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Fertility & birth rates in South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago

Updated on by Georank team

South Africa has an annual birth rate of 18.8 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.7 for Trinidad and Tobago. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.22 in South Africa and 1.53 in Trinidad and Tobago — 30.9% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 63.7% in South Africa and by 71.7% in Trinidad and Tobago — in 1960, it was 6.11 and 5.41, respectively.

  • South Africa is ranked 82/196 by birth rate compared to 139/196 for Trinidad and Tobago.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.3 in South Africa — it's 27.8 in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 51.6 in South Africa vs 36 in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • In South Africa, 27.8% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 25.4% in Trinidad and Tobago.

Fertility rate in South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago by year

South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Fertility rate
South Africa Trinidad
2023 2.22 1.53
2022 2.23 1.54
2021 2.25 1.56
2020 2.26 1.57
2019 2.26 1.58
2018 2.27 1.59
2017 2.28 1.59
2016 2.26 1.6
2015 2.36 1.6
2014 2.42 1.6
2013 2.43 1.6
2012 2.45 1.61
2011 2.44 1.61
2010 2.44 1.61
2009 2.5 1.62
2008 2.68 1.62
2007 2.55 1.62
2006 2.55 1.62
2005 2.51 1.63
2004 2.44 1.63
2003 2.36 1.65
2002 2.32 1.67
2001 2.37 1.71
2000 2.41 1.73
1999 2.56 1.76
1998 2.63 1.78
1997 2.73 1.83
1996 2.99 1.89
1995 3.17 1.97
1994 3.26 2.06
1993 3.37 2.13
1992 3.48 2.21
1991 3.62 2.29
1990 3.72 2.39
1989 3.98 2.53
1988 4.18 2.65
1987 4.35 2.78
1986 4.41 2.9
1985 4.5 2.99
1984 4.57 3.02
1983 4.63 3.07
1982 4.7 3.11
1981 4.71 3.13
1980 4.78 3.15
1979 4.82 3.13
1978 4.85 3.13
1977 4.94 3.12
1976 5.07 3.14
1975 5.19 3.21
1974 5.3 3.32
1973 5.41 3.47
1972 5.49 3.55
1971 5.57 3.61
1970 5.63 3.71
1969 5.72 3.86
1968 5.78 4.11
1967 5.85 4.35
1966 5.91 4.62
1965 5.89 4.88
1964 5.96 5.08
1963 6.01 5.24
1962 6.05 5.36
1961 6.08 5.41
1960 6.11 5.41

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | 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 1.53 in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Natural population change
South Africa Trinidad
2023 602,793 3,200
2022 603,636 3,773
2021 456,411 2,091
2020 595,873 4,558
2019 652,130 5,647
2018 648,319 5,869
2017 645,975 6,779
2016 641,365 7,436
2015 668,771 7,963
2014 674,754 8,571
2013 652,427 9,020
2012 643,723 9,376
2011 601,708 9,601
2010 566,834 9,698
2009 554,115 9,769
2008 595,332 9,872
2007 503,567 9,939
2006 487,584 9,889
2005 464,464 9,822
2004 442,540 10,149
2003 415,018 10,169
2002 430,926 10,316
2001 484,801 10,438
2000 526,963 10,588
1999 594,643 10,821
1998 627,027 10,964
1997 667,969 11,405
1996 710,868 12,101
1995 743,488 12,971
1994 698,609 14,032
1993 789,220 14,878
1992 794,415 15,910
1991 827,296 16,903
1990 835,421 18,052
1989 884,629 19,636
1988 909,221 21,028
1987 922,330 22,398
1986 903,644 23,705
1985 893,889 24,487
1984 869,011 24,738
1983 837,013 25,118
1982 807,550 25,181
1981 767,833 25,015
1980 738,415 24,557
1979 716,541 23,475
1978 694,341 22,538
1977 680,929 21,660
1976 675,011 20,875
1975 667,862 20,468
1974 658,438 20,412
1973 651,596 20,617
1972 638,754 20,116
1971 624,761 19,400
1970 605,102 19,074
1969 590,794 19,652
1968 571,841 20,849
1967 553,741 21,992
1966 534,862 23,228
1965 506,632 24,349
1964 490,606 25,065
1963 473,821 25,507
1962 455,634 25,763
1961 437,851 25,518
1960 421,263 24,766

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | 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 +0.23% in Trinidad and Tobago.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.05% in South Africa and +0.41% in Trinidad and Tobago.

Birth rate in South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago by year

South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
South Africa Trinidad
2023 18.8 10.7
2022 19.1 11
2021 19.4 11.3
2020 19.5 11.6
2019 19.7 12.1
2018 19.9 12.1
2017 20 12.5
2016 20.3 12.8
2015 21 13
2014 21.8 13.3
2013 21.9 13.5
2012 22.1 13.7
2011 22.1 13.9
2010 22.2 14.1
2009 22.8 14.2
2008 24.3 14.3
2007 23.1 14.4
2006 23.1 14.4
2005 22.7 14.3
2004 22.1 14.3
2003 21.4 14.4
2002 20.9 14.5
2001 21.3 14.7
2000 21.6 14.9
1999 22.7 15
1998 23.2 15.1
1997 23.9 15.5
1996 24.9 16.1
1995 25.6 16.7
1994 24.6 17.6
1993 26.6 18.3
1992 27 19.2
1991 28.1 20
1990 28.7 21.1
1989 30.6 22.5
1988 32 23.9
1987 33.2 25.3
1986 33.6 26.7
1985 34.2 27.7
1984 34.5 28.3
1983 34.6 28.9
1982 34.8 29.2
1981 34.6 29.3
1980 34.7 29.1
1979 34.9 28.4
1978 35.1 27.8
1977 35.6 27.3
1976 36.3 26.8
1975 37 26.8
1974 37.7 27.1
1973 38.4 27.7
1972 38.9 27.5
1971 39.3 27.2
1970 39.4 27.2
1969 39.7 27.9
1968 39.8 29.3
1967 39.9 30.8
1966 40 32.5
1965 39.5 34.1
1964 39.6 35.3
1963 39.7 36.5
1962 39.7 37.4
1961 39.7 37.8
1960 39.8 37.8

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 18.8 in South Africa and 10.7 in Trinidad and Tobago, compared with 39.8 and 37.8, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

South Africa Trinidad
Fertility rate 2.22 1.53
Fertility rate rank 89/196 134/196
Birth rate 18.8 10.7
Birth rate rank 82/196 139/196
Population change due to births and deaths +602,793 +3,200
Natural population change rank 33/196 134/196
Natural population change rate +0.95% +0.23%
Population growth +1.26% +0.06%
Population growth rank 85/197 161/197
Average age at childbearing 28.3 years 27.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 51.8 35.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 106.1 78.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 27.1 12.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27.8% 25.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 54% 30.5%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 96.7% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.12% 0.05%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 1.17% 1.29%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 2.44% 1.72%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.47% 1.91%
Life expectancy 66.7 years 73.9 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

South Africa
Factual

UN forecast
Trinidad and Tobago
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
South Africa Trinidad
2100 17.9% 12.2%
2099 18% 12.2%
2098 18% 12.2%
2097 18.1% 12.2%
2096 18.1% 12.2%
2095 18.2% 12.3%
2094 18.2% 12.3%
2093 18.3% 12.3%
2092 18.3% 12.3%
2091 18.4% 12.4%
2090 18.4% 12.4%
2089 18.5% 12.4%
2088 18.5% 12.4%
2087 18.6% 12.5%
2086 18.6% 12.5%
2085 18.7% 12.5%
2084 18.7% 12.5%
2083 18.8% 12.5%
2082 18.9% 12.5%
2081 18.9% 12.5%
2080 19% 12.5%
2079 19% 12.5%
2078 19.1% 12.5%
2077 19.2% 12.5%
2076 19.3% 12.5%
2075 19.3% 12.5%
2074 19.4% 12.5%
2073 19.5% 12.5%
2072 19.6% 12.5%
2071 19.6% 12.5%
2070 19.7% 12.5%
2069 19.8% 12.5%
2068 19.9% 12.5%
2067 20% 12.5%
2066 20.1% 12.6%
2065 20.2% 12.6%
2064 20.3% 12.7%
2063 20.4% 12.7%
2062 20.5% 12.8%
2061 20.6% 12.8%
2060 20.7% 12.9%
2059 20.8% 13%
2058 20.9% 13.1%
2057 21% 13.1%
2056 21.1% 13.2%
2055 21.1% 13.3%
2054 21.2% 13.3%
2053 21.3% 13.4%
2052 21.4% 13.5%
2051 21.5% 13.5%
2050 21.6% 13.6%
2049 21.7% 13.6%
2048 21.8% 13.7%
2047 21.9% 13.7%
2046 22% 13.8%
2045 22.1% 13.8%
2044 22.3% 13.9%
2043 22.4% 13.9%
2042 22.6% 14%
2041 22.8% 14.1%
2040 23% 14.2%
2039 23.3% 14.3%
2038 23.5% 14.4%
2037 23.7% 14.6%
2036 24.1% 14.8%
2035 24.4% 15%
2034 24.7% 15.2%
2033 24.9% 15.4%
2032 25% 15.7%
2031 25.1% 15.9%
2030 25.2% 16.2%
2029 25.3% 16.5%
2028 25.4% 16.8%
2027 25.5% 17.1%
2026 25.6% 17.4%
2025 25.8% 17.6%
2024 25.9% 17.8%
2023 26.1% 18%
2022 26.3% 18.3%
2021 26.6% 18.5%
2020 27% 18.7%
2019 27.4% 18.8%
2018 27.9% 19%
2017 28.3% 19.3%
2016 28.3% 19.5%
2015 28.3% 19.6%
2014 28.5% 19.7%
2013 28.7% 19.9%
2012 28.9% 20%
2011 29.1% 20.1%
2010 29.4% 20.3%
2009 29.7% 20.5%
2008 29.9% 20.8%
2007 30.2% 21.2%
2006 30.6% 21.6%
2005 31.1% 22.1%
2004 31.6% 22.7%
2003 32.3% 23.4%
2002 33.2% 24.2%
2001 34% 25%
2000 34.9% 26%
1999 35.7% 27%
1998 36.5% 27.9%
1997 37.2% 28.9%
1996 37.5% 29.9%
1995 37.5% 30.8%
1994 37.2% 31.6%
1993 37.3% 32.2%
1992 37.6% 32.8%
1991 37.5% 33.3%
1990 37.7% 33.7%
1989 38.1% 34%
1988 38.4% 34.2%
1987 38.7% 34.4%
1986 38.9% 34.4%
1985 39.2% 34.4%
1984 39.5% 34.3%
1983 39.8% 34.2%
1982 40.1% 34.2%
1981 40.5% 34.2%
1980 40.9% 34.4%
1979 41.3% 34.8%
1978 41.5% 35.3%
1977 41.7% 36%
1976 41.8% 36.8%
1975 41.9% 37.6%
1974 42% 38.4%
1973 42.1% 39.1%
1972 42.2% 39.7%
1971 42.2% 40.4%
1970 42.3% 41.2%
1969 42.2% 41.9%
1968 42.2% 42.3%
1967 42.2% 42.7%
1966 42.1% 42.9%
1965 42.1% 43.1%
1964 42.1% 43.2%
1963 42.1% 43.3%
1962 42.1% 43.2%
1961 42.1% 43.2%
1960 42.1% 43.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.9% of the population in South Africa and 17.8% in Trinidad and Tobago in 2024, compared to 37.7% and 33.7% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago

South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
South Africa Trinidad
2023 118 54
2022 129 30
2021 191 54
2020 118 35
2019 119 53
2018 128 53
2017 134 51
2016 141 51
2015 150 50
2014 162 50
2013 180 50
2012 194 51
2011 202 53
2010 226 54
2009 241 54
2008 272 55
2007 272 57
2006 283 58
2005 279 60
2004 259 63
2003 245 67
2002 225 69
2001 192 72
2000 175 76
1999 151 78
1998 152 79
1997 152 82
1996 150 84
1995 125 85
1994 133 84
1993 145 85
1992 152 85
1991 162 82
1990 170 84
1989 177 86
1988 184 87
1987 192 86
1986 200 89
1985 208 87

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | 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 54 deaths in Trinidad and Tobago.

Under-five mortality rates

South Africa
Trinidad and Tobago

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
South Africa Trinidad
2023 3.47% 1.91%
2022 3.44% 1.96%
2021 3.41% 2.01%
2020 3.41% 2.06%
2019 3.45% 2.1%
2018 3.49% 2.14%
2017 3.58% 2.18%
2016 3.68% 2.22%
2015 3.82% 2.26%
2014 3.96% 2.3%
2013 4.1% 2.35%
2012 4.25% 2.38%
2011 4.5% 2.43%
2010 5% 2.47%
2009 5.7% 2.51%
2008 6.42% 2.55%
2007 7.19% 2.59%
2006 7.75% 2.64%
2005 8.03% 2.68%
2004 8.1% 2.72%
2003 7.93% 2.76%
2002 7.69% 2.81%
2001 7.43% 2.84%
2000 7.11% 2.88%
1999 6.85% 2.92%
1998 6.56% 2.96%
1997 6.29% 2.99%
1996 6.11% 3.02%
1995 5.95% 3.06%
1994 5.82% 3.09%
1993 5.7% 3.13%
1992 5.66% 3.16%
1991 5.7% 3.21%
1990 5.82% 3.25%
1989 6.01% 3.3%
1988 6.26% 3.36%
1987 6.56% 3.42%
1986 6.89% 3.49%
1985 7.24% 3.56%
1984 7.6% 3.64%
1983 7.98% 3.73%
1982 8.39% 3.83%
1981 8.84% 3.92%
1980 9.35% 4.03%
1979 9.88% 4.14%
1978 10.5% 4.25%
1977 11.1% 4.37%
1976 11.8% 4.48%
1975 12.5% 4.6%
1974 13.2% 4.72%
1973 - 4.84%
1972 - 4.95%
1971 - 5.06%
1970 - 5.17%
1969 - 5.28%
1968 - 5.4%
1967 - 5.53%
1966 - 5.66%
1965 - 5.8%
1964 - 5.96%
1963 - 6.14%
1962 - 6.33%
1961 - 6.53%
1960 - 6.74%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/south-africa/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.47% in South Africa and 1.91% in Trinidad and Tobago. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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