Free State
Capital: Bloemfontein
The Free State is centrally located and primarily agricultural, producing significant shares of the nation's grain. Bloemfontein serves as the judicial capital of South Africa and the provincial capital.
Official Unemployment Rate (LU1)
37.3%0.5pp
Q2 2026 · Rank #7 lowest
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3): 44%
Expanded: 43.1%Legacy measure (Q3 2025)
National avg: 34.1%
Population (2026 est.)
3.06M
4.8% of SA (MYPE 2026)
GDP Share
5.3%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
88.4%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Formal dwelling
88.5%
of households, Census 2022 (81.1% in 2011)
Labour Market
Unemployment (official LU1)
37.3%
Q2 2026
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3)
44%
Q2 2026
Expanded unemployment (legacy)
43.1%
Q3 2025 legacy
National rank
#7 lowest
Change (qoq)
-0.5pp
Education
Matric pass rate
88.4%
2024
Literacy rate
88.2%
vs national avg
3.5pp
Services & Housing
Formal dwelling
88.5%
2011: 81.1%
Water from a regional or local scheme
91.9%
2011: 90.1%
Flush toilet
76.3%
2011: 67.1%
Cooking with electricity
78.7%
2011: 84.6%
Urban population
73.2%
The four housing rows are shares of households in Census 2022. Source: Stats SA, Census 2022 Provinces at a glance, pages 22 and 23.
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q2 2026
Municipalities in Free State
Population figures based on Census 2022 baseline