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Which province has the most people?

Gauteng has the most people: Stats SA estimates 16 295 325 people there in mid-2026, 25.7% of the country (Mid-year population estimates, 2026).

Guess first

2 500 000
People in each province, mid-2026 estimates
  • Gauteng16 295 325

    25.7% of the country

  • KwaZulu-Natal12 282 836

    19.3% of the country

  • Western Cape7 722 158

    12.2% of the country

  • Eastern Cape7 031 109

    11.1% of the country

  • Limpopo6 358 667

    10.0% of the country

  • Mpumalanga5 161 746

    8.1% of the country

  • North West4 227 795

    6.7% of the country

  • Free State3 060 972

    4.8% of the country

  • Northern Cape1 381 772

    2.2% of the country

Source: Stats SA, Mid-year population estimates, 2026 (P0302), Appendix 1, page 27. Source released . Checked on SA Data Hub . Original data: Stats SA. Any calculation shown is SA Data Hub's own processing.

Open: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Free State, Northern Cape

How this was worked out

The provincial totals in Appendix 1 of the mid-year estimates. They are estimates for 30 June 2026, not census counts.

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