| 4th National Census | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
 | ||
| General information | ||
| Country | South Africa | |
| Website | census.statssa.gov.za | |
| Results | ||
| Total population | 62 million (19.8%  ) | |
| Most populous | Gauteng | |
| Least populous | Northern Cape | |
The South African National Census of 2022 is the 4th comprehensive census performed by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). [1] The census results were released on 10 October 2023 and recorded a total of 62 million people in the country. [2] [3]
The first reports of statistics, published on 10 October 2023, showed a total population of 62,027,503. [4]
81,4% of the population is black African. The median age of the total population is 28 years. [4]
| Rank | Group | 2011 Census | 2022 Census | Change | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1  | Black African | 41,000,938 | 50,486,856 | 9,485,918 | 20.74% |
| 2 | Coloured | 4,615,401 | 5,052,349 | 436,948 | 9.04% |
| 3 | White | 4,586,838 | 4,504,252 | −82,586 | -1.82% |
| 4 | Asian or Indian | 1,286,930 | 1,697,506 | 410,576 | 27.51% |
| 5 | Other | 280,454 | 247,353 | −33,101 | -12.54% |
| Total population | 51,770,560 | 61,988,314 | 10,217,755 | 19,8% | |
| First language | WC | EC | NC | FS | KZN | NW | GP | MP | LP | Population | SA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | 41.2 | 9.6 | 54.6 | 10.3 | 1 | 5.2 | 7.7 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 6,583,111 | 10.6% |
| English | 22 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 14.4 | 1 | 9.2 | 1.5 | 1 | 5,388,221 | 8.7% |
| IsiNdebele | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 9.9 | 1.1 | 1,053,711 | 1.7% |
| IsiXhosa | 31.4 | 81.8 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 1 | 0.2 | 10,073,111 | 16.3% |
| IsiZulu | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.7 | 80 | 1.6 | 23.1 | 27.8 | 0.6 | 15,124,191 | 24.4% |
| Sepedi | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 12.6 | 10.3 | 55.5 | 6,198,831 | 10% |
| Sesotho | 1 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 72.3 | 0.6 | 5.9 | 13.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 4,958,852 | 7.8% |
| Setswana | 0.1 | 0 | 35.7 | 5.3 | 0 | 72.8 | 10.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 5,113,111 | 8.3% |
| SA Sign Language | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 12,397 | 0.02% |
| SiSwati (Swazi) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 30.5 | 0.3 | 1,737,722 | 2.8% |
| Tshivenda | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 17.4 | 1,549,957 | 2.5% |
| Xitsonga | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0 | 3.1 | 7 | 10.6 | 17.3 | 2,913,111 | 4.7% |
| Khoi, Nama & San languages | 0 | 0.01 | 0.17 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 6,199 | 0.01% |
| Shona | 2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 743,739 | 1.2% |
| Chichewa, Nyanja | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0 | 185,965 | 0.3% |
| Portuguese | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0 | 123,977 | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 247,953 | 0.4% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Rank | Gender | 2011 Census | 2022 Census | Change | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Female | 26,581,769 | 31,948,746 | 5,366,977 | 18.33% |
| 2 | Male | 25,188,791 | 30,078,757 | 4,889,966 | 17.69% |
| Rank | Province | 2011 Census | 2022 Census | Change | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gauteng | 12,272,263 | 15,099,422 | 2,827,159 | 10.33% |
| 2 | KwaZulu-Natal | 10,267,300 | 12,423,907 | 2,156,607 | 9.5% |
| 3 | Western Cape | 5,822,734 | 7,433,019 | 1,610,285 | 12.15% |
| 4 | Eastern Cape | 6,562,053 | 7,230,304 | 668,251 | 4.85% |
| 5 | Limpopo | 5,404,868 | 6,572,720 | 1,167,852 | 9.75% |
| 6 | Mpumalanga | 4,039,939 | 5,143,324 | 1,103,385 | 12.02% |
| 7 | North West | 3,509,953 | 3,804,548 | 294,595 | 4.03% |
| 8 | Free State | 2,745,590 | 2,964,412 | 218,822 | 3.83% |
| 9 | Northern Cape | 1,145,861 | 1,355,946 | 210,085 | 8.4% |
| Total population | 51,770,560 | 62,027,602 | 10,257,041 | 9.01% | |
The census taking period was extended in the Western Cape province to 14 May 2022 after it was announced that only 58% of the province's population had participated in it by late April that year; [8] whilst around 80% of the country's whole population had been surveyed by the same date. [8] The deadline was extended a second time in the Western Cape to 31 May as only 78% of the province's population had been counted by the end of the first extension period. [9]
The issue of under-counting in the Western Cape Province was a serious issue of concern for the Western Cape Provincial government as it might result in fewer resources being allocated to the province by national government on a per-capita basis relative to the rest of the country. [8]
Stats SA reported particular difficulty in getting an accurate census count of both White and Coloured residents which accounted for the low census participation rate in the Western Cape province. [10] In the Western Cape census workers reported difficulty in contacting households with high walls - thereby preventing many surveys from being conducted - whilst other households refused to participate in the census. [11] Other problems encountered by Stats SA in the province included not being able to hire enough census workers or being able to secure enough vehicles. [11]
After the publication of the census results it was reported that the under-count rate was 31% [12] with the under-count rate being the highest in the Western Cape. [6] The high under-count rate was reported as an issue of concern as it raised questions about the accuracy of the number of white, Indian, foreign-born and homeless people recorded in the census. [12] In August 2024 STATS SA announced that due to reporting anomalies it would not be releasing key data such as figures on mortality, fertility, employment and household income. [13]
Despite these criticisms, most notably the under-counting problem, STATS SA rejected calls from academia and other researchers for a recount and instead stated that the results were credible. [13]
Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the country's second-largest city, after Johannesburg, and the largest in the Western Cape. The city is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.
South Africa is divided into nine provinces. On the eve of the 1994 general election, South Africa's former homelands, known as Bantustans, were reintegrated into the country, and the four provinces were increased to nine. The borders of Natal and the Orange Free State were retained, while the Cape Province and Transvaal were divided into three provinces each, plus North West Province which straddles the border of and contains territory from both these two former provinces. The twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the Constitution of South Africa changed the borders of seven of the provinces.
According to the 2022 census, the population of South Africa is about 62 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa.
The Eastern Cape is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, and its largest city is Gqeberha. Due to its climate and nineteenth century towns, it is a common location for tourists. It is also known for being home to many anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela.
The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of 129,449 square kilometres (49,981 sq mi), and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020. About two-thirds of these inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town, which is also the provincial capital. The Western Cape was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province. The two largest cities are Cape Town and George.
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is situated in Lebowakgomo.
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and an international park shared with Botswana. It also includes the Augrabies Falls and the diamond mining regions in Kimberley and Alexander Bay.
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre and province of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is one of eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. It is located on the shores of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape province and comprises the city of Gqeberha, the nearby towns of Uitenhage and Despatch, and the surrounding rural area.
Crime in South Africa includes all violent and non-violent crimes that take place in the country of South Africa, or otherwise within its jurisdiction. When compared to other countries South Africa has notably high rates of violent crime and has a reputation for consistently having one of the highest murder rates in the world. The country also experiences high rates of organised crime relative to other countries.
Nyanga is a township in the Western Cape, South Africa. Its name in Xhosa means "moon" and it is one of the oldest black townships in Cape Town. It was established as a result of the migrant labour system. In 1948 black migrants were forced to settle in Nyanga as Langa had become too small. Nyanga was one of the poorest places in Cape Town and is still one of the most peaceful parts of Cape Town. In 2001 its unemployment rate was estimated at being approximately 56% and HIV/AIDS is a huge community issue.
The South African National Census of 2011 is the 3rd comprehensive census performed by Statistics South Africa.
Ethnic groups in South Africa have a variety of origins. The racial categories introduced by the colonial apartheid regime remain ingrained in South African society with the governing party of South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) continuing to classify the population as belonging to one of the three colonial-era constructed racial groups: Africans, 'Whites', and 'Coloureds' as well as Indians.
Hanover Park is a neighborhood of the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa
Makotopong is a village located 30 km outside the town of Polokwane within the province of Limpopo in South Africa. Makotopong falls under the Polokwane Local Municipality.
Cape independence, also known by the portmanteau CapeXit, is a political movement that seeks the independence of the Western Cape province from South Africa.
