Fast facts

  • The Northern Cape’s population amounts to some 2 million people (2016 census data)
  • Mining employs some 15,000 people – around 2% of the SA population (2016 census data)
  • Unemployment rate is around 29.5% against national average of 26.7% (Q1 2018)
  • More than half the population in the Northern Cape - which is the fourth richest province - are living in poverty*
  • 59% poverty level (Eastern Cape - 72.9%; Limpopo - 72.4%; KwaZulu-Natal - 68.1%; Western Cape - 37.1%; Gauteng - 33.3%)*
  • Afrikaans is the most widely spoken language in the Northern Cape**
  • Almost 40% of households are headed by women**
  • 12.8% of all households live in informal settlements**
  • 99% of the population are South African citizens

*Stats SA : Poverty levels in SA 2015
** Community survey 2016 : Wazimap website

Mining [photo]
Petra diamonds, Cullinan