South Africa: Fertility rate, total (births per woman)
In , South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) was 2.21.
That's down 0.5% from 2023, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2024 was 2.35 . South Africa ranks #94 globally out of 217 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #45 of 48.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.DYN.TFRT.IN) • Data as of 2024
Trend (2005–2024)
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 2.68
- Trough
- 2.21
- 1-year change
- -0.5%
- 5-year change
- -2.6%
- -0.5% / yr
- 10-year change
- -9.0%
- -0.9% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Fertility rate, total (births per woman) |
|---|---|
| 2.2050 | |
| 2.2160 | |
| 2.2270 | |
| 2.2480 | |
| 2.2570 | |
| 2.2640 | |
| 2.2700 | |
| 2.2830 | |
| 2.2610 | |
| 2.3590 |
About Fertility rate, total (births per woman)
Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.
Indicator code: SP.DYN.TFRT.IN • Category: Health & Population
Frequently asked questions
- What was South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in 2024?
- In 2024, South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) was 2.21, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) rising or falling?
- South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) fell 0.5% from 2023 to 2024.
- How does South Africa rank globally on Fertility rate, total (births per woman)?
- In 2024, South Africa ranked #94 out of 217 countries reporting Fertility rate, total (births per woman).
- How does South Africa's Fertility rate, total (births per woman) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in 2024 was 2.35, so South Africa is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #45 of 48.
- What is Fertility rate, total (births per woman) and how is it measured?
- Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SP.DYN.TFRT.IN), CC BY 4.0.