Number of births per year in South Africa
South Africa: Number of births per year was 1.19 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.19 million
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
24th
of 236 countries
All-time high
1.24 million
in 2008
All-time low
534,108
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of births per year in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of births per year in South Africa is 1.19 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of births per year in South Africa peaked at 1.24 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 534,108, in 1950.
That places South Africa 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Number of births per year in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 534,108 | — |
| 1951 | 546,874 | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 559,047 | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 570,665 | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 581,444 | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 593,446 | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 604,746 | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 617,087 | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 630,445 | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 640,756 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 654,647 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 671,921 | +2.6% |
| 1962 | 691,059 | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 712,678 | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 733,055 | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 753,872 | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 786,790 | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 811,124 | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 834,361 | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 858,270 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 877,296 | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 900,469 | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 917,234 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 932,746 | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 941,247 | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 950,848 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 958,964 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 964,558 | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 977,732 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 1.00 million | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 1.02 million | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.06 million | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 1.10 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 1.13 million | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 1.17 million | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 1.20 million | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 1.22 million | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 1.24 million | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 1.23 million | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 1.21 million | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 1.17 million | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 1.17 million | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.15 million | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 1.15 million | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 1.08 million | -6.1% |
| 1995 | 1.14 million | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 1.12 million | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 1.09 million | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 1.07 million | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 1.06 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 1.02 million | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 1.01 million | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 1.00 million | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.04 million | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.08 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 1.12 million | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 1.16 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.17 million | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 1.24 million | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 1.18 million | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 1.16 million | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 1.17 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 1.19 million | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 1.20 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 1.19 million | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.16 million | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.15 million | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.16 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.17 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.18 million | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 1.19 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.19 million | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.19 million | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.19 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 82,342, 14.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.19 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 482,828, 2.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 587,862 | 534,108 | 640,756 | 10 |
| 1960s | 750,778 | 654,647 | 858,270 | 10 |
| 1970s | 942,163 | 877,296 | 1.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.16 million | 1.02 million | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.12 million | 1.06 million | 1.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 million | 1.00 million | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 million | 1.15 million | 1.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.19 million | 1.18 million | 1.19 million | 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 number of births per year in South Africa?
- Number of births per year in South Africa was 1.19 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of births per year recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.24 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest number of births per year recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 534,108 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for number of births per year?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of births per year rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of births per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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