SA population grows over 59 million

The population of South Africa has increased to 59,62 million in 2020, according to mid-year estimates report by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) released recently.

According to StatsSA, Gauteng continues to record the largest share of South Africa’s population, with approximately 15,5 million people (26,0 per cent) living in this province.

The second-largest population with approximately 11,5 million people has been recorded in KwaZulu-Natal.

Northern Cape maintained its status as the province with the lowest population in the country with a population estimated at 1,29 million people.

According to the report, about 28,6 per cent of the population is aged younger than 15 years and approximately 9,1 per cent (5,4 million) is 60 years or older.

Of those younger than 15 years of age, the majority reside in KwaZulu-Natal (21,8 per cent) and Gauteng (21,4 per cent). Of the elderly (those aged 60 years and older), the highest percentage 24,1 per cent (1,31 million) reside in Gauteng.

The proportion of elderly persons aged 60 has grown from 7,6 per cent in 2002 to 9,1 per cent in 2020. The report further shows that for the period 2016 to 2021, Gauteng and Western Cape are estimated to experience the largest inflow of migrants of approximately, 1 553 162 and 468 568, respectively.

StatsSA reveals that the life expectancy at birth for 2020 is estimated at 62,5 years for males and 68,5 years for females. The infant mortality rate for 2020 is estimated at 23,6 per 1 000 live births. The estimated overall HIV prevalence rate is approximately 13,0 per cent among the South African population.

The total number of people living with HIV is estimated at approximately 7,8 million in 2020. For adults aged 15 to 49 years, an estimated 18,7 per cent of the population is HIV positive.

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