Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected in South Africa
South Africa: Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected was 2.07 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.07
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
105th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.8
in 1960
All-time low
2.03
in 2002
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to in South Africa stood at 2.07.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to in South Africa peaked at 4.8 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.03, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 105th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.29 | — |
| 1951 | 4.38 | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 4.45 | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 4.52 | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 4.59 | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 4.65 | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 4.71 | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 4.75 | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 4.79 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 4.8 | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 4.8 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 4.79 | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 4.77 | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 4.74 | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 4.69 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 4.63 | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 4.64 | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 4.58 | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 4.52 | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 4.46 | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 4.38 | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 4.32 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 4.25 | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 4.19 | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 4.1 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 4.03 | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 3.95 | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 3.87 | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 3.84 | -1.0% |
| 1979 | 3.85 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 3.86 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 3.84 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 3.87 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 3.86 | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 3.85 | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.82 | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 3.78 | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 3.76 | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 3.64 | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 3.49 | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 3.28 | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 3.19 | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 3.08 | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 2.99 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 2.89 | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 2.81 | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 2.64 | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 2.41 | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 2.31 | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 2.24 | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 2.12 | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 2.08 | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 2.03 | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 2.06 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 2.15 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 2.22 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 2.27 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 2.27 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 2.41 | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 2.27 | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 2.23 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 2.24 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.26 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 2.24 | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 2.24 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 2.19 | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 2.1 | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 2.13 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 2.12 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 2.11 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.11 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 2.09 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 2.07 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 2.07 | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.07 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.79, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.07 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.63, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.59 | 4.29 | 4.8 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.66 | 4.46 | 4.8 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.08 | 3.84 | 4.38 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.78 | 3.49 | 3.87 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.78 | 2.24 | 3.28 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.19 | 2.03 | 2.41 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 | 2.1 | 2.26 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.09 | 2.07 | 2.11 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 102 Bangladesh 2.08 compare
- 103 Seychelles 2.08 compare
- 104 Panama 2.07 compare
- 106 United States Virgin Islands 2.07 compare
- 107 Guadeloupe 2.06 compare
- 108 Indonesia 2.05 compare
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 effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to in South Africa?
- Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to in South Africa was 2.07 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8 in 1960.
- What is the lowest effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.03 in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to?
- South Africa ranks 105th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to survive until childbearing age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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