Hake generated over a quarter of total sales of caught fish in 2023, followed by squid, lobster, tuna and anchovy. South African hake is widely distributed as a food source, accounting for 0,8% of total household spending on food. This is higher than other food items such as beef steak, sausages and meat patties. Explore   read more »

More consumer units are receiving basic services, but fewer are receiving these services for free. A 10-year review shows the coverage of free basic water falling from 38% in 2014 to 16% in 2023. The same held true for electricity, sewerage & sanitation and solid waste management. Explore municipal service delivery, as well as other   read more »

Agriculture came to the rescue in the first quarter, helping to pull GDP up by a marginal 0,1%. Four of the ten industries on the production side of the economy saw positive gains, but these were offset mainly by declines in mining and manufacturing. Explore the latest GDP figures, as well as other stories, in   read more »

Forestry & logging is the second smallest of 16 industries covered by Stats SA’s structural industry surveys. To get a sense of scale, manufacturing – the biggest of the 16 – is 82 times larger if income is used as a measuring tool. Explore the forestry & logging industry, as well as other stories, in   read more »

Coal provided the bulk of South Africa’s energy supply in 2021, according to the latest physical energy flow accounts. The electricity, gas & steam supply industry was the biggest user, relying heavily on coal to generate electricity. Coal was also the country’s biggest energy export. Explore how energy products flow through our economy, as well   read more »

Agriculture, trade and finance kept the South African economy above water in the fourth quarter of 2024. The three industries contributed positively to the 0,6% rise in the gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture was lifted by field crops and animal products, while trade expanded on the back of increased wholesale, motor and retail trade. Explore   read more »

The new inflation basket reflects current trends in consumer behaviour. Air fryers, e-hailing services, refills for e-cigarettes, streaming services and toy building bricks (think LEGO) have entered the basket. Products leaving the basket include graters, wax shoe polish, TV decoders, magazines and – sadly – teddy bears. Explore the new inflation basket, as well as   read more »

Agriculture took the wind out of the economy’s sails in the third quarter, dragging overall economic growth into negative territory. Real gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0,3%, with agriculture the largest negative contributor. Transport, trade and government also contributed to the slowdown. Explore the latest GDP numbers, as well as other stories, in this   read more »

Each province has its own unique economic profile. The latest set of regional gross domestic product (GDP) figures paint a picture of what drives economic activity in each province. The data also show what each province brings to the economic table of the country. Explore provincial economic data, as well as other stories, in this   read more »

You can’t teach a hungry child. In 1994, the South African government established the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), a nationwide project that provides meals to schools in poorer communities. Stats SA provides a glimpse into how much money is spent on this vitally important initiative. Explore school nutrition, as well as other stories, in   read more »