Fertility & birth rates in South Africa and United States

Fertility rate in South Africa vs United States by year

Chart Table

South Africa

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Africa	United States
2023	2.22	1.62
2022	2.23	1.66
2021	2.25	1.66
2020	2.26	1.64
2019	2.26	1.71
2018	2.27	1.73
2017	2.28	1.77
2016	2.26	1.82
2015	2.36	1.84
2014	2.42	1.86
2013	2.43	1.86
2012	2.45	1.88
2011	2.44	1.89
2010	2.44	1.93
2009	2.5	2
2008	2.68	2.07
2007	2.55	2.12
2006	2.55	2.11
2005	2.51	2.06
2004	2.44	2.05
2003	2.36	2.05
2002	2.32	2.02
2001	2.37	2.03
2000	2.41	2.06
1999	2.56	2.01
1998	2.63	2
1997	2.73	1.97
1996	2.99	1.98
1995	3.17	1.98
1994	3.26	2
1993	3.37	2.02
1992	3.48	2.05
1991	3.62	2.06
1990	3.72	2.08
1989	3.98	2.01
1988	4.18	1.93
1987	4.35	1.87
1986	4.41	1.84
1985	4.5	1.84
1984	4.57	1.81
1983	4.63	1.8
1982	4.7	1.83
1981	4.71	1.81
1980	4.78	1.84
1979	4.82	1.81
1978	4.85	1.76
1977	4.94	1.79
1976	5.07	1.74
1975	5.19	1.77
1974	5.3	1.84
1973	5.41	1.88
1972	5.49	2.01
1971	5.57	2.27
1970	5.63	2.48
1969	5.72	2.46
1968	5.78	2.46
1967	5.85	2.56
1966	5.91	2.72
1965	5.89	2.91
1964	5.96	3.19
1963	6.01	3.32
1962	6.05	3.46
1961	6.08	3.62
1960	6.11	3.65

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 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Africa

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Africa	United States
2023	602,793	502,372
2022	603,636	399,926
2021	456,411	199,137
2020	595,873	208,862
2019	652,130	887,476
2018	648,319	955,022
2017	645,975	1,028,037
2016	641,365	1,197,627
2015	668,771	1,270,126
2014	674,754	1,357,281
2013	652,427	1,322,711
2012	643,723	1,411,822
2011	601,708	1,441,697
2010	566,834	1,548,182
2009	554,115	1,717,920
2008	595,332	1,794,154
2007	503,567	1,897,757
2006	487,584	1,849,955
2005	464,464	1,684,445
2004	442,540	1,698,271
2003	415,018	1,653,615
2002	430,926	1,581,938
2001	484,801	1,595,826
2000	526,963	1,664,758
1999	594,643	1,564,050
1998	627,027	1,573,857
1997	667,969	1,501,014
1996	710,868	1,510,137
1995	743,488	1,546,031
1994	698,609	1,633,302
1993	789,220	1,717,685
1992	794,415	1,875,328
1991	827,296	1,926,543
1990	835,421	2,026,068
1989	884,629	1,875,826
1988	909,221	1,735,943
1987	922,330	1,720,252
1986	903,644	1,656,917
1985	893,889	1,689,258
1984	869,011	1,627,192
1983	837,013	1,636,544
1982	807,550	1,714,317
1981	767,833	1,652,153
1980	738,415	1,608,450
1979	716,541	1,597,894
1978	694,341	1,402,283
1977	680,929	1,431,556
1976	675,011	1,264,604
1975	667,862	1,252,644
1974	658,438	1,218,968
1973	651,596	1,165,499
1972	638,754	1,301,355
1971	624,761	1,640,519
1970	605,102	1,824,965
1969	590,794	1,702,487
1968	571,841	1,565,507
1967	553,741	1,669,181
1966	534,862	1,749,387
1965	506,632	1,943,030
1964	490,606	2,245,099
1963	473,821	2,289,826
1962	455,634	2,406,337
1961	437,851	2,571,681
1960	421,263	2,565,530

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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.05% in South Africa and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in South Africa vs United States by year

Chart Table

South Africa

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Africa	United States
2023	18.8	10.7
2022	19.1	11
2021	19.4	11
2020	19.5	10.9
2019	19.7	11.4
2018	19.9	11.6
2017	20	11.8
2016	20.3	12.2
2015	21	12.4
2014	21.8	12.5
2013	21.9	12.4
2012	22.1	12.6
2011	22.1	12.7
2010	22.2	13
2009	22.8	13.5
2008	24.3	14
2007	23.1	14.3
2006	23.1	14.3
2005	22.7	14
2004	22.1	14
2003	21.4	14.1
2002	20.9	14
2001	21.3	14.1
2000	21.6	14.4
1999	22.7	14.2
1998	23.2	14.3
1997	23.9	14.2
1996	24.9	14.4
1995	25.6	14.6
1994	24.6	15
1993	26.6	15.4
1992	27	15.8
1991	28.1	16.2
1990	28.7	16.7
1989	30.6	16.4
1988	32	16
1987	33.2	15.7
1986	33.6	15.6
1985	34.2	15.8
1984	34.5	15.6
1983	34.6	15.6
1982	34.8	15.9
1981	34.6	15.8
1980	34.7	15.9
1979	34.9	15.6
1978	35.1	15
1977	35.6	15.1
1976	36.3	14.6
1975	37	14.6
1974	37.7	14.8
1973	38.4	14.8
1972	38.9	15.6
1971	39.3	17.2
1970	39.4	18.4
1969	39.7	17.9
1968	39.8	17.6
1967	39.9	17.8
1966	40	18.4
1965	39.5	19.4
1964	39.6	21.1
1963	39.7	21.7
1962	39.7	22.4
1961	39.7	23.3
1960	39.8	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 18.8 in South Africa and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 39.8 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Africa	United States
2100	17.9%	14.4%
2099	18%	14.4%
2098	18%	14.4%
2097	18.1%	14.4%
2096	18.1%	14.4%
2095	18.2%	14.5%
2094	18.2%	14.5%
2093	18.3%	14.5%
2092	18.3%	14.5%
2091	18.4%	14.6%
2090	18.4%	14.6%
2089	18.5%	14.7%
2088	18.5%	14.7%
2087	18.6%	14.7%
2086	18.6%	14.8%
2085	18.7%	14.8%
2084	18.7%	14.8%
2083	18.8%	14.9%
2082	18.9%	14.9%
2081	18.9%	14.9%
2080	19%	14.9%
2079	19%	14.9%
2078	19.1%	14.9%
2077	19.2%	14.9%
2076	19.3%	14.9%
2075	19.3%	14.9%
2074	19.4%	14.9%
2073	19.5%	14.9%
2072	19.6%	14.9%
2071	19.6%	14.9%
2070	19.7%	14.9%
2069	19.8%	14.9%
2068	19.9%	14.9%
2067	20%	14.9%
2066	20.1%	14.9%
2065	20.2%	15%
2064	20.3%	15%
2063	20.4%	15%
2062	20.5%	15.1%
2061	20.6%	15.1%
2060	20.7%	15.2%
2059	20.8%	15.3%
2058	20.9%	15.4%
2057	21%	15.5%
2056	21.1%	15.5%
2055	21.1%	15.6%
2054	21.2%	15.7%
2053	21.3%	15.8%
2052	21.4%	15.8%
2051	21.5%	15.9%
2050	21.6%	15.9%
2049	21.7%	16%
2048	21.8%	16%
2047	21.9%	16%
2046	22%	16%
2045	22.1%	16%
2044	22.3%	16%
2043	22.4%	16%
2042	22.6%	16%
2041	22.8%	15.9%
2040	23%	15.9%
2039	23.3%	15.9%
2038	23.5%	15.9%
2037	23.7%	15.9%
2036	24.1%	15.9%
2035	24.4%	15.9%
2034	24.7%	15.9%
2033	24.9%	16%
2032	25%	16.1%
2031	25.1%	16.2%
2030	25.2%	16.3%
2029	25.3%	16.5%
2028	25.4%	16.6%
2027	25.5%	16.8%
2026	25.6%	17%
2025	25.8%	17.2%
2024	25.9%	17.3%
2023	26.1%	17.6%
2022	26.3%	17.9%
2021	26.6%	18.1%
2020	27%	18.4%
2019	27.4%	18.6%
2018	27.9%	18.8%
2017	28.3%	18.9%
2016	28.3%	19.1%
2015	28.3%	19.2%
2014	28.5%	19.3%
2013	28.7%	19.4%
2012	28.9%	19.5%
2011	29.1%	19.6%
2010	29.4%	19.7%
2009	29.7%	19.8%
2008	29.9%	19.9%
2007	30.2%	20%
2006	30.6%	20.2%
2005	31.1%	20.3%
2004	31.6%	20.5%
2003	32.3%	20.7%
2002	33.2%	20.9%
2001	34%	21%
2000	34.9%	21.2%
1999	35.7%	21.3%
1998	36.5%	21.4%
1997	37.2%	21.5%
1996	37.5%	21.7%
1995	37.5%	21.8%
1994	37.2%	21.9%
1993	37.3%	21.9%
1992	37.6%	21.8%
1991	37.5%	21.7%
1990	37.7%	21.6%
1989	38.1%	21.5%
1988	38.4%	21.3%
1987	38.7%	21.3%
1986	38.9%	21.3%
1985	39.2%	21.5%
1984	39.5%	21.7%
1983	39.8%	21.8%
1982	40.1%	22%
1981	40.5%	22.1%
1980	40.9%	22.4%
1979	41.3%	22.8%
1978	41.5%	23.2%
1977	41.7%	23.8%
1976	41.8%	24.4%
1975	41.9%	25.2%
1974	42%	25.9%
1973	42.1%	26.6%
1972	42.2%	27.4%
1971	42.2%	28%
1970	42.3%	28.6%
1969	42.2%	29%
1968	42.2%	29.5%
1967	42.2%	30%
1966	42.1%	30.4%
1965	42.1%	30.7%
1964	42.1%	30.9%
1963	42.1%	31.1%
1962	42.1%	31.3%
1961	42.1%	31.4%
1960	42.1%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.9% of the population in South Africa and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 37.7% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Africa and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Africa vs United States

Chart Table

South Africa

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Africa	United States
2023	118	17
2022	129	20
2021	191	31
2020	118	22
2019	119	18
2018	128	18
2017	134	18
2016	141	18
2015	150	17
2014	162	17
2013	180	16
2012	194	16
2011	202	15
2010	226	15
2009	241	15
2008	272	14
2007	272	13
2006	283	13
2005	279	13
2004	259	13
2003	245	13
2002	225	13
2001	192	13
2000	175	12
1999	151	12
1998	152	11
1997	152	11
1996	150	11
1995	125	12
1994	133	11
1993	145	12
1992	152	11
1991	162	12
1990	170	12
1989	177	12
1988	184	12
1987	192	11
1986	200	11
1985	208	11

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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Africa

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Africa	United States
2023	3.47%	0.65%
2022	3.44%	0.65%
2021	3.41%	0.65%
2020	3.41%	0.65%
2019	3.45%	0.65%
2018	3.49%	0.65%
2017	3.58%	0.66%
2016	3.68%	0.67%
2015	3.82%	0.68%
2014	3.96%	0.68%
2013	4.1%	0.69%
2012	4.25%	0.7%
2011	4.5%	0.72%
2010	5%	0.73%
2009	5.7%	0.75%
2008	6.42%	0.76%
2007	7.19%	0.77%
2006	7.75%	0.79%
2005	8.03%	0.8%
2004	8.1%	0.81%
2003	7.93%	0.81%
2002	7.69%	0.82%
2001	7.43%	0.83%
2000	7.11%	0.84%
1999	6.85%	0.86%
1998	6.56%	0.87%
1997	6.29%	0.89%
1996	6.11%	0.92%
1995	5.95%	0.95%
1994	5.82%	0.98%
1993	5.7%	1.01%
1992	5.66%	1.05%
1991	5.7%	1.09%
1990	5.82%	1.12%
1989	6.01%	1.16%
1988	6.26%	1.19%
1987	6.56%	1.21%
1986	6.89%	1.24%
1985	7.24%	1.27%
1984	7.6%	1.3%
1983	7.98%	1.34%
1982	8.39%	1.39%
1981	8.84%	1.44%
1980	9.35%	1.5%
1979	9.88%	1.56%
1978	10.5%	1.63%
1977	11.1%	1.71%
1976	11.8%	1.79%
1975	12.5%	1.88%
1974	13.2%	1.97%
1973	-	2.06%
1972	-	2.15%
1971	-	2.24%
1970	-	2.32%
1969	-	2.41%
1968	-	2.49%
1967	-	2.57%
1966	-	2.64%
1965	-	2.71%
1964	-	2.77%
1963	-	2.83%
1962	-	2.89%
1961	-	2.95%
1960	-	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.47% in South Africa and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.