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About SA - South Africa's peopleSouth Africa's peopleThe distinctive charm of South Africa comes from its history and also by moments of great change and strides of progress brought about by a people united in a diversity of religious beliefs, cultures and languages.
People
It was Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu who coined the well-known phrase “the Rainbow Nation” to describe the melting pot of people and cultures living together in South Africa.
According to the Census 2011 data from Statistics South Africa, the country’s population stood at 51 770 560 in 2011, of which 26 581 769 (51,3%) were female and 25 188 791 (48,7%) were male.
Nearly one third (31,3%) of the population was younger than 15 years and approximately 7,7% (3,9 million) was 60 years or older. Gauteng is the most populous province with 12 272 263 people (23,7% of the population), followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 19,8% and the Western Cape with
11,3%.Africans are in the majority with just over 41 million, making up 79,2% of the population. The coloured population stands at 4 615 401 (8,9%), the number of white people stands at 4 586 838 (8,9%) and the Indian/Asian population stands at 1 286 930 (2,5%). In 2011, people from other origins were also included in the Census, and account for 280 454 or 0,5% of the total.
The South African population consists of the Nguni comprising the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi people; Sotho-Tswana consisting of the Southern, Northern and Western Sotho (Tswana) people; Tsonga and Venda; people from mixed origin generally referred to as coloureds; people from European origin (Afrikaners and English-speaking South Africans); Indian/Asian; and those who have immigrated to South Africa from the rest of Africa, Europe and Asia and who maintain a strong cultural identity. A few members of the Khoi and the San are also part of South Africa’s population.
Estimates by population group and gender Population
groupMale Female Total Number % of total
populationNumber % of total
populationNumber % of total
populationAfrican 19 912 717 79,2 21 088 220 79,5 41 000 937 79,4 Coloured 2 228 108 8,9 2 387 293 9,0 4 615 401 9,0 Indian/Asian 645 463 2,5 641 467 2,5 1 286 930 2,5 White 2 231 682 8,9 2 355 156 9,0 4 586 838 9,0 Total 25 017 970 100,0 26 472 136 100,0 51 490 025 100,0 Source: Census 2011
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Languages
Owing to its rich cultural diversity, South Africa is a multilingual country with 11 official languages, each of which is guaranteed equal status. Most South Africans are multilingual and are able to speak at least two of the official languages. These are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. According to Census 2011, the number of people who speak English as a first language has increased by more than 1 million to 4,9 million people (9,6% of the population). English is also most widely used for official and commercial communication.
IsiZulu is the most common home language spoken by 22,7% of the population. It is followed by isiXhosa at 16%, Afrikaans at 13,5%, and English at 9,6%, Sesotho sa Leboa (also known as Sepedi) at 9,1%, Setswana at 8%, Sesotho at 7,6%, and Xitsonga at 4,5%. SiSwati is spoken by 2,5% of the population, Tshivenda by 2,4% and isiNdebele by 2,1%.
Government developed the Use of Official Languages Bill in 2012, as part of promoting social cohesion. Another important part of promoting social cohesion was the protection and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems, which include promoting formal indigenous knowledge education and assisting indigenous communities to establish cooperative structures to organise themselves.
The Use of Official Languages Act [No. 12 of 2012] came into operation on 2 May 2013.
Mother tongues isiZulu
22,7%
IsiXhosa
16%
Afrikaans
13,5%
Sesotho sa Leboa
9,1%
English
9,6%
Setswana
8%
Sesotho
7,6%
Xitsonga
4,5%
siSwati
2,5%
Tsivenda
2,4%
isiNdebele
2,1%
Other
0,5%
Source: Census 2011
Religion
According to August 2012 polls released by the Win-Gallup International Religiosity and Atheism Index, which measures global self-perceptions on belief, South Africans who belong to a particular religion have dropped from 83% in 2005, to 64% in 2012
Source: Pocket Guide to South Africa 2012/13
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