South Africa’s white population is shrinking, down more than 70,000 over the past five years, according to new data by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).<\/p>\n
The country has added 800,000 people to its population over the past year, and has grown by more than 15 million people since 1996, StatsSA said.<\/p>\n
The stats body unveiled its community survey for 2016 showing that the country’s population has reached 55.7 million in 2016 – up from 40.6 million in 1996.<\/p>\n
Breaking down the population by racial segments, the data showed that the country’s white population has declined from 4 586 838 in 2011, to 4 516 691 in 2016 – a loss of 70,147 people (-1.5%).<\/p>\n
The black population has increased by nearly four million over the same period – from\u00a041 000 938, to 44 891 603 people (+9.5%).<\/p>\n
The coloured population has increased to 4 869 526\u00a0 from 4 615 401 people (+5.5%), while the Indian\/Asian population has grown to 1 375 834, from 1 286 930 people in 2011 (+6.9%).<\/p>\n
Read: How many South Africans are moving to Australia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In the 0-4 age group, StatsSA recorded a white population of 268,267 in 2011, dropping to 253,035 in 2016.<\/p>\n In the 20-24 age group, and 25-29 category, the numbers show a decline from 313,616 and 336,355, to 303,257, and 287,792 people respectively.<\/p>\n A similar pattern emerges in the 30’s age group – 318,329 whites between the ages of 30-34 in 2011, down to 279,475, while in the 35-39 group, the population has declined to 278,789, from 342,316, in 2011.<\/p>\n Gauteng remains the most populous province in the country with 13.4 million people, up from 13.2 million in 2015, and from 12.3 million in 2011.<\/p>\n KwaZulu-Natal is the second most populous province, with 11.1 million people, followed by the Eastern Cape, with 7 million people, and the Western Cape, with 6.3 million people.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s young white population is shrinking<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Race Group<\/th>\n Census 2011<\/th>\n % of population<\/th>\n CS 2016<\/th>\n % of population<\/th>\n Change (pop. numbers)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Black<\/td>\n 41 000 938<\/td>\n 79.2%<\/td>\n 44 891 603<\/td>\n 80.6%<\/td>\n +9.5%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Coloured<\/td>\n 4 615 401<\/td>\n 8.9%<\/td>\n 4 869 526<\/td>\n 8.8%<\/td>\n +5.5%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n White<\/td>\n 4 586 838<\/td>\n 8.9%<\/td>\n 4 516 691<\/td>\n 8.1%<\/td>\n -1.5%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Indian\/Asian<\/td>\n 1 286 930<\/td>\n 2.5%<\/td>\n 1 375 834<\/td>\n 2.5%<\/td>\n +6.9%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Other<\/td>\n 280 454<\/td>\n 0.5%<\/td>\n –<\/td>\n –<\/td>\n –<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total<\/strong><\/td>\n 51 770 560<\/strong><\/td>\n 100.0%<\/strong><\/td>\n 55 653 654<\/strong><\/td>\n 100.0%<\/strong><\/td>\n +7.5%<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n More on South Africa<\/h3>\n