South Africa’s population at mid-year is estimated at 47,9-million, of which approximately 24,3-million are female, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Trevor Oosterwyk said Stats SA estimated that fertility had declined from an average of 2,89 children per woman in 2001 to 2,69 children by 2007.
”The population growth has slowed to 6,4% in the five years since 2001, compared with 10,4 % in the five years between 1996 and 2001.
”The easing has been due to slowing annual growth rates, which in 2006 and 2007 was estimated at just 0,97% from 1,25% in 2001 and 2002.
Oosterwyk said that although KwaZulu-Natal had the largest share of the total population at 20,9% compared with 20,2% for Gauteng, when it came to the working-age population of 20 years to 64 years, Gauteng had the largest share with 23,7%.
”In the 30- to 34-year age cohort, Gauteng has a massive 26,6% share,” he said. — Sapa