Fertility & birth rates in Portugal and South Africa

Fertility rate in Portugal vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Portugal

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Portugal	South Africa
2023	1.44	2.22
2022	1.43	2.23
2021	1.35	2.25
2020	1.42	2.26
2019	1.44	2.26
2018	1.42	2.27
2017	1.38	2.28
2016	1.37	2.26
2015	1.31	2.36
2014	1.24	2.42
2013	1.21	2.43
2012	1.28	2.45
2011	1.35	2.44
2010	1.39	2.44
2009	1.34	2.5
2008	1.39	2.68
2007	1.35	2.55
2006	1.37	2.55
2005	1.41	2.51
2004	1.4	2.44
2003	1.44	2.36
2002	1.46	2.32
2001	1.45	2.37
2000	1.55	2.41
1999	1.5	2.56
1998	1.47	2.63
1997	1.47	2.73
1996	1.44	2.99
1995	1.41	3.17
1994	1.45	3.26
1993	1.52	3.37
1992	1.54	3.48
1991	1.56	3.62
1990	1.56	3.72
1989	1.57	3.98
1988	1.61	4.18
1987	1.62	4.35
1986	1.66	4.41
1985	1.72	4.5
1984	1.9	4.57
1983	1.95	4.63
1982	2.07	4.7
1981	2.13	4.71
1980	2.25	4.78
1979	2.31	4.82
1978	2.45	4.85
1977	2.69	4.94
1976	2.82	5.07
1975	2.75	5.19
1974	2.7	5.3
1973	2.77	5.41
1972	2.86	5.49
1971	3	5.57
1970	3.01	5.63
1969	3.12	5.72
1968	3.12	5.78
1967	3.16	5.85
1966	3.16	5.91
1965	3.15	5.89
1964	3.21	5.96
1963	3.12	6.01
1962	3.23	6.05
1961	3.21	6.08
1960	3.16	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Portugal was 1.44 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 Portugal vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Portugal

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Portugal	South Africa
2023	-32,792	602,793
2022	-40,694	603,636
2021	-45,592	456,411
2020	-39,129	595,873
2019	-24,687	652,130
2018	-25,709	648,319
2017	-23,691	645,975
2016	-23,749	641,365
2015	-23,823	668,771
2014	-22,882	674,754
2013	-24,052	652,427
2012	-17,875	643,723
2011	-5,279	601,708
2010	-4,230	566,834
2009	-5,284	554,115
2008	0	595,332
2007	-1,055	503,567
2006	3,156	487,584
2005	2,101	464,464
2004	7,339	442,540
2003	4,184	415,018
2002	8,335	430,926
2001	8,290	484,801
2000	15,435	526,963
1999	8,175	594,643
1998	7,112	627,027
1997	8,087	667,969
1996	4,026	710,868
1995	4,011	743,488
1994	9,991	698,609
1993	7,972	789,220
1992	13,933	794,415
1991	12,948	827,296
1990	13,976	835,421
1989	22,011	884,629
1988	24,047	909,221
1987	28,084	922,330
1986	31,102	903,644
1985	33,077	893,889
1984	45,983	869,011
1983	47,798	837,013
1982	58,479	807,550
1981	56,152	767,833
1980	63,481	738,415
1979	67,628	716,541
1978	70,731	694,341
1977	84,156	680,929
1976	85,138	675,011
1975	81,841	667,862
1974	74,412	658,438
1973	76,835	651,596
1972	83,715	638,754
1971	82,980	624,761
1970	87,672	605,102
1969	89,329	590,794
1968	100,737	571,841
1967	106,495	553,741
1966	107,171	534,862
1965	115,182	506,632
1964	120,170	490,606
1963	113,783	473,821
1962	123,217	455,634
1961	117,867	437,851
1960	118,693	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 -0.31% in Portugal and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.29% in Portugal and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Portugal vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Portugal

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Portugal	South Africa
2023	8.1	18.8
2022	8	19.1
2021	7.6	19.4
2020	8.1	19.5
2019	8.4	19.7
2018	8.4	19.9
2017	8.3	20
2016	8.4	20.3
2015	8.2	21
2014	7.9	21.8
2013	7.9	21.9
2012	8.5	22.1
2011	9.2	22.1
2010	9.6	22.2
2009	9.4	22.8
2008	9.9	24.3
2007	9.7	23.1
2006	10	23.1
2005	10.4	22.7
2004	10.4	22.1
2003	10.8	21.4
2002	11	20.9
2001	10.9	21.3
2000	11.7	21.6
1999	11.4	22.7
1998	11.2	23.2
1997	11.2	23.9
1996	11	24.9
1995	10.7	25.6
1994	10.9	24.6
1993	11.4	26.6
1992	11.5	27
1991	11.7	28.1
1990	11.7	28.7
1989	11.8	30.6
1988	12.2	32
1987	12.3	33.2
1986	12.6	33.6
1985	13	34.2
1984	14.3	34.5
1983	14.5	34.6
1982	15.2	34.8
1981	15.4	34.6
1980	16.2	34.7
1979	16.6	34.9
1978	17.5	35.1
1977	19.1	35.6
1976	20	36.3
1975	19.8	37
1974	19.6	37.7
1973	20	38.4
1972	20.2	38.9
1971	21	39.3
1970	20.8	39.4
1969	21.7	39.7
1968	22.1	39.8
1967	22.8	39.9
1966	23.2	40
1965	23.4	39.5
1964	24	39.6
1963	23.5	39.7
1962	24.5	39.7
1961	24.4	39.7
1960	24.1	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.1 in Portugal and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 24.1 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Portugal

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Portugal	South Africa
2100	13.8%	17.9%
2099	13.8%	18%
2098	13.8%	18%
2097	13.8%	18.1%
2096	13.9%	18.1%
2095	13.9%	18.2%
2094	13.9%	18.2%
2093	14%	18.3%
2092	14%	18.3%
2091	14%	18.4%
2090	14.1%	18.4%
2089	14.1%	18.5%
2088	14.1%	18.5%
2087	14.1%	18.6%
2086	14.2%	18.6%
2085	14.2%	18.7%
2084	14.2%	18.7%
2083	14.2%	18.8%
2082	14.2%	18.9%
2081	14.2%	18.9%
2080	14.2%	19%
2079	14.2%	19%
2078	14.2%	19.1%
2077	14.1%	19.2%
2076	14.1%	19.3%
2075	14.1%	19.3%
2074	14%	19.4%
2073	14%	19.5%
2072	13.9%	19.6%
2071	13.9%	19.6%
2070	13.8%	19.7%
2069	13.8%	19.8%
2068	13.7%	19.9%
2067	13.7%	20%
2066	13.6%	20.1%
2065	13.6%	20.2%
2064	13.5%	20.3%
2063	13.5%	20.4%
2062	13.5%	20.5%
2061	13.5%	20.6%
2060	13.5%	20.7%
2059	13.5%	20.8%
2058	13.5%	20.9%
2057	13.5%	21%
2056	13.5%	21.1%
2055	13.5%	21.1%
2054	13.5%	21.2%
2053	13.5%	21.3%
2052	13.5%	21.4%
2051	13.5%	21.5%
2050	13.5%	21.6%
2049	13.5%	21.7%
2048	13.4%	21.8%
2047	13.4%	21.9%
2046	13.4%	22%
2045	13.3%	22.1%
2044	13.3%	22.3%
2043	13.2%	22.4%
2042	13.1%	22.6%
2041	13.1%	22.8%
2040	13%	23%
2039	13%	23.3%
2038	13%	23.5%
2037	12.9%	23.7%
2036	12.8%	24.1%
2035	12.8%	24.4%
2034	12.7%	24.7%
2033	12.7%	24.9%
2032	12.7%	25%
2031	12.7%	25.1%
2030	12.7%	25.2%
2029	12.6%	25.3%
2028	12.6%	25.4%
2027	12.6%	25.5%
2026	12.7%	25.6%
2025	12.8%	25.8%
2024	12.8%	25.9%
2023	12.9%	26.1%
2022	13%	26.3%
2021	13.1%	26.6%
2020	13.3%	27%
2019	13.5%	27.4%
2018	13.7%	27.9%
2017	13.9%	28.3%
2016	14.1%	28.3%
2015	14.3%	28.3%
2014	14.6%	28.5%
2013	14.8%	28.7%
2012	14.9%	28.9%
2011	15%	29.1%
2010	15.2%	29.4%
2009	15.4%	29.7%
2008	15.5%	29.9%
2007	15.6%	30.2%
2006	15.8%	30.6%
2005	15.9%	31.1%
2004	16%	31.6%
2003	16.1%	32.3%
2002	16.1%	33.2%
2001	16.2%	34%
2000	16.4%	34.9%
1999	16.6%	35.7%
1998	16.8%	36.5%
1997	17.1%	37.2%
1996	17.4%	37.5%
1995	17.8%	37.5%
1994	18.2%	37.2%
1993	18.6%	37.3%
1992	19.1%	37.6%
1991	19.7%	37.5%
1990	20.5%	37.7%
1989	21.2%	38.1%
1988	21.9%	38.4%
1987	22.5%	38.7%
1986	23.1%	38.9%
1985	23.7%	39.2%
1984	24.1%	39.5%
1983	24.5%	39.8%
1982	25%	40.1%
1981	25.4%	40.5%
1980	25.9%	40.9%
1979	26.4%	41.3%
1978	26.8%	41.5%
1977	27.1%	41.7%
1976	27.2%	41.8%
1975	27.4%	41.9%
1974	27.7%	42%
1973	27.9%	42.1%
1972	28.2%	42.2%
1971	28.4%	42.2%
1970	28.7%	42.3%
1969	29.1%	42.2%
1968	29.2%	42.2%
1967	29.2%	42.2%
1966	29.2%	42.1%
1965	29.1%	42.1%
1964	29.1%	42.1%
1963	29.1%	42.1%
1962	29.1%	42.1%
1961	29.1%	42.1%
1960	29.3%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 12.8% of the population in Portugal and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 20.5% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Portugal and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Portugal vs South Africa

Chart Table

Portugal

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Portugal	South Africa
2023	15	118
2022	16	129
2021	19	191
2020	14	118
2019	15	119
2018	14	128
2017	13	134
2016	12	141
2015	11	150
2014	11	162
2013	10	180
2012	10	194
2011	10	202
2010	10	226
2009	9	241
2008	9	272
2007	8	272
2006	8	283
2005	8	279
2004	8	259
2003	8	245
2002	9	225
2001	9	192
2000	9	175
1999	10	151
1998	11	152
1997	12	152
1996	12	150
1995	12	125
1994	13	133
1993	15	145
1992	16	152
1991	17	162
1990	17	170
1989	18	177
1988	18	184
1987	19	192
1986	19	200
1985	20	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 15 deaths per 100,000 live births in Portugal, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Portugal

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Portugal	South Africa
2023	0.32%	3.47%
2022	0.32%	3.44%
2021	0.33%	3.41%
2020	0.34%	3.41%
2019	0.35%	3.45%
2018	0.35%	3.49%
2017	0.36%	3.58%
2016	0.36%	3.68%
2015	0.36%	3.82%
2014	0.36%	3.96%
2013	0.36%	4.1%
2012	0.37%	4.25%
2011	0.37%	4.5%
2010	0.38%	5%
2009	0.39%	5.7%
2008	0.4%	6.42%
2007	0.42%	7.19%
2006	0.44%	7.75%
2005	0.47%	8.03%
2004	0.5%	8.1%
2003	0.55%	7.93%
2002	0.61%	7.69%
2001	0.66%	7.43%
2000	0.72%	7.11%
1999	0.77%	6.85%
1998	0.82%	6.56%
1997	0.86%	6.29%
1996	0.92%	6.11%
1995	0.98%	5.95%
1994	1.05%	5.82%
1993	1.14%	5.7%
1992	1.25%	5.66%
1991	1.36%	5.7%
1990	1.47%	5.82%
1989	1.59%	6.01%
1988	1.7%	6.26%
1987	1.82%	6.56%
1986	1.93%	6.89%
1985	2.04%	7.24%
1984	2.16%	7.6%
1983	2.29%	7.98%
1982	2.43%	8.39%
1981	2.58%	8.84%
1980	2.75%	9.35%
1979	2.97%	9.88%
1978	3.24%	10.5%
1977	3.57%	11.1%
1976	3.94%	11.8%
1975	4.35%	12.5%
1974	4.79%	13.2%
1973	5.27%	-
1972	5.78%	-
1971	6.3%	-
1970	6.81%	-
1969	7.22%	-
1968	7.51%	-
1967	7.76%	-
1966	8.09%	-
1965	8.53%	-
1964	9.1%	-
1963	9.76%	-
1962	10.4%	-
1961	11%	-
1960	11.4%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.32% in Portugal and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.