According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q4:2025) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by18 000 (0,2%) in the fourth quarter of 2025, with employment rising from 10,533 million in September 2025 to 10,551 million by December 2025. According to the survey, 102 000 jobs were   read more »

MEDIA STATEMENT 29 March 2026 Stats SA responds to Cybersecurity breach Stats SA is aware of a cybersecurity breach affecting one Human Resources database. The system that was breached is exclusively the HR system available for job seekers to apply online. The national statistics office is part of a wider government response to matters dealing   read more »

South Africa’s tourism sector had a rough time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plummeting visitor numbers led to a decline in economic activity and job losses across the industry. Recovery has been slow, but recent data show a positive trend. Employment, economic activity and domestic tourism expenditure have all rebounded, according to the latest Tourism Satellite   read more »

South Africa’s international tourism sector recorded a strong recovery in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time since global travel disruptions. According to the Tourism report (2025) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country welcomed 10,5 million tourists in 2025, representing a 17,7% increase from the 8,9 million tourists recorded in 2024.   read more »

For millions of households, navigating medical costs is a delicate balancing act—one that reveals who can access quality care, who must sacrifice to afford it, and who is left to depend entirely on public services. While private medical cover remains out of reach for most, households still dig into their pockets to pay for essentials   read more »

South Africa is experiencing a profound shift in its marital landscape, with the latest data revealing not only a rise in divorce rates but also a steady decline in the number of marriages being registered. The new data shows a notable uptick in divorces and a clear trend: women are increasingly the ones initiating the   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 »

Headline consumer inflation cooled to 3,0% in February from 3,5% in January. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,4%. To understand why inflation decreased this month, it is useful to compare the monthly change in February this year (0,4%) with February 2025 (0,9%). February’s monthly print was lower than average, and this   read more »

Stats SA recently published an update on the influence of Black Friday on November retail trade sales.1 The event has become synonymous with e-commerce. According to data quoted by BusinessDay, there was a sharp rise in online Black Friday purchases in 2025.2,3 While Stats SA does not publish data specifically on the influence of e-commerce   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 »