Burkina Faso vs South Africa
Burkina Faso vs South Africa: Fertility rate
Fertility rate in 2023: 4.19 births per woman in Burkina Faso and 2.22 births per woman in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Burkina Faso, by 1.97 births per woman, or 1.89 times that in South Africa.
births per woman · UN
What the numbers say
- Burkina Faso has been higher since 1958, when it overtook South Africa.
- In 2023, Burkina Faso ranked 22 and South Africa ranked 96 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Burkina Faso at 1.95 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 | Burkina Faso | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.19 | 2.22 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 4.28 | 2.23 | 2.27 |
| 2021 | 4.36 | 2.25 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 4.44 | 2.26 | 2.32 |
| 2019 | 4.68 | 2.26 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 4.92 | 2.27 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 5.17 | 2.28 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 5.33 | 2.26 | 2.54 |
| 2015 | 5.48 | 2.36 | 2.54 |
| 2014 | 5.6 | 2.42 | 2.56 |
| 2013 | 5.7 | 2.43 | 2.57 |
| 2012 | 5.79 | 2.45 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 5.87 | 2.44 | 2.59 |
| 2010 | 5.94 | 2.45 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 5.99 | 2.5 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 6.05 | 2.68 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 6.11 | 2.55 | 2.62 |
| 2006 | 6.17 | 2.55 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 6.18 | 2.51 | 2.63 |
| 2004 | 6.22 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| 2003 | 6.28 | 2.36 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 6.34 | 2.32 | 2.68 |
| 2001 | 6.43 | 2.37 | 2.71 |
| 2000 | 6.52 | 2.41 | 2.75 |
| 1999 | 6.59 | 2.56 | 2.75 |
| 1998 | 6.66 | 2.63 | 2.78 |
| 1997 | 6.72 | 2.73 | 2.81 |
| 1996 | 6.78 | 2.99 | 2.85 |
| 1995 | 6.81 | 3.17 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 6.84 | 3.26 | 2.93 |
| 1993 | 6.89 | 3.37 | 2.98 |
| 1992 | 6.94 | 3.48 | 3.04 |
| 1991 | 6.97 | 3.62 | 3.13 |
| 1990 | 7.01 | 3.72 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 7.05 | 3.98 | 3.35 |
| 1988 | 7.11 | 4.18 | 3.39 |
| 1987 | 7.17 | 4.35 | 3.48 |
| 1986 | 7.22 | 4.41 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 7.24 | 4.5 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 7.25 | 4.57 | 3.55 |
| 1983 | 7.25 | 4.63 | 3.58 |
| 1982 | 7.25 | 4.7 | 3.71 |
| 1981 | 7.26 | 4.71 | 3.71 |
| 1980 | 7.22 | 4.78 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 7.19 | 4.82 | 3.77 |
| 1978 | 7.15 | 4.85 | 3.79 |
| 1977 | 7.05 | 4.94 | 3.85 |
| 1976 | 6.95 | 5.07 | 3.97 |
| 1975 | 6.91 | 5.19 | 4.08 |
| 1974 | 6.84 | 5.3 | 4.26 |
| 1973 | 6.77 | 5.41 | 4.42 |
| 1972 | 6.72 | 5.49 | 4.55 |
| 1971 | 6.7 | 5.57 | 4.68 |
| 1970 | 6.69 | 5.63 | 4.83 |
| 1969 | 6.66 | 5.72 | 4.87 |
| 1968 | 6.65 | 5.78 | 4.96 |
| 1967 | 6.59 | 5.85 | 4.85 |
| 1966 | 6.53 | 5.91 | 4.96 |
| 1965 | 6.47 | 5.89 | 5.07 |
| 1964 | 6.42 | 5.96 | 5.12 |
| 1963 | 6.36 | 6.01 | 5.31 |
| 1962 | 6.32 | 6.05 | 5.02 |
| 1961 | 6.29 | 6.08 | 4.57 |
| 1960 | 6.25 | 6.11 | 4.7 |
| 1959 | 6.22 | 6.13 | 4.74 |
| 1958 | 6.17 | 6.14 | 4.93 |
| 1957 | 6.13 | 6.14 | 5.07 |
| 1956 | 6.09 | 6.13 | 4.93 |
| 1955 | 6.06 | 6.13 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6.01 | 6.11 | 5 |
| 1953 | 5.98 | 6.09 | 4.92 |
| 1952 | 5.93 | 6.08 | 5 |
| 1951 | 5.87 | 6.06 | 4.82 |
| 1950 | 5.82 | 6.03 | 4.85 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Burkina Faso | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4.113.25–4.84 | 2.211.75–2.69 | 2.25 |
| 2025 | 4.013.04–4.82 | 2.191.68–2.71 | 2.24 |
| 2026 | 3.922.86–4.82 | 2.171.64–2.72 | 2.23 |
| 2027 | 3.822.67–4.79 | 2.151.6–2.73 | 2.22 |
| 2028 | 3.732.49–4.79 | 2.131.58–2.75 | 2.21 |
| 2029 | 3.642.35–4.79 | 2.121.54–2.76 | 2.2 |
| 2030 | 3.572.24–4.75 | 2.11.51–2.78 | 2.2 |
| 2031 | 3.52.15–4.73 | 2.091.48–2.79 | 2.19 |
| 2032 | 3.432.05–4.71 | 2.071.47–2.76 | 2.18 |
| 2033 | 3.381.97–4.69 | 2.061.45–2.74 | 2.17 |
| 2034 | 3.311.94–4.67 | 2.051.43–2.76 | 2.16 |
| 2035 | 3.241.88–4.65 | 2.041.41–2.77 | 2.15 |
| 2036 | 3.171.84–4.66 | 2.031.41–2.77 | 2.15 |
| 2037 | 3.111.81–4.58 | 2.021.35–2.76 | 2.14 |
| 2038 | 3.051.75–4.53 | 21.34–2.75 | 2.13 |
| 2039 | 3.011.68–4.47 | 1.991.31–2.76 | 2.13 |
| 2040 | 2.961.64–4.45 | 1.981.3–2.79 | 2.13 |
| 2041 | 2.921.63–4.42 | 1.981.31–2.78 | 2.12 |
| 2042 | 2.881.61–4.39 | 1.971.29–2.79 | 2.12 |
| 2043 | 2.841.57–4.38 | 1.961.29–2.77 | 2.12 |
| 2044 | 2.811.54–4.35 | 1.951.29–2.77 | 2.12 |
| 2045 | 2.771.51–4.31 | 1.941.28–2.73 | 2.12 |
| 2046 | 2.731.49–4.27 | 1.931.27–2.72 | 2.11 |
| 2047 | 2.71.49–4.22 | 1.921.27–2.76 | 2.11 |
| 2048 | 2.671.48–4.2 | 1.911.26–2.74 | 2.11 |
| 2049 | 2.641.47–4.18 | 1.91.26–2.74 | 2.1 |
| 2050 | 2.611.45–4.17 | 1.891.23–2.72 | 2.1 |
| 2051 | 2.581.45–4.16 | 1.891.22–2.71 | 2.09 |
| 2052 | 2.561.44–4.1 | 1.881.22–2.7 | 2.09 |
| 2053 | 2.531.4–4.06 | 1.881.22–2.68 | 2.08 |
| 2054 | 2.511.39–4.02 | 1.871.21–2.69 | 2.07 |
| 2055 | 2.491.38–4.04 | 1.871.2–2.66 | 2.07 |
| 2056 | 2.471.37–4.02 | 1.861.2–2.62 | 2.06 |
| 2057 | 2.451.36–4.04 | 1.851.21–2.61 | 2.05 |
| 2058 | 2.431.34–3.98 | 1.851.19–2.6 | 2.04 |
| 2059 | 2.411.3–3.97 | 1.841.17–2.62 | 2.04 |
| 2060 | 2.391.29–3.96 | 1.841.15–2.62 | 2.03 |
| 2061 | 2.371.29–3.91 | 1.831.17–2.61 | 2.02 |
| 2062 | 2.351.27–3.9 | 1.831.15–2.6 | 2.02 |
| 2063 | 2.331.27–3.87 | 1.821.17–2.58 | 2.01 |
| 2064 | 2.311.27–3.87 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 2 |
| 2065 | 2.31.27–3.84 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 2 |
| 2066 | 2.281.26–3.84 | 1.811.14–2.57 | 1.99 |
| 2067 | 2.271.26–3.84 | 1.811.14–2.56 | 1.98 |
| 2068 | 2.261.25–3.78 | 1.81.13–2.54 | 1.98 |
| 2069 | 2.241.27–3.77 | 1.81.12–2.53 | 1.97 |
| 2070 | 2.221.25–3.73 | 1.81.14–2.54 | 1.97 |
| 2071 | 2.211.25–3.71 | 1.791.16–2.56 | 1.96 |
| 2072 | 2.21.26–3.66 | 1.791.15–2.56 | 1.96 |
| 2073 | 2.191.24–3.65 | 1.791.14–2.53 | 1.95 |
| 2074 | 2.171.24–3.67 | 1.781.16–2.54 | 1.95 |
| 2075 | 2.161.21–3.66 | 1.781.15–2.54 | 1.94 |
| 2076 | 2.151.22–3.65 | 1.781.13–2.52 | 1.94 |
| 2077 | 2.131.21–3.61 | 1.781.13–2.55 | 1.94 |
| 2078 | 2.121.21–3.59 | 1.771.12–2.52 | 1.93 |
| 2079 | 2.111.2–3.6 | 1.771.11–2.52 | 1.93 |
| 2080 | 2.11.19–3.57 | 1.771.11–2.51 | 1.92 |
| 2081 | 2.091.19–3.54 | 1.771.09–2.52 | 1.92 |
| 2082 | 2.081.19–3.44 | 1.761.11–2.51 | 1.91 |
| 2083 | 2.071.19–3.5 | 1.761.08–2.54 | 1.91 |
| 2084 | 2.061.16–3.46 | 1.761.09–2.54 | 1.91 |
| 2085 | 2.061.14–3.47 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.9 |
| 2086 | 2.051.13–3.45 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.9 |
| 2087 | 2.041.12–3.5 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.89 |
| 2088 | 2.031.14–3.5 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.89 |
| 2089 | 2.021.13–3.48 | 1.751.06–2.52 | 1.88 |
| 2090 | 2.021.13–3.42 | 1.751.06–2.53 | 1.88 |
| 2091 | 2.011.13–3.38 | 1.751.04–2.53 | 1.88 |
| 2092 | 21.12–3.43 | 1.751.05–2.52 | 1.87 |
| 2093 | 1.991.14–3.42 | 1.751.06–2.55 | 1.87 |
| 2094 | 1.991.12–3.45 | 1.751.06–2.54 | 1.86 |
| 2095 | 1.981.14–3.37 | 1.751.04–2.52 | 1.86 |
| 2096 | 1.981.13–3.33 | 1.741.04–2.53 | 1.85 |
| 2097 | 1.971.13–3.35 | 1.751.02–2.51 | 1.85 |
| 2098 | 1.971.11–3.34 | 1.741.01–2.52 | 1.85 |
| 2099 | 1.961.12–3.32 | 1.741.01–2.53 | 1.84 |
| 2100 | 1.951.11–3.35 | 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
Burkina Faso vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyBurkina Faso: 61.1 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityBurkina Faso: 7.5 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityBurkina Faso: 52.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionBurkina Faso: 3.69% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateBurkina Faso: 13.2 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationBurkina Faso: 23 million people in 2023South Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthBurkina Faso: 2.26% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Urban populationBurkina Faso: 28.9% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageBurkina Faso: 17.3 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overBurkina Faso: 2.6% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateBurkina Faso: -1.1 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personBurkina Faso: $787 in 2025South Africa: $5,713 in 2025
- GDP growthBurkina Faso: 5.3% a year in 2025South Africa: 1.1% a year in 2025
- InflationBurkina Faso: -0.6% a year in 2025South Africa: 3.2% a year in 2025
- Government debtBurkina Faso: 53.2% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 76% of GDP in 2024
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingBurkina Faso: 3.3% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsBurkina Faso: $844M in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personBurkina Faso: $37 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingBurkina Faso: 13.2% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelBurkina Faso: 11,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerBurkina Faso: 0.09% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersBurkina Faso: 0.12% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsBurkina Faso: 34 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025