The history and scope of demographic research at the HSRC from 1968

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) was an important contributor to empirical knowledge in the general field of demography in South Africa for a period of at least 25 years (see the Annexure containing a list of selected reports in chronological order). This chapter attempts to provide a concise account of the scope of demographic-related research at the institution. It also aims to reflect on the purpose of the initial work, how the emphasis changed over time and why the HSRC later undertook major fertility and general demographic surveys.