Fertility & birth rates in South Africa and Spain

Fertility rate in South Africa vs Spain by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Spain

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Africa	Spain
2023	2.22	1.12
2022	2.23	1.16
2021	2.25	1.18
2020	2.26	1.18
2019	2.26	1.23
2018	2.27	1.26
2017	2.28	1.31
2016	2.26	1.33
2015	2.36	1.33
2014	2.42	1.32
2013	2.43	1.27
2012	2.45	1.32
2011	2.44	1.34
2010	2.44	1.37
2009	2.5	1.38
2008	2.68	1.45
2007	2.55	1.38
2006	2.55	1.36
2005	2.51	1.33
2004	2.44	1.31
2003	2.36	1.3
2002	2.32	1.25
2001	2.37	1.23
2000	2.41	1.22
1999	2.56	1.17
1998	2.63	1.13
1997	2.73	1.15
1996	2.99	1.14
1995	3.17	1.16
1994	3.26	1.19
1993	3.37	1.26
1992	3.48	1.31
1991	3.62	1.33
1990	3.72	1.36
1989	3.98	1.4
1988	4.18	1.45
1987	4.35	1.49
1986	4.41	1.56
1985	4.5	1.64
1984	4.57	1.73
1983	4.63	1.8
1982	4.7	1.94
1981	4.71	2.04
1980	4.78	2.22
1979	4.82	2.37
1978	4.85	2.54
1977	4.94	2.65
1976	5.07	2.77
1975	5.19	2.77
1974	5.3	2.88
1973	5.41	2.84
1972	5.49	2.87
1971	5.57	2.9
1970	5.63	2.84
1969	5.72	2.86
1968	5.78	2.87
1967	5.85	2.94
1966	5.91	2.91
1965	5.89	2.94
1964	5.96	3.01
1963	6.01	2.88
1962	6.05	2.8
1961	6.08	2.77
1960	6.11	2.86

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in South Africa was 2.22 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.12 in Spain in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check South Africa vs Spain population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Spain

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Africa	Spain
2023	602,793	-111,211
2022	603,636	-133,801
2021	456,411	-113,865
2020	595,873	-151,551
2019	652,130	-56,542
2018	648,319	-56,139
2017	645,975	-32,600
2016	641,365	0
2015	668,771	-4,642
2014	674,754	32,522
2013	652,427	37,284
2012	643,723	51,450
2011	601,708	84,137
2010	566,834	102,469
2009	554,115	106,635
2008	595,332	133,267
2007	503,567	108,545
2006	487,584	110,994
2005	464,464	78,576
2004	442,540	85,844
2003	415,018	54,844
2002	430,926	53,861
2001	484,801	44,936
2000	526,963	36,512
1999	594,643	8,077
1998	627,027	4,022
1997	667,969	20,028
1996	710,868	11,967
1995	743,488	15,889
1994	698,609	31,639
1993	789,220	47,234
1992	794,415	62,652
1991	827,296	58,450
1990	835,421	66,075
1989	884,629	81,538
1988	909,221	100,794
1987	922,330	116,054
1986	903,644	131,188
1985	893,889	146,184
1984	869,011	172,487
1983	837,013	183,223
1982	807,550	231,714
1981	767,833	237,879
1980	738,415	281,184
1979	716,541	312,407
1978	694,341	339,157
1977	680,929	361,465
1976	675,011	375,834
1975	667,862	371,882
1974	658,438	396,182
1973	651,596	374,381
1972	638,754	391,030
1971	624,761	369,625
1970	605,102	378,723
1969	590,794	367,851
1968	571,841	387,423
1967	553,741	402,001
1966	534,862	397,084
1965	506,632	405,819
1964	490,606	429,885
1963	473,821	394,338
1962	455,634	384,690
1961	437,851	396,537
1960	421,263	398,960

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 +0.95% in South Africa and -0.23% in Spain.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.05% in South Africa and -0.13% in Spain.

Birth rate in South Africa vs Spain by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Spain

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Africa	Spain
2023	18.8	6.7
2022	19.1	6.9
2021	19.4	7.1
2020	19.5	7.2
2019	19.7	7.6
2018	19.9	7.9
2017	20	8.4
2016	20.3	8.8
2015	21	9
2014	21.8	9.2
2013	21.9	9.1
2012	22.1	9.7
2011	22.1	10.1
2010	22.2	10.4
2009	22.8	10.6
2008	24.3	11.3
2007	23.1	10.9
2006	23.1	10.8
2005	22.7	10.6
2004	22.1	10.6
2003	21.4	10.4
2002	20.9	10.1
2001	21.3	9.9
2000	21.6	9.8
1999	22.7	9.4
1998	23.2	9.1
1997	23.9	9.2
1996	24.9	9.1
1995	25.6	9.1
1994	24.6	9.4
1993	26.6	9.8
1992	27	10.1
1991	28.1	10.2
1990	28.7	10.3
1989	30.6	10.5
1988	32	10.8
1987	33.2	11
1986	33.6	11.4
1985	34.2	11.9
1984	34.5	12.3
1983	34.6	12.7
1982	34.8	13.6
1981	34.6	14.1
1980	34.7	15.2
1979	34.9	16.2
1978	35.1	17.3
1977	35.6	18
1976	36.3	18.7
1975	37	18.7
1974	37.7	19.5
1973	38.4	19.2
1972	38.9	19.4
1971	39.3	19.6
1970	39.4	19.5
1969	39.7	19.9
1968	39.8	20.1
1967	39.9	20.7
1966	40	20.7
1965	39.5	21.1
1964	39.6	22
1963	39.7	21.4
1962	39.7	21.1
1961	39.7	21.2
1960	39.8	21.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 18.8 in South Africa and 6.7 in Spain, compared with 39.8 and 21.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

Spain

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Africa	Spain
2100	17.9%	11.6%
2099	18%	11.6%
2098	18%	11.7%
2097	18.1%	11.7%
2096	18.1%	11.7%
2095	18.2%	11.8%
2094	18.2%	11.8%
2093	18.3%	11.9%
2092	18.3%	11.9%
2091	18.4%	11.9%
2090	18.4%	12%
2089	18.5%	12%
2088	18.5%	12%
2087	18.6%	12.1%
2086	18.6%	12.1%
2085	18.7%	12.1%
2084	18.7%	12%
2083	18.8%	12%
2082	18.9%	12%
2081	18.9%	11.9%
2080	19%	11.9%
2079	19%	11.8%
2078	19.1%	11.7%
2077	19.2%	11.6%
2076	19.3%	11.6%
2075	19.3%	11.5%
2074	19.4%	11.4%
2073	19.5%	11.3%
2072	19.6%	11.2%
2071	19.6%	11.2%
2070	19.7%	11.1%
2069	19.8%	11.1%
2068	19.9%	11%
2067	20%	11%
2066	20.1%	11%
2065	20.2%	11%
2064	20.3%	11%
2063	20.4%	11.1%
2062	20.5%	11.1%
2061	20.6%	11.2%
2060	20.7%	11.2%
2059	20.8%	11.3%
2058	20.9%	11.4%
2057	21%	11.4%
2056	21.1%	11.5%
2055	21.1%	11.5%
2054	21.2%	11.5%
2053	21.3%	11.5%
2052	21.4%	11.5%
2051	21.5%	11.5%
2050	21.6%	11.5%
2049	21.7%	11.4%
2048	21.8%	11.4%
2047	21.9%	11.3%
2046	22%	11.2%
2045	22.1%	11.1%
2044	22.3%	11.1%
2043	22.4%	11%
2042	22.6%	10.9%
2041	22.8%	10.9%
2040	23%	10.8%
2039	23.3%	10.8%
2038	23.5%	10.7%
2037	23.7%	10.7%
2036	24.1%	10.7%
2035	24.4%	10.7%
2034	24.7%	10.8%
2033	24.9%	10.9%
2032	25%	11.1%
2031	25.1%	11.3%
2030	25.2%	11.5%
2029	25.3%	11.7%
2028	25.4%	11.9%
2027	25.5%	12.2%
2026	25.6%	12.5%
2025	25.8%	12.8%
2024	25.9%	12.9%
2023	26.1%	13.3%
2022	26.3%	13.6%
2021	26.6%	13.9%
2020	27%	14.2%
2019	27.4%	14.4%
2018	27.9%	14.7%
2017	28.3%	14.8%
2016	28.3%	14.9%
2015	28.3%	15%
2014	28.5%	15.1%
2013	28.7%	15.1%
2012	28.9%	15.1%
2011	29.1%	15%
2010	29.4%	14.9%
2009	29.7%	14.8%
2008	29.9%	14.7%
2007	30.2%	14.6%
2006	30.6%	14.5%
2005	31.1%	14.5%
2004	31.6%	14.5%
2003	32.3%	14.5%
2002	33.2%	14.6%
2001	34%	14.7%
2000	34.9%	14.8%
1999	35.7%	15%
1998	36.5%	15.3%
1997	37.2%	15.7%
1996	37.5%	16.1%
1995	37.5%	16.6%
1994	37.2%	17.2%
1993	37.3%	17.8%
1992	37.6%	18.4%
1991	37.5%	19.1%
1990	37.7%	19.8%
1989	38.1%	20.5%
1988	38.4%	21.2%
1987	38.7%	21.9%
1986	38.9%	22.5%
1985	39.2%	23.2%
1984	39.5%	23.8%
1983	39.8%	24.4%
1982	40.1%	24.9%
1981	40.5%	25.5%
1980	40.9%	26%
1979	41.3%	26.4%
1978	41.5%	26.8%
1977	41.7%	27%
1976	41.8%	27.2%
1975	41.9%	27.3%
1974	42%	27.5%
1973	42.1%	27.7%
1972	42.2%	27.8%
1971	42.2%	27.8%
1970	42.3%	27.9%
1969	42.2%	27.8%
1968	42.2%	27.8%
1967	42.2%	27.7%
1966	42.1%	27.6%
1965	42.1%	27.5%
1964	42.1%	27.4%
1963	42.1%	27.4%
1962	42.1%	27.4%
1961	42.1%	27.4%
1960	42.1%	27.4%

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.9% of the population in South Africa and 12.9% in Spain in 2024, compared to 37.7% and 19.8% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Africa and Spain compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Africa vs Spain

Chart Table

South Africa

Spain

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Africa	Spain
2023	118	3
2022	129	4
2021	191	4
2020	118	4
2019	119	3
2018	128	3
2017	134	3
2016	141	3
2015	150	4
2014	162	4
2013	180	4
2012	194	4
2011	202	4
2010	226	4
2009	241	4
2008	272	4
2007	272	4
2006	283	4
2005	279	5
2004	259	5
2003	245	4
2002	225	5
2001	192	5
2000	175	5
1999	151	5
1998	152	5
1997	152	5
1996	150	6
1995	125	6
1994	133	6
1993	145	6
1992	152	6
1991	162	6
1990	170	6
1989	177	7
1988	184	7
1987	192	7
1986	200	7
1985	208	6

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 118 deaths per 100,000 live births in South Africa, compared to 3 deaths in Spain.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Africa

Spain

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Africa	Spain
2023	3.47%	0.31%
2022	3.44%	0.31%
2021	3.41%	0.31%
2020	3.41%	0.32%
2019	3.45%	0.32%
2018	3.49%	0.32%
2017	3.58%	0.32%
2016	3.68%	0.33%
2015	3.82%	0.33%
2014	3.96%	0.34%
2013	4.1%	0.35%
2012	4.25%	0.36%
2011	4.5%	0.37%
2010	5%	0.38%
2009	5.7%	0.4%
2008	6.42%	0.42%
2007	7.19%	0.44%
2006	7.75%	0.45%
2005	8.03%	0.47%
2004	8.1%	0.49%
2003	7.93%	0.5%
2002	7.69%	0.51%
2001	7.43%	0.53%
2000	7.11%	0.54%
1999	6.85%	0.56%
1998	6.56%	0.58%
1997	6.29%	0.61%
1996	6.11%	0.65%
1995	5.95%	0.69%
1994	5.82%	0.74%
1993	5.7%	0.79%
1992	5.66%	0.83%
1991	5.7%	0.88%
1990	5.82%	0.92%
1989	6.01%	0.95%
1988	6.26%	0.99%
1987	6.56%	1.03%
1986	6.89%	1.07%
1985	7.24%	1.11%
1984	7.6%	1.17%
1983	7.98%	1.23%
1982	8.39%	1.3%
1981	8.84%	1.38%
1980	9.35%	1.49%
1979	9.88%	1.61%
1978	10.5%	1.74%
1977	11.1%	1.87%
1976	11.8%	2.02%
1975	12.5%	2.17%
1974	13.2%	2.33%
1973	-	2.52%
1972	-	2.72%
1971	-	2.94%
1970	-	3.16%
1969	-	3.39%
1968	-	3.61%
1967	-	3.83%
1966	-	4.03%
1965	-	4.23%
1964	-	4.45%
1963	-	4.68%
1962	-	4.94%
1961	-	5.2%
1960	-	5.47%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.47% in South Africa and 0.31% in Spain. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.