Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa
South Africa: Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario was 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years in 2100. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2100)
0.896 births per woman in last 5 years
World rank
131st
of 200 countries
All-time high
6.18 births per woman in last 5 years
in 1960
All-time low
0.896 births per woman in last 5 years
in 2100
Years of data
30
1955–2100
Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa, 1955–2100
Source: Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman in last 5 years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa is 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years, measured in 2100. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa peaked at 6.18 births per woman in last 5 years in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years, in 2100.
South Africa ranks 131st of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa, year by year
| Year | births per woman in last 5 years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 6.13 births per woman in last 5 years | — |
| 1960 | 6.18 births per woman in last 5 years | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 6.1 births per woman in last 5 years | -1.3% |
| 1970 | 5.85 births per woman in last 5 years | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 5.48 births per woman in last 5 years | -6.2% |
| 1980 | 4.97 births per woman in last 5 years | -9.2% |
| 1985 | 4.68 births per woman in last 5 years | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 4.28 births per woman in last 5 years | -8.4% |
| 1995 | 3.49 births per woman in last 5 years | -18.5% |
| 2000 | 2.82 births per woman in last 5 years | -19.3% |
| 2005 | 2.38 births per woman in last 5 years | -15.5% |
| 2010 | 2.56 births per woman in last 5 years | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 2.44 births per woman in last 5 years | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.37 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.14 births per woman in last 5 years | -9.8% |
| 2030 | 1.92 births per woman in last 5 years | -10.4% |
| 2035 | 1.7 births per woman in last 5 years | -11.1% |
| 2040 | 1.49 births per woman in last 5 years | -12.3% |
| 2045 | 1.38 births per woman in last 5 years | -7.8% |
| 2050 | 1.26 births per woman in last 5 years | -8.4% |
| 2055 | 1.19 births per woman in last 5 years | -5.8% |
| 2060 | 1.13 births per woman in last 5 years | -5.0% |
| 2065 | 1.1 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.6% |
| 2070 | 1.07 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.9% |
| 2075 | 1.04 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.3% |
| 2080 | 1 births per woman in last 5 years | -3.6% |
| 2085 | 0.98 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.5% |
| 2090 | 0.949 births per woman in last 5 years | -3.2% |
| 2095 | 0.92 births per woman in last 5 years | -3.1% |
| 2100 | 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years | -2.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.93 births per woman in last 5 years, 96% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.87 births per woman in last 5 years, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.13 births per woman in last 5 years | 6.13 births per woman in last 5 years | 6.13 births per woman in last 5 years | 1 |
| 1960s | 6.14 births per woman in last 5 years | 6.1 births per woman in last 5 years | 6.18 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.66 births per woman in last 5 years | 5.48 births per woman in last 5 years | 5.85 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.83 births per woman in last 5 years | 4.68 births per woman in last 5 years | 4.97 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.89 births per woman in last 5 years | 3.49 births per woman in last 5 years | 4.28 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.6 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.38 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.82 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.5 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.44 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.56 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.25 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.14 births per woman in last 5 years | 2.37 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2030s | 1.81 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.7 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.92 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2040s | 1.43 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.38 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.49 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2050s | 1.22 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.19 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.26 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2060s | 1.11 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.1 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.13 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2070s | 1.05 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.04 births per woman in last 5 years | 1.07 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2080s | 0.9925 births per woman in last 5 years | 0.98 births per woman in last 5 years | 1 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2090s | 0.9345 births per woman in last 5 years | 0.92 births per woman in last 5 years | 0.949 births per woman in last 5 years | 2 |
| 2100s | 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years | 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years | 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 128 Seychelles 0.901 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 129 Argentina 0.899 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 129 Burundi 0.899 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 132 Uzbekistan 0.895 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 133 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 0.891 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 134 Lebanon 0.89 births per woman in last 5 years compare
- 134 United States Virgin Islands 0.89 births per woman in last 5 years compare
More education data for South Africa
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 181,739 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 339,638 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 410,708 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 407,696 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.50 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.52 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.119 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa?
- Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario in South Africa was 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years in 2100, according to Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest projections of the fertility rate by education scenario recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.18 births per woman in last 5 years in 1960.
- What is the lowest projections of the fertility rate by education scenario recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.896 births per woman in last 5 years in 2100.
- How does South Africa rank for projections of the fertility rate by education scenario?
- South Africa ranks 131st out of 200 countries with data for 2100.
- Is projections of the fertility rate by education scenario rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Wittgenstein Centre (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Projections of the fertility rate by education scenario. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of children born in the last 5-year period to the women of reproductive age (15-49).