Fertility & birth rates in Netherlands and South Africa

Fertility rate in Netherlands vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Netherlands

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Netherlands	South Africa
2023	1.43	2.22
2022	1.49	2.23
2021	1.62	2.25
2020	1.54	2.26
2019	1.57	2.26
2018	1.59	2.27
2017	1.62	2.28
2016	1.66	2.26
2015	1.66	2.36
2014	1.71	2.42
2013	1.68	2.43
2012	1.72	2.45
2011	1.76	2.44
2010	1.79	2.44
2009	1.79	2.5
2008	1.77	2.68
2007	1.72	2.55
2006	1.72	2.55
2005	1.71	2.51
2004	1.72	2.44
2003	1.75	2.36
2002	1.73	2.32
2001	1.71	2.37
2000	1.72	2.41
1999	1.65	2.56
1998	1.63	2.63
1997	1.56	2.73
1996	1.53	2.99
1995	1.53	3.17
1994	1.57	3.26
1993	1.57	3.37
1992	1.59	3.48
1991	1.61	3.62
1990	1.62	3.72
1989	1.55	3.98
1988	1.55	4.18
1987	1.56	4.35
1986	1.55	4.41
1985	1.51	4.5
1984	1.49	4.57
1983	1.47	4.63
1982	1.5	4.7
1981	1.56	4.71
1980	1.6	4.78
1979	1.56	4.82
1978	1.58	4.85
1977	1.58	4.94
1976	1.63	5.07
1975	1.66	5.19
1974	1.77	5.3
1973	1.9	5.41
1972	2.15	5.49
1971	2.36	5.57
1970	2.57	5.63
1969	2.75	5.72
1968	2.72	5.78
1967	2.81	5.85
1966	2.9	5.91
1965	3.04	5.89
1964	3.17	5.96
1963	3.19	6.01
1962	3.18	6.05
1961	3.22	6.08
1960	3.12	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in the Netherlands was 1.43 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 the Netherlands vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Netherlands

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Netherlands	South Africa
2023	-5,363	602,793
2022	-1,770	603,636
2021	7,014	456,411
2020	0	595,873
2019	17,345	652,130
2018	15,508	648,319
2017	18,844	645,975
2016	23,843	641,365
2015	23,716	668,771
2014	35,417	674,754
2013	30,248	652,427
2012	35,186	643,723
2011	45,072	601,708
2010	48,184	566,834
2009	51,244	554,115
2008	49,337	595,332
2007	49,145	503,567
2006	49,038	487,584
2005	50,592	464,464
2004	56,987	442,540
2003	58,411	415,018
2002	59,751	430,926
2001	62,580	484,801
2000	66,887	526,963
1999	60,086	594,643
1998	61,258	627,027
1997	56,198	667,969
1996	51,251	710,868
1995	54,106	743,488
1994	61,532	698,609
1993	58,103	789,220
1992	66,811	794,415
1991	69,321	827,296
1990	68,777	835,421
1989	59,396	884,629
1988	61,993	909,221
1987	64,526	922,330
1986	59,746	903,644
1985	55,069	893,889
1984	54,812	869,011
1983	51,722	837,013
1982	54,388	807,550
1981	62,688	767,833
1980	66,504	738,415
1979	63,172	716,541
1978	61,344	694,341
1977	63,739	680,929
1976	63,361	675,011
1975	64,232	667,862
1974	75,853	658,438
1973	84,668	651,596
1972	101,297	638,754
1971	116,112	624,761
1970	129,082	605,102
1969	139,082	590,794
1968	132,389	571,841
1967	138,580	553,741
1966	138,265	534,862
1965	146,308	506,632
1964	157,653	490,606
1963	154,361	473,821
1962	153,474	455,634
1961	159,450	437,851
1960	151,623	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 -0.03% in the Netherlands and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.08% in the Netherlands and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Netherlands vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Netherlands

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Netherlands	South Africa
2023	9.2	18.8
2022	9.5	19.1
2021	10.2	19.4
2020	9.7	19.5
2019	9.8	19.7
2018	9.8	19.9
2017	9.9	20
2016	10.1	20.3
2015	10.1	21
2014	10.4	21.8
2013	10.2	21.9
2012	10.5	22.1
2011	10.8	22.1
2010	11.1	22.2
2009	11.2	22.8
2008	11.2	24.3
2007	11.1	23.1
2006	11.3	23.1
2005	11.5	22.7
2004	11.9	22.1
2003	12.3	21.4
2002	12.5	20.9
2001	12.6	21.3
2000	13	21.6
1999	12.7	22.7
1998	12.7	23.2
1997	12.3	23.9
1996	12.2	24.9
1995	12.3	25.6
1994	12.7	24.6
1993	12.8	26.6
1992	13	27
1991	13.2	28.1
1990	13.2	28.7
1989	12.7	30.6
1988	12.6	32
1987	12.7	33.2
1986	12.7	33.6
1985	12.3	34.2
1984	12.1	34.5
1983	11.8	34.6
1982	12	34.8
1981	12.5	34.6
1980	12.8	34.7
1979	12.5	34.9
1978	12.6	35.1
1977	12.5	35.6
1976	12.9	36.3
1975	13	37
1974	13.7	37.7
1973	14.5	38.4
1972	16.1	38.9
1971	17.2	39.3
1970	18.3	39.4
1969	19.2	39.7
1968	18.6	39.8
1967	18.9	39.9
1966	19.2	40
1965	19.9	39.5
1964	20.7	39.6
1963	20.9	39.7
1962	20.9	39.7
1961	21.3	39.7
1960	20.8	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.2 in the Netherlands and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 20.8 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Netherlands

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Netherlands	South Africa
2100	13.2%	17.9%
2099	13.2%	18%
2098	13.2%	18%
2097	13.2%	18.1%
2096	13.2%	18.1%
2095	13.2%	18.2%
2094	13.2%	18.2%
2093	13.1%	18.3%
2092	13.1%	18.3%
2091	13.1%	18.4%
2090	13.1%	18.4%
2089	13.1%	18.5%
2088	13.1%	18.5%
2087	13.1%	18.6%
2086	13.1%	18.6%
2085	13.2%	18.7%
2084	13.2%	18.7%
2083	13.2%	18.8%
2082	13.2%	18.9%
2081	13.3%	18.9%
2080	13.3%	19%
2079	13.3%	19%
2078	13.4%	19.1%
2077	13.4%	19.2%
2076	13.4%	19.3%
2075	13.5%	19.3%
2074	13.5%	19.4%
2073	13.5%	19.5%
2072	13.5%	19.6%
2071	13.6%	19.6%
2070	13.6%	19.7%
2069	13.6%	19.8%
2068	13.6%	19.9%
2067	13.6%	20%
2066	13.6%	20.1%
2065	13.6%	20.2%
2064	13.6%	20.3%
2063	13.6%	20.4%
2062	13.6%	20.5%
2061	13.6%	20.6%
2060	13.5%	20.7%
2059	13.5%	20.8%
2058	13.5%	20.9%
2057	13.6%	21%
2056	13.6%	21.1%
2055	13.6%	21.1%
2054	13.6%	21.2%
2053	13.7%	21.3%
2052	13.7%	21.4%
2051	13.8%	21.5%
2050	13.9%	21.6%
2049	13.9%	21.7%
2048	14%	21.8%
2047	14.1%	21.9%
2046	14.2%	22%
2045	14.3%	22.1%
2044	14.3%	22.3%
2043	14.4%	22.4%
2042	14.5%	22.6%
2041	14.5%	22.8%
2040	14.6%	23%
2039	14.6%	23.3%
2038	14.6%	23.5%
2037	14.6%	23.7%
2036	14.7%	24.1%
2035	14.7%	24.4%
2034	14.7%	24.7%
2033	14.7%	24.9%
2032	14.7%	25%
2031	14.8%	25.1%
2030	14.8%	25.2%
2029	14.8%	25.3%
2028	14.8%	25.4%
2027	14.8%	25.5%
2026	14.9%	25.6%
2025	15%	25.8%
2024	15%	25.9%
2023	15.2%	26.1%
2022	15.4%	26.3%
2021	15.5%	26.6%
2020	15.6%	27%
2019	15.8%	27.4%
2018	16%	27.9%
2017	16.2%	28.3%
2016	16.4%	28.3%
2015	16.6%	28.3%
2014	16.9%	28.5%
2013	17.1%	28.7%
2012	17.3%	28.9%
2011	17.4%	29.1%
2010	17.6%	29.4%
2009	17.7%	29.7%
2008	17.9%	29.9%
2007	18.1%	30.2%
2006	18.3%	30.6%
2005	18.5%	31.1%
2004	18.6%	31.6%
2003	18.7%	32.3%
2002	18.8%	33.2%
2001	18.8%	34%
2000	18.8%	34.9%
1999	18.7%	35.7%
1998	18.6%	36.5%
1997	18.6%	37.2%
1996	18.6%	37.5%
1995	18.6%	37.5%
1994	18.6%	37.2%
1993	18.5%	37.3%
1992	18.5%	37.6%
1991	18.4%	37.5%
1990	18.4%	37.7%
1989	18.4%	38.1%
1988	18.5%	38.4%
1987	18.7%	38.7%
1986	19.1%	38.9%
1985	19.5%	39.2%
1984	20.1%	39.5%
1983	20.7%	39.8%
1982	21.3%	40.1%
1981	21.8%	40.5%
1980	22.3%	40.9%
1979	22.9%	41.3%
1978	23.5%	41.5%
1977	24.2%	41.7%
1976	24.8%	41.8%
1975	25.3%	41.9%
1974	25.9%	42%
1973	26.4%	42.1%
1972	26.8%	42.2%
1971	27.1%	42.2%
1970	27.3%	42.3%
1969	27.5%	42.2%
1968	27.6%	42.2%
1967	27.8%	42.2%
1966	28.1%	42.1%
1965	28.3%	42.1%
1964	28.5%	42.1%
1963	28.7%	42.1%
1962	29.1%	42.1%
1961	29.7%	42.1%
1960	30%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 15% of the population in the Netherlands and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 18.4% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of the Netherlands and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Netherlands vs South Africa

Chart Table

Netherlands

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Netherlands	South Africa
2023	4	118
2022	4	129
2021	5	191
2020	4	118
2019	5	119
2018	5	128
2017	5	134
2016	5	141
2015	5	150
2014	5	162
2013	6	180
2012	6	194
2011	7	202
2010	6	226
2009	7	241
2008	8	272
2007	8	272
2006	9	283
2005	10	279
2004	11	259
2003	12	245
2002	13	225
2001	13	192
2000	13	175
1999	13	151
1998	12	152
1997	13	152
1996	12	150
1995	12	125
1994	12	133
1993	12	145
1992	12	152
1991	12	162
1990	12	170
1989	12	177
1988	12	184
1987	12	192
1986	12	200
1985	12	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in the Netherlands, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Netherlands

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Netherlands	South Africa
2023	0.4%	3.47%
2022	0.4%	3.44%
2021	0.4%	3.41%
2020	0.4%	3.41%
2019	0.4%	3.45%
2018	0.4%	3.49%
2017	0.4%	3.58%
2016	0.41%	3.68%
2015	0.41%	3.82%
2014	0.41%	3.96%
2013	0.42%	4.1%
2012	0.42%	4.25%
2011	0.43%	4.5%
2010	0.44%	5%
2009	0.46%	5.7%
2008	0.47%	6.42%
2007	0.49%	7.19%
2006	0.51%	7.75%
2005	0.53%	8.03%
2004	0.55%	8.1%
2003	0.57%	7.93%
2002	0.59%	7.69%
2001	0.61%	7.43%
2000	0.62%	7.11%
1999	0.63%	6.85%
1998	0.64%	6.56%
1997	0.66%	6.29%
1996	0.67%	6.11%
1995	0.69%	5.95%
1994	0.71%	5.82%
1993	0.74%	5.7%
1992	0.77%	5.66%
1991	0.8%	5.7%
1990	0.83%	5.82%
1989	0.86%	6.01%
1988	0.89%	6.26%
1987	0.92%	6.56%
1986	0.95%	6.89%
1985	0.97%	7.24%
1984	0.99%	7.6%
1983	1.02%	7.98%
1982	1.04%	8.39%
1981	1.06%	8.84%
1980	1.09%	9.35%
1979	1.12%	9.88%
1978	1.16%	10.5%
1977	1.21%	11.1%
1976	1.26%	11.8%
1975	1.31%	12.5%
1974	1.36%	13.2%
1973	1.41%	-
1972	1.47%	-
1971	1.53%	-
1970	1.58%	-
1969	1.64%	-
1968	1.69%	-
1967	1.74%	-
1966	1.79%	-
1965	1.83%	-
1964	1.88%	-
1963	1.92%	-
1962	1.97%	-
1961	2.03%	-
1960	2.08%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.4% in the Netherlands and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.