South African Gen Z is redefining adulthood by delaying traditional milestones like marriage and homeownership, creating unique wealth-building opportunities. This article explores their spending habits, investment strategies, and the long-term benefits of prioritising experiences over commitments.
South African Gen Zs – who are now in their twenties – are stepping into adulthood on different terms than previous generations. As they delay traditional adulthood milestones, they are creating one of the biggest wealth-building opportunities of our time by ticking off traditional life milestones later (or not at all) while investing now.
According to Stats SA, the median age for South African brides rose from 31 in 2015 to 33 in 2021, while that for bridegrooms increased from 36 to 37 over the same period. Meanwhile, BetterBond data indicates that the average age of first-time homebuyers is climbing to 37, up from 33 just a few years ago. Along with marriage and property, Gen Z is also delaying starting families: South African household sizes have shrunk from 4.5 people in 1996 to 3.5 in 2022, with more women choosing to have children later in life (34% of births today are to women over 30, projected to rise to 48% by 2100).
