Swellendam

Quick Fact

2,39% Population growth rate.

Quick Fact Image 2,39% Growth Rate

Swellendam Local Municipality is located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The following towns fall within its boundaries: Barrydale, Buffeljagsrivier, Infanta, Malagas, Suurbraak and Swellendam.

Rank By:
192 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Mpofana , KwaZulu-Natal 38,103 189
Siyancuma , Northern Cape 37,076 190
Blue Crane Route , Eastern Cape 36,002 191
Swellendam , Western Cape 35,916 192
Mookgopong , Limpopo 35,640 193
The Big 5 False Bay , KwaZulu-Natal 35,258 194
Tsantsabane , Northern Cape 35,093 195
Quick Fact

5,4% of those aged 20+ had no formal schooling.

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According to Census 2011, Swellendam Local Municipality has a total population of 35 916 people, of whom68,8% are coloured, 17,4% are white and 12,4% are black African.The other population groups make up the remaining 1,4%.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 7,9% have completed primary school, 34% have some secondary education, 20,8% have completed matric, and 10,0% have some form of higher education, while 5,5% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African12,4%
Coloured68,8%
Indian/Asian0,3%
White17,4%
Other1,1%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,6% 4,7%
5-9 4,2% 4%
10-14 4,4% 4,3%
15-19 4,4% 4,1%
20-24 4,4% 4,1%
25-29 4,1% 4,1%
30-34 3,6% 3,3%
35-39 3,5% 3,7%
40-44 3,4% 3,4%
45-49 3,4% 3,4%
50-54 2,7% 2,8%
55-59 2,3% 2,1%
60-64 1,8% 1,8%
65-69 1,2% 1,4%
70-74 0,9% 1,1%
75-79 0,6% 0,7%
80-84 0,3% 0,5%
85+ 0,2% 0,4%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 82,9%
English 4,5%
IsiNdebele 0,1%
IsiXhosa 6,7%
IsiZulu 0,2%
Sepedi 0%
Sesotho 1%
Setswana 0,4%
Sign Language 0,3%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 1.2%
Not Applicable 2,6%
Group Percentage
Married 29%
Living together like married partners 11,7%
Never married 53,7%
Widower/Widow 3,9%
Separated 0,4%
Divorced 1,3%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3%
Some Primary 45,7%
Completed Primary 7,6%
Some Secondary 31%
Completed Secondary 9%
Higher Education 1,2%
Not Applicable 2,6%
Sex Percentage
Female 50,2%
Male 49,8%
Quick Fact

94% of households have access to electricity for lighting.

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There are 10 139 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,4 persons per household.

90,8% of households have access to piped water either in their dwelling or in the yard. Only 1,5% of households do not have access to piped water.

Area Percentage
Urban 70,8%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 29,2%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 83,8% 16,2%
Computer 26,2% 73,8%
Television 81% 19%
Satellite Television 30,8% 69,2%
Radio 63,7% 36,3%
Landline / Telephone 24,4% 75,6%
Motor Car 40,7% 59,3%
Refrigerator 77,1% 22,9%
Electric / Gas-Stove 90% 10%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 85,2% 67,7% 94%
Gas 8,1% 2% 0,2%
Paraffin 0,5% 0,7% 0,2%
Solar 0,2% 0,4% 0,4%
Candles 0% 0% 4,9%
Wood 5,5% 16,1% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,2% 0%
Animal Dung 0,2% 0% 0%
Other 0% 0% 0%
None 0,2% 13% 0,3%
Access Percentage
From Home 12,5%
From Cellphone 20,3%
From Work 4,1%
From Elsewhere 2,4%
No Access 60,6%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 20,8%
Owned and fully paid off 49,4%
Owned but not yet paid off 7,6%
Occupied rent free 19,4%
Other 2,9%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 76,5%
Borehole 4%
Spring 1,8%
Rain water tank 4,1%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 5,2%
River/Stream 5,1%
Water vendor 0,4%
Water tanker 1,8%
Other 1,2%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 3,1%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 77,2%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 8,4%
Chemical toilet 0,1%
Pit toilet with ventilation 1,1%
Pit toilet without ventilation 2%
Bucket toilet 2,5%
Other 5,5%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 74,2%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,7%
Communal refuse dump 2,4%
Own refuse dump 18,1%
No rubbish disposal 1,2%
Other 1,4%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 74,2%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 2,7%
Communal refuse dump 2,4%
Own refuse dump 18,1%
No rubbish disposal 1,2%
Other 1,4%
Quick Fact

11,4% Unemployment rate.

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14 246 people are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), and of these, 11,4% are unemployed.

15,0% of the 6 579 economically active youth (15 – 34 years) in the municipality are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 12620
Unemployed 1626
Discouraged Work Seeker 372
Not Economically Active 9288
Income Percentage
None income 7,9%
R1 - R4,800 1,3%
R4,801 - R9,600 3,1%
R9,601 - R19,600 14,3%
R19,601 - R38,200 25,3%
R38,201 - R76,4000 20,5%
R76,401 - R153,800 13,4%
R153,801 - R307,600 8,2%
R307,601 - R614,400 4,4%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,9%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,3%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 581
Poultry production 803
Vegetable production 591
Production of other crops 291
Other 318

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 354
Animals only 763
Mixed farming 416
Other 91

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

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 114
R1-R4 800 15
R4 801-R38 400 867
R38 401-R307 200 463
R307 201+ 126
Unspecified 40

Place names

Places in Swellendam Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population35,916
Young (0-14)26,1%
Working Age (15-64)66,6%
Elderly (65+)7,3%
Dependency ratio50,2
Sex ratio99,3
Growth rate2,39% (2001-2011)
Population density9 persons/km2
Unemployment rate11,4%
Youth unemployment rate15%
No schooling aged 20+5,4%
Higher education aged 20+10%
Matric aged 20+20,7%
Number of households10,139
Number of Agricultural households1,624
Average household size3,4
Female headed households29,2%
Formal dwellings88,3%
Housing owned/paying off56,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage77,2%
Weekly refuse removal74,2%
Piped water inside dwelling78,9%
Electricity for lighting94%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population28,285
Young (0-14)29,5%
Working Age (15-64)66,6%
Elderly (65+)6,5%
Dependency ratio56,2%
Sex ratio99,6
Growth rate2,81% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate15,7%
Youth unemployment rate22,1%
No schooling aged 20+9,4%
Higher education aged 20+7,9%
Matric aged 20+18,5%
Number of households7,562
Average household size3,6
Female headed households26,3%
Formal dwellings88,4%
Housing owned/paying off55,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage73,1%
Weekly refuse removal71,5%
Piped water inside dwelling64,8%
Electricity for lighting87,7%