247 000 leave Eastern Cape over single year

SOUTH Africa now has 55 908 900 people, Statistics South Africa 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.

Gauteng still has the largest population with 13.5 million, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11.1 million. The Northern Cape has the fewest at 1.19 million.

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