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Africa Tur → Reference materials → EAST AND SOUTH AFRICA → South Africa. PopulationSouth Africa. Population
Population. The indigenous inhabitants of South Africa - the Bushmen and the Hottentots - have a number of similar features. They are characterized by a combination of Negril (short stature) and typically Negroid (curly hair, wide nose) features with some features characteristic of Mongoloids (for example, yellowish, slightly wrinkled skin).
Bushmen, Hottentots and related peoples were once widely settled south of the rainforest zone throughout southern and parts of eastern Africa. Here, in many places, the wonderful rock paintings of wild animals, scenes of hunting, gathering, war, and religious rituals left by them have been preserved.
The Bushmen (“people of the bushes,” as Europeans called them) knew neither agriculture nor cattle breeding and earned their living by hunting and gathering wild fruits. They were divided into tribes, each of which had a special name, its own language and its own territory. In search of food, the Bushmen wandered in small groups. The bow and javelin are the common equipment of men; women used pointed sticks with stone weights to dig up edible roots, search for larvae, etc. The Bushmen adapted well to the harsh conditions of semi-deserts and veld. They knew the habits of animals, the properties of plants, and knew how to get water where other people would die of thirst right up to the river. Kay. The main Bantu tribal groups were Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Basotho (Suto), Shona, and Rozvi. They gradually pushed aside the former population and partially assimilated it. 3 beginning of the 2nd millennium AD e. in the Zambezi-Limpopo interfluve, the Bantu switched to cattle breeding. Their main source of livelihood was herds of large and small cattle belonging to large patriarchal families. They settled in kraals, in which huts were located around a cattle pen. The Hottentots knew how to make ceramic dishes, knew the smelting and processing of iron, and used metal tools. They probably adopted the iron culture from their neighbors - the Negroid agricultural peoples who speak Bantu languages and now make up the main population of southern Africa.
The Bantu came from the north and already in the 1st millennium AD. e. settled areas of southern Africa suitable for agriculture, mainly along east coast, early class public education Monomotapa with high level economy and culture.
The development of the traditional culture of the peoples of southern Africa was interrupted by the expansion of European colonialists. The Portuguese were the first to invade the modern territory of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, but widespread colonization of southern Africa began in the 17th century.
The policy of colonialism became most aggressive in the 19th century, when it was carried out by Great Britain. The lands were occupied by Bantu and Boers - descendants of Dutch colonists.
Bantu tribal associations stubbornly resisted the colonialists. Particularly significant was the Zulu resistance, which was led by the paramount leader, the talented organizer and commander Chaka. Chaka and his successors waged a heroic struggle against the colonialists. At the same time, under the pressure of the colonialists, some tribal associations disintegrated and lost their ethnic territory. One group (Zulu) moved across the river. Limpopo and settled in the south of what is now Mozambique among the Tsonga; another (Matabele) advanced into the Shona area; finally, the third group went beyond the river. Zambezi, on the basis of this group the Ngoni (Angoni) people were formed.
The Hottentots and Bushmen were pushed beyond the river. Orange: the Hottentots - to the Namib Desert, and the Bushmen - to the semi-desert regions of the Kalahari. Some of the Bushmen took refuge in the mountains of Basutoland (Lesotho), where they were completely exterminated by the Boers.
Colonial wars, especially in the second half of the 19th century, sharply disrupted the course of demographic and ethnic processes. Heavy losses during wars and uprisings and the expropriation of lands carried out by the colonialists led to the extinction of many tribes and peoples.
Modern ethnic composition and the distribution of the population of southern Africa is very mosaic. About % of the population of southern African countries (61 million in 1980) are Africans. The capitalist economy of the Republic of South Africa is mainly based on the brutal exploitation of this population.
The ethnic composition of the population of southern African countries is complex. Bantu peoples predominate (about 78% of the total number); Bushmen and Hottentots - 0.5%, descendants of immigrants from European countries along with mestizos - 19, immigrants from Asia and their descendants - 2%.
In South Africa, the territories allocated for Bantu settlements (bantustans) occupy only 13% of all lands; in Namibia, reserves account for half of the entire territory. As a rule, the lands allocated to Africans are infertile and overpopulated.
Among the immigrants from Europe in South Africa are Afrikaners, or Boers, English, Germans, Portuguese, French, Italians, Jews, etc. Persons of mixed origin according to official statistics in South Africa they are classified as a separate ethnic group, the so-called “colored”. This group also includes descendants of representatives of some peoples from Africa and Asia. The division into racial categories is strictly regulated.
Migrants from Asia, among whom Indians predominated, arrived in southern Africa a hundred years ago in connection with the expansion of sugar plantations in Na Tal. Later, traders and artisans began to move here.
The ethnic and linguistic composition of the population of Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana is homogeneous. Over 60% of Africans retain local traditional beliefs. The most archaic religious ideas and cults can be found among the Hottentots and Bushmen. These are ritual ceremonies for inducing rain, worshiping totems (for example, the veneration of the grasshopper mantis), etc. More developed polytheistic beliefs existed until recently among the Bantu peoples, in particular among the Zulu.
In South Africa it operates a large number of Christian churches of the most varied kinds: Dutch Reformed, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. Among local peoples, Christian dogmas and especially rituals adopted much from the traditional rituals of Africans, primarily music and dancing. Among the Zulu, the celebration of the ascension of the head of the sect to the mountain is celebrated very magnificently, which ends with dancing to the drums in traditional robes of narrow strips of fur, belts of bright material, beads and bright and picturesque headdresses.
Many people from India practice Hinduism. Some of the immigrants from India and Pakistan are Muslims. Islam is practiced by the peoples of northern Mozambique - Makua, Yao and Swahili.
The annual population growth of all southern African countries is about 3%, which is higher than the world average. Population itself large country- South Africa grew from 5.2 million people in 1904 to 16 million people in 1960, 21.5 million people in 1970 and 29.2 million people in 1979. The population grew due to both natural growth and immigration. IN last years the influx of immigrants from European and Asian countries has decreased.
The current demographic situation in South Africa and Namibia is closely related to the policy of racial segregation and discrimination carried out by racist colonial regimes against the population with dark color skin. High birth and death rates are characteristic of the African population. The mortality rate among Africans is almost twice that of whites. Child mortality is especially significant.
The average population density of southern Africa is over 15 people per 1 sq. km.
The bulk of the population in southern African countries is concentrated in the most economically developed areas. In the central mining region of South Africa between Pretoria and Johannesburg average density population exceeds 100 people per 1 sq. km. Another area with high population density is the narrow coastal lowland in the southeast, stretching from Cape Town to the mouth of the river. Limpopo in Mozambique (from 30 to 100 people per 1 sq. km). High population density is also in Lesotho (more than 40 people per 1 sq. km) and Swaziland (about 30 people per 1 sq. km).
In the interior, arid regions of South Africa - in Namibia, Botswana and the Cape Province of South Africa - the population is sparse. Cattle breeders and hunters live here. In the Namib Desert and the Kalahari semi-desert, the population density is less than 1 person per 1 sq. km. In South Africa, almost half of the population lives in cities; two cities have more than 100 thousand inhabitants each.
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Continent. South Africa's population is represented by the largest number of whites and Asians on the mainland. Many nationalities live on its territory, representatives of some of them constantly fight for the right to be called
Population structure and numbers
South Africa has a population of 52 million. According to the diversity of ethnic and racial composition the country is one of the first on the continent. By ethnicity, residents can be divided into black, white, colored and Asian. The number of whites is decreasing every year. The reason for this is emigration to other countries, as well as a significant increase in blacks.
The black population of South Africa is almost 80%. Most of them are Bantu peoples. These include the Zulus, Sotho, Tsonga, Xhosa, Tswana, Shangaan, Swazi, etc. The country is also home to non-white people. These are mostly mulattoes - descendants of mixed European and African marriages. The southeast is home to Asians, the vast majority of whom are Indians. The colored population includes Cape Malays and Bushmen with Hottentots.
Due to the enormous national diversity, the republic has 11 official languages. Ethnic Europeans speak Afrikaans. For some Europeans in the country, English is their native language, and at the same time it serves as an interethnic language. The remaining official languages belong to the Bantu group.
Indigenous people of South Africa
The question of who rightfully belongs to the territory of the Republic of South Africa has always been acute. Black and white populations have long fought for the title of indigenous. In fact, both the Europeans who arrived in the 17th century and the Bantu tribes are colonizers for these lands. The true population of South Africa is the Bushmen and Hottentots.
The tribes of these peoples settled throughout, including South Africa. They belong to the capoid race - a subclass within the large Both peoples are similar in appearance, for example, lighter skin than blacks with a reddish tint, thin lips, short stature, and Mongoloid features. Their language belongs to the Khoisan group and differs from all world languages in its click consonants.
Despite the external similarity, the tribes that make up indigenous people South Africa, vary. The Hottentots are pastoralists and have a more developed material culture. These are a warlike people. Often they had to fight to defend the right to exist from the colonialists. Bushmen, on the contrary, are peaceful and calm. The colonialists massacred these people, pushing them closer and closer to the Kalahari Desert. As a result, the Bushmen developed excellent hunting skills.
The Hottentots and Bushmen are few in number. The first live on reservations, while some live and work in cities and villages. Their number in South Africa is almost 2 thousand people. There are about 1 thousand Bushmen in the country. They live in small groups in desert areas and are in danger of extinction.
White population
IN given time The number of whites in the country is approximately 5 million. Only 1% of them are immigrants. The rest of the white population of South Africa is represented by the descendants of the colonialists. A significant group (60%) are Afrikaners, about 39% are Anglo-Africans.
The first Europeans to arrive in South Africa in 1652 were the Dutch. They were followed by the Germans, French, Flemings, Irish and other peoples. Their descendants are united into a people called Afrikaners. Their native language is Afrikaans, which was formed on the basis of the Dutch dialects. The Boer subculture stands out separately among Afrikaners.
The population of South Africa also consists of Anglo-Africans, as native language they use English. Their ancestors arrived on the territory of the state in the 19th century, sent by the British government. Mostly they were English, Scots and Irish.
Apartheid
The population of South Africa was constantly in a state of confrontation. Hostility occurred not only between the Bantu peoples and the whites, but also between groups of European settlers. At the beginning of the 20th century, the white population took a dominant position. Over time, the main goal became to distinguish the white residents of the country from the blacks.
In 1948, Afrikaners ideologically united with Anglo-Africans, heading towards a policy of racial segregation, or apartheid. The black population was completely disenfranchised. He was denied quality education, health care and normal operation. It was forbidden to appear in white neighborhoods, ride in public transport, and even stand next to
Global community And separate groups people and organizations tried to end apartheid for more than 20 years. This was finally achieved only in 1994.
South Africa - Population and language
About 47 million people live in South Africa. The population is very heterogeneous along racial, national, linguistic, cultural and religious lines. The entire ethnically diverse population of South Africa is a result complex history formation of the country's population - officially divided into 4 groups: Africans, whites, mulattoes and Asians. The main part, of course, are the indigenous inhabitants of the African continent - black Africans. They number more than 70%, white-skinned Afrikaners - about 10%, mulattoes or, as they are called here, colored - 9%, and Indians and Asians - 2.5%.
Asians in South Africa are represented mainly by Indians, descendants of workers brought here in the 19th century to work on sugar plantations. This group is called Natal.
Mulattoes or “coloreds” in South Africa are people of mixed races descended from slaves brought from the eastern and central Africa, African aborigines, whites with an admixture of Malays, Indians and other Asians. Most "coloureds" speak Afrikaans.
The white population consists of descendants of colonial immigrants: Dutch, German, French, Huguenots and English. From the point of view of cultural and linguistic factors, they are divided into Afrikaners, former Boers, and now Danes (they live here for the tenth generation and speak Afrikaans) and Anglo-Africans, descendants of British colonists.
And finally, the most numerous - black residents are represented by various ethnic groups, tribes and nationalities. The largest ethnic groups: Zulu (Natal province and surrounding area), Xhosa (south of the country), Sotho (state of Lesotho inside South Africa), Pedi, Venda, Tswana, Tsonga, Swazi, Ndbele and others. They all speak Bantu languages. Also in South Africa, the oldest indigenous inhabitants of the country live in separate settlements - the Hottentots and Bushmen, who have preserved their unique exotic culture and way of life.
Almost every tribe lives separately. Their living conditions, way of life, culture, religion, traditions, customs are truly exotic, which you will not see anywhere else. You can get acquainted with it on special tours to the ethnographic villages of South Africa.
Language
For the largest quantity state languages- eleven - South Africa is included in the Guinness Book of Records. The list of official languages includes the languages of the various nations and ethnic groups inhabiting the country: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Sotho, Tswana, Swazi, Venda, Tsonga. Most black Africans speak their own languages. The most common language is Zulu. The second most popular language is the Xhosa language. In parallel with this, the majority of the population of all races speaks English language. Descendants of the Dutch and mulattoes speak Afrikaans - a mixture of the Old Dutch (medieval) language with the local dialect.
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General" Population English possessions are about 15 million, the southern part of Portuguese Mozambique is about 2.5 million. These data are approximate. General censuses that more or less accurately determine the population are carried out in the Union of South Africa (the last census was carried out on May 7, 1946) and in Southern Rhodesia (the last census was carried out on August 1, 1948). Statistical data for other territories, to a certain extent, fully take into account only the adult male population: this is necessary for taxation and identification of reserves work force. Colonial officials take into account the number of the rest of the population very approximately, while allowing great arbitrariness.
Professor Schapera of the University of Cape Town speaks of the population censuses for Bechuanaland as follows: 4 / “None of these censuses can be considered accurate, ... earlier censuses cannot be trusted at all.” To support this assessment, he cites two shining examples. One of the official reports on the population of the Ghanzi region indicated that 7 thousand men live there, 3 thousand. women, and only 10 thousand people. The male to female ratio (7:3) was clearly absurd, yet this data was included in the report. Two years later, another colonial official assigned to this area reported that “approximately 2 thousand people” lived in the Ghanzi region. Another example: a report for 1936 indicated that 42,158 people lived in the Tawana Reserve; in 1939-1940 a commission for the study of sleeping sickness visited all the villages of this reserve, counted the population of each village and came to the conclusion that the population of the reserve does not exceed 35 thousand 1
The accounting of the ethnic composition of the population is even worse. The accounting is based on the racial principle - by skin color: whites - Europeans, blacks - natives, “colored” - mulattoes, etc. All speakers of Bantu languages are combined into one general group“natives”, and in some cases it includes mulattoes, Hottentots and Bushmen, in others - mulattoes, Hottentots and Bushmen are counted separately in the “colored” group. Only Europeans are accurately counted.
The following table, compiled from the latest censuses and estimates of the last five years, gives a rough picture of the ethnic composition of the English possessions (thousands of people):
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English possessions |
Indians and other Asians |
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Union of South Africa (1946 census)................... |
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South West Africa......... |
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Bechuanaland........................ |
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Basutoland........................ |
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Swaziland........................ |
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Southern Rhodesia (as of 1950) |
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In Mozambique, the Bantu population in 1940 was estimated at 5 million, Europeans and other non-Bantus in 1945 numbered 60 thousand, including 15 thousand mulattoes and 10 thousand Indians; It is not possible to separately determine the ethnic composition of the population of southern Mozambique.
Bantu
The majority of the population of South Africa (about 78%) is therefore Bantu.
Bantu speak several languages. The most important of them:
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Number of speakers 8, thousand people. |
Number of speakers 2, thousand people. |
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Kuanyama |
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The Xhosa are a well-established and most numerous South African Bantu people. All Xhosa live in South Africa, mainly (85.3%) in the eastern part of the Cape Province, in the Transkei and Ciskei reserves (“on the other” and “this” side of the Kei River). The Zulus are also a well-established people. Most of them live in the province of Natal (76% of the total population of the province). Outside of South Africa, Zulus live in Swaziland and Basutoland. In addition to the Zulus themselves, the Zulu language is spoken by the Matabele in Southern Rhodesia and the Ndebele in the northwestern part of the Transvaal. Most of Swazis (223 thousand) live in the Transvaal; Only 160 thousand Swazis live in the territory of the Swaziland protectorate. The Xhosa, Zulu and Swazi languages are related (they are combined into one group under the general name Nguni). Total number The number of peoples who speak them is more than 5 million. They inhabit, with the exception of the Matabele and Ndebele, one continuous territory and have all the prerequisites for merging into one nation. Basotho live mainly in South Africa, in the Transvaal and Orange Free State provinces. About half a million Basotho live in the Basutoland Protectorate. Among the Basotho of the Transvaal, the northern Basotho, or Pedi, are distinguished by their language. More than half (68.9%) of the Bechuanas also live in South Africa, mainly in the Transvaal and Cape Province. Basotho, Bechuana and Pedi together make up more than 3 million people, they mostly inhabit a continuous territory and form a single ethnic massif. The Mashona live mainly in Southern Rhodesia, making up, together with the Matabele, the main population of the colony. About 20% of the Mashona live in Mozambique. The Tsonga inhabit Mozambique and the surrounding areas of the Transvaal and Natal. The Ndonga, Kuanyama and Herero languages are spoken by the Bantus of SWA and adjacent areas of Angola.
A review of Bantu settlement shows a picture typical for all of Africa: colonial boundaries do not correspond to ethnic ones, tearing peoples apart. This circumstance, along with the general colonial regime, greatly impedes the merging of the South African Bantu tribes and nationalities into national communities.
The table shows the composition of the Bantu population of South African provinces and protectorates by main ethnic groups (as a percentage of the total) 1 .
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Provinces and protectorates |
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Oranshevoye Free |
Swaziland |
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Scythe................... |
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Zulu................. |
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Basotho............ |
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Pedi................... |
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Ndebele............... |
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Bechuanas............... |
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Swazi......... |
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Tsonga (shangaan). . |
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Bavenda............... |
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Others.............. |
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On the one hand, compact ethnic tracts of Xhosa, Zulus, Basotho and Bechuana stand out. On the other hand, significant interpenetration and mixing of ethnic groups has already occurred; The territorial boundaries of ethnic groups are erased and crossed. IN Lately, due to the growth of the population of cities and mining centers, this process is proceeding quite quickly. Now it is still difficult to judge the contours of the emerging nations; they will be finally determined only with the victory of the anti-imperialist forces and the liberation of the Bantu from colonial enslavement.