Births by age of mother in South Africa
South Africa: Births by age of mother was 86 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Births by age of mother in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for births by age of mother in South Africa is 86, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, births by age of mother in South Africa peaked at 564 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 19, in 2016.
That places South Africa 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Births by age of mother in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 360 | — |
| 1951 | 371 | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 381 | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 390 | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 402 | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 413 | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 424 | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 434 | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 446 | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 467 | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 476 | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 491 | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 499 | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 515 | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 528 | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 537 | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 540 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 544 | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 551 | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 550 | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 564 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 556 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 545 | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 550 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 550 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 547 | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 543 | -0.7% |
| 1977 | 524 | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 508 | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 498 | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 489 | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 461 | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 442 | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 436 | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 422 | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 437 | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 405 | -7.3% |
| 1987 | 362 | -10.6% |
| 1988 | 355 | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 338 | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 324 | -4.1% |
| 1991 | 307 | -5.2% |
| 1992 | 299 | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 271 | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 259 | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 221 | -14.7% |
| 1996 | 202 | -8.6% |
| 1997 | 196 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 175 | -10.7% |
| 1999 | 153 | -12.6% |
| 2000 | 150 | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 146 | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 141 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 125 | -11.3% |
| 2004 | 119 | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 158 | +32.8% |
| 2006 | 161 | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 154 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 85 | -44.8% |
| 2009 | 80 | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 79 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 63 | -20.3% |
| 2012 | 51 | -19.0% |
| 2013 | 43 | -15.7% |
| 2014 | 27 | -37.2% |
| 2015 | 20 | -25.9% |
| 2016 | 19 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 26 | +36.8% |
| 2018 | 32 | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 35 | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 44 | +25.7% |
| 2021 | 68 | +54.5% |
| 2022 | 82 | +20.6% |
| 2023 | 86 | +4.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 86 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1, 86.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 86 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 130.5, 66% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Births by age of mother in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +54.5% | 44 | 68 |
| 2008 | -44.8% | 154 | 85 |
| 2017 | +36.8% | 19 | 26 |
| 2014 | -37.2% | 43 | 27 |
| 2005 | +32.8% | 119 | 158 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 408.8 | 360 | 467 | 10 |
| 1960s | 523.1 | 476 | 551 | 10 |
| 1970s | 538.5 | 498 | 564 | 10 |
| 1980s | 414.7 | 338 | 489 | 10 |
| 1990s | 240.7 | 153 | 324 | 10 |
| 2000s | 131.9 | 80 | 161 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.5 | 19 | 79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 70 | 44 | 86 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is births by age of mother in South Africa?
- Births by age of mother in South Africa was 86 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest births by age of mother recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 564 in 1970.
- What is the lowest births by age of mother recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19 in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for births by age of mother?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is births by age of mother rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Births by age of mother. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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