South Africa has an annual birth rate of 18.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 5.76 for Taiwan. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.22 in South Africa and 0.89 in Taiwan — 60.1% difference.
1981 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 53% in South Africa and by 64.8% in Taiwan — in 1981, it was 4.71 and 2.46, respectively.
- South Africa is ranked 82/196 by birth rate compared to 193/196 for Taiwan.
- The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3 in South Africa — it's 32.3 in Taiwan.
- Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 51.6 in South Africa vs 3 in Taiwan.
- In South Africa, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.9% in Taiwan.
Fertility rate in South Africa vs Taiwan by year
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
| 2024 | - | 0.89 |
| 2023 | 2.22 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 2.23 | 0.87 |
| 2021 | 2.25 | 0.98 |
| 2020 | 2.26 | 0.99 |
| 2019 | 2.26 | 1.05 |
| 2018 | 2.27 | 1.06 |
| 2017 | 2.28 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 2.26 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 2.36 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 2.42 | - |
| 2013 | 2.43 | - |
| 2012 | 2.45 | - |
| 2011 | 2.44 | 1.07 |
| 2010 | 2.44 | - |
| 2009 | 2.5 | - |
| 2008 | 2.68 | - |
| 2007 | 2.55 | - |
| 2006 | 2.55 | - |
| 2005 | 2.51 | - |
| 2004 | 2.44 | - |
| 2003 | 2.36 | - |
| 2002 | 2.32 | - |
| 2001 | 2.37 | 1.4 |
| 2000 | 2.41 | - |
| 1999 | 2.56 | - |
| 1998 | 2.63 | - |
| 1997 | 2.73 | - |
| 1996 | 2.99 | - |
| 1995 | 3.17 | - |
| 1994 | 3.26 | - |
| 1993 | 3.37 | - |
| 1992 | 3.48 | - |
| 1991 | 3.62 | 1.72 |
| 1990 | 3.72 | - |
| 1989 | 3.98 | - |
| 1988 | 4.18 | - |
| 1987 | 4.35 | - |
| 1986 | 4.41 | - |
| 1985 | 4.5 | - |
| 1984 | 4.57 | - |
| 1983 | 4.63 | - |
| 1982 | 4.7 | - |
| 1981 | 4.71 | 2.46 |
| 1980 | 4.78 | - |
| 1979 | 4.82 | - |
| 1978 | 4.85 | - |
| 1977 | 4.94 | - |
| 1976 | 5.07 | - |
| 1975 | 5.19 | - |
| 1974 | 5.3 | - |
| 1973 | 5.41 | - |
| 1972 | 5.49 | - |
| 1971 | 5.57 | - |
| 1970 | 5.63 | - |
| 1969 | 5.72 | - |
| 1968 | 5.78 | - |
| 1967 | 5.85 | - |
| 1966 | 5.91 | - |
| 1965 | 5.89 | - |
| 1964 | 5.96 | - |
| 1963 | 6.01 | - |
| 1962 | 6.05 | - |
| 1961 | 6.08 | - |
| 1960 | 6.11 | - |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - |
| 1956 | - | - |
| 1955 | - | - |
| 1954 | - | - |
| 1953 | - | - |
| 1952 | - | - |
| 1951 | - | 7.04 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY 
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 0.89 in Taiwan in 2024. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.
Check South Africa vs Taiwan population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.
Natural population change by year
| Year | Natural population change | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
| 2024 | - | -67,188 |
| 2023 | 602,793 | -69,794 |
| 2022 | 603,636 | -68,327 |
| 2021 | 456,411 | -30,039 |
| 2020 | 595,873 | -7,782 |
| 2019 | 652,130 | 1,416 |
| 2018 | 648,319 | 8,725 |
| 2017 | 645,975 | 22,613 |
| 2016 | 641,365 | 35,980 |
| 2015 | 668,771 | 49,741 |
| 2014 | 674,754 | - |
| 2013 | 652,427 | - |
| 2012 | 643,723 | - |
| 2011 | 601,708 | 43,836 |
| 2010 | 566,834 | - |
| 2009 | 554,115 | - |
| 2008 | 595,332 | - |
| 2007 | 503,567 | - |
| 2006 | 487,584 | - |
| 2005 | 464,464 | - |
| 2004 | 442,540 | - |
| 2003 | 415,018 | - |
| 2002 | 430,926 | - |
| 2001 | 484,801 | 132,707 |
| 2000 | 526,963 | - |
| 1999 | 594,643 | - |
| 1998 | 627,027 | - |
| 1997 | 667,969 | - |
| 1996 | 710,868 | - |
| 1995 | 743,488 | - |
| 1994 | 698,609 | - |
| 1993 | 789,220 | - |
| 1992 | 794,415 | - |
| 1991 | 827,296 | 215,698 |
| 1990 | 835,421 | - |
| 1989 | 884,629 | - |
| 1988 | 909,221 | - |
| 1987 | 922,330 | - |
| 1986 | 903,644 | - |
| 1985 | 893,889 | - |
| 1984 | 869,011 | - |
| 1983 | 837,013 | - |
| 1982 | 807,550 | - |
| 1981 | 767,833 | 326,883 |
| 1980 | 738,415 | - |
| 1979 | 716,541 | - |
| 1978 | 694,341 | - |
| 1977 | 680,929 | - |
| 1976 | 675,011 | - |
| 1975 | 667,862 | - |
| 1974 | 658,438 | - |
| 1973 | 651,596 | - |
| 1972 | 638,754 | - |
| 1971 | 624,761 | - |
| 1970 | 605,102 | - |
| 1969 | 590,794 | - |
| 1968 | 571,841 | - |
| 1967 | 553,741 | - |
| 1966 | 534,862 | 346,958 |
| 1965 | 506,632 | - |
| 1964 | 490,606 | - |
| 1963 | 473,821 | - |
| 1962 | 455,634 | - |
| 1961 | 437,851 | - |
| 1960 | 421,263 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY
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 -0.29% in Taiwan.
For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.05% in South Africa and -0.05% in Taiwan.
Birth rate in South Africa vs Taiwan by year
Annual births per 1,000 people
| Year | Annual births per 1,000 people | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
| 2024 | - | 5.76 |
| 2023 | 18.8 | 5.81 |
| 2022 | 19.1 | 5.96 |
| 2021 | 19.4 | 6.55 |
| 2020 | 19.5 | 7.01 |
| 2019 | 19.7 | 7.53 |
| 2018 | 19.9 | 7.7 |
| 2017 | 20 | 8.23 |
| 2016 | 20.3 | 8.86 |
| 2015 | 21 | 9.1 |
| 2014 | 21.8 | - |
| 2013 | 21.9 | - |
| 2012 | 22.1 | - |
| 2011 | 22.1 | 8.48 |
| 2010 | 22.2 | - |
| 2009 | 22.8 | - |
| 2008 | 24.3 | - |
| 2007 | 23.1 | - |
| 2006 | 23.1 | - |
| 2005 | 22.7 | - |
| 2004 | 22.1 | - |
| 2003 | 21.4 | - |
| 2002 | 20.9 | - |
| 2001 | 21.3 | 11.7 |
| 2000 | 21.6 | - |
| 1999 | 22.7 | - |
| 1998 | 23.2 | - |
| 1997 | 23.9 | - |
| 1996 | 24.9 | - |
| 1995 | 25.6 | - |
| 1994 | 24.6 | - |
| 1993 | 26.6 | - |
| 1992 | 27 | - |
| 1991 | 28.1 | 15.7 |
| 1990 | 28.7 | - |
| 1989 | 30.6 | - |
| 1988 | 32 | - |
| 1987 | 33.2 | - |
| 1986 | 33.6 | - |
| 1985 | 34.2 | - |
| 1984 | 34.5 | - |
| 1983 | 34.6 | - |
| 1982 | 34.8 | - |
| 1981 | 34.6 | 23 |
| 1980 | 34.7 | - |
| 1979 | 34.9 | - |
| 1978 | 35.1 | - |
| 1977 | 35.6 | - |
| 1976 | 36.3 | - |
| 1975 | 37 | - |
| 1974 | 37.7 | - |
| 1973 | 38.4 | - |
| 1972 | 38.9 | - |
| 1971 | 39.3 | - |
| 1970 | 39.4 | - |
| 1969 | 39.7 | - |
| 1968 | 39.8 | - |
| 1967 | 39.9 | - |
| 1966 | 40 | 32.4 |
| 1965 | 39.5 | - |
| 1964 | 39.6 | - |
| 1963 | 39.7 | - |
| 1962 | 39.7 | - |
| 1961 | 39.7 | - |
| 1960 | 39.8 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1966–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY
The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 18.8 in South Africa and 5.81 in Taiwan, compared with 40 and 32.4, respectively, in 1966.
Birth rate data compared
|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fertility rate | 2.22 | 0.89 |
| Fertility rate rank | 89/196 | 195/196 |
| Birth rate | 18.8 | 5.76 |
| Birth rate rank | 82/196 | 193/196 |
| Population change due to births and deaths | +602,793 | -67,188 |
| Natural population change rank | 33/196 | 186/196 |
| Natural population change rate | +0.95% | -0.29% |
| Population growth | +1.26% | -0.34% |
| Population growth rank | 85/197 | 180/197 |
| Average age at childbearing | 28.3 years | 32.3 years |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 | 51.8 | 2.85 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 | 106.1 | 26.3 |
| Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ | 27.1 | 10.2 |
| Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population | 27.8% | 22.9% |
| Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 | 54% | n/a |
| Share of births attended by skilled health staff | 96.7% | n/a |
| Maternal mortality per live birth | 0.12% | 0.01% |
| Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) | 1.17% | 0.28% |
| Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) | 2.44% | 0.45% |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age | 3.47% | n/a |
| Life expectancy | 66.7 years | 81.1 years |
Children 0-14 years as share of population
| Year | Young | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
| 2100 | 17.9% | 9.81% |
| 2099 | 18% | 9.82% |
| 2098 | 18% | 9.83% |
| 2097 | 18.1% | 9.82% |
| 2096 | 18.1% | 9.8% |
| 2095 | 18.2% | 9.78% |
| 2094 | 18.2% | 9.74% |
| 2093 | 18.3% | 9.69% |
| 2092 | 18.3% | 9.63% |
| 2091 | 18.4% | 9.57% |
| 2090 | 18.4% | 9.49% |
| 2089 | 18.5% | 9.41% |
| 2088 | 18.5% | 9.32% |
| 2087 | 18.6% | 9.23% |
| 2086 | 18.6% | 9.13% |
| 2085 | 18.7% | 9.04% |
| 2084 | 18.7% | 8.94% |
| 2083 | 18.8% | 8.84% |
| 2082 | 18.9% | 8.74% |
| 2081 | 18.9% | 8.64% |
| 2080 | 19% | 8.55% |
| 2079 | 19% | 8.46% |
| 2078 | 19.1% | 8.39% |
| 2077 | 19.2% | 8.32% |
| 2076 | 19.3% | 8.26% |
| 2075 | 19.3% | 8.22% |
| 2074 | 19.4% | 8.19% |
| 2073 | 19.5% | 8.18% |
| 2072 | 19.6% | 8.18% |
| 2071 | 19.6% | 8.2% |
| 2070 | 19.7% | 8.23% |
| 2069 | 19.8% | 8.26% |
| 2068 | 19.9% | 8.31% |
| 2067 | 20% | 8.37% |
| 2066 | 20.1% | 8.42% |
| 2065 | 20.2% | 8.48% |
| 2064 | 20.3% | 8.53% |
| 2063 | 20.4% | 8.57% |
| 2062 | 20.5% | 8.61% |
| 2061 | 20.6% | 8.63% |
| 2060 | 20.7% | 8.64% |
| 2059 | 20.8% | 8.64% |
| 2058 | 20.9% | 8.62% |
| 2057 | 21% | 8.6% |
| 2056 | 21.1% | 8.55% |
| 2055 | 21.1% | 8.51% |
| 2054 | 21.2% | 8.45% |
| 2053 | 21.3% | 8.39% |
| 2052 | 21.4% | 8.33% |
| 2051 | 21.5% | 8.27% |
| 2050 | 21.6% | 8.22% |
| 2049 | 21.7% | 8.16% |
| 2048 | 21.8% | 8.12% |
| 2047 | 21.9% | 8.08% |
| 2046 | 22% | 8.04% |
| 2045 | 22.1% | 8.02% |
| 2044 | 22.3% | 8% |
| 2043 | 22.4% | 7.99% |
| 2042 | 22.6% | 7.99% |
| 2041 | 22.8% | 8% |
| 2040 | 23% | 8.01% |
| 2039 | 23.3% | 8.04% |
| 2038 | 23.5% | 8.09% |
| 2037 | 23.7% | 8.14% |
| 2036 | 24.1% | 8.25% |
| 2035 | 24.4% | 8.43% |
| 2034 | 24.7% | 8.66% |
| 2033 | 24.9% | 8.92% |
| 2032 | 25% | 9.2% |
| 2031 | 25.1% | 9.58% |
| 2030 | 25.2% | 10% |
| 2029 | 25.3% | 10.4% |
| 2028 | 25.4% | 10.7% |
| 2027 | 25.5% | 11.1% |
| 2026 | 25.6% | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 25.8% | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 25.9% | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 26.1% | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 26.3% | 12.1% |
| 2021 | 26.6% | 12.4% |
| 2020 | 27% | 12.6% |
| 2019 | 27.4% | 12.8% |
| 2018 | 27.9% | 12.9% |
| 2017 | 28.3% | 13.1% |
| 2016 | 28.3% | 13.3% |
| 2015 | 28.3% | 13.6% |
| 2014 | 28.5% | 14% |
| 2013 | 28.7% | 14.3% |
| 2012 | 28.9% | 14.6% |
| 2011 | 29.1% | 15.1% |
| 2010 | 29.4% | 15.6% |
| 2009 | 29.7% | 16.3% |
| 2008 | 29.9% | 17% |
| 2007 | 30.2% | 17.6% |
| 2006 | 30.6% | 18.1% |
| 2005 | 31.1% | 18.7% |
| 2004 | 31.6% | 19.3% |
| 2003 | 32.3% | 19.8% |
| 2002 | 33.2% | 20.4% |
| 2001 | 34% | 20.8% |
| 2000 | 34.9% | 21.1% |
| 1999 | 35.7% | 21.4% |
| 1998 | 36.5% | 22% |
| 1997 | 37.2% | 22.6% |
| 1996 | 37.5% | 23.1% |
| 1995 | 37.5% | 23.8% |
| 1994 | 37.2% | 24.4% |
| 1993 | 37.3% | 25.1% |
| 1992 | 37.6% | 25.8% |
| 1991 | 37.5% | 26.3% |
| 1990 | 37.7% | 27.1% |
| 1989 | 38.1% | 27.5% |
| 1988 | 38.4% | 28% |
| 1987 | 38.7% | 28.4% |
| 1986 | 38.9% | 29% |
| 1985 | 39.2% | 29.6% |
| 1984 | 39.5% | 30.2% |
| 1983 | 39.8% | 30.8% |
| 1982 | 40.1% | 31.2% |
| 1981 | 40.5% | 31.6% |
| 1980 | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 1979 | 41.3% | 32.7% |
| 1978 | 41.5% | 33.3% |
| 1977 | 41.7% | 34% |
| 1976 | 41.8% | 34.7% |
| 1975 | 41.9% | 35.4% |
| 1974 | 42% | 36.2% |
| 1973 | 42.1% | - |
| 1972 | 42.2% | - |
| 1971 | 42.2% | - |
| 1970 | 42.3% | - |
| 1969 | 42.2% | - |
| 1968 | 42.2% | - |
| 1967 | 42.2% | - |
| 1966 | 42.1% | - |
| 1965 | 42.1% | - |
| 1964 | 42.1% | - |
| 1963 | 42.1% | - |
| 1962 | 42.1% | - |
| 1961 | 42.1% | - |
| 1960 | 42.1% | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1974–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY
Children aged 0-14 make up 25.9% of the population in South Africa and 11.7% in Taiwan in 2024, compared to 37.7% and 27.1% respectively in 1990.
Fertility rates around the globe
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1981–2023, retrieved 2026-02-09).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY
Maternal mortality chart: South Africa vs Taiwan
| Year | Maternal mortality per 100K births | |
|---|---|---|
|
South Africa
|
Taiwan
|
|
| 2024 | - | 14 |
| 2023 | 118 | 14 |
| 2022 | 129 | 14 |
| 2021 | 191 | 14 |
| 2020 | 118 | 13 |
| 2019 | 119 | 15.4 |
| 2018 | 128 | 11.6 |
| 2017 | 134 | 11.6 |
| 2016 | 141 | 11.6 |
| 2015 | 150 | 11.3 |
| 2014 | 162 | 8.5 |
| 2013 | 180 | 8.5 |
| 2012 | 194 | 8.5 |
| 2011 | 202 | 7.8 |
| 2010 | 226 | 7.8 |
| 2009 | 241 | 7.8 |
| 2008 | 272 | 7.8 |
| 2007 | 272 | 7.8 |
| 2006 | 283 | 7.8 |
| 2005 | 279 | 7.8 |
| 2004 | 259 | 7.8 |
| 2003 | 245 | 7.8 |
| 2002 | 225 | 7.8 |
| 2001 | 192 | 7.8 |
| 2000 | 175 | 7.8 |
| 1999 | 151 | 8.4 |
| 1998 | 152 | 8.9 |
| 1997 | 152 | 9.2 |
| 1996 | 150 | 7.7 |
| 1995 | 125 | 7.7 |
| 1994 | 133 | 8 |
| 1993 | 145 | 9.2 |
| 1992 | 152 | 6.8 |
| 1991 | 162 | 8.1 |
| 1990 | 170 | 12.2 |
| 1989 | 177 | 12.7 |
| 1988 | 184 | 9 |
| 1987 | 192 | 8.9 |
| 1986 | 200 | 9.4 |
| 1985 | 208 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); National Statistics, Taiwan (1986–2024, retrieved 2026-02-09).
GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/taiwan | CC BY
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 14 deaths in Taiwan.
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- National Statistics, Taiwan (1951–2025, retrieved 2026-02-09)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
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