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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 [1] [2] [3] [4] with the governing party of South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) continuing to classify the population as belonging to one of the four colonial-era constructed racial groups: Whites, Indians, Coloureds and Blacks. [4] [3]
The ANC government claims that using these categories is essential in order to identify and track the progress of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI) which are people who, before democratisation and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No. 200 of 1993), came into operation, were disadvantaged by unfair discrimination on the basis of race under the former colonial apartheid regime. [5] [6]
The National Census of 1996 was the 1st comprehensive national census by the ANC government, after the democratic transition. Statistics South Africa (SSA) provides the limited categories based on the classifications of the previous regime by which people must use to classify themselves, including a fifth category of "unspecified/other". [7]
Category | 1996 | 2001 | 2011 | 2022 | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
African | 76,7% | 68,4% | 79,2% | 81,4% | 2,2% |
Coloured | 10,9% | 7,7% | 8,9% | 8,2% | 0,72% |
White | 8,9% | 8,3% | 8,9% | 7,3% | 1,6% |
Asian or Indian | 2,6% | 2,2% | 2,5% | 2,7% | 0,2% |
Other | No Data | No Data | 0,5% | 0,4% | 0,1% |
Total population | 40 600 000 | 44 819 778 | 51 770 560 | 62 027 503 | 14,39% |
The majority population of South Africa are those who identify themselves as 'Black' Africans or 'Black' people of South Africa, who are culturally and linguistically heterogeneous. They include Zulu, Xhosa, BaPedi (North Sotho), BaTswana, BaSotho (South Sotho), Tsonga, Swazi, Venda and South Ndebele people, all of whom are represented in the languages of South Africa. According to the 2022 census, the twelve official languages according to usage are: isiZulu 24,4%, isiXhosa 16,3%, Afrikaans 10,6%, English 8,7%, Sepedi 10,0%, Setswana 8,3%, Sesotho 7,8%, Xitsonga 4,7%, siSwati 2,8%, Tshivenda 2,5%, isiNdebele 1,7% and South African Sign Language. [12]
These cultural groups are also found across southern Africa. The BaSotho are the majority ethnic group of Lesotho. The Tswana make up the majority of the population of Botswana. The Swazi are the majority in Swaziland. The Tsonga are also found in Southern Mozambique.
The term African in South Africa generally refers to individuals who can trace their ancestral lineage exclusively on the continent, excluding Europe, Oceania, the Americas or Asia.[ citation needed ]
As of the calculations of 2004, there were 34 216 164 people and 8 625 050 households in this category. Their population density is 29/km2 and the density of 'Black' households is 7/km2. They made up 79% of the total population of South Africa in 2011 and 81% in 2016. [13] The percentage of all 'Black' households that are made up of individuals is 19.9%. The average household size is 4.11 members.[ citation needed ]
This population is dispersed across South Africa with 34 under the age of 15, 21,6% from 15 to 2428,3% from 25 to 44, 11.8% from 45 to 64 and 4,3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age of a 'Black' South African is 21 years. For every 100 females there are 91,1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86,2 males. [14]
With regard to education, 22,3% of 'Black' people aged 20 and over have received no schooling, 18,5% have had some primary, 6,9% have completed only primary school, 30,4% have had some high education, 16,8% have finished only high school and 5,2% have an education higher than the high school level. Overall, 22% of 'Black' people have completed high school and 59% aged 25 to 64, have an upper secondary education as their highest level of education. This places South Africa above the G20 average of 32% and the OECD average of 38%. [15]
The percentage of housing units having a telephone and/or mobile phone in the dwelling is 31,1%. The percentage having access to a nearby phone is 57,2%, and 11,7% do not have nearby access or any access. The percentage of households that have a flush or chemical toilet is 41,9%. Refuse is removed from 45,3% of 'Black' households by the municipality at least once a week and 11% have no rubbish disposal. Some 17,9% have running water inside their dwelling, 51,7% have running water on their property and 80.2% have access to running water. The percentage of 'Black' households using electricity for cooking is 39,3%, for heating, 37,2% and for lighting, 62%. Radios are owned by 68,7% of Black households while 44,2% have a television, 1,8% own a computer, 40% have a refrigerator and 24,6% have a mobile phone.[ citation needed ]
'The unemployment rate of the 'Black' population aged 15–65 is 28,1%. The median annual income of Black working adults aged 15–65 is ZAR 12 073. Males have a median annual income of ZAR 14 162 versus ZAR 8 903 for females. [16]
The 'Coloured' population include people of mixed heritage who are concentrated in the Cape region, who can have as many as 140 or more ethnicities identified in their DNA. [17]
It is important to understand that today, not all people of multiracial heritage in South Africa identify as 'Coloured'. Some individuals of mixed heritage prefer to identify as 'Black, 'White', Indian or indigenous [18] South Africans for example, as they are now free to choose. However, during the apartheid era this categorisation was enforced by law for anyone who was determined to be of multiracial descent by the government.[ citation needed ] This cultural group doesn't have a particular language or traditions because their identity stems from their shared history and sense of community. Although they are an extremely diverse group, many speak Afrikaans as a first language.[ citation needed ]
The Cape 'Coloureds' originally descended sexual unions of European colonists with indigenous, African and Asian (ie: Javanese, Malay, Indian, Malagasy) slaves or indentured labourers. The Cape Malay identity, which was considered a subgroup of 'Coloured' under the apartheid regime, was generally held to encompass people of multiracial heritage from the Cape who practised Islam.[ citation needed ]
There is also a significant group of Chinese South Africans (approximately 300 000 or more). They were also classified as a subgroup of 'Coloured' under apartheid.[ citation needed ] In 2008, the Pretoria High Court ruled that the descendants of mainland Chinese who arrived before 1994, and had been classified as a subgroup of 'Coloured' by the apartheid government, were eligible for redress. As a result of this ruling, about 12 000–15 000 [19] ethnically Chinese citizens who arrived before 1994, numbering 3%–5% of the total Chinese population in the country are now included in the HDI group and benefit from government BEE policies. [20]
However, other Asian cultural groups such as Hong Kongers, Taiwanese and Japanese South Africans were categorised as honorary whites during apartheid. [21]
Within the Coloured community, more recent immigrants will also be found i.e. Coloureds from the former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); Namibia and immigrants of mixed descent from India (such as Anglo-Indians) who were welcomed to the Cape when India and Burma received their Independence. [22]
This group consists predominantly of Dutch, German, French Huguenot, English, Portuguese and other European descendants. [17] [23] Culturally and linguistically, they are divided into Afrikaans-speaking and English-speaking groups.[ citation needed ] According to the 2022 census, one of the top three most spoken languages is Afrikaans (10,6%).
The first census in South Africa in 1911 showed that 'Whites' made up 22% of the population; who declined to 16% in 1980. [24] The 'white' population decreased further in the 1990s and 2000s due to a low birth rate and emigration.[ citation needed ] As a factor in their decision to emigrate, many cite the high crime rate, affirmative action policies and racial discrimination. [25] [26] From 1994 to 2010, approximately 400,000 'Whites' permanently emigrated. [10]
Despite high emigration levels among South Africans of European descent, new immigrants from Europe or the diaspora have desired to settle in the country.
In the 1970s, many European descendants living in Portuguese colonies such as Angola and Mozambique moved to South Africa after the independence of those nations.[ citation needed ] Many Zimbabweans and Kenyans of British descent also immigrated to South Africa - many of whom lament the loss of their colonial lifestyles are called "Whenwees" because they’re always talking about "When we were in..." [27]
In the 1980s and early 1990s the apartheid regime encouraged immigration particularly from Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. By 2005, an estimated 212 000 British citizens had sought out new lives in South Africa, growing up to 500 000 by 2011. [28]
Between 2000 and 2010 South Africans of European descent returned in large numbers. By May 2014, it was estimated that around 340 000 former South Africans had returned home after immigrating elsewhere in the preceding decade. [29]
As of the census of 2001, there are 4 293 638 'Whites' and 1 409 690 households in South Africa. Their population density is 4/km2 and the density of their households is 1,16/km2. They made up 9,6% of the total population.
The percentage of all 'White' households that are made up of individuals is 19,1%. The average household size is 3,05 members. In South Africa, this population is spread out, with 19% under the age of 15, 15.1% from 15 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 11,1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age of a 'White' person is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 94 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91,1 males.
With regards to education, 1,4% of 'Whites' aged 20 and over have received no schooling, 1,2% have had no more than some primary school education, 0,8% have only completed primary school, 25,9% have had no more than some high school education, 41,3% have finished only high school, and 29,8% have an education higher than the high-school level. Overall, 70,7% of Whites have completed high school.
The percentage of housing units having a telephone and/or mobile phone in the dwelling is 95,4%. The percentage having access to a nearby phone is 4,4%, and 0,2% do not have nearby access or any access. The percentage of White households that have a flush or chemical toilet is 98,7%. Waste is removed from 90,8% of White households by the municipality at least once a week, and 0,5% have no rubbish disposal. Some 87,2% of White have running water inside their dwelling, 95,6% have running water on their property, and 99,4% have access to running water. The percentage of households using electricity for cooking is 96,6%, for heating, 93,2%, and for lighting, 99,2%. Radios are owned by 94,7% of households while 92,6% have a television, 46% own a computer, 97,6% have a refrigerator, and 74,6% have a mobile phone.
The unemployment rate of the 'White' population aged 15–65 is 4,1%. The median annual income of working adults aged 15–65 is ZAR 65 000. 'White' males have a median annual income of ZAR 81 701 versus ZAR 52 392 for females.[ citation needed ]
Descendants of migrants from British India in the late 19th and early 20th century [17] have an estimated population of 1,2 million or 2,5% of the South African population; many of whom descended from indentured workers brought in the nineteenth century to work on the sugar plantations of the eastern coastal area of Natal and adhered to different religions and spoke different languages. [17] A smaller group, referred to as Passenger Indians came independently for work purposes and business interests at around the same time.[ citation needed ]
The Khoikhoi and San people of South Africa are a minority indigenous population. The Khoikhoi were pastoralists and extensively integrated into the colonial economy, many converting early to Christianity. [ citation needed ] The San people were hunter-gatherers.[ citation needed ] These groups were not identified as Black South African, African or Black African by the colonists. In the 2011 census for example, the overwhelming majority of the San community in Platfontein originating from the northern parts of Namibia and southern Angola opted to be classified as 'Other' whereas descendants of Namaqualand Khoikhoi classify themselves as Coloured. [18]
There is a small but notable population of Lemba people who live primarily in the north eastern regions of South Africa who have Bantu and Semitic origins.[ citation needed ]
A small population of Kalderash Roma people have also made South Africa their home. [30] [31]
Zimbabweans, Somalis, Ethiopians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Nigerians constitute the largest migrant communities in the last two decades. There are also Vietnamese, Koreans and Filipinos in South Africa.[ citation needed ]
Between 2009 and 2016, South Africa's population increased by 11,6% from an estimated 49,9 million to an estimated 55,7 million. [32] [33]
Year | 'Black' | 'Coloured' | 'White' | Indian/Asian | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | ±% p.a. | Pop. | ±% p.a. | Pop. | ±% p.a. | Pop. | ±% p.a. | Pop. | ±% p.a. | |
1996 | 31 127 631 | — | 3 600 446 | — | 4 434 697 | — | 1 045 596 | — | 40 583 573 | — |
2001 | 35 416 166 | +2,6% | 3 994 505 | +2,1% | 4 293 640 | −3,2% | 1 115 467 | +6,7% | 44 819 778 | +10,4% |
2011 | 41 000 938 | +1,5% | 4 615 401 | +1,5% | 4 586 838 | +6,8% | 1 286 930 | +15,4% | 51 770 560 | +15,5% |
2014 | 43 333 700 | +1,9% | 4 771 500 | +1,1% | 4 554 800 | −0,7% | 1 341 900 | +4,3% | 54 002 000 | +4,3% |
According to the 2022 census, the population of South Africa is about 62 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. With a majority being Black Africans. The South African National Census of 2022 was the most recent census held; the next will be in 2032.
Phillips County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, in what is known as the Arkansas Delta along the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,568. The county seat is Helena–West Helena.
Coloureds are multiracial people in South Africa, Namibia and to a less extent, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Their ancestry descends from European settlers namely Dutch, French and British intermixing with Indian, Asian and Khoisan or Bantu women in the Cape Colony from the 17th century onwards.
In South Africa, Asian usually refers to people of South Asian ancestry, more commonly called Indians. They are largely descended from people who migrated to South Africa in the late 19th and early 20th century from British ruled South Asia.
The National Party, also known as the Nationalist Party, was a political party in South Africa from 1914 to 1997, which was responsible for the implementation of apartheid rule. The party was an Afrikaner ethnic nationalist party, which initially promoted the interests of Afrikaners but later became a stalwart promoter and enactor of white supremacy, for which it is best known. It first became the governing party of the country in 1924. It merged with its rival, the South African Party (SAP), during the 1929-1939 Great Depression, and a splinter faction, the Re-United National Party became the official opposition during World War II and won power in 1948. With the National Party governing South Africa from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994, the country for the bulk of this time was only a de jure or partial democracy, as from 1958 onwards non-white people were barred from voting. In 1990, it began to style itself as simply a South African civic nationalist party, and after the fall of apartheid in 1994, attempted to become a moderate conservative one. The party's reputation was damaged irreparably by perpetrating apartheid, and it rebranded itself as the New National Party in 1997 before eventually dissolving in 2005.
The Free State, formerly known as the Orange Free State, is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Boer republic called the Orange Free State and later the Orange Free State Province.
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 Population Registration Act of 1950 required that each inhabitant of South Africa be classified and registered in accordance with their racial characteristics as part of the system of apartheid.
At least thirty-five languages are spoken in South Africa, twelve of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, South African Sign Language, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, and English, which is the primary language used in parliamentary and state discourse, though all official languages are equal in legal status. In addition, South African Sign Language was recognised as the twelfth official language of South Africa by the National Assembly on 3 May 2023. Unofficial languages are protected under the Constitution of South Africa, though few are mentioned by any name.
Apartheid was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an authoritarian political culture based on baasskap, which ensured that South Africa was dominated politically, socially, and economically by the nation's minority white population. Under this minoritarian system, white citizens held the highest status, followed by Indians, Coloureds and black Africans, in that order. The economic legacy and social effects of apartheid continue to the present day, particularly inequality.
South African Bantu-speaking peoples represent the majority of migrant non indigenous ethno-racial groups of South Africa. Occasionally grouped as Bantu, the term itself is derived from the English word "people", common to many of the Bantu languages. The Oxford Dictionary of South African English describes "Bantu", when used in a contemporary usage or racial context as "obsolescent and offensive", because of its strong association with the "white minority rule" with their Apartheid system. However, Bantu is used without pejorative connotations in other parts of Africa and is still used in South Africa as the group term for the language family.
Honorary whites was a political term that was used by the apartheid regime of South Africa to grant some of the rights and privileges of whites to those who would otherwise have been treated as non-whites under the Population Registration Act. It was enacted by the then ruling National Party (NP).
New York County, coterminous with the New York City borough of Manhattan, is the most densely populated U.S. county, with a density of 70,825.6/sq mi (27,345.9/km2) as of 2013. In 1910, it reached a peak of 101,548/sq mi (39,208/km2). The county is one of the original counties of New York State.
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During the Napoleonic Wars, the Cape Colony was annexed by the British and officially became their colony in 1815. Britain encouraged settlers to the Cape, and in particular, sponsored the 1820 Settlers to farm in the disputed area between the colony and the Xhosa in what is now the Eastern Cape. The changing image of the Cape from Dutch to British excluded the Dutch farmers in the area, the Boers who in the 1820s started their Great Trek to the northern areas of modern South Africa. This period also marked the rise in power of the Zulu under their king Shaka Zulu. Subsequently, several conflicts arose between the British, Boers and Zulus, which led to the Zulu defeat and the ultimate Boer defeat in the Second Anglo-Boer War. However, the Treaty of Vereeniging established the framework of South African limited independence as the Union of South Africa.
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White Bermudians are Bermudians whose ancestry lies within the continent of Europe, most notably the British Isles and Portugal. At the 2016 census the number of Bermudians who identify as white was 19,466 or 31 percent of the total population.
Black Bermudians, African Bermudians, Afro-Bermudians or Bermudians of African descent, are Bermudians with any appreciable Black African ancestry. The population descends from Africans who arrived in Bermuda during the 17th century as indentured servants and slaves, mostly via Spanish, or former Spanish, territories or Spanish and other ships wrecked at Bermuda or captured by Bermuda-based privateers.
Others pointed out that the repeal of the Population Registration Act in 1991 removed any legal basis for specifying 'race'. The Identification Act of 1997 makes no mention of race. On the other hand, the Employment Equity Act speaks of 'designated groups' being 'black people, women and people with disabilities'. The Act defines 'black' as referring to 'Africans, coloureds and Indians'. Apartheid and the racial identification which underpinned it explicitly linked race with differential access to resources and power. If the post-apartheid order was committed to remedying this, race would have to be included in surveys and censuses, so that progress in eradicating the consequences of apartheid could be measured and monitored. This was the reasoning that led to a 'self-identifying' question about 'race' or 'population group' in both the 1996 and 2001 population censuses, and in Statistics SA's household survey programme.