Fertility & birth rates in Jamaica and South Africa

Fertility rate in Jamaica vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Jamaica

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Jamaica	South Africa
2023	1.36	2.22
2022	1.37	2.23
2021	1.38	2.25
2020	1.38	2.26
2019	1.39	2.26
2018	1.4	2.27
2017	1.43	2.28
2016	1.46	2.26
2015	1.51	2.36
2014	1.54	2.42
2013	1.59	2.43
2012	1.65	2.45
2011	1.72	2.44
2010	1.8	2.44
2009	1.88	2.5
2008	1.95	2.68
2007	2.02	2.55
2006	2.09	2.55
2005	2.15	2.51
2004	2.2	2.44
2003	2.24	2.36
2002	2.27	2.32
2001	2.3	2.37
2000	2.35	2.41
1999	2.47	2.56
1998	2.57	2.63
1997	2.68	2.73
1996	2.77	2.99
1995	2.85	3.17
1994	2.93	3.26
1993	2.99	3.37
1992	3.03	3.48
1991	3	3.62
1990	2.96	3.72
1989	2.93	3.98
1988	2.98	4.18
1987	3.02	4.35
1986	3.11	4.41
1985	3.21	4.5
1984	3.32	4.57
1983	3.41	4.63
1982	3.46	4.7
1981	3.51	4.71
1980	3.59	4.78
1979	3.72	4.82
1978	3.84	4.85
1977	4	4.94
1976	4.21	5.07
1975	4.44	5.19
1974	4.67	5.3
1973	5	5.41
1972	5.06	5.49
1971	5.21	5.57
1970	5.35	5.63
1969	5.47	5.72
1968	5.58	5.78
1967	5.67	5.85
1966	5.69	5.91
1965	5.72	5.89
1964	5.79	5.96
1963	5.73	6.01
1962	5.64	6.05
1961	5.6	6.08
1960	5.54	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Jamaica was 1.36 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 Jamaica vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Jamaica

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Jamaica	South Africa
2023	10,072	602,793
2022	11,215	603,636
2021	6,382	456,411
2020	12,170	595,873
2019	13,094	652,130
2018	13,929	648,319
2017	15,419	645,975
2016	16,944	641,365
2015	18,489	668,771
2014	19,751	674,754
2013	21,037	652,427
2012	22,320	643,723
2011	23,627	601,708
2010	25,031	566,834
2009	26,311	554,115
2008	27,553	595,332
2007	28,886	503,567
2006	30,213	487,584
2005	31,506	464,464
2004	32,500	442,540
2003	33,340	415,018
2002	33,572	430,926
2001	33,666	484,801
2000	34,452	526,963
1999	36,649	594,643
1998	38,628	627,027
1997	40,521	667,969
1996	42,297	710,868
1995	43,705	743,488
1994	45,210	698,609
1993	46,090	789,220
1992	46,494	794,415
1991	45,617	827,296
1990	44,465	835,421
1989	43,591	884,629
1988	43,978	909,221
1987	44,155	922,330
1986	44,520	903,644
1985	45,122	893,889
1984	45,644	869,011
1983	45,095	837,013
1982	43,816	807,550
1981	42,898	767,833
1980	42,316	738,415
1979	42,449	716,541
1978	42,475	694,341
1977	42,999	680,929
1976	43,878	675,011
1975	44,736	667,862
1974	45,526	658,438
1973	47,438	651,596
1972	46,676	638,754
1971	47,206	624,761
1970	47,547	605,102
1969	48,258	590,794
1968	49,189	571,841
1967	50,187	553,741
1966	50,808	534,862
1965	51,423	506,632
1964	52,501	490,606
1963	52,277	473,821
1962	51,758	455,634
1961	51,931	437,851
1960	51,944	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 +0.35% in Jamaica and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.49% in Jamaica and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Jamaica vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Jamaica

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Jamaica	South Africa
2023	11.6	18.8
2022	11.9	19.1
2021	12	19.4
2020	12	19.5
2019	12.2	19.7
2018	12.3	19.9
2017	12.6	20
2016	12.9	20.3
2015	13.3	21
2014	13.6	21.8
2013	14	21.9
2012	14.4	22.1
2011	14.9	22.1
2010	15.6	22.2
2009	16.2	22.8
2008	16.7	24.3
2007	17.3	23.1
2006	17.9	23.1
2005	18.4	22.7
2004	18.8	22.1
2003	19.2	21.4
2002	19.4	20.9
2001	19.7	21.3
2000	20.1	21.6
1999	21.2	22.7
1998	22.2	23.2
1997	23.1	23.9
1996	24	24.9
1995	24.8	25.6
1994	25.6	24.6
1993	26.2	26.6
1992	26.7	27
1991	26.5	28.1
1990	26.2	28.7
1989	25.9	30.6
1988	26.3	32
1987	26.6	33.2
1986	27.1	33.6
1985	27.7	34.2
1984	28.3	34.5
1983	28.6	34.6
1982	28.4	34.8
1981	28.3	34.6
1980	28.3	34.7
1979	28.6	34.9
1978	28.7	35.1
1977	29.2	35.6
1976	29.8	36.3
1975	30.5	37
1974	31.3	37.7
1973	32.6	38.4
1972	32.6	38.9
1971	33.1	39.3
1970	33.8	39.4
1969	34.5	39.7
1968	35.4	39.8
1967	36.3	39.9
1966	37	40
1965	37.8	39.5
1964	38.9	39.6
1963	39.2	39.7
1962	39.4	39.7
1961	40	39.7
1960	40.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11.6 in Jamaica and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 40.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Jamaica

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Jamaica	South Africa
2100	10.7%	17.9%
2099	10.7%	18%
2098	10.7%	18%
2097	10.7%	18.1%
2096	10.6%	18.1%
2095	10.6%	18.2%
2094	10.6%	18.2%
2093	10.6%	18.3%
2092	10.5%	18.3%
2091	10.5%	18.4%
2090	10.5%	18.4%
2089	10.5%	18.5%
2088	10.5%	18.5%
2087	10.5%	18.6%
2086	10.5%	18.6%
2085	10.4%	18.7%
2084	10.4%	18.7%
2083	10.4%	18.8%
2082	10.4%	18.9%
2081	10.5%	18.9%
2080	10.5%	19%
2079	10.5%	19%
2078	10.5%	19.1%
2077	10.5%	19.2%
2076	10.5%	19.3%
2075	10.6%	19.3%
2074	10.6%	19.4%
2073	10.6%	19.5%
2072	10.6%	19.6%
2071	10.7%	19.6%
2070	10.7%	19.7%
2069	10.8%	19.8%
2068	10.8%	19.9%
2067	10.8%	20%
2066	10.9%	20.1%
2065	11%	20.2%
2064	11%	20.3%
2063	11.1%	20.4%
2062	11.2%	20.5%
2061	11.2%	20.6%
2060	11.3%	20.7%
2059	11.4%	20.8%
2058	11.5%	20.9%
2057	11.6%	21%
2056	11.7%	21.1%
2055	11.8%	21.1%
2054	12%	21.2%
2053	12.1%	21.3%
2052	12.2%	21.4%
2051	12.4%	21.5%
2050	12.6%	21.6%
2049	12.7%	21.7%
2048	12.9%	21.8%
2047	13.1%	21.9%
2046	13.3%	22%
2045	13.5%	22.1%
2044	13.7%	22.3%
2043	13.9%	22.4%
2042	14.1%	22.6%
2041	14.3%	22.8%
2040	14.5%	23%
2039	14.7%	23.3%
2038	14.9%	23.5%
2037	15.2%	23.7%
2036	15.4%	24.1%
2035	15.6%	24.4%
2034	15.8%	24.7%
2033	16.1%	24.9%
2032	16.3%	25%
2031	16.5%	25.1%
2030	16.8%	25.2%
2029	17.1%	25.3%
2028	17.4%	25.4%
2027	17.7%	25.5%
2026	18.1%	25.6%
2025	18.5%	25.8%
2024	18.7%	25.9%
2023	19.1%	26.1%
2022	19.6%	26.3%
2021	20%	26.6%
2020	20.6%	27%
2019	21.1%	27.4%
2018	21.7%	27.9%
2017	22.3%	28.3%
2016	22.8%	28.3%
2015	23.4%	28.3%
2014	24%	28.5%
2013	24.7%	28.7%
2012	25.4%	28.9%
2011	26.2%	29.1%
2010	26.9%	29.4%
2009	27.7%	29.7%
2008	28.5%	29.9%
2007	29.3%	30.2%
2006	30%	30.6%
2005	30.6%	31.1%
2004	31.2%	31.6%
2003	31.7%	32.3%
2002	32.2%	33.2%
2001	32.7%	34%
2000	33.2%	34.9%
1999	33.8%	35.7%
1998	34.2%	36.5%
1997	34.6%	37.2%
1996	34.9%	37.5%
1995	35.1%	37.5%
1994	35.2%	37.2%
1993	35.3%	37.3%
1992	35.4%	37.6%
1991	35.5%	37.5%
1990	35.8%	37.7%
1989	36.1%	38.1%
1988	36.5%	38.4%
1987	36.8%	38.7%
1986	37.2%	38.9%
1985	37.5%	39.2%
1984	37.9%	39.5%
1983	38.2%	39.8%
1982	38.7%	40.1%
1981	39.2%	40.5%
1980	39.8%	40.9%
1979	40.4%	41.3%
1978	41%	41.5%
1977	41.7%	41.7%
1976	42.3%	41.8%
1975	42.9%	41.9%
1974	43.5%	42%
1973	44%	42.1%
1972	44.4%	42.2%
1971	44.8%	42.2%
1970	45%	42.3%
1969	45%	42.2%
1968	44.9%	42.2%
1967	44.6%	42.2%
1966	44.3%	42.1%
1965	43.9%	42.1%
1964	43.3%	42.1%
1963	42.7%	42.1%
1962	42.2%	42.1%
1961	41.7%	42.1%
1960	41.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.7% of the population in Jamaica and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 35.8% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Jamaica and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Jamaica vs South Africa

Chart Table

Jamaica

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Jamaica	South Africa
2023	130	118
2022	138	129
2021	186	191
2020	126	118
2019	120	119
2018	112	128
2017	106	134
2016	102	141
2015	100	150
2014	100	162
2013	94	180
2012	89	194
2011	89	202
2010	94	226
2009	93	241
2008	91	272
2007	89	272
2006	89	283
2005	81	279
2004	77	259
2003	79	245
2002	81	225
2001	82	192
2000	82	175
1999	81	151
1998	80	152
1997	79	152
1996	77	150
1995	74	125
1994	71	133
1993	67	145
1992	62	152
1991	58	162
1990	54	170
1989	50	177
1988	48	184
1987	46	192
1986	45	200
1985	45	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 130 deaths per 100,000 live births in Jamaica, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Jamaica

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Jamaica	South Africa
2023	1.93%	3.47%
2022	1.93%	3.44%
2021	1.91%	3.41%
2020	1.9%	3.41%
2019	1.88%	3.45%
2018	1.87%	3.49%
2017	1.86%	3.58%
2016	1.86%	3.68%
2015	1.87%	3.82%
2014	1.87%	3.96%
2013	1.88%	4.1%
2012	1.89%	4.25%
2011	1.9%	4.5%
2010	1.91%	5%
2009	1.91%	5.7%
2008	1.92%	6.42%
2007	1.92%	7.19%
2006	1.91%	7.75%
2005	1.92%	8.03%
2004	1.92%	8.1%
2003	1.94%	7.93%
2002	1.97%	7.69%
2001	2%	7.43%
2000	2.06%	7.11%
1999	2.12%	6.85%
1998	2.19%	6.56%
1997	2.27%	6.29%
1996	2.35%	6.11%
1995	2.43%	5.95%
1994	2.51%	5.82%
1993	2.58%	5.7%
1992	2.66%	5.66%
1991	2.73%	5.7%
1990	2.8%	5.82%
1989	2.88%	6.01%
1988	2.96%	6.26%
1987	3.04%	6.56%
1986	3.13%	6.89%
1985	3.22%	7.24%
1984	3.32%	7.6%
1983	3.43%	7.98%
1982	3.54%	8.39%
1981	3.66%	8.84%
1980	3.78%	9.35%
1979	3.92%	9.88%
1978	4.06%	10.5%
1977	4.21%	11.1%
1976	4.37%	11.8%
1975	4.55%	12.5%
1974	4.74%	13.2%
1973	4.95%	-
1972	5.18%	-
1971	5.41%	-
1970	5.64%	-
1969	5.87%	-
1968	6.08%	-
1967	6.28%	-
1966	6.49%	-
1965	6.69%	-
1964	6.91%	-
1963	7.17%	-
1962	7.45%	-
1961	7.79%	-
1960	8.17%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.93% in Jamaica and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.