Benin vs South Africa
Benin vs South Africa: Fertility rate
Fertility rate in 2023: 4.56 births per woman in Benin and 2.22 births per woman in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Benin, by 2.34 births per woman, or 2.06 times that in South Africa.
births per woman · UN
What the numbers say
- Benin has been higher since 1958, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2023, Benin ranked 14 and South Africa ranked 96 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Benin at 2.14 births per woman and South Africa at 1.74 births per woman in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 2.25 births per woman in 2023.
Every year
births per woman · UN
| Year | Benin | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.56 | 2.22 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 4.63 | 2.23 | 2.27 |
| 2021 | 4.71 | 2.25 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 4.8 | 2.26 | 2.32 |
| 2019 | 4.9 | 2.26 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 5.03 | 2.27 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 5.16 | 2.28 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 5.25 | 2.26 | 2.54 |
| 2015 | 5.32 | 2.36 | 2.54 |
| 2014 | 5.37 | 2.42 | 2.56 |
| 2013 | 5.41 | 2.43 | 2.57 |
| 2012 | 5.43 | 2.45 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 5.44 | 2.44 | 2.59 |
| 2010 | 5.45 | 2.45 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 5.49 | 2.5 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 5.55 | 2.68 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 5.63 | 2.55 | 2.62 |
| 2006 | 5.67 | 2.55 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 5.69 | 2.51 | 2.63 |
| 2004 | 5.72 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| 2003 | 5.76 | 2.36 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 5.79 | 2.32 | 2.68 |
| 2001 | 5.85 | 2.37 | 2.71 |
| 2000 | 5.94 | 2.41 | 2.75 |
| 1999 | 6.03 | 2.56 | 2.75 |
| 1998 | 6.14 | 2.63 | 2.78 |
| 1997 | 6.23 | 2.73 | 2.81 |
| 1996 | 6.28 | 2.99 | 2.85 |
| 1995 | 6.33 | 3.17 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 6.42 | 3.26 | 2.93 |
| 1993 | 6.51 | 3.37 | 2.98 |
| 1992 | 6.59 | 3.48 | 3.04 |
| 1991 | 6.67 | 3.62 | 3.13 |
| 1990 | 6.74 | 3.72 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 6.82 | 3.98 | 3.35 |
| 1988 | 6.87 | 4.18 | 3.39 |
| 1987 | 6.92 | 4.35 | 3.48 |
| 1986 | 6.96 | 4.41 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 7 | 4.5 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 7.03 | 4.57 | 3.55 |
| 1983 | 7.05 | 4.63 | 3.58 |
| 1982 | 7.06 | 4.7 | 3.71 |
| 1981 | 7.06 | 4.71 | 3.71 |
| 1980 | 6.99 | 4.78 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 6.91 | 4.82 | 3.77 |
| 1978 | 6.82 | 4.85 | 3.79 |
| 1977 | 6.83 | 4.94 | 3.85 |
| 1976 | 6.83 | 5.07 | 3.97 |
| 1975 | 6.83 | 5.19 | 4.08 |
| 1974 | 6.82 | 5.3 | 4.26 |
| 1973 | 6.81 | 5.41 | 4.42 |
| 1972 | 6.8 | 5.49 | 4.55 |
| 1971 | 6.77 | 5.57 | 4.68 |
| 1970 | 6.74 | 5.63 | 4.83 |
| 1969 | 6.71 | 5.72 | 4.87 |
| 1968 | 6.67 | 5.78 | 4.96 |
| 1967 | 6.64 | 5.85 | 4.85 |
| 1966 | 6.63 | 5.91 | 4.96 |
| 1965 | 6.61 | 5.89 | 5.07 |
| 1964 | 6.57 | 5.96 | 5.12 |
| 1963 | 6.51 | 6.01 | 5.31 |
| 1962 | 6.46 | 6.05 | 5.02 |
| 1961 | 6.4 | 6.08 | 4.57 |
| 1960 | 6.28 | 6.11 | 4.7 |
| 1959 | 6.23 | 6.13 | 4.74 |
| 1958 | 6.17 | 6.14 | 4.93 |
| 1957 | 6.11 | 6.14 | 5.07 |
| 1956 | 6.05 | 6.13 | 4.93 |
| 1955 | 5.99 | 6.13 | 5 |
| 1954 | 5.94 | 6.11 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5.88 | 6.09 | 4.92 |
| 1952 | 5.83 | 6.08 | 5 |
| 1951 | 5.78 | 6.06 | 4.82 |
| 1950 | 5.75 | 6.03 | 4.85 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Benin | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4.483.72–5.17 | 2.211.75–2.69 | 2.25 |
| 2025 | 4.423.53–5.18 | 2.191.68–2.71 | 2.24 |
| 2026 | 4.343.38–5.16 | 2.171.64–2.72 | 2.23 |
| 2027 | 4.273.24–5.15 | 2.151.6–2.73 | 2.22 |
| 2028 | 4.193.11–5.1 | 2.131.58–2.75 | 2.21 |
| 2029 | 4.132.93–5.08 | 2.121.54–2.76 | 2.2 |
| 2030 | 4.052.78–5.06 | 2.11.51–2.78 | 2.2 |
| 2031 | 3.982.71–5.02 | 2.091.48–2.79 | 2.19 |
| 2032 | 3.92.57–5.02 | 2.071.47–2.76 | 2.18 |
| 2033 | 3.852.47–5.01 | 2.061.45–2.74 | 2.17 |
| 2034 | 3.792.36–5.02 | 2.051.43–2.76 | 2.16 |
| 2035 | 3.742.28–4.99 | 2.041.41–2.77 | 2.15 |
| 2036 | 3.682.21–4.96 | 2.031.41–2.77 | 2.15 |
| 2037 | 3.632.12–4.94 | 2.021.35–2.76 | 2.14 |
| 2038 | 3.572.07–4.93 | 21.34–2.75 | 2.13 |
| 2039 | 3.522.04–4.9 | 1.991.31–2.76 | 2.13 |
| 2040 | 3.482–4.87 | 1.981.3–2.79 | 2.13 |
| 2041 | 3.431.97–4.85 | 1.981.31–2.78 | 2.12 |
| 2042 | 3.391.94–4.81 | 1.971.29–2.79 | 2.12 |
| 2043 | 3.351.9–4.78 | 1.961.29–2.77 | 2.12 |
| 2044 | 3.311.86–4.76 | 1.951.29–2.77 | 2.12 |
| 2045 | 3.261.85–4.75 | 1.941.28–2.73 | 2.12 |
| 2046 | 3.231.82–4.71 | 1.931.27–2.72 | 2.11 |
| 2047 | 3.181.79–4.65 | 1.921.27–2.76 | 2.11 |
| 2048 | 3.141.72–4.62 | 1.911.26–2.74 | 2.11 |
| 2049 | 3.11.68–4.59 | 1.91.26–2.74 | 2.1 |
| 2050 | 3.061.67–4.59 | 1.891.23–2.72 | 2.1 |
| 2051 | 3.031.63–4.59 | 1.891.22–2.71 | 2.09 |
| 2052 | 2.991.6–4.56 | 1.881.22–2.7 | 2.09 |
| 2053 | 2.971.59–4.51 | 1.881.22–2.68 | 2.08 |
| 2054 | 2.931.53–4.49 | 1.871.21–2.69 | 2.07 |
| 2055 | 2.91.5–4.48 | 1.871.2–2.66 | 2.07 |
| 2056 | 2.871.48–4.5 | 1.861.2–2.62 | 2.06 |
| 2057 | 2.841.48–4.47 | 1.851.21–2.61 | 2.05 |
| 2058 | 2.811.48–4.39 | 1.851.19–2.6 | 2.04 |
| 2059 | 2.791.47–4.35 | 1.841.17–2.62 | 2.04 |
| 2060 | 2.761.45–4.33 | 1.841.15–2.62 | 2.03 |
| 2061 | 2.741.43–4.33 | 1.831.17–2.61 | 2.02 |
| 2062 | 2.721.41–4.3 | 1.831.15–2.6 | 2.02 |
| 2063 | 2.691.41–4.26 | 1.821.17–2.58 | 2.01 |
| 2064 | 2.671.4–4.25 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 2 |
| 2065 | 2.651.39–4.24 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 2 |
| 2066 | 2.641.39–4.23 | 1.811.14–2.57 | 1.99 |
| 2067 | 2.621.37–4.2 | 1.811.14–2.56 | 1.98 |
| 2068 | 2.61.36–4.18 | 1.81.13–2.54 | 1.98 |
| 2069 | 2.581.37–4.15 | 1.81.12–2.53 | 1.97 |
| 2070 | 2.561.38–4.14 | 1.81.14–2.54 | 1.97 |
| 2071 | 2.541.38–4.13 | 1.791.16–2.56 | 1.96 |
| 2072 | 2.521.36–4.14 | 1.791.15–2.56 | 1.96 |
| 2073 | 2.51.36–4.11 | 1.791.14–2.53 | 1.95 |
| 2074 | 2.481.34–4.1 | 1.781.16–2.54 | 1.95 |
| 2075 | 2.461.32–4.02 | 1.781.15–2.54 | 1.94 |
| 2076 | 2.441.32–3.98 | 1.781.13–2.52 | 1.94 |
| 2077 | 2.431.33–3.99 | 1.781.13–2.55 | 1.94 |
| 2078 | 2.411.33–3.96 | 1.771.12–2.52 | 1.93 |
| 2079 | 2.41.31–3.94 | 1.771.11–2.52 | 1.93 |
| 2080 | 2.381.29–3.91 | 1.771.11–2.51 | 1.92 |
| 2081 | 2.371.31–3.92 | 1.771.09–2.52 | 1.92 |
| 2082 | 2.351.29–3.89 | 1.761.11–2.51 | 1.91 |
| 2083 | 2.331.29–3.92 | 1.761.08–2.54 | 1.91 |
| 2084 | 2.321.29–3.88 | 1.761.09–2.54 | 1.91 |
| 2085 | 2.311.28–3.89 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.9 |
| 2086 | 2.291.28–3.9 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.9 |
| 2087 | 2.281.27–3.88 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.89 |
| 2088 | 2.271.24–3.87 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.89 |
| 2089 | 2.261.26–3.85 | 1.751.06–2.52 | 1.88 |
| 2090 | 2.241.24–3.87 | 1.751.06–2.53 | 1.88 |
| 2091 | 2.231.22–3.82 | 1.751.04–2.53 | 1.88 |
| 2092 | 2.211.21–3.84 | 1.751.05–2.52 | 1.87 |
| 2093 | 2.21.22–3.79 | 1.751.06–2.55 | 1.87 |
| 2094 | 2.21.22–3.77 | 1.751.06–2.54 | 1.86 |
| 2095 | 2.191.21–3.76 | 1.751.04–2.52 | 1.86 |
| 2096 | 2.181.22–3.78 | 1.741.04–2.53 | 1.85 |
| 2097 | 2.161.22–3.72 | 1.751.02–2.51 | 1.85 |
| 2098 | 2.161.21–3.69 | 1.741.01–2.52 | 1.85 |
| 2099 | 2.151.2–3.64 | 1.741.01–2.53 | 1.84 |
| 2100 | 2.141.2–3.66 | 1.741–2.54 | 1.84 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The children a woman would have over her life at the year’s birth rates for each age.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Benin vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyBenin: 60.8 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityBenin: 7.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityBenin: 52.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionBenin: 3.63% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateBenin: 11.1 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationBenin: 14.1 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthBenin: 2.51% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Urban populationBenin: 53.4% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageBenin: 17.8 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overBenin: 3.1% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateBenin: -0 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingBenin: 0.89% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsBenin: $204M in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personBenin: $15 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingBenin: 4.8% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelBenin: 12,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerBenin: 0.07% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersBenin: 0.21% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsBenin: 4 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025