Fertility & birth rates in Liberia and South Africa

Fertility rate in Liberia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Liberia

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Liberia	South Africa
2023	3.95	2.22
2022	4.02	2.23
2021	4.09	2.25
2020	4.17	2.26
2019	4.26	2.26
2018	4.34	2.27
2017	4.4	2.28
2016	4.46	2.26
2015	4.52	2.36
2014	4.62	2.42
2013	4.75	2.43
2012	4.88	2.45
2011	4.97	2.44
2010	5.06	2.44
2009	5.17	2.5
2008	5.33	2.68
2007	5.46	2.55
2006	5.53	2.55
2005	5.52	2.51
2004	5.51	2.44
2003	5.55	2.36
2002	5.65	2.32
2001	5.77	2.37
2000	5.88	2.41
1999	5.95	2.56
1998	6.02	2.63
1997	6.08	2.73
1996	6.13	2.99
1995	6.17	3.17
1994	6.21	3.26
1993	6.25	3.37
1992	6.28	3.48
1991	6.32	3.62
1990	6.37	3.72
1989	6.43	3.98
1988	6.51	4.18
1987	6.57	4.35
1986	6.64	4.41
1985	6.69	4.5
1984	6.73	4.57
1983	6.76	4.63
1982	6.79	4.7
1981	6.83	4.71
1980	6.87	4.78
1979	6.92	4.82
1978	6.88	4.85
1977	6.84	4.94
1976	6.79	5.07
1975	6.74	5.19
1974	6.69	5.3
1973	6.65	5.41
1972	6.6	5.49
1971	6.54	5.57
1970	6.58	5.63
1969	6.64	5.72
1968	6.66	5.78
1967	6.65	5.85
1966	6.63	5.91
1965	6.62	5.89
1964	6.59	5.96
1963	6.56	6.01
1962	6.5	6.05
1961	6.45	6.08
1960	6.39	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Liberia was 3.95 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 Liberia vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Liberia

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Liberia	South Africa
2023	125,730	602,793
2022	123,747	603,636
2021	121,038	456,411
2020	120,632	595,873
2019	120,635	652,130
2018	120,231	648,319
2017	119,376	645,975
2016	118,852	641,365
2015	115,479	668,771
2014	116,667	674,754
2013	120,138	652,427
2012	121,973	643,723
2011	115,496	601,708
2010	114,249	566,834
2009	113,429	554,115
2008	112,032	595,332
2007	109,165	503,567
2006	104,099	487,584
2005	96,478	464,464
2004	91,755	442,540
2003	87,534	415,018
2002	88,643	430,926
2001	86,217	484,801
2000	83,143	526,963
1999	78,130	594,643
1998	72,146	627,027
1997	61,444	667,969
1996	56,392	710,868
1995	53,407	743,488
1994	52,101	698,609
1993	51,609	789,220
1992	50,204	794,415
1991	47,426	827,296
1990	52,770	835,421
1989	63,238	884,629
1988	62,703	909,221
1987	62,147	922,330
1986	61,924	903,644
1985	59,988	893,889
1984	59,460	869,011
1983	57,562	837,013
1982	56,127	807,550
1981	55,003	767,833
1980	53,452	738,415
1979	52,125	716,541
1978	49,813	694,341
1977	47,582	680,929
1976	45,528	675,011
1975	43,478	667,862
1974	41,499	658,438
1973	39,694	651,596
1972	37,860	638,754
1971	36,015	624,761
1970	35,196	605,102
1969	34,677	590,794
1968	33,536	571,841
1967	32,519	553,741
1966	31,454	534,862
1965	30,618	506,632
1964	29,592	490,606
1963	28,708	473,821
1962	27,679	455,634
1961	26,670	437,851
1960	25,713	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 +2.29% in Liberia and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.41% in Liberia and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Liberia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Liberia

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Liberia	South Africa
2023	31	18.8
2022	31.2	19.1
2021	31.5	19.4
2020	31.9	19.5
2019	32.4	19.7
2018	33	19.9
2017	33.4	20
2016	33.9	20.3
2015	34.3	21
2014	35.2	21.8
2013	36.2	21.9
2012	37.4	22.1
2011	36.9	22.1
2010	38	22.2
2009	38.8	22.8
2008	39.7	24.3
2007	40.4	23.1
2006	40.8	23.1
2005	40.6	22.7
2004	41.1	22.1
2003	42	21.4
2002	42	20.9
2001	42.6	21.3
2000	43.2	21.6
1999	43.3	22.7
1998	43.2	23.2
1997	41.7	23.9
1996	45	24.9
1995	44.2	25.6
1994	46.2	24.6
1993	45	26.6
1992	44.6	27
1991	44.6	28.1
1990	52.9	28.7
1989	45.8	30.6
1988	46.2	32
1987	46.7	33.2
1986	47.2	33.6
1985	47.6	34.2
1984	47.7	34.5
1983	47.7	34.6
1982	48	34.8
1981	48.4	34.6
1980	48.6	34.7
1979	48.9	34.9
1978	48.7	35.1
1977	48.5	35.6
1976	48.3	36.3
1975	48.1	37
1974	47.9	37.7
1973	47.8	38.4
1972	47.6	38.9
1971	47.4	39.3
1970	47.9	39.4
1969	48.6	39.7
1968	48.8	39.8
1967	49	39.9
1966	49.1	40
1965	49.3	39.5
1964	49.3	39.6
1963	49.2	39.7
1962	49	39.7
1961	48.7	39.7
1960	48.4	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 31 in Liberia and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 48.4 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Liberia

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Liberia	South Africa
2100	20.5%	17.9%
2099	20.6%	18%
2098	20.7%	18%
2097	20.8%	18.1%
2096	21%	18.1%
2095	21.1%	18.2%
2094	21.2%	18.2%
2093	21.4%	18.3%
2092	21.5%	18.3%
2091	21.6%	18.4%
2090	21.8%	18.4%
2089	21.9%	18.5%
2088	22.1%	18.5%
2087	22.3%	18.6%
2086	22.4%	18.6%
2085	22.6%	18.7%
2084	22.7%	18.7%
2083	22.9%	18.8%
2082	23%	18.9%
2081	23.2%	18.9%
2080	23.4%	19%
2079	23.5%	19%
2078	23.7%	19.1%
2077	23.9%	19.2%
2076	24.1%	19.3%
2075	24.2%	19.3%
2074	24.4%	19.4%
2073	24.6%	19.5%
2072	24.8%	19.6%
2071	25%	19.6%
2070	25.2%	19.7%
2069	25.4%	19.8%
2068	25.6%	19.9%
2067	25.8%	20%
2066	26%	20.1%
2065	26.2%	20.2%
2064	26.5%	20.3%
2063	26.7%	20.4%
2062	27%	20.5%
2061	27.2%	20.6%
2060	27.5%	20.7%
2059	27.8%	20.8%
2058	28.1%	20.9%
2057	28.4%	21%
2056	28.7%	21.1%
2055	29%	21.1%
2054	29.3%	21.2%
2053	29.6%	21.3%
2052	29.9%	21.4%
2051	30.2%	21.5%
2050	30.5%	21.6%
2049	30.8%	21.7%
2048	31.2%	21.8%
2047	31.5%	21.9%
2046	31.8%	22%
2045	32.1%	22.1%
2044	32.4%	22.3%
2043	32.7%	22.4%
2042	33.1%	22.6%
2041	33.4%	22.8%
2040	33.7%	23%
2039	34.1%	23.3%
2038	34.4%	23.5%
2037	34.7%	23.7%
2036	35%	24.1%
2035	35.4%	24.4%
2034	35.7%	24.7%
2033	36%	24.9%
2032	36.4%	25%
2031	36.7%	25.1%
2030	37.1%	25.2%
2029	37.4%	25.3%
2028	37.9%	25.4%
2027	38.4%	25.5%
2026	38.9%	25.6%
2025	39.3%	25.8%
2024	39.5%	25.9%
2023	40%	26.1%
2022	40.5%	26.3%
2021	41%	26.6%
2020	41.4%	27%
2019	41.7%	27.4%
2018	42%	27.9%
2017	42.1%	28.3%
2016	42.3%	28.3%
2015	42.4%	28.3%
2014	42.5%	28.5%
2013	42.5%	28.7%
2012	42.4%	28.9%
2011	42.7%	29.1%
2010	43.1%	29.4%
2009	43.1%	29.7%
2008	43.2%	29.9%
2007	43.2%	30.2%
2006	43.1%	30.6%
2005	43%	31.1%
2004	42.9%	31.6%
2003	42.9%	32.3%
2002	42.9%	33.2%
2001	43%	34%
2000	43%	34.9%
1999	43.1%	35.7%
1998	43.2%	36.5%
1997	43.3%	37.2%
1996	43.4%	37.5%
1995	43.6%	37.5%
1994	43.8%	37.2%
1993	43.9%	37.3%
1992	44.1%	37.6%
1991	44.2%	37.5%
1990	44.1%	37.7%
1989	44.1%	38.1%
1988	44.2%	38.4%
1987	44.3%	38.7%
1986	44.3%	38.9%
1985	44.2%	39.2%
1984	44.2%	39.5%
1983	44.2%	39.8%
1982	44.2%	40.1%
1981	44.1%	40.5%
1980	44%	40.9%
1979	43.9%	41.3%
1978	43.8%	41.5%
1977	43.7%	41.7%
1976	43.6%	41.8%
1975	43.5%	41.9%
1974	43.4%	42%
1973	43.3%	42.1%
1972	43.2%	42.2%
1971	43%	42.2%
1970	42.9%	42.3%
1969	42.8%	42.2%
1968	42.6%	42.2%
1967	42.4%	42.2%
1966	42.2%	42.1%
1965	42%	42.1%
1964	41.7%	42.1%
1963	41.4%	42.1%
1962	41.2%	42.1%
1961	41.1%	42.1%
1960	41.1%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 39.5% of the population in Liberia and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 44.1% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Liberia and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Liberia vs South Africa

Chart Table

Liberia

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Liberia	South Africa
2023	628	118
2022	634	129
2021	667	191
2020	664	118
2019	689	119
2018	707	128
2017	703	134
2016	690	141
2015	784	150
2014	801	162
2013	725	180
2012	728	194
2011	726	202
2010	712	226
2009	674	241
2008	663	272
2007	659	272
2006	647	283
2005	619	279
2004	645	259
2003	759	245
2002	700	225
2001	720	192
2000	786	175
1999	852	151
1998	962	152
1997	1,043	152
1996	1,438	150
1995	1,530	125
1994	1,811	133
1993	1,709	145
1992	1,643	152
1991	1,627	162
1990	2,146	170
1989	1,633	177
1988	1,647	184
1987	1,655	192
1986	1,678	200
1985	1,749	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 628 deaths per 100,000 live births in Liberia, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Liberia

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Liberia	South Africa
2023	7.29%	3.47%
2022	7.51%	3.44%
2021	7.74%	3.41%
2020	7.97%	3.41%
2019	8.19%	3.45%
2018	8.4%	3.49%
2017	8.6%	3.58%
2016	8.83%	3.68%
2015	9.08%	3.82%
2014	9.5%	3.96%
2013	9.54%	4.1%
2012	9.82%	4.25%
2011	10.1%	4.5%
2010	10.4%	5%
2009	10.8%	5.7%
2008	11.3%	6.42%
2007	11.8%	7.19%
2006	12.5%	7.75%
2005	13.3%	8.03%
2004	14.3%	8.1%
2003	15.4%	7.93%
2002	16.7%	7.69%
2001	17.9%	7.43%
2000	19.2%	7.11%
1999	20.5%	6.85%
1998	21.8%	6.56%
1997	23%	6.29%
1996	24.1%	6.11%
1995	25.1%	5.95%
1994	25.9%	5.82%
1993	26.6%	5.7%
1992	26.9%	5.66%
1991	27%	5.7%
1990	26.8%	5.82%
1989	26.4%	6.01%
1988	25.8%	6.26%
1987	25.2%	6.56%
1986	24.7%	6.89%
1985	24.3%	7.24%
1984	24.1%	7.6%
1983	24%	7.98%
1982	24.1%	8.39%
1981	24.3%	8.84%
1980	24.6%	9.35%
1979	24.9%	9.88%
1978	25.3%	10.5%
1977	25.6%	11.1%
1976	26%	11.8%
1975	26.5%	12.5%
1974	26.9%	13.2%
1973	27.4%	-
1972	27.8%	-
1971	28.3%	-
1970	28.8%	-
1969	29.3%	-
1968	29.8%	-
1967	30.2%	-
1966	30.6%	-
1965	30.8%	-
1964	31.1%	-
1963	31.2%	-
1962	31.3%	-
1961	31.3%	-
1960	31.3%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 7.29% in Liberia and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.