Western Cape
Capital: Cape Town
The Western Cape is South Africa's most economically productive province per capita and home to Cape Town. It consistently records the lowest unemployment rate nationally, driven by tourism, finance, and agri-processing sectors.
Unemployment Rate
19.7%1.4pp
Q3 2025 · Rank #1 lowest
Expanded: 25.7%
National avg: 33.8%
Population
7.40M
11.8% of SA
GDP Share
14.2%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
89.1%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Electricity Access
95.8%
of households · avg 89.0%
Labour Market
Unemployment (narrow)
19.7%
Q3 2025
Unemployment (expanded)
25.7%
Q3 2025
National rank
#1 lowest
Change (qoq)
-1.4pp
Education
Matric pass rate
89.1%
2024
Literacy rate
92.4%
vs national avg
4.2pp
Services & Housing
Electricity access
95.8%
Piped water (in dwelling)
74.2%
Formal dwellings
87.1%
Urban population
89.1%
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q3 2025