Fertility & birth rates in Russia and South Africa

Fertility rate in Russia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Russia

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Russia	South Africa
2023	1.41	2.22
2022	1.42	2.23
2021	1.51	2.25
2020	1.51	2.26
2019	1.5	2.26
2018	1.58	2.27
2017	1.62	2.28
2016	1.76	2.26
2015	1.78	2.36
2014	1.75	2.42
2013	1.71	2.43
2012	1.69	2.45
2011	1.58	2.44
2010	1.57	2.44
2009	1.54	2.5
2008	1.5	2.68
2007	1.42	2.55
2006	1.31	2.55
2005	1.29	2.51
2004	1.34	2.44
2003	1.32	2.36
2002	1.29	2.32
2001	1.22	2.37
2000	1.2	2.41
1999	1.16	2.56
1998	1.23	2.63
1997	1.22	2.73
1996	1.27	2.99
1995	1.34	3.17
1994	1.4	3.26
1993	1.39	3.37
1992	1.55	3.48
1991	1.73	3.62
1990	1.89	3.72
1989	2.01	3.98
1988	2.12	4.18
1987	2.22	4.35
1986	2.15	4.41
1985	2.05	4.5
1984	2.06	4.57
1983	2.11	4.63
1982	2.04	4.7
1981	1.91	4.71
1980	1.89	4.78
1979	1.9	4.82
1978	1.92	4.85
1977	1.95	4.94
1976	1.97	5.07
1975	1.98	5.19
1974	2	5.3
1973	2.01	5.41
1972	2.04	5.49
1971	2.03	5.57
1970	1.99	5.63
1969	1.97	5.72
1968	1.99	5.78
1967	2.04	5.85
1966	2.1	5.91
1965	2.13	5.89
1964	2.18	5.96
1963	2.27	6.01
1962	2.36	6.05
1961	2.45	6.08
1960	2.52	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Russia was 1.41 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 Russia vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Russia

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Russia	South Africa
2023	-503,392	602,793
2022	-576,948	603,636
2021	-1,027,702	456,411
2020	-697,177	595,873
2019	-319,997	652,130
2018	-232,637	648,319
2017	-130,764	645,975
2016	0	641,365
2015	43,392	668,771
2014	28,848	674,754
2013	28,761	652,427
2012	0	643,723
2011	-128,716	601,708
2010	-242,844	566,834
2009	-257,014	554,115
2008	-356,856	595,332
2007	-471,257	503,567
2006	-686,638	487,584
2005	-846,761	464,464
2004	-792,370	442,540
2003	-896,822	415,018
2002	-944,492	430,926
2001	-963,445	484,801
2000	-967,540	526,963
1999	-927,453	594,643
1998	-694,053	627,027
1997	-769,159	667,969
1996	-785,248	710,868
1995	-845,742	743,488
1994	-920,129	698,609
1993	-757,140	789,220
1992	-222,808	794,415
1991	103,876	827,296
1990	325,533	835,421
1989	576,112	884,629
1988	778,343	909,221
1987	977,583	922,330
1986	985,279	903,644
1985	762,447	893,889
1984	756,548	869,011
1983	906,676	837,013
1982	830,855	807,550
1981	713,700	767,833
1980	681,149	738,415
1979	690,135	716,541
1978	812,766	694,341
1977	832,932	680,929
1976	852,237	675,011
1975	843,850	667,862
1974	883,186	658,438
1973	846,561	651,596
1972	872,050	638,754
1971	854,999	624,761
1970	785,554	605,102
1969	753,088	590,794
1968	787,621	571,841
1967	854,554	553,741
1966	989,279	534,862
1965	1,059,335	506,632
1964	1,233,520	490,606
1963	1,436,077	473,821
1962	1,573,701	455,634
1961	1,810,538	437,851
1960	1,962,834	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 -0.35% in Russia and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been -0.24% in Russia and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Russia vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Russia

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Russia	South Africa
2023	8.6	18.8
2022	8.9	19.1
2021	9.6	19.4
2020	9.8	19.5
2019	10.1	19.7
2018	10.9	19.9
2017	11.5	20
2016	12.9	20.3
2015	13.3	21
2014	13.3	21.8
2013	13.2	21.9
2012	13.3	22.1
2011	12.6	22.1
2010	12.5	22.2
2009	12.3	22.8
2008	12	24.3
2007	11.3	23.1
2006	10.3	23.1
2005	10.2	22.7
2004	10.4	22.1
2003	10.2	21.4
2002	9.7	20.9
2001	9	21.3
2000	8.7	21.6
1999	8.3	22.7
1998	8.8	23.2
1997	8.6	23.9
1996	8.9	24.9
1995	9.3	25.6
1994	9.5	24.6
1993	9.4	26.6
1992	10.7	27
1991	12.1	28.1
1990	13.4	28.7
1989	14.6	30.6
1988	16	32
1987	17.2	33.2
1986	17.2	33.6
1985	16.6	34.2
1984	16.9	34.5
1983	17.5	34.6
1982	16.6	34.8
1981	16	34.6
1980	15.9	34.7
1979	15.8	34.9
1978	16.3	35.1
1977	16.3	35.6
1976	16.2	36.3
1975	16	37
1974	15.9	37.7
1973	15.4	38.4
1972	15.6	38.9
1971	15.3	39.3
1970	14.7	39.4
1969	14.3	39.7
1968	14.2	39.8
1967	14.6	39.9
1966	15.4	40
1965	15.9	39.5
1964	17.2	39.6
1963	19	39.7
1962	20.5	39.7
1961	22.5	39.7
1960	23.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 8.6 in Russia and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 23.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Russia

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Russia	South Africa
2100	14.2%	17.9%
2099	14.3%	18%
2098	14.3%	18%
2097	14.4%	18.1%
2096	14.5%	18.1%
2095	14.5%	18.2%
2094	14.6%	18.2%
2093	14.7%	18.3%
2092	14.8%	18.3%
2091	14.9%	18.4%
2090	15%	18.4%
2089	15.1%	18.5%
2088	15.2%	18.5%
2087	15.2%	18.6%
2086	15.2%	18.6%
2085	15.3%	18.7%
2084	15.3%	18.7%
2083	15.2%	18.8%
2082	15.2%	18.9%
2081	15.2%	18.9%
2080	15.1%	19%
2079	15%	19%
2078	14.9%	19.1%
2077	14.8%	19.2%
2076	14.7%	19.3%
2075	14.6%	19.3%
2074	14.5%	19.4%
2073	14.4%	19.5%
2072	14.3%	19.6%
2071	14.3%	19.6%
2070	14.3%	19.7%
2069	14.2%	19.8%
2068	14.3%	19.9%
2067	14.3%	20%
2066	14.4%	20.1%
2065	14.5%	20.2%
2064	14.6%	20.3%
2063	14.7%	20.4%
2062	14.9%	20.5%
2061	15.1%	20.6%
2060	15.2%	20.7%
2059	15.4%	20.8%
2058	15.5%	20.9%
2057	15.6%	21%
2056	15.7%	21.1%
2055	15.8%	21.1%
2054	15.8%	21.2%
2053	15.8%	21.3%
2052	15.8%	21.4%
2051	15.7%	21.5%
2050	15.6%	21.6%
2049	15.5%	21.7%
2048	15.3%	21.8%
2047	15.1%	21.9%
2046	14.9%	22%
2045	14.7%	22.1%
2044	14.5%	22.3%
2043	14.3%	22.4%
2042	14.1%	22.6%
2041	13.9%	22.8%
2040	13.8%	23%
2039	13.7%	23.3%
2038	13.6%	23.5%
2037	13.6%	23.7%
2036	13.6%	24.1%
2035	13.7%	24.4%
2034	13.9%	24.7%
2033	14.1%	24.9%
2032	14.4%	25%
2031	14.8%	25.1%
2030	15.3%	25.2%
2029	15.7%	25.3%
2028	16.1%	25.4%
2027	16.6%	25.5%
2026	16.9%	25.6%
2025	17.2%	25.8%
2024	17.3%	25.9%
2023	17.5%	26.1%
2022	17.7%	26.3%
2021	17.7%	26.6%
2020	17.7%	27%
2019	17.6%	27.4%
2018	17.6%	27.9%
2017	17.5%	28.3%
2016	17.2%	28.3%
2015	16.9%	28.3%
2014	16.5%	28.5%
2013	16.1%	28.7%
2012	15.7%	28.9%
2011	15.4%	29.1%
2010	15.2%	29.4%
2009	15%	29.7%
2008	14.9%	29.9%
2007	14.8%	30.2%
2006	14.9%	30.6%
2005	15.2%	31.1%
2004	15.6%	31.6%
2003	16%	32.3%
2002	16.6%	33.2%
2001	17.3%	34%
2000	18%	34.9%
1999	18.8%	35.7%
1998	19.5%	36.5%
1997	20.2%	37.2%
1996	20.7%	37.5%
1995	21.2%	37.5%
1994	21.6%	37.2%
1993	22%	37.3%
1992	22.4%	37.6%
1991	22.7%	37.5%
1990	22.9%	37.7%
1989	23%	38.1%
1988	23%	38.4%
1987	22.9%	38.7%
1986	22.8%	38.9%
1985	22.6%	39.2%
1984	22.4%	39.5%
1983	22.1%	39.8%
1982	21.9%	40.1%
1981	21.7%	40.5%
1980	21.7%	40.9%
1979	21.7%	41.3%
1978	21.8%	41.5%
1977	22.1%	41.7%
1976	22.5%	41.8%
1975	23%	41.9%
1974	23.6%	42%
1973	24.2%	42.1%
1972	24.8%	42.2%
1971	25.4%	42.2%
1970	26.1%	42.3%
1969	26.9%	42.2%
1968	27.6%	42.2%
1967	28.3%	42.2%
1966	28.9%	42.1%
1965	29.5%	42.1%
1964	30.2%	42.1%
1963	30.6%	42.1%
1962	30.8%	42.1%
1961	30.9%	42.1%
1960	30.5%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.3% of the population in Russia and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 22.9% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Russia and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Russia vs South Africa

Chart Table

Russia

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Russia	South Africa
2023	9	118
2022	13	129
2021	21	191
2020	19	118
2019	12	119
2018	12	128
2017	12	134
2016	14	141
2015	15	150
2014	16	162
2013	16	180
2012	18	194
2011	19	202
2010	23	226
2009	24	241
2008	27	272
2007	29	272
2006	32	283
2005	38	279
2004	41	259
2003	45	245
2002	47	225
2001	48	192
2000	51	175
1999	53	151
1998	53	152
1997	59	152
1996	69	150
1995	82	125
1994	85	133
1993	76	145
1992	62	152
1991	57	162
1990	58	170
1989	61	177
1988	63	184
1987	65	192
1986	69	200
1985	81	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 9 deaths per 100,000 live births in Russia, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Russia

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Russia	South Africa
2023	0.45%	3.47%
2022	0.47%	3.44%
2021	0.51%	3.41%
2020	0.54%	3.41%
2019	0.58%	3.45%
2018	0.63%	3.49%
2017	0.69%	3.58%
2016	0.75%	3.68%
2015	0.82%	3.82%
2014	0.89%	3.96%
2013	0.95%	4.1%
2012	0.99%	4.25%
2011	1.02%	4.5%
2010	1.04%	5%
2009	1.07%	5.7%
2008	1.13%	6.42%
2007	1.2%	7.19%
2006	1.29%	7.75%
2005	1.39%	8.03%
2004	1.5%	8.1%
2003	1.61%	7.93%
2002	1.73%	7.69%
2001	1.84%	7.43%
2000	1.94%	7.11%
1999	2.02%	6.85%
1998	2.08%	6.56%
1997	2.13%	6.29%
1996	2.17%	6.11%
1995	2.2%	5.95%
1994	2.2%	5.82%
1993	2.19%	5.7%
1992	2.17%	5.66%
1991	2.16%	5.7%
1990	2.17%	5.82%
1989	2.2%	6.01%
1988	2.26%	6.26%
1987	2.34%	6.56%
1986	2.42%	6.89%
1985	2.5%	7.24%
1984	2.56%	7.6%
1983	2.62%	7.98%
1982	2.66%	8.39%
1981	2.7%	8.84%
1980	2.73%	9.35%
1979	2.75%	9.88%
1978	2.76%	10.5%
1977	2.76%	11.1%
1976	2.76%	11.8%
1975	2.76%	12.5%
1974	2.77%	13.2%
1973	2.78%	-
1972	2.81%	-
1971	2.84%	-
1970	2.88%	-
1969	2.94%	-
1968	3.02%	-
1967	3.11%	-
1966	3.23%	-
1965	3.38%	-
1964	3.55%	-
1963	3.76%	-
1962	3.99%	-
1961	4.26%	-
1960	4.55%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.45% in Russia and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.