2022 South African census explained

4th National Census
Previous Year:2011
Previous Census:South African National Census of 2011
Country:South Africa
Percent Change:19.8%
Region Type:province
Most Populous:Gauteng
Least Populous:Northern Cape
Annual Percent Change:1.66%

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]

Key findings

The first reports of statistics, published on 10 October 2023, showed a total population of 62,027,503.[4]

Demographics

See main article: Demographics of South Africa.

81,4% of the population is black African. The median age of the total population is 28 years.

Population change in South Africa by group[5]
data-sort-type="number" RankGroup2011 Census2022 Censusdata-sort-type="number" Changedata-sort-type="number" Percent
change
1 Black African20.74%
2 Coloured9.04%
3 White-1.82%
4 Asian or Indian27.51%
5 Other-12.54%
Total population19,8%
NC! data-sort-type="number"
FSKZNNWGPMPLPPopulation SA
Afrikaans41.29.654.610.315.27.73.22.36,583,11110.6%
English224.82.41.514.419.21.515,388,2218.7%
IsiNdebele0.20.100.100.43.19.91.11,053,7111.7%
IsiXhosa31.481.84.55.53.14.86.710.210,073,11116.3%
IsiZulu0.40.30.33.7801.623.127.80.615,124,19124.4%
Sepedi0.100.10.20.12.112.610.355.56,198,83110%
12.41.272.30.65.913.12.30.84,958,8527.8%
Setswana0.1035.75.3072.810.41.61.45,113,1118.3%
SA Sign Language0.010.010.020.010.010.030.020.020.0212,3970.02%
SiSwati (Swazi)0000.100.20.930.50.31,737,7222.8%
Tshivenda0.100.10.100.42.40.217.41,549,9572.5%
Xitsonga0.20.10.10.203.1710.617.32,913,1114.7%
Khoi, Nama & San languages00.010.170.0100.010.010.010.016,1990.01%
Shona20.50.40.30.31.62.10.61.6743,7391.2%
Chichewa, Nyanja0.50.10.100.20.20.60.10185,9650.3%
Portuguese0.100.100.10.20.30.30123,9770.2%
Other0.70.40.30.30.20.30.70.30.4247,9530.4%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Population change in South Africa by gender[6]
data-sort-type="number" RankGender2011 Census2022 Censusdata-sort-type="number" Changedata-sort-type="number" Percent
change
1 Female18.33%
2 Male17.69%
Rank!Province!2011 Census!2022 Census! data-sort-type="number"
Changedata-sort-type="number" Percentchange
1 Gauteng15,099,4222,827,159 10.33%
2 KwaZulu-Natal12,423,9072,156,607 9.5%
3 Western Cape7,433,0191,610,285 12.15%
4 Eastern Cape7,230,304668,251 4.85%
5 Limpopo6,572,7201,167,852 9.75%
6 Mpumalanga5,143,3241,103,385 12.02%
7 North West3,804,548294,595 4.03%
8 Free State2,964,412218,822 3.83%
9 Northern Cape1,355,946210,085 8.4%
Total population62,027,60210,257,041 9.01%

Collection issues

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;[7] whilst around 80% of the country's whole population had been surveyed by the same date. 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.[8]

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.

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.

After the publication of the census results it was reported that the undercount rate was 31%[11] with the undercount rate being the highest in the Western Cape. The high undercount 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.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Registration for Census 2022 data collection is open Statistics South Africa. 2021-12-17.
  2. Web site: Mahlaka . Ray . 2023-10-10 . Census 2022: SA population grows to 62 million . 2023-10-10 . Daily Maverick . en.
  3. Web site: Mitchley . Alex . SA's population swells to 62 million - 2022 census at a glance . 2023-10-10 . News24 . en-US.
  4. Web site: 10 October 2023 . Statistician General Presentation . Statssa.gov.za . Statistics South Africa.
  5. Web site: 10 October 2023 . Census 2022: Statistical Release . 12 October 2023 . statssa.gov.za . 6.
  6. Web site: 10 October 2023 . Census 2022: Statistical Release . 12 October 2023 . statssa.gov.za . 9.
  7. Web site: Mafolo . Karabo . 2022-04-28 . CENSUS 2022: Deadline extended to 14 May for Western Cape field workers after low provincial tally . 2022-05-05 . Daily Maverick . en.
  8. Web site: New deadline for Western Cape census count after province misses the mark, again . 2022-05-18 . CapeTalk . en-ZA.
  9. Web site: Paton . Carol . Low pay and racism in the Western Cape bogged down Census 2022, Stats SA says . 2022-05-18 . Fin24 . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2022-05-18 . Stats SA hit census snags in Western Cape . 2022-05-18 . Ghanamma.com . en-US.
  11. Web site: Davis . Rebecca . 2023-10-12 . How much can we rely on Census 2022? . 2023-10-13 . Daily Maverick . en.