Purchasing Power
for South Africa

Purchasing Power
for South Africa

Purchasing Power describes the disposable income of populated areas across South Africa. It is a key indicator for sound location and sales territory planning.

Purchasing Power

Purchasing Power for South Africa

This Purchasing Power data product describes the disposable income of households (before taxes) in populated areas within South Africa and an extensive range of other countries. It is an important indicator of consumer potential and a key planning tool for optimising market location and understanding sales territories. This product allows you to explore regional markets with increased precision. Consistent and comparable data, with seamless transitions across borders, make this product ideal for international projects.

Purchasing Power for South Africa can be purchased on its own or bundled with GIS polygon data for administrative regions, postcodes and small areas. This effective combination will allow you to perform enlightening analysis supported by stunning visualisations.

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Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa – Small Areas

85183
Number of Regions
700
Avg Population / Region
The Republic of South Africa is situated at the southern tip of the continent of Africa, and is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and surrounds Lesotho. It is the most populous country which is located entirely south of the equator. The capital city is Pretoria, but Johannesburg is the largest.
South Africa is a parliamentary republic, divided into nine provinces. Unusually the President is both Head of State and Head of Government. A multi-ethnic society, known as “the rainbow nation”, 80% of South Africans are black African and the remaining population comprises European, Asian and multi-racial ancestry. South Africa’s constitution recognises eleven official languages, of which the top four are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English.
Its recent history has been dominated by apartheid. Finally, after years of struggle by the ANC, the segregation and discriminatory laws enforced by the white minority government were repealed, and in 1994, South Africa became a liberal democracy with the entire population finally eligible to vote.
South Africa has the second largest economy in Africa, but is still considered a developing country. There is a high level of income inequality amongst the population, and poverty, crime and unemployment remain a challenge. It has an abundance of natural resources and main sectors of the economy are industry and service. Tourism is extremely important, and South Africa’s wine producing industry is thriving.
South African art comprises some of the oldest in the world. Literature born out of perilous times and struggles is important, along with traditional textiles and music, some of which has mixed with old Dutch folk styles. South African music, especially, is very diverse. Sport is an important feature in South African life.
It is an important regional power and a member of the United Nations, the G20 and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Product details

Purchasing Power for South Africa
Administrative Postcode Small Area
Available
Region Type Municipalities Small Areas
Number of Regions 213 85,183
Average Population/Region 280,000 700
Additional data variables available (described below):
Retail Spend1
Retail Turnover12
Retail Centrality123
Consumer Spend by Product Groups1

1 Includes population data
2 Only administrative municipalities with 10,000 and more inhabitants
3 Includes retail spend and retail turnover

Additional variables

Please see the table above for availability of the following additional variables.

Retail spend

Retail spend refers to the potential share for retailers of the purchasing power of households within a given populated area. It is calculated as general purchasing power, less fixed expenditure. High quality, proven retail spend data is available on a municipality, postcode and small area basis.

Retail turnover

Retail turnover refers to the turnover of local retail trade. In contrast to purchasing power and retail spend, retail turnover quantifies purchases at the consumers’ place of expenditure. High quality, proven retail turnover is available on a municipality, postcode and small area basis.

Retail centrality index

The retail centrality index describes the capacity of a given area to attach the retail spend of its own population, as well as incoming shoppers from other areas, to the local retail trade. Cities with a high ‘shopping appeal’ have a centrality index of over 100. This is because they attract more shoppers and retail spend from surrounding areas than they emit in return. The retail centrality index is available at municipality and postcode code level.

Consumer spend by product groups

Consumer spend by product group quantifies the expenditure by consumers on specific groups of goods or services.

Whilst purchasing power is the most commonly used indicator for a region’s potential, it is not necessarily the most appropriate planning tool for all goods and services, as for some, patterns of consumer behaviour do not relate exclusively to disposable income. In order to respond to the nuances of the market, the general purchasing power values have been enhanced and recalculated based on consumer spend for twenty product categories.

Product categories include: food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages, tobacco, clothing, footwear, furniture & furnishings (carpets and other floor coverings), household textiles, household appliances, glassware (inc. tableware & household utensils), tools and equipment for house and garden, routine household maintenance, medical products, appliances and equipment, consumer electronics (inc. photographic and IT equipment), durables for recreation and culture, toys and games (inc. hobby, sport, garden, pets), recreational and cultural services, newspapers (inc. books and stationery), catering services, personal care and jewellery (inc. clocks, watches and other personal effects).

Looking beyond South Africa? Purchasing Power data is available for a wide range of countries…

Data formats & delivery

Purchasing Power for South Africa is available in many popular GIS formats, including:

  • Esri Shapefile
  • Esri File GeoDatabase
  • MapInfo TAB (Extended)

All data products are delivered using our secure data delivery platform, Europa Data Vault.

Orders, Formats & Delivery

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