Fertility & birth rates in Norway and South Africa

Fertility rate in Norway vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Norway

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Norway	South Africa
2023	1.4	2.22
2022	1.41	2.23
2021	1.55	2.25
2020	1.48	2.26
2019	1.53	2.26
2018	1.56	2.27
2017	1.62	2.28
2016	1.71	2.26
2015	1.72	2.36
2014	1.75	2.42
2013	1.78	2.43
2012	1.85	2.45
2011	1.88	2.44
2010	1.95	2.44
2009	1.98	2.5
2008	1.96	2.68
2007	1.9	2.55
2006	1.9	2.55
2005	1.84	2.51
2004	1.83	2.44
2003	1.8	2.36
2002	1.75	2.32
2001	1.78	2.37
2000	1.85	2.41
1999	1.85	2.56
1998	1.81	2.63
1997	1.86	2.73
1996	1.89	2.99
1995	1.87	3.17
1994	1.87	3.26
1993	1.86	3.37
1992	1.88	3.48
1991	1.92	3.62
1990	1.93	3.72
1989	1.89	3.98
1988	1.84	4.18
1987	1.74	4.35
1986	1.71	4.41
1985	1.68	4.5
1984	1.66	4.57
1983	1.66	4.63
1982	1.71	4.7
1981	1.7	4.71
1980	1.72	4.78
1979	1.75	4.82
1978	1.77	4.85
1977	1.75	4.94
1976	1.86	5.07
1975	1.98	5.19
1974	2.13	5.3
1973	2.23	5.41
1972	2.38	5.49
1971	2.49	5.57
1970	2.5	5.63
1969	2.7	5.72
1968	2.75	5.78
1967	2.81	5.85
1966	2.9	5.91
1965	2.94	5.89
1964	2.98	5.96
1963	2.93	6.01
1962	2.91	6.05
1961	2.94	6.08
1960	2.85	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Norway was 1.4 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 Norway vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Norway

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Norway	South Africa
2023	8,280	602,793
2022	5,457	603,636
2021	14,062	456,411
2020	12,372	595,873
2019	13,904	652,130
2018	14,342	648,319
2017	15,831	645,975
2016	17,797	641,365
2015	18,160	668,771
2014	18,494	674,754
2013	17,779	652,427
2012	18,066	643,723
2011	18,822	601,708
2010	20,046	566,834
2009	20,280	554,115
2008	19,073	595,332
2007	16,482	503,567
2006	17,244	487,584
2005	15,719	464,464
2004	15,612	442,540
2003	14,151	415,018
2002	10,892	430,926
2001	13,090	484,801
2000	15,269	526,963
1999	14,278	594,643
1998	14,181	627,027
1997	15,418	667,969
1996	17,087	710,868
1995	14,821	743,488
1994	16,045	698,609
1993	12,936	789,220
1992	15,431	794,415
1991	16,194	827,296
1990	14,845	835,421
1989	13,949	884,629
1988	12,207	909,221
1987	9,212	922,330
1986	8,751	903,644
1985	6,644	893,889
1984	7,452	869,011
1983	7,844	837,013
1982	9,875	807,550
1981	9,020	767,833
1980	9,806	738,415
1979	10,181	716,541
1978	11,364	694,341
1977	11,321	680,929
1976	13,286	675,011
1975	16,430	667,862
1974	20,324	658,438
1973	21,387	651,596
1972	24,777	638,754
1971	26,541	624,761
1970	25,968	605,102
1969	28,858	590,794
1968	29,387	571,841
1967	30,276	553,741
1966	31,150	534,862
1965	31,275	506,632
1964	30,293	490,606
1963	26,766	473,821
1962	28,020	455,634
1961	29,239	437,851
1960	29,366	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 +0.15% in Norway and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.26% in Norway and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Norway vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Norway

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Norway	South Africa
2023	9.4	18.8
2022	9.4	19.1
2021	10.4	19.4
2020	9.8	19.5
2019	10.2	19.7
2018	10.4	19.9
2017	10.7	20
2016	11.2	20.3
2015	11.3	21
2014	11.5	21.8
2013	11.6	21.9
2012	12	22.1
2011	12.2	22.1
2010	12.6	22.2
2009	12.8	22.8
2008	12.7	24.3
2007	12.4	23.1
2006	12.6	23.1
2005	12.3	22.7
2004	12.4	22.1
2003	12.4	21.4
2002	12.2	20.9
2001	12.6	21.3
2000	13.2	21.6
1999	13.3	22.7
1998	13.2	23.2
1997	13.6	23.9
1996	13.9	24.9
1995	13.8	25.6
1994	13.9	24.6
1993	13.8	26.6
1992	14	27
1991	14.3	28.1
1990	14.4	28.7
1989	14	30.6
1988	13.7	32
1987	12.9	33.2
1986	12.6	33.6
1985	12.3	34.2
1984	12.1	34.5
1983	12.1	34.6
1982	12.5	34.8
1981	12.4	34.6
1980	12.5	34.7
1979	12.7	34.9
1978	12.8	35.1
1977	12.6	35.6
1976	13.3	36.3
1975	14.1	37
1974	15	37.7
1973	15.5	38.4
1972	16.3	38.9
1971	16.8	39.3
1970	16.7	39.4
1969	17.6	39.7
1968	17.6	39.8
1967	17.6	39.9
1966	17.9	40
1965	17.8	39.5
1964	17.7	39.6
1963	17.3	39.7
1962	17.1	39.7
1961	17.3	39.7
1960	17.3	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 9.4 in Norway and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 17.3 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Norway

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Norway	South Africa
2100	12.8%	17.9%
2099	12.8%	18%
2098	12.8%	18%
2097	12.8%	18.1%
2096	12.8%	18.1%
2095	12.9%	18.2%
2094	12.9%	18.2%
2093	12.9%	18.3%
2092	12.9%	18.3%
2091	13%	18.4%
2090	13%	18.4%
2089	13%	18.5%
2088	13%	18.5%
2087	13%	18.6%
2086	13.1%	18.6%
2085	13.1%	18.7%
2084	13.1%	18.7%
2083	13.1%	18.8%
2082	13.1%	18.9%
2081	13.1%	18.9%
2080	13%	19%
2079	13%	19%
2078	13%	19.1%
2077	13%	19.2%
2076	13%	19.3%
2075	13%	19.3%
2074	12.9%	19.4%
2073	12.9%	19.5%
2072	12.9%	19.6%
2071	12.9%	19.6%
2070	12.9%	19.7%
2069	12.9%	19.8%
2068	12.9%	19.9%
2067	13%	20%
2066	13%	20.1%
2065	13%	20.2%
2064	13.1%	20.3%
2063	13.1%	20.4%
2062	13.2%	20.5%
2061	13.2%	20.6%
2060	13.3%	20.7%
2059	13.4%	20.8%
2058	13.4%	20.9%
2057	13.5%	21%
2056	13.6%	21.1%
2055	13.6%	21.1%
2054	13.7%	21.2%
2053	13.8%	21.3%
2052	13.8%	21.4%
2051	13.8%	21.5%
2050	13.9%	21.6%
2049	13.9%	21.7%
2048	13.9%	21.8%
2047	13.9%	21.9%
2046	13.9%	22%
2045	13.9%	22.1%
2044	13.9%	22.3%
2043	13.9%	22.4%
2042	13.9%	22.6%
2041	13.9%	22.8%
2040	14%	23%
2039	14%	23.3%
2038	14%	23.5%
2037	14%	23.7%
2036	14.1%	24.1%
2035	14.2%	24.4%
2034	14.3%	24.7%
2033	14.4%	24.9%
2032	14.6%	25%
2031	14.7%	25.1%
2030	14.9%	25.2%
2029	15.1%	25.3%
2028	15.3%	25.4%
2027	15.6%	25.5%
2026	15.8%	25.6%
2025	16.1%	25.8%
2024	16.2%	25.9%
2023	16.5%	26.1%
2022	16.8%	26.3%
2021	17%	26.6%
2020	17.2%	27%
2019	17.4%	27.4%
2018	17.6%	27.9%
2017	17.8%	28.3%
2016	17.9%	28.3%
2015	18%	28.3%
2014	18.1%	28.5%
2013	18.3%	28.7%
2012	18.4%	28.9%
2011	18.6%	29.1%
2010	18.8%	29.4%
2009	18.9%	29.7%
2008	19.1%	29.9%
2007	19.3%	30.2%
2006	19.4%	30.6%
2005	19.6%	31.1%
2004	19.8%	31.6%
2003	19.9%	32.3%
2002	20%	33.2%
2001	20%	34%
2000	20%	34.9%
1999	19.9%	35.7%
1998	19.8%	36.5%
1997	19.7%	37.2%
1996	19.6%	37.5%
1995	19.5%	37.5%
1994	19.4%	37.2%
1993	19.3%	37.3%
1992	19.1%	37.6%
1991	19%	37.5%
1990	18.9%	37.7%
1989	19%	38.1%
1988	19.1%	38.4%
1987	19.3%	38.7%
1986	19.6%	38.9%
1985	20%	39.2%
1984	20.4%	39.5%
1983	20.9%	39.8%
1982	21.3%	40.1%
1981	21.8%	40.5%
1980	22.2%	40.9%
1979	22.6%	41.3%
1978	22.9%	41.5%
1977	23.3%	41.7%
1976	23.5%	41.8%
1975	23.8%	41.9%
1974	24%	42%
1973	24.2%	42.1%
1972	24.3%	42.2%
1971	24.4%	42.2%
1970	24.5%	42.3%
1969	24.5%	42.2%
1968	24.6%	42.2%
1967	24.7%	42.2%
1966	24.7%	42.1%
1965	24.8%	42.1%
1964	24.8%	42.1%
1963	25%	42.1%
1962	25.2%	42.1%
1961	25.6%	42.1%
1960	25.9%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 16.2% of the population in Norway and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 18.9% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Norway and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Norway vs South Africa

Chart Table

Norway

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Norway	South Africa
2023	1	118
2022	3	129
2021	2	191
2020	2	118
2019	2	119
2018	2	128
2017	2	134
2016	2	141
2015	2	150
2014	2	162
2013	3	180
2012	3	194
2011	4	202
2010	4	226
2009	4	241
2008	5	272
2007	5	272
2006	5	283
2005	6	279
2004	6	259
2003	5	245
2002	5	225
2001	5	192
2000	5	175
1999	5	151
1998	5	152
1997	5	152
1996	6	150
1995	6	125
1994	7	133
1993	7	145
1992	8	152
1991	8	162
1990	9	170
1989	9	177
1988	9	184
1987	9	192
1986	9	200
1985	9	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 1 deaths per 100,000 live births in Norway, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Norway

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Norway	South Africa
2023	0.24%	3.47%
2022	0.23%	3.44%
2021	0.23%	3.41%
2020	0.24%	3.41%
2019	0.24%	3.45%
2018	0.25%	3.49%
2017	0.25%	3.58%
2016	0.26%	3.68%
2015	0.27%	3.82%
2014	0.28%	3.96%
2013	0.29%	4.1%
2012	0.3%	4.25%
2011	0.31%	4.5%
2010	0.33%	5%
2009	0.34%	5.7%
2008	0.36%	6.42%
2007	0.37%	7.19%
2006	0.39%	7.75%
2005	0.41%	8.03%
2004	0.42%	8.1%
2003	0.44%	7.93%
2002	0.46%	7.69%
2001	0.47%	7.43%
2000	0.49%	7.11%
1999	0.5%	6.85%
1998	0.51%	6.56%
1997	0.52%	6.29%
1996	0.54%	6.11%
1995	0.57%	5.95%
1994	0.61%	5.82%
1993	0.66%	5.7%
1992	0.72%	5.66%
1991	0.79%	5.7%
1990	0.87%	5.82%
1989	0.93%	6.01%
1988	0.98%	6.26%
1987	1.01%	6.56%
1986	1.02%	6.89%
1985	1.02%	7.24%
1984	1.01%	7.6%
1983	1%	7.98%
1982	0.99%	8.39%
1981	0.99%	8.84%
1980	1.01%	9.35%
1979	1.04%	9.88%
1978	1.09%	10.5%
1977	1.15%	11.1%
1976	1.22%	11.8%
1975	1.29%	12.5%
1974	1.36%	13.2%
1973	1.43%	-
1972	1.5%	-
1971	1.56%	-
1970	1.62%	-
1969	1.69%	-
1968	1.75%	-
1967	1.82%	-
1966	1.9%	-
1965	1.97%	-
1964	2.04%	-
1963	2.1%	-
1962	2.15%	-
1961	2.21%	-
1960	2.26%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.24% in Norway and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.