The youth aged 15–24 years are the most vulnerable in the South African labour market as the unemployment rate among this age group was 55,2% in the 1st quarter of 2019. Among graduates in this age group, the unemployment rate was 31,0% during this period compared to 19,5% in the 4th quarter of 2018 –   read more »

The South African formal business sector1 generated R2,57 trillion in turnover in the fourth quarter of 2018. This translates to about R323 600 generated every second from October 2018 to December 2018. The R2,57 trillion was 5,5% more than the R2,44 trillion generated in the third quarter (July 2018 to September 2018). This follows a rise of 3,6% in the third quarter and   read more »

The December 2018 QES survey showed that an estimated 10 151 000 people were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy, which is up by 87 000 from 10 064 000 in the previous quarter. The number of people working part-time increased by 37 000 to 1 065 000 in the   read more »

Consumer inflation edged up slightly from 4,0% in January 2019 to 4,1% in February 2019, remaining firmly within the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) inflation target range of 3%–6%. Notable drivers behind the rise were medical insurance and transport costs. Stats SA surveys health insurance fees in February of each year. On average, medical-aid schemes   read more »

Believe it or not, there was a time – not so long ago – when the South African government actually spent less than it earned. Stats SA takes a look at government spending over 13 years, focusing on how much we pay to service our debt. Harking back to better times in February’s National Budget   read more »

Media release                                                                                                  20 November 2018  Private sector companies record turnover increases The total turnover for private sector enterprises1 operating in the South African economy increased by 6,0% to R9 369 199 million (R9,4 trillion) for 2017 from R8 836 493 million (R8,8 trillion) in 2016. For the reference period, turnover increased in all industries covered in the Annual   read more »

Did you know that 90% of an estimated 59 million tonnes of general waste produced in South Africa in 2011 ended up in landfills, while only 10% was recycled?1 The rapid growth in solid waste and the fact that there is a shortage of suitable land to dispose of waste means that South Africa is   read more »

In April, government reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy. The Department of Energy signed agreements with 27 independent power producers (IPPs), effectively unlocking R56 billion that will be invested in renewable energy projects across the country, predominantly in rural areas. Jeff Radebe, the Minister of Energy, outlined the importance of moving forward with renewable energy   read more »

The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla, will release the Gross domestic product (GDP) estimates for the second quarter of 2017 at a media briefing to be held on Tuesday, 5 September 2017 in Pretoria. The media briefing will be held as follows: Date         :  Tuesday, 5 September 2017 Lock-up   :  11H00 Embargo:    11H30   read more »

It goes without saying that the natural environment is extremely important to our well-being. Take our rivers and wetlands, for example. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), together with Stats SA and other departments, published a document in 2015 outlining the health of the country’s river and wetland systems. The data do not provide   read more »