DemographyDemography

20,9

 

million

children live in South Africa

Children living in South Africa

An estimated 62 million people lived in SA in 2022. A third of them (over 20 million) were children under 18 years.

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1 in every 5

 

children

do not live with either of their biological parents.

Children living with their biological parent(s)

This indicator shows the number and share of children in South Africa who live in the same household as both their biological parents; with their mother only; with their father only; or who do not live with either of their biological parents.

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64%

 

of all orphans in South Africa are paternal orphans.

Orphaning

An orphan is defined as a child under the age of 18 years whose mother, father, or both biological parents have died (including those whose living status is reported as unknown, but excluding those whose living status is unspecified).

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75%

 

of paternal orphans in South Africa live with their mothers.

Single orphans living with their remaining parent

A maternal orphan is a child whose mother has died but whose father is alive, while a paternal orphan is a child whose father has died but whose mother is alive. Paternal orphans are more likely than maternal orphans to be living with their remaining parent.

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Less than 0.5%

 

of children

live in child-only households

Children living in child-only households

A child-only household is defined as a household where all members are younger than 18 years. Less than 1% of children live in child-only households.

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