Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

Profile of GautengThis section provides a statistical overview of Gauteng, includinginformation on the province’s socio-economic status. The informationis sourced mainly from Statistics South Africa.Demographic profileGauteng is South Africa’s smallest province, yet it has the second largestpopulation after Kwazulu/Natal. According to Statistics SA’s 2006Mid-year Population Estimates, the total population is estimated at 9,5million, based on the new provincial boundaries announced in January2006. This is 20,1% of the country’s total estimated population of 47,4million.Gauteng continues to experience signifi cant levels of in-migration fromother parts of the country and the continent. This places pressure on servicesand infrastructure but also attracts scarce skills to the province.The majority of the population are black Africans. Gauteng has moremen (51,3%) than women (48,7%). This is unlike the national totals,where women constitute 51% of the population.According to the 1996 and 2001 Census, Gauteng’s population grewfrom 7,3 million in 1996 to 8,8 million in 2001, an increase of over20%. By 2006, the estimated population increased to 9,5 million, takinginto account the new provincial boundaries. This represents a 7,8%increase compared to 2001.The economyLike the rest of South Africa, Gauteng has seen unprecedented andsustained economic growth since the mid-1990s, reaching a growth rateof 5,8% in 2005.Gauteng is South Africa’s economic engine, generating over a thirdof the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is the fourth largesteconomy in Africa.The province is home to 70% of South Africa’s hi-tech workforce andis the country’s most urbanised province. It is also home to the premierconsumer market, with a collective purchasing power that is 64% higherthan the national average.Gauteng accounts for the bulk of all employees’ remuneration in theMidterm Report - 2004/06 • 7