Fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa
South Africa: Fertility rate: births per woman was 2.22 live births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in live births per woman.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa is 2.22 live births per woman, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa peaked at 6.14 live births per woman in 1958 and was at its lowest, 2.22 live births per woman, in 2023.
That places South Africa 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.1 live births per woman | 6.03 live births per woman | 6.14 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.94 live births per woman | 5.72 live births per woman | 6.11 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.23 live births per woman | 4.82 live births per woman | 5.63 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.48 live births per woman | 3.98 live births per woman | 4.78 live births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.15 live births per woman | 2.56 live births per woman | 3.72 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.47 live births per woman | 2.32 live births per woman | 2.68 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.36 live births per woman | 2.26 live births per woman | 2.45 live births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.24 live births per woman | 2.22 live births per woman | 2.26 live births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 71,171 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.21 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.22 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.07 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa?
- Fertility rate: births per woman in South Africa was 2.22 live births per woman in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate: births per woman recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.14 live births per woman in 1958.
- What is the lowest fertility rate: births per woman recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.22 live births per woman in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for fertility rate: births per woman?
- South Africa ranks 99th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate: births per woman 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate: births per woman. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate: the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced the year's age-specific birth rates throughout her childbearing years.