Fertility & birth rates in South Africa and Zambia

Fertility rate in South Africa vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Zambia

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	South Africa	Zambia
2023	2.22	4.1
2022	2.23	4.18
2021	2.25	4.25
2020	2.26	4.32
2019	2.26	4.42
2018	2.27	4.49
2017	2.28	4.57
2016	2.26	4.67
2015	2.36	4.78
2014	2.42	4.89
2013	2.43	5.01
2012	2.45	5.14
2011	2.44	5.26
2010	2.44	5.36
2009	2.5	5.45
2008	2.68	5.53
2007	2.55	5.61
2006	2.55	5.68
2005	2.51	5.7
2004	2.44	5.7
2003	2.36	5.71
2002	2.32	5.77
2001	2.37	5.85
2000	2.41	5.92
1999	2.56	6
1998	2.63	6.07
1997	2.73	6.12
1996	2.99	6.18
1995	3.17	6.23
1994	3.26	6.26
1993	3.37	6.3
1992	3.48	6.35
1991	3.62	6.46
1990	3.72	6.57
1989	3.98	6.64
1988	4.18	6.7
1987	4.35	6.8
1986	4.41	6.87
1985	4.5	6.93
1984	4.57	6.97
1983	4.63	7.01
1982	4.7	7.04
1981	4.71	7.07
1980	4.78	7.14
1979	4.82	7.22
1978	4.85	7.29
1977	4.94	7.35
1976	5.07	7.39
1975	5.19	7.42
1974	5.3	7.36
1973	5.41	7.34
1972	5.49	7.3
1971	5.57	7.26
1970	5.63	7.22
1969	5.72	7.18
1968	5.78	7.18
1967	5.85	7.15
1966	5.91	7.14
1965	5.89	7.12
1964	5.96	7.09
1963	6.01	7.06
1962	6.05	7.01
1961	6.08	6.98
1960	6.11	6.95

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 4.1 in Zambia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Zambia

1x

Year	Natural population change
	South Africa	Zambia
2023	602,793	577,660
2022	603,636	563,456
2021	456,411	535,629
2020	595,873	536,484
2019	652,130	528,089
2018	648,319	515,644
2017	645,975	504,630
2016	641,365	497,521
2015	668,771	491,021
2014	674,754	483,663
2013	652,427	476,846
2012	643,723	469,406
2011	601,708	459,743
2010	566,834	448,337
2009	554,115	434,458
2008	595,332	419,560
2007	503,567	403,729
2006	487,584	387,891
2005	464,464	368,756
2004	442,540	349,352
2003	415,018	331,189
2002	430,926	316,041
2001	484,801	302,682
2000	526,963	293,186
1999	594,643	283,297
1998	627,027	275,568
1997	667,969	268,198
1996	710,868	262,468
1995	743,488	257,897
1994	698,609	252,023
1993	789,220	245,917
1992	794,415	239,953
1991	827,296	237,957
1990	835,421	235,835
1989	884,629	233,429
1988	909,221	230,118
1987	922,330	227,813
1986	903,644	224,768
1985	893,889	221,351
1984	869,011	216,695
1983	837,013	212,712
1982	807,550	207,621
1981	767,833	202,822
1980	738,415	198,817
1979	716,541	197,578
1978	694,341	194,933
1977	680,929	191,557
1976	675,011	186,762
1975	667,862	182,258
1974	658,438	174,484
1973	651,596	168,258
1972	638,754	161,648
1971	624,761	155,249
1970	605,102	149,380
1969	590,794	142,660
1968	571,841	137,315
1967	553,741	131,938
1966	534,862	127,164
1965	506,632	122,814
1964	490,606	117,197
1963	473,821	114,555
1962	455,634	110,173
1961	437,851	106,318
1960	421,263	102,335

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 +2.79% in Zambia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.05% in South Africa and +2.87% in Zambia.

Birth rate in South Africa vs Zambia by year

Chart Table

South Africa

Zambia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	South Africa	Zambia
2023	18.8	33.1
2022	19.1	33.5
2021	19.4	33.9
2020	19.5	34.4
2019	19.7	35
2018	19.9	35.5
2017	20	35.9
2016	20.3	36.6
2015	21	37.3
2014	21.8	38.1
2013	21.9	39
2012	22.1	39.9
2011	22.1	40.7
2010	22.2	41.4
2009	22.8	42
2008	24.3	42.6
2007	23.1	43.2
2006	23.1	43.7
2005	22.7	43.8
2004	22.1	43.9
2003	21.4	43.9
2002	20.9	44.3
2001	21.3	44.8
2000	21.6	45.5
1999	22.7	45.9
1998	23.2	46.2
1997	23.9	46.3
1996	24.9	46.6
1995	25.6	46.8
1994	24.6	46.7
1993	26.6	46.6
1992	27	46.6
1991	28.1	46.9
1990	28.7	47
1989	30.6	47.1
1988	32	47.1
1987	33.2	47.3
1986	33.6	47.4
1985	34.2	47.4
1984	34.5	47.3
1983	34.6	47.3
1982	34.8	47.3
1981	34.6	47.3
1980	34.7	47.5
1979	34.9	48.2
1978	35.1	48.7
1977	35.6	49.2
1976	36.3	49.5
1975	37	50
1974	37.7	49.7
1973	38.4	49.7
1972	38.9	49.6
1971	39.3	49.4
1970	39.4	49.3
1969	39.7	48.9
1968	39.8	48.9
1967	39.9	48.8
1966	40	48.8
1965	39.5	48.8
1964	39.6	48.9
1963	39.7	48.9
1962	39.7	48.9
1961	39.7	48.9
1960	39.8	48.9

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 18.8 in South Africa and 33.1 in Zambia, compared with 39.8 and 48.9, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

South Africa

Factual

UN forecast

Zambia

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	South Africa	Zambia
2100	17.9%	21.6%
2099	18%	21.7%
2098	18%	21.9%
2097	18.1%	22%
2096	18.1%	22.2%
2095	18.2%	22.3%
2094	18.2%	22.5%
2093	18.3%	22.7%
2092	18.3%	22.8%
2091	18.4%	23%
2090	18.4%	23.1%
2089	18.5%	23.3%
2088	18.5%	23.5%
2087	18.6%	23.6%
2086	18.6%	23.8%
2085	18.7%	24%
2084	18.7%	24.2%
2083	18.8%	24.3%
2082	18.9%	24.5%
2081	18.9%	24.7%
2080	19%	24.9%
2079	19%	25.1%
2078	19.1%	25.3%
2077	19.2%	25.5%
2076	19.3%	25.7%
2075	19.3%	25.9%
2074	19.4%	26.1%
2073	19.5%	26.4%
2072	19.6%	26.6%
2071	19.6%	26.8%
2070	19.7%	27%
2069	19.8%	27.2%
2068	19.9%	27.5%
2067	20%	27.7%
2066	20.1%	27.9%
2065	20.2%	28.1%
2064	20.3%	28.4%
2063	20.4%	28.6%
2062	20.5%	28.9%
2061	20.6%	29.1%
2060	20.7%	29.3%
2059	20.8%	29.6%
2058	20.9%	29.8%
2057	21%	30.1%
2056	21.1%	30.4%
2055	21.1%	30.6%
2054	21.2%	30.9%
2053	21.3%	31.2%
2052	21.4%	31.5%
2051	21.5%	31.8%
2050	21.6%	32.2%
2049	21.7%	32.5%
2048	21.8%	32.8%
2047	21.9%	33.2%
2046	22%	33.5%
2045	22.1%	33.9%
2044	22.3%	34.2%
2043	22.4%	34.6%
2042	22.6%	34.9%
2041	22.8%	35.3%
2040	23%	35.6%
2039	23.3%	36%
2038	23.5%	36.3%
2037	23.7%	36.6%
2036	24.1%	37%
2035	24.4%	37.3%
2034	24.7%	37.6%
2033	24.9%	38%
2032	25%	38.3%
2031	25.1%	38.7%
2030	25.2%	39%
2029	25.3%	39.4%
2028	25.4%	39.8%
2027	25.5%	40.3%
2026	25.6%	40.7%
2025	25.8%	41.2%
2024	25.9%	41.5%
2023	26.1%	42%
2022	26.3%	42.4%
2021	26.6%	42.9%
2020	27%	43.3%
2019	27.4%	43.8%
2018	27.9%	44.1%
2017	28.3%	44.5%
2016	28.3%	44.9%
2015	28.3%	45.2%
2014	28.5%	45.5%
2013	28.7%	45.7%
2012	28.9%	45.9%
2011	29.1%	46.1%
2010	29.4%	46.3%
2009	29.7%	46.4%
2008	29.9%	46.6%
2007	30.2%	46.8%
2006	30.6%	47%
2005	31.1%	47.1%
2004	31.6%	47.3%
2003	32.3%	47.4%
2002	33.2%	47.6%
2001	34%	47.8%
2000	34.9%	48%
1999	35.7%	48.1%
1998	36.5%	48.2%
1997	37.2%	48.2%
1996	37.5%	48.2%
1995	37.5%	48.2%
1994	37.2%	48.2%
1993	37.3%	48.2%
1992	37.6%	48.2%
1991	37.5%	48.3%
1990	37.7%	48.4%
1989	38.1%	48.5%
1988	38.4%	48.6%
1987	38.7%	48.7%
1986	38.9%	48.8%
1985	39.2%	48.9%
1984	39.5%	49%
1983	39.8%	49.1%
1982	40.1%	49.3%
1981	40.5%	49.4%
1980	40.9%	49.5%
1979	41.3%	49.5%
1978	41.5%	49.4%
1977	41.7%	49.2%
1976	41.8%	49.1%
1975	41.9%	48.8%
1974	42%	48.6%
1973	42.1%	48.3%
1972	42.2%	48%
1971	42.2%	47.7%
1970	42.3%	47.4%
1969	42.2%	47.2%
1968	42.2%	47.1%
1967	42.2%	47%
1966	42.1%	46.9%
1965	42.1%	46.9%
1964	42.1%	46.7%
1963	42.1%	46.5%
1962	42.1%	46.3%
1961	42.1%	46.2%
1960	42.1%	46%

Children aged 0-14 make up 25.9% of the population in South Africa and 41.5% in Zambia in 2024, compared to 37.7% and 48.4% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of South Africa and Zambia compared.

Maternal mortality chart: South Africa vs Zambia

Chart Table

South Africa

Zambia

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	South Africa	Zambia
2023	118	85
2022	129	89
2021	191	140
2020	118	99
2019	119	103
2018	128	117
2017	134	141
2016	141	158
2015	150	154
2014	162	174
2013	180	213
2012	194	256
2011	202	291
2010	226	332
2009	241	406
2008	272	394
2007	272	324
2006	283	262
2005	279	264
2004	259	260
2003	245	250
2002	225	274
2001	192	306
2000	175	340
1999	151	378
1998	152	392
1997	152	403
1996	150	433
1995	125	466
1994	133	507
1993	145	532
1992	152	581
1991	162	611
1990	170	625
1989	177	635
1988	184	635
1987	192	630
1986	200	619
1985	208	596

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 85 deaths in Zambia.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

South Africa

Zambia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	South Africa	Zambia
2023	3.47%	4.47%
2022	3.44%	4.67%
2021	3.41%	4.92%
2020	3.41%	5.24%
2019	3.45%	5.41%
2018	3.49%	5.52%
2017	3.58%	5.61%
2016	3.68%	5.9%
2015	3.82%	6.15%
2014	3.96%	6.38%
2013	4.1%	6.72%
2012	4.25%	7.04%
2011	4.5%	7.31%
2010	5%	7.57%
2009	5.7%	8%
2008	6.42%	8.62%
2007	7.19%	9.14%
2006	7.75%	9.71%
2005	8.03%	10.5%
2004	8.1%	11.4%
2003	7.93%	12.4%
2002	7.69%	13.4%
2001	7.43%	14.4%
2000	7.11%	15.3%
1999	6.85%	15.9%
1998	6.56%	16.3%
1997	6.29%	16.7%
1996	6.11%	17%
1995	5.95%	17.3%
1994	5.82%	17.7%
1993	5.7%	17.9%
1992	5.66%	18.1%
1991	5.7%	18.1%
1990	5.82%	18.1%
1989	6.01%	17.9%
1988	6.26%	17.7%
1987	6.56%	17.3%
1986	6.89%	17%
1985	7.24%	16.6%
1984	7.6%	16.2%
1983	7.98%	15.9%
1982	8.39%	15.7%
1981	8.84%	15.6%
1980	9.35%	15.5%
1979	9.88%	15.4%
1978	10.5%	15.3%
1977	11.1%	15.3%
1976	11.8%	15.4%
1975	12.5%	15.5%
1974	13.2%	15.9%
1973	-	16.3%
1972	-	16.9%
1971	-	17.4%
1970	-	17.9%
1969	-	18.3%
1968	-	18.5%
1967	-	18.7%
1966	-	18.9%
1965	-	19%
1964	-	19.2%
1963	-	19.5%
1962	-	19.8%
1961	-	20.1%
1960	-	20.5%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.47% in South Africa and 4.47% in Zambia. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.