Fertility & birth rates in New Zealand and South Africa

Fertility rate in New Zealand vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	New Zealand	South Africa
2023	1.56	2.22
2022	1.66	2.23
2021	1.64	2.25
2020	1.61	2.26
2019	1.72	2.26
2018	1.71	2.27
2017	1.81	2.28
2016	1.87	2.26
2015	1.99	2.36
2014	1.92	2.42
2013	2.01	2.43
2012	2.1	2.45
2011	2.09	2.44
2010	2.17	2.44
2009	2.13	2.5
2008	2.19	2.68
2007	2.18	2.55
2006	2.01	2.55
2005	1.97	2.51
2004	1.98	2.44
2003	1.93	2.36
2002	1.89	2.32
2001	1.97	2.37
2000	1.98	2.41
1999	1.97	2.56
1998	1.89	2.63
1997	1.96	2.73
1996	1.96	2.99
1995	1.98	3.17
1994	1.98	3.26
1993	2.04	3.37
1992	2.06	3.48
1991	2.09	3.62
1990	2.18	3.72
1989	2.12	3.98
1988	2.1	4.18
1987	2.03	4.35
1986	1.96	4.41
1985	1.93	4.5
1984	1.93	4.57
1983	1.92	4.63
1982	1.95	4.7
1981	2.01	4.71
1980	2.03	4.78
1979	2.12	4.82
1978	2.07	4.85
1977	2.21	4.94
1976	2.27	5.07
1975	2.37	5.19
1974	2.58	5.3
1973	2.76	5.41
1972	3	5.49
1971	3.18	5.57
1970	3.17	5.63
1969	3.28	5.72
1968	3.34	5.78
1967	3.35	5.85
1966	3.41	5.91
1965	3.54	5.89
1964	3.8	5.96
1963	4.05	6.01
1962	4.19	6.05
1961	4.31	6.08
1960	4.24	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in New Zealand was 1.56 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 New Zealand vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	New Zealand	South Africa
2023	18,876	602,793
2022	20,123	603,636
2021	23,644	456,411
2020	24,905	595,873
2019	25,299	652,130
2018	24,797	648,319
2017	26,282	645,975
2016	28,237	641,365
2015	29,408	668,771
2014	26,196	674,754
2013	29,096	652,427
2012	31,077	643,723
2011	31,302	601,708
2010	35,458	566,834
2009	33,560	554,115
2008	35,143	595,332
2007	35,480	503,567
2006	30,924	487,584
2005	30,674	464,464
2004	29,634	442,540
2003	28,150	415,018
2002	25,941	430,926
2001	27,939	484,801
2000	29,897	526,963
1999	28,916	594,643
1998	29,146	627,027
1997	30,137	667,969
1996	28,997	710,868
1995	29,828	743,488
1994	30,372	698,609
1993	31,685	789,220
1992	32,067	794,415
1991	33,518	827,296
1990	33,298	835,421
1989	30,749	884,629
1988	29,846	909,221
1987	27,603	922,330
1986	25,549	903,644
1985	24,126	893,889
1984	26,043	869,011
1983	24,315	837,013
1982	24,207	807,550
1981	25,374	767,833
1980	23,658	738,415
1979	26,675	716,541
1978	26,156	694,341
1977	28,020	680,929
1976	29,456	675,011
1975	31,355	667,862
1974	33,896	658,438
1973	35,239	651,596
1972	38,244	638,754
1971	40,000	624,761
1970	37,101	605,102
1969	38,098	590,794
1968	37,594	571,841
1967	37,974	553,741
1966	36,151	534,862
1965	36,982	506,632
1964	39,375	490,606
1963	42,027	473,821
1962	42,865	455,634
1961	43,482	437,851
1960	41,791	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 +0.36% in New Zealand and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.51% in New Zealand and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in New Zealand vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

New Zealand

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	New Zealand	South Africa
2023	10.9	18.8
2022	11.5	19.1
2021	11.5	19.4
2020	11.3	19.5
2019	12	19.7
2018	11.8	19.9
2017	12.4	20
2016	12.6	20.3
2015	13.2	21
2014	12.7	21.8
2013	13.2	21.9
2012	13.9	22.1
2011	14	22.1
2010	14.7	22.2
2009	14.5	22.8
2008	15.1	24.3
2007	15.2	23.1
2006	14.1	23.1
2005	14	22.7
2004	14.2	22.1
2003	13.9	21.4
2002	13.7	20.9
2001	14.4	21.3
2000	14.7	21.6
1999	14.9	22.7
1998	14.5	23.2
1997	15.2	23.9
1996	15.3	24.9
1995	15.7	25.6
1994	15.8	24.6
1993	16.5	26.6
1992	16.8	27
1991	17.1	28.1
1990	17.9	28.7
1989	17.4	30.6
1988	17.4	32
1987	16.7	33.2
1986	16.1	33.6
1985	15.8	34.2
1984	15.9	34.5
1983	15.7	34.6
1982	15.7	34.8
1981	16.1	34.6
1980	16.1	34.7
1979	16.7	34.9
1978	16.2	35.1
1977	17.2	35.6
1976	17.6	36.3
1975	18.3	37
1974	19.5	37.7
1973	20.4	38.4
1972	21.7	38.9
1971	22.5	39.3
1970	22	39.4
1969	22.4	39.7
1968	22.6	39.8
1967	22.4	39.9
1966	22.4	40
1965	22.8	39.5
1964	24.1	39.6
1963	25.4	39.7
1962	26.2	39.7
1961	27	39.7
1960	26.4	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.9 in New Zealand and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 26.4 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

New Zealand

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	New Zealand	South Africa
2100	13.6%	17.9%
2099	13.6%	18%
2098	13.6%	18%
2097	13.6%	18.1%
2096	13.7%	18.1%
2095	13.7%	18.2%
2094	13.7%	18.2%
2093	13.8%	18.3%
2092	13.8%	18.3%
2091	13.8%	18.4%
2090	13.8%	18.4%
2089	13.8%	18.5%
2088	13.9%	18.5%
2087	13.9%	18.6%
2086	13.9%	18.6%
2085	13.9%	18.7%
2084	13.9%	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	14%	19.4%
2073	14%	19.5%
2072	14%	19.6%
2071	14.1%	19.6%
2070	14.1%	19.7%
2069	14.1%	19.8%
2068	14.2%	19.9%
2067	14.3%	20%
2066	14.3%	20.1%
2065	14.4%	20.2%
2064	14.4%	20.3%
2063	14.5%	20.4%
2062	14.6%	20.5%
2061	14.7%	20.6%
2060	14.7%	20.7%
2059	14.8%	20.8%
2058	14.9%	20.9%
2057	15%	21%
2056	15%	21.1%
2055	15.1%	21.1%
2054	15.1%	21.2%
2053	15.2%	21.3%
2052	15.2%	21.4%
2051	15.2%	21.5%
2050	15.2%	21.6%
2049	15.2%	21.7%
2048	15.3%	21.8%
2047	15.3%	21.9%
2046	15.3%	22%
2045	15.3%	22.1%
2044	15.3%	22.3%
2043	15.4%	22.4%
2042	15.4%	22.6%
2041	15.5%	22.8%
2040	15.5%	23%
2039	15.6%	23.3%
2038	15.7%	23.5%
2037	15.9%	23.7%
2036	16%	24.1%
2035	16.1%	24.4%
2034	16.2%	24.7%
2033	16.4%	24.9%
2032	16.5%	25%
2031	16.7%	25.1%
2030	16.9%	25.2%
2029	17.1%	25.3%
2028	17.3%	25.4%
2027	17.5%	25.5%
2026	17.8%	25.6%
2025	18%	25.8%
2024	18.1%	25.9%
2023	18.4%	26.1%
2022	18.6%	26.3%
2021	18.9%	26.6%
2020	19%	27%
2019	19.2%	27.4%
2018	19.3%	27.9%
2017	19.5%	28.3%
2016	19.6%	28.3%
2015	19.9%	28.3%
2014	20.2%	28.5%
2013	20.4%	28.7%
2012	20.6%	28.9%
2011	20.8%	29.1%
2010	20.9%	29.4%
2009	20.9%	29.7%
2008	21%	29.9%
2007	21.1%	30.2%
2006	21.3%	30.6%
2005	21.5%	31.1%
2004	21.8%	31.6%
2003	22.1%	32.3%
2002	22.4%	33.2%
2001	22.6%	34%
2000	22.8%	34.9%
1999	22.9%	35.7%
1998	23%	36.5%
1997	23%	37.2%
1996	23%	37.5%
1995	23.1%	37.5%
1994	23.1%	37.2%
1993	23.1%	37.3%
1992	23.1%	37.6%
1991	23.2%	37.5%
1990	23.3%	37.7%
1989	23.3%	38.1%
1988	23.5%	38.4%
1987	23.8%	38.7%
1986	24.2%	38.9%
1985	24.6%	39.2%
1984	25.1%	39.5%
1983	25.6%	39.8%
1982	26.2%	40.1%
1981	26.7%	40.5%
1980	27.2%	40.9%
1979	27.8%	41.3%
1978	28.4%	41.5%
1977	29%	41.7%
1976	29.6%	41.8%
1975	30.1%	41.9%
1974	30.5%	42%
1973	31%	42.1%
1972	31.4%	42.2%
1971	31.7%	42.2%
1970	31.9%	42.3%
1969	32.2%	42.2%
1968	32.3%	42.2%
1967	32.5%	42.2%
1966	32.6%	42.1%
1965	32.7%	42.1%
1964	32.9%	42.1%
1963	32.9%	42.1%
1962	33%	42.1%
1961	33%	42.1%
1960	32.8%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.1% of the population in New Zealand and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 23.3% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of New Zealand and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: New Zealand vs South Africa

Chart Table

New Zealand

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	New Zealand	South Africa
2023	7	118
2022	23	129
2021	8	191
2020	8	118
2019	8	119
2018	7	128
2017	8	134
2016	8	141
2015	8	150
2014	7	162
2013	8	180
2012	9	194
2011	10	202
2010	10	226
2009	10	241
2008	10	272
2007	10	272
2006	10	283
2005	11	279
2004	11	259
2003	11	245
2002	11	225
2001	10	192
2000	11	175
1999	12	151
1998	12	152
1997	13	152
1996	14	150
1995	14	125
1994	13	133
1993	14	145
1992	15	152
1991	16	162
1990	18	170
1989	18	177
1988	19	184
1987	19	192
1986	18	200
1985	19	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 7 deaths per 100,000 live births in New Zealand, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

New Zealand

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	New Zealand	South Africa
2023	0.47%	3.47%
2022	0.48%	3.44%
2021	0.49%	3.41%
2020	0.5%	3.41%
2019	0.51%	3.45%
2018	0.52%	3.49%
2017	0.53%	3.58%
2016	0.55%	3.68%
2015	0.56%	3.82%
2014	0.57%	3.96%
2013	0.59%	4.1%
2012	0.6%	4.25%
2011	0.61%	4.5%
2010	0.62%	5%
2009	0.63%	5.7%
2008	0.64%	6.42%
2007	0.65%	7.19%
2006	0.65%	7.75%
2005	0.66%	8.03%
2004	0.67%	8.1%
2003	0.69%	7.93%
2002	0.7%	7.69%
2001	0.72%	7.43%
2000	0.74%	7.11%
1999	0.76%	6.85%
1998	0.78%	6.56%
1997	0.81%	6.29%
1996	0.84%	6.11%
1995	0.87%	5.95%
1994	0.91%	5.82%
1993	0.95%	5.7%
1992	1%	5.66%
1991	1.06%	5.7%
1990	1.12%	5.82%
1989	1.18%	6.01%
1988	1.24%	6.26%
1987	1.29%	6.56%
1986	1.34%	6.89%
1985	1.38%	7.24%
1984	1.41%	7.6%
1983	1.45%	7.98%
1982	1.48%	8.39%
1981	1.52%	8.84%
1980	1.56%	9.35%
1979	1.61%	9.88%
1978	1.66%	10.5%
1977	1.71%	11.1%
1976	1.77%	11.8%
1975	1.83%	12.5%
1974	1.88%	13.2%
1973	1.94%	-
1972	1.98%	-
1971	2.03%	-
1970	2.08%	-
1969	2.12%	-
1968	2.16%	-
1967	2.2%	-
1966	2.25%	-
1965	2.31%	-
1964	2.39%	-
1963	2.48%	-
1962	2.58%	-
1961	2.68%	-
1960	2.78%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.47% in New Zealand and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.