Three censuses (1996, 2001, and 2011) have taken place since the first democratic elections in South Africa. Even during the apartheid era, census surveys were conducted. That information however, is irregular and unreliable, especially inthe context of the African population. Laws such as the Native Urban Areas Act, and the Group Areas Act, which govern the spatial serparation of Africans and the white minority, distorted official statistics, and underestiamed the number of people in cities.

 The first census after apartheid, in 1996 was crucial for South Africa’s history, as it was the first in which the entire population was counted.

Former censuses estimated the numerical size of each population group as they were defined in ‘Population Registration Act’ of 1950. This categorized South Africans as ‘White’, ‘Coloured’, ‘Indian’ and ‘Native’ (Black). Earlier censuses contained neither accurate, nor demographic socio-economic data.

In the 2011 census 120 000 workers were employed to interview each member of individual households. Information about age, gender, work, education, income, births, and deaths in the household were collected. Moreover, questions on access to water, electricity, sanitation, and communication technologies were surveyed. The 2011 census showed that 79.2 % of the population classified as ' African ', 8.9 % as, Coloured ', 8.9 % as White, 2.5 % Indian / Asian ', and 0.5 % other / unspecified.