Alastair Otter
@alastairotter.bsky.social
Editor of The Outlier, data communications and visualisation expert. theoutlier.co.za
👀 Want to level up your data viz game?
I’ve compiled 100+ of my go-to tools into a free guide, from charting libraries to storytelling tips.
🛠️ 15+ pages of tools and guides
🎯 Covers design, cleaning, inspiration +
📥 Get it here: theoutlier.co.za/dataviz-guide
💬 Got a favourite tool I should add?
I’ve compiled 100+ of my go-to tools into a free guide, from charting libraries to storytelling tips.
🛠️ 15+ pages of tools and guides
🎯 Covers design, cleaning, inspiration +
📥 Get it here: theoutlier.co.za/dataviz-guide
💬 Got a favourite tool I should add?
July 10, 2025 at 1:41 PM
👀 Want to level up your data viz game?
I’ve compiled 100+ of my go-to tools into a free guide, from charting libraries to storytelling tips.
🛠️ 15+ pages of tools and guides
🎯 Covers design, cleaning, inspiration +
📥 Get it here: theoutlier.co.za/dataviz-guide
💬 Got a favourite tool I should add?
I’ve compiled 100+ of my go-to tools into a free guide, from charting libraries to storytelling tips.
🛠️ 15+ pages of tools and guides
🎯 Covers design, cleaning, inspiration +
📥 Get it here: theoutlier.co.za/dataviz-guide
💬 Got a favourite tool I should add?
Gauteng needs about 200 new schools, but has only built 48 schools in the 10 years between 2015 and 2025 and most of those we rebuilds. More: theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
July 7, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Gauteng needs about 200 new schools, but has only built 48 schools in the 10 years between 2015 and 2025 and most of those we rebuilds. More: theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
Only 32 countries in the world host AI-focused data centres and fewer than 20% of those are in the Southern Hemisphere. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
July 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Only 32 countries in the world host AI-focused data centres and fewer than 20% of those are in the Southern Hemisphere. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI) rose slightly from 2.7% in March to 2.8% in April 2025. The main contributors to the uptick were housing and utilities, food, beverages, tobacco, and restaurant and accommodation services. theoutlier.co.za/tools/view/c...
June 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI) rose slightly from 2.7% in March to 2.8% in April 2025. The main contributors to the uptick were housing and utilities, food, beverages, tobacco, and restaurant and accommodation services. theoutlier.co.za/tools/view/c...
West Africans have far higher visa rejection rates than the global average which loses them millions of US$ every year. These are only Sub-Saharan countries as the North African countries have significantly higher application numbers but lower rejection rates. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
June 6, 2025 at 9:27 AM
West Africans have far higher visa rejection rates than the global average which loses them millions of US$ every year. These are only Sub-Saharan countries as the North African countries have significantly higher application numbers but lower rejection rates. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
Mozambique is South Africa’s biggest African trade partner and exports reached close to R120-billion in 2024. SA’s other top partners are, not surprisingly, its immediate neighbours, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
June 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Mozambique is South Africa’s biggest African trade partner and exports reached close to R120-billion in 2024. SA’s other top partners are, not surprisingly, its immediate neighbours, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
Africans lost more than $70-million in rejected Schengen visa fees in 2024. Each Schengen visa application costs €90 (around R1,800) and is non-refundable. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
June 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Africans lost more than $70-million in rejected Schengen visa fees in 2024. Each Schengen visa application costs €90 (around R1,800) and is non-refundable. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
SA crime statistics show that in the last quarter of 2024 at least 96 murders recorded on farms, plots and small holdings, out of a total of more than 6,000 murders over the same period. More people are murdered in a pub, tavern or bottle store than on farm land. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
May 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
SA crime statistics show that in the last quarter of 2024 at least 96 murders recorded on farms, plots and small holdings, out of a total of more than 6,000 murders over the same period. More people are murdered in a pub, tavern or bottle store than on farm land. theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
Seapoint, Camps Bay and Clifton have the most Airbnb listings in Cape Town. In the CBD there are more than four times the number of listings than in most other areas. There were 25,816 Airbnbs listed in Cape Town in Dec 2024. This is 2,798 more than in March 2024. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
May 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Seapoint, Camps Bay and Clifton have the most Airbnb listings in Cape Town. In the CBD there are more than four times the number of listings than in most other areas. There were 25,816 Airbnbs listed in Cape Town in Dec 2024. This is 2,798 more than in March 2024. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
What's 16c worth? About R23-billion by 2028 according to SA's National Treasury. The 16c/litre fuel levy increase announced last week is expected to boost govt coffers by this much. It's the first levy increase since 2021/22 theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
May 26, 2025 at 11:04 AM
What's 16c worth? About R23-billion by 2028 according to SA's National Treasury. The 16c/litre fuel levy increase announced last week is expected to boost govt coffers by this much. It's the first levy increase since 2021/22 theoutlier.co.za/articles/thi...
In Africa, 25% of the electricity is generated from low-carbon sources. Hydropower is the main source of low-carbon electricity, generating 17% of the continent’s electricity. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
May 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
In Africa, 25% of the electricity is generated from low-carbon sources. Hydropower is the main source of low-carbon electricity, generating 17% of the continent’s electricity. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
Ten years ago, in 2014, 90% of South Africa’s electricity was generated from coal, in 2024 it was 82%, according to global energy think tank Ember’s data. In January 2025, coal reached a new monthly low of 74.3% of the electricity mix. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart... #ourworldincharts
May 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Ten years ago, in 2014, 90% of South Africa’s electricity was generated from coal, in 2024 it was 82%, according to global energy think tank Ember’s data. In January 2025, coal reached a new monthly low of 74.3% of the electricity mix. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart... #ourworldincharts
People in South Africa are getting married older. The median age of first-time brides was 33 years in 2023, five years older than in 2002 when new brides were 28 years old. Men are four years older, 36 years old compared with 32. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
May 25, 2025 at 9:27 AM
People in South Africa are getting married older. The median age of first-time brides was 33 years in 2023, five years older than in 2002 when new brides were 28 years old. Men are four years older, 36 years old compared with 32. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
There were 25,816 Airbnbs listed in Cape Town in December 2024.
This is 2,798 more than in March 2024 and an increase of more than 5,000 since we first visited this topic in September 2023. At that time there were 20,583 listings. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
This is 2,798 more than in March 2024 and an increase of more than 5,000 since we first visited this topic in September 2023. At that time there were 20,583 listings. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
May 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
There were 25,816 Airbnbs listed in Cape Town in December 2024.
This is 2,798 more than in March 2024 and an increase of more than 5,000 since we first visited this topic in September 2023. At that time there were 20,583 listings. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
This is 2,798 more than in March 2024 and an increase of more than 5,000 since we first visited this topic in September 2023. At that time there were 20,583 listings. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
The deadline to eradicate all 'identified' pit toilets in South African schools is 31 March 2025. So how close are we to that goal? In yesterday's newsletter we looked at what we know and what we don't know: theoutlier.co.za/articles/hea...
March 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
The deadline to eradicate all 'identified' pit toilets in South African schools is 31 March 2025. So how close are we to that goal? In yesterday's newsletter we looked at what we know and what we don't know: theoutlier.co.za/articles/hea...
There are 14.45-million registered taxpayers in South Africa. They are divided into nine income categories by the National Treasury.
Only 7.89-million of those registered have income high enough to be eligible to pay personal income tax
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
Only 7.89-million of those registered have income high enough to be eligible to pay personal income tax
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
March 27, 2025 at 4:28 AM
There are 14.45-million registered taxpayers in South Africa. They are divided into nine income categories by the National Treasury.
Only 7.89-million of those registered have income high enough to be eligible to pay personal income tax
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
Only 7.89-million of those registered have income high enough to be eligible to pay personal income tax
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
The biggest chunk of South Africa’s 2025/26 budget is going towards servicing debt — it’s been that way since the 2022/23 budget. As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana noted in his budget speech, 22 cents of every rand raised in revenue is spent on debt repayments.
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
March 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM
The biggest chunk of South Africa’s 2025/26 budget is going towards servicing debt — it’s been that way since the 2022/23 budget. As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana noted in his budget speech, 22 cents of every rand raised in revenue is spent on debt repayments.
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
SA's response to loadshedding has been quick, installing an estimated 6,178MW of rooftop solar power – equivalent to the capacity of two power stations. GP leads with 1,799MW of rooftop solar, KwaZulu-Natal follows with 811MW. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
March 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
SA's response to loadshedding has been quick, installing an estimated 6,178MW of rooftop solar power – equivalent to the capacity of two power stations. GP leads with 1,799MW of rooftop solar, KwaZulu-Natal follows with 811MW. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
Working on the newest version of DataDesk: and finally this morning go around to fixing the SVG downloads. Look at the layer list in Figma: seems so simple to get everything labelled correctly but so useful when it's done.
March 25, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Working on the newest version of DataDesk: and finally this morning go around to fixing the SVG downloads. Look at the layer list in Figma: seems so simple to get everything labelled correctly but so useful when it's done.
South Africa receives millions of dollars in aid from the US government, primarily for HIV/Aids programmes. The US paid out $72-billion in aid in 2023 and $41-billion so far in 2024. https://theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/90156
February 10, 2025 at 6:12 AM
South Africa receives millions of dollars in aid from the US government, primarily for HIV/Aids programmes. The US paid out $72-billion in aid in 2023 and $41-billion so far in 2024. https://theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/90156
17 African countries reported over 1,000 cholera cases each in 2023 and 2024, with many outbreaks linked to or worsened by severe weather events. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
February 5, 2025 at 5:21 AM
17 African countries reported over 1,000 cholera cases each in 2023 and 2024, with many outbreaks linked to or worsened by severe weather events. theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart...
Joburg is beset by water outages but the official notices are sometimes hard to understand. We made a tool to help you understand the water infrastructure in JHB. theoutlier.co.za/water
January 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Joburg is beset by water outages but the official notices are sometimes hard to understand. We made a tool to help you understand the water infrastructure in JHB. theoutlier.co.za/water
Joburg has 12,300 people with assets worth +$1-million, the most of any city in Africa.
3 of the top 10 places with the most millionaires are in the Western Cape: Cape Town (7,400), the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch) & the Garden Route.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/87111
3 of the top 10 places with the most millionaires are in the Western Cape: Cape Town (7,400), the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch) & the Garden Route.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/87111
January 26, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Joburg has 12,300 people with assets worth +$1-million, the most of any city in Africa.
3 of the top 10 places with the most millionaires are in the Western Cape: Cape Town (7,400), the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch) & the Garden Route.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/87111
3 of the top 10 places with the most millionaires are in the Western Cape: Cape Town (7,400), the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch) & the Garden Route.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/87111
The mobile technology in most parts of Africa is predominantly 2G & 3G. SA is in the process of retiring 2G & 3G, which were launched in 1991 & 2001 respectively.
4G connections, which launched in 2009, are expected to almost double by 2030.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/88186
4G connections, which launched in 2009, are expected to almost double by 2030.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/88186
January 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
The mobile technology in most parts of Africa is predominantly 2G & 3G. SA is in the process of retiring 2G & 3G, which were launched in 1991 & 2001 respectively.
4G connections, which launched in 2009, are expected to almost double by 2030.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/88186
4G connections, which launched in 2009, are expected to almost double by 2030.
🔗 https://www.theoutlier.co.za/charts/chart/88186
We've been collecting data on the water infrastructure in Johannesburg to make is easier to see how particular water facilities are connected to suburbs. This is an early version of the tool which we will be adding more data to in the coming weeks: theoutlier.co.za/tools/view/j...
January 24, 2025 at 10:10 AM
We've been collecting data on the water infrastructure in Johannesburg to make is easier to see how particular water facilities are connected to suburbs. This is an early version of the tool which we will be adding more data to in the coming weeks: theoutlier.co.za/tools/view/j...