Share of births by age of mother in South Africa
South Africa: Share of births by age of mother was 11.5 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
11.5
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
69th
of 236 countries
All-time high
18.25
in 2000
All-time low
8.5
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Share of births by age of mother in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of births by age of mother in South Africa is 11.5, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births by age of mother in South Africa peaked at 18.25 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.5, in 1951.
That places South Africa 69th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Share of births by age of mother in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.51 | — |
| 1951 | 8.5 | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 8.59 | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 8.7 | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 8.85 | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 9.01 | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 9.15 | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 9.32 | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 9.54 | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 9.79 | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 10.04 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 10.32 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 10.59 | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 10.81 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 10.98 | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 11.1 | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 11.36 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 11.56 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 11.7 | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 11.9 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 11.72 | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 12.24 | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 12.77 | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 12.79 | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 12.81 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.82 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 13.33 | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 13.86 | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 14.42 | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 14.22 | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 14.04 | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 15.4 | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 15.45 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 15.49 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 15.49 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 14.14 | -8.7% |
| 1986 | 14.25 | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 14.77 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 15.07 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 15.6 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 16.32 | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 15.92 | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 15.61 | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 15.72 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 15.16 | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 15.77 | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 16.13 | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 17.04 | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 17.35 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 17.77 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 18.25 | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 17.68 | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 17.38 | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 16.92 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 15.47 | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 12.35 | -20.2% |
| 2006 | 12.09 | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 11.24 | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 12.47 | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 13.32 | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 12.49 | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 13.09 | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 13.22 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 14.11 | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 15.08 | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 14.58 | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 13.32 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 11.71 | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 10.71 | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 11.09 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 10.81 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 11.13 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 11.21 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 11.5 | +2.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.5 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.73, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.5 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.24, 75% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9 | 8.5 | 9.79 | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.04 | 10.04 | 11.9 | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.1 | 11.72 | 14.42 | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.97 | 14.04 | 15.6 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.28 | 15.16 | 17.77 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.72 | 11.24 | 18.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.94 | 10.71 | 15.08 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.16 | 10.81 | 11.5 | 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 share of births by age of mother in South Africa?
- Share of births by age of mother in South Africa was 11.5 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births by age of mother recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.25 in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of births by age of mother recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5 in 1951.
- How does South Africa rank for share of births by age of mother?
- South Africa ranks 69th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of births by age of mother rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. 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 Share of births by age of mother. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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