Fast growth brings SA population to 56 million

SOUTH Africa nowhas 55 908 900 people, Statistics SA has calculated.

Statistician-General Pali Lehohla made the announcement yesterday, and gave the current breakdown of the population when he addressed the parliamentary press gallery.

Over the last year, the country’s population increased by 1.62%, and the number of young South Africans is increasing hand over fist.

In fact, 30% of all South Africans are younger than 30 years of age.

In the Western Cape, 29% of people are younger than 30, in the Eastern Cape 35%, in the Northern Cape 28%, in North West 30%, in the Free State 28%, in Gauteng 25%, in Limpopo 32, in Mpumalanga Natal 35%.

Nevertheless, Gauteng still has the largest population with 13.5 million people, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11.1 million.

The Northern Cape has the fewest people: 1.19 million.

The Eastern Cape has lost 247 000 people to migration over the last year, and Limpopo 305 000.

Gauteng gained 1.2 million people through domestic migration, followed by the Western Cape with 363 000.

Life expectancy at birth is now 59.7 years for males, and 65.1 years for females. The infant mortality rate is now 33.7 per 1 000 births.

About 19% of the population aged 1549 is HIV positive. 31% and in KwaZulu-