SA population tops 50 million

2011-07-27

South Africa's population has passed the 50 million mark, according to latest mid-year population estimates released by Statistics SA on Wednesday.
The agency estimates the country's population has now reached 50.59 million people, based on the 2001 census.

This is a net growth rate of 1.1%, worked out using the birth rate, immigration, emigration, and the death rate.

South Africa's population is overwhelmingly young. Around one third of it is younger than 15. Only 7% of South Africans are 60 or older.

Women are having fewer children. Their fertility rate has declined from an average of 2.92 children in 2001 to 2.35 children in 2011.

Infant mortality is estimated to be 37.9 infant deaths per 1 000 live births in a given year, for children aged less than one year.

Although this is still high, it is a decline from the 2001 rate of 53 deaths per 1 000 live births.

The overall HIV prevalence rate is approximately 10.6%. An estimated 1.1 million people older than 15 years, and 380 000 children, are in need of antiretroviral therapy.

Life expectancy at birth is now estimated at 54.9 years for men and 59.1 years for women, who make up 52% of the population.

Gauteng is the most populated province in the country, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, the latest figures show. The 11.3 million Gauteng residents make up 22.47% of South Africans.

The Northern Cape is the least populated province.

The agency is preparing to conduct a census later this year which will give a fuller indication of population trends.

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