Sex ratio at birth in South Africa
South Africa: Sex ratio at birth was 1.04 male births per female births in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
1.04 male births per female births
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
155th
of 218 countries
All-time high
1.04 male births per female births
in 2009
All-time low
1.04 male births per female births
in 1989
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Sex ratio at birth in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in male births per female births.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio at birth in South Africa is 1.04 male births per female births, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio at birth in South Africa peaked at 1.04 male births per female births in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.04 male births per female births, in 1989.
South Africa ranks 155th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Sex ratio at birth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | male births per female births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.04 male births per female births | — |
| 1961 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.04 male births per female births | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1.04 male births per female births | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.04 male births per female births is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.05 male births per female births, 99% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.04 male births per female births is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.03 male births per female births, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 1.04 male births per female births | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 152 Peru 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 152 Qatar 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 152 Sudan 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Bermuda 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Guinea-Bissau 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Niger 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Saint Martin (French part) 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Suriname 1.04 male births per female births compare
- 155 Trinidad and Tobago 1.04 male births per female births compare
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 sex ratio at birth in South Africa?
- Sex ratio at birth in South Africa was 1.04 male births per female births in 2024, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest sex ratio at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.04 male births per female births in 2009.
- What is the lowest sex ratio at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.04 male births per female births in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for sex ratio at birth?
- South Africa ranks 155th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sex ratio at birth rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births.