Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: South Africa

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	In Census 2022, the definition of homelessness included: persons who had no form of shelter on census night and no known residential address, found sleeping in the streets or other spaces not meant for habitation (such as parks, bridges, riverbanks, dumping sites, abandoned buildings or vehicles, and encampments); and homeless persons counted in shelters, which were enumerated as Special Dwelling Institutions (SDIs).
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	55 719 individuals, representing 0.09% of the total population (2022)
	Approximately 70% are men, 30% are women
	Point-in-time count, based on an estimate from the Population and Housing Census
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Not included: ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	The Statistics Amendment Act 29 of 2024 (which came into effect on 1 October 2025) serves as the legal framework for the collection, co‑ordination, and production of data across South Africa. Under Section 16 of the Statistics Act, people are legally obliged to answer all questions put to you by an official from Stats SA and allow them to interview them.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: South Africa does not have a national homelessness strategy. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: Constitution (Bill of Rights section 26), Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) (1994), Housing Act 107 of 1997, Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998, Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act 95 of 1998 (amended by Act 27 of 1999), Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 (amended by Act 43 of 2007), Housing Development Agency Act 23 of 2008, Social Housing Act 16 of 2008, and Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP). Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Population and Housing Census: Enumeration of people living in the streets or other spaces not meant for habitation, and people staying in shelters (Table 6.1)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

In Census 2022, the definition of homelessness included: persons who had no form of shelter on census night and no known residential address, found sleeping in the streets or other spaces not meant for habitation (such as parks, bridges, riverbanks, dumping sites, abandoned buildings or vehicles, and encampments); and homeless persons counted in shelters, which were enumerated as Special Dwelling Institutions (SDIs).

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2022	55 719	0.09%	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	Not included	Not included	Included in headline estimate	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa, 2022 (Statistics South Africa, 2025).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2022

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 15‑34)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	NA	39 052	16 667	24 405	NA	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	70.10%	29.90%	43.80%	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	Not included	Not included	Not included	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	Not included	Not included	Not included	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	Included in headline estimate	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	Not included	Not included	Not included	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. Percentages are calculated against the total resident population enumerated in Census 2022. Youth estimates are derived from the census distribution of the homeless population by broad age groups.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa, 2022 (Statistics South Africa, 2025).

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	The Statistics Amendment Act 29 of 2024 (which came into effect on 1 October 2025) serves as the legal framework for the collection, co‑ordination, and production of data across South Africa. It amends the foundational Statistics Act 6 of 1999 to ensure credible, evidence‑based decision making for the country.
Legal obligations	Under Section 16 of the Statistics Act, people are legally obliged to answer all questions put to you by an official from Stats SA and allow them to interview them.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	National Homelessness Strategy: South Africa does not have a national homelessness strategy. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: Constitution (Bill of Rights section 26), Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) (1994), Housing Act 107 of 1997, Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act 19 of 1998, Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act 95 of 1998 (amended by Act 27 of 1999), Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 (amended by Act 43 of 2007), Housing Development Agency Act 23 of 2008, Social Housing Act 16 of 2008, and Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP).
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	Yes.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Population and Housing Census
Description Statistics South Africa collects data on the homeless population during population and housing censuses. Traditionally, homeless persons were counted on census night. However, in Census 2022, due to technological challenges on the census night, counting homeless persons could not be completed as planned. For most provinces, the counting of homeless persons thus continued during the data collection period in February – May 2022. Homeless persons sleeping in public spaces or other places not meant for human habitation were enumerated using an individual homeless persons questionnaire, while those in shelters were counted using a short electronic questionnaire for special dwelling institutions (SDIs).
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Population census Street Count Service‑based enumeration
Lead authority(ies) Statistics South Africa	Source(s) of information Direct census enumeration of homeless persons Shelter‑level reporting through the Special Dwelling Institutions questionnaire
Scope National	Depth of data For all homeless persons counted: key demographic characteristics (sex, age, population group) Only for homeless persons on the street: marital status, province of birth, citizenship, highest level of education, reasons for homelessness
Frequency Decennial
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa, 2022 (Statistics South Africa, 2025)

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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