Demographics
Population figures
The most recent census (2011) finds the Fetakgomo's population at about 93 814 which represents a drop of 16% compared to 112, 232 population in 2007 (Statistics South Africa, Community Survey 2007). However when a comparative study is done with the 2001 census which found 92 083 population (Statistics South Africa, Community Survey 2001), it represents a marginal upward population growth of 1.8%. Table 7: Disaggregation of Fetakgomo's Population By Age and Gender Distribution (2011).
| Age | Male | %Male | Female | %Female | Total | Total Population |
| 0 - 4 | 6 007 | 6.4% | 6 149 | 7% | 12 226 | 13.4% |
| 5 - 9 | 5 422 | 6% | 5 447 | 6% | 10 869 | 11.2% |
| 10 - 14 | 5 183 | 6% | 4 930 | 5.2% | 10 113 | 11.2% |
| 15 - 19 | 5 441 | 6% | 5 437 | 6% | 10 878 | 12% |
| 20 - 24 | 4013 | 4.2% | 4 342 | 5% | 8 355 | 9.2% |
| 25 - 29 | 3 099 | 3.3% | 3 906 | 4.1% | 7005 | 7.4% |
| 30 - 34 | 2 319 | 2.4% | 3 059 | 3.2% | 5377 | 5.6% |
| 35 - 39 | 1 893 | 2.0% | 2 763 | 2.9% | 4656 | 4.9% |
| 40 - 44 | 1 573 | 2% | 2 449 | 3% | 4022 | 5% |
| 45 - 49 | 1 493 | 2% | 2 523 | 3% | 4016 | 5% |
| 50 - 54 | 1 271 | 1.3% | 1 972 | 2.1% | 3243 | 3.4% |
| 55 - 59 | 1 229 | 1.3% | 1 737 | 2% | 2966 | 3.3% |
| 60 - 64 | 976 | 1.04% | 1 495 | 2% | 2471 | 3.04% |
| 65 - 69 | 645 | 1% | 1 649 | 2% | 2294 | 3% |
| 70 - 74 | 752 | 1% | 1 261 | 1.3% | 2013 | 2.3% |
| 75 - 79 | 382 | 0.4% | 925 | 1% | 1307 | 1.4% |
| 80 - 84 | 274 | 0.2% | 734 | 1% | 1008 | 1.2% |
| 85+ | 217 | 0.2% | 774 | 1% | 991 | 1.2% |
| Total | 42 258 | 45% | 51 556 | 54% | 93 814 | 100% |
Source: Statistics South Africa, 2011.
There is amble evidence demonstrating that our population has decresead. This decrease has adverse budgetary implications and in the results represents a major challenge for service delivery. To give a mathematical perspective to this observation, Fetakgomo's population has decreased by 16.4% just in four years, between 2007-2011. FTM's population: 92 083 (census 2001), 112, 232 increased 18%, (Community survery 2007), 93 814 decrease of 16.4% (StatsSA Census 2011). This decrease is explained largely by migration i.e there is out-migration of people from rural to the urban areas for various reasons including but not limited to better job opportunities, access to social amenities and facilities in urban areas (water, good roads, hospitals, schools, higher educational facilities etc.). Demographic factors such as morality and fertility factors appear to also play a role.
Current demographic research observes that median age for Fetakgomo's population is around 15-19 years. Female population (54%) remains higher than the male population (45%) . It means female exceed male population by 9% (9298). The fact that 21..2% (51601) of the population is concentrated within women who are still at their child bearing (those who are aged 15-49), leads us to hope for the exponential population growth in the forseeable future. This projection (futures studies) can be falsified if women develop fairly low fertility aspirations in the intervening period.
Flowing from age composition presented earlier, it is quite evident that a significant proportion, 48.6% (44086) of Fetakgomo's population in under 20 years old and that about 9.2% (7613) are elderly resident (65+). The former is indicative of the fact that parents in urban areas often send their children to family members in areas to be looked after. From a pure economic viewpoint, persons aged 0-04 and as a social demographic category are economically inactive. So are the older people (age 65 and above). Thus Fetakgomo exhibits a relatively lower proportion of economically active population. There is a large-scale rural out migration of economically active population to economic growth areas/points in search for work. Migration has huge effects on rural munucipality population such as Fetakgomo. The latter serves as an additional account of why Fetakgomo has little to benefit from its demographic dividend. The fact that the aging (65+) population accounts for more than 9.2% (7613) of the population in Fetakgomo has obvious implications for the provision of social welfare services. It would seem that mortality commences to increase at the age of 75+ within Fetakgomo. Although it is widely assumed that the more population ages, the more mortality instances occur, the table above posits that the distribution of mortality is biased towards the males in this regard. The trend of high female concentration among the older generation is not exceptionally a phenomenon of Fetakgomo but a common occurrence in developing or developed countries. Most demographers or population scientists assume that, as time elapses, more males die because they tend to engage in hard and risky activites/jobs. This IDP hypothises tht, absence of hospital within the municipal area, lack of access to better medical facilities et cetera is the major source of mortality trends in Fetakgomo.