{"id":19621,"date":"2026-06-16T10:11:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19621"},"modified":"2026-06-16T10:11:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:11:17","slug":"south-africas-youth-three-decades-of-change-1996-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19621","title":{"rendered":"South Africa\u2019s youth: Three decades of change (1996\u20132022)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As South Africa commemorates 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising, Youth Month provides an opportunity to reflect on how the lives of young people have changed over time. The generation of 1976 fought for access to quality education, dignity, and equal opportunity. As Statistics South Africa celebrates 30 years of census &#8211; taking in a democratic South Africa, census data from 1996 to 2022 shows a picture of progress, alongside the challenges faced by the youth. Between 1996 and 2022, the number of young people aged 15\u201334 increased from 14,7 million to 21,6 million, representing a growth of 38,6%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Growth has not been uniform across age groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Younger youth (15\u201319 years) recorded relatively slow growth over the period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Older youth, particularly those aged 30\u201334, experienced the fastest expansion, growing by nearly 60%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This shift reflects an ageing youth cohort, with more individuals remaining in the youth category for longer periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of sex distribution, the population has become more balanced. While females outnumbered males in 1996, the gap narrowed considerably by 2022, with near parity between young men and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Population group dynamics among the youth changed drastically between 1996 and 2022. Black Africans, the largest group, increased from 78,7% in 1996 to 85,5% in 2022, reflecting sustained growth in both absolute numbers and relative share. All other population groups recorded a decline in their share of the youth population over the same period; the largest decline was observed among the whites, from 9,5% in 1996 to 4,5% in 2022, while the coloured and Indian\/Asian youth population decreased by 1,4% and 0,3% over the same period, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Provincial trends point to strong patterns of internal migration. Provinces with large urban economies\u2014particularly Gauteng and Western Cape\u2014recorded the highest increases in youth populations. Gauteng alone added approximately 2,5 million young people between 1996 and 2022, the largest increase nationally. In contrast, provinces such as the Free State and Eastern Cape experienced limited growth, reflecting out-migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These trends highlight the growing concentration of youth in urban areas seeking employment, education, and better opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide3.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 1996, there have been notable improvements in living conditions for youth-headed households. The proportion of youth-headed households living in formal dwellings increased from 62,5% in 1996 to 82,4% in 2022. Despite this improvement, youth remain more likely than older household heads to live in informal dwellings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Access to piped water has improved significantly; youth-headed households with water inside the dwelling increased to 51,2% in 2022. Similarly, access to flush toilets increased steadily, reaching 67,9% for youth-headed households in 2022. While these gains demonstrate progress, youth households consistently lag behind non-youth households across key service indicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa has made important gains in educational attainment among young people. The proportion of youth without any schooling declined substantially between 1996 and 2022. Completion of secondary education increased across all age groups. The share of youth with a bachelor\u2019s degree more than doubled over the period, although it remains relatively low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, participation in education has declined; attendance dropped from around 39% in 1996 to about 29% in 2022. In 2022, 5,8 million youth were enrolled in educational institutions. These figures indicate higher attainment alongside lower participation in education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite gains in education, the transition from education to employment remains a major challenge. Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa report for 2022 describes the labour market experience of youth. Youth unemployment remained higher than the national average over the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Slide5.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 2004 and 2024, the share of youth in employment declined across all provinces. Young women recorded lower employment rates and higher unemployment than young men; in 2024, the unemployment rate among female youth was 49,4%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poverty continues to affect a large proportion of young people. The Living Conditions Survey (LCS) and the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) conducted by Stats SA are the two primary contributors toward profiling and monitoring poverty and inequality over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2011, approximately 33,4% of youth were multidimensionally poor, experiencing deprivation across several indicators. Provincial disparities remain pronounced, with higher poverty levels in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo. These patterns reflect enduring spatial inequalities in access to resources and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Crime and perceptions of safety remain important concerns for young people. Victims of crime statistics are population estimates of the level of crime in South Africa derived from Government, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) data and previous Victims of Crime (VOCS) data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Theft of personal property is the crime most commonly experienced by youth. Most youth reported feeling safe walking alone in their area during the day, while a smaller share \u2014 around 37,7% in 2022\/23 \u2014 reported feeling safe at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 1996 and 2022, the data show gains in population, access to services and educational attainment, alongside persistently high youth unemployment and poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Continued census and survey data allow these trends to be monitored over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stats SA is in field all year-round collecting data for several household-based surveys. The public is urged to cooperate with Stats SA field staff to ensure that we can publish data such as this, which paints a picture of what is happening in our country and allows for evidence-based decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Communities are urged to ensure that the person knocking on their door is a legitimate Stats SA staff member by using the Fieldworker Verification System on our website (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?page_id=17709\">https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?page_id=17709<\/a>); calling the Stats SA call centre on 0800 110&nbsp;248, or contacting their nearest provincial or district office (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?page_id=505#prov_contact\">https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?page_id=505#prov_contact<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How to identify genuine Stats SA fieldworkers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All fieldworkers carry official photo ID cards and signed approach letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They wear Stats SA-branded attire, including t-shirts, bibs, and caps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They operate official vehicles branded with the Stats SA logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>30 Years of Counting all people \u2014 because everyone counts<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As South Africa commemorates 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising, Youth Month provides an opportunity to reflect on how the lives of young people have changed over time. The generation of 1976 fought for access to quality education, dignity, and equal opportunity. As Statistics South Africa celebrates 30 years of census &#8211; taking in&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19621\" class=\"btn btn-mini btn-info pull-right\" style=\"margin:10px 30px;\">read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19621"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19627,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19621\/revisions\/19627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}