Fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa
South Africa: Fertility vs unmet contraception was 2.21 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa is 2.21, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa peaked at 6.11 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 2.21, in 2024.
That places South Africa 94th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.23 | 2.21 | 2.26 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population growth rate 0.23 (2100)
- Population density 77.75 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.23 (2100)
- Fertility vs contraception 2.21 (2024)
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 71,171 (2024)
- Fertility and wanted fertility 2.21 (2024)
- Fertility rate vs share that are religious 2.22 (2023)
- Effective fertility rate children per woman who are expected to surviv 2.07 (2023)
- Fertility rate by age group 51.56 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa?
- Fertility vs unmet contraception in South Africa was 2.21 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility vs unmet contraception recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.11 in 1960.
- What is the lowest fertility vs unmet contraception recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.21 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for fertility vs unmet contraception?
- South Africa ranks 94th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility vs unmet contraception rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. 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 vs unmet contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).