Fertility & birth rates in Japan and South Africa

Fertility rate in Japan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Japan	South Africa
2023	1.2	2.22
2022	1.26	2.23
2021	1.3	2.25
2020	1.33	2.26
2019	1.36	2.26
2018	1.42	2.27
2017	1.43	2.28
2016	1.44	2.26
2015	1.45	2.36
2014	1.42	2.42
2013	1.43	2.43
2012	1.41	2.45
2011	1.39	2.44
2010	1.39	2.44
2009	1.37	2.5
2008	1.37	2.68
2007	1.34	2.55
2006	1.32	2.55
2005	1.26	2.51
2004	1.29	2.44
2003	1.29	2.36
2002	1.32	2.32
2001	1.33	2.37
2000	1.36	2.41
1999	1.34	2.56
1998	1.38	2.63
1997	1.39	2.73
1996	1.43	2.99
1995	1.42	3.17
1994	1.5	3.26
1993	1.46	3.37
1992	1.5	3.48
1991	1.53	3.62
1990	1.54	3.72
1989	1.57	3.98
1988	1.66	4.18
1987	1.69	4.35
1986	1.72	4.41
1985	1.76	4.5
1984	1.81	4.57
1983	1.8	4.63
1982	1.77	4.7
1981	1.74	4.71
1980	1.75	4.78
1979	1.77	4.82
1978	1.79	4.85
1977	1.8	4.94
1976	1.85	5.07
1975	1.91	5.19
1974	2.05	5.3
1973	2.14	5.41
1972	2.14	5.49
1971	2.16	5.57
1970	2.13	5.63
1969	2.13	5.72
1968	2.13	5.78
1967	2.23	5.85
1966	1.58	5.91
1965	2.14	5.89
1964	2.05	5.96
1963	2	6.01
1962	1.98	6.05
1961	1.96	6.08
1960	2	6.11

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Japan	South Africa
2023	-871,617	602,793
2022	-825,825	603,636
2021	-640,976	456,411
2020	-542,923	595,873
2019	-531,858	652,130
2018	-456,520	648,319
2017	-406,310	645,975
2016	-343,106	641,365
2015	-292,424	668,771
2014	-267,279	674,754
2013	-242,146	652,427
2012	-229,733	643,723
2011	-204,533	601,708
2010	-128,070	566,834
2009	-76,828	554,115
2008	-51,225	595,332
2007	-25,600	503,567
2006	12,785	487,584
2005	-25,554	464,464
2004	76,656	442,540
2003	114,946	415,018
2002	178,423	430,926
2001	203,438	484,801
2000	228,317	526,963
1999	202,610	594,643
1998	265,440	627,027
1997	277,325	667,969
1996	314,392	710,868
1995	276,039	743,488
1994	363,017	698,609
1993	312,073	789,220
1992	360,833	794,415
1991	396,685	827,296
1990	407,478	835,421
1989	467,662	884,629
1988	527,085	909,221
1987	598,138	922,330
1986	631,706	903,644
1985	676,687	893,889
1984	756,523	869,011
1983	775,495	837,013
1982	805,664	807,550
1981	811,861	767,833
1980	864,372	738,415
1979	950,298	716,541
1978	1,011,234	694,341
1977	1,070,397	680,929
1976	1,127,750	675,011
1975	1,204,989	667,862
1974	1,332,960	658,438
1973	1,391,449	651,596
1972	1,372,006	638,754
1971	1,331,782	624,761
1970	1,230,496	605,102
1969	1,195,962	590,794
1968	1,191,930	571,841
1967	1,258,475	553,741
1966	682,072	534,862
1965	1,126,448	506,632
1964	1,046,553	490,606
1963	987,770	473,821
1962	901,864	455,634
1961	893,522	437,851
1960	894,874	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 -0.7% in Japan and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.41% in Japan and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Japan vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Japan

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Japan	South Africa
2023	6	18.8
2022	6.3	19.1
2021	6.6	19.4
2020	6.8	19.5
2019	7	19.7
2018	7.4	19.9
2017	7.6	20
2016	7.8	20.3
2015	8	21
2014	8	21.8
2013	8.2	21.9
2012	8.2	22.1
2011	8.3	22.1
2010	8.5	22.2
2009	8.5	22.8
2008	8.7	24.3
2007	8.6	23.1
2006	8.7	23.1
2005	8.4	22.7
2004	8.8	22.1
2003	8.9	21.4
2002	9.2	20.9
2001	9.3	21.3
2000	9.5	21.6
1999	9.4	22.7
1998	9.6	23.2
1997	9.5	23.9
1996	9.7	24.9
1995	9.6	25.6
1994	10	24.6
1993	9.6	26.6
1992	9.8	27
1991	9.9	28.1
1990	10	28.7
1989	10.2	30.6
1988	10.8	32
1987	11.1	33.2
1986	11.4	33.6
1985	11.9	34.2
1984	12.5	34.5
1983	12.7	34.6
1982	12.8	34.8
1981	13	34.6
1980	13.6	34.7
1979	14.2	34.9
1978	14.9	35.1
1977	15.5	35.6
1976	16.3	36.3
1975	17.1	37
1974	18.6	37.7
1973	19.4	38.4
1972	19.3	38.9
1971	19.2	39.3
1970	18.8	39.4
1969	18.5	39.7
1968	18.6	39.8
1967	19.4	39.9
1966	13.7	40
1965	18.6	39.5
1964	17.7	39.6
1963	17.3	39.7
1962	17	39.7
1961	16.9	39.7
1960	17.2	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 6 in Japan and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 17.2 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Japan

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Japan	South Africa
2100	11.5%	17.9%
2099	11.5%	18%
2098	11.5%	18%
2097	11.5%	18.1%
2096	11.6%	18.1%
2095	11.6%	18.2%
2094	11.6%	18.2%
2093	11.7%	18.3%
2092	11.7%	18.3%
2091	11.8%	18.4%
2090	11.8%	18.4%
2089	11.8%	18.5%
2088	11.8%	18.5%
2087	11.9%	18.6%
2086	11.9%	18.6%
2085	11.8%	18.7%
2084	11.8%	18.7%
2083	11.8%	18.8%
2082	11.8%	18.9%
2081	11.7%	18.9%
2080	11.6%	19%
2079	11.6%	19%
2078	11.5%	19.1%
2077	11.4%	19.2%
2076	11.3%	19.3%
2075	11.2%	19.3%
2074	11.1%	19.4%
2073	11.1%	19.5%
2072	11%	19.6%
2071	10.9%	19.6%
2070	10.9%	19.7%
2069	10.8%	19.8%
2068	10.8%	19.9%
2067	10.8%	20%
2066	10.8%	20.1%
2065	10.8%	20.2%
2064	10.8%	20.3%
2063	10.8%	20.4%
2062	10.9%	20.5%
2061	10.9%	20.6%
2060	11%	20.7%
2059	11%	20.8%
2058	11.1%	20.9%
2057	11.1%	21%
2056	11.2%	21.1%
2055	11.2%	21.1%
2054	11.3%	21.2%
2053	11.3%	21.3%
2052	11.3%	21.4%
2051	11.3%	21.5%
2050	11.2%	21.6%
2049	11.2%	21.7%
2048	11.1%	21.8%
2047	11.1%	21.9%
2046	11%	22%
2045	10.9%	22.1%
2044	10.8%	22.3%
2043	10.7%	22.4%
2042	10.6%	22.6%
2041	10.5%	22.8%
2040	10.4%	23%
2039	10.3%	23.3%
2038	10.2%	23.5%
2037	10.1%	23.7%
2036	10.1%	24.1%
2035	10.1%	24.4%
2034	10.1%	24.7%
2033	10.1%	24.9%
2032	10.2%	25%
2031	10.3%	25.1%
2030	10.5%	25.2%
2029	10.6%	25.3%
2028	10.8%	25.4%
2027	11%	25.5%
2026	11.1%	25.6%
2025	11.3%	25.8%
2024	11.4%	25.9%
2023	11.6%	26.1%
2022	11.9%	26.3%
2021	12%	26.6%
2020	12.2%	27%
2019	12.4%	27.4%
2018	12.5%	27.9%
2017	12.6%	28.3%
2016	12.7%	28.3%
2015	12.8%	28.3%
2014	13%	28.5%
2013	13.1%	28.7%
2012	13.2%	28.9%
2011	13.3%	29.1%
2010	13.4%	29.4%
2009	13.5%	29.7%
2008	13.5%	29.9%
2007	13.6%	30.2%
2006	13.7%	30.6%
2005	13.8%	31.1%
2004	13.8%	31.6%
2003	13.9%	32.3%
2002	14.1%	33.2%
2001	14.2%	34%
2000	14.4%	34.9%
1999	14.6%	35.7%
1998	14.8%	36.5%
1997	15.1%	37.2%
1996	15.3%	37.5%
1995	15.6%	37.5%
1994	16%	37.2%
1993	16.4%	37.3%
1992	16.9%	37.6%
1991	17.4%	37.5%
1990	18%	37.7%
1989	18.8%	38.1%
1988	19.5%	38.4%
1987	20.3%	38.7%
1986	21%	38.9%
1985	21.7%	39.2%
1984	22.2%	39.5%
1983	22.6%	39.8%
1982	23.1%	40.1%
1981	23.3%	40.5%
1980	23.4%	40.9%
1979	23.7%	41.3%
1978	23.8%	41.5%
1977	23.9%	41.7%
1976	23.9%	41.8%
1975	23.8%	41.9%
1974	23.8%	42%
1973	23.6%	42.1%
1972	23.4%	42.2%
1971	23.3%	42.2%
1970	23.3%	42.3%
1969	23.4%	42.2%
1968	23.5%	42.2%
1967	23.8%	42.2%
1966	24.4%	42.1%
1965	25.1%	42.1%
1964	25.8%	42.1%
1963	26.8%	42.1%
1962	28%	42.1%
1961	29.1%	42.1%
1960	29.8%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.4% of the population in Japan and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 18% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Japan and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Japan vs South Africa

Chart Table

Japan

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Japan	South Africa
2023	3	118
2022	5	129
2021	4	191
2020	4	118
2019	5	119
2018	5	128
2017	5	134
2016	5	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	7	283
2005	7	279
2004	7	259
2003	8	245
2002	8	225
2001	8	192
2000	9	175
1999	9	151
1998	10	152
1997	10	152
1996	11	150
1995	11	125
1994	11	133
1993	12	145
1992	13	152
1991	13	162
1990	14	170
1989	15	177
1988	16	184
1987	17	192
1986	18	200
1985	19	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 Japan, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Japan

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Japan	South Africa
2023	0.24%	3.47%
2022	0.24%	3.44%
2021	0.24%	3.41%
2020	0.24%	3.41%
2019	0.25%	3.45%
2018	0.25%	3.49%
2017	0.26%	3.58%
2016	0.27%	3.68%
2015	0.28%	3.82%
2014	0.29%	3.96%
2013	0.3%	4.1%
2012	0.31%	4.25%
2011	0.33%	4.5%
2010	0.33%	5%
2009	0.34%	5.7%
2008	0.34%	6.42%
2007	0.35%	7.19%
2006	0.36%	7.75%
2005	0.37%	8.03%
2004	0.39%	8.1%
2003	0.4%	7.93%
2002	0.41%	7.69%
2001	0.43%	7.43%
2000	0.45%	7.11%
1999	0.47%	6.85%
1998	0.5%	6.56%
1997	0.52%	6.29%
1996	0.55%	6.11%
1995	0.57%	5.95%
1994	0.59%	5.82%
1993	0.6%	5.7%
1992	0.61%	5.66%
1991	0.62%	5.7%
1990	0.63%	5.82%
1989	0.64%	6.01%
1988	0.66%	6.26%
1987	0.68%	6.56%
1986	0.71%	6.89%
1985	0.75%	7.24%
1984	0.79%	7.6%
1983	0.83%	7.98%
1982	0.88%	8.39%
1981	0.93%	8.84%
1980	0.99%	9.35%
1979	1.05%	9.88%
1978	1.11%	10.5%
1977	1.18%	11.1%
1976	1.25%	11.8%
1975	1.33%	12.5%
1974	1.41%	13.2%
1973	1.49%	-
1972	1.57%	-
1971	1.65%	-
1970	1.75%	-
1969	1.85%	-
1968	1.96%	-
1967	2.1%	-
1966	2.26%	-
1965	2.46%	-
1964	2.7%	-
1963	2.98%	-
1962	3.29%	-
1961	3.62%	-
1960	3.97%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Japan and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.