4th National Census
1 February 2022 (2022-02-01)
General information
CountrySouth Africa
Results
Total population62 million (19.8% Increase)
Most populous ​provinceGauteng
Least populous ​provinceNorthern Cape
Two South African Census workers collecting data for the national census.

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]

  • Area: 1,220,813 square kilometres (471,359 sq mi)
  • Population: 62,027,503
  • Households: 17,828,778

Demographics

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

Population change in South Africa by group[5]
Rank Group 2011 Census 2022 Census Change Percent
change
1 Steady Black African 41,000,938 50,486,856 9,485,918 Increase 20.74% Increase
2 Steady Coloured 4,615,401 5,052,349 436,948 Increase 9.04% Increase
3 Steady White 4,586,838 4,504,252 −82,586 Decrease -1.82% Decrease
4 Steady Asian or Indian 1,286,930 1,697,506 410,576 Increase 27.51% Increase
5 Steady Other 280,454 247,353 −33,101Decrease -12.54% Decrease
Total population 51,770,560 61,988,314 10,217,755 Increase 19,8% Increase
Percentage distribution of South Africans by language spoken most often at home by province[6]
First language WC EC NC FS KZN NW GP MP LP SA
Afrikaans 41.2 9.6 54.6 10.3 1 5.2 7.7 3.2 2.3 10.6%
English 22 4.8 2.4 1.5 14.4 1 9.2 1.5 1 8.7%
IsiNdebele 0.2 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.4 3.1 9.9 1.1 1.7%
IsiXhosa 31.4 81.8 4.5 5.5 3.1 4.8 6.7 1 0.2 16.3%
IsiZulu 0.4 0.3 0.3 3.7 80 1.6 23.1 27.8 0.6 24.4%
Sepedi 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.1 2.1 12.6 10.3 55.5 10%
Sesotho 1 2.4 1.2 72.3 0.6 5.9 13.1 2.3 0.8 7.8%
Setswana 0.1 0 35.7 5.3 0 72.8 10.4 1.6 1.4 8.3%
SA Sign Language 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02%
SiSwati 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2 0.9 30.5 0.3 2.8%
Tshivenda 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 0 0.4 2.4 0.2 17.4 2.5%
Xitsonga 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 3.1 7 10.6 17.3 4.7%
Khoi, Nama & San languages 0 0.01 0.17 0.01 0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01%
Shona 2 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.6 2.1 0.6 1.6 1.2%
Chichewa, Nyanja 0.5 0.1 0.1 0 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.1 0 0.3%
Portuguese 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0 0.2%
Other 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.4%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Population change in South Africa by gender[6]
Rank Gender 2011 Census 2022 Census Change Percent
change
1 Steady Female 26,581,769 31,948,746 5,366,977Increase 18.33% Increase
2 Steady Male 25,188,791 30,078,757 4,889,966 Increase 17.69% Increase
Population change in South Africa by province[7][5]
Rank Province 2011 Census 2022 Census Change Percent

change

1 Steady Gauteng 12,272,263 15,099,422 2,827,159 Increase 10.33% Increase
2 Steady KwaZulu-Natal 10,267,300 12,423,907 2,156,607 Increase 9.5% Increase
3 Increase Western Cape 5,822,734 7,433,019 1,610,285 Increase 12.15% Increase
4 Decrease Eastern Cape 6,562,053 7,230,304 668,251 Increase 4.85% Increase
5 Steady Limpopo 5,404,868 6,572,720 1,167,852 Increase 9.75% Increase
6 Steady Mpumalanga 4,039,939 5,143,324 1,103,385 Increase 12.02% Increase
7 Steady North West 3,509,953 3,804,548 294,595 Increase 4.03% Increase
8 Steady Free State 2,745,590 2,964,412 218,822 Increase 3.83% Increase
9 Steady Northern Cape 1,145,861 1,355,946 210,085 Increase 8.4% Increase
Total population 51,770,560 62,027,602 10,257,041 Increase 9.01% Increase

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;[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 undercount rate was 31%[12] with the undercount rate being the highest in the Western Cape.[6] 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.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Registration for Census 2022 data collection is open | Statistics South Africa". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ↑ Mahlaka, Ray (10 October 2023). "Census 2022: SA population grows to 62 million". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Mitchley, Alex. "SA's population swells to 62 million - 2022 census at a glance". News24. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Statistician General Presentation" (PDF). Statssa.gov.za. Statistics South Africa. 10 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Census 2022: Statistical Release" (PDF). statssa.gov.za. 10 October 2023. p. 6. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Census 2022: Statistical Release" (PDF). statssa.gov.za. 10 October 2023. p. 9. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Census 2011: Statistical Release (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2012. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Mafolo, Karabo (28 April 2022). "CENSUS 2022: Deadline extended to 14 May for Western Cape field workers after low provincial tally". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "New deadline for Western Cape census count after province misses the mark, again". CapeTalk. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Paton, Carol. "Low pay and racism in the Western Cape bogged down Census 2022, Stats SA says". Fin24. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Stats SA hit census snags in Western Cape". Ghanamma.com. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. 1 2 Davis, Rebecca (12 October 2023). "How much can we rely on Census 2022?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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