World Population Day 2016 – Investing in Teenage Girls

World Population Day is celebrated annually on 11 July. In 1998, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that this day be observed to raise awareness on various population issues affecting the world.

The theme for World Population Day 2016 is “Investing in Teenage Girls”, which is aimed at encouraging the international community to promote young girls' rights to access quality education, youth-friendly health care, and to equip them with the skills and tools needed to enter the job market.

Population Facts

The following population statistics were released by StatsSA in the Community Survey (CS) 2016 on 30 June.  The survey which was last conducted in March 2016 provides both demographic and socio-economic information.

• The population in the Western Cape has increased from 5.8 million in 2011 to 6.2 million 2016;
• Interesting factors to note from a national perspective is that the age-sex distribution indicates a youthful population, with the highest proportion of both males and females located in the 0-4 and 5-9 year age groups;
• SA disability prevalence increased to 7.7% in 2016 from 7.5% in 2011 while the Western Cape reported the lowest disability prevalence at 6.3%.

Our Youth

The Western Cape Department of Social Development places emphasis on the development and empowerment of youth within the province. This is in line with the province’s Youth Development Strategy (YDS) which is based on 5 pillars:

1. Family Foundations

To have a critical mass of parents with effective parenting skills and support networks to support positive youth development.

2. Education and Training

To ensure youth are literate and numerate and prepared for life and work.

3. Economic opportunities

To provide opportunities for youth to have expanded work and labour market prospects.

4. Identity and belonging

To ensure youth are able to identify with positive influences in their lives which promote a sense of belonging and engagement.

5. Reconnection

To facilitate the reconnection of disillusioned youth by providing effective services and support to reconnect, strengthen resilience and enable positive development.

The Department provides a wide range of services, opportunities and support to the Western Cape population.