Media Release                                                                                                                                   23 July 2018

South Africa’s mid-year population is estimated to have increased to 57,73 million in 2018, representing an overall increase of 1,55% between 2017 and 2018.  Gauteng continues to record the largest share of the population with approximately 14,7 million people (25,4%) living in the province. The second largest population with 11,4 million people (19,7%) remain s KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape remains the province with the smallest share of the South African population at approximately 1,23 million (2,1%). The Mid-year population estimates 2018 report released by Statistics South Africa, further indicate that the female population in the country has remained stable year on year at approximately 51% (approximately 29,5 million).

According to the report, the proportion of elderly persons aged 60 and older is increasing over time and life expectancy at birth for 2018 is estimated at 61,1 years for males and 67,3 years for females. Of the elderly aged 60 years and older, the highest percentage 24,0% (1,18 million) reside in Gauteng.

About 29,5% of the population is aged younger than 15 years and approximately 8,5% (4,89 million) is 60 years or older. The highest proportions of those younger than 15 years in South Africa, live in Gauteng (21,1%) and KwaZulu-Natal (21,0).

The estimated HIV prevalence rate is approximately 13,1% among the South African population, which represents an increase from 2017 figure of 12,9%. The total number of people living with HIV is estimated at approximately 7,52 million in 2018. For adults aged 15–49 years, an estimated 19,0% of the population is HIV positive.

For the period 2016–2021, Gauteng and Western Cape are estimated to have experienced the largest inflow of migrants of approximately, 1 048 440 and 311 004 respectively.

The full statistical release is available on the Statistics South Africa website: www.statssa.gov.za