Why does South Africa's economy feel worse than the statistics suggest? In the final instalment of the True South Africa series, we explore the critical role of population growth in shaping economic realities and the challenges faced by millions of South Africans.
Why does South Africa's economy feel so much worse than many of the headline statistics suggest?
It is a question that frustrates policymakers, economists and ordinary citizens alike. We are told that the economy continues to grow. Inflation remains under control. The financial system remains resilient. But millions of South Africans feel as though they are falling further behind.
The answer lies in a number that is almost entirely absent from the public debate. Population.
Since the mid-1990s, South Africa's population has increased by more than 50 per cent. That single fact changes how we should understand almost every economic statistic the country produces.
