Key findings: 92-02-04 - Child Series Volume IV: Children living with grandparents in South Africa, 2023, 2023

Households' structures in South Africa are influenced by socio-economic challenges and economic norms. Many families pull resources due to poverty and unemployment, leading to multigenerational living arrangements. Cultural norms emphasize extended families, fostering strong intergenerational bonds.  According to the General Household Survey 2023, close to 14% of households were multigenerational and 4,2% were skip-generation households.  Rural areas had higher rates of these structures (close to 28%) compared to urban areas (close to 14%). Approximately close to 6,7 million grandparents lived with 9,7 million children aged 0-17. Grandmothers were the primary caregivers, making up 69,3% of caregiving grandparents. Grandmothers play a crucial role in caregiving, highlighting the importance of extended family support systems.