Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 and 10-14 years) in South Africa
South Africa: Adolescent birth rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 and 10-14 years) was 1.34 per 1,000 people in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.34 per 1,000 people
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
51st
of 219 countries
All-time high
3.43 per 1,000 people
in 2009
All-time low
1 per 1,000 people
in 2015
Years of data
11
2003–2022
Adolescent birth rate in South Africa, 2003–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2022, adolescent birth rate in South Africa stood at 1.34 per 1,000 people.
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 per 1,000 people in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1 per 1,000 people, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 51st of 219 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 (per 1,000 women aged 15-19 and 10-14 years) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2.5 per 1,000 people | — |
| 2004 | 2 per 1,000 people | -19.9% |
| 2006 | 1.87 per 1,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 3.43 per 1,000 people | +83.0% |
| 2012 | 1.04 per 1,000 people | -69.8% |
| 2014 | 1.04 per 1,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1 per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 1.15 per 1,000 people | +15.1% |
| 2020 | 1.09 per 1,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 1.21 per 1,000 people | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 1.34 per 1,000 people | +11.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.34 per 1,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.33 per 1,000 people, 4.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.34 per 1,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.91 per 1,000 people, 70% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.45 per 1,000 people | 1.87 per 1,000 people | 3.43 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.06 per 1,000 people | 1 per 1,000 people | 1.15 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 1.21 per 1,000 people | 1.09 per 1,000 people | 1.34 per 1,000 people | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adolescent birth rate in South Africa?
- Adolescent birth rate in South Africa was 1.34 per 1,000 people 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 per 1,000 people in 2009.
- What is the lowest adolescent birth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 per 1,000 people in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for adolescent birth rate?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 219 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).