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City of Cape Town

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Estimated population of 3 740 026 – Census 2011

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The City of Cape Town as a municipal entity of today is just over ten years old. However, the Mother City has the oldest municipal structure in the country, going back to its first Council meeting held on 8 April 1652 – on a sailing ship anchored in Table Bay.

The Mother City is South Africa’s oldest city, with an area of 2 461 km2. It is the legislative capital of South Africa, the administrative and economic centre of the Western Cape Province.

Rank By:
2 ranking by population size
 
2011
Rank view all
City of Johannesburg , Gauteng 4,434,827 1
City of Cape Town , Western Cape 3,740,026 2
Ethekwini , KwaZulu-Natal 3,442,361 3
Ekurhuleni , Gauteng 3,178,470 4
City of Tshwane , Gauteng 2,921,488 5
People
Quick Fact

1,8% had no form of schooling.

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The City of Cape Town has a total population of 3 740 025 according to the statistics on the City, dated 2012. The population is made up of the following groups: Coloured 42,4%, black African 38,6%, white 15,7%, Indian / Asian 1,4% and other 1,9%.

The literacy levels of the residents of the City of Cape Town are as follows: The percentage of people aged 20 years and older with Grade 5 or less – 5,3%; highest level of education of people aged 20 years and older – Below Matric / Grade 12: 50,2%; Matric / Grade 12: 29,%; Post Matric / Grade 12 18,8%.

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Population GroupsBlack AfricanColouredIndian/AsianWhiteOtherStatistics South Africa
Group Percentage
Black African38,6%
Coloured42,4%
Indian/Asian1,4%
White15,7%
Other1,9%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Sex and Age DistributionMaleFemale0-45-910-1415-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-6465-6970-7475-7980-8485+6%5.5%5%4.5%4%3.5%3%2.5%2%1.5%1%0.5%0%0.5%1%1.5%2%2.5%3%3.5%4%4.5%5%5.5%6%Statistics South Africa
Age Males Females
0-4 5,1% 4,8%
5-9 3,9% 3,8%
10-14 3,6% 3,5%
15-19 3,9% 4,1%
20-24 5,1% 5,2%
25-29 5,4% 5,3%
30-34 4,5% 4,3%
35-39 3,9% 3,8%
40-44 3,2% 3,4%
45-49 2,7% 2,7%
50-54 2,3% 2,6%
55-59 1,7% 2,1%
60-64 1,3% 1,6%
65-69 0,9% 1,1%
70-74 0,6% 0,9%
75-79 0,4% 0,6%
80-84 0,2% 0,4%
85+ 0,1% 0,3%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4LanguagesAfrikaansEnglishIsiNdebeleIsiXhosaIsiZuluSepediSesothoSetswanaSign LanguageSiSwatiTshivendaXitsongaOtherNot Applicable0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%Statistics South Africa
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 34,9%
English 27,8%
IsiNdebele 0,3%
IsiXhosa 29,2%
IsiZulu 0,5%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 1%
Setswana 0,4%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,2%
Other 2.8%
Not Applicable 2,1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Marital StatusMarriedLiving TogetherNever MarriedWidower/WidowSeparatedDivorcedStatistics South Africa
Group Percentage
Married 30,8%
Living together like married partners 5,6%
Never married 57,1%
Widower/Widow 3,3%
Separated 0,7%
Divorced 2,6%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Highest Educational Level (All Ages)No SchoolingSome PrimaryCompletedPrimarySomeSecondaryCompletedSecondaryHigherEducationNot Applicable0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%Statistics South Africa
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,3%
Some Primary 37%
Completed Primary 5,6%
Some Secondary 32,7%
Completed Secondary 15,6%
Higher Education 3,7%
Not Applicable 2,1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4SexMaleFemaleStatistics South Africa
Sex Percentage
Female 51,1%
Male 48,9%
Living Conditions
Quick Fact

94% used electricity for lighting.

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The City consists of 1 068 572 households according to Census 2011.  There are 129 918 informal structures in informal settlements.  Nearly 36% (35,7%) of the households live below the poverty line of less than R 3 500;  3,7% of the households do not have access to electricity for lighting;  8,8% have no access to sanitation on site and there are 232 027 households registered as indigent (as defined by the City of Cape Town)

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Settlement TypeUrban areaTribal/Traditional areaFarmStatistics South Africa
Area Percentage
Urban 99,6%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 0,4%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Household GoodsYesNoCellphoneComputerTelevisionSatellite TelevisionRadioLandline/TelephoneMotor CarRefrigeratorElectric/Gas-Stove0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%Statistics South Africa
Item Yes No
Cellphone 91,3% 8,7%
Computer 37,9% 62,1%
Television 87,3% 12,7%
Satellite Television 30,9% 69,1%
Radio 70,1% 29,9%
Landline / Telephone 34% 66%
Motor Car 45,8% 54,2%
Refrigerator 82,1% 17,9%
Electric / Gas-Stove 91,2% 8,8%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Energy or fuel for cooking, heating & lightingElectricityGasParaffinSolarCandlesWoodCoalAnimal DungOtherNoneCookingHeatingLighting0%25%50%75%100%Statistics South Africa
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 87,6% 63% 94%
Gas 7,5% 3,5% 0,3%
Paraffin 3,8% 14,9% 3,8%
Solar 0,1% 0,4% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 1,5%
Wood 0,3% 1,8% 0%
Coal 0% 0,2% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,3% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 16,1% 0,2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Access to InternetFrom HomeFrom CellphoneFrom WorkFrom ElsewhereNo AccessStatistics South Africa
Access Percentage
From Home 18,5%
From Cellphone 16,4%
From Work 6,9%
From Elsewhere 7,4%
No Access 50,7%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Tenure StatusRentedOwned andfully paid offOwned butnot yetpaid offOccupiedrent freeOtherStatistics South Africa
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 29,9%
Owned and fully paid off 33,2%
Owned but not yet paid off 20,9%
Occupied rent free 13%
Other 2,9%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Source of WaterRegional/Localwater schemeBoreholeSpringRain water tankDam/Pool/StagnantwaterRiver/StreamWater vendorWater tankerOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%105%Statistics South Africa
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 97,3%
Borehole 0,5%
Spring 0,1%
Rain water tank 0,1%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,1%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 0,3%
Water tanker 0,4%
Other 1,1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Toilet FacilitiesNoneFlush toilet (connected tosewerage system)Flush toilet (with septictank)Chemical toiletPit toilet with ventilationPit toilet withoutventilationBucket toiletOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%Statistics South Africa
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 2,7%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 88,2%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 2%
Chemical toilet 1,2%
Pit toilet with ventilation 0,2%
Pit toilet without ventilation 0,2%
Bucket toilet 4,5%
Other 1%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Refuse DisposalRemoved by localauthority/private companyat least once a weekRemoved by localauthority/private companyless oftenCommunal refuse dumpOwn refuse dumpNo rubbish disposalOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%Statistics South Africa
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 94,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,7%
Communal refuse dump 2,8%
Own refuse dump 1,4%
No rubbish disposal 0,7%
Other 0,2%
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Refuse DisposalRemoved by localauthority/private companyat least once a weekRemoved by localauthority/private companyless oftenCommunal refuse dumpOwn refuse dumpNo rubbish disposalOther0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%Statistics South Africa
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 94,3%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,7%
Communal refuse dump 2,8%
Own refuse dump 1,4%
No rubbish disposal 0,7%
Other 0,2%
Economy
Quick Fact

23,9% Unemployment rate

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The GDP (at 2005 prices) of the City amounted to R203 581 million in 2011.  The city has a diversified economy, and the three biggest sectors are:

• Finance, insurance, property and business services;

• Manufacturing; and

• Wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation.

 

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Employment for those aged 15-64EmployedUnemployedDiscouraged Work SeekerNot Economically Active050000010000001500000Statistics South Africa
Employment Status Number
Employed 1294239
Unemployed 405989
Discouraged Work Seeker 81433
Not Economically Active 822549
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Average Household IncomeNo incomeR1 - R4,800R4,801 - R9,600R9,601 - R19,600R19,601 - R38,200R38,201 - R76,400R76,401 - R153,800R153,801 - R307,600R307,601 - R614,400R614,001 - R1,228,800R1,228,801 - R2,457,600R2,457,601+0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%Statistics South Africa
Income Percentage
None income 13,7%
R1 - R4,800 2,7%
R4,801 - R9,600 4%
R9,601 - R19,600 10,6%
R19,601 - R38,200 16%
R38,201 - R76,4000 14,5%
R76,401 - R153,800 13%
R153,801 - R307,600 11,9%
R307,601 - R614,400 8,7%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 3,6%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,9%
R2,457,601+ 0,5%
Agricultural Statistics
Created with Highcharts 4.0.4PercentageAgricultural households in specific activity14,815,021,614,234,4LivestockPoultryVegetableOther cropsOther010203040Source: Stats SA
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 11,727
Poultry production 11,892
Vegetable production 17,136
Production of other crops 11,245
Other 27,254

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4Agricultural households by type of activity30%29%27%15%Source: Stats SA
Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 10,195
Animals only 5,019
Mixed farming 9,850
Other 9,320

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Created with Highcharts 4.0.4PercentageIncome category of agricultural households20,52,631,231,110,30,0No incomeR1-R4 800R4 801-R38 400R38 401-R307 200R307 201+505101520253035Source: Stats SA
Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 7,062
R1-R4 800 888
R4 801-R38 400 10,711
R38 401-R307 200 10,704
R307 201+ 3,530
Unspecified 1,487
Agricultural households municipal data per province
Western Cape (download)
Eastern Cape (download)
Northern Cape (download)
Free State (download)
KwaZulu-Natal (download)
North West (download)
Gauteng (download)
Mpumalanga (download)
Limpopo (download)

**Please note that each province contains twenty five tables

Place names

Places in City of Cape Town Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population3,740,026
Young (0-14)24,8%
Working Age (15-64)69,6%
Elderly (65+)5,5%
Dependency ratio43,6
Sex ratio95,9
Growth rate2,57% (2001-2011)
Population density1530 persons/km2
Unemployment rate23,9%
Youth unemployment rate31,9%
No schooling aged 20+1,8%
Higher education aged 20+16,6%
Matric aged 20+29,8%
Number of households1,068,573
Number of Agricultural households34,383
Average household size3,3
Female headed households38,2%
Formal dwellings78,4%
Housing owned/paying off54,2%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage88,2%
Weekly refuse removal94,3%
Piped water inside dwelling75%
Electricity for lighting94%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population2,892,243
Young (0-14)26,6%
Working Age (15-64)69,6%
Elderly (65+)5%
Dependency ratio46,3%
Sex ratio92,4
Growth rate2,42% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate29,2%
Youth unemployment rate36,8%
No schooling aged 20+4,3%
Higher education aged 20+12,8%
Matric aged 20+25,9%
Number of households759,485
Average household size3,7
Female headed households35,7%
Formal dwellings78,9%
Housing owned/paying off60,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage85,4%
Weekly refuse removal94,3%
Piped water inside dwelling69,4%
Electricity for lighting88,8%

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