SOUTH Africa's population has increased over the past 11 years.
The Census 2022 results show that Mzansi's population was 62,027 503 million in 2022, increasing from 51.7 million in 2011.
This is a 19.8% increase from 2011 to 2022.
Stats SA Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke officially handed over the report to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Tuesday, 10 October.
This was the first digital census in Mzansi since 1996. The programme was directed by a robotic figure named Melo, who was friendly and interactive throughout the programme.
Gauteng remained the province with the highest population of 15 million, and the smallest population is 1.3 million in Northern Cape.
Gauteng, KZN and Western Cape are the three provinces making the 56% population.
"However, black Africans remain the dominant population group with 81.4% followed by coloureds at 8.2%, whites at 7.3% and Indians/Asians at 2.7%.
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"A steady decline in the proportion of the white population from 11% in 1996 to 7.3% in 2022," Maluleke said.
He said five provinces with net migration are Gauteng, KZN, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
"More than 3 million children aged 0 - 4 years participated in Early Childhood Development programmes," he said.
Furthermore, the Census 2022 results show the percentage of persons aged 5 -24 years attending an educational institution increased by only 3% from 70.1% in 1996 to 73.4% in 2022.
Maluleke said there are 17.8 million households in South Africa, an increase from 14 million in 2011.
The number of households who reside in informal dwellings has declined from 13.6% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2022.
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"Over 80% of households in the country have access to piped water. In 1996, 19.6% of households relied on such sources, by 2022 the figure had fallen to 8.9%. In languages, isiZulu is the most spoken language in SA with 24.4%.
"Zimbabwe leads with migrants of 45.5% followed by Mozambique 18.7%, Lesotho 10.2%, Malawi 8.9% and the United Kingdom with 2.8%," he said.
Ramaphosa said the results which were represented underscore the agency in which the government must work towards meeting the aspiration of a national development plan.
"Many of our people have access to electricity and water. We can give our people a better life," he said.
The President salutes the people of South Africa for participating in the census.
