Childlessness among women with qualifications in South Africa

Lesego Olga O. L. Masebe, Statistics South Africa
Mmatlala Euphimia Ramosebudi, Statistics South Africa

In the context of low fertility, childlessness has drawn the attention of demographers and social scientist. In South Africa, fertility declined from 7 children per woman in the 1960’s to 2.6 children per woman in 2011. The daunting situation is that in 2011 Whites and Indian/Asian fertility rates were below replacement level. Using censuses 2001 and 2011, the paper seeks to establish childlessness among qualified women. Childlessness increased from 2001 to 2011. It increased by 10% point between women aged 25-34. Black African women had the highest chance of becoming mothers. The prevalence of childlessness was high among women with post higher degree, employed and with no income. Never married women scored the highest proportion of childlessness. With regard to field of study, engineers had the highest prevalence of childlessness. Across occupations, professional women and managers were childless. The majority of childless women were residing in Gauteng and Western Cape.