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Gauteng

Capital: Johannesburg / Pretoria

Gauteng is the economic powerhouse of South Africa, contributing over a third of national GDP despite being the smallest province by area. Johannesburg and Pretoria (Tshwane) are its dominant cities, anchoring banking, mining services, and government.

Official Unemployment Rate (LU1)

34.6%0.5pp

Q2 2026 · Rank #5 lowest

Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3): 40.5%
Expanded: 39.6%Legacy measure (Q3 2025)
National avg: 34.1%

Population (2026 est.)

16.30M

25.7% of SA (MYPE 2026)

GDP Share

33.8%

of national GDP

Matric Pass

87.2%

2024 · avg 84.9%

Formal dwelling

88.5%

of households, Census 2022 (79.8% in 2011)

Labour Market

Unemployment (official LU1)
34.6%

Q2 2026

Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3)
40.5%

Q2 2026

Expanded unemployment (legacy)
39.6%

Q3 2025 legacy

National rank
#5 lowest
Change (qoq)
+0.5pp

Education

Matric pass rate
87.2%

2024

Literacy rate
91.8%
vs national avg
2.3pp

Services & Housing

Formal dwelling
88.5%

2011: 79.8%

Water from a regional or local scheme
94.4%

2011: 93.9%

Flush toilet
89.7%

2011: 85.4%

Cooking with electricity
62.8%

2011: 84.0%

Urban population
98.2%

The four housing rows are shares of households in Census 2022. Source: Stats SA, Census 2022 Provinces at a glance, pages 38 and 39.

Provincial Ranking — Unemployment

Western Cape
19.5%
Northern Cape
28.7%
Limpopo
32%
KwaZulu-Natal
32.5%
Gauteng
34.6%
Mpumalanga
36.6%
Free State
37.3%
North West
38.1%
Eastern Cape
47.5%

Source: Stats SA QLFS Q2 2026

Municipalities in Gauteng

Population figures based on Census 2022 baseline

View all municipalities →
City of Johannesburg4 803 262Ekurhuleni4 066 691City of Tshwane4 040 315Emfuleni945 650Mogale City438 217Rand West City334 773Merafong City225 476Lesedi132 783Midvaal112 254

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