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
18.2%
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: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
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 18.2% 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.5% | — |
| 1951 | 8.5% | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 8.6% | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 8.7% | +1.3% |
| 1954 | 8.8% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 9.0% | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 9.1% | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 9.3% | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 9.5% | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 9.8% | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 10.0% | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 10.3% | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 10.6% | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 10.8% | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 11.0% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 11.1% | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 11.4% | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 11.6% | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 11.7% | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 11.9% | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 11.7% | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 12.2% | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 12.8% | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 12.8% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 12.8% | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 13.3% | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 13.9% | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 14.4% | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 14.2% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 14.0% | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 15.4% | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 15.4% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 15.5% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 15.5% | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 14.1% | -8.7% |
| 1986 | 14.2% | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 14.8% | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 15.1% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 15.6% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 16.3% | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 15.9% | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 15.6% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 15.7% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 15.2% | -3.6% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 16.1% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 17.0% | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 17.8% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 18.2% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 17.7% | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 16.9% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 12.3% | -20.2% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 12.5% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 13.3% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 12.5% | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 13.1% | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 13.2% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 14.1% | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 15.1% | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 14.6% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 11.2% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.0% | 8.5% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.1% | 11.7% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.0% | 14.0% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 15.2% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.7% | 11.2% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 10.7% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 10.8% | 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)
- 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)
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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births by age of mother recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.2% 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by 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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About this data
Number of live births in a calendar year.