Statistics South Africa produces a wide range of statistical releases and reports, but all too often these receive attention in relative isolation. More recently I have adopted an integrated approach in presentations to bridge the gap in the isolated reports.

The framing of this report, ‘Whither a Demographic Dividend South Africa: The Overton Window of Political Possibilities’, seeks to provide cross-cutting analysis that relates to South Africa’s demographic dividend, drawing information from several of Stats SA’s household surveys and the national accounts as well as information from other countries.

The results of Stats SA’s surveys of households and municipalities show impressive socio-economic transformation in the lives of the majority of South Africans since 1994. However, the notion of a demographic dividend, or the additional boost to economic growth that can follow a demographic transition, raises the all-important question whether enough has been achieved.

Report by Stats SA