Key findings: Report-03-09-06 - Trends in the percentage of children who are orphaned in South Africa: 1995 - 2005, 2000,2005

The results show that between 1995 and 1998 there was no trend in the percentage of children who were maternal orphans, remaining at about 2,5% of all children.

The overall percentage of maternal orphans increased between 2001 and 2005, rising to slightly more than 5%. The overall increase in maternal orphanhood for KwaZulu-Natal was more pronounced, rising to above 8% by 2005.

For children age 0 to 4, the percentage who were maternal orphans increased by 88%, and the percentage who were paternal orphans increased by 14% between 1998 and 2005. 

The percentage of children who were double orphans increased from about 1% in 1995 to about 3% in 2005.

Fostered and orphaned children were overwhelmingly cared for in a household headed by a grandparent or a great-grandparent.