Fertility & birth rates in Malaysia and South Africa

Fertility rate in Malaysia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Malaysia	South Africa
2023	1.55	2.22
2022	1.55	2.23
2021	1.56	2.25
2020	1.68	2.26
2019	1.78	2.26
2018	1.84	2.27
2017	1.89	2.28
2016	1.94	2.26
2015	2.01	2.36
2014	2.06	2.42
2013	2.07	2.43
2012	2.12	2.45
2011	2.15	2.44
2010	2.14	2.44
2009	2.22	2.5
2008	2.26	2.68
2007	2.25	2.55
2006	2.31	2.55
2005	2.39	2.51
2004	2.49	2.44
2003	2.6	2.36
2002	2.66	2.32
2001	2.81	2.37
2000	2.94	2.41
1999	3.07	2.56
1998	3.12	2.63
1997	3.23	2.73
1996	3.3	2.99
1995	3.32	3.17
1994	3.35	3.26
1993	3.36	3.37
1992	3.37	3.48
1991	3.34	3.62
1990	3.3	3.72
1989	3.31	3.98
1988	3.5	4.18
1987	3.57	4.35
1986	3.7	4.41
1985	3.8	4.5
1984	3.89	4.57
1983	3.93	4.63
1982	3.97	4.7
1981	4	4.71
1980	4.04	4.78
1979	4.09	4.82
1978	4.18	4.85
1977	4.28	4.94
1976	4.4	5.07
1975	4.5	5.19
1974	4.62	5.3
1973	4.73	5.41
1972	4.82	5.49
1971	4.92	5.57
1970	5.04	5.63
1969	5.16	5.72
1968	5.29	5.78
1967	5.43	5.85
1966	5.64	5.91
1965	5.84	5.89
1964	6.03	5.96
1963	6.19	6.01
1962	6.3	6.05
1961	6.37	6.08
1960	6.41	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Malaysia was 1.55 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 Malaysia vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Malaysia	South Africa
2023	254,806	602,793
2022	237,560	603,636
2021	212,002	456,411
2020	283,282	595,873
2019	309,426	652,130
2018	324,568	648,319
2017	336,434	645,975
2016	345,681	641,365
2015	358,302	668,771
2014	367,587	674,754
2013	366,738	652,427
2012	371,497	643,723
2011	372,836	601,708
2010	360,260	566,834
2009	366,157	554,115
2008	362,380	595,332
2007	348,711	503,567
2006	349,509	487,584
2005	355,324	464,464
2004	365,138	442,540
2003	377,425	415,018
2002	381,084	430,926
2001	400,939	484,801
2000	417,371	526,963
1999	432,355	594,643
1998	436,316	627,027
1997	447,768	667,969
1996	450,174	710,868
1995	443,349	743,488
1994	437,873	698,609
1993	429,910	789,220
1992	418,900	794,415
1991	401,938	827,296
1990	384,518	835,421
1989	373,277	884,629
1988	386,507	909,221
1987	381,999	922,330
1986	385,799	903,644
1985	383,243	893,889
1984	376,797	869,011
1983	365,290	837,013
1982	353,138	807,550
1981	339,991	767,833
1980	326,947	738,415
1979	317,439	716,541
1978	311,027	694,341
1977	305,515	680,929
1976	300,615	675,011
1975	294,541	667,862
1974	289,880	658,438
1973	284,611	651,596
1972	276,263	638,754
1971	272,323	624,761
1970	269,341	605,102
1969	264,327	590,794
1968	260,705	571,841
1967	258,764	553,741
1966	262,162	534,862
1965	264,836	506,632
1964	266,406	490,606
1963	265,815	473,821
1962	262,140	455,634
1961	257,270	437,851
1960	251,090	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 +0.73% in Malaysia and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.92% in Malaysia and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Malaysia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Malaysia

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Malaysia	South Africa
2023	12.4	18.8
2022	12.4	19.1
2021	12.4	19.4
2020	13.4	19.5
2019	14.2	19.7
2018	14.8	19.9
2017	15.3	20
2016	15.8	20.3
2015	16.3	21
2014	16.7	21.8
2013	16.8	21.9
2012	17	22.1
2011	17.2	22.1
2010	16.9	22.2
2009	17.3	22.8
2008	17.4	24.3
2007	17.1	23.1
2006	17.4	23.1
2005	17.9	22.7
2004	18.7	22.1
2003	19.6	21.4
2002	20.1	20.9
2001	21.4	21.3
2000	22.6	21.6
1999	23.8	22.7
1998	24.4	23.2
1997	25.4	23.9
1996	26.1	24.9
1995	26.3	25.6
1994	26.6	24.6
1993	26.8	26.6
1992	26.8	27
1991	26.5	28.1
1990	26.2	28.7
1989	26.3	30.6
1988	27.8	32
1987	28.3	33.2
1986	29.4	33.6
1985	30.1	34.2
1984	30.6	34.5
1983	30.7	34.6
1982	30.8	34.8
1981	30.8	34.6
1980	30.7	34.7
1979	30.8	34.9
1978	31	35.1
1977	31.3	35.6
1976	31.7	36.3
1975	32	37
1974	32.3	37.7
1973	32.7	38.4
1972	32.7	38.9
1971	33.2	39.3
1970	33.7	39.4
1969	34	39.7
1968	34.5	39.8
1967	35.1	39.9
1966	36.4	40
1965	37.7	39.5
1964	39.1	39.6
1963	40.4	39.7
1962	41.3	39.7
1961	42.2	39.7
1960	42.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 12.4 in Malaysia and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 42.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Malaysia

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Malaysia	South Africa
2100	13.3%	17.9%
2099	13.3%	18%
2098	13.4%	18%
2097	13.4%	18.1%
2096	13.4%	18.1%
2095	13.4%	18.2%
2094	13.5%	18.2%
2093	13.5%	18.3%
2092	13.5%	18.3%
2091	13.6%	18.4%
2090	13.6%	18.4%
2089	13.7%	18.5%
2088	13.7%	18.5%
2087	13.7%	18.6%
2086	13.8%	18.6%
2085	13.8%	18.7%
2084	13.8%	18.7%
2083	13.9%	18.8%
2082	13.9%	18.9%
2081	13.9%	18.9%
2080	13.9%	19%
2079	13.9%	19%
2078	13.9%	19.1%
2077	13.9%	19.2%
2076	13.9%	19.3%
2075	13.9%	19.3%
2074	13.9%	19.4%
2073	13.9%	19.5%
2072	13.9%	19.6%
2071	13.9%	19.6%
2070	13.9%	19.7%
2069	14%	19.8%
2068	14%	19.9%
2067	14.1%	20%
2066	14.1%	20.1%
2065	14.2%	20.2%
2064	14.3%	20.3%
2063	14.4%	20.4%
2062	14.5%	20.5%
2061	14.6%	20.6%
2060	14.8%	20.7%
2059	14.9%	20.8%
2058	15.1%	20.9%
2057	15.2%	21%
2056	15.4%	21.1%
2055	15.5%	21.1%
2054	15.7%	21.2%
2053	15.8%	21.3%
2052	16%	21.4%
2051	16.1%	21.5%
2050	16.2%	21.6%
2049	16.3%	21.7%
2048	16.4%	21.8%
2047	16.5%	21.9%
2046	16.6%	22%
2045	16.7%	22.1%
2044	16.8%	22.3%
2043	16.9%	22.4%
2042	16.9%	22.6%
2041	17%	22.8%
2040	17.1%	23%
2039	17.1%	23.3%
2038	17.2%	23.5%
2037	17.3%	23.7%
2036	17.3%	24.1%
2035	17.5%	24.4%
2034	17.7%	24.7%
2033	18%	24.9%
2032	18.3%	25%
2031	18.7%	25.1%
2030	19.2%	25.2%
2029	19.7%	25.3%
2028	20.1%	25.4%
2027	20.6%	25.5%
2026	21.1%	25.6%
2025	21.6%	25.8%
2024	21.8%	25.9%
2023	22.3%	26.1%
2022	22.8%	26.3%
2021	23.4%	26.6%
2020	24%	27%
2019	24.5%	27.4%
2018	24.9%	27.9%
2017	25.2%	28.3%
2016	25.5%	28.3%
2015	25.8%	28.3%
2014	26.2%	28.5%
2013	26.6%	28.7%
2012	27%	28.9%
2011	27.4%	29.1%
2010	27.9%	29.4%
2009	28.6%	29.7%
2008	29.4%	29.9%
2007	30%	30.2%
2006	30.7%	30.6%
2005	31.4%	31.1%
2004	32%	31.6%
2003	32.6%	32.3%
2002	33.2%	33.2%
2001	33.7%	34%
2000	34.2%	34.9%
1999	34.6%	35.7%
1998	35%	36.5%
1997	35.3%	37.2%
1996	35.5%	37.5%
1995	35.7%	37.5%
1994	36%	37.2%
1993	36.3%	37.3%
1992	36.6%	37.6%
1991	36.9%	37.5%
1990	37.2%	37.7%
1989	37.5%	38.1%
1988	37.7%	38.4%
1987	37.9%	38.7%
1986	38%	38.9%
1985	38.1%	39.2%
1984	38.2%	39.5%
1983	38.4%	39.8%
1982	38.6%	40.1%
1981	38.8%	40.5%
1980	39.2%	40.9%
1979	39.6%	41.3%
1978	40.1%	41.5%
1977	40.6%	41.7%
1976	41.1%	41.8%
1975	41.7%	41.9%
1974	42.2%	42%
1973	42.8%	42.1%
1972	43.4%	42.2%
1971	44%	42.2%
1970	44.5%	42.3%
1969	45%	42.2%
1968	45.5%	42.2%
1967	45.9%	42.2%
1966	46.2%	42.1%
1965	46.5%	42.1%
1964	46.6%	42.1%
1963	46.5%	42.1%
1962	46.3%	42.1%
1961	45.9%	42.1%
1960	45.4%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 21.8% of the population in Malaysia and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 37.2% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Malaysia and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Malaysia vs South Africa

Chart Table

Malaysia

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Malaysia	South Africa
2023	26	118
2022	38	129
2021	52	191
2020	29	118
2019	28	119
2018	29	128
2017	29	134
2016	30	141
2015	30	150
2014	30	162
2013	29	180
2012	29	194
2011	29	202
2010	29	226
2009	29	241
2008	29	272
2007	30	272
2006	30	283
2005	31	279
2004	33	259
2003	34	245
2002	34	225
2001	36	192
2000	37	175
1999	38	151
1998	39	152
1997	40	152
1996	42	150
1995	43	125
1994	44	133
1993	46	145
1992	48	152
1991	49	162
1990	51	170
1989	52	177
1988	55	184
1987	56	192
1986	59	200
1985	63	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 26 deaths per 100,000 live births in Malaysia, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Malaysia

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Malaysia	South Africa
2023	0.81%	3.47%
2022	0.81%	3.44%
2021	0.81%	3.41%
2020	0.81%	3.41%
2019	0.82%	3.45%
2018	0.82%	3.49%
2017	0.82%	3.58%
2016	0.82%	3.68%
2015	0.81%	3.82%
2014	0.81%	3.96%
2013	0.81%	4.1%
2012	0.8%	4.25%
2011	0.81%	4.5%
2010	0.81%	5%
2009	0.82%	5.7%
2008	0.82%	6.42%
2007	0.82%	7.19%
2006	0.83%	7.75%
2005	0.83%	8.03%
2004	0.84%	8.1%
2003	0.85%	7.93%
2002	0.88%	7.69%
2001	0.93%	7.43%
2000	1%	7.11%
1999	1.07%	6.85%
1998	1.15%	6.56%
1997	1.23%	6.29%
1996	1.29%	6.11%
1995	1.34%	5.95%
1994	1.39%	5.82%
1993	1.45%	5.7%
1992	1.51%	5.66%
1991	1.58%	5.7%
1990	1.66%	5.82%
1989	1.74%	6.01%
1988	1.83%	6.26%
1987	1.93%	6.56%
1986	2.05%	6.89%
1985	2.18%	7.24%
1984	2.32%	7.6%
1983	2.47%	7.98%
1982	2.65%	8.39%
1981	2.84%	8.84%
1980	3.04%	9.35%
1979	3.25%	9.88%
1978	3.48%	10.5%
1977	3.71%	11.1%
1976	3.97%	11.8%
1975	4.23%	12.5%
1974	4.5%	13.2%
1973	4.79%	-
1972	5.06%	-
1971	5.32%	-
1970	5.56%	-
1969	5.79%	-
1968	6.02%	-
1967	6.27%	-
1966	6.56%	-
1965	6.89%	-
1964	7.28%	-
1963	7.74%	-
1962	8.25%	-
1961	8.83%	-
1960	9.46%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.81% in Malaysia and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.