Welcome to the National Income Dynamics Study

The National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS), is the first national panel study in South Africa.  The Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) based at the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town is tasked with implementing this survey.

Announcements

• Wave 1 and Wave 2 secure Data, Including Administrative Data is now available at the DataFirst secure facilities.  This internal dataset includes full geo-coding, employment coding, PSU information and more.  For further information please refer to the documentation.  Apply to access the data.

• Wave 1 and Wave 2 Administrative Data about schools has been released. This data merges schools from the Department of Basic Education with schools attended by NIDS respondents. Access the data. Download the documentation describing the data
• NIDS Wave 2 Overview Document is available for download.
• NIDS Wave 2 Discussion Papers are available for download.   Access the papers.
• NIDS Wave 2 has been made publicly available on the DataFirst website. Users are urged to notify SALDRU of any anomalies in the dataset by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• Version 4.1 of NIDS Wave 1 has been uploaded to the DataFirst website. Data can be accessed here. Documentation describing the differences between Version 3.0 and Version 4.0 and Version 4.1 can be accessed here.

Correct Citation of the Data

Latest Wave 1 Data:

• Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. National Income Dynamics Study 2008, Wave 1 [dataset]. Version 4.1. Cape Town: Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit [producer], 2012. Cape Town: DataFirst [distributor], 2012

Latest Wave 2 Data:

• Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit. National Income Dynamics Study 2010-2011, Wave 2 [dataset]. Version 1. Cape Town: Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit [producer], 2012. Cape Town: DataFirst [distributor], 2012