Executive Summary

The results of the 2022 South African census were released on 10 October 2023. This Technical Report investigates the reported count of the population inter alia by age, sex, and population group using data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) to date, to inform the estimation of population numbers in future for policy and planning purposes as well as the determination of denominators that will inform estimates from the National Burden of Disease study.

Although logistical arrangements for the 2022 South African census were impacted severely by the repeated waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the National Treasury – unfortunately – declined a request to reallocate the census budget from the 2021/22 financial year to a subsequent financial year. This and other complications probably contributed to certain problems identified with the estimates produced from the census.

View the complete 2022 South African Census Report (a Technical Report prepared for the South African Medical Research Council)

Authors: TOM MOULTRIE AND ROB DORRINGTON CENTRE FOR ACTUARIAL RESEARCH (CARe) UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN