Most sources estimate a gestation period of 12 months, though some data support the interpretation of a 15–21 month long gestation period instead. Females produce litters every other year, with the number of pups ranging from 7 to 24 and averaging 15 or 16. Females off California and the Baja Peninsula tend to bear fewer young relative to other parts of the world. The newborns measure long. The copper shark is among the slowest-growing "Carcharhinus" species: off South Africa, males reach sexual maturity at long and an age of 13–19 years, while females mature at long and an age of 19–20 years. Females off Australia mature at a comparable length of , while females off Argentina mature at a slightly smaller length of . The maximum lifespan is at least 30 years for males and 25 years for females.