IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Any statistical agency worth its salt should periodically revisit the way in which it measures the economy. Stats SA has finalised a comprehensive overhaul of its national accounts, providing a far more relevant and reliable measure of gross domestic product (GDP). Explore rebasing and benchmarking, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats   read more »

What makes Stats SA’s Financial census of municipalities report so interesting is that it provides an idea of how financially dependent municipalities are on national government. The latest data show that the share of income that municipalities generate on their own has increased slightly since 2017, but there is more to this finding than meets   read more »

Many nations measure population and economic growth. Until recently, few have paid attention to the natural environment. In June, South Africa reached another milestone in strengthening its production of environmental statistics with the release of the National Natural Capital Accounting Strategy. Explore Natural Capital Accounting, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats   read more »

Poultry is an important source of income in the commercial agriculture industry. If you consider the sales of live chickens, chicken meat and eggs, the total value of chicken-related sales almost rivals that of the entire field crop sector. Explore chicken sales, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats   read more »

Education inflation recorded its lowest annual rate in three decades, according to the latest consumer inflation data. Education fees increased by 4,1% in 2021, the lowest annual increase since at least 1991. Explore the cost of education, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats Biz – April 2021

Local government has made strides in providing services, but they are providing less for free. For example, municipalities supplied water to just over 9 million consumer units in 2006, expanding to 13,8 million in 2019. However, the number of consumer units benefiting from free water declined markedly over the same period. Explore service delivery, as   read more »

South Africa’s GDP decreased by 7,0% in 2020 compared with 2019. To provide some perspective, the second biggest fall in GDP in the last 30 years was recorded in 1992 when the economy contracted by 2,1%. During the 2008/09 global financial crisis, the economy shrank by 1,5% in 2009. Explore economic growth, as well as   read more »

Inflation for 2020 was the lowest in 16 years and the second lowest in 51 years. The average annual inflation rate for 2020 was 3,3%. This is the lowest annual average rate since 2004 (1,4%) and the second lowest since 1969 (3,0%). Explore price changes, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats   read more »

One might assume that urban and cultivated land have expanded over time with South Africa’s growing population. Data compiled form 24 years of satellite imagery reveal a more complex picture. Explore land cover change, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats Biz – November 2020

It has been five years since the #FeesMustFall campaign. Stats SA takes a look at where higher education institutions get their money from, and how these revenue streams have shifted since 2015. Explore tertiary education funding, as well as other stories, in this edition of Stats Biz. Download Stats Biz – October 2020