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.
Unemployment Rate
35.7%0.3pp
Q3 2025 · Rank #6 lowest
Expanded: 43.1%
National avg: 33.8%
Population
2.92M
4.7% of SA
GDP Share
5.3%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
88.4%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Electricity Access
90.3%
of households · avg 89.0%
Labour Market
Unemployment (narrow)
35.7%
Q3 2025
Unemployment (expanded)
43.1%
Q3 2025
National rank
#6 lowest
Change (qoq)
+0.3pp
Education
Matric pass rate
88.4%
2024
Literacy rate
88.2%
vs national avg
3.5pp
Services & Housing
Electricity access
90.3%
Piped water (in dwelling)
62.1%
Formal dwellings
82.4%
Urban population
73.2%
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q3 2025