Fertility & birth rates in Libya and South Africa

Fertility rate in Libya vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Libya

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Libya	South Africa
2023	2.36	2.22
2022	2.4	2.23
2021	2.46	2.25
2020	2.51	2.26
2019	2.54	2.26
2018	2.58	2.27
2017	2.63	2.28
2016	2.67	2.26
2015	2.71	2.36
2014	2.75	2.42
2013	2.72	2.43
2012	2.68	2.45
2011	2.65	2.44
2010	2.6	2.44
2009	2.56	2.5
2008	2.6	2.68
2007	2.65	2.55
2006	2.7	2.55
2005	2.77	2.51
2004	2.77	2.44
2003	2.8	2.36
2002	2.83	2.32
2001	2.87	2.37
2000	2.91	2.41
1999	2.97	2.56
1998	3.04	2.63
1997	3.13	2.73
1996	3.26	2.99
1995	3.44	3.17
1994	3.65	3.26
1993	3.88	3.37
1992	4.16	3.48
1991	4.46	3.62
1990	4.78	3.72
1989	5.09	3.98
1988	5.41	4.18
1987	5.72	4.35
1986	6.02	4.41
1985	6.33	4.5
1984	6.62	4.57
1983	6.91	4.63
1982	7.16	4.7
1981	7.37	4.71
1980	7.54	4.78
1979	7.68	4.82
1978	7.79	4.85
1977	7.87	4.94
1976	7.93	5.07
1975	7.98	5.19
1974	8.02	5.3
1973	8.05	5.41
1972	8.07	5.49
1971	8.1	5.57
1970	8.05	5.63
1969	8.01	5.72
1968	7.97	5.78
1967	7.93	5.85
1966	7.89	5.91
1965	7.82	5.89
1964	7.75	5.96
1963	7.69	6.01
1962	7.61	6.05
1961	7.56	6.08
1960	7.51	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Libya was 2.36 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 Libya vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Libya

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Libya	South Africa
2023	75,760	602,793
2022	91,951	603,636
2021	88,005	456,411
2020	92,950	595,873
2019	97,842	652,130
2018	101,619	648,319
2017	103,891	645,975
2016	105,265	641,365
2015	108,096	668,771
2014	110,420	674,754
2013	110,772	652,427
2012	108,855	643,723
2011	121,016	601,708
2010	122,926	566,834
2009	118,102	554,115
2008	117,481	595,332
2007	116,704	503,567
2006	115,645	487,584
2005	112,823	464,464
2004	107,144	442,540
2003	102,144	415,018
2002	97,598	430,926
2001	93,370	484,801
2000	89,814	526,963
1999	88,743	594,643
1998	87,613	627,027
1997	86,899	667,969
1996	86,945	710,868
1995	87,661	743,488
1994	88,765	698,609
1993	90,553	789,220
1992	93,568	794,415
1991	96,582	827,296
1990	99,898	835,421
1989	102,823	884,629
1988	105,469	909,221
1987	107,761	922,330
1986	109,325	903,644
1985	110,194	893,889
1984	110,028	869,011
1983	122,183	837,013
1982	133,511	807,550
1981	130,233	767,833
1980	128,034	738,415
1979	121,469	716,541
1978	114,669	694,341
1977	107,769	680,929
1976	101,146	675,011
1975	94,862	667,862
1974	89,337	658,438
1973	81,256	651,596
1972	77,864	638,754
1971	74,934	624,761
1970	70,488	605,102
1969	66,782	590,794
1968	63,971	571,841
1967	61,889	553,741
1966	60,394	534,862
1965	59,134	506,632
1964	55,227	490,606
1963	50,421	473,821
1962	46,252	455,634
1961	42,167	437,851
1960	38,391	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 +1.04% in Libya and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.43% in Libya and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Libya vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Libya

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Libya	South Africa
2023	17	18.8
2022	17.5	19.1
2021	18.2	19.4
2020	18.7	19.5
2019	19.2	19.7
2018	19.8	19.9
2017	20.5	20
2016	21.3	20.3
2015	21.9	21
2014	22.6	21.8
2013	22.5	21.9
2012	22.6	22.1
2011	24.9	22.1
2010	23.5	22.2
2009	23.2	22.8
2008	23.4	24.3
2007	23.7	23.1
2006	23.9	23.1
2005	23.9	22.7
2004	23.4	22.1
2003	22.9	21.4
2002	22.5	20.9
2001	22.1	21.3
2000	21.7	21.6
1999	21.7	22.7
1998	21.6	23.2
1997	21.6	23.9
1996	21.8	24.9
1995	22.2	25.6
1994	22.7	24.6
1993	23.4	26.6
1992	24.5	27
1991	25.7	28.1
1990	27	28.7
1989	28.4	30.6
1988	29.7	32
1987	31.1	33.2
1986	32.4	33.6
1985	33.7	34.2
1984	34.8	34.5
1983	39	34.6
1982	42.3	34.8
1981	42.6	34.6
1980	44.4	34.7
1979	44.9	34.9
1978	45.2	35.1
1977	45.5	35.6
1976	45.7	36.3
1975	45.9	37
1974	46.3	37.7
1973	45.3	38.4
1972	45.9	38.9
1971	46.5	39.3
1970	46.4	39.4
1969	46.6	39.7
1968	47.3	39.8
1967	48.3	39.9
1966	49.7	40
1965	51.1	39.5
1964	51.1	39.6
1963	51	39.7
1962	51	39.7
1961	51.2	39.7
1960	51.3	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 17 in Libya and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 51.3 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Libya

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Libya	South Africa
2100	14.4%	17.9%
2099	14.4%	18%
2098	14.5%	18%
2097	14.5%	18.1%
2096	14.6%	18.1%
2095	14.7%	18.2%
2094	14.8%	18.2%
2093	14.9%	18.3%
2092	15%	18.3%
2091	15.1%	18.4%
2090	15.2%	18.4%
2089	15.3%	18.5%
2088	15.3%	18.5%
2087	15.4%	18.6%
2086	15.5%	18.6%
2085	15.6%	18.7%
2084	15.6%	18.7%
2083	15.7%	18.8%
2082	15.8%	18.9%
2081	15.8%	18.9%
2080	15.9%	19%
2079	15.9%	19%
2078	15.9%	19.1%
2077	16%	19.2%
2076	16%	19.3%
2075	16%	19.3%
2074	16.1%	19.4%
2073	16.1%	19.5%
2072	16.2%	19.6%
2071	16.2%	19.6%
2070	16.3%	19.7%
2069	16.4%	19.8%
2068	16.5%	19.9%
2067	16.6%	20%
2066	16.8%	20.1%
2065	16.9%	20.2%
2064	17.1%	20.3%
2063	17.3%	20.4%
2062	17.4%	20.5%
2061	17.6%	20.6%
2060	17.8%	20.7%
2059	18%	20.8%
2058	18.3%	20.9%
2057	18.5%	21%
2056	18.7%	21.1%
2055	18.9%	21.1%
2054	19.1%	21.2%
2053	19.2%	21.3%
2052	19.4%	21.4%
2051	19.6%	21.5%
2050	19.7%	21.6%
2049	19.8%	21.7%
2048	19.9%	21.8%
2047	20%	21.9%
2046	20.1%	22%
2045	20.2%	22.1%
2044	20.3%	22.3%
2043	20.4%	22.4%
2042	20.5%	22.6%
2041	20.7%	22.8%
2040	20.8%	23%
2039	20.9%	23.3%
2038	21.1%	23.5%
2037	21.4%	23.7%
2036	21.6%	24.1%
2035	22%	24.4%
2034	22.3%	24.7%
2033	22.7%	24.9%
2032	23.2%	25%
2031	23.7%	25.1%
2030	24.2%	25.2%
2029	24.8%	25.3%
2028	25.3%	25.4%
2027	25.9%	25.5%
2026	26.5%	25.6%
2025	27.2%	25.8%
2024	27.4%	25.9%
2023	28%	26.1%
2022	28.5%	26.3%
2021	29%	26.6%
2020	29.5%	27%
2019	29.9%	27.4%
2018	30.3%	27.9%
2017	30.6%	28.3%
2016	30.9%	28.3%
2015	31%	28.3%
2014	31.1%	28.5%
2013	31.3%	28.7%
2012	31.5%	28.9%
2011	30.7%	29.1%
2010	29.9%	29.4%
2009	30.1%	29.7%
2008	30.3%	29.9%
2007	30.6%	30.2%
2006	30.9%	30.6%
2005	31.1%	31.1%
2004	31.2%	31.6%
2003	31.3%	32.3%
2002	31.5%	33.2%
2001	31.7%	34%
2000	32%	34.9%
1999	32.5%	35.7%
1998	33.3%	36.5%
1997	34.2%	37.2%
1996	35.2%	37.5%
1995	36.3%	37.5%
1994	37.4%	37.2%
1993	38.6%	37.3%
1992	39.7%	37.6%
1991	40.7%	37.5%
1990	41.7%	37.7%
1989	42.6%	38.1%
1988	43.4%	38.4%
1987	44.1%	38.7%
1986	44.8%	38.9%
1985	45.5%	39.2%
1984	46.1%	39.5%
1983	46.8%	39.8%
1982	47.3%	40.1%
1981	47.5%	40.5%
1980	47.7%	40.9%
1979	47.9%	41.3%
1978	48%	41.5%
1977	48.2%	41.7%
1976	48.6%	41.8%
1975	48.9%	41.9%
1974	49.3%	42%
1973	50.2%	42.1%
1972	50.9%	42.2%
1971	50.9%	42.2%
1970	50.9%	42.3%
1969	50.7%	42.2%
1968	50.3%	42.2%
1967	49.5%	42.2%
1966	48.4%	42.1%
1965	47%	42.1%
1964	46.1%	42.1%
1963	45.5%	42.1%
1962	44.8%	42.1%
1961	44.2%	42.1%
1960	43.6%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 27.4% of the population in Libya and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 41.7% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Libya and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Libya vs South Africa

Chart Table

Libya

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Libya	South Africa
2023	59	118
2022	60	129
2021	98	191
2020	71	118
2019	65	119
2018	66	128
2017	69	134
2016	74	141
2015	76	150
2014	77	162
2013	75	180
2012	74	194
2011	81	202
2010	71	226
2009	70	241
2008	68	272
2007	67	272
2006	66	283
2005	66	279
2004	67	259
2003	68	245
2002	69	225
2001	71	192
2000	71	175
1999	69	151
1998	67	152
1997	64	152
1996	61	150
1995	59	125
1994	59	133
1993	60	145
1992	61	152
1991	64	162
1990	67	170
1989	70	177
1988	74	184
1987	77	192
1986	82	200
1985	86	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 59 deaths per 100,000 live births in Libya, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Libya

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Libya	South Africa
2023	3.08%	3.47%
2022	1.05%	3.44%
2021	1.08%	3.41%
2020	1.12%	3.41%
2019	1.16%	3.45%
2018	1.19%	3.49%
2017	1.24%	3.58%
2016	1.28%	3.68%
2015	1.33%	3.82%
2014	1.39%	3.96%
2013	1.45%	4.1%
2012	1.51%	4.25%
2011	1.96%	4.5%
2010	1.66%	5%
2009	1.76%	5.7%
2008	1.88%	6.42%
2007	2.02%	7.19%
2006	2.17%	7.75%
2005	2.31%	8.03%
2004	2.44%	8.1%
2003	2.55%	7.93%
2002	2.65%	7.69%
2001	2.73%	7.43%
2000	2.81%	7.11%
1999	2.9%	6.85%
1998	2.99%	6.56%
1997	3.09%	6.29%
1996	3.2%	6.11%
1995	3.32%	5.95%
1994	3.46%	5.82%
1993	3.61%	5.7%
1992	3.78%	5.66%
1991	3.98%	5.7%
1990	4.19%	5.82%
1989	4.42%	6.01%
1988	4.67%	6.26%
1987	4.94%	6.56%
1986	5.21%	6.89%
1985	5.5%	7.24%
1984	5.79%	7.6%
1983	6.1%	7.98%
1982	6.42%	8.39%
1981	6.76%	8.84%
1980	7.11%	9.35%
1979	7.5%	9.88%
1978	7.92%	10.5%
1977	8.39%	11.1%
1976	8.91%	11.8%
1975	9.5%	12.5%
1974	10.2%	13.2%
1973	10.9%	-
1972	11.7%	-
1971	12.6%	-
1970	13.6%	-
1969	14.7%	-
1968	15.8%	-
1967	17%	-
1966	18.3%	-
1965	19.7%	-
1964	21.2%	-
1963	22.7%	-
1962	24.3%	-
1961	26%	-
1960	27.7%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.08% in Libya and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.