what is happening to the family in south africa
DESCRIPTION
Presented by Professor Chimere-Dan at the Human Sciences Research Council seminar, September 2015.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Resilience and changein the context of social transformation
What is happening to the family in South Africa?
Dan OD Chimere-Dan
Africa Strategic Research Corporation474 Phoenix Parkway Street, Kyalami 1684, Tel: 011 468 1010.
Email: General: [email protected]: Website www.africastrategic.comDirect: 071 646 3541: Email: [email protected]
![Page 2: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Notes
1. In this work, I direct attention to the family (not necessarily individuals or all types of households) as a unit of quantitative analysis with data that answer selected questions about recent changes in its types and size in South Africa.
2. With due recognition of intellectual contestation surrounding its definition and meaning, I worked operationally with the concept of the family as a quantifiable social and demographic unit comprising two or more people who are related by marriage, birth or legal adoption. This is not a value position but a practical necessity in view of the nature and quality of currently available statistics.
3. My analysis is based on national censuses (10% samples from 1996, 2001, 2011), 2007 Community Survey, 2014 Household Survey and national database of registered marriages (2006-2013) and births (1998-2014). I also explored other sets of data from the General Household Surveys (2008-2013) and from the 2008-2013 waves of the National Income Dynamic Survey in the process of validating some results presented here.
4. Unless otherwise stated, all statistics are my original calculations and estimates. Variations in the quality of data used in this analysis may result in minor differences with comparable official and other estimates.
5. I welcome comments and suggestions based on these preliminary results.
![Page 3: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Households in SA
Recent official statistics estimated 15.6 million households in South Africa in 2014, a big increase of 44% from the number in 2002.(Statistics South Africa. PO318, May 2015)
These numbers suggest that while the average household size in South Africa is declining
(see Figure 9), the number of households is increasing.
![Page 4: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Change in family type
The family remains the dominant living arrangement in South Africa.
7 out of 10 households in 2014 were families.
![Page 5: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Family households 70%
Other types of household
30%
Figure 1. Types of households in South Africa2014
![Page 6: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Table 1. Recent trends in household types in South Africa
1996-2014
Household type
% of all household
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
Couple family households 30.8 33.3 33.4 27.6 27.3
Single family households 47.9 38.3 39.8 35.6 42.4
All family households 78.7 71.7 73.2 63.2 69.7
Persons living alone 16.1 21.7 20.1 29.4 22.4
All other living arrangements 5.2 6.7 6.7 7.3 8
All other types of household 21.3 28.4 26.8 36.7 30.4
All types of household 100 100 100 100 100
![Page 7: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• The share of families as a percent of all types of household declined by 11.4% from 1996 to 2014
![Page 8: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
79
21
70
30
Family households All other types of household
Figure 2. Change (%) in household types, 1996 and 2014
1996 2014
![Page 9: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
A big source of recent change in the family is the difference in trends between couple
families and single families.
Single families as a share of all families increased by 37% from 1996 to 2014.
On the other hand, couple families as a share of all families decreased by 31% from 1996 to 2014.
![Page 10: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
54.7
44.5 43.441.2 37.8
45.3
55.5 56.658.8 62.2
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
Figure 3. Recent trends (%) in couple and single families1996-2014
Couple family Single family
![Page 11: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
38.7
16.0 16.928.424.9
12.9 15.4
46.8
-35.7
-19.4-8.9
64.8
Coupe with/withoutchildren (nuclear)
Couple with relations(extended)
Single family withchildren
Single family withrelations (extended)
Figure 4. Change (%) in different family types 1996-2014
1996 2014 % change
![Page 12: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• Multi-generation families as a percent of all families recorded a small increase from 26% in 2001 to 30.7% in 2011.
• This increase resulted from a significant growth by inter-generation families from 13% in 2001 to 23.7% in 2011.
• Skip generation families as a percent of all families declined slightly from 12.2% in 2001 to 8% in 2011.
• The estimated percentages of adoptive and blended families in 2001 and 2011 are small and indicated no big differences in the 10 years between the censuses.
![Page 13: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
26.0
12.2 13.8
2.0 1.1
70.9
30.7
8.0
22.7
1.0 1.2
67.1
Multi-generation Skip generation Inter-generation Adoptive Blended All other family
Figure 5. Change in other family types in South Africa 2001 and 2011
2001 2011
![Page 14: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
53.8
31.2 29.9
12.5
43.1
19.6
63.3
32.6
56.5
33.8
% withchildren0-17 yrs
% withchildren0-5 yrs
% withchildren0-17 yrs
% withchilren0-5 yrs
% withchildren0-17 yrs
% withchilren0-5 yrs
% withchildren0-17 yrs
% withchilren0-5 yrs
% withchildren0-17 yrs
% withchilren0-5 yrs
South Africa White Indian Coloured African
Figure 6. Percent of families with children 0-5 years and 0-17 years, 2014
![Page 15: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Table 2. Two broad groups of family types, 1996-2014
Family typeYear
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
1 Couple family 54.7 44.5 43.4 41.2 37.8
2 Single family 45.3 55.5 56.6 58.8 62.2
All 100 100 100 100 100
![Page 16: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Table 3. Four family types in South Africa, 1996-2014
Family type
% in Year
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
1 Couple family with or without children 38.7 29.2 29.0 27.3 24.9
2 Couple family extended 16.0 15.4 14.4 13.9 12.9
3 Single family with children 16.9 14.4 14.2 15.3 15.4
4 Single family extended 28.3 41.0 42.4 43.5 46.8
All family types 100 100 100 100 100
![Page 17: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
54
26
65 60
39 36
50 49
3039 36
31
43
64
51
70
58
7065 63
38
-18
97
4740
53 48
67
44 44
Wes
tern
Cap
eEa
ster
n Ca
peN
orth
ern
Cape
Free
Sta
teKw
aZul
u-N
atal
Nor
th W
est
Gau
teng
Mpu
mal
anga
Lim
popo
Urb
anRu
ral
Afric
anCo
lour
edIn
dian
Whi
te
< 2
020
-29
30-3
940
-49
50-5
960
+
Mal
eFe
mal
e
No
scho
olin
gPr
imar
ySo
me
seco
ndar
ySe
cond
ary
+
Wor
king
Not
wor
king
Not
eco
nom
ical
ly a
ctiv
e
Figure 7. Percent change in single families1996-2014
![Page 18: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
-23-31
-43 -40 -40-32 -28
-42-38
-25
-44-36
-22-16
-7
-94
-65
-42-35 -35 -31
13
-91
-52
-41 -43
-22
Wes
tern
Cap
eEa
ster
n Ca
peN
orth
ern
Cape
Free
Sta
teKw
aZul
u-N
atal
Nor
th W
est
Gau
teng
Mpu
mal
anga
Lim
popo
Urb
anRu
ral
Afric
anCo
lour
edIn
dian
Whi
te
< 2
020
-29
30-3
940
-49
50-5
960
+
Mal
eFe
mal
e
No
scho
olin
gPr
imar
ySo
me
seco
ndar
ySe
cond
ary
+
Figure 8. Percent change in couple families1996-2014
![Page 19: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Change in family size
• National average household size in 2014 was 3.5
• Average household size declined by 24% from 1996 to 2014
• Average family size declined by 18%• Average non-family households declined by 31%
![Page 20: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
4.6
4.0 3.93.6 3.5
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
Figure 9. Average household size, South Africa 1996-2014
![Page 21: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
3.64.1
3.3 3.2
4.0
3.0 3.03.5 3.7
3.2
3.93.5
4.2
3.12.6
2.22.6
3.03.5
3.84.1
3.2
3.94.3
4.0
3.43.0 3.1
3.4
4.1
Wes
tern
Cap
eEa
ster
n Ca
peN
orth
ern
Cape
Free
Sta
teKw
aZul
u-N
atal
Nor
th W
est
Gaut
eng
Mpu
mal
anga
Lim
popo
Urb
anRu
ral
Afric
anCo
lour
edIn
dian
or A
sian
Whi
te
< 2
020
-29
30-3
940
-49
50-5
960
+
Mal
eFe
mal
e
No
scho
olin
gPr
imar
ySo
me
seco
ndar
ySe
cond
ary
+
Wor
king
Not
wor
king
Not
eco
nom
ical
ly a
ctiv
e
Figure 10. Differences in average household size2014
![Page 22: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
5.1
6.1
1.0
5.0 5.3
1.0
4.7 5.0
1.0
4.85.5
1.0
4.2 4.2
1.0
Family households Non-family households Persons living alone
Figure 11. Average family size of by household type1996-2015
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
![Page 23: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
5.2 5.25.1 4.84.7 4.64.8 4.64.0 4.3
Couple family Single family
Figure 12. Recent trend in family size1996-2014
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
![Page 24: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
% Change in the average size of four family types
• Simple couple family declined by 14% from 1996-2014• Extended couple family declined by 36% from 1996-2014
• Simple single family declined by 10% from 1996 to 2014• Extended single family declined by 22% from 1996 to 2014
![Page 25: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
4.2
7.6
4.2
5.8
3.9
7.3
3.4
5.3
3.7
6.8
3.3
5
3.6
5.7
3.1
5.1
3.6
4.9
3.84.5
Simple couple family Extended couple family Simple single family Extended single family
Figure 13. Recent trend in family size1996-2014
1996 2001 2007 2011 2014
![Page 26: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Table 4. Change in average family size in South Africa 1996-2014
1996 2014 % changeProvince Western Cape 4.2 4.2 0.0
Eastern Cape 5.2 4.8 7.7Northern Cape 4.9 4.1 16.3Free State 4.7 3.8 19.1KwaZulu-Natal 5.9 4.8 18.6North West 5.1 3.7 27.5Gauteng 4.3 3.6 16.3Mpumalanga 5.2 4.3 17.3Limpopo 5.8 4.3 25.9
Place of residence
Urban 4.7 3.8 19.1Rural 5.6 4.7 16.1
Population group
African 5.5 4.4 20.0Coloured 4.9 4.6 6.1Indian 4.6 3.4 26.1White 3.0 3.0 0.0
![Page 27: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Table 5. Differences in change in average family size1996-2014
Characteristics of head 1996 2014 % declineAge group < 20 5.9 3.9 34.6
20-29 5.7 4.0 30.230-39 4.2 4.0 5.440-49 4.6 4.2 9.050-59 4.8 4.3 11.560 + 4.7 4.2 9.0
Gender Male 5.2 4.0 21.7Female 5.0 4.3 13.2
Education No schooling 5.4 4.8 10.9Primary 5.4 4.7 12.9Some secondary 5.1 4.2 17.9Secondary + 4.3 3.7 14.6
Work status Working 4.2 3.9 7.3Not working 5.7 4.2 25.9
Not economically active 5.3 4.5 15.4
![Page 28: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Pressure on the family from two demographic factors
(at the point of family formation)
• Marriage patterns• Childbearing patterns
![Page 29: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Marriage and family formation patterns
• The prevalence rate of marriage is very low in South Africa, and exceptionally low by global standard among women in childbearing ages.
• Only 27% of all women in childbearing ages were currently married in 2014; Very low for African and Coloured sub-groups (African-23%, Coloured-34%, Indian-55%, White-53%).
• Following this declining trend which has been in progress for more than two decades, marriage has lost its status as the most common type of relationship for starting a new family in South Africa.
![Page 30: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
27.2
1.9 2.2
11.2
57.5
Currently married Widow Divorced/Seperated Cohabiting Never married
Figure 14. Marital status (%) of South African women aged 15-49 years, 2014
![Page 31: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
34
34.8
35.3
42.6
48.2
53.5
54
54.8
54.8
55.8
56.3
57.2
58.2
60.1
60.5
61.8
63.3
64.7
65.9
67.9
68.2
71.7
NamibiaSouth Africa
Southern AfricaPolynesia
MicronesiaNorthern Europe
Australia & New ZealandSouthern Europe
South AmericaNorthern Africa
CaribbeanEastern Europe
Central AmericaWestern Asia
Western EuropeEastern AfricaMiddle Africa
South-Eastern AsiaMelanesia
Western AfricaEastern Asia
South Central Asia
Figure 15. Prevalence of marriage (%) among women in reproductive ages in world region, (2008-10)
![Page 32: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Table 6. Differences in marital status (%) of women in reproductive ages (15-49), 2014
Marital statusCurrently married Widow
Divorced/Separated Cohabiting
Never married
Province Western cape 35.6 1.4 3.6 10.3 49.2Eastern cape 28.2 2.8 1.9 5.8 61.4Northern cape 26.3 1.5 1.8 12.5 57.8Free state 27.9 3.3 2.8 13.2 52.7Kwazulu-Natal 21.2 1.6 1.3 8.5 67.4North west 24.6 1.6 1.7 13.4 58.7Gauteng 30.6 1.5 2.7 15.3 49.9Mpumalanga 22.8 1.8 1.5 12.8 61.0Limpopo 25.2 2.2 1.8 10.1 60.7
Type of place Urban 30.1 1.6 2.7 11.9 53.7Rural 21.8 2.2 1.3 10.0 64.7
Population group African 23.0 2.0 1.6 11.7 61.8Coloured 34.2 1.5 3.8 10.8 49.6Indian 55.0 2.3 3.7 3.5 35.5White 53.1 1.1 5.9 9.4 30.5
![Page 33: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Table 7. Differences in marital status (%) of women in reproductive ages (15-49), 2014
Marital statusCurrently married Widow
Divorced/Separated Cohabiting
Never married
Age group 15-19 3.0 0.1 0.4 2.8 93.820-24 10.6 0.1 0.5 10.9 77.825-29 23.9 0.4 0.9 16.1 58.630-34 35.4 1.1 1.9 15.8 45.835-39 43.6 2.5 3.5 13.5 36.940-44 48.9 4.8 5.1 10.8 30.445-49 50.6 7.8 6.3 9.1 26.3
Education None 30.6 4.7 1.9 17.7 45.1Primary 23.0 2.1 1.8 12.4 60.7Some secondary 28.0 1.2 2.2 9.7 58.8Secondary + 44.8 1.6 3.8 7.6 42.2
Work status Working 37.7 2.4 3.9 11.9 44.2Not working 23.6 1.7 1.5 14.1 59.2Not economically active 20.4 1.5 1.2 8.1 68.9
![Page 34: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Childbearing and family formation patterns
• The total fertility rate is declining for all subgroups and in all provinces.
• A distinctive feature of childbearing that affects family formation patterns in South Africa is the predominance of non-marital fertility.
• 7 out of 10 children born in South Africa in 2014 were by women who were never married (African-75%, Coloured-63%, Indian-15%, White-18%).
• Although the teenage specific fertility rate is declining, this group of women contributed 14% of all births in the country in 2014, as was the case in the four preceding years.
![Page 35: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
South Africa African Coloured Indian White1996 3.2 3.5 2.6 2.4 2.02001 2.9 3.1 2.6 2.0 1.92007 2.7 2.9 2.5 1.9 1.72011 2.6 2.8 2.4 1.7 1.7
Figure 16. Recent fertility (TFR) trend in South Africa1996-2011
![Page 36: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
WesternCape Eastern Cape Northern
Cape Free state Kwazulu-Natal North west Gauteng Mpumalanga Limpopo
1996 2.6 3.6 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.4 4.02001 2.4 3.2 2.8 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.5 3.1 3.32007 2.3 3.1 2.5 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.4 2.8 3.22011 2.3 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.3 2.8 3.3
Figure 17. Fertility trends (TFR) in the provinces1996-2011
![Page 37: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
3.5
2.5 2.6
Ever married Never married All
Figure 18. Total fertility rate by marital status, 2011
![Page 38: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Table 8. Differences in total fertility rate by marital status, South Africa, 2011TFR
Ever married Never married AllProvince Western cape 3.3 1.9 2.3
Eastern cape 4.0 2.5 2.8Northern cape 2.9 2.4 2.5Free state 3.4 2.4 2.6Kwazulu-Natal 3.4 2.7 2.8North west 3.4 2.7 2.8Gauteng 3.2 2.1 2.3Mpumalanga 3.9 2.7 2.8Limpopo 4.5 3.1 3.3
Type of place Urban 3.3 2.1 2.4Rural 4.2 3.1 3.2Farm 3.7 2.8 2.9
Population group African 3.7 2.6 2.8Coloured 3.3 2.1 2.4Indian 3.2 0.6 1.7White 2.8 0.7 1.7
Education No education 3.8 2.9 3.1Primary 3.6 2.9 3.0Part secondary 3.5 2.7 2.8Secondary + 3.5 2.2 2.4
Work status Working 3.0 1.8 2.0Not working 4.0 3.1 3.2
Not economically active 4.0 2.7 3.0
![Page 39: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
904 935 933 927 916 923
10111058 1086 1072 1090
1025 1014 10221093
991
886
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Figure 19. Reported number of births (000) in South Africa1998-2014
![Page 40: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
75
63
15 18
70
African Coloured Indian White South Africa
Figure 20. Birth by never married women as a percent of all births in South Africa, 2014
![Page 41: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
.076
.066.062 .060
1996 2001 2007 2011
Figure 21. Recent trend in teenage childbearing (asfr) 1996-2011
![Page 42: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
1313
12 13
13
14 1415 14 14
14
15 14 14 14 14 14
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Figure 22. Births by women aged 15-19 as a % of all births in South Africa, 1998-2014
![Page 43: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Summary
1. Gradual reductions in the proportion of family households and in averagefamily size identified in this analysis are common correlates of contemporarypatterns of demographic change in many countries.
2. It would appear that counterbalancing patterns of demographic,socioeconomic and ideational changes have a net effect of promotingresilience and adaptation, alongside some quantitative reduction in thenumber of simple couple families in South Africa.
3. From a social demographic perspective, I highlighted an exceptionally lowprevalence of marriage and a high rate of non-marital fertility as two factorsthat impact powerfully on the family, especially at the point of formation.
4. Clearly, childbearing has overtaken marriage as the most common entrypoint for family formation, with profound implications for other phases ofthe family in South Africa.
5. In this study, I aimed no further than to contribute new empirical data for scholarly analysis and policy assessments. Explanatory studies of the interactions of these demographic and other forces will certainly improve our understanding and inform areas of policy interest.
![Page 44: What is Happening to the Family in South Africa](https://reader034.vdocuments.mx/reader034/viewer/2022042821/563db901550346aa9a991299/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
THANK YOU
Africa Strategic Research Corporation474 Phoenix Parkway Street, Kyalami 1684, TEL: 011 468 1010. Email: [email protected]: URL: www.africastrategic.com