Mpumalanga
Capital: Mbombela
Mpumalanga is central to South Africa's energy supply, hosting most of Eskom's coal-fired power stations. Tourism around the Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon supports a growing services sector.
Official Unemployment Rate (LU1)
36.6%0.3pp
Q2 2026 · Rank #6 lowest
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3): 48.3%
Expanded: 48.4%Legacy measure (Q3 2025)
National avg: 34.1%
Population (2026 est.)
5.16M
8.1% of SA (MYPE 2026)
GDP Share
7.1%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
82.1%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Formal dwelling
92.2%
of households, Census 2022 (83.8% in 2011)
Labour Market
Unemployment (official LU1)
36.6%
Q2 2026
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3)
48.3%
Q2 2026
Expanded unemployment (legacy)
48.4%
Q3 2025 legacy
National rank
#6 lowest
Change (qoq)
+0.3pp
Education
Matric pass rate
82.1%
2024
Literacy rate
83.5%
vs national avg
-2.8pp
Services & Housing
Formal dwelling
92.2%
2011: 83.8%
Water from a regional or local scheme
77.1%
2011: 74.3%
Flush toilet
54.9%
2011: 43.8%
Cooking with electricity
66.7%
2011: 69.5%
Urban population
36.8%
The four housing rows are shares of households in Census 2022. Source: Stats SA, Census 2022 Provinces at a glance, pages 42 and 43.
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q2 2026
Municipalities in Mpumalanga
Population figures based on Census 2022 baseline
City of Mbombela809 674Bushbuckridge750 821Nkomazi591 928Emalahleni434 522Thembisile431 248Dr JS Moroka324 855Govan Mbeki310 117Mkhondo255 411Chief Albert Luthuli247 664Steve Tshwete242 031Msukaligwa199 314Lekwa119 669Thaba Chweu118 474Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme115 304Victor Khanye106 149Emakhazeni50 165Dipaleseng35 980