The South Africa Demographic and Health Surveys are nationally representative household surveys that collect demographic and health data for South Africa. The 1987 round was implemented by the Human Sciences Research Council. The 1998 survey was implemented by the Department of Health with the Medical Research Council and with technical assistance from Macro International. The 2016 survey was implemented by Statistics South Africa with the South African Medical Research Council and with technical assistance from ICF through The USAID funded DHS Program. A 2003 survey was also conducted, but its data is not publicly available. Together, the documented rounds provide indicators on fertility, infant and childhood mortality, family planning, maternal and child health, adult health, and related topics.The scope of the latest (2016) survey includes fertility and childhood mortality levels, pregnancy-related mortality, fertility preferences and contraceptive use, utilisation of maternal and child health services, children’s nutritional status and child feeding practices, behaviour towards the risk of HIV infection, and measures of physical and sexual violence against women. In addition, among adults age 15 and older, use of tobacco and alcohol; the prevalence of malnutrition, hypertension, anaemia, diabetes, and HIV; and other indicators relevant to adult health were assessed.