Five facts about the electricity, gas & water supply industry (2019)

Five facts about the electricity, gas & water supply industry (2019)

We are all keenly aware of the electricity challenges our country is facing. Here are five key facts from Stats SA’s latest report on the industry, covering data on the nation’s energy mix, electricity production, and employment. The Electricity, gas and water supply industry report for 2019 covers the results of a large sample survey   read more »


The role of EBAs in public healthcare spending

The role of EBAs in public healthcare spending

There are a small number of healthcare institutions that fall in the extra-budgetary accounts and funds (EBAs) arm of government. You may have heard of the South African Medical Research Council and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority in media coverage of COVID-19. A recent report by Stats SA provides pre-COVID-19 financial data for   read more »


A new and improved GDP is here!

A new and improved GDP is here!

Stats SA has finalised a comprehensive overhaul of its national accounts. The latest gross domestic product (GDP) rebasing and benchmarking exercise has resulted in an upward revision in the size of the economy, as well as changes to the composition of the supply and demand sides of economic activity. Remaining relevant is key Any statistical   read more »


South African labour market is more favourable to men than women

South African labour market is more favourable to men than women

Equal opportunity and equal treatment in the labour market are at the core of decent work. Unfortunately, women in South Africa and around the world still face additional challenges that hinder them from accessing employment. Once they are in employment, appointments to decision-making positions and jobs in certain sectors, or of certain characteristics, remain elusive.   read more »


Inflation softens for a second month

Inflation softens for a second month

Annual consumer price inflation edged lower to 4,6% in July from 4,9% in June and 5,2% in May. The monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) in July was 1,1%, the highest monthly jump since July 2020 when the CPI increased by 1,3%. The primary drivers behind the monthly rise were alcoholic beverages, housing   read more »


Help us improve how we communicate with you

Help us improve how we communicate with you

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) is in the process of improving its operations through the adoption of a mixed-mode data collection model for its household survey programme.  This means that, in addition to our usual method of collecting data through face-to-face interviews, Stats SA will also use new methods such as telephonic and online collection   read more »


Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

There is no doubt that South Africa has made significant progress towards achieving gender equality since 1956, when 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Activists rebelled against a patriarchal system designed to control women and reduce them to submissive beings   read more »


Municipal dependence on national government financing

Municipal dependence on national government financing

What makes Stats SA’s Financial census of municipalities report so interesting is that it provides an idea of how financially dependent municipalities are on national government. The latest data show that the share of income that municipalities generate on their own has increased slightly since 2017, but there is more to this finding than meets   read more »


CPI inflation edges lower in June

CPI inflation edges lower in June

Annual consumer inflation eased to 4,9% in June after recording a 30-month high of 5,2% in May. The monthly increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,2%, up from 0,1% in May but lower than the 0,5% rise recorded between May and June 2020. If annual consumer inflation is recalculated with the exclusion of   read more »


COVID-19 epidemic reduces life expectancy in 2021

COVID-19 epidemic reduces life expectancy in 2021

The population of South Africa was estimated to be 60,14 million at mid-year 2021, an increase of about 604 281 (1,01%) since mid-year 2020. The latest Mid-year population estimates, 2021 released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), shows that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mortality and migration in the country since the start of the pandemic   read more »