Fertility & birth rates in Mauritius and South Africa

Fertility rate in Mauritius vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Mauritius

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Mauritius	South Africa
2023	1.39	2.22
2022	1.32	2.23
2021	1.41	2.25
2020	1.44	2.26
2019	1.4	2.26
2018	1.41	2.27
2017	1.44	2.28
2016	1.4	2.26
2015	1.36	2.36
2014	1.43	2.42
2013	1.44	2.43
2012	1.54	2.45
2011	1.55	2.44
2010	1.57	2.44
2009	1.59	2.5
2008	1.67	2.68
2007	1.74	2.55
2006	1.77	2.55
2005	1.88	2.51
2004	1.92	2.44
2003	1.87	2.36
2002	1.94	2.32
2001	1.91	2.37
2000	1.99	2.41
1999	2.05	2.56
1998	1.97	2.63
1997	2.04	2.73
1996	2.12	2.99
1995	2.14	3.17
1994	2.25	3.26
1993	2.21	3.37
1992	2.37	3.48
1991	2.3	3.62
1990	2.32	3.72
1989	2.23	3.98
1988	2.14	4.18
1987	2.05	4.35
1986	1.99	4.41
1985	2.02	4.5
1984	2.16	4.57
1983	2.4	4.63
1982	2.53	4.7
1981	2.67	4.71
1980	2.8	4.78
1979	2.91	4.82
1978	3.01	4.85
1977	3.07	4.94
1976	3.13	5.07
1975	3.2	5.19
1974	3.45	5.3
1973	3.07	5.41
1972	3.41	5.49
1971	3.51	5.57
1970	3.82	5.63
1969	3.97	5.72
1968	4.6	5.78
1967	4.63	5.85
1966	5.46	5.91
1965	5.51	5.89
1964	5.96	5.96
1963	6.18	6.01
1962	5.88	6.05
1961	5.98	6.08
1960	5.9	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Mauritius was 1.39 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 Mauritius vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Mauritius

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Mauritius	South Africa
2023	999	602,793
2022	-757	603,636
2021	-253	456,411
2020	2,405	595,873
2019	1,773	652,130
2018	2,151	648,319
2017	3,415	645,975
2016	2,906	641,365
2015	3,031	668,771
2014	3,657	674,754
2013	4,281	652,427
2012	5,149	643,723
2011	5,511	601,708
2010	5,877	566,834
2009	6,113	554,115
2008	7,465	595,332
2007	8,429	503,567
2006	8,515	487,584
2005	10,195	464,464
2004	10,745	442,540
2003	10,799	415,018
2002	11,685	430,926
2001	11,723	484,801
2000	12,224	526,963
1999	12,341	594,643
1998	11,489	627,027
1997	11,943	667,969
1996	13,041	710,868
1995	13,020	743,488
1994	14,355	698,609
1993	14,814	789,220
1992	15,833	794,415
1991	15,091	827,296
1990	15,564	835,421
1989	14,718	884,629
1988	14,084	909,221
1987	13,262	922,330
1986	12,340	903,644
1985	12,451	893,889
1984	13,665	869,011
1983	14,525	837,013
1982	15,880	807,550
1981	18,334	767,833
1980	19,321	738,415
1979	19,282	716,541
1978	18,670	694,341
1977	16,769	680,929
1976	16,407	675,011
1975	15,342	667,862
1974	17,561	658,438
1973	13,145	651,596
1972	14,825	638,754
1971	15,441	624,761
1970	16,190	605,102
1969	15,761	590,794
1968	17,884	571,841
1967	17,560	553,741
1966	20,758	534,862
1965	20,482	506,632
1964	22,239	490,606
1963	22,069	473,821
1962	20,660	455,634
1961	20,355	437,851
1960	19,931	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 +0.08% in Mauritius and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.15% in Mauritius and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Mauritius vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Mauritius

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Mauritius	South Africa
2023	10.2	18.8
2022	9.6	19.1
2021	10.3	19.4
2020	10.6	19.5
2019	10.2	19.7
2018	10.2	19.9
2017	10.7	20
2016	10.4	20.3
2015	10.1	21
2014	10.6	21.8
2013	10.9	21.9
2012	11.5	22.1
2011	11.7	22.1
2010	12	22.2
2009	12.3	22.8
2008	13.2	24.3
2007	13.7	23.1
2006	14.3	23.1
2005	15.3	22.7
2004	15.7	22.1
2003	15.9	21.4
2002	16.6	20.9
2001	16.5	21.3
2000	17	21.6
1999	17.3	22.7
1998	16.7	23.2
1997	17.4	23.9
1996	18.3	24.9
1995	18.3	25.6
1994	19.6	24.6
1993	20.3	26.6
1992	21.1	27
1991	20.7	28.1
1990	21.3	28.7
1989	20.8	30.6
1988	20.1	32
1987	19.3	33.2
1986	18.6	33.6
1985	19	34.2
1984	20.1	34.5
1983	21	34.6
1982	22.6	34.8
1981	25.5	34.6
1980	27.2	34.7
1979	27.5	34.9
1978	27.1	35.1
1977	26	35.6
1976	25.8	36.3
1975	25.3	37
1974	27.3	37.7
1973	23	38.4
1972	25.3	38.9
1971	26.1	39.3
1970	27.5	39.4
1969	27.7	39.7
1968	31.6	39.8
1967	31	39.9
1966	36	40
1965	36	39.5
1964	38.9	39.6
1963	40.4	39.7
1962	38.8	39.7
1961	39.7	39.7
1960	39.4	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.2 in Mauritius and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 39.4 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Mauritius

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Mauritius	South Africa
2100	10.1%	17.9%
2099	10.1%	18%
2098	10.1%	18%
2097	10.1%	18.1%
2096	10%	18.1%
2095	10%	18.2%
2094	9.99%	18.2%
2093	9.98%	18.3%
2092	9.97%	18.3%
2091	9.97%	18.4%
2090	9.97%	18.4%
2089	9.98%	18.5%
2088	10%	18.5%
2087	10%	18.6%
2086	10%	18.6%
2085	10.1%	18.7%
2084	10.1%	18.7%
2083	10.1%	18.8%
2082	10.1%	18.9%
2081	10.2%	18.9%
2080	10.2%	19%
2079	10.2%	19%
2078	10.2%	19.1%
2077	10.2%	19.2%
2076	10.2%	19.3%
2075	10.2%	19.3%
2074	10.2%	19.4%
2073	10.2%	19.5%
2072	10.2%	19.6%
2071	10.2%	19.6%
2070	10.2%	19.7%
2069	10.2%	19.8%
2068	10.2%	19.9%
2067	10.2%	20%
2066	10.3%	20.1%
2065	10.3%	20.2%
2064	10.3%	20.3%
2063	10.3%	20.4%
2062	10.3%	20.5%
2061	10.4%	20.6%
2060	10.4%	20.7%
2059	10.5%	20.8%
2058	10.5%	20.9%
2057	10.6%	21%
2056	10.7%	21.1%
2055	10.8%	21.1%
2054	10.9%	21.2%
2053	11.1%	21.3%
2052	11.2%	21.4%
2051	11.3%	21.5%
2050	11.5%	21.6%
2049	11.6%	21.7%
2048	11.8%	21.8%
2047	11.9%	21.9%
2046	12%	22%
2045	12.1%	22.1%
2044	12.3%	22.3%
2043	12.4%	22.4%
2042	12.5%	22.6%
2041	12.6%	22.8%
2040	12.7%	23%
2039	12.7%	23.3%
2038	12.8%	23.5%
2037	12.9%	23.7%
2036	13.1%	24.1%
2035	13.2%	24.4%
2034	13.3%	24.7%
2033	13.4%	24.9%
2032	13.5%	25%
2031	13.6%	25.1%
2030	13.7%	25.2%
2029	13.9%	25.3%
2028	14%	25.4%
2027	14.2%	25.5%
2026	14.4%	25.6%
2025	14.7%	25.8%
2024	14.8%	25.9%
2023	15.1%	26.1%
2022	15.5%	26.3%
2021	15.9%	26.6%
2020	16.4%	27%
2019	16.9%	27.4%
2018	17.4%	27.9%
2017	17.9%	28.3%
2016	18.4%	28.3%
2015	18.9%	28.3%
2014	19.3%	28.5%
2013	19.7%	28.7%
2012	20.1%	28.9%
2011	20.6%	29.1%
2010	21.1%	29.4%
2009	21.7%	29.7%
2008	22.3%	29.9%
2007	22.9%	30.2%
2006	23.4%	30.6%
2005	23.9%	31.1%
2004	24.3%	31.6%
2003	24.7%	32.3%
2002	25%	33.2%
2001	25.3%	34%
2000	25.6%	34.9%
1999	25.8%	35.7%
1998	26.2%	36.5%
1997	26.6%	37.2%
1996	27%	37.5%
1995	27.5%	37.5%
1994	28%	37.2%
1993	28.5%	37.3%
1992	29%	37.6%
1991	29.4%	37.5%
1990	29.8%	37.7%
1989	30.1%	38.1%
1988	30.5%	38.4%
1987	30.8%	38.7%
1986	31.1%	38.9%
1985	31.4%	39.2%
1984	31.8%	39.5%
1983	32.2%	39.8%
1982	32.6%	40.1%
1981	33.1%	40.5%
1980	33.6%	40.9%
1979	34.2%	41.3%
1978	34.9%	41.5%
1977	35.7%	41.7%
1976	36.5%	41.8%
1975	37.3%	41.9%
1974	38.2%	42%
1973	39.1%	42.1%
1972	40.1%	42.2%
1971	40.9%	42.2%
1970	41.6%	42.3%
1969	42.3%	42.2%
1968	42.9%	42.2%
1967	43.4%	42.2%
1966	44%	42.1%
1965	44.4%	42.1%
1964	44.8%	42.1%
1963	45.1%	42.1%
1962	45.1%	42.1%
1961	45%	42.1%
1960	45%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 14.8% of the population in Mauritius and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 29.8% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Mauritius and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Mauritius vs South Africa

Chart Table

Mauritius

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Mauritius	South Africa
2023	66	118
2022	61	129
2021	80	191
2020	58	118
2019	67	119
2018	67	128
2017	66	134
2016	62	141
2015	61	150
2014	60	162
2013	58	180
2012	55	194
2011	55	202
2010	53	226
2009	51	241
2008	48	272
2007	46	272
2006	45	283
2005	43	279
2004	43	259
2003	42	245
2002	42	225
2001	42	192
2000	43	175
1999	46	151
1998	48	152
1997	49	152
1996	52	150
1995	55	125
1994	63	133
1993	70	145
1992	73	152
1991	75	162
1990	77	170
1989	85	177
1988	93	184
1987	103	192
1986	106	200
1985	111	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 66 deaths per 100,000 live births in Mauritius, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Mauritius

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Mauritius	South Africa
2023	1.52%	3.47%
2022	1.55%	3.44%
2021	1.57%	3.41%
2020	1.58%	3.41%
2019	1.57%	3.45%
2018	1.53%	3.49%
2017	1.5%	3.58%
2016	1.47%	3.68%
2015	1.47%	3.82%
2014	1.47%	3.96%
2013	1.49%	4.1%
2012	1.5%	4.25%
2011	1.49%	4.5%
2010	1.48%	5%
2009	1.48%	5.7%
2008	1.5%	6.42%
2007	1.52%	7.19%
2006	1.54%	7.75%
2005	1.55%	8.03%
2004	1.57%	8.1%
2003	1.6%	7.93%
2002	1.66%	7.69%
2001	1.76%	7.43%
2000	1.89%	7.11%
1999	2.03%	6.85%
1998	2.16%	6.56%
1997	2.25%	6.29%
1996	2.26%	6.11%
1995	2.22%	5.95%
1994	2.16%	5.82%
1993	2.12%	5.7%
1992	2.13%	5.66%
1991	2.19%	5.7%
1990	2.32%	5.82%
1989	2.5%	6.01%
1988	2.7%	6.26%
1987	2.85%	6.56%
1986	2.88%	6.89%
1985	2.85%	7.24%
1984	2.92%	7.6%
1983	3.15%	7.98%
1982	3.47%	8.39%
1981	3.77%	8.84%
1980	4.02%	9.35%
1979	4.28%	9.88%
1978	4.62%	10.5%
1977	5.08%	11.1%
1976	5.74%	11.8%
1975	6.53%	12.5%
1974	7.24%	13.2%
1973	7.71%	-
1972	7.98%	-
1971	8.15%	-
1970	8.35%	-
1969	8.72%	-
1968	9.25%	-
1967	9.55%	-
1966	9.25%	-
1965	8.66%	-
1964	8.4%	-
1963	8.72%	-
1962	9.31%	-
1961	9.82%	-
1960	10.2%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 1.52% in Mauritius and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.