Sex ratio at birth in South Africa
South Africa: Sex ratio at birth was 103.52 males per 100 females in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
103.52 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
171st
of 236 countries
All-time high
103.97 males per 100 females
in 2011
All-time low
100.59 males per 100 females
in 2021
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio at birth in South Africa, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 103.52 males per 100 females for sex ratio at birth in 2023.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio at birth in South Africa peaked at 103.97 males per 100 females in 2011 and was at its lowest, 100.59 males per 100 females, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 171st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Sex ratio at birth in South Africa, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 102.59 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 102.66 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 102.66 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 102.68 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 102.71 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 102.75 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 102.79 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 102.8 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 102.81 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 102.84 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 102.84 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 102.86 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 102.89 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 102.9 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 102.92 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 102.94 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 102.97 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 102.99 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 102.99 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 102.99 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 103 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 103.02 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 103.03 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 103.04 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 103.06 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 103.08 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 103.1 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 103.12 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 103.11 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 103.09 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 103.44 males per 100 females | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 103.76 males per 100 females | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 103.77 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 103.73 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 103.45 males per 100 females | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 103.4 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 103.58 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 103.58 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 103.56 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 103.52 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 103.3 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 103.07 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 103.04 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 103.05 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 103.07 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 103.1 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 103.13 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 103.16 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 103.2 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 103.27 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 103.43 males per 100 females | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 103.58 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 103.59 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 103.59 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 103.61 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 103.7 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 103.71 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 103.66 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 103.73 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 103.75 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 103.83 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 103.97 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 103.93 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 103.71 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 103.65 males per 100 females | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 103.76 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 103.75 males per 100 females | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 103.56 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 103.01 males per 100 females | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 102.23 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 101.47 males per 100 females | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 100.59 males per 100 females | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 101.7 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 103.52 males per 100 females | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 102.73 males per 100 females | 102.59 males per 100 females | 102.84 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 102.93 males per 100 females | 102.84 males per 100 females | 102.99 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 103.06 males per 100 females | 103 males per 100 females | 103.12 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 103.58 males per 100 females | 103.4 males per 100 females | 103.77 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.14 males per 100 females | 103.04 males per 100 females | 103.3 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 103.64 males per 100 females | 103.43 males per 100 females | 103.75 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 103.54 males per 100 females | 102.23 males per 100 females | 103.97 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 101.82 males per 100 females | 100.59 males per 100 females | 103.52 males per 100 females | 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)
- 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)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 588,323 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 594,743 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 603,304 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio at birth in South Africa?
- Sex ratio at birth in South Africa was 103.52 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 103.97 males per 100 females in 2011.
- What is the lowest sex ratio at birth recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.59 males per 100 females in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for sex ratio at birth?
- South Africa ranks 171st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of male births per 100 female births.