Fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa
South Africa: Fertility rate vs share that are religious was 2.22 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.22
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
99th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.14
in 1958
All-time low
2.22
in 2023
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa is 2.22, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa peaked at 6.14 in 1958 and was at its lowest, 2.22, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 99th 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.
Fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.03 | — |
| 1951 | 6.06 | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 6.08 | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 6.09 | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 6.11 | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 6.13 | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 6.13 | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 6.14 | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 6.14 | +0.1% |
| 1959 | 6.13 | -0.3% |
| 1960 | 6.11 | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 6.08 | -0.4% |
| 1962 | 6.05 | -0.6% |
| 1963 | 6.01 | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 5.96 | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 5.89 | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 5.91 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 5.85 | -0.9% |
| 1968 | 5.78 | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 5.72 | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 5.63 | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 5.57 | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 5.49 | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 5.41 | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 5.3 | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 5.19 | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 5.07 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 4.94 | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 4.85 | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 4.82 | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 4.78 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 4.71 | -1.4% |
| 1982 | 4.7 | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 4.63 | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 4.57 | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 4.5 | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 4.41 | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 4.35 | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 4.18 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 3.98 | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 3.72 | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 3.62 | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 3.48 | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 3.37 | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 3.26 | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 3.17 | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 2.99 | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 2.73 | -8.6% |
| 1998 | 2.63 | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 2.56 | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 2.41 | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 2.37 | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 2.32 | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 2.36 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 2.44 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 2.51 | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 2.55 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 2.54 | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.68 | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 2.5 | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 2.44 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 2.44 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.45 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 2.43 | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 2.42 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.36 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 2.26 | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 2.28 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 2.27 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 2.26 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.26 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 2.25 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.23 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 2.22 | -0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.22 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.82, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.22 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.1 | 6.03 | 6.14 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.94 | 5.72 | 6.11 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.23 | 4.82 | 5.63 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.48 | 3.98 | 4.78 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.15 | 2.56 | 3.72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.47 | 2.32 | 2.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.36 | 2.26 | 2.45 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.24 | 2.22 | 2.26 | 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 fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa?
- Fertility rate vs share that are religious in South Africa was 2.22 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs share that are religious recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.14 in 1958.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs share that are religious recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.22 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for fertility rate vs share that are religious?
- South Africa ranks 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate vs share that are religious rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. 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 Fertility rate vs share that are religious. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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