North West
Capital: Mahikeng
North West records one of the highest unemployment rates nationally. The Bushveld Complex, the world's largest known platinum deposit, anchors the mining economy. Rustenburg is the provincial economic hub.
Unemployment Rate
41.2%1.8pp
Q3 2025 · Rank #9 lowest
Expanded: 54.7%
National avg: 33.8%
Population
4.10M
6.6% of SA
GDP Share
5.8%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
85.3%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Electricity Access
86.7%
of households · avg 89.0%
Labour Market
Unemployment (narrow)
41.2%
Q3 2025
Unemployment (expanded)
54.7%
Q3 2025
National rank
#9 lowest
Change (qoq)
-1.8pp
Education
Matric pass rate
85.3%
2024
Literacy rate
84.1%
vs national avg
0.4pp
Services & Housing
Electricity access
86.7%
Piped water (in dwelling)
52.3%
Formal dwellings
72.8%
Urban population
31.4%
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q3 2025