OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Sudáfrica de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SOUTH AFRICA © OECD 2026

Restricted Use - À usage restreint 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

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)

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: South Africa2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SOUTH AFRICA © OECD 2026

Restricted Use - À usage restreint 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

Restricted Use - À usage restreint 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:

o Children: Yes o 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

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

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SOUTH AFRICA © OECD 2026

Restricted Use - À usage restreint 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:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o 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

(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 mea nt for human habitation were enumerated using an individual h omeless 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 questionnaire4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SOUTH AFRICA © OECD 2026

Restricted Use - À usage restreint 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)

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 “in cluded” 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-housingdatabase.html.

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: SOUTH AFRICA © OECD 2026

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