31% of SA’s population not counted in 2022 census
72.3% of Indians and Asians, 61.6% of white, 44.9% of coloured, and 36.7% of black people were not counted during the 2022 census.
It is well known that every census is never 100% exact, and a certain percentage undercount is expected when trying to count millions of people.
According to Moneyweb, Tom Moultrie and Rob Dorrington at the University of Cape Town have previously said that a census is not, in reality, a complete and accurate count of the number of people in a country; instead, it is itself an estimate of the size of the population at the moment in time.
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South Africa recently announced the results of its fourth census as a democracy, and although ultimate accuracy is not expected, the high undercount did send off alarm bells.
According to a Statistics South Africa Post Enumeration Survey, which identifies where the census missed people, 31% of people and 30% of households were not counted during the 2022 census.
This percentage also includes people who chose not to self-enumerate online or via zero-rated telephone methods.
According to Moneyweb, this is the highest undercount of any post-apartheid census. It could possibly set a new international record.
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Another striking statistic released during the survey was the racial discrepancy found during the census.
72.3% of Indians and Asians, 61.6% of white, 44.9% of coloured, and 36.7% of black people were not counted during the 2022 census.
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Statistics SA also confirmed that the official population of South Africa now sits at 62.027-million, an increase of 10.3-million people (19.8%) since 2011.
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