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The National Health Department says 1 708 babies were "safely delivered" at public health facilities on Christmas Day.
Spokesperson, Foster Mohale, said this number is made up of 868 girls and 840 boys.
He also noted that more than 140 teenagers also gave birth on Christmas Day.
Mohale said the department was very concerned about an increasing number of teen mothers and the impact that this will have on their futures, particularly as it relates to their education.
"The department also calls on society to collaborate with government on its sexual and reproductive health awareness campaign meant to empower young people to make use of health services, especially family planning and contraceptive use, in order to avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections," Mohale said.
He said to address the low uptake of health services among young people, the department has established dedicated areas in primary healthcare facilities known as "youth-friendly zones" to ensure that young people feel free to openly discuss their health needs.
"We call upon all young people to make use of these services rendered at these youth-friendly zones to prevent avoidable teenage pregnancies".
Meanwhile, Mohale said the department was also scaling up the storage of "human milk" for babies born to mothers who are unable to breastfeed to ensure no baby is deprived of nutritious breastmilk.
Gauteng province, at 387, had the highest number of newborn babies, followed by KZN with 255 births.
The Eastern Cape recorded 221 births on Christmas Day.
