Women of reproductive age in South Africa
South Africa: Women of reproductive age was 17.56 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
17.56 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
19th
of 200 countries
All-time high
17.56 million
in 2023
All-time low
9.85 million
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Women of reproductive age in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 17.56 million for women of reproductive age in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women of reproductive age in South Africa peaked at 17.56 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.85 million, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 19th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Women of reproductive age in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.85 million | — |
| 1991 | 10.10 million | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 10.36 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 10.46 million | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 10.73 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 11.29 million | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 11.82 million | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 12.27 million | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 12.56 million | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 12.84 million | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 13.12 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 13.38 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 13.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 13.88 million | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 14.11 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 14.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 14.47 million | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 14.63 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 14.78 million | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 14.92 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 15.06 million | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 15.21 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 15.37 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 15.55 million | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 15.73 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 15.98 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 16.04 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 16.08 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 16.31 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 16.55 million | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 16.81 million | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 17.08 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 17.34 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 17.56 million | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.23 million | 9.85 million | 12.84 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.12 million | 13.12 million | 14.92 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.79 million | 15.06 million | 16.55 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.20 million | 16.81 million | 17.56 million | 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 women of reproductive age in South Africa?
- Women of reproductive age in South Africa was 17.56 million in 2023, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest women of reproductive age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.56 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest women of reproductive age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.85 million in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for women of reproductive age?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is women of reproductive age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Women of reproductive age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).