Provinces of South Africa: population and official figures
South Africa is divided into 9 provinces. The largest by population is Gauteng with 16,104,933 people (25.5% of the total); the smallest is Northern Cape with 1,379,183. Population from Statistics South Africa's mid-year estimates for 2025; jobs from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (April-June 2026); living conditions, health cover and schooling from the General Household Survey 2025; provincial spending from the National Treasury; matric results from the Department of Basic Education.
Who governs South Africa's provinces?
Provinces (9): Provincial legislature elected by proportional representation (list of parties); the legislature elects a premier, who appoints an executive council of 5–10 members. Health, schools, housing and roads within national framework laws; oversees municipalities.
How local power works in South Africa · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 9 provinces, largest first
| # | Province | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gauteng | 16,104,933 | 2025 | – |
| 2 | KwaZulu-Natal | 12,232,247 | 2025 | – |
| 3 | Western Cape | 7,627,688 | 2025 | – |
| 4 | Eastern Cape | 7,090,788 | 2025 | – |
| 5 | Limpopo | 6,366,192 | 2025 | – |
| 6 | Mpumalanga | 5,076,133 | 2025 | – |
| 7 | North West | 4,183,947 | 2025 | – |
| 8 | Free State | 3,039,834 | 2025 | – |
| 9 | Northern Cape | 1,379,183 | 2025 | – |
Cities: the largest cities of South Africa.
More on South Africa: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Statistics South Africa: Mid-year population estimates 2025 (Statistical release P0302): Tables 8 and 10, Figures 9, 11 and 12 (copy published by the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e25293a1d345…)
- Statistics South Africa: Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Quarter 2: 2026 (Statistical release P0211): Tables D, E, 2.3, 3.2 and 3.4 (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ccfdb081197b…)
- Statistics South Africa: General Household Survey 2025 (Statistical release P0318): Tables 2.2 and 14.1 and addendum tables by province (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69b5db681d83…)
- National Treasury: Provincial budgets and expenditure, 4th quarter 2025/26 (Section 32 of the PFMA): statement of receipts and payments per province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 87389aabde0c…)
- National Treasury: 2026 Budget Review, Chapter 6, Table 6.2: provincial equitable share 2025/26 to 2028/29, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3eafdcfc79f3…)
- Department of Basic Education: 2025 National Senior Certificate Examination Report: Tables 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3 and 6.3.8, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 786eb1c79f20…)
- Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Research Unit: Crime statistics analysis: Quarter 4 (2025/26), murder ratio by province from the SAPS fourth-quarter crime statistics presentation, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 823e2eb871fe…)
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