10.6%	20.5%
2061	10.6%	20.6%
2060	10.6%	20.7%
2059	10.7%	20.8%
2058	10.7%	20.9%
2057	10.8%	21%
2056	10.8%	21.1%
2055	10.8%	21.1%
2054	10.9%	21.2%
2053	10.9%	21.3%
2052	10.9%	21.4%
2051	10.9%	21.5%
2050	10.9%	21.6%
2049	10.9%	21.7%
2048	10.8%	21.8%
2047	10.8%	21.9%
2046	10.7%	22%
2045	10.7%	22.1%
2044	10.6%	22.3%
2043	10.6%	22.4%
2042	10.5%	22.6%
2041	10.5%	22.8%
2040	10.4%	23%
2039	10.4%	23.3%
2038	10.3%	23.5%
2037	10.3%	23.7%
2036	10.3%	24.1%
2035	10.3%	24.4%
2034	10.4%	24.7%
2033	10.4%	24.9%
2032	10.5%	25%
2031	10.7%	25.1%
2030	10.8%	25.2%
2029	11%	25.3%
2028	11.1%	25.4%
2027	11.3%	25.5%
2026	11.5%	25.6%
2025	11.8%	25.8%
2024	11.9%	25.9%
2023	12.1%	26.1%
2022	12.4%	26.3%
2021	12.6%	26.6%
2020	12.8%	27%
2019	13%	27.4%
2018	13.2%	27.9%
2017	13.4%	28.3%
2016	13.6%	28.3%
2015	13.7%	28.3%
2014	13.8%	28.5%
2013	13.9%	28.7%
2012	14%	28.9%
2011	14%	29.1%
2010	14%	29.4%
2009	14%	29.7%
2008	14%	29.9%
2007	14%	30.2%
2006	14.1%	30.6%
2005	14.1%	31.1%
2004	14.2%	31.6%
2003	14.2%	32.3%
2002	14.2%	33.2%
2001	14.2%	34%
2000	14.3%	34.9%
1999	14.3%	35.7%
1998	14.3%	36.5%
1997	14.4%	37.2%
1996	14.5%	37.5%
1995	14.6%	37.5%
1994	14.8%	37.2%
1993	15%	37.3%
1992	15.2%	37.6%
1991	15.8%	37.5%
1990	16.5%	37.7%
1989	17%	38.1%
1988	17.5%	38.4%
1987	18.1%	38.7%
1986	18.7%	38.9%
1985	19.3%	39.2%
1984	19.9%	39.5%
1983	20.5%	39.8%
1982	21.1%	40.1%
1981	21.6%	40.5%
1980	22.3%	40.9%
1979	22.8%	41.3%
1978	23.4%	41.5%
1977	23.7%	41.7%
1976	24.1%	41.8%
1975	24.3%	41.9%
1974	24.5%	42%
1973	24.6%	42.1%
1972	24.6%	42.2%
1971	24.6%	42.2%
1970	24.7%	42.3%
1969	24.7%	42.2%
1968	24.6%	42.2%
1967	24.6%	42.2%
1966	24.5%	42.1%
1965	24.5%	42.1%
1964	24.5%	42.1%
1963	24.5%	42.1%
1962	24.7%	42.1%
1961	25%	42.1%
1960	25%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.9% of the population in Italy and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 16.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Italy and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Italy vs South Africa

Chart Table

Italy

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Italy	South Africa
2023	6	118
2022	10	129
2021	7	191
2020	8	118
2019	7	119
2018	7	128
2017	8	134
2016	8	141
2015	8	150
2014	8	162
2013	8	180
2012	8	194
2011	8	202
2010	8	226
2009	8	241
2008	7	272
2007	7	272
2006	7	283
2005	8	279
2004	8	259
2003	8	245
2002	10	225
2001	10	192
2000	11	175
1999	11	151
1998	12	152
1997	13	152
1996	14	150
1995	15	125
1994	15	133
1993	16	145
1992	17	152
1991	18	162
1990	18	170
1989	19	177
1988	20	184
1987	21	192
1986	22	200
1985	22	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Italy, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Italy

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Italy	South Africa
2023	0.28%	3.47%
2022	0.28%	3.44%
2021	0.29%	3.41%
2020	0.3%	3.41%
2019	0.31%	3.45%
2018	0.32%	3.49%
2017	0.33%	3.58%
2016	0.34%	3.68%
2015	0.35%	3.82%
2014	0.36%	3.96%
2013	0.37%	4.1%
2012	0.38%	4.25%
2011	0.39%	4.5%
2010	0.4%	5%
2009	0.41%	5.7%
2008	0.41%	6.42%
2007	0.42%	7.19%
2006	0.43%	7.75%
2005	0.45%	8.03%
2004	0.46%	8.1%
2003	0.48%	7.93%
2002	0.51%	7.69%
2001	0.53%	7.43%
2000	0.56%	7.11%
1999	0.59%	6.85%
1998	0.62%	6.56%
1997	0.66%	6.29%
1996	0.7%	6.11%
1995	0.75%	5.95%
1994	0.8%	5.82%
1993	0.85%	5.7%
1992	0.89%	5.66%
1991	0.93%	5.7%
1990	0.97%	5.82%
1989	1%	6.01%
1988	1.04%	6.26%
1987	1.08%	6.56%
1986	1.14%	6.89%
1985	1.2%	7.24%
1984	1.27%	7.6%
1983	1.35%	7.98%
1982	1.43%	8.39%
1981	1.52%	8.84%
1980	1.61%	9.35%
1979	1.7%	9.88%
1978	1.82%	10.5%
1977	1.95%	11.1%
1976	2.11%	11.8%
1975	2.31%	12.5%
1974	2.53%	13.2%
1973	2.76%	-
1972	2.98%	-
1971	3.18%	-
1970	3.36%	-
1969	3.51%	-
1968	3.64%	-
1967	3.78%	-
1966	3.93%	-
1965	4.11%	-
1964	4.31%	-
1963	4.53%	-
1962	4.76%	-
1961	4.98%	-
1960	5.19%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.28% in Italy and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.