A Post-enumeration Survey (PES) is an independent sample survey that is conducted immediately after the completion of census enumeration in order to evaluate the coverage and content errors of the census, in this case Census 2022. The PES 2022 was undertaken shortly after the completion of census enumeration, from June 2022 to August 2022 with a de facto reference night on the midnight of 22–23 June 2022. A sample of 840 sub-enumeration areas was selected across South Africa’s nine provinces. Coverage errors is a measure of how many persons or households were missed or counted more than once in the census. Content errors indicate the quality of key characteristics in the census. The output of the PES provides a statistically informed basis for adjusting the census count. The key findings of the PES 2022 are:

      i.        The estimated South African population, including those in collective living quarters, transients and the homeless, is 62,0 million persons on the Census 2022 reference night, midnight of     02–03 February 2022. The estimated final true population from private dwelling units within the scope of the PES 2022 is 61,4 million persons. This estimate is based on the adjustment of Census 2022 data using the adjustment factors derived under the PES 2022. The Census 2022 count of those in-scope for enumeration is 42,3 million persons. The uncorrected census count estimated by PES 2022, is 43,9 million persons. The final net coverage error rate relative to the final true population of 61,4 million persons is thus 31,1%.

     ii.        The estimated final true population of households within the scope of the PES 2022 is 19,3 million households. This estimate is based on the adjustment of Census 2022 data using the adjustment factors derived under the PES 2022. The Census 2022 population of households that were in-scope for enumeration is 13,4 million. The uncorrected census population for households is 13,8 million. The final net coverage error rate relative to the final true population of 19,3 million households is 30,5%.

    iii.        With respect to content errors, six variables were tested for consistency in terms of the responses that were recorded in the Census and the PES. The aggregated index of inconsistency was 7,5% for population group, 8,2% for sex, and 13,6%  for age group, indicating a high level of agreement. The aggregated index of inconsistency for marital status was 23,0%, relationship to head of household was 34,8%, and country of birth was 42,3%, indicating moderate rates of agreement.

A mixed-mode data collection methodology was implemented to counteract the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. This was made possible by having integrated digitally-enabled survey processes with a geo-spatial information frame as a base.