Hello, all you 57,73 million people out there!

In case you didn’t know, South Africa is now home to 57,73 million people, having grown by just less than a million in 2018 alone.

That’s according to Stats SA’s mid-year population estimates report that was released on Monday.

Per Memeburn:

Published today, and disseminated to users through Twitter in bite-sized chunks, Stats SA noted that the nation’s current population figure stands at an estimated 57,73 million. That’s up from 56,8 million last year.

Also, when it comes to breaking down the numbers, it appears that women run this country, News24 explains.

Check out the stats breakdown below, along with some handy graphs to make your life easier:

There are 57,7 million people in South Africa – up from 56,5 million people in 2017 – and more than half of the population (51%) is female. Coupled with this, the report states that women live, on average, six years longer than men, with a life expectancy of 67,3 years compared to 61,1 years for males …

According to the report, the Black African population is at 46 682 900 (80,9%), of which 22 786 200 are male, and 23 896 700 are female. The Coloured population is at 5 074 300 (8,8%), of which 2 459 500 are male and 2 614 800 are female. The Indian/Asian populations are 1 448 300 (2,5%), of which the males constitute 740 200, while females are at 708 100. The White population is at 4 520 100 (7,8%) – male 2 194 200; female 2 325 900.

Provincially, Gauteng dominates the numbers game:

Gauteng has 14,69 million people, KwaZulu-Natal 11,40 million, the Western Cape 6,62 million, the Eastern Cape 6,53 million, Limpopo 5,80 million, Mpumalanga 4,52 million, North West four million, Free State 2,96 million and Northern Cape 1,23 million.

And when it comes to age, the young people are ruling the roost:

Young people between the ages of 15 to 34 years old make up 20,6 million people – 35,7% of the total population.

Those aged 65 and above comprise 5,6% of the total population at 3,2 million individuals, the Stats SA report said.

Although the general population is steadily on the rise, the more eagle-eyed readers amongst you would have noticed that the white population is sitting at over 4,5 million in 2018.

Sounds like a decent chunk, but BusinessTech reckons that they’re shrinking over the past five years:

There are estimated to be 4,52 million white South Africans in the country in 2018, up from 4,49 million in 2017 – an increase of almost 27 000.

However, this swing is not enough to counter the shrinking of the white population in the country seen since 2013.

Between 2013 and 2018, Stat SA’s data shows that the white population in South Africa saw a net decline of 82 300 people.

The white population has also shrunk to its lowest proportion, now accounting for only 7,8% of the total population.

What’s the reason behind this decline, you’re wondering? Low fertility rates, perhaps?

Actually, Stats SA attributes it to emigration, with 612 000 white South Africans having left Mzansi since between 1985 and 2021. Of that figure, 430 000 will have left in the 20-year period between 2001 and 2021.

Whatever the case may be, hope the greener pastures of Australia, Canada and the like enjoy having them.

For the full Stats SA report, click here.

[sources:memeburn&news24&businesstech]