Population up by almost a million

estimated the mid-year population as 55.91 million, up from up from 54.96 million last year, with females accounting for approximately 51% of that number.

The mid-year population growth statistics look at fertility, mortality and migration rates.

“Between 2015 and 2016 the South African population grew by 1.62%,” Lehohla said.

“Gauteng comprises the largest share of the South African population with 13.5 million people living in this province.”

He said the population growth was higher in the 60 and older age group compared to the 35-year age group, calling it a cocktail for disaster.

“They are uneducated, they are very likely to be in crime, they are actually in very illegal situations, and they are likely to be in poverty.”

He said young men were more likely to die in accidents whereas women were more likely to die due to viral diseases.

Lehohla said there were more male babies born in the country but in the general population there were more females d ue to young men dying early.

The country’s life expectancy is estimated at 62.4 overall but stands at 59.7 for males and 65.1 for females.

“Fertility has declined from an average of 2.65 children per woman in 2002 to 2.43 children per woman in 2016, meaning the average woman will give birth to 2.43 children in her lifetime.”

Lehohla said that one of the national development goals was to increase the country’s life expectancy to 70 by 2030.

“It is only eight years to go. We are very close … it is an achievable age.”

The infant mortality rate for 2016 is estimated at 33.7 per 1 000 live births.

Between 2011 and 2016, 95 158 white people emigrated from South Africa whereas people from African and Asian countries were migrating here. Gauteng also had the largest number of interprovincial migration at 1.2 million.

Lehohla said he would advise the government that the war on education had not been won and it won’t be won anytime soon. “Fixing education is a generational thing. It will take a generation to fix.”

Statistics showed that white and Indian people had the highest qualifications whereas coloureds and Africans were lagging behind due to various reasons.