Eastern Cape: population, jobs, living conditions, health, schools and provincial budgets
Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa, number 4 of 9 by population. Statistics South Africa estimated the population of Eastern Cape at 7,090,788 in mid-2025 (3,293,541 male, 3,797,247 female), 11.2% of South Africa's 63.10 million; 4th largest of the nine provinces. This is an official mid-year estimate (a model projection), not a census count.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Eastern Cape: 47.5% of the labour force in Eastern Cape was unemployed in April-June 2026 (official definition), up from 39.5% a year earlier; the highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 33.6%).
- Health in Eastern Cape: Life expectancy at birth in Eastern Cape is estimated at 61.5 years for men and 67.6 years for women over 2021-2026, 5th longest of the nine provinces; in 2001-2006 it was 51.4 and 55.9 years.
- Education in Eastern Cape: 84.2% of the 106,561 full-time candidates in Eastern Cape passed the 2025 National Senior Certificate (matric) exams, down from 85.0% in 2024; the lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 88.0%).
- Poverty and living standards in Eastern Cape: About 3,487,000 people in Eastern Cape, 53.4% of residents, received a social grant or relief payment in 2025, the highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 39.5%).
- Government budget and revenue in Eastern Cape: The Eastern Cape provincial government spent R102.2 billion in 2025/26, 99.8% of its adjusted budget of R102.4 billion and about R14,416 per resident; 3rd highest of the nine provinces per person (12.6% of all provincial spending).
How young is the population of Eastern Cape?
30.2% of people in Eastern Cape were under 15 and 12.9% were 60 or older in 2025 (South Africa: 26.2% and 10.5%); the share of children is 2nd highest of the nine provinces.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many children do women in Eastern Cape have?
Women in Eastern Cape are estimated to have 2.65 children each on average over 2021-2026, 2nd highest of the nine provinces, down from 2.97 in 2011-2016.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyAre people moving to or leaving Eastern Cape?
Stats SA estimates that 198,686 people will have moved into Eastern Cape from other provinces and abroad over 2021-2026 and 498,149 will have left for other provinces, a net loss of 299,462; the largest of the 3 provinces with a net loss.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many households are there in Eastern Cape?
The General Household Survey estimated about 1,799,000 households in Eastern Cape in 2025, 8.9% of the country's 20.11 million, with an average of 3.6 people per household (South Africa: 3.2).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow provinces are governed in South Africa
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.
Every tier of government in South Africa
Other provinces of South Africa
- Gauteng 16,104,933
- KwaZulu-Natal 12,232,247
- Western Cape 7,627,688
- Limpopo 6,366,192
- Mpumalanga 5,076,133
- North West 4,183,947
- Free State 3,039,834
- Northern Cape 1,379,183
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Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
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