Fertility & birth rates in Singapore and South Africa

Fertility rate in Singapore vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Africa

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Singapore	South Africa
2023	0.97	2.22
2022	1.04	2.23
2021	1.12	2.25
2020	1.1	2.26
2019	1.14	2.26
2018	1.14	2.27
2017	1.16	2.28
2016	1.2	2.26
2015	1.24	2.36
2014	1.25	2.42
2013	1.19	2.43
2012	1.29	2.45
2011	1.2	2.44
2010	1.15	2.44
2009	1.22	2.5
2008	1.28	2.68
2007	1.29	2.55
2006	1.28	2.55
2005	1.26	2.51
2004	1.26	2.44
2003	1.27	2.36
2002	1.37	2.32
2001	1.41	2.37
2000	1.6	2.41
1999	1.47	2.56
1998	1.48	2.63
1997	1.61	2.73
1996	1.66	2.99
1995	1.67	3.17
1994	1.71	3.26
1993	1.74	3.37
1992	1.72	3.48
1991	1.73	3.62
1990	1.83	3.72
1989	1.75	3.98
1988	1.96	4.18
1987	1.62	4.35
1986	1.43	4.41
1985	1.61	4.5
1984	1.62	4.57
1983	1.61	4.63
1982	1.74	4.7
1981	1.78	4.71
1980	1.82	4.78
1979	1.79	4.82
1978	1.79	4.85
1977	1.82	4.94
1976	2.11	5.07
1975	2.07	5.19
1974	2.35	5.3
1973	2.79	5.41
1972	3.04	5.49
1971	3.02	5.57
1970	3.07	5.63
1969	3.22	5.72
1968	3.53	5.78
1967	3.91	5.85
1966	4.46	5.91
1965	4.66	5.89
1964	4.97	5.96
1963	5.16	6.01
1962	5.21	6.05
1961	5.41	6.08
1960	5.76	6.11

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Singapore was 0.97 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 Singapore vs South Africa population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Africa

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Singapore	South Africa
2023	7,101	602,793
2022	9,019	603,636
2021	15,270	456,411
2020	18,763	595,873
2019	21,674	652,130
2018	21,427	648,319
2017	21,888	645,975
2016	25,794	641,365
2015	27,121	668,771
2014	27,896	674,754
2013	25,376	652,427
2012	29,750	643,723
2011	25,919	601,708
2010	24,876	566,834
2009	27,930	554,115
2008	28,068	595,332
2007	26,614	503,567
2006	25,968	487,584
2005	24,741	464,464
2004	24,583	442,540
2003	24,689	415,018
2002	29,231	430,926
2001	31,035	484,801
2000	37,057	526,963
1999	32,857	594,643
1998	33,381	627,027
1997	37,960	667,969
1996	38,542	710,868
1995	38,065	743,488
1994	39,319	698,609
1993	40,425	789,220
1992	39,091	794,415
1991	39,188	827,296
1990	41,136	835,421
1989	36,929	884,629
1988	42,407	909,221
1987	33,020	922,330
1986	27,880	903,644
1985	32,010	893,889
1984	31,967	869,011
1983	30,296	837,013
1982	33,346	807,550
1981	32,167	767,833
1980	30,657	738,415
1979	28,363	716,541
1978	27,537	694,341
1977	26,508	680,929
1976	31,189	675,011
1975	28,509	667,862
1974	31,664	658,438
1973	36,404	651,596
1972	38,098	638,754
1971	35,708	624,761
1970	35,059	605,102
1969	34,314	590,794
1968	36,216	571,841
1967	40,145	553,741
1966	44,298	534,862
1965	45,474	506,632
1964	47,697	490,606
1963	49,542	473,821
1962	48,830	455,634
1961	49,880	437,851
1960	51,533	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 +0.12% in Singapore and +0.95% in South Africa.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.35% in Singapore and +1.05% in South Africa.

Birth rate in Singapore vs South Africa by year

Chart Table

Singapore

South Africa

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Singapore	South Africa
2023	7.4	18.8
2022	7.9	19.1
2021	8.6	19.4
2020	8.5	19.5
2019	8.8	19.7
2018	8.8	19.9
2017	8.9	20
2016	9.4	20.3
2015	9.7	21
2014	9.8	21.8
2013	9.3	21.9
2012	10.1	22.1
2011	9.5	22.1
2010	9.3	22.2
2009	9.9	22.8
2008	10.2	24.3
2007	10.3	23.1
2006	10.3	23.1
2005	10.2	22.7
2004	10.3	22.1
2003	10.5	21.4
2002	11.4	20.9
2001	11.8	21.3
2000	13.7	21.6
1999	12.8	22.7
1998	13.1	23.2
1997	14.5	23.9
1996	15.2	24.9
1995	15.6	25.6
1994	16.2	24.6
1993	16.8	26.6
1992	16.8	27
1991	17.1	28.1
1990	18.2	28.7
1989	17.5	30.6
1988	19.8	32
1987	16.6	33.2
1986	14.8	33.6
1985	16.6	34.2
1984	16.5	34.5
1983	16.3	34.6
1982	17.5	34.8
1981	17.6	34.6
1980	17.6	34.7
1979	17.1	34.9
1978	16.8	35.1
1977	16.5	35.6
1976	18.7	36.3
1975	17.7	37
1974	19.4	37.7
1973	22	38.4
1972	23.1	38.9
1971	22.3	39.3
1970	22.1	39.4
1969	21.8	39.7
1968	23.5	39.8
1967	25.6	39.9
1966	28.3	40
1965	29.5	39.5
1964	31.6	39.6
1963	33.2	39.7
1962	33.7	39.7
1961	35.2	39.7
1960	37.5	39.8

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 7.4 in Singapore and 18.8 in South Africa, compared with 37.5 and 39.8, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Singapore

Factual

UN forecast

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Singapore	South Africa
2100	10.2%	17.9%
2099	10.1%	18%
2098	9.95%	18%
2097	9.84%	18.1%
2096	9.72%	18.1%
2095	9.6%	18.2%
2094	9.48%	18.2%
2093	9.37%	18.3%
2092	9.27%	18.3%
2091	9.18%	18.4%
2090	9.1%	18.4%
2089	9.04%	18.5%
2088	8.99%	18.5%
2087	8.96%	18.6%
2086	8.95%	18.6%
2085	8.95%	18.7%
2084	8.97%	18.7%
2083	9%	18.8%
2082	9.04%	18.9%
2081	9.09%	18.9%
2080	9.15%	19%
2079	9.21%	19%
2078	9.27%	19.1%
2077	9.32%	19.2%
2076	9.38%	19.3%
2075	9.42%	19.3%
2074	9.45%	19.4%
2073	9.46%	19.5%
2072	9.47%	19.6%
2071	9.45%	19.6%
2070	9.42%	19.7%
2069	9.37%	19.8%
2068	9.31%	19.9%
2067	9.24%	20%
2066	9.15%	20.1%
2065	9.05%	20.2%
2064	8.95%	20.3%
2063	8.85%	20.4%
2062	8.75%	20.5%
2061	8.65%	20.6%
2060	8.57%	20.7%
2059	8.5%	20.8%
2058	8.45%	20.9%
2057	8.43%	21%
2056	8.44%	21.1%
2055	8.48%	21.1%
2054	8.56%	21.2%
2053	8.67%	21.3%
2052	8.83%	21.4%
2051	9.02%	21.5%
2050	9.23%	21.6%
2049	9.47%	21.7%
2048	9.73%	21.8%
2047	10%	21.9%
2046	10.3%	22%
2045	10.6%	22.1%
2044	10.8%	22.3%
2043	11.1%	22.4%
2042	11.4%	22.6%
2041	11.6%	22.8%
2040	11.8%	23%
2039	11.9%	23.3%
2038	12%	23.5%
2037	12.1%	23.7%
2036	12.1%	24.1%
2035	12.1%	24.4%
2034	12.1%	24.7%
2033	12.1%	24.9%
2032	12.1%	25%
2031	12%	25.1%
2030	12%	25.2%
2029	11.9%	25.3%
2028	11.8%	25.4%
2027	11.8%	25.5%
2026	11.7%	25.6%
2025	11.7%	25.8%
2024	11.7%	25.9%
2023	11.8%	26.1%
2022	12%	26.3%
2021	12.2%	26.6%
2020	12.2%	27%
2019	12.2%	27.4%
2018	12.3%	27.9%
2017	12.4%	28.3%
2016	12.5%	28.3%
2015	12.7%	28.3%
2014	12.9%	28.5%
2013	13.1%	28.7%
2012	13.4%	28.9%
2011	13.7%	29.1%
2010	14.1%	29.4%
2009	14.6%	29.7%
2008	15.1%	29.9%
2007	15.8%	30.2%
2006	16.6%	30.6%
2005	17.2%	31.1%
2004	17.8%	31.6%
2003	18.2%	32.3%
2002	18.4%	33.2%
2001	18.6%	34%
2000	18.8%	34.9%
1999	19%	35.7%
1998	19.2%	36.5%
1997	19.5%	37.2%
1996	20%	37.5%
1995	20.4%	37.5%
1994	20.7%	37.2%
1993	21%	37.3%
1992	21.1%	37.6%
1991	21.2%	37.5%
1990	21.4%	37.7%
1989	21.7%	38.1%
1988	22%	38.4%
1987	22.4%	38.7%
1986	22.9%	38.9%
1985	23.1%	39.2%
1984	23.3%	39.5%
1983	23.7%	39.8%
1982	24.2%	40.1%
1981	25.2%	40.5%
1980	26.4%	40.9%
1979	27.6%	41.3%
1978	28.8%	41.5%
1977	30%	41.7%
1976	31.2%	41.8%
1975	32.5%	41.9%
1974	33.7%	42%
1973	35%	42.1%
1972	36.2%	42.2%
1971	37.5%	42.2%
1970	38.7%	42.3%
1969	39.8%	42.2%
1968	40.8%	42.2%
1967	41.7%	42.2%
1966	42.5%	42.1%
1965	43.2%	42.1%
1964	43.8%	42.1%
1963	44.4%	42.1%
1962	44.7%	42.1%
1961	44.8%	42.1%
1960	44.7%	42.1%

Children aged 0-14 make up 11.7% of the population in Singapore and 25.9% in South Africa in 2024, compared to 21.4% and 37.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Singapore and South Africa compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Singapore vs South Africa

Chart Table

Singapore

South Africa

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Singapore	South Africa
2023	6	118
2022	34	129
2021	20	191
2020	13	118
2019	7	119
2018	8	128
2017	8	134
2016	8	141
2015	8	150
2014	9	162
2013	9	180
2012	10	194
2011	10	202
2010	10	226
2009	10	241
2008	11	272
2007	12	272
2006	13	283
2005	14	279
2004	14	259
2003	15	245
2002	16	225
2001	16	192
2000	17	175
1999	17	151
1998	17	152
1997	17	152
1996	17	150
1995	17	125
1994	16	133
1993	16	145
1992	16	152
1991	16	162
1990	17	170
1989	18	177
1988	18	184
1987	18	192
1986	18	200
1985	18	208

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 6 deaths per 100,000 live births in Singapore, compared to 118 deaths in South Africa.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Singapore

South Africa

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Singapore	South Africa
2023	0.21%	3.47%
2022	0.22%	3.44%
2021	0.22%	3.41%
2020	0.23%	3.41%
2019	0.24%	3.45%
2018	0.25%	3.49%
2017	0.26%	3.58%
2016	0.27%	3.68%
2015	0.27%	3.82%
2014	0.27%	3.96%
2013	0.28%	4.1%
2012	0.28%	4.25%
2011	0.28%	4.5%
2010	0.28%	5%
2009	0.28%	5.7%
2008	0.28%	6.42%
2007	0.29%	7.19%
2006	0.29%	7.75%
2005	0.3%	8.03%
2004	0.31%	8.1%
2003	0.32%	7.93%
2002	0.34%	7.69%
2001	0.36%	7.43%
2000	0.38%	7.11%
1999	0.41%	6.85%
1998	0.44%	6.56%
1997	0.46%	6.29%
1996	0.48%	6.11%
1995	0.51%	5.95%
1994	0.54%	5.82%
1993	0.58%	5.7%
1992	0.63%	5.66%
1991	0.7%	5.7%
1990	0.77%	5.82%
1989	0.84%	6.01%
1988	0.91%	6.26%
1987	0.97%	6.56%
1986	1.03%	6.89%
1985	1.09%	7.24%
1984	1.16%	7.6%
1983	1.23%	7.98%
1982	1.32%	8.39%
1981	1.4%	8.84%
1980	1.46%	9.35%
1979	1.49%	9.88%
1978	1.51%	10.5%
1977	1.54%	11.1%
1976	1.62%	11.8%
1975	1.75%	12.5%
1974	1.95%	13.2%
1973	2.18%	-
1972	2.39%	-
1971	2.56%	-
1970	2.71%	-
1969	2.86%	-
1968	3.01%	-
1967	3.18%	-
1966	3.34%	-
1965	3.5%	-
1964	3.64%	-
1963	3.81%	-
1962	4.05%	-
1961	4.37%	-
1960	4.76%	-

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.21% in Singapore and 3.47% in South Africa. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.