South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0,2 of a percentage point to 32,7% in Q4:2022 compared to Q3:2022. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2022, there were about 28 thousand more people who were unemployed than in Q3:2022. In the fourth quarter of 2022, South Africa had 7,8   read more »

For the first time in history, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup will be hosted on African soil. The global sporting tournament will feature 10 teams who will battle it out to be crowned T20 champions from 10 to 23 February 2023 at three iconic stadiums: Boland Park in Paarl, St George’s   read more »

According to the Recorded Live Births, 2021 report released by Statistics South Africa, almost 1 million births occurred in 2021 and the most popular baby names were Lethabo and Melokuhle for boys and girls respectively. Melokuhle, Lethabo and Lethokuhle were the most popular names amongst both baby girls and boys in South Africa in 2021.   read more »

Marked by COVID-19, the 2020–2021 period was incredibly challenging for the South African economy. Data from Stats SA’s latest Annual financial statistics (AFS) survey, which includes the first three months of the hard lockdown, shows a decline in formal business turnover and expenditure. The AFS reference period typically entails a lag effect: the survey reference   read more »

South African government spending broke the R2 trillion mark in the 2020/21 financial year. Large increases in expenditure were recorded for social protection, health, and general public services as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, total revenue declined on the back of lower taxes received. The Financial statistics of consolidated general government   read more »

With Black Friday upon us, South African consumers have begun scouting for the latest deals. Monthly retail trade sales data show how Black Friday has shifted shopping behaviour over time. Consumers splurge during the festive season The graphic below shows the distribution of retail trade sales by month, for the year 2019. If all months   read more »

The total population of the world is projected to reach 8 billion on the 15th of November 2022. As the world’s population grew, we have marked the birth of the next billionth person as a milestone and reflected on the progress humanity has made over time, as well as how to improve moving forward. Similarly,   read more »

Household income and expenditure surveys are an essential component to a healthy data ecosystem and critical for economic and developmental planning and decision-making. Statistical agencies like Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) use these surveys to inform the measurement of inflation and to better understand a country’s household economy and living conditions. “Out of every R1   read more »

National electricity supply has been the cause of intense concern for many years. Stats SA’s latest detailed survey of the industry provides updated data on finances, production and employment. According to the survey, South African electricity generation declined by 7,4% between 2019 and 2021. Explore electricity supply, as well as other stories, in this edition   read more »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), in partnership with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Water Research Commission (WRC) hosted the second in-person Natural Capital Accounting Forum from 18 to 19 October 2022. The event brought together a wide range of experts to share knowledge,   read more »