Fertility & birth rates in Mauritania and South Africa

Fertility rate in Mauritania vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Mauritania

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Mauritania	South Africa
2023	4.7	2.22
2022	4.77	2.23
2021	4.85	2.25
2020	4.91	2.26
2019	4.98	2.26
2018	5.04	2.27
2017	5.11	2.28
2016	5.16	2.26
2015	5.21	2.36
2014	5.26	2.42
2013	5.32	2.43
2012	5.35	2.45
2011	5.38	2.44
2010	5.38	2.44
2009	5.41	2.5
2008	5.44	2.68
2007	5.43	2.55
2006	5.4	2.55
2005	5.38	2.51
2004	5.37	2.44
2003	5.36	2.36
2002	5.37	2.32
2001	5.41	2.37
2000	5.46	2.41
1999	5.52	2.56
1998	5.62	2.63
1997	5.74	2.73
1996	5.86	2.99
1995	5.96	3.17
1994	6.06	3.26
1993	6.09	3.37
1992	6.13	3.48
1991	6.16	3.62
1990	6.18	3.72
1989	6.2	3.98
1988	6.21	4.18
1987	6.27	4.35
1986	6.34	4.41
1985	6.42	4.5
1984	6.48	4.57
1983	6.54	4.63
1982	6.59	4.7
1981	6.64	4.71
1980	6.67	4.78
1979	6.7	4.82
1978	6.73	4.85
1977	6.74	4.94
1976	6.73	5.07
1975	6.71	5.19
1974	6.73	5.3
1973	6.72	5.41
1972	6.71	5.49
1971	6.7	5.57
1970	6.68	5.63
1969	6.64	5.72
1968	6.6	5.78
1967	6.57	5.85
1966	6.52	5.91
1965	6.44	5.89
1964	6.37	5.96
1963	6.31	6.01
1962	6.24	6.05
1961	6.2	6.08
1960	6.15	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Mauritania was 4.7 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 Mauritania vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Mauritania

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Mauritania	South Africa
2023	145,164	602,793
2022	142,451	603,636
2021	137,557	456,411
2020	134,899	595,873
2019	134,460	652,130
2018	131,584	648,319
2017	128,562	645,975
2016	125,342	641,365
2015	122,092	668,771
2014	118,792	674,754
2013	115,558	652,427
2012	113,489	643,723
2011	111,165	601,708
2010	108,121	566,834
2009	105,273	554,115
2008	102,432	595,332
2007	98,895	503,567
2006	94,991	487,584
2005	90,940	464,464
2004	87,578	442,540
2003	83,804	415,018
2002	80,993	430,926
2001	78,769	484,801
2000	75,929	526,963
1999	73,554	594,643
1998	72,045	627,027
1997	71,327	667,969
1996	71,939	710,868
1995	72,244	743,488
1994	70,570	698,609
1993	68,167	789,220
1992	63,501	794,415
1991	61,782	827,296
1990	59,934	835,421
1989	58,666	884,629
1988	56,654	909,221
1987	55,037	922,330
1986	53,313	903,644
1985	52,125	893,889
1984	50,705	869,011
1983	49,187	837,013
1982	47,947	807,550
1981	46,641	767,833
1980	45,026	738,415
1979	43,537	716,541
1978	42,539	694,341
1977	41,352	680,929
1976	40,149	675,011
1975	38,975	667,862
1974	38,106	658,438
1973	37,122	651,596
1972	36,184	638,754
1971	35,279	624,761
1970	34,382	605,102
1969	33,252	590,794
1968	32,029	571,841
1967	30,853	553,741
1966	29,502	534,862
1965	28,028	506,632
1964	26,565	490,606
1963	25,250	473,821
1962	23,927	455,634
1961	22,781	437,851
1960	21,604	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 +2.89% in Mauritania and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +3% in Mauritania and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Mauritania vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Mauritania

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Mauritania	South Africa
2023	34.4	18.8
2022	34.8	19.1
2021	35.3	19.4
2020	35.7	19.5
2019	36.2	19.7
2018	36.6	19.9
2017	37	20
2016	37.4	20.3
2015	37.8	21
2014	38.1	21.8
2013	38.5	21.9
2012	38.7	22.1
2011	38.9	22.1
2010	38.9	22.2
2009	39	22.8
2008	39.1	24.3
2007	39	23.1
2006	38.8	23.1
2005	38.4	22.7
2004	38.3	22.1
2003	37.9	21.4
2002	37.9	20.9
2001	38	21.3
2000	37.9	21.6
1999	38.1	22.7
1998	38.6	23.2
1997	39.4	23.9
1996	40.7	24.9
1995	41.5	25.6
1994	41.7	24.6
1993	41.7	26.6
1992	40.7	27
1991	41.3	28.1
1990	41.4	28.7
1989	41.8	30.6
1988	41.6	32
1987	41.9	33.2
1986	42.2	33.6
1985	42.8	34.2
1984	43.2	34.5
1983	43.6	34.6
1982	44	34.8
1981	44.4	34.6
1980	44.5	34.7
1979	44.7	34.9
1978	45.2	35.1
1977	45.4	35.6
1976	45.6	36.3
1975	45.8	37
1974	46.1	37.7
1973	46.4	38.4
1972	46.6	38.9
1971	47	39.3
1970	47.3	39.4
1969	47.5	39.7
1968	47.6	39.8
1967	47.8	39.9
1966	47.8	40
1965	47.6	39.5
1964	47.3	39.6
1963	47.1	39.7
1962	46.8	39.7
1961	46.6	39.7
1960	46.2	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 34.4 in Mauritania and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 46.2 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Mauritania

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Mauritania	South Africa
2100	21.5%	17.9%
2099	21.6%	18%
2098	21.8%	18%
2097	22%	18.1%
2096	22.1%	18.1%
2095	22.3%	18.2%
2094	22.5%	18.2%
2093	22.7%	18.3%
2092	22.9%	18.3%
2091	23.1%	18.4%
2090	23.3%	18.4%
2089	23.5%	18.5%
2088	23.7%	18.5%
2087	23.9%	18.6%
2086	24.1%	18.6%
2085	24.3%	18.7%
2084	24.5%	18.7%
2083	24.7%	18.8%
2082	25%	18.9%
2081	25.2%	18.9%
2080	25.4%	19%
2079	25.7%	19%
2078	25.9%	19.1%
2077	26.1%	19.2%
2076	26.4%	19.3%
2075	26.6%	19.3%
2074	26.8%	19.4%
2073	27.1%	19.5%
2072	27.3%	19.6%
2071	27.6%	19.6%
2070	27.9%	19.7%
2069	28.1%	19.8%
2068	28.4%	19.9%
2067	28.7%	20%
2066	29%	20.1%
2065	29.3%	20.2%
2064	29.6%	20.3%
2063	29.8%	20.4%
2062	30.1%	20.5%
2061	30.4%	20.6%
2060	30.7%	20.7%
2059	31.1%	20.8%
2058	31.4%	20.9%
2057	31.7%	21%
2056	32%	21.1%
2055	32.3%	21.1%
2054	32.6%	21.2%
2053	33%	21.3%
2052	33.3%	21.4%
2051	33.6%	21.5%
2050	33.9%	21.6%
2049	34.3%	21.7%
2048	34.6%	21.8%
2047	35%	21.9%
2046	35.3%	22%
2045	35.7%	22.1%
2044	36%	22.3%
2043	36.4%	22.4%
2042	36.7%	22.6%
2041	37.1%	22.8%
2040	37.4%	23%
2039	37.8%	23.3%
2038	38.1%	23.5%
2037	38.5%	23.7%
2036	38.8%	24.1%
2035	39.2%	24.4%
2034	39.5%	24.7%
2033	39.9%	24.9%
2032	40.2%	25%
2031	40.5%	25.1%
2030	40.8%	25.2%
2029	41.2%	25.3%
2028	41.5%	25.4%
2027	41.9%	25.5%
2026	42.2%	25.6%
2025	42.6%	25.8%
2024	42.7%	25.9%
2023	43%	26.1%
2022	43.4%	26.3%
2021	43.6%	26.6%
2020	43.8%	27%
2019	44%	27.4%
2018	44.1%	27.9%
2017	44.2%	28.3%
2016	44.2%	28.3%
2015	44.3%	28.3%
2014	44.2%	28.5%
2013	44.2%	28.7%
2012	44.1%	28.9%
2011	43.9%	29.1%
2010	43.9%	29.4%
2009	43.9%	29.7%
2008	44.1%	29.9%
2007	44.3%	30.2%
2006	44.2%	30.6%
2005	44.2%	31.1%
2004	44.2%	31.6%
2003	44.2%	32.3%
2002	44.2%	33.2%
2001	44.1%	34%
2000	44.2%	34.9%
1999	44.4%	35.7%
1998	44.6%	36.5%
1997	44.7%	37.2%
1996	44.6%	37.5%
1995	44.4%	37.5%
1994	44.3%	37.2%
1993	44.4%	37.3%
1992	44.9%	37.6%
1991	45.3%	37.5%
1990	45.4%	37.7%
1989	45.4%	38.1%
1988	45.3%	38.4%
1987	45.4%	38.7%
1986	45.5%	38.9%
1985	45.6%	39.2%
1984	45.7%	39.5%
1983	45.8%	39.8%
1982	45.8%	40.1%
1981	45.9%	40.5%
1980	45.9%	40.9%
1979	45.9%	41.3%
1978	45.8%	41.5%
1977	45.7%	41.7%
1976	45.6%	41.8%
1975	45.5%	41.9%
1974	45.4%	42%
1973	45.2%	42.1%
1972	44.9%	42.2%
1971	44.7%	42.2%
1970	44.4%	42.3%
1969	44%	42.2%
1968	43.6%	42.2%
1967	43.2%	42.2%
1966	42.8%	42.1%
1965	42.4%	42.1%
1964	42%	42.1%
1963	41.8%	42.1%
1962	41.8%	42.1%
1961	41.8%	42.1%
1960	41.8%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 42.7% of the population in Mauritania and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 45.4% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Mauritania and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Mauritania vs South Africa

Chart Table

Mauritania

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Mauritania	South Africa
2023	381	118
2022	385	129
2021	425	191
2020	413	118
2019	424	119
2018	437	128
2017	450	134
2016	456	141
2015	469	150
2014	484	162
2013	496	180
2012	496	194
2011	494	202
2010	499	226
2009	500	241
2008	506	272
2007	516	272
2006	521	283
2005	536	279
2004	557	259
2003	571	245
2002	590	225
2001	616	192
2000	644	175
1999	669	151
1998	698	152
1997	752	152
1996	813	150
1995	815	125
1994	809	133
1993	813	145
1992	811	152
1991	845	162
1990	858	170
1989	883	177
1988	887	184
1987	914	192
1986	961	200
1985	998	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 381 deaths per 100,000 live births in Mauritania, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Mauritania

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Mauritania	South Africa
2023	3.78%	3.47%
2022	3.91%	3.44%
2021	4.03%	3.41%
2020	4.17%	3.41%
2019	4.3%	3.45%
2018	4.45%	3.49%
2017	4.59%	3.58%
2016	4.74%	3.68%
2015	4.89%	3.82%
2014	5.04%	3.96%
2013	5.17%	4.1%
2012	5.31%	4.25%
2011	5.45%	4.5%
2010	5.61%	5%
2009	5.79%	5.7%
2008	6.04%	6.42%
2007	6.35%	7.19%
2006	6.73%	7.75%
2005	7.18%	8.03%
2004	7.7%	8.1%
2003	8.25%	7.93%
2002	8.81%	7.69%
2001	9.35%	7.43%
2000	9.82%	7.11%
1999	10.2%	6.85%
1998	10.6%	6.56%
1997	10.8%	6.29%
1996	11%	6.11%
1995	11.1%	5.95%
1994	11.2%	5.82%
1993	11.2%	5.7%
1992	11.3%	5.66%
1991	11.4%	5.7%
1990	11.5%	5.82%
1989	11.8%	6.01%
1988	12.1%	6.26%
1987	12.6%	6.56%
1986	13.2%	6.89%
1985	13.8%	7.24%
1984	14.5%	7.6%
1983	15.1%	7.98%
1982	15.6%	8.39%
1981	16.1%	8.84%
1980	16.6%	9.35%
1979	17.1%	9.88%
1978	17.6%	10.5%
1977	18.2%	11.1%
1976	18.6%	11.8%
1975	18.9%	12.5%
1974	19%	13.2%
1973	19%	-
1972	18.9%	-
1971	18.9%	-
1970	19%	-
1969	19.4%	-
1968	19.9%	-
1967	20.6%	-
1966	21.3%	-
1965	22%	-
1964	22.7%	-
1963	23.4%	-
1962	24%	-
1961	24.7%	-
1960	25.3%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.78% in Mauritania and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.