As South Africa celebrates 30 years of constitutional democracy and census-taking, Census data provide a unique lens through which to assess the progress made by women, showcasing important gains in education, employment, and leadership between 1996 and 2022. Since 1996, South Africa has made significant strides in improving their lives and opportunities. Supported by the   read more »

South Africa’s population has grown significantly over the past two decades, reflecting the combined impact of births, deaths and migration. The latest Mid-Year Population Estimates (MYPE) 2026 show that the country’s population increased from 42,9 million in 2002 to 63,5 million in 2026, an average annual growth rate of 1,3%. Over the same period, the   read more »

World Population Day is an event which aims to highlight the importance and urgency of population issues. The day was established by the former governing council of the UN Development Program in 1989 because of the commemoration and the interest shown with the world at 5 billion in 1987. The first World Population Day was   read more »

Thirty years ago, South Africa made a promise. In 1996, the country adopted its Constitution and conducted its first democratic census, committing to count every person equally regardless of race, geography, or circumstance. Over three decades, this promise has been upheld through four national censuses that reflect the transformation of the nation. The Constitution and   read more »

According to Statistics South Africa’s Volunteer Activities Survey, 2024, an estimated 3,1 million South Africans aged 15 and older participated in volunteer work in 2024—up from 2,7 million in 2018 and 2,2 million in 2014, representing a volunteer rate of 6,9% of the adult population. Volunteer work refers to any unpaid, non‑compulsory activity that individuals   read more »

South Africa’s ageing population is increasing steadily, bringing both opportunities and challenges for ensuring that people age well. According to the Marginalised Groups Series VIII – Healthy Ageing in South Africa, 2024, released by Statistics South Africa, the number of persons aged 60 years or older in South Africa increased from 3,6 million (7,7% of   read more »

Poverty and age often move hand in hand, affecting people in different ways across the life cycle. A recent report by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), “Poverty trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2023”, sheds new light on how poverty has evolved over nearly two decades. Drawing on data   read more »

Each city develops its residential landscape in its own, unique way. Do town planners opt to spread a city outward with more free-standing homes, upward with high-density housing, or a combination of both? Stats SA’s latest ten-year review of private sector building statistics1 provides clues on the types of residential patterns forming in metropolitan municipalities.   read more »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has released a statistical product on small area population estimates at the electoral ward level. The population estimates were produced using Census 2011 and Census 2022 data. This product provides insights into age and sex structure as well as population group dynamics at this level of geography based on 2020   read more »

Women make up just over half of South Africa’s population, yet their ability to fully participate in the economy remains uneven. From securing credit to owning land, accessing finance as capital to finding opportunities in formal employment, barriers continue to limit women’s financial inclusion. The impact is most pronounced among women in rural communities, low-income   read more »