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 »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has updated and revised the Census 2022 Municipal Profiles following a comprehensive assessment of census themes, variables, and geographic layers. These updates enhance the depth and accuracy of the data available to the public, researchers, and policymakers. Expanded Variables in SuperCROSS – Census 2022 Municipal Profiles New variables, which were   read more »

Behind every statistic is a story — and South Africa’s population tells a powerful one. From shifting demographics to growing numbers, here are six revealing snapshots from the Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2025 (MYPE) report, that shows who we are right now. 1.South Africa’s Population Hits 63,1 Million in 2025 South Africa’s mid-year population is estimated   read more »

Every year, thousands of babies in South Africa never get to take their first breath, while many others die within days of birth. The latest report from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Perinatal Deaths in South Africa, 2016–2020, highlights a concerning trend: stillbirths have more than doubled since 1997, reaching 15,908 in 2020. Early neonatal   read more »

South Africa’s youth, defined as individuals aged 15–34 years, form a crucial demographic and make up nearly one-third of the population. They represent a dynamic generation navigating a rapidly evolving society influenced by the labour market, poverty, crime and access to quality education. According to the 2024 Mid-year Population Estimates, approximately 21 million young people   read more »

Across South Africa, millions of grandparents are stepping in to raise their grandchildren. Whether due to economic hardship, parental struggles, or social shifts, more children are finding their strongest support system in their grandparents’ arms. According to the report Child Series Volume IV: Children Living with Grandparents in South Africa, 2023, approximately 6,7 million grandparents   read more »

South Africa, a country shaped by its young population, is quietly undergoing a demographic shift that could reshape its future. While the country still has a relatively young population compared to many developed nations, declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy are steadily pushing the median age upward. As the working-age population shrinks in proportion,   read more »

According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q3:2024) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 133 000 in the third quarter of 2024, bringing the level of employment to 10,6 million. According to the survey 294 000 jobs were lost between September 2023 and September 2024.   read more »