What is birth rates and death rates in South Africa?

Birth rates and death rates in South Africa was 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 21.57 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.

What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 8.23 deaths per 1,000 people in 1991.

How does South Africa rank for birth rates and death rates?

South Africa ranks 68th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.

Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

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 Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Birth rates and death rates in South Africa

Name: Birth rates and death rates in South Africa
Creator: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Birth rates and death rates was 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)

9.24 deaths per 1,000 people

Change on year

down 1.7%

World rank

68th

of 236 countries

All-time high

21.57 deaths per 1,000 people

in 1950

All-time low

8.23 deaths per 1,000 people

in 1991

Years of data

1950–2023

Birth rates and death rates in South Africa, 1950–2023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.

Analysis

The most recent figure for birth rates and death rates in South Africa is 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in South Africa peaked at 21.57 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950 and was at its lowest, 8.23 deaths per 1,000 people, in 1991.

South Africa ranks 68th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.

Birth rates and death rates in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Birth rates and death rates in South Africa, 1950 to 2023.
Year	deaths per 1,000 people	Change
1950	21.57 deaths per 1,000 people	—
1951	20.68 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.1%
1952	19.82 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.2%
1953	19 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.2%
1954	18.15 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.5%
1955	17.34 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.4%
1956	16.57 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.5%
1957	15.86 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.3%
1958	15.2 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.2%
1959	14.68 deaths per 1,000 people	-3.4%
1960	14.2 deaths per 1,000 people	-3.3%
1961	13.84 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.5%
1962	13.52 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.4%
1963	13.3 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.6%
1964	13.1 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.5%
1965	12.95 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.1%
1966	12.79 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.2%
1967	12.67 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.0%
1968	12.53 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.1%
1969	12.38 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.2%
1970	12.22 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.3%
1971	12.02 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.6%
1972	11.79 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.9%
1973	11.57 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.9%
1974	11.32 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.2%
1975	11.02 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.7%
1976	10.76 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.3%
1977	10.46 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.8%
1978	10.17 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.8%
1979	9.92 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.5%
1980	9.65 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.7%
1981	9.44 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.1%
1982	9.25 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.0%
1983	9.06 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.0%
1984	8.89 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.0%
1985	8.74 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.7%
1986	8.62 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.3%
1987	8.49 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.5%
1988	8.35 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.6%
1989	8.25 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.1%
1990	8.23 deaths per 1,000 people	-0.3%
1991	8.23 deaths per 1,000 people	-0.0%
1992	8.3 deaths per 1,000 people	+0.9%
1993	8.38 deaths per 1,000 people	+1.0%
1994	8.7 deaths per 1,000 people	+3.8%
1995	8.92 deaths per 1,000 people	+2.5%
1996	9.1 deaths per 1,000 people	+2.1%
1997	9.28 deaths per 1,000 people	+2.0%
1998	9.59 deaths per 1,000 people	+3.3%
1999	9.97 deaths per 1,000 people	+4.1%
2000	10.39 deaths per 1,000 people	+4.2%
2001	11.07 deaths per 1,000 people	+6.6%
2002	11.95 deaths per 1,000 people	+7.9%
2003	12.83 deaths per 1,000 people	+7.3%
2004	13.1 deaths per 1,000 people	+2.1%
2005	13.33 deaths per 1,000 people	+1.8%
2006	13.39 deaths per 1,000 people	+0.4%
2007	13.12 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.0%
2008	12.68 deaths per 1,000 people	-3.3%
2009	12.07 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.9%
2010	11.35 deaths per 1,000 people	-6.0%
2011	10.72 deaths per 1,000 people	-5.5%
2012	10.15 deaths per 1,000 people	-5.3%
2013	9.96 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.8%
2014	9.65 deaths per 1,000 people	-3.2%
2015	9.22 deaths per 1,000 people	-4.5%
2016	9.07 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.6%
2017	8.83 deaths per 1,000 people	-2.6%
2018	8.79 deaths per 1,000 people	-0.5%
2019	8.75 deaths per 1,000 people	-0.4%
2020	9.68 deaths per 1,000 people	+10.7%
2021	11.93 deaths per 1,000 people	+23.2%
2022	9.4 deaths per 1,000 people	-21.2%
2023	9.24 deaths per 1,000 people	-1.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7.02 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
South Africa's 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 people, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	17.89 deaths per 1,000 people	14.68 deaths per 1,000 people	21.57 deaths per 1,000 people	10
1960s	13.13 deaths per 1,000 people	12.38 deaths per 1,000 people	14.2 deaths per 1,000 people	10
1970s	11.12 deaths per 1,000 people	9.92 deaths per 1,000 people	12.22 deaths per 1,000 people	10
1980s	8.87 deaths per 1,000 people	8.25 deaths per 1,000 people	9.65 deaths per 1,000 people	10
1990s	8.87 deaths per 1,000 people	8.23 deaths per 1,000 people	9.97 deaths per 1,000 people	10
2000s	12.4 deaths per 1,000 people	10.39 deaths per 1,000 people	13.39 deaths per 1,000 people	10
2010s	9.65 deaths per 1,000 people	8.75 deaths per 1,000 people	11.35 deaths per 1,000 people	10
2020s	10.06 deaths per 1,000 people	9.24 deaths per 1,000 people	11.93 deaths per 1,000 people	4

Countries ranked near South Africa

65 France 9.27 deaths per 1,000 people compare
66 Cook Islands 9.27 deaths per 1,000 people compare
67 Fiji 9.26 deaths per 1,000 people compare
69 Netherlands 9.19 deaths per 1,000 people compare
70 Myanmar 9.15 deaths per 1,000 people compare
71 Tuvalu 9.14 deaths per 1,000 people compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

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)
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)
Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is birth rates and death rates in South Africa?: Birth rates and death rates in South Africa was 9.24 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 21.57 deaths per 1,000 people in 1950.
What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 8.23 deaths per 1,000 people in 1991.
How does South Africa rank for birth rates and death rates?: South Africa ranks 68th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Birth rates and death rates in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/birth-rates-and-death-rates/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Birth rates and death rates
Unit: deaths per 1,000 people
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed: 27 October 2026

Number of deaths in a year per 1,000 people in the population.