Fertility & birth rates in Rwanda and South Africa

Fertility rate in Rwanda vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Rwanda	South Africa
2023	3.7	2.22
2022	3.78	2.23
2021	3.84	2.25
2020	3.91	2.26
2019	3.99	2.26
2018	4.05	2.27
2017	4.08	2.28
2016	4.11	2.26
2015	4.11	2.36
2014	4.12	2.42
2013	4.14	2.43
2012	4.2	2.45
2011	4.33	2.44
2010	4.52	2.44
2009	4.71	2.5
2008	4.92	2.68
2007	5.14	2.55
2006	5.34	2.55
2005	5.5	2.51
2004	5.64	2.44
2003	5.74	2.36
2002	5.82	2.32
2001	5.89	2.37
2000	5.97	2.41
1999	6.06	2.56
1998	6.17	2.63
1997	6.24	2.73
1996	6.29	2.99
1995	6.35	3.17
1994	6.42	3.26
1993	6.48	3.37
1992	6.54	3.48
1991	6.62	3.62
1990	6.8	3.72
1989	7.03	3.98
1988	7.23	4.18
1987	7.43	4.35
1986	7.61	4.41
1985	7.79	4.5
1984	7.91	4.57
1983	8	4.63
1982	8.06	4.7
1981	8.1	4.71
1980	8.12	4.78
1979	8.13	4.82
1978	8.16	4.85
1977	8.14	4.94
1976	8.12	5.07
1975	8.1	5.19
1974	8.1	5.3
1973	8.09	5.41
1972	8.09	5.49
1971	8.09	5.57
1970	8.15	5.63
1969	8.18	5.72
1968	8.19	5.78
1967	8.21	5.85
1966	8.23	5.91
1965	8.25	5.89
1964	8.27	5.96
1963	8.27	6.01
1962	8.27	6.05
1961	8.28	6.08
1960	8.28	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Rwanda was 3.7 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 Rwanda vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Rwanda	South Africa
2023	312,762	602,793
2022	312,145	603,636
2021	309,895	456,411
2020	312,692	595,873
2019	313,525	652,130
2018	312,512	648,319
2017	310,323	645,975
2016	305,549	641,365
2015	299,114	668,771
2014	292,779	674,754
2013	286,331	652,427
2012	282,584	643,723
2011	282,922	601,708
2010	286,848	566,834
2009	287,034	554,115
2008	287,334	595,332
2007	285,791	503,567
2006	282,149	487,584
2005	275,121	464,464
2004	265,273	442,540
2003	251,243	415,018
2002	239,036	430,926
2001	230,845	484,801
2000	221,276	526,963
1999	210,518	594,643
1998	197,185	627,027
1997	174,687	667,969
1996	140,455	710,868
1995	121,137	743,488
1994	-719,479	698,609
1993	183,926	789,220
1992	188,025	794,415
1991	196,431	827,296
1990	207,895	835,421
1989	217,632	884,629
1988	223,759	909,221
1987	225,744	922,330
1986	225,526	903,644
1985	223,794	893,889
1984	219,337	869,011
1983	212,750	837,013
1982	205,147	807,550
1981	195,769	767,833
1980	184,988	738,415
1979	174,477	716,541
1978	163,779	694,341
1977	155,011	680,929
1976	147,665	675,011
1975	140,596	667,862
1974	135,743	658,438
1973	131,021	651,596
1972	126,403	638,754
1971	122,567	624,761
1970	119,273	605,102
1969	115,394	590,794
1968	111,422	571,841
1967	108,053	553,741
1966	105,128	534,862
1965	103,422	506,632
1964	102,562	490,606
1963	94,296	473,821
1962	102,548	455,634
1961	102,051	437,851
1960	100,627	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 +2.24% in Rwanda and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.45% in Rwanda and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Rwanda vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Rwanda

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Rwanda	South Africa
2023	28.3	18.8
2022	28.9	19.1
2021	29.4	19.4
2020	30	19.5
2019	30.7	19.7
2018	31.2	19.9
2017	31.7	20
2016	32	20.3
2015	32.1	21
2014	32.2	21.8
2013	32.4	21.9
2012	32.9	22.1
2011	33.8	22.1
2010	35.1	22.2
2009	36.3	22.8
2008	37.6	24.3
2007	38.8	23.1
2006	39.9	23.1
2005	40.6	22.7
2004	41.1	22.1
2003	41.4	21.4
2002	41.8	20.9
2001	42.1	21.3
2000	42.1	21.6
1999	42.1	22.7
1998	42.2	23.2
1997	40.5	23.9
1996	37.2	24.9
1995	39.5	25.6
1994	48	24.6
1993	41.5	26.6
1992	42.2	27
1991	42.8	28.1
1990	44.1	28.7
1989	45.3	30.6
1988	46.6	32
1987	47.8	33.2
1986	49	33.6
1985	50.2	34.2
1984	51.1	34.5
1983	51.8	34.6
1982	52.4	34.8
1981	52.7	34.6
1980	52.7	34.7
1979	52.5	34.9
1978	52.1	35.1
1977	51.6	35.6
1976	51.1	36.3
1975	50.4	37
1974	50	37.7
1973	49.4	38.4
1972	48.9	38.9
1971	48.5	39.3
1970	48.2	39.4
1969	47.9	39.7
1968	47.6	39.8
1967	47.4	39.9
1966	47.6	40
1965	48	39.5
1964	48.8	39.6
1963	49.8	39.7
1962	50.9	39.7
1961	52	39.7
1960	52.9	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 28.3 in Rwanda and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 52.9 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Rwanda

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Rwanda	South Africa
2100	18.7%	17.9%
2099	18.9%	18%
2098	19%	18%
2097	19.1%	18.1%
2096	19.3%	18.1%
2095	19.4%	18.2%
2094	19.6%	18.2%
2093	19.7%	18.3%
2092	19.9%	18.3%
2091	20%	18.4%
2090	20.2%	18.4%
2089	20.4%	18.5%
2088	20.5%	18.5%
2087	20.7%	18.6%
2086	20.9%	18.6%
2085	21.1%	18.7%
2084	21.3%	18.7%
2083	21.5%	18.8%
2082	21.7%	18.9%
2081	21.9%	18.9%
2080	22.1%	19%
2079	22.2%	19%
2078	22.4%	19.1%
2077	22.6%	19.2%
2076	22.8%	19.3%
2075	23%	19.3%
2074	23.2%	19.4%
2073	23.4%	19.5%
2072	23.6%	19.6%
2071	23.8%	19.6%
2070	24%	19.7%
2069	24.2%	19.8%
2068	24.4%	19.9%
2067	24.6%	20%
2066	24.9%	20.1%
2065	25.1%	20.2%
2064	25.3%	20.3%
2063	25.6%	20.4%
2062	25.8%	20.5%
2061	26.1%	20.6%
2060	26.4%	20.7%
2059	26.7%	20.8%
2058	27%	20.9%
2057	27.3%	21%
2056	27.6%	21.1%
2055	27.9%	21.1%
2054	28.3%	21.2%
2053	28.6%	21.3%
2052	28.9%	21.4%
2051	29.2%	21.5%
2050	29.5%	21.6%
2049	29.8%	21.7%
2048	30.1%	21.8%
2047	30.4%	21.9%
2046	30.7%	22%
2045	31%	22.1%
2044	31.2%	22.3%
2043	31.5%	22.4%
2042	31.8%	22.6%
2041	32.1%	22.8%
2040	32.4%	23%
2039	32.7%	23.3%
2038	33%	23.5%
2037	33.3%	23.7%
2036	33.6%	24.1%
2035	33.9%	24.4%
2034	34.2%	24.7%
2033	34.6%	24.9%
2032	34.9%	25%
2031	35.2%	25.1%
2030	35.6%	25.2%
2029	35.9%	25.3%
2028	36.2%	25.4%
2027	36.5%	25.5%
2026	36.9%	25.6%
2025	37.2%	25.8%
2024	37.4%	25.9%
2023	37.7%	26.1%
2022	38.2%	26.3%
2021	38.6%	26.6%
2020	39.2%	27%
2019	39.7%	27.4%
2018	40.1%	27.9%
2017	40.5%	28.3%
2016	40.9%	28.3%
2015	41.1%	28.3%
2014	41.4%	28.5%
2013	41.7%	28.7%
2012	41.9%	28.9%
2011	42.2%	29.1%
2010	42.4%	29.4%
2009	42.6%	29.7%
2008	42.8%	29.9%
2007	42.9%	30.2%
2006	42.9%	30.6%
2005	43.1%	31.1%
2004	43.3%	31.6%
2003	43.7%	32.3%
2002	44.3%	33.2%
2001	45.2%	34%
2000	46.4%	34.9%
1999	47.8%	35.7%
1998	49.2%	36.5%
1997	50.5%	37.2%
1996	51.4%	37.5%
1995	52.4%	37.5%
1994	50.1%	37.2%
1993	48.4%	37.3%
1992	48.7%	37.6%
1991	48.9%	37.5%
1990	49%	37.7%
1989	48.9%	38.1%
1988	48.9%	38.4%
1987	48.8%	38.7%
1986	48.6%	38.9%
1985	48.3%	39.2%
1984	48.1%	39.5%
1983	47.7%	39.8%
1982	47.4%	40.1%
1981	47.1%	40.5%
1980	46.8%	40.9%
1979	46.5%	41.3%
1978	46.4%	41.5%
1977	46.4%	41.7%
1976	46.4%	41.8%
1975	46.6%	41.9%
1974	46.9%	42%
1973	47.2%	42.1%
1972	47.5%	42.2%
1971	47.9%	42.2%
1970	48.2%	42.3%
1969	48.7%	42.2%
1968	49.2%	42.2%
1967	49.7%	42.2%
1966	50.2%	42.1%
1965	50.6%	42.1%
1964	50.8%	42.1%
1963	50.6%	42.1%
1962	50.2%	42.1%
1961	49.7%	42.1%
1960	49.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 37.4% of the population in Rwanda and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 49% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Rwanda and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Rwanda vs South Africa

Chart Table

Rwanda

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Rwanda	South Africa
2023	229	118
2022	234	129
2021	254	191
2020	252	118
2019	261	119
2018	269	128
2017	275	134
2016	278	141
2015	292	150
2014	301	162
2013	317	180
2012	331	194
2011	358	202
2010	393	226
2009	418	241
2008	454	272
2007	494	272
2006	494	283
2005	465	279
2004	460	259
2003	551	245
2002	677	225
2001	769	192
2000	885	175
1999	1,073	151
1998	1,268	152
1997	1,318	152
1996	1,295	150
1995	1,505	125
1994	5,721	133
1993	1,619	145
1992	1,530	152
1991	1,386	162
1990	1,309	170
1989	1,238	177
1988	1,188	184
1987	1,145	192
1986	1,126	200
1985	1,116	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 229 deaths per 100,000 live births in Rwanda, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Rwanda

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Rwanda	South Africa
2023	4%	3.47%
2022	4.08%	3.44%
2021	4.16%	3.41%
2020	4.25%	3.41%
2019	4.34%	3.45%
2018	4.43%	3.49%
2017	4.52%	3.58%
2016	4.63%	3.68%
2015	4.78%	3.82%
2014	4.96%	3.96%
2013	5.17%	4.1%
2012	5.45%	4.25%
2011	5.81%	4.5%
2010	6.33%	5%
2009	6.92%	5.7%
2008	7.62%	6.42%
2007	8.45%	7.19%
2006	9.37%	7.75%
2005	10.5%	8.03%
2004	11.8%	8.1%
2003	13.3%	7.93%
2002	14.9%	7.69%
2001	16.7%	7.43%
2000	18.5%	7.11%
1999	20.2%	6.85%
1998	21.5%	6.56%
1997	22.2%	6.29%
1996	22.2%	6.11%
1995	21.8%	5.95%
1994	38.9%	5.82%
1993	19.3%	5.7%
1992	17.5%	5.66%
1991	16%	5.7%
1990	15.1%	5.82%
1989	14.8%	6.01%
1988	14.8%	6.26%
1987	15.2%	6.56%
1986	15.6%	6.89%
1985	16.1%	7.24%
1984	16.6%	7.6%
1983	17.4%	7.98%
1982	18.6%	8.39%
1981	20.1%	8.84%
1980	21.8%	9.35%
1979	23.4%	9.88%
1978	24.6%	10.5%
1977	25.1%	11.1%
1976	25.1%	11.8%
1975	24.6%	12.5%
1974	24%	13.2%
1973	23.4%	-
1972	23%	-
1971	22.6%	-
1970	22.3%	-
1969	22%	-
1968	21.7%	-
1967	21.4%	-
1966	21.2%	-
1965	21.1%	-
1964	21.1%	-
1963	21.3%	-
1962	21.5%	-
1961	21.9%	-
1960	22.4%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 4% in Rwanda and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.