Empty stomachs, empty classrooms: Investment in school feeding schemes
Empty stomachs, empty classrooms: Investment in school feeding schemes The South African government spent R8,4 billion in 2022/23 on its nationwide school feeding scheme. Recent data provides a provincial breakdown, as well as how this spending has shifted over the years. South Africa’s school-nutrition programme In 1994, the South African government established the National School Nutrition read more »
Update on phase 2 of release of Census 2022 data
1.   Census 2022 10% Sample The Census 2022 10% Sample is among many Census products disseminated to the public in the second dissemination phase. Census 2022 micro-data were sampled from the latest census to cater to the data needs of academia, research institutions, NGOs, planners, and policymakers, as has been the practice for the last read more »
Economic wrap-up for April 2024
After a bumper month in March, Stats SA’s publication schedule was quieter in April. The statistical agency published 20 releases, many of which provide an update on the state of the economy. Consumer inflation remains above 5% Annual consumer inflation declined to 5,3% in March after climbing for the first two months of the read more »
Focus on food inadequacy and hunger in South Africa in 2021
In 2021, about 2,1 million (11,6%) of South African households reported experiencing hunger. South Africa faces challenges ranging from high unemployment and poverty to the ongoing energy crisis and rising costs of living. These impact negatively on South Africa’s state of food security by making food expensive and inaccessible to many and increasing the read more »
Government spending breaches R2 trillion
South African government spending broke the R2Â 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 »
Economic, social and political empowerment are critical for achieving gender equality in SA
More than half (51,1%) of the South African population are female[1] and, according to the General Household Survey (GHS) 2021, more than two-fifths (42,0%) of households are headed by females. While women empowerment is central to the global development agenda and is a stepping stone to gender equality, a new report released by Statistics South read more »
Bucket toilets increase in 2020
After six years of steady decline, the number of consumer units serviced with a municipal bucket toilet jumped from 42 434 in 2019 to 47 130 in 2020. Increases were reported in seven of South Africa’s 257 municipalities. This represents a rise of 4 696 consumer units, according to data from the latest Non-financial census of municipalities statistical read more »
Increase in number of out-of-school children and youth in SA in 2020
In 2021, close to 3% of 15-year-olds and nearly 9% of 17-year-olds dropped out of school. The General Household Survey, 2021, released by Statistics South Africa, indicates that although most 18- and 19-year-olds were still attending secondary school, almost three out of 10 pupils aged 18 years (29,3%) and 4 out of 9 (46,3%) of read more »
Maternal mortality rate on the decline in SA
South Africa has several transformative and progressive policies and legislations aimed at advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality. A review of some indicators suggests that there is an improvement in the quality of life of women over the years. However, women are still faced with adverse health outcomes such as sexually transmitted illnesses, gender-based violence read more »
How COVID-19 affected food security in SA
The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious implications for the global economy, with food security and nutrition being particularly impacted. South Africa, like many countries around the world, has not been spared. According to a report released by Statistics South Africa, Measuring Food Security in South Africa: Applying the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, almost 23,6 per read more »