Censuses provide population numbers, household or family size and composition, and information on sex and age distribution. They often include other demographic, economic and health-related topics as well. The 1996 South Africa de facto census collected data through face-to-face interviews and self-enumeration on the subjects of housing, household demographics, employment, education, fertility for women 12 and older, and disability. Five different questionnaires were administered to households, individuals living in group quarters, hostels, institutions, and the homeless. The census day was October 10, 1996, and fieldwork officially continued until October 30 though some enumeration continued through December. There was an undercount of 10.7%.

A 10% differentially weighted sample of households and individuals from the census (3,621,164 individuals) is available through IPUMS International at the University of Minnesota. Dwellings and vacant units are not identified in the microdata sample.