Progress and persistent poverty fifty years after the Soweto uprising

Fifty years after the Soweto uprising, data from Statistics South Africa shows that the youth population (15-34) grew from 14.7 million to 21.6 million between 1996 and 2022. More young people are completing school and have access to basic services, but unemployment remains high and poverty persistent. The 30-34 age group experienced the fastest expansion, growing by nearly 60%, while healthcare access is becoming more constrained and violence continues to claim many lives.