South African National Census of 2001

The National Census of 2001 was the 2nd comprehensive national census of the Republic of South Africa, or Post-Apartheid South Africa. It undertook to enumerate every person present in South Africa on the census night between 9–10 October 2001 at a cost of R987,000,000.[1]

2001 National Census
General information
CountryRepublic of South Africa
Results
Total population44,819,778 (9.92% )
Most populous ​regionKwaZulu-Natal
Least populous ​regionNorthern Cape

It was organised and planned by Statistics South Africa in terms of the Statistics Act from the beginning of 1999, under the commission of the Statistician-General Pali Lehohla. The enumeration primarily took place from 10 to 31 October 2001 and the results were published in 2003.[2]

Pre-enumeration
Questionnaire A
Questionnaire B

This was the first South African census to use a Geographic Information System to determine the Enumeration Areas. Traditionally, the areas were created using analogue and sketch maps. This geographic database was created out of several data sets acquired from government departments and private sector companies. It included topographic maps, cadastral data, administrative boundaries, aerial photography, satellite imagery and videography.[3] Each area was classified according to its location as one of four types:

  • Formal urban area
  • Informal urban area
  • Rural area (commercial farms)
  • Tribal (traditional) area

The country was divided into approximately 80,000 manageable "pockets of land" with an average of 150 living spaces in each Enumeration Area. The intention was that each area could be handled by a single enumerator, to allow every household in the country to be visited within the timeframe provided.[4]

The census questionnaire was developed and tested on a computer-based census administration system at the end of 2000. The main pilot for the census was conducted in February and March 2001, all aspects of enumeration were tested. It resulted in many revisions of both processes and management methods. The 1996 census questionnaire was used as a basis, with some key differences in labour related questions.[5][6] Three questionaries were printed:

  • The household questionnaire (A) could collect information for ten people in workers' hostels, student hostels, residential hotels or private residencies.
  • The individual in an institution questionnaire (B) was an individual form for a person in institutions or tourist hotels, additionally it was used for the homeless.
  • The institution questionnaire (C) was for the institution as a whole to provide a list of all the residents on census night, against which completed B questionnaires could be checked.

Data Processing

As the 2001 Census was paper-based, an enormous amount of data needed to be converted to a digital format. The task of data processing consists of primarily four parts: data capture, post-data capture, coding and product generation.

Over 1000 temporary staff members were employed by Statistics South Africa to assist in the process. These employees worked in shifts, 7 days a week for almost 18 months. In total, 10 249 185 questionnaires were received which resulted in the generation of over 117 million images once scanned.

Results

The census population results revealed 44.8 million people live in a 1,219,090 square kilometres (470,690 sq mi) area, that is 36.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (95/sq mi).[7]

Demographics
Population change in the South Africa by race [8]
Rank Race 1996 Census 2001 Census Change Percent
change
1 Black African 31,127,631 35,416,166 4,288,535 12.89%
2 White 4,434,697 4,293,640 141,057 3.23%
3 Coloured 3,600,446 3,994,505 394,059 10.38%
4 Asian or Indian 1,045,596 1,115,467 69,871 6.47%
Total population 40,583,573 44,819,778 4,236,205 9.92%
Population change in the South Africa by language [9]
Rank First language 1996 Census 2001 Census Change Percent
change
1 IsiZulu 9,200,144 10,677,305 1,477,161 14.86%
2 IsiXhosa 7,196,118 7,907,153 711,035 9.42%
3 Afrikaans 5,811,547 5,983,426 171,879 2.91%
4 Sepedi 3,695,846 4,208,980 513,134 12.98%
5 Setswana 3,301,774 3,677,016 375,242 10.75%
6 English 3,457,467 3,673,203 215,736 6.05%
7 Sesotho 3,104,197 3,555,186 450,989 13.54%
8 Xitsonga 1,756,105 1,992,207 236,102 12.60%
9 SiSwati 1,013,193 1,194,430 181,237 16.42%
10 Tshivenda 876,409 1,021,757 145,348 15.31%
11 IsiNdebele 586,961 711,821 124,860 19.23%
12 Other 228,275 217,293 10,982 4.93%
Population change in the South Africa by gender [10]
Rank Gender 1996 Census 2001 Census Change Percent
change
1 Female 21,062,685 23,385,737 2,323,052 10.45%
2 Male 19,520,887 21,434,040 1,913,153 9.34%
Population change in the South Africa by province [11]
Rank Province 1996 Census 2001 Census Change Percent
change
1 KwaZulu-Natal 8,417,021 9,426,017 1,008,996 11.31%
2 Gauteng 7,348,423 8,837,178 1,488,755 18.40%
3 Eastern Cape 6,302,525 6,436,763 134,238 2.11%
4 Limpopo 4,929,368 5,273,642 344,274 6.75%
5 Western Cape 3,956,875 4,524,335 567,460 13.38%
6 North West 3,354,825 3,669,349 314,524 8.96%
7 Mpumalanga 2,800,711 3,122,990 322,279 10.88%
8 Free State 2,633,504 2,706,775 73,271 2.74%
9 Northern Cape 840,321 822,727 17,594 2.16%
Total population 40,583,573 44,819,778 4,236,205 9.92%

See also

References
  1. Using the 2001 Census: Approaches to analysing data (PDF). Statistics South Africa and the Human Sciences Research Council. 2007. ISBN 978-0-621-37259-5. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  2. Census 2001: Metadata. Statistics South Africa. 2003. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  3. How the count was done (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2003. pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-621-34294-7. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. Census in brief (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2003. p. iv. ISBN 0-621-34293-9. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. How the count was done (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2003. pp. 11–13. ISBN 0-621-34294-7. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. Cronje, Marius; Budlender, Debbie. "Comparing Census 1996 with Census 2001: An operational perspective" (PDF). Southern African Journal of Demography. 9 (1): 67–90. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  7. Census in brief (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2003. ISBN 0-621-34293-9. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. Primary tables South Africa: Census '96 and 2001 compared (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2004. pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-621-34320-X. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. Primary tables South Africa: Census '96 and 2001 compared (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2004. pp. 9–12. ISBN 0-621-34320-X. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  10. Primary tables South Africa: Census '96 and 2001 compared (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2004. pp. 20–23. ISBN 0-621-34320-X. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. Primary tables South Africa: Census '96 and 2001 compared (PDF). Statistics South Africa. 2004. pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-621-34320-X. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
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