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Statistics South Africa: CPI, jobs, GDP and population

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) is the national statistics office. It publishes the consumer price index, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, GDP, mid-year population estimates and the census, each under a stable release code such as P0141 for CPI. Fact-checkers use it for claims about prices, unemployment, growth and population.

Release calendar

What it publishes

• Consumer Price Index (P0141), monthly, with headline and category inflation.
• Quarterly Labour Force Survey (P0211), with the official and expanded unemployment rates, employment by industry and youth unemployment.
• Gross domestic product (P0441), quarterly, by industry and by expenditure.
• Mid-year population estimates (P0302), with life expectancy, migration assumptions and provincial totals.
• Quarterly Employment Statistics (P0277), with average monthly earnings from formal-sector payrolls.
• Census results, recorded births and deaths, and household surveys on living conditions, poverty and crime victimisation.

Key datasets

• Consumer Price Index (P0141)
  Monthly headline CPI and inflation by category.
  Updated: Monthly
• Quarterly Labour Force Survey (P0211)
  Employment, unemployment and labour underutilisation.
  Updated: Quarterly
• Gross domestic product (P0441)
  Quarterly real GDP growth by industry, seasonally adjusted.
  Updated: Quarterly
• Mid-year population estimates (P0302)
  National and provincial population, life expectancy and demographic assumptions.
  Updated: Annual
• Quarterly Employment Statistics (P0277)
  Formal non-agricultural employment and average monthly earnings.
  Updated: Quarterly

APIs and downloads

• Release pages by code
  Each release page holds the PDF statistical release and Excel time series; change the PPN code in the address to move between releases.
• SARB key indicators feed (CPI)
  The Reserve Bank's JSON feed republishes the latest headline CPI (CPI1000F) with its reference month.

When it publishes

CPI is released monthly, the QLFS and GDP quarterly, and mid-year population estimates once a year. Stats SA publishes an advance release calendar on its website.

How to use it to check a claim

1. Quote the release code and reference period, for example 'QLFS Q2 2026 (P0211)'.
2. For unemployment, say whether a figure is the official rate or the expanded rate that includes discouraged work-seekers.
3. For GDP, check whether growth is quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted or year-on-year.
4. For population, use the latest mid-year estimate for the current year and the census for detailed local counts.

Common mistakes

• Stats SA's website blocks many automated tools, so a figure copied by a third party should be checked against the PDF release.
• Quarterly GDP growth is not annualised, so it should not be compared directly with annual growth rates.
• Mid-year estimates are revised when new census or registration data arrive.

Where do I find South Africa's latest inflation figure?

In Stats SA's monthly Consumer Price Index release (P0141). The South African Reserve Bank's home page also shows the latest headline CPI rate.

What is the difference between the official and expanded unemployment rate?

The official rate counts people without work who actively looked for work. The expanded rate also includes people who wanted work but did not look, such as discouraged work-seekers.

Questions answered using this source

• What is the population of South Africa?
• What is South Africa's GDP and is the economy growing?
• What is the inflation rate in South Africa?
• What is the unemployment rate in South Africa?
• What is the average salary in South Africa?
• What is the birth rate in South Africa?
• What is the life expectancy in South Africa?

Links checked 14 October 2026. This page describes what the source publishes and gives no verdict on any claim.