Poverty and living standards in Free State, South Africa: official figures
About 1,393,000 people in Free State, 45.2% of residents, received a social grant or relief payment in 2025, 4th lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 39.5%).
How many people in Free State live in shacks?
14.4% of households in Free State lived in an informal dwelling or shack in 2025, 4th highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 12.1%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyDo homes in Free State have running water?
90.3% of households in Free State had piped water inside the dwelling or in the yard in 2025 (39.6% inside the home), 3rd highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 76.3%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyWhat kind of toilets do households in Free State have?
75.2% of households in Free State used a flush toilet in 2025 (South Africa: 66.8%), while 21.8% used a pit latrine.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow high is the murder rate in Free State?
Police recorded 6.4 murders per 100,000 people in Free State in January-March 2026, 5th highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 8.2), according to the SAPS figures analysed by Parliament's Research Unit.
Source: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Research Unit · saved copyHow Free State compares with other provinces
People receiving a social grant (2025)
Free State ranks 6 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People receiving a social grant |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North West | 47.0% |
| 4 | KwaZulu-Natal | 46.9% |
| 5 | Mpumalanga | 45.7% |
| 6 | Free State | 45.2% |
| 7 | Northern Cape | 42.8% |
| 8 | Gauteng | 26.2% |
| 9 | Western Cape | 25.0% |
Households in informal dwellings (2025)
Free State ranks 4 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households in informal dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North West | 19.2% |
| 2 | Gauteng | 18.9% |
| 3 | Western Cape | 17.6% |
| 4 | Free State | 14.4% |
| 5 | Northern Cape | 13.4% |
| 6 | Eastern Cape | 5.3% |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | 5.0% |
Murders per 100,000 people, January-March 2026 (Q4 2025/26)
Free State ranks 5 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Murders per 100,000 people, January-March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Western Cape | 12.8 |
| 3 | KwaZulu-Natal | 8.8 |
| 4 | Gauteng | 7.1 |
| 5 | Free State | 6.4 |
| 6 | North West | 6.2 |
| 7 | Northern Cape | 5.6 |
| 8 | Mpumalanga | 5.0 |
More on Free State: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · South Africa
Sources
- Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Research Unit: Crime statistics analysis: Quarter 4 (2025/26), murder ratio by province from the SAPS fourth-quarter crime statistics presentation, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 823e2eb871fe…)
- Statistics South Africa: General Household Survey 2025 (Statistical release P0318): Tables 2.2 and 14.1 and addendum tables by province (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69b5db681d83…)
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