OUR IMPACT IN THE
FREE STATE
Representing 10.6% of South Africa’s land area, the Free State is known as South Africa’s breadbasket as it produces over 70% of the country’s grain. This is reflected in its 2016 South African Multidimensional Poverty Index 5.5% poverty headcount.
As part of its ongoing research and development efforts, to provide a sustainable solution to the triple burden of malnutrition in the Free State, Operation Hunger has developed the data below to provide an updated review of the province’s drivers and determinants.
At the underlying level, nutrition equity is caused by the way that people’s everyday social, psychological/behavioural and material circumstances interact with their wider environments.
These environments include: access to adequate and quality food; provision for infant care; healthcare environments; and wider living environments (including sanitation and opportunities for physical activity).
Operation Hunger has put together the latest data using the conceptual framework consistent with the determinants of undernutrition and prevalence of malnutrition to comprehensively elucidate barriers and opportunities leading to unhealthy nutrition outcomes.
Regional/Provincial Data
Economic Data
- COMMUNITY SERVICES 2%
- Agriculture 1.7%
- Manufacturing 1.3%
- Construction 0%
- Mining 0%
Top Imports Market
|
42.87 ARGENTINA |
15.21% USA |
13.50% EGYPT |
Top Export Market
|
25.84% NETHERLANDS |
15.75% UK |
9.89% CANADA |
*Please note that all percentages are subject to change, as the current figures are based on 2024 statistics.
Employment in the FREE STATE
Employed
Unemployed
active
in active
discouraged
Formal and informal Sector employment
The formal sector is accounting for 43.3% of all employment.Â
The informal accounts for 28.6% of all employment.
Youth labour market trends
Out of a working-age population of 41,311, only 15,024 are employed, while 7,233 are unemployed and 2,930 are discouraged work-seekers. Youth up to 25 years old are particularly affected, with 54.7% of unemployed youth lacking sufficient education, skills, and experience sought by employers.
Spatial Considerations
Rural areas have been more affected than urban areas and urban areas have been
more prone to recover jobs than rural Areas.
Sources of support amounts the unemployed
%
Old Age
%
War Veterans
%
Disability
%
Grant in Aid
%
Care Dependency
%
Foster Child
%
Child Support
%
Total
Population Dynamics
Total population 2.9Million
Plus – 29 135 net migration
Inequality and human Development
0.67
Gini Coefficient
0.65
Human Index
Education
%
Learner Enrolment (36226)
%
NSC Results
%
Some Secondary
%
Primary Completed
%
Some Primary
%
No Schooling
Life expectancy in the FREE STATE
60.9 years
Male
63.3 years
Female
Health
40 Hospitals
10 Health Care Community Centre
Leading Natural Causes
Diabetes, Heart Disease
HIV/AIDS
Percentage of households that lived in formal, informal and traditional dwellings
%
Formal
%
Informal
%
Traditional
%
Other
Types of Sanitation
Access to sanitation
%
Basic Sanitation
%
Limited Sanitation
%
Unimproved Sanitation
Food Systems/ Environment Determinants
Grains
Industrial Crops (0.0%), Grains & Food Crops (20.3%)
Fruit
& Veg
Fruit & Veg crops (91.3%)
Animal
Production
Livestock (13.2%), Poultry (6.4%)
Percentage of households experiencing food
adequacy or inadequacy
%
Food Access Severely inadequate
%
Food Access Inadequate
%
Food access adequate
Household Consumption of Foods from
Different Food Groups
Consistency of Food Access by Food
Security Status
Food Affordability
Monthly Household Expenditures
Percentage of individuals and households benefiting from social grants
|
35.2% PERSONS |
56.6% HOUSEHOLD |
Percentage distribution of sources of household income
|
48.5% SALARIES |
27.2% GRANTS |
12.6% REMITTANCE |
|
8.0% BUSINESS INCOME |
3.7% PENSIONS |