Fertility & birth rates in Lesotho and South Africa

Fertility rate in Lesotho vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Lesotho	South Africa
2023	2.69	2.22
2022	2.72	2.23
2021	2.77	2.25
2020	2.85	2.26
2019	2.92	2.26
2018	3.02	2.27
2017	3.11	2.28
2016	3.18	2.26
2015	3.22	2.36
2014	3.24	2.42
2013	3.28	2.43
2012	3.3	2.45
2011	3.34	2.44
2010	3.25	2.44
2009	3.31	2.5
2008	3.39	2.68
2007	3.44	2.55
2006	3.41	2.55
2005	3.43	2.51
2004	3.51	2.44
2003	3.62	2.36
2002	3.68	2.32
2001	3.63	2.37
2000	3.61	2.41
1999	3.67	2.56
1998	3.82	2.63
1997	3.98	2.73
1996	4.06	2.99
1995	4.13	3.17
1994	4.21	3.26
1993	4.37	3.37
1992	4.54	3.48
1991	4.68	3.62
1990	4.81	3.72
1989	4.96	3.98
1988	5.1	4.18
1987	5.22	4.35
1986	5.32	4.41
1985	5.4	4.5
1984	5.48	4.57
1983	5.56	4.63
1982	5.63	4.7
1981	5.69	4.71
1980	5.75	4.78
1979	5.79	4.82
1978	5.82	4.85
1977	5.85	4.94
1976	5.87	5.07
1975	5.83	5.19
1974	5.75	5.3
1973	5.69	5.41
1972	5.69	5.49
1971	5.7	5.57
1970	5.7	5.63
1969	5.7	5.72
1968	5.73	5.78
1967	5.75	5.85
1966	5.76	5.91
1965	5.77	5.89
1964	5.77	5.96
1963	5.78	6.01
1962	5.79	6.05
1961	5.79	6.08
1960	5.78	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Lesotho was 2.69 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 Lesotho vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Lesotho	South Africa
2023	31,115	602,793
2022	30,803	603,636
2021	27,806	456,411
2020	30,721	595,873
2019	32,279	652,130
2018	33,112	648,319
2017	33,601	645,975
2016	33,390	641,365
2015	32,087	668,771
2014	30,922	674,754
2013	29,789	652,427
2012	27,592	643,723
2011	25,647	601,708
2010	21,877	566,834
2009	20,335	554,115
2008	19,349	595,332
2007	17,763	503,567
2006	15,234	487,584
2005	15,831	464,464
2004	17,271	442,540
2003	20,133	415,018
2002	22,274	430,926
2001	23,190	484,801
2000	24,786	526,963
1999	27,393	594,643
1998	30,889	627,027
1997	34,637	667,969
1996	36,228	710,868
1995	37,370	743,488
1994	38,629	698,609
1993	40,505	789,220
1992	42,579	794,415
1991	44,026	827,296
1990	45,060	835,421
1989	46,264	884,629
1988	47,158	909,221
1987	47,718	922,330
1986	45,232	903,644
1985	44,575	893,889
1984	43,785	869,011
1983	42,899	837,013
1982	41,941	807,550
1981	40,808	767,833
1980	39,617	738,415
1979	38,440	716,541
1978	37,084	694,341
1977	35,654	680,929
1976	34,117	675,011
1975	32,311	667,862
1974	30,444	658,438
1973	28,859	651,596
1972	27,841	638,754
1971	26,838	624,761
1970	25,935	605,102
1969	25,137	590,794
1968	24,490	571,841
1967	23,911	553,741
1966	23,326	534,862
1965	22,755	506,632
1964	22,116	490,606
1963	21,585	473,821
1962	21,132	455,634
1961	20,581	437,851
1960	19,981	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 +1.35% in Lesotho and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.44% in Lesotho and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Lesotho vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Lesotho	South Africa
2023	24.1	18.8
2022	24.4	19.1
2021	24.9	19.4
2020	25.6	19.5
2019	26.4	19.7
2018	27.4	19.9
2017	28.2	20
2016	28.9	20.3
2015	29.2	21
2014	29.5	21.8
2013	30	21.9
2012	30	22.1
2011	30.2	22.1
2010	29.2	22.2
2009	29.4	22.8
2008	29.6	24.3
2007	29.5	23.1
2006	28.6	23.1
2005	28.6	22.7
2004	28.7	22.1
2003	29.3	21.4
2002	29.4	20.9
2001	28.7	21.3
2000	28.2	21.6
1999	28.5	22.7
1998	29.2	23.2
1997	30.2	23.9
1996	30.4	24.9
1995	30.6	25.6
1994	31	24.6
1993	32	26.6
1992	33.2	27
1991	34.2	28.1
1990	35.1	28.7
1989	36.3	30.6
1988	37.4	32
1987	38.3	33.2
1986	37.5	33.6
1985	37.9	34.2
1984	38.4	34.5
1983	38.9	34.6
1982	39.5	34.8
1981	39.9	34.6
1980	40.4	34.7
1979	40.8	34.9
1978	41	35.1
1977	41.1	35.6
1976	41	36.3
1975	40.6	37
1974	40.2	37.7
1973	39.9	38.4
1972	40.2	38.9
1971	40.5	39.3
1970	40.8	39.4
1969	41.3	39.7
1968	41.9	39.8
1967	42.5	39.9
1966	43	40
1965	43.3	39.5
1964	43.5	39.6
1963	43.7	39.7
1962	44.1	39.7
1961	44.3	39.7
1960	44.6	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 24.1 in Lesotho and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 44.6 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Lesotho

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Lesotho	South Africa
2100	18%	17.9%
2099	18.1%	18%
2098	18.2%	18%
2097	18.3%	18.1%
2096	18.3%	18.1%
2095	18.4%	18.2%
2094	18.5%	18.2%
2093	18.6%	18.3%
2092	18.7%	18.3%
2091	18.9%	18.4%
2090	19%	18.4%
2089	19.1%	18.5%
2088	19.2%	18.5%
2087	19.3%	18.6%
2086	19.4%	18.6%
2085	19.6%	18.7%
2084	19.7%	18.7%
2083	19.8%	18.8%
2082	19.9%	18.9%
2081	20%	18.9%
2080	20.2%	19%
2079	20.3%	19%
2078	20.4%	19.1%
2077	20.5%	19.2%
2076	20.6%	19.3%
2075	20.7%	19.3%
2074	20.9%	19.4%
2073	21%	19.5%
2072	21.1%	19.6%
2071	21.3%	19.6%
2070	21.4%	19.7%
2069	21.5%	19.8%
2068	21.7%	19.9%
2067	21.9%	20%
2066	22%	20.1%
2065	22.2%	20.2%
2064	22.4%	20.3%
2063	22.6%	20.4%
2062	22.8%	20.5%
2061	23%	20.6%
2060	23.3%	20.7%
2059	23.5%	20.8%
2058	23.7%	20.9%
2057	24%	21%
2056	24.2%	21.1%
2055	24.5%	21.1%
2054	24.7%	21.2%
2053	25%	21.3%
2052	25.3%	21.4%
2051	25.5%	21.5%
2050	25.8%	21.6%
2049	26.1%	21.7%
2048	26.3%	21.8%
2047	26.5%	21.9%
2046	26.8%	22%
2045	27%	22.1%
2044	27.3%	22.3%
2043	27.5%	22.4%
2042	27.7%	22.6%
2041	28%	22.8%
2040	28.2%	23%
2039	28.4%	23.3%
2038	28.7%	23.5%
2037	28.9%	23.7%
2036	29.2%	24.1%
2035	29.5%	24.4%
2034	29.9%	24.7%
2033	30.3%	24.9%
2032	30.8%	25%
2031	31.3%	25.1%
2030	31.8%	25.2%
2029	32.3%	25.3%
2028	32.8%	25.4%
2027	33.4%	25.5%
2026	33.9%	25.6%
2025	34.3%	25.8%
2024	34.5%	25.9%
2023	34.9%	26.1%
2022	35.3%	26.3%
2021	35.6%	26.6%
2020	35.8%	27%
2019	36.1%	27.4%
2018	36.3%	27.9%
2017	36.5%	28.3%
2016	36.6%	28.3%
2015	36.6%	28.3%
2014	36.6%	28.5%
2013	36.5%	28.7%
2012	36.5%	28.9%
2011	36.5%	29.1%
2010	36.5%	29.4%
2009	36.6%	29.7%
2008	36.7%	29.9%
2007	36.8%	30.2%
2006	37.1%	30.6%
2005	37.4%	31.1%
2004	37.7%	31.6%
2003	38.1%	32.3%
2002	38.6%	33.2%
2001	39.1%	34%
2000	39.6%	34.9%
1999	40.2%	35.7%
1998	40.7%	36.5%
1997	41.2%	37.2%
1996	41.7%	37.5%
1995	42%	37.5%
1994	42.3%	37.2%
1993	42.6%	37.3%
1992	42.8%	37.6%
1991	42.9%	37.5%
1990	42.9%	37.7%
1989	42.8%	38.1%
1988	42.7%	38.4%
1987	42.5%	38.7%
1986	42.7%	38.9%
1985	43%	39.2%
1984	42.8%	39.5%
1983	42.7%	39.8%
1982	42.5%	40.1%
1981	42.3%	40.5%
1980	42.1%	40.9%
1979	41.9%	41.3%
1978	41.7%	41.5%
1977	41.5%	41.7%
1976	41.4%	41.8%
1975	41.6%	41.9%
1974	41.9%	42%
1973	42.3%	42.1%
1972	42.7%	42.2%
1971	43.1%	42.2%
1970	43.6%	42.3%
1969	44%	42.2%
1968	44.4%	42.2%
1967	44.8%	42.2%
1966	44.9%	42.1%
1965	44.8%	42.1%
1964	44.9%	42.1%
1963	45.2%	42.1%
1962	45.3%	42.1%
1961	45.2%	42.1%
1960	45.1%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 34.5% of the population in Lesotho and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Lesotho and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Lesotho vs South Africa

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Lesotho	South Africa
2023	478	118
2022	477	129
2021	577	191
2020	529	118
2019	467	119
2018	491	128
2017	468	134
2016	518	141
2015	594	150
2014	707	162
2013	855	180
2012	1,000	194
2011	1,210	202
2010	1,311	226
2009	1,387	241
2008	1,205	272
2007	891	272
2006	696	283
2005	549	279
2004	499	259
2003	508	245
2002	484	225
2001	465	192
2000	413	175
1999	371	151
1998	332	152
1997	312	152
1996	319	150
1995	357	125
1994	423	133
1993	542	145
1992	601	152
1991	641	162
1990	665	170
1989	680	177
1988	680	184
1987	686	192
1986	680	200
1985	711	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 478 deaths per 100,000 live births in Lesotho, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Lesotho

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Lesotho	South Africa
2023	5.89%	3.47%
2022	6.15%	3.44%
2021	6.44%	3.41%
2020	6.68%	3.41%
2019	6.87%	3.45%
2018	6.91%	3.49%
2017	7.12%	3.58%
2016	7.18%	3.68%
2015	7.51%	3.82%
2014	7.82%	3.96%
2013	8.02%	4.1%
2012	8.26%	4.25%
2011	8.59%	4.5%
2010	9.01%	5%
2009	9.64%	5.7%
2008	10.9%	6.42%
2007	11.2%	7.19%
2006	11.5%	7.75%
2005	11.6%	8.03%
2004	11.5%	8.1%
2003	11.4%	7.93%
2002	11.2%	7.69%
2001	11.1%	7.43%
2000	10.9%	7.11%
1999	10.7%	6.85%
1998	10.5%	6.56%
1997	10.2%	6.29%
1996	9.83%	6.11%
1995	9.45%	5.95%
1994	9.07%	5.82%
1993	8.73%	5.7%
1992	8.51%	5.66%
1991	8.43%	5.7%
1990	8.47%	5.82%
1989	8.6%	6.01%
1988	8.8%	6.26%
1987	9.06%	6.56%
1986	9.36%	6.89%
1985	9.72%	7.24%
1984	10.1%	7.6%
1983	10.6%	7.98%
1982	11.1%	8.39%
1981	11.7%	8.84%
1980	12.3%	9.35%
1979	12.9%	9.88%
1978	13.6%	10.5%
1977	14.2%	11.1%
1976	14.9%	11.8%
1975	15.5%	12.5%
1974	16%	13.2%
1973	16.5%	-
1972	16.9%	-
1971	17.3%	-
1970	17.7%	-
1969	18%	-
1968	18.3%	-
1967	18.5%	-
1966	18.6%	-
1965	18.7%	-
1964	18.6%	-
1963	18.6%	-
1962	18.5%	-
1961	18.5%	-
1960	18.6%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 5.89% in Lesotho and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.