21 July 2010
South Africa’s population has increased by about 530 000 to 49.99-million people since last year, Statistics SA estimates, with 51% being female and 31% not older than 15.
Statistics South Africa’s latest mid-year estimates are up from last year’s updated figure of 49.46-million people.
Black Africans, at 39.68-million, constitute more than 79% of the total South African population, while white people number 4.58-million, followed by coloured people at 4.42-million. South Africa’s Indian/Asian population stands at 1.3-million.
Of the provinces, Gauteng continues to have the largest share of the country’s population, at 11.19-million (22.4%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 21.3%. The Northern Cape, remains the province with the smallest amount of people.
Nearly 31% of the population is aged younger than 15, with approximately 7.6% aged 60 years and older. Of those younger than 15, about 23% live in KwaZulu-Natal and 19.3% in Gauteng.
Regarding migration patterns, estimates show that from 2006 to 2011 approximately 211 600 people will have migrated from the Eastern Cape, while the Limpopo province will have experienced a net out migration of 140 000 people.
While these provinces lose people, Gauteng and the Western Cape will have received an estimated inflow of about 364 400 and 94 600 migrants respectively during the same period.
Source: BuaNews
