The has a growing and maturing population, presenting opportunities and challenges to the province. On average between 2002 and 2008, the KwaZulu Natal population was estimated at an average size of 10 million people. The largest number of these people lived in eThekwini Metro (32.8 percent of the provincial population), followed by (9.5 percent), and uThungulu district (9.4 percent). Sisonke contributed 4.8 percent to the provincial population, the district with the lowest population number (Figure 2.1). Figure 2.1: Total Population by DMs, average 2002-2008 Source: Global Insight, 2009 Figure 2.2 the distribution of the population in Sisonke by gender and age groups between 2002 and 2008. The largest proportion of the population in Sisonke was the age group 15-64 years (54.4 percent) followed by age group 0-14 years (40.6 percent). The elderly population made the smallest portion of the total population (5.0 percent). More potential work seekers translate into higher unemployment levels, particularly if individuals are not appropriately skilled. Hence, the higher number of both young individuals and people in the labour force overall will require more spending in education (primary and secondary) and skills development. Figure 2.2: Total population distribution by gender and age groups in Sisonke district; average 2002-2008 Source: Global Insight, 2009 The male to female ratio was lightly underbalanced in the district during this period, with males comprising 47.4 percent and females 52.6 percent of the district population (Figure 2.2). In terms of population density, Sisonke was the least densely populated district (43 people per km2) in the province. Of its 474,9 thousand average population, 13.0 percent is regarded as urban residents. This suggests that there is high pressure on environment in the rural areas and that there could be opportunities available for the uptake in the town’s CBD in order to boost various industries and investment in this district. 3 Economic Review Gross Domestic Product per municipality (-M)
The has a growing and maturing population, presenting opportunities and challenges to the province. On average between 2002 and 2008, the KwaZulu Natal population was estimated at an average size of 10 million people. The largest number of these people lived in eThekwini Metro (32.8 percent of the provincial population), followed by (9.5 percent), and uThungulu district (9.4 percent). Sisonke contributed 4.8 percent to the provincial population, the district with the lowest population number (Figure 2.1). Figure 2.1: Total Population by DMs, average 2002-2008 Source: Global Insight, 2009 Figure 2.2 the distribution of the population in Sisonke by gender and age groups between 2002 and 2008. The largest proportion of the population in Sisonke was the age group 15-64 years (54.4 percent) followed by age group 0-14 years (40.6 percent). The elderly population made the smallest portion of the total population (5.0 percent). More potential work seekers translate into higher unemployment levels, particularly if individuals are not appropriately skilled. Hence, the higher number of both young individuals and people in the labour force overall will require more spending in education (primary and secondary) and skills development. Figure 2.2: Total population distribution by gender and age groups in Sisonke district; average 2002-2008 Source: Global Insight, 2009 The male to female ratio was lightly underbalanced in the district during this period, with males comprising 47.4 percent and females 52.6 percent of the district population (Figure 2.2). In terms of population density, Sisonke was the least densely populated district (43 people per km2) in the province. Of its 474,9 thousand average population, 13.0 percent is regarded as urban residents. This suggests that there is high pressure on environment in the rural areas and that there could be opportunities available for the uptake in the town’s CBD in order to boost various industries and investment in this district. 3 Economic Review Gross Domestic Product per municipality (-M)
Socio-Economic%20Profile_Sisonke_Profile_2009.docx