Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate was -0.4964 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-0.4964 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
62nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.27 % change on previous year
in 2008
All-time low
-8.59 % change on previous year
in 1997
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa is -0.4964 % change on previous year, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 201.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 5.27 % change on previous year in 2008 and was at its lowest, -8.59 % change on previous year, in 1997.
That places South Africa 62nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.4095 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | -0.5592 % change on previous year | +36.6% |
| 1963 | -0.5624 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1964 | -0.9481 % change on previous year | +68.6% |
| 1965 | -1.06 % change on previous year | +11.6% |
| 1966 | 0.2546 % change on previous year | -124.1% |
| 1967 | -0.9311 % change on previous year | -465.7% |
| 1968 | -1.2 % change on previous year | +28.5% |
| 1969 | -1.09 % change on previous year | -8.9% |
| 1970 | -1.49 % change on previous year | +36.4% |
| 1971 | -1.15 % change on previous year | -22.4% |
| 1972 | -1.42 % change on previous year | +23.0% |
| 1973 | -1.4 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1974 | -2.12 % change on previous year | +51.5% |
| 1975 | -2.02 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 1976 | -2.31 % change on previous year | +14.5% |
| 1977 | -2.54 % change on previous year | +10.0% |
| 1978 | -1.8 % change on previous year | -29.2% |
| 1979 | -0.7212 % change on previous year | -60.0% |
| 1980 | -0.7887 % change on previous year | +9.4% |
| 1981 | -1.42 % change on previous year | +80.4% |
| 1982 | -0.3396 % change on previous year | -76.1% |
| 1983 | -1.49 % change on previous year | +339.0% |
| 1984 | -1.3 % change on previous year | -13.0% |
| 1985 | -1.55 % change on previous year | +19.9% |
| 1986 | -1.91 % change on previous year | +23.0% |
| 1987 | -1.29 % change on previous year | -32.4% |
| 1988 | -3.95 % change on previous year | +205.7% |
| 1989 | -4.71 % change on previous year | +19.2% |
| 1990 | -6.5 % change on previous year | +38.0% |
| 1991 | -2.85 % change on previous year | -56.2% |
| 1992 | -3.84 % change on previous year | +35.0% |
| 1993 | -3.08 % change on previous year | -19.9% |
| 1994 | -3.38 % change on previous year | +9.9% |
| 1995 | -2.64 % change on previous year | -21.9% |
| 1996 | -5.71 % change on previous year | +116.2% |
| 1997 | -8.59 % change on previous year | +50.6% |
| 1998 | -3.8 % change on previous year | -55.7% |
| 1999 | -2.7 % change on previous year | -29.0% |
| 2000 | -5.71 % change on previous year | +111.3% |
| 2001 | -1.66 % change on previous year | -70.9% |
| 2002 | -2.06 % change on previous year | +24.6% |
| 2003 | 1.46 % change on previous year | -170.9% |
| 2004 | 3.31 % change on previous year | +126.1% |
| 2005 | 3.12 % change on previous year | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -54.1% |
| 2007 | -0.1177 % change on previous year | -108.2% |
| 2008 | 5.27 % change on previous year | -4572.0% |
| 2009 | -6.64 % change on previous year | -226.2% |
| 2010 | -2.24 % change on previous year | -66.3% |
| 2011 | -0.3681 % change on previous year | -83.6% |
| 2012 | 0.4516 % change on previous year | -222.7% |
| 2013 | -0.7765 % change on previous year | -272.0% |
| 2014 | -0.1647 % change on previous year | -78.8% |
| 2015 | -2.68 % change on previous year | +1527.7% |
| 2016 | -4.15 % change on previous year | +54.9% |
| 2017 | 0.973 % change on previous year | -123.4% |
| 2018 | -0.5694 % change on previous year | -158.5% |
| 2019 | -0.2643 % change on previous year | -53.6% |
| 2020 | -0.3092 % change on previous year | +17.0% |
| 2021 | -0.3988 % change on previous year | +29.0% |
| 2022 | -0.9342 % change on previous year | +134.3% |
| 2023 | -0.4939 % change on previous year | -47.1% |
| 2024 | -0.4964 % change on previous year | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.7222 % change on previous year | -1.2 % change on previous year | 0.2546 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | -1.7 % change on previous year | -2.54 % change on previous year | -0.7212 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.88 % change on previous year | -4.71 % change on previous year | -0.3396 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.31 % change on previous year | -8.59 % change on previous year | -2.64 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.1601 % change on previous year | -6.64 % change on previous year | 5.27 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.9793 % change on previous year | -4.15 % change on previous year | 0.973 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.5265 % change on previous year | -0.9342 % change on previous year | -0.3092 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 59 Malaysia -0.4516 % change on previous year compare
- 60 Fiji -0.4822 % change on previous year compare
- 61 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) -0.4838 % change on previous year compare
- 63 United States Virgin Islands -0.505 % change on previous year compare
- 64 Jamaica -0.5155 % change on previous year compare
- 65 Albania -0.5193 % change on previous year compare
More population data for South Africa
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate in South Africa was -0.4964 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.27 % change on previous year in 2008.
- What is the lowest fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.59 % change on previous year in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 201.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Fertility and wanted fertility. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Fertility and wanted fertility. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.