StatsSA

General Household

Survey 2018Measuring the progress of development in

the country - May 2019

Statistician-General: Risenga Maluleke

Health and Social

Development

Housing

Food security

Agriculture

Household access to

services and facilities

EducationThe survey covers 6 areas. It provides

trends across the seventeen-year

period since the GHS was introduced

in 2002

GHS 2018 calibrated to the 2017 series Mid-Year Population Estimates for 2018.

Realized sample of 20 908 households

Information about 71 137 individuals

Face-to-face interviews were conducted

Interview household heads or, alternatively, 16 years of age or older

Methodology

94,7%85,8%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Male Female

18-34

Single

Widowed

Divorced orseparated

Livingtogether

LegallyMarried

31,8% 28,9%

12,3%11,7%

51,8% 45,9%

Male Female

Total

Nationally about half of individuals aged 18 years and older were single. The 18 to 34

year age grouping shows very high ratio of single (never married or not living together). Although marriage

and cohabitation becomes more common with age, being single remains relatively common throughout all

age groups.

All Ages 18+18-34

Percentage of individuals by marital

status and selected ages, 2018

25,7%14,0% 37,6% 14,2%

60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

NW

GP

RSA

MP

KZN

WC

EC

LP

FS

NC

5,09

8,5

8,67

7,07

Large

Percentage

Single or

Single

Generation

Households

Higher Percentage Skip

Generations in Rural Provinces

Households growing faster than population. This phenomenon is largely driven by fact that

one-quarter of households consist of one person.

Single PersonSingle Gen. Double Generation Triple Generation Skip Generation

Percentage of households by household

composition and province, 2018

Housing and Service Delivery

Number of households that lived in formal,

informal and traditional dwellings, 2018

To meet the increasing need for housing, the number of formal dwellings have

increased sharply over the past 17 years. The shortfall is, however, filled by an increase in

informal dwellings.

Increasing

number of formal

dwellings

13,5M

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mill

ions

8M

FORMAL DWELLINGS

1,5M

2,1M

1,2M

0,8M

Other

0,01M

3,6%3,6%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

57,5%

2,2%

16,1%

20,0%

Energy used for cooking,

2002-2018

WOOD

PARRAFIN

ELECTRICITY

Paraffin and wood as a source of energy for cooking continues to decline as

electricity becomes more accessible.

76,8%

7,7%

72,6%

92,7%

84,7%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

76,0%

90,7%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

88,5%

87,9%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

55,3%

87,4%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

68,6%

83,5%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

87,2%

77,7%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

81,6%

91,7%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

85,1%

91,2%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Declines in connection to electricity in Gauteng can be associated with the rapid in-

migration experienced by the province. Household growth in Gauteng can be attributed to in-

migration.

LP NC FS

MP WC EC

KZN GP

SA

82,0%

83,7%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Percentage of households connected to the mains

electricity supply by province, 2002─2018

NW

46,3

28,5

12,3

1,9

3,6

1,2

3,0

1,7

0,1

0,9

0,4

Piped water in dwelling

Piped water on site

Public/ communal tap

Neighbour’s tap

Boreholes (on-site / communal)

Rainwater tank

Water carrier

Stream, river

Stagnant water, pool

Spring, Well

OtherPercentage of households by selected main

water source, 2018

Around 1,8% of Households relied on streams, rivers, dams or stagnant water, for main

sources of drinking water. 89,0% of SA households have access to improved water sources

Imp

roved

sou

rce

Slide needed on national sanitation picture

Sanitation

Almost two-thirds of South African households have access to flush toilets while

82,6% had access to improved sanitation. 1,4% no access to sanitation facilities.

Due to rounding numbers may not add up to 100%

65,4%

17,2%

13,4%

3,9%

Flush Toilet

Pit latrine/toilet withventilation pipe

Pit latrine/toilet withoutventilation pipe

Other

Percentage of households by type of toilet

facility and province, 2018

92,2%

93,8%

83,0%

2002200420062008201020122014201620172018

88,9%91,8%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

75,5%

90,0%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

33,4%

88,0%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

64,7%85,5%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

50,9%

81,4%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

54,1%

70,6%

2002200420062008201020122014201620172018

50,7%

68,1%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

26,9%

58,9%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2017 2018

WP GP NC

EC FS KZN

NW MP LP

Despite nearly doubling access to improved sanitation since 2002, access remains the

most limited in Limpopo. EC had large improvements in ventilated toilets

Percentage of households that have access to

improved sanitation per province, 2002–2018

SA

vs

Percentage of households who wash their hands with

soap after using the toilet by Province, 2018

57,8

61,6

72,4

76,2

76,3

77,2

78,2

84,1

84,6

96,3%

LP

MP

KZN

RSA

FS

GP

EC

NC

NW

WC

More than three-quarters (76,2%) of households indicated that their members

usually wash their hands with soap and water after they had used the toilet. However only two-thirds (67,5%) said that they had easy access to hand washing facilities with soap.

A quarter of households across all metros separated waste for recycling. Fewer households living in Mangaung, eThekwini and Tshwane reported separating waste for

recycling purposes.

Households that separate waste

for recycling 2018

37,3%

31,4%

27,3%25,7% 25,6% 24,7%

16,8%

9,1%

5,3%

CPT COJ EKU BUF NMB Metros TSH ETH MAN

25,7%

27,8%

34,9%

39,2%

39,6%

44,0%

48,9%

64,7%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

EKU

CPT

TSH

ETH

BUF

COJ

NMB

MAN

Me

tro A

ve

rag

e

37,0

%

Percentage of households who experienced

waste removal problems by metropolitan

area, 2018

Waste removal and littering was considered most important across all metros.

Regular refuse removal for almost 90% of metro households. Satisfaction levels vary and the case

of Mangaung well documented.

85,4%

40,9

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

Access to piped water

Pay for water

63,9%

26,2

11,4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

Good Average Poor

THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH ACCESS TO PIPED WATER HAD INCREASED

SINCE 2006. However, this coincided with a decline in the percentage of households who paid for the

piped water they received.

Access to piped municipal water

supplies, payment and service ratings

for local municipalities, 2006–2018

Access to piped municipal water

supplies, payment for local

municipalities, 2006–2018

Households livelihood

Households livelihood

Vulnerability to hunger at an individual and household level has been declining

whilst access to grants has been increasing.

22,8%

9,7%

27,7%

11,3%

12,8%

31,0%30,8%

44,3%

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Grants and Vulnerability to hunger

2002 - 2018

Grant: persons

Grant: households

Vulnerability to hunger: persons

Vulnerability to hunger: HH

Nearly two-thirds of South Africans own a bank account. A quarter of individuals in the country

indicated having an investment account. Males were more likely than females to own a pension and the

opposite was true for informal savings. Dwelling and land were the two financial assets which were most

likely to be owned jointly.

66% 64%

Male Female

15,8%20,6%

Male Female

28,7% 25,3%

Male Female

23,6%17,1%

Male Female

6,4%13,3%

Male Female

2,3% 2,3%

Male Female

Bank Account Investment Account Dwelling ownership

Pension Informal Savings Land Ownership

Individual Ownership of Assets for individuals

aged 18 years and older by sex, 2018

Extra Source of Food Involvement in agriculture

Nationally, more than three-quarters (78,5%) of households that were involved in

agriculture were involved in an attempt to secure an additional source of food. Agriculture plays an important role in the process of economic development and can contribute

significantly to household food security.

Main source of income

2,5%

4,0%

9,1%

9,3%

17,1%

18,2%

24,7%

29,3%

37,1%

WC

GP

NC

NW

FS

KZN

MP

EC

LP

45,5%

59,9%

49,4%

50,9%

78,7%

71,5%

76,8%

78,6%

88,7%

9,1%

2,7%

9,7%

8,0%

3,4%

1,3%

2,9%

2,6%

1,9%

Percentage distribution of the main

reasons for agricultural involvement by

province, 2018

Education

41,7%

49,8%

47,8%

41,2%

46,7%

43,1%

44,7%

44,8%

37,2%

34,3%

21,8%

21,8%

27,6%

33,9%

30,7%

33,8%

32,5%

34,8%

48,9%

53,7%

3,5%

4,1%

1,8%

3,8%

2,7%

3,3%

3,6%

3,0%

3,2%

3,6%

33,1%

24,4%

22,8%

21,1%

19,9%

19,8%

19,3%

17,4%

10,8%

8,4%

EC

KZN

LP

FS

NW

RSA

MP

NC

GP

WC

Nationally, one-third of children lived with both parents whilst 43 per cent lived with

mothers only. Children in affluent provinces were most likely to live with both parents. Children's living

arrangements was likely to affect their performance at school.

Lived with neither Lived with mother Lived with both Lived with father

Percentage of children living

arrangements, 2018

1,3%

3,5%2,6% 2,3%

3,0%2,4% 2,0%

3,3%

1,2%2,4%

4,4%

8,4%

5,5%

7,7%

10,7%

7,3%

5,5%

7,9%

6,2%

7,4%0,3%

2,8%

1,9%

3,1%

2,4%

1,8%

1,7%

2,2%

1,7%

2,0%

WC EC NC FS KZN NW GP MP LP RSA

Around one-tenth of children in South Africa were orphans. Fewer children were

double orphans. One-tenth of children in Kwazulu-Natal are paternal orphans. This is in line with life

expectancy as women had slightly higher life expectancy than males.

Percentage of children by orphanhood

status and province, 2018

Paternal orphan

Maternal orphan

Double orphan

36,8%

45,2%

38,8%

46,5%

53,9%

54,0%

60,2%

63,2%

57,8%

49,8%

48,3%

43,7%

38,6%

38,5%

37,5%

24,9%

32,2%

22,4%

4,6%

2,2%

8,0%

5,4%

5,1%

4,2%

9,7%

3,7%

4,3%

0,5%

0,9%

1,9%

0,5%

0,0%

1,6%

1,0%

0,0%

1,0%

0,0 10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0 70,0 80,0 90,0 100,0

GP

FS

WC

LP

MP

EC

KZN

NW

NC

Chart TitleAt home with another adult

At somebody else’s dwelling

NC

NW

EC

MP

LP

WC

FS

GP

KZN

Children aged 0 - 4 years using

different child care arrangements

(top four) by province, 2018

MAJORITY OF CHILDREN AGED 0─4 ARE STILL KEPT AT HOME WITH PARENTS OR

OTHER GUARDIANS IN MOST PROVINCES.

At home with parent or guardian ECD Centres

Type of ECD stimulation

received by children 0-4, 2018

Nearly half of children have never read a book or drawn with a parent or guardian.

25,9%

32,2%

34,5%

35,1%

43,1%

46,8%

Naming different things with a child

Counting different things with a child

Talking about things you have done witha child

Telling stories with a child

Drawing or colouring with a child

Reading books with a child

Never Often Sometimes

Reading books with a

child

Percentage of those aged 5 – 24

years who attend educational

institution, 2018

There is noticeable representation of learners who are older than the ideal

graduation age in primary and secondary schools.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

TVET

University

Primary School

Secondary School

Pre

Sch

oo

l

Not in

Education

or Training

Main reasons given by persons

aged 7 to 18 years for not attending

an educational institution, 2018

Over a fifth of learners cited a lack of money as the main reason for not attending an

educational institution. Some reasons for not attending an educational institution are particularly

affected by gender.

3,5%

7,5%

7,9%

9,8%

10,8%

13,3%

22,9%

24,2%

Working at home

Education is useless

Family commitments

Completed education

Illness and disability

Other

Poor academic performance

No money for fees

M F

Vast gender disparities in

“family commitment” and

“education is useless”

14.4%0,2%

11,8%3,9%

Upper Secondary

Some Primary

NSC/GRADE 12 CONTINUES ITS UPWARD TREND. The percentage who attained Grade 12

as their highest level of education increased from 21,3% in 2002 to 30,9% in 2018.

Educational attainment for persons

aged 20 years and older , 2002 - 2018

17,4%

8,7%

200

2

200

3

200

4

200

5

200

6

200

7

200

8

200

9

201

0

201

1

201

2

201

3

201

4

201

5

201

6

201

7

201

87,0%

4,3%

200

2

200

3

200

4

200

5

200

6

200

7

200

8

200

9

201

0

201

1

201

2

201

3

201

4

201

5

201

6

201

7

201

8

14,7%

11,4%

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

18,8%

25,5%

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

21,3%

30,9%

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

9,2%

14,3%

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

20

14

20

15

20

16

20

17

20

18

Completed Primary Lower secondary

NSC/Grade 12 Post School

10,71

10,39

8,75

9,13

10,59

10,73

10,79

17,67

20,96

LP

EC

NC

NW

FS

MP

KZN

WC

GP

21,9%

23,0%

27,1%

28,7%

30,9%

31,9%

33,8%

29,9%

35,9%

LP

EC

NC

NW

FS

MP

KZN

WC

GP

SA

Ave

rage

30

,89

%

SA

Ave

rage

1

4,2

7%

Most provinces are closer to the SA average for obtaining NSC, however still large

disparity in obtaining post school qualifications by province

NSC/Grade 12 Post School

Percentage distribution of educational

attainment for persons aged 20 years and older

by province, 2018

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecommunications access is primarily driven by widespread adoption of cellular

communication. Many households in Northern Cape still experience the digital divide with around

10% with no access at all.

Household access to landlines and

cell phones by Province, 2018

18,4%

6,3%

4,2%

7,1%

5,3%

7,2%

7,8%

3,4%

1,9%

2,3%

4,3%

10,3%

7,6%

3,4%

4,7%

2,7%

1,5%

4,4%

3,6%

1,1%

77,1%

83,1%

88,1%

89,5%

89,9%

90,0%

90,7%

92,1%

94,5%

96,5%

WC

NC

EC

RSA

FS

KZN

GP

NW

LP

MP

Cell and Landline None Cell only

67,4%63,7%

45,0%

17,3%8,0% 1,7%

0,0%

10,0%

20,0%

30,0%

40,0%

50,0%

60,0%

70,0%

80,0%

Metro Urban Rural

Using Mobile Devices

At Home

MOBILE DEVICES HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED INTERNET ACCESS. Access is generally

much higher, although still lacking in rural areas

Access to the Internet at home,

or using mobile devices, 2018

Factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics,

our income and education level, all have considerable impacts on

health

Health

On average, less than 17% of the population have medical aid coverage. Only highly

urbanised provinces of Gauteng and WC have medical aid coverage rates higher than the average

% of individuals who are

members of medical aid schemes

per province, 2018

8,2%

10,0%

12,4%

12,6%

13,5%

16,1%

16,2%

16,4%

23,9%

25,1%

LP

EC

KZN

MP

NW

NC

FS

RSA

GP

WC

PUBLIC FACILITIES STILL FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF

SOUTH AFRICA. Only highly urbanised provinces of Gauteng and WC have medical aid coverage

rates higher than the average

Due to rounding numbers may not add up to 100%

71,5%

27,1%

0,7% 0,8%

Public Facilities

Private Facilities

Traditional HealerOther

Healthcare facility normally

consulted by household when

someone is ill, 2018

ORPHANHOOD

STATUS HOUSEHOLD

COMPOSITION OWNERSHIP

OF ASSETS

LIVING

ARRANGEMENTS

One-fifth of children did

not live with either their

biological parents while

33,8% lived with both

parents, and 43,1% lived

with their mothers.

Approximately 11,7% of

children were orphaned.

RecapGHS 2018

More than one-quarter

(25,7%) of households

consisted of a single

person, while 62% of

households contained

three or less members.

Nuclear households that is

comprised of parents and

children made up 39,1% of

all households

More than two-thirds

(64,9%) of individuals aged

18 years and older owned

one or more bank

accounts individually or

jointly with others.

Only 5,5% of adults owned

any land, with virtually no

difference between males

and females.

Marriage and cohabitation

are more common among

women than men in the

age group 18-34 years. The

situation is reversed in

older age groups.

Living arrangements raises

challenges of providing basic

services to households, and

maintaining social cohesion.

EDUCATION EDUCATION

RecapGHS 2018

About a quarter of

premature school leavers

charged ‘lack of money’

for not studying.

Family commitments cited

by 14,4% of females and

0,2% of males.

Attendance almost

universal at ages 7-15

years, 25,5% of persons

aged 5–24 not attending

educational institutions

Participation rates at

higher education

institutions are low for

black African and coloured

students.

Ndzi hela kwala!