The demographic and human development indicators of KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

This study will explore Demographic and Human Development Indicators of the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from the 2016 Community Survey (CS) conducted by Statistics South Africa. Limited research has been conducted in the KZN context to outline an in-depth understanding of the population structures and human development progress within the province. Most literature available for Demographics and Human Development, which includes data for the province, are based on the entire country. There is limited information directed to the understanding of KZN as a target population group. This study uses a sample of 11 079 717 persons obtained from the 2016 CS, which was conducted by Statistics South Africa. It is imperative to understand the dynamics of KZN within districts from the entire country. South Africa reflects unique structures compared to other parts of the world, especially the developed world. This is due to past inequalities and the social transformation of the population, demographics and human development with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), increasing urbanisation, greater demand for education, increasing migration patterns and decreasing fertility rates, which reveal a more complex paradigm. The study uses quantitative techniques, performed through statistical software, namely, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and STATA, with the data set acquired from Statistics South Africa to observe the KZN population. The study therefore concludes that a reduction in fertility and an increase in educational attainment may prove to have a positive impact on the KZN population. Factors such as high HIV prevalence, high unemployment rates and a vast range of rural challenges may nevertheless have a significant impact and thereby influence the overall outcomes for the population in the province.