South Africa’s population rises to 62 million, census data reveals

PRETORIA – South Africa’s population reached 62 million people in 2022, marking a significant increase from 51.8 million in 2011, according to data from the country’s statistics agency released on Tuesday.

This census, the first in over a decade, has provided valuable insights into the nation’s demographic composition.

The 2022 census indicates that approximately eight out of every 10 people in South Africa are of black African descent, with less than one in 10 identifying as white.

Migration played a significant role in this demographic shift.

Statistics South Africa reported that over 2.4 million migrants resided in the country last year, with the largest percentage originating from neighboring Zimbabwe at 45.5%, totaling 1,012,059 migrants.

Mozambique and Lesotho followed as the next highest contributors. In contrast, the 2011 census recorded 672,308 migrants living in South Africa.

The reasons for migration across borders are diverse and complex.

According to Stats SA, these movements are primarily driven by the search for economic opportunities, political instability, and, increasingly, environmental factors.

This latest census was the fourth since South Africa’s first democratic elections following the end of apartheid in 1994.

It was particularly unique as it was the first census conducted online, embracing modern technology for data collection.

President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the statistics agency for this innovation and highlighted the significance of the data for government planning and resource allocation.

“The information is critical for government planning and will help inform how the budget should be structured,” said President Ramaphosa during a media briefing following the census data release.

South Africa’s population breakdown

Interestingly, the census data revealed that more women in South Africa attained higher education qualifications than men during the surveyed period.

This is despite recent figures that have indicated higher unemployment rates for women compared to men.

In the second quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate for women stood at 35.7%, while men had an unemployment rate of 30%.

The census also showed an improvement in access to decent housing. In 2022, only 8.1% of households reported living in informal dwellings, a decrease from 13.6% in 2011.

However, not all data was released as part of this census. Information related to household assets, a key indicator of living standards in the country, was withheld due to insufficient data.

Other essential data, such as income and wealth distributions, mortality rates, and unemployment figures, is yet to be finalized.

These metrics are crucial for assessing South Africa’s progress in reducing poverty and inequality.

The latest census results are expected to influence the policies and plans of political and government entities as South Africa prepares for its national elections next year.

They will play a pivotal role in addressing the pressing challenges the country faces.