Statistics South Africa recently conducted a comprehensive exercise known as the Population and Housing Census 2022, which is crucial for obtaining key data on population size and composition.
This decennial event plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s health, socio-economic indicators, and development initiatives.
Census 2022 statistics: Here’s what we know about South Africa’s population
The recently unveiled Census 2022 disclosed that the population of South Africa burgeoned to 62.02 million individuals.
A BROADER ANALYSIS OF SOUTH AFRICA’S POPULATION FROM CENSUS 2022
The Post-enumeration Survey (PES) 2022, an auxiliary examination initiated immediately post-census enumeration, served as the vehicle for this revelation.
Spanning from June to August 2022, with a focal point on the midnight of 22-23 June 2022, the survey aimed to scrutinise the accuracy and integrity of the census data.
A meticulous selection of 840 sub-enumeration areas across the nation’s nine provinces facilitated a thorough evaluation.
A remarkable revelation was the ascertainment of South Africa’s population at 62.0 million individuals on the reference night of Census 2022, which was the midnight of 2 February 2022.
The detailed examination brought forth a refined figure of 61.4 million individuals residing in private dwelling units.
The unadulterated count from Census 2022 stood at 42.3 million, which, after rigorous adjustment, nudged to 43.9 million under the PES 2022 umbrella.
This adjustment underscored a net coverage error rate of 31.1% relative to the true population figure of 61.4 million.
SOUTH AFRICA’S FEMALE POPULATION SURPASSES MALES
Parallelly, the household count witnessed a similar trajectory, with a final tally of 19.3 million households post adjustment, a significant rise from the preliminary 13.4 million count in Census 2022. The net coverage error rate here was marked at 30.5%.
A notable aspect of the census is the gender composition, with males constituting 48.5% (30.07 million) and females making up 51.5% (31.94 million) of the population.
The demographic breakdown further revealed that 81.4% of the populace is Black African, followed by Coloured at 8.2%, White at 7.3%, Indian/Asian at 2.7%, and others at 0.4%.
12.2% SOUTH AFRICAN POPULATION ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION
In post-apartheid South Africa, the education sector has been a focal point of developmental reforms. The data collected during Census 2022 provides a nuanced understanding of the educational landscape in the country.
It highlighted that 73.4% of individuals aged 5-24 years were attending an educational institution, while 26.6% were not. In the age group of 20 years and above, a substantial number had achieved Grade 12/Std 10 education (37.6%), followed by some secondary education (31.6%), and higher education (12.2%).
59.7% OF SOUTH AFRICAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ACCESS TO PIPED WATER
Census 2022 provided a deep dive into the household living scenarios, shedding light on dwelling types, access to basic amenities, and headship in households.
A significant 88.5% of the populace reside in formal dwellings, with 59.7% having access to piped water within their dwelling. The data on main toilet facilities showcased that 70.8% have access to flush toilets, indicating a relatively higher standard of living for a substantial portion of the population.
Energy utilization data highlighted that a dominant 64.9% of households use electricity from mains for cooking, and an overwhelming 94.7% rely on electricity for lighting.
These crucial data points from Census 2022 not only offer a snapshot of the current demographic and socio-economic scenario but also provide a robust foundation for policy-making and future developmental programs.
