Free State With a population of 2,6 million people, the Free State has the second lowest population in the country, the Census’96 figures have revealed. Of these, around 1, 3 million are male and 1,3 million are female, making for an even gender distribution. The results of the latest census conducted nationwide in 1996, were released by President Nelson Mandela and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel in Pretoria today. The figures reveal that at least 69% of the province’s population live in urban areas as opposed to 31% who live in non-urban areas. South Africa as a whole boasts a population forty-and-a-half million people. This is a large number. If all people in South Africa took hands, they would circle the world once and a bit. In the Free State, around 84% of the population are African, 3% are Coloured, 0,1% are Indian/Asian and 12% are White. Among people aged 20 years and above, 16% have had no schooling at all, whilst 22% have had some primary education. Only 5% of the province's people have a tertiary qualification, 13% have a matric, 33 % have had some secondary education and around 9% have completed their primary education. The province has the country’s highest population of people with sight disabilities at over 5%. Figures for other forms of disability are: 1,3% (hearing), 1,6% (physical), 0,5% (mental) and 0,6% (more than one disability). Water is available to 40% of the population in the form of water piped to their dwelling. Another source of water is piped water on-site or in yards, which is available to 30% of the population. The public tap used by at least 24% of the population. Less-used sources are water-carriers/tankers (0,8%), bore holes/ rainwater tanks/ wells (3%) and dams/rivers/streams/springs (1%). |