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A total of 1 161 159 births were registered in South Africa in 2014. Of these, 886 202 (76,3%) were births that occurred in 2014 (current birth registrations), while 274 957 (23,7%) were births that occurred in the previous years but were registered in 2014. In 1994, only 246 345 (36,9%) of births that occurred were registered in the same year while in 2014 this proportion increased to 76,3%. This is according to the latest Recorded live births, 2014 statistical report released by Statistics South Africa

The report indicates that sex differentials of the birth occurrences for 2014, registrations for male babies were more than those of females (with 102 male births per 100 female births registered). Most births occurred to women aged 20−29 years old. No comparable or reliable information on fathers could be provided due to a high proportion of births registered (more than 60%) without details of fathers. Overall, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of birth occurrences compared to other provinces. Most births occurred during the months of March, January and September.

In 2014, more than half of the births were registered within 30 days in accordance with the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act. After 31 December 2015 all applications for late registration of birth will go through an appeal and adjudication process before a child can be registered.

Information on the number of live births is crucial for the measurement of changes in population size and composition as every country needs to know its characteristics at every administrative level, from national to the lowest geographic level. Unregistered children become invisible when important evidence-based public health policies as well as other social development initiatives are made.

The Department of Home Affairs has made concerted efforts to ensure that registration of births is made as easy as possible. The potential to improve birth registration in South Africa exists as health facilities with maternity units now provide registration services and the social grant system’s birth registration prerequisite complements the birth registration network. In addition, legislation facilitates timely registration as it stipulates that registration in South Africa is universal, free for first-time applicants, compulsory and should be done within 30 days from the date of birth.

The most popular name for girls born and registered in 2014 was Iminathi, Minenhle and Rethabile, respectively; while the most popular names amongst baby boys were Junior, Bandile and Kungawo. Most babies were born to the surnames Dlamini, Ntuli and Ngubane respectively. 

South Africa is currently undertaking an assessment of the South African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems. It is anticipated that the assessment will yield results that will assist in identifying strengths and barriers of birth registrations as well as further accelerate the momentum to both register and provide accurate, complete and timely statistics of all births occurring in South Africa.

The full reports are available on the Statistics South Africa website: www.statssa.gov.za

About the report

Statistics South Africa publishes the Recorded live births statistical release on an annual basis. This publication presents statistics on the number of registered births for 2014. The statistical release also provides information on trends in births that occurred during the period 1994 to 2013 and also provides information on whether South Africans are registering their births within thirty days as stipulated by the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act. The release draws on data collected by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) through the civil registration system.

Issued by Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of Statistics South Africa