South Africa: housing

How many South Africans live in informal housing?

12.1% of South African households lived in informal dwellings in 2025, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. 84.2% lived in formal dwellings and 3.4% in traditional dwellings.

Informal dwellings, such as shacks in informal settlements or backyards, were most common in North West (19.2% of households), Gauteng (18.9%) and the Western Cape (17.6%). In metropolitan areas the share was 16.0%, highest in Ekurhuleni (19.7%) and the City of Johannesburg (19.1%). The figures are survey estimates and count households rather than people.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

How many households have received an RDP house?

12.9% of South African households had received some form of government housing subsidy by 2025, up from 5.6% in 2002, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. Female-headed households were more likely to have received one (15.1%) than male-headed households (11.1%).

State-subsidised houses are often called RDP houses, after the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Among households living in them, 9.7% said the walls were weak or very weak and 9.6% said the same of the roof. Reports of weak walls and roofs were highest in KwaZulu-Natal.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

Do more South Africans rent or own their homes?

Renting was most common in Gauteng, where 39.4% of households rented their dwelling in 2025, and the Western Cape (30.9%), according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. Home ownership, whether or not the home was fully paid off, was highest in Limpopo (76.2%), Mpumalanga (72.8%) and North West (69.0%), and lowest in Gauteng (43.9%).

Nationally, 15.0% of households lived in their dwelling rent-free. Ownership in the survey includes houses received through government subsidies and homes on communal land, which is why it is higher in rural provinces.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

How many homes are being built in South Africa?

The value of residential building plans passed by larger municipalities in South Africa was R28.0 billion in January to July 2026, 8.4% higher than a year earlier at current prices, according to Stats SA's selected building statistics, released on 17 September 2026. Plans for flats and townhouses rose 21.1%, while plans for houses fell 1.9%.

At constant 2019 prices, which remove building cost increases, residential plans rose 3.3%. Plans passed show intended private-sector building, not completions, and exclude government-subsidised housing. Figures for August are due on 22 October 2026.

Official sources: Stats SA: Selected building statistics, July 2026 (PDF)

What are house prices in South Africa?

No official national house price index was found on the sites of Statistics South Africa and the Department of Human Settlements, checked on 14 October 2026.

Stats SA's Consumer Price Index tracks rents and owners' equivalent rent, which rose 4.1% and 4.0% in the year to August 2026, rather than purchase prices. House price indices in South Africa are mainly published by banks and property data firms, which are not official sources. Stats SA's building statistics show the value of new residential plans passed by municipalities.

Official sources: Statistics South Africa · Department of Human Settlements

What is South Africa's urbanisation rate?

63.8%: that is the share of people living in urban areas in South Africa for 2025, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 44.9%; South Africa is 9th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 94th highest.

What share of South Africa's city dwellers live in slums?

According to UN-Habitat, the share of city dwellers living in slums in South Africa was 24.2% in 2022. The peak was 26.5% in 2006 and the low 24.2% in 2018. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 48.7%; South Africa is 47th highest of 48. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 74th highest.

What share of people in South Africa have electricity?

90.2%: that is the share of people with access to electricity in South Africa for 2024, according to the World Bank. That is the highest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 57.8%; South Africa is 7th highest of 48. Worldwide: 139th of 193.

What share of people in South Africa have safe drinking water?

WHO and UNICEF puts the share of people using safely managed drinking water in South Africa at 68.0% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 69.8%; its low point was 2005, at 66.9%. It is 1st highest of 25 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 27.2%. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 77th highest.

What is access to sanitation in South Africa?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 73.8%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 23.6%, and South Africa placed 1st highest of 29. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 56th highest.

What is access to clean cooking in South Africa?

According to the WHO, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in South Africa was 90.0% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 4th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 13.0%. Worldwide: 105th of 192.