THE South African population has risen to 58.8 million from 2018’s 57. 9 million, figures released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) Statistician General Risenga Maluleke have revealed.
The statistics are contained in the 2019 mid-year population estimates report released on Monday.
Of the 58.8 million, 51 per cent are female while 49 per cent are male.
Maluleke said births remained the main driver of population growth in South Africa. Population figures were also impacted by deaths and immigration.
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The report reveals that by mid-2019, the country had recorded 1.2 million births, 200 000 net migration, while 500 000 deaths were recorded.
More than half the population, the report reveals, lives in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
About 15 million (25.8 per cent) South Africans live in Gauteng. Just over 11 million (19.2 per cent) people reside in KwaZulu-Natal while 6.8 million South Africans (11.6 per cent) stay in the Western Cape.
According to the report, life expectancy at birth for 2019 is estimated at 61.5 years for males and 67.7 years for females. Infant mortality rate for the year is at 22.1 per 1 000 live births.
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