Sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa
South Africa: Sex ratio at birth vs five years old was 103.52 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
103.52
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
171st
of 236 countries
All-time high
103.97
in 2011
All-time low
100.59
in 2021
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa stood at 103.52.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa peaked at 103.97 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 100.59, in 2021.
That places South Africa 171st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 102.59 | — |
| 1951 | 102.66 | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 102.66 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 102.68 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 102.71 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 102.75 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 102.79 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 102.8 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 102.81 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 102.84 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 102.84 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 102.86 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 102.89 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 102.9 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 102.92 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 102.94 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 102.97 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 102.99 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 102.99 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 102.99 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 103 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 103.02 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 103.03 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 103.04 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 103.06 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 103.08 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 103.1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 103.12 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 103.11 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 103.09 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 103.44 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 103.76 | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 103.77 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 103.73 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 103.45 | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 103.4 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 103.58 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 103.58 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 103.56 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 103.52 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 103.3 | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 103.07 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 103.04 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 103.05 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 103.07 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 103.1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 103.13 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 103.16 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 103.2 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 103.27 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 103.43 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 103.58 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 103.59 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 103.59 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 103.61 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 103.7 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 103.71 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 103.66 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 103.73 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 103.75 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 103.83 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 103.97 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 103.93 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 103.71 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 103.65 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 103.76 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 103.75 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 103.56 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 103.01 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 102.23 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 101.47 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 100.59 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 101.7 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 103.52 | +1.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 103.52 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 105.05, 99% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 103.52 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 102.58, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 102.73 | 102.59 | 102.84 | 10 |
| 1960s | 102.93 | 102.84 | 102.99 | 10 |
| 1970s | 103.06 | 103 | 103.12 | 10 |
| 1980s | 103.58 | 103.4 | 103.77 | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.14 | 103.04 | 103.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 103.64 | 103.43 | 103.75 | 10 |
| 2010s | 103.54 | 102.23 | 103.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 101.82 | 100.59 | 103.52 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa?
- Sex ratio at birth vs five years old in South Africa was 103.52 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio at birth vs five years old recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 103.97 in 2011.
- What is the lowest sex ratio at birth vs five years old recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.59 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for sex ratio at birth vs five years old?
- South Africa ranks 171st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio at birth vs five years old 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio at birth vs five years old. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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