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Basic results

Highlights of survey methods and findings
  • In February 2007, a large-scale Community Survey was conducted in all provinces.
  • The main objective of the survey was to provide demographic and socio-economic data at municipal level.
  • 949 105 persons were enumerated.
  • 246 618 households were covered during enumeration.
  • Scanning technology was used to process the data. The processed data were edited to generate the final clean data set.
  • The data were weighted, given the fact that this was a sample survey.
  • This pamphlet provides some of the key results
Total population by province – Census 1996, 2001 and CS 2007
Provinces Census 1996 Census 2001 % Change CS 2007 % Change
Eastern Cape 6 147 244 6 278 651 2,1 6 527 747 4,0
Free State 2 633 504 2 706 775 2,8 2 773 059 2,4
Gauteng 7 624 893 9 178 873 20,4 10 451 713 13,9
KwaZulu-Natal 8 572 302 9 584 129 11,8 10 259 230 7,0
Limpopo 4 576 133 4 995 534 9,2 5 238 286 4,9
Mpumalanga 3 124 203 3 365 885 7,7 3 643 435 8,2
Northern Cape 1 011 864 991 919 -2,0 1 058 060 6,7
North West 2 936 554 3 193 676 8,8 3 271 948 2,5
Western Cape 3 956 875 4 524 335 14,3 5 278 585 16,7
South Africa 40 583 573 44 819 778 10,4 48 502 063 8,2
  • The census results showed that the population of South Africa increased from 40,5 million in 1996 to 44,8 million in 2001. The Community Survey has returned an estimated population of 48,5 million, showing an overall increase of 8,2% since 2001.
  • The above figures are based on the new boundaries.
  • The largest percentage/rate of increase in population between 2001 and 2007 was in Western Cape with 16,7%, followed by Gauteng with 13,9%.
  • Eastern Cape, Free State and North West experienced an increase of less than 5%.
Percentage distribution of population aged 20 years and older by highest level of education

  • The above graph depicts no significant change since 2001 in the percentage of the population aged 20 years and older who have completed a secondary and/or higher level of education.
  • Almost 28% of the population aged 20 years and older has completed at least secondary education.
  • The graph also shows that the percentage of the population aged 20 years and older with no schooling has declined from 17,9% in 2001 to 10,3% in 2007.
Percentage of households with household goods in working order

  • Ownership of a radio, television, computer, refrigerator and cellphone has increased considerably between Census 2001 and Community Survey 2007.
  • However, the demand for landline telephones has decreased owing to a rise in the popularity of cellphones.
  • Census 2001 did not ask a question pertaining to Internet facilities at home.
Percentage of households using electricity for lighting by province

  • Electricity for lighting has increased in all provinces with 80,0% of households in South Africa using electricity for lighting.
  • The proportion of households in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal using electricity for lighting is below the national average.
  • Almost all households in Western Cape (94,0%) used electricity for lighting.
Percentage of households that have access to piped water by province

  • In 2007, 88,6% of the population in South Africa enjoyed access to piped water.
  • All provinces showed an increase in the percentage of households that had access to piped water.
  • The percentage of households that have access to piped water in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo is below the national average.
Percentage of households by type of toilet facility and province – Census 2001 and CS 2007
Flush toilet
Chemical Toilet
Pit latrine with ventilation (VIP)
Pit latrine without ventilation
Bucket toilet system
None
Census
2001
CS
2007
Census
2001
CS
2007
Census
2001
CS
2007
Census
2001
CS
2007
Census
2001
CS
2007
Census
2001
CS
2007
Eastern Cape
33,7
40,2
2,0
0,4
5,6
8,3
21,8
23,1
5,7
2,8
31,3
25,2
Free State
46,3
61,4
0,8
0,1
6,2
7,9
16,5
14,7
20,5
12,7
9,7
3,2
Gauteng
80,2
85,2
1,1
0,4
1,4
2,2
11,5
9,6
2,2
1,0
3,6
1,6
KwaZulu-Natal
40,8
49,9
5,3
0,8
9,0
13,2
27,7
23,9
1,2
0,5
16,0
11,7
Limpopo
16,8
20,2
1,3
0,1
8,0
10,5
50,4
56,3
0,6
0,1
22,8
12,9
Mpumalanga
35,4
42,6
1,5
0,3
9,0
11,0
39,4
37,6
2,6
0,4
12,1
8,2
Northern Cape
57,8
48,2
0,8
0,1
7,6
6,2
10,8
35,4
10,0
4,4
13,1
5,7
North West
36,7
73,2
1,0
0,4
11,0
8,0
36,6
6,8
5,1
4,8
9,6
6,8
Western Cape
86,2
92,9
0,3
0,2
0,8
0,3
1,3
0,5
3,7
2,4
7,7
3,8
South Africa
51.9
60,4
1,9
0,4
5,7
6,8
22,8
21,5
4,1
2,3
13,6
8,6
Note: Data for a dry toilet facility have been excluded
  • In 2007 a little more than 60% of households in South Africa had access to a flush toilet.
  • Gauteng, Free State, North West and Western Cape were the only provinces where more than 50,0% of households that own a flush toilet.
  • Free State had the highest number of households still using the bucket system.
  • More than half of households in Limpopo (56,3%) used a pit latrine without ventilation, and 25,2% of households in Eastern Cape had no toilet at all.

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