South Africa vs Spain
South Africa vs Spain: Fertility rate
Fertility rate in 2023: 2.22 births per woman in South Africa and 1.21 births per woman in Spain, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 1 births per woman, or 1.83 times that in Spain.
births per woman · UN
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, South Africa ranked 96 and Spain ranked 207 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts South Africa at 1.74 births per woman and Spain at 1.48 births per woman in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 2.25 births per woman in 2023.
Every year
births per woman · UN
| Year | South Africa | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.22 | 1.21 | 2.25 |
| 2022 | 2.23 | 1.21 | 2.27 |
| 2021 | 2.25 | 1.19 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 2.26 | 1.19 | 2.32 |
| 2019 | 2.26 | 1.23 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 2.27 | 1.26 | 2.44 |
| 2017 | 2.28 | 1.31 | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 2.26 | 1.33 | 2.54 |
| 2015 | 2.36 | 1.33 | 2.54 |
| 2014 | 2.42 | 1.32 | 2.56 |
| 2013 | 2.43 | 1.28 | 2.57 |
| 2012 | 2.45 | 1.32 | 2.61 |
| 2011 | 2.44 | 1.34 | 2.59 |
| 2010 | 2.45 | 1.37 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 2.5 | 1.38 | 2.62 |
| 2008 | 2.68 | 1.44 | 2.63 |
| 2007 | 2.55 | 1.38 | 2.62 |
| 2006 | 2.55 | 1.36 | 2.63 |
| 2005 | 2.51 | 1.33 | 2.63 |
| 2004 | 2.44 | 1.31 | 2.65 |
| 2003 | 2.36 | 1.29 | 2.66 |
| 2002 | 2.32 | 1.25 | 2.68 |
| 2001 | 2.37 | 1.23 | 2.71 |
| 2000 | 2.41 | 1.21 | 2.75 |
| 1999 | 2.56 | 1.17 | 2.75 |
| 1998 | 2.63 | 1.13 | 2.78 |
| 1997 | 2.73 | 1.15 | 2.81 |
| 1996 | 2.99 | 1.14 | 2.85 |
| 1995 | 3.17 | 1.15 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 3.26 | 1.19 | 2.93 |
| 1993 | 3.37 | 1.25 | 2.98 |
| 1992 | 3.48 | 1.31 | 3.04 |
| 1991 | 3.62 | 1.33 | 3.13 |
| 1990 | 3.72 | 1.36 | 3.31 |
| 1989 | 3.98 | 1.4 | 3.35 |
| 1988 | 4.18 | 1.44 | 3.39 |
| 1987 | 4.35 | 1.49 | 3.48 |
| 1986 | 4.41 | 1.55 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 4.5 | 1.64 | 3.51 |
| 1984 | 4.57 | 1.72 | 3.55 |
| 1983 | 4.63 | 1.8 | 3.58 |
| 1982 | 4.7 | 1.94 | 3.71 |
| 1981 | 4.71 | 2.04 | 3.71 |
| 1980 | 4.78 | 2.21 | 3.74 |
| 1979 | 4.82 | 2.37 | 3.77 |
| 1978 | 4.85 | 2.54 | 3.79 |
| 1977 | 4.94 | 2.65 | 3.85 |
| 1976 | 5.07 | 2.76 | 3.97 |
| 1975 | 5.19 | 2.77 | 4.08 |
| 1974 | 5.3 | 2.87 | 4.26 |
| 1973 | 5.41 | 2.84 | 4.42 |
| 1972 | 5.49 | 2.87 | 4.55 |
| 1971 | 5.57 | 2.9 | 4.68 |
| 1970 | 5.63 | 2.88 | 4.83 |
| 1969 | 5.72 | 2.9 | 4.87 |
| 1968 | 5.78 | 2.92 | 4.96 |
| 1967 | 5.85 | 2.97 | 4.85 |
| 1966 | 5.91 | 2.91 | 4.96 |
| 1965 | 5.89 | 2.93 | 5.07 |
| 1964 | 5.96 | 3 | 5.12 |
| 1963 | 6.01 | 2.88 | 5.31 |
| 1962 | 6.05 | 2.8 | 5.02 |
| 1961 | 6.08 | 2.78 | 4.57 |
| 1960 | 6.11 | 2.81 | 4.7 |
| 1959 | 6.13 | 2.75 | 4.74 |
| 1958 | 6.14 | 2.73 | 4.93 |
| 1957 | 6.14 | 2.69 | 5.07 |
| 1956 | 6.13 | 2.54 | 4.93 |
| 1955 | 6.13 | 2.51 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6.11 | 2.44 | 5 |
| 1953 | 6.09 | 2.5 | 4.92 |
| 1952 | 6.08 | 2.54 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6.06 | 2.46 | 4.82 |
| 1950 | 6.03 | 2.47 | 4.85 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | South Africa | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.211.75–2.69 | 1.221.05–1.38 | 2.25 |
| 2025 | 2.191.68–2.71 | 1.231.03–1.43 | 2.24 |
| 2026 | 2.171.64–2.72 | 1.241.02–1.46 | 2.23 |
| 2027 | 2.151.6–2.73 | 1.241.01–1.48 | 2.22 |
| 2028 | 2.131.58–2.75 | 1.250.99–1.5 | 2.21 |
| 2029 | 2.121.54–2.76 | 1.260.97–1.53 | 2.2 |
| 2030 | 2.11.51–2.78 | 1.260.95–1.55 | 2.2 |
| 2031 | 2.091.48–2.79 | 1.270.93–1.57 | 2.19 |
| 2032 | 2.071.47–2.76 | 1.280.92–1.58 | 2.18 |
| 2033 | 2.061.45–2.74 | 1.280.92–1.6 | 2.17 |
| 2034 | 2.051.43–2.76 | 1.290.92–1.62 | 2.16 |
| 2035 | 2.041.41–2.77 | 1.290.9–1.64 | 2.15 |
| 2036 | 2.031.41–2.77 | 1.30.91–1.66 | 2.15 |
| 2037 | 2.021.35–2.76 | 1.30.9–1.67 | 2.14 |
| 2038 | 21.34–2.75 | 1.30.9–1.68 | 2.13 |
| 2039 | 1.991.31–2.76 | 1.310.9–1.71 | 2.13 |
| 2040 | 1.981.3–2.79 | 1.320.89–1.72 | 2.13 |
| 2041 | 1.981.31–2.78 | 1.320.88–1.74 | 2.12 |
| 2042 | 1.971.29–2.79 | 1.330.89–1.74 | 2.12 |
| 2043 | 1.961.29–2.77 | 1.330.89–1.76 | 2.12 |
| 2044 | 1.951.29–2.77 | 1.340.88–1.77 | 2.12 |
| 2045 | 1.941.28–2.73 | 1.340.87–1.77 | 2.12 |
| 2046 | 1.931.27–2.72 | 1.350.86–1.79 | 2.11 |
| 2047 | 1.921.27–2.76 | 1.350.87–1.8 | 2.11 |
| 2048 | 1.911.26–2.74 | 1.350.86–1.82 | 2.11 |
| 2049 | 1.91.26–2.74 | 1.360.85–1.82 | 2.1 |
| 2050 | 1.891.23–2.72 | 1.360.85–1.83 | 2.1 |
| 2051 | 1.891.22–2.71 | 1.370.86–1.84 | 2.09 |
| 2052 | 1.881.22–2.7 | 1.370.85–1.86 | 2.09 |
| 2053 | 1.881.22–2.68 | 1.370.86–1.86 | 2.08 |
| 2054 | 1.871.21–2.69 | 1.380.84–1.87 | 2.07 |
| 2055 | 1.871.2–2.66 | 1.380.83–1.88 | 2.07 |
| 2056 | 1.861.2–2.62 | 1.380.84–1.89 | 2.06 |
| 2057 | 1.851.21–2.61 | 1.390.83–1.91 | 2.05 |
| 2058 | 1.851.19–2.6 | 1.390.83–1.91 | 2.04 |
| 2059 | 1.841.17–2.62 | 1.390.83–1.92 | 2.04 |
| 2060 | 1.841.15–2.62 | 1.390.81–1.95 | 2.03 |
| 2061 | 1.831.17–2.61 | 1.40.81–1.95 | 2.02 |
| 2062 | 1.831.15–2.6 | 1.410.81–1.96 | 2.02 |
| 2063 | 1.821.17–2.58 | 1.410.81–1.97 | 2.01 |
| 2064 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 1.410.82–1.95 | 2 |
| 2065 | 1.821.16–2.6 | 1.410.82–1.98 | 2 |
| 2066 | 1.811.14–2.57 | 1.420.82–1.97 | 1.99 |
| 2067 | 1.811.14–2.56 | 1.420.81–1.99 | 1.98 |
| 2068 | 1.81.13–2.54 | 1.430.82–1.99 | 1.98 |
| 2069 | 1.81.12–2.53 | 1.430.82–1.98 | 1.97 |
| 2070 | 1.81.14–2.54 | 1.430.8–1.98 | 1.97 |
| 2071 | 1.791.16–2.56 | 1.430.79–1.99 | 1.96 |
| 2072 | 1.791.15–2.56 | 1.440.8–2 | 1.96 |
| 2073 | 1.791.14–2.53 | 1.440.79–2.01 | 1.95 |
| 2074 | 1.781.16–2.54 | 1.440.8–2 | 1.95 |
| 2075 | 1.781.15–2.54 | 1.440.79–2.01 | 1.94 |
| 2076 | 1.781.13–2.52 | 1.450.78–2 | 1.94 |
| 2077 | 1.781.13–2.55 | 1.450.78–2.01 | 1.94 |
| 2078 | 1.771.12–2.52 | 1.450.79–2.02 | 1.93 |
| 2079 | 1.771.11–2.52 | 1.460.79–2.03 | 1.93 |
| 2080 | 1.771.11–2.51 | 1.460.78–2.05 | 1.92 |
| 2081 | 1.771.09–2.52 | 1.460.78–2.05 | 1.92 |
| 2082 | 1.761.11–2.51 | 1.460.81–2.08 | 1.91 |
| 2083 | 1.761.08–2.54 | 1.460.78–2.06 | 1.91 |
| 2084 | 1.761.09–2.54 | 1.460.79–2.06 | 1.91 |
| 2085 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.460.8–2.07 | 1.9 |
| 2086 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.460.79–2.06 | 1.9 |
| 2087 | 1.761.09–2.52 | 1.470.79–2.09 | 1.89 |
| 2088 | 1.761.09–2.5 | 1.470.78–2.09 | 1.89 |
| 2089 | 1.751.06–2.52 | 1.470.77–2.1 | 1.88 |
| 2090 | 1.751.06–2.53 | 1.470.8–2.09 | 1.88 |
| 2091 | 1.751.04–2.53 | 1.470.78–2.1 | 1.88 |
| 2092 | 1.751.05–2.52 | 1.470.77–2.09 | 1.87 |
| 2093 | 1.751.06–2.55 | 1.470.78–2.11 | 1.87 |
| 2094 | 1.751.06–2.54 | 1.480.79–2.12 | 1.86 |
| 2095 | 1.751.04–2.52 | 1.480.77–2.12 | 1.86 |
| 2096 | 1.741.04–2.53 | 1.480.76–2.12 | 1.85 |
| 2097 | 1.751.02–2.51 | 1.480.77–2.13 | 1.85 |
| 2098 | 1.741.01–2.52 | 1.480.77–2.11 | 1.85 |
| 2099 | 1.741.01–2.53 | 1.480.77–2.12 | 1.84 |
| 2100 | 1.741–2.54 | 1.480.75–2.11 | 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
South Africa vs Spain
Health
- Life expectancySouth Africa: 66.1 years in 2023Spain: 83.7 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024Spain: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Spain: 2.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017Spain: 3.54% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Spain: 5.5 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023Spain: 47.9 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023Spain: 0.02% a year in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025Spain: 80.5% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023Spain: 44.9 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023Spain: 20.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Spain: 2.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025Spain: 2.13% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025Spain: $37.7B in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025Spain: $839 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025Spain: 4.7% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020Spain: 199,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022Spain: 0.66% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020Spain: 0.87% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025Spain: 237 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025Spain: 341 million TIV in 2025