South Africa's 2022 Census: Population Soars to Over 62 Million
Breaking down the demographics, females constituted 51.5% of the total population, slightly outnumbering males at 48.5%.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-South Africa, in its decennial population and housing census, has revealed a nation in transition, with the population surging from 51.7 million in 2011 to a staggering 62 million in 2022, reflecting a robust growth rate of 1.8% over the past decade, writes Winston Mwale.
This significant increase in population size signifies the nation's evolving landscape.
Breaking down the demographics, females constituted 51.5% of the total population, slightly outnumbering males at 48.5%.
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the heavyweights with the highest populations, boasting 15 million and 12.4 million residents, respectively. In contrast, the Northern Cape claimed the title of the smallest province, housing just 1.3 million individuals.
Within the broader racial demographics, Black Africans remained the dominant population group at 81.4%, followed by the coloured population at 8.2%.
The white population percentage experienced a slight dip, falling from 8.9% in 2011 to 7.3% in 2022. Conversely, the Indian/Asian population inched up from 2.5% in 2011 to 2.7% in 2022.
The median age also exhibited an upward trajectory, climbing from 25 years in 2011 to 28 years in 2022.
A closer look at the census data unveils more than just population figures. Over 55,000 homeless individuals were documented, with males comprising 70.1% of the total, while females accounted for 29.9%.
Homelessness exhibited a more substantial presence in metropolitan areas, with 74.1% of cases occurring there. The City of Tshwane recorded the highest proportion of homeless individuals at 18.1%, closely followed by the City of Johannesburg at 15.6%.
Delving into the reasons for homelessness, job loss or a lack of income emerged as the predominant factor, cited by 41.3% of those surveyed, closely trailed by alcohol and drug abuse at 25%.
The census also offered insights into internal migration trends, revealing that Gauteng continued to be the epicenter of internal migration, drawing more than a third of all internal migrants.
The Western Cape followed, accounting for 15% of internal migration. However, some provinces experienced an outflow of people, including Limpopo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State.
South Africa's diverse population was further enriched by international migration, with over 2.4 million international migrants comprising just above 3% of the total population. The majority hailed from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with 45.5% originating from Zimbabwe, 18.7% from Mozambique, and 10.2% from Lesotho. The top five sending countries to South Africa remained consistent since 2011, featuring Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, and the United Kingdom.
On a different note, over three million children aged 0-4 years participated in Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs, with notable differences in participation across provinces.
With these census results, South Africa not only takes stock of its population and housing dynamics but also sets the stage for informed policy decisions in the years to come.
This much-anticipated 2022 Census results have been unveiled, and they paint a vivid picture of the nation's demographics and households.
Let's delve into the core takeaways:
Education at the Helm:
Black African children attending Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities stood at seven out of ten, while an impressive eight out of ten white children did the same.
The attendance rate at educational institutions surged, nearing universal levels for 5 to 6-year-olds between 1996 and 2022. However, as youth aged to 15-24, attendance started to wane.
Encouragingly, attendance levels ascended for black Africans, coloureds, and whites, with minimal shifts in the Indian/Asian demographic.
In the realm of education, women continue to shine, notably in business, economics, management sciences, and education fields. In contrast, men persist in dominating engineering and electrical infrastructure studies.
Household Highlights:
South Africa's household count soared from 14.4 million in 2011 to 17.8 million in 2022, reflecting a 2% growth rate.
The average household size took a slight dip from 3.6 to 3.5 in 2022.
KwaZulu-Natal consistently claimed the crown for the highest household size, coming in at 4.4%, followed closely by the Northern Cape at 4.1%.
When it comes to living arrangements, the vast majority (88.5%) resided in formal dwellings, with Limpopo leading the charge, escalating from 90% in 2011 to an impressive 95% in 2022.
Notably, household headship emerged as a gender-neutral domain, with KwaZulu-Natal boasting the highest proportion of female-headed households.
Water Woes and Internet Triumphs:
Though there was an uptick in households with piped water access, the rate of increase tapered off.
A staggering 48.4% of households reported enduring water disruptions for two or more consecutive days, with the Northern Cape and North West taking the lead in such interruptions.
When it comes to the digital realm, internet access among households experienced a substantial surge, soaring to 79% in 2022, up from a modest 35% in 2011. Most households turned to cellphone-based internet connections.
Agriculture Anecdotes:
A mild retreat was noted in the number of households participating in agriculture across six out of nine provinces from 2011 to 2022. However, Limpopo bucked the trend, posting a nearly 5% increase in agricultural households.
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape were the torchbearers in household agricultural engagement.
Nearly 2 million households were cultivating crops strictly for home consumption, with a striking 93% being black African-headed households and a mere 3% white-headed.
When it comes to livestock, the Eastern Cape took center stage with a whopping 58% of the national sheep count, whereas the Western Cape contributed 13%.
Meanwhile, chicken ownership saw KwaZulu-Natal leading the flock at 20.3%, followed closely by the Eastern Cape at 16.7%.
In sum, these findings serve as a comprehensive mosaic of South Africa's societal and economic landscape.
They offer valuable insights that can steer policy decisions and guide the nation toward a more informed future.
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