Fertility & birth rates in Latvia and South Africa

Fertility rate in Latvia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Latvia

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Latvia	South Africa
2023	1.36	2.22
2022	1.47	2.23
2021	1.57	2.25
2020	1.55	2.26
2019	1.61	2.26
2018	1.6	2.27
2017	1.69	2.28
2016	1.74	2.26
2015	1.7	2.36
2014	1.65	2.42
2013	1.52	2.43
2012	1.44	2.45
2011	1.33	2.44
2010	1.36	2.44
2009	1.46	2.5
2008	1.58	2.68
2007	1.54	2.55
2006	1.46	2.55
2005	1.39	2.51
2004	1.29	2.44
2003	1.32	2.36
2002	1.26	2.32
2001	1.22	2.37
2000	1.25	2.41
1999	1.16	2.56
1998	1.09	2.63
1997	1.11	2.73
1996	1.16	2.99
1995	1.25	3.17
1994	1.39	3.26
1993	1.51	3.37
1992	1.73	3.48
1991	1.86	3.62
1990	2.02	3.72
1989	2.05	3.98
1988	2.11	4.18
1987	2.15	4.35
1986	2.12	4.41
1985	2.08	4.5
1984	2.09	4.57
1983	2.07	4.63
1982	1.97	4.7
1981	1.88	4.71
1980	1.86	4.78
1979	1.87	4.82
1978	1.87	4.85
1977	1.89	4.94
1976	1.93	5.07
1975	1.96	5.19
1974	1.97	5.3
1973	1.98	5.41
1972	2	5.49
1971	2	5.57
1970	1.96	5.63
1969	1.88	5.72
1968	1.83	5.78
1967	1.8	5.85
1966	1.76	5.91
1965	1.74	5.89
1964	1.79	5.96
1963	1.85	6.01
1962	1.91	6.05
1961	1.94	6.08
1960	1.94	6.11

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Latvia

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Latvia	South Africa
2023	-13,563	602,793
2022	-14,847	603,636
2021	-17,337	456,411
2020	-11,402	595,873
2019	-8,995	652,130
2018	-9,636	648,319
2017	-7,963	645,975
2016	-6,663	641,365
2015	-6,526	668,771
2014	-6,779	674,754
2013	-8,252	652,427
2012	-9,154	643,723
2011	-9,886	601,708
2010	-10,278	566,834
2009	-7,924	554,115
2008	-6,531	595,332
2007	-9,021	503,567
2006	-10,204	487,584
2005	-10,746	464,464
2004	-11,542	442,540
2003	-11,439	415,018
2002	-12,475	430,926
2001	-13,322	484,801
2000	-11,838	526,963
1999	-13,387	594,643
1998	-15,906	627,027
1997	-14,841	667,969
1996	-14,498	710,868
1995	-17,396	743,488
1994	-17,645	698,609
1993	-12,560	789,220
1992	-3,660	794,415
1991	0	827,296
1990	2,929	835,421
1989	6,401	884,629
1988	9,022	909,221
1987	9,981	922,330
1986	10,660	903,644
1985	5,673	893,889
1984	7,430	869,011
1983	8,147	837,013
1982	6,327	807,550
1981	3,779	767,833
1980	3,265	738,415
1979	2,506	716,541
1978	2,997	694,341
1977	3,480	680,929
1976	4,200	675,011
1975	4,913	667,862
1974	6,824	658,438
1973	6,040	651,596
1972	7,666	638,754
1971	8,793	624,761
1970	7,785	605,102
1969	6,561	590,794
1968	7,668	571,841
1967	7,825	553,741
1966	8,677	534,862
1965	8,384	506,632
1964	12,100	490,606
1963	11,055	473,821
1962	11,562	455,634
1961	14,207	437,851
1960	14,211	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 -0.72% in Latvia and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.54% in Latvia and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Latvia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Latvia

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Latvia	South Africa
2023	7.7	18.8
2022	8.5	19.1
2021	9.2	19.4
2020	9.2	19.5
2019	9.8	19.7
2018	10	19.9
2017	10.7	20
2016	11.2	20.3
2015	11.1	21
2014	10.9	21.8
2013	10.2	21.9
2012	9.8	22.1
2011	9.1	22.1
2010	9.4	22.2
2009	10.3	22.8
2008	11.2	24.3
2007	10.9	23.1
2006	10.3	23.1
2005	9.8	22.7
2004	9.1	22.1
2003	9.2	21.4
2002	8.7	20.9
2001	8.4	21.3
2000	8.6	21.6
1999	8.1	22.7
1998	7.6	23.2
1997	7.7	23.9
1996	8.1	24.9
1995	8.7	25.6
1994	9.6	24.6
1993	10.4	26.6
1992	12.1	27
1991	13.1	28.1
1990	14.2	28.7
1989	14.6	30.6
1988	15.6	32
1987	16	33.2
1986	16.1	33.6
1985	15.4	34.2
1984	15.9	34.5
1983	15.9	34.6
1982	14.8	34.8
1981	14.2	34.6
1980	14.1	34.7
1979	13.8	34.9
1978	13.7	35.1
1977	13.8	35.6
1976	14	36.3
1975	14.2	37
1974	14.3	37.7
1973	14.1	38.4
1972	14.6	38.9
1971	14.8	39.3
1970	14.6	39.4
1969	14	39.7
1968	14.1	39.8
1967	14	39.9
1966	14	40
1965	13.8	39.5
1964	14.8	39.6
1963	15.3	39.7
1962	16.1	39.7
1961	16.7	39.7
1960	16.7	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.7 in Latvia and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 16.7 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Latvia

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Latvia	South Africa
2100	10.9%	17.9%
2099	10.9%	18%
2098	11%	18%
2097	11.1%	18.1%
2096	11.2%	18.1%
2095	11.2%	18.2%
2094	11.3%	18.2%
2093	11.4%	18.3%
2092	11.5%	18.3%
2091	11.6%	18.4%
2090	11.7%	18.4%
2089	11.8%	18.5%
2088	11.9%	18.5%
2087	11.9%	18.6%
2086	11.9%	18.6%
2085	11.9%	18.7%
2084	11.9%	18.7%
2083	11.9%	18.8%
2082	11.8%	18.9%
2081	11.8%	18.9%
2080	11.7%	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	11%	19.6%
2070	11%	19.7%
2069	11.1%	19.8%
2068	11.1%	19.9%
2067	11.2%	20%
2066	11.3%	20.1%
2065	11.5%	20.2%
2064	11.6%	20.3%
2063	11.8%	20.4%
2062	12%	20.5%
2061	12.1%	20.6%
2060	12.3%	20.7%
2059	12.5%	20.8%
2058	12.6%	20.9%
2057	12.7%	21%
2056	12.8%	21.1%
2055	12.9%	21.1%
2054	12.9%	21.2%
2053	13%	21.3%
2052	12.9%	21.4%
2051	12.9%	21.5%
2050	12.8%	21.6%
2049	12.7%	21.7%
2048	12.6%	21.8%
2047	12.4%	21.9%
2046	12.3%	22%
2045	12.2%	22.1%
2044	12%	22.3%
2043	11.9%	22.4%
2042	11.8%	22.6%
2041	11.7%	22.8%
2040	11.6%	23%
2039	11.6%	23.3%
2038	11.5%	23.5%
2037	11.6%	23.7%
2036	11.8%	24.1%
2035	12%	24.4%
2034	12.3%	24.7%
2033	12.6%	24.9%
2032	13%	25%
2031	13.4%	25.1%
2030	13.9%	25.2%
2029	14.3%	25.3%
2028	14.6%	25.4%
2027	14.9%	25.5%
2026	15.1%	25.6%
2025	15.3%	25.8%
2024	15.4%	25.9%
2023	15.7%	26.1%
2022	15.9%	26.3%
2021	16%	26.6%
2020	16%	27%
2019	15.9%	27.4%
2018	15.8%	27.9%
2017	15.7%	28.3%
2016	15.4%	28.3%
2015	15.1%	28.3%
2014	14.8%	28.5%
2013	14.6%	28.7%
2012	14.4%	28.9%
2011	14.2%	29.1%
2010	14.2%	29.4%
2009	14.1%	29.7%
2008	14%	29.9%
2007	14.1%	30.2%
2006	14.4%	30.6%
2005	14.7%	31.1%
2004	15.2%	31.6%
2003	15.8%	32.3%
2002	16.4%	33.2%
2001	17%	34%
2000	17.7%	34.9%
1999	18.3%	35.7%
1998	19%	36.5%
1997	19.7%	37.2%
1996	20.2%	37.5%
1995	20.7%	37.5%
1994	21%	37.2%
1993	21.2%	37.3%
1992	21.4%	37.6%
1991	21.5%	37.5%
1990	21.5%	37.7%
1989	21.4%	38.1%
1988	21.4%	38.4%
1987	21.3%	38.7%
1986	21.3%	38.9%
1985	21.2%	39.2%
1984	21.1%	39.5%
1983	20.9%	39.8%
1982	20.8%	40.1%
1981	20.6%	40.5%
1980	20.5%	40.9%
1979	20.4%	41.3%
1978	20.5%	41.5%
1977	20.6%	41.7%
1976	20.8%	41.8%
1975	21%	41.9%
1974	21.2%	42%
1973	21.3%	42.1%
1972	21.5%	42.2%
1971	21.5%	42.2%
1970	21.6%	42.3%
1969	21.6%	42.2%
1968	21.7%	42.2%
1967	21.8%	42.2%
1966	22%	42.1%
1965	22.2%	42.1%
1964	22.4%	42.1%
1963	22.5%	42.1%
1962	22.6%	42.1%
1961	22.4%	42.1%
1960	22.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 15.4% of the population in Latvia and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 21.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Latvia and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Latvia vs South Africa

Chart Table

Latvia

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Latvia	South Africa
2023	19	118
2022	29	129
2021	42	191
2020	21	118
2019	22	119
2018	23	128
2017	23	134
2016	23	141
2015	22	150
2014	22	162
2013	24	180
2012	20	194
2011	22	202
2010	22	226
2009	24	241
2008	25	272
2007	27	272
2006	28	283
2005	27	279
2004	28	259
2003	30	245
2002	29	225
2001	32	192
2000	34	175
1999	40	151
1998	40	152
1997	41	152
1996	45	150
1995	59	125
1994	65	133
1993	57	145
1992	48	152
1991	46	162
1990	47	170
1989	46	177
1988	42	184
1987	44	192
1986	43	200
1985	51	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in Latvia, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Latvia

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Latvia	South Africa
2023	0.3%	3.47%
2022	0.32%	3.44%
2021	0.35%	3.41%
2020	0.37%	3.41%
2019	0.4%	3.45%
2018	0.42%	3.49%
2017	0.45%	3.58%
2016	0.47%	3.68%
2015	0.51%	3.82%
2014	0.55%	3.96%
2013	0.6%	4.1%
2012	0.66%	4.25%
2011	0.72%	4.5%
2010	0.78%	5%
2009	0.83%	5.7%
2008	0.88%	6.42%
2007	0.93%	7.19%
2006	0.99%	7.75%
2005	1.05%	8.03%
2004	1.12%	8.1%
2003	1.19%	7.93%
2002	1.26%	7.69%
2001	1.33%	7.43%
2000	1.42%	7.11%
1999	1.54%	6.85%
1998	1.67%	6.56%
1997	1.79%	6.29%
1996	1.9%	6.11%
1995	1.98%	5.95%
1994	2%	5.82%
1993	1.99%	5.7%
1992	1.93%	5.66%
1991	1.83%	5.7%
1990	1.7%	5.82%
1989	1.58%	6.01%
1988	1.53%	6.26%
1987	1.55%	6.56%
1986	1.64%	6.89%
1985	1.75%	7.24%
1984	1.87%	7.6%
1983	1.96%	7.98%
1982	2.03%	8.39%
1981	2.06%	8.84%
1980	2.07%	9.35%
1979	2.08%	9.88%
1978	-	10.5%
1977	-	11.1%
1976	-	11.8%
1975	-	12.5%
1974	-	13.2%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.3% in Latvia and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.