Pretoria, South Africa – South Africa saw over 60 000 fewer births between 2023 and 2024 as the country’s birth rate continued its steady decline. Statistics South Africa’s latest Recorded Live Births data shows that just under 864 000 babies were registered in 2024, including nearly 76 000 late registrations from previous years.
The majority of babies, more than 787 000, were registered shortly after birth. About 83 percent of registrations occurred on time, yet young mothers aged 10–14 and older mothers between 50–54 face difficulties registering promptly. Social stigma, limited healthcare access, lack of support, and incomplete documentation contribute to delays for younger mothers. Older mothers encounter bureaucratic challenges, health complications, and systems not designed for their circumstances.
March had the highest number of births with over 71 000, followed by May and April. Mothers are having children later in life, with the median age rising to 28.3 years, the highest since 2005. Women aged 20–34 account for nearly 70 percent of all births. KwaZulu-Natal leads in births among teenagers under 18.
Names chosen by parents reflect cultural pride and aspirations. For boys, Lethabo, Lubanzi, and Nkazimulo were most popular, meaning joy, expansive, and glory. Girls were commonly named Onalerona, Zanokuhle, and Melokuhle, meaning God is with us, bring what is good, and uphold what is beautiful. Gender-neutral names like Lethabo, Nkanyezi, and Lesedi are increasingly common. Junior and Precious remain the most popular second names for boys and girls, respectively.
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