Adolescent birth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Adolescent birth rate was 1.34 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.34
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
51st
of 218 countries
All-time high
3.43
in 2009
All-time low
1
in 2015
Years of data
11
2003–2022
Adolescent birth rate in South Africa, 2003–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2022, adolescent birth rate in South Africa stood at 1.34.
The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adolescent birth rate in South Africa peaked at 3.43 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 51st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Adolescent birth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2.5 | — |
| 2004 | 2 | -19.9% |
| 2006 | 1.87 | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.43 | +83.0% |
| 2012 | 1.04 | -69.8% |
| 2014 | 1.04 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 1.15 | +15.1% |
| 2020 | 1.09 | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 1.21 | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 1.34 | +11.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.34 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.33, 4.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.34 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.91, 70% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.45 | 1.87 | 3.43 | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.06 | 1 | 1.15 | 4 |
| 2020s | 1.21 | 1.09 | 1.34 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adolescent birth rate in South Africa?
- Adolescent birth rate in South Africa was 1.34 in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest adolescent birth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.43 in 2009.
- What is the lowest adolescent birth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for adolescent birth rate?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 218 countries with data for 2022.
- Is adolescent birth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 and 10-14 years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).