Fertility & birth rates in Sierra Leone and South Africa

Fertility rate in Sierra Leone vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2023	3.79	2.22
2022	3.88	2.23
2021	3.98	2.25
2020	4.08	2.26
2019	4.19	2.26
2018	4.29	2.27
2017	4.39	2.28
2016	4.47	2.26
2015	4.55	2.36
2014	4.7	2.42
2013	4.87	2.43
2012	5.06	2.45
2011	5.21	2.44
2010	5.33	2.44
2009	5.45	2.5
2008	5.56	2.68
2007	5.64	2.55
2006	5.74	2.55
2005	5.81	2.51
2004	5.92	2.44
2003	6.09	2.36
2002	6.23	2.32
2001	6.31	2.37
2000	6.36	2.41
1999	6.42	2.56
1998	6.5	2.63
1997	6.53	2.73
1996	6.55	2.99
1995	6.56	3.17
1994	6.56	3.26
1993	6.57	3.37
1992	6.56	3.48
1991	6.55	3.62
1990	6.57	3.72
1989	6.57	3.98
1988	6.59	4.18
1987	6.61	4.35
1986	6.6	4.41
1985	6.59	4.5
1984	6.59	4.57
1983	6.57	4.63
1982	6.56	4.7
1981	6.55	4.71
1980	6.56	4.78
1979	6.58	4.82
1978	6.59	4.85
1977	6.57	4.94
1976	6.55	5.07
1975	6.55	5.19
1974	6.53	5.3
1973	6.47	5.41
1972	6.45	5.49
1971	6.43	5.57
1970	6.41	5.63
1969	6.39	5.72
1968	6.39	5.78
1967	6.38	5.85
1966	6.35	5.91
1965	6.31	5.89
1964	6.29	5.96
1963	6.26	6.01
1962	6.22	6.05
1961	6.21	6.08
1960	6.18	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Sierra Leone was 3.79 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 Sierra Leone vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2023	188,788	602,793
2022	186,625	603,636
2021	183,326	456,411
2020	181,015	595,873
2019	181,068	652,130
2018	178,772	648,319
2017	173,259	645,975
2016	168,784	641,365
2015	162,275	668,771
2014	160,137	674,754
2013	161,265	652,427
2012	160,915	643,723
2011	158,858	601,708
2010	155,338	566,834
2009	152,669	554,115
2008	149,855	595,332
2007	145,740	503,567
2006	144,127	487,584
2005	137,234	464,464
2004	132,661	442,540
2003	130,312	415,018
2002	126,429	430,926
2001	116,647	484,801
2000	110,754	526,963
1999	102,295	594,643
1998	103,906	627,027
1997	105,433	667,969
1996	104,140	710,868
1995	100,885	743,488
1994	101,486	698,609
1993	103,317	789,220
1992	103,251	794,415
1991	105,477	827,296
1990	100,778	835,421
1989	98,298	884,629
1988	96,344	909,221
1987	94,235	922,330
1986	90,902	903,644
1985	88,869	893,889
1984	87,072	869,011
1983	84,628	837,013
1982	82,457	807,550
1981	80,111	767,833
1980	77,932	738,415
1979	75,992	716,541
1978	74,130	694,341
1977	71,663	680,929
1976	69,506	675,011
1975	67,560	667,862
1974	65,357	658,438
1973	62,443	651,596
1972	60,279	638,754
1971	58,484	624,761
1970	56,513	605,102
1969	54,768	590,794
1968	53,126	571,841
1967	51,734	553,741
1966	49,486	534,862
1965	47,223	506,632
1964	45,487	490,606
1963	43,569	473,821
1962	41,603	455,634
1961	40,022	437,851
1960	38,192	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 +2.23% in Sierra Leone and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +2.31% in Sierra Leone and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Sierra Leone vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2023	30.6	18.8
2022	31.1	19.1
2021	31.6	19.4
2020	32.2	19.5
2019	32.8	19.7
2018	33.3	19.9
2017	33.8	20
2016	34.2	20.3
2015	34.7	21
2014	35.6	21.8
2013	36.6	21.9
2012	37.8	22.1
2011	38.5	22.1
2010	39.1	22.2
2009	39.9	22.8
2008	40.6	24.3
2007	41.1	23.1
2006	41.8	23.1
2005	42	22.7
2004	42.5	22.1
2003	43.5	21.4
2002	44.3	20.9
2001	44	21.3
2000	45	21.6
1999	46.1	22.7
1998	46.3	23.2
1997	46.3	23.9
1996	46.5	24.9
1995	46.8	25.6
1994	46.8	24.6
1993	46.9	26.6
1992	47	27
1991	47.5	28.1
1990	45.5	28.7
1989	46.3	30.6
1988	46.4	32
1987	46.6	33.2
1986	46.6	33.6
1985	46.7	34.2
1984	46.8	34.5
1983	46.7	34.6
1982	46.8	34.8
1981	46.8	34.6
1980	46.8	34.7
1979	47	34.9
1978	47.2	35.1
1977	47.1	35.6
1976	47.2	36.3
1975	47.3	37
1974	47.4	37.7
1973	47.2	38.4
1972	47.2	38.9
1971	47.3	39.3
1970	47.4	39.4
1969	47.5	39.7
1968	47.7	39.8
1967	47.9	39.9
1966	48	40
1965	48	39.5
1964	48.2	39.6
1963	48.2	39.7
1962	48.1	39.7
1961	48.1	39.7
1960	48	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 30.6 in Sierra Leone and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 48 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2100	19%	17.9%
2099	19%	18%
2098	19.1%	18%
2097	19.2%	18.1%
2096	19.3%	18.1%
2095	19.5%	18.2%
2094	19.6%	18.2%
2093	19.7%	18.3%
2092	19.8%	18.3%
2091	19.9%	18.4%
2090	20%	18.4%
2089	20.1%	18.5%
2088	20.3%	18.5%
2087	20.4%	18.6%
2086	20.5%	18.6%
2085	20.7%	18.7%
2084	20.8%	18.7%
2083	20.9%	18.8%
2082	21.1%	18.9%
2081	21.2%	18.9%
2080	21.4%	19%
2079	21.6%	19%
2078	21.7%	19.1%
2077	21.9%	19.2%
2076	22.1%	19.3%
2075	22.2%	19.3%
2074	22.4%	19.4%
2073	22.6%	19.5%
2072	22.8%	19.6%
2071	23%	19.6%
2070	23.2%	19.7%
2069	23.4%	19.8%
2068	23.6%	19.9%
2067	23.8%	20%
2066	24%	20.1%
2065	24.3%	20.2%
2064	24.5%	20.3%
2063	24.7%	20.4%
2062	25%	20.5%
2061	25.2%	20.6%
2060	25.5%	20.7%
2059	25.7%	20.8%
2058	26%	20.9%
2057	26.3%	21%
2056	26.6%	21.1%
2055	26.9%	21.1%
2054	27.1%	21.2%
2053	27.4%	21.3%
2052	27.7%	21.4%
2051	28.1%	21.5%
2050	28.4%	21.6%
2049	28.7%	21.7%
2048	29%	21.8%
2047	29.3%	21.9%
2046	29.7%	22%
2045	30%	22.1%
2044	30.3%	22.3%
2043	30.7%	22.4%
2042	31.1%	22.6%
2041	31.4%	22.8%
2040	31.8%	23%
2039	32.2%	23.3%
2038	32.6%	23.5%
2037	33%	23.7%
2036	33.4%	24.1%
2035	33.8%	24.4%
2034	34.2%	24.7%
2033	34.6%	24.9%
2032	35%	25%
2031	35.4%	25.1%
2030	35.7%	25.2%
2029	36.1%	25.3%
2028	36.5%	25.4%
2027	37%	25.5%
2026	37.4%	25.6%
2025	37.9%	25.8%
2024	38.1%	25.9%
2023	38.5%	26.1%
2022	39%	26.3%
2021	39.4%	26.6%
2020	39.8%	27%
2019	40.2%	27.4%
2018	40.6%	27.9%
2017	41%	28.3%
2016	41.4%	28.3%
2015	41.8%	28.3%
2014	42.2%	28.5%
2013	42.5%	28.7%
2012	42.8%	28.9%
2011	43%	29.1%
2010	43.2%	29.4%
2009	43.4%	29.7%
2008	43.5%	29.9%
2007	43.6%	30.2%
2006	43.7%	30.6%
2005	43.8%	31.1%
2004	43.9%	31.6%
2003	43.9%	32.3%
2002	43.9%	33.2%
2001	43.9%	34%
2000	43.8%	34.9%
1999	43.7%	35.7%
1998	43.6%	36.5%
1997	43.5%	37.2%
1996	43.5%	37.5%
1995	43.4%	37.5%
1994	43.3%	37.2%
1993	43.2%	37.3%
1992	43.1%	37.6%
1991	43%	37.5%
1990	42.9%	37.7%
1989	42.9%	38.1%
1988	42.8%	38.4%
1987	42.7%	38.7%
1986	42.6%	38.9%
1985	42.5%	39.2%
1984	42.3%	39.5%
1983	42.2%	39.8%
1982	42.1%	40.1%
1981	42%	40.5%
1980	41.9%	40.9%
1979	41.8%	41.3%
1978	41.7%	41.5%
1977	41.6%	41.7%
1976	41.4%	41.8%
1975	41.3%	41.9%
1974	41.1%	42%
1973	40.9%	42.1%
1972	40.7%	42.2%
1971	40.6%	42.2%
1970	40.3%	42.3%
1969	40.1%	42.2%
1968	39.9%	42.2%
1967	39.6%	42.2%
1966	39.4%	42.1%
1965	39.1%	42.1%
1964	38.8%	42.1%
1963	38.5%	42.1%
1962	38.3%	42.1%
1961	38.3%	42.1%
1960	38.2%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 38.1% of the population in Sierra Leone and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 42.9% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Sierra Leone and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Sierra Leone vs South Africa

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2023	354	118
2022	370	129
2021	403	191
2020	422	118
2019	464	119
2018	491	128
2017	578	134
2016	633	141
2015	730	150
2014	821	162
2013	842	180
2012	915	194
2011	967	202
2010	1,018	226
2009	1,054	241
2008	1,093	272
2007	1,132	272
2006	1,168	283
2005	1,294	279
2004	1,366	259
2003	1,433	245
2002	1,492	225
2001	1,518	192
2000	1,603	175
1999	1,731	151
1998	1,753	152
1997	1,721	152
1996	1,726	150
1995	1,777	125
1994	1,755	133
1993	1,696	145
1992	1,681	152
1991	1,699	162
1990	1,572	170
1989	1,575	177
1988	1,549	184
1987	1,533	192
1986	1,530	200
1985	1,506	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 354 deaths per 100,000 live births in Sierra Leone, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Sierra Leone	South Africa
2023	9.43%	3.47%
2022	9.77%	3.44%
2021	10.1%	3.41%
2020	10.5%	3.41%
2019	10.9%	3.45%
2018	11.3%	3.49%
2017	11.8%	3.58%
2016	12.3%	3.68%
2015	13.8%	3.82%
2014	13.7%	3.96%
2013	13.9%	4.1%
2012	14.5%	4.25%
2011	15.2%	4.5%
2010	15.9%	5%
2009	16.6%	5.7%
2008	17.3%	6.42%
2007	18.1%	7.19%
2006	18.8%	7.75%
2005	19.4%	8.03%
2004	20.1%	8.1%
2003	20.7%	7.93%
2002	21.3%	7.69%
2001	21.8%	7.43%
2000	22.4%	7.11%
1999	22.9%	6.85%
1998	23.4%	6.56%
1997	23.9%	6.29%
1996	24.3%	6.11%
1995	24.7%	5.95%
1994	25%	5.82%
1993	25.3%	5.7%
1992	25.5%	5.66%
1991	25.7%	5.7%
1990	25.9%	5.82%
1989	26.2%	6.01%
1988	26.4%	6.26%
1987	26.6%	6.56%
1986	26.9%	6.89%
1985	27.2%	7.24%
1984	27.5%	7.6%
1983	27.8%	7.98%
1982	28.1%	8.39%
1981	28.5%	8.84%
1980	28.9%	9.35%
1979	29.2%	9.88%
1978	29.6%	10.5%
1977	30%	11.1%
1976	30.5%	11.8%
1975	30.9%	12.5%
1974	31.4%	13.2%
1973	31.9%	-
1972	32.3%	-
1971	32.9%	-
1970	33.4%	-
1969	33.9%	-
1968	34.5%	-
1967	35%	-
1966	35.6%	-
1965	36.2%	-
1964	36.8%	-
1963	37.4%	-
1962	38%	-
1961	38.5%	-
1960	39.1%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 9.43% in Sierra Leone and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.