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.
Official Unemployment Rate (LU1)
19.5%0.1pp
Q2 2026 · Rank #1 lowest
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3): 26.1%
Expanded: 25.7%Legacy measure (Q3 2025)
National avg: 34.1%
Population (2026 est.)
7.72M
12.2% of SA (MYPE 2026)
GDP Share
14.2%
of national GDP
Matric Pass
89.1%
2024 · avg 84.9%
Formal dwelling
88.0%
of households, Census 2022 (80.4% in 2011)
Labour Market
Unemployment (official LU1)
19.5%
Q2 2026
Unemployment + potential labour force (LU3)
26.1%
Q2 2026
Expanded unemployment (legacy)
25.7%
Q3 2025 legacy
National rank
#1 lowest
Change (qoq)
-0.1pp
Education
Matric pass rate
89.1%
2024
Literacy rate
92.4%
vs national avg
4.2pp
Services & Housing
Formal dwelling
88.0%
2011: 80.4%
Water from a regional or local scheme
95.7%
2011: 92.5%
Flush toilet
93.9%
2011: 89.6%
Cooking with electricity
64.1%
2011: 87.2%
Urban population
89.1%
The four housing rows are shares of households in Census 2022. Source: Stats SA, Census 2022 Provinces at a glance, pages 8 and 9.
Provincial Ranking — Unemployment
Source: Stats SA QLFS Q2 2026
Municipalities in Western Cape
Population figures based on Census 2022 baseline
City of Cape Town4 772 846George294 929Drakenstein276 800Breede Valley212 682Stellenbosch175 411Saldanha Bay154 635Swartland148 331Mossel Bay140 075Theewaterskloof139 563Oudtshoorn138 257Overstrand132 495Witzenberg103 765Knysna96 055Langeberg94 045Beaufort West72 972Hessequa71 918Bergrivier70 276Matzikama69 043Bitou65 240Cederberg55 108Swellendam47 114Cape Agulhas40 274Kannaland31 986Prince Albert17 836Laingsburg11 366