# Eastern Cape Province, South Africa – Population & Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/

Province · South Africa 

# Eastern Cape Province

Eastern Cape Province is a province of South Africa. It had an estimated **6,510,816 people** in 2020 on 168,966 km² (about 39 per km²). Its main town is Bhisho. It is divided into 8 districts. 4,857 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 13,324 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 6,510,816people (2020)
- 168,966km²
- 8districts
- 13,324mapped services

## How many people live in Eastern Cape Province?

Eastern Cape Province had an estimated **6,510,816 people** in 2020 — 11.5% of South Africa, 4th of 9 provinces. There are 1,103 women for every 1,000 men (above the South Africa figure of 1,024). Spread over 168,966 km², that is about **39 people per km²**, 6th of 9 provinces.

32.2% of people are children under 15 and 7.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 25 years (it is 28 across South Africa). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 66 children and older people.

0–4 ****662,407**

5–9 ****730,051**

10–14 ****706,685**

15–19 ****648,322**

20–24 ****489,356**

25–29 ****448,520**

30–34 ****475,640**

35–39 ****429,327**

40–44 ****353,882**

45–49 ****302,793**

50–54 ****282,725**

55–59 ****253,313**

60–64 ****228,975**

65–69 ****183,268**

70–74 ****148,592**

75–79 ****94,381**

80+ ****72,579**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is Eastern Cape Province?

Eastern Cape Province lies in [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Free State Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/free-state/), [KwaZulu-Natal Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/), [Nothern Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/nothern-cape/) and [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/). By area it is the 2nd largest of 9 provinces in South Africa. It covers 13.8% of [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). The centre of Eastern Cape Province is about 724 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. The centre point is at 32.1078° S, 26.5906° E. Local names: EC .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around Eastern Cape Province

OpenStreetMap lists 488 named sights in Eastern Cape Province: 165 nature reserves; 64 attractions; 51 viewpoints; 50 museums; 39 monuments; 28 memorials; 26 beachs; 22 waterfalls; 11 ruins; 8 zoos; 7 caves; 6 castles and forts; 5 national parks; 4 galleries; 1 theme park; 1 aquarium.

- Albany History Museum · museum
- Albany Museum · museum
- Amathole Museum · museum
- Amazwi South African Museum of Literature · museum
- Auto Pavilion · museum
- Bathurst Agricultural Museum · museum
- Bayworld: PE Museum · museum
- Blacksmith Museum · museum
- Calgary Transport Museum · museum
- Despatch Museum · museum
- East London Museum · museum
- Gately House Museum · museum
- Hamburg Heritage Site · museum
- Hazel Jefferies Shell Museum · museum
- Hester Rupert Art Museum · museum
- Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre · museum
- Kowie History Museum · museum
- KwaMaqoma Historical Museum · museum
- Military History · museum
- NMB Science & Technology Centre · museum
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum · museum
- Nelson Mandela Museum · museum
- Nelson Mandela Museum, Qunu · museum
- No 7 Castle Hill · museum
- Observatory Museum · museum
- Old Library · museum
- Old Residency · museum
- Our Heritage Museum · museum
- Owl House Visitor Centre · museum
- Post Office Accommodation · museum

…and 458 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Eastern Cape Province

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- King Phalo Airport (ELS) · East London155 km
- K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT) · Mthatha206 km

### Nearest railway station

Bowker's Park (Enoch Mgijima), about 30 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 05:01) and shortest in Jun (about 10.1 hours, sunrise around 07:11, sunset around 17:15).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:21 19:23 14.0 h 

Feb 05:50 19:05 13.2 h 

Mar 06:13 18:33 12.3 h 

Apr 06:33 17:53 11.3 h 

May 06:54 17:24 10.5 h 

Jun 07:11 17:15 10.1 h 

Jul 07:12 17:26 10.2 h 

Aug 06:51 17:45 10.9 h 

Sep 06:13 18:04 11.9 h 

Oct 05:34 18:24 12.8 h 

Nov 05:06 18:50 13.7 h 

Dec 05:01 19:15 14.2 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Eastern Cape Province

District People per km² Area km² Local municipalities Services 

[O.R.Tambo District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/o-r-tambo/) 1,358,678 112 12,141 5 1,888 

[Nelson Mandela Bay District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/nelson-mandela-bay/) 1,230,491 629 1,957 1 3,194 

[Amathole District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/amathole/) 789,726 37 21,117 6 1,556 

[Alfred Nzo District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/alfred-nzo/) 788,235 73 10,731 4 911 

[Buffalo City District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/buffalo-city/) 760,840 277 2,750 1 2,101 

[Chris Hani District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/chris-hani/) 752,217 21 36,407 6 1,392 

[Cacadu District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/cacadu/) 491,156 8.4 58,245 7 1,675 

[Joe Gqabi District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/joe-gqabi/) 339,473 13 25,617 3 607 

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf); [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Largest towns in Eastern Cape Province

- Gqeberha1,050,078
- East London478,676
- Kariega291,052
- Mdantsane205,504
- Mthatha164,848
- Motherwell140,351
- Bhisho137,287
- Queenstown118,599
- Qonce93,072
- Grahamstown91,548
- Graaff Reinet62,896
- Fort Beaufort58,419
- Butterworth53,086
- New Brighton47,917
- Aliwal North44,436

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Eastern Cape Province

Named natural and historic features inside Eastern Cape Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

1,227 rivers and streams; 41 reservoirs and tanks; 14 lakes; 14 waterfalls; 5 dams.

- Amatole
- Andrew F.C. Turpin Dam
- Assegaairivier
- Bakensrivier
- Balasi
- Balasi
- Bamboeshoekspruit
- Bamboesspruit
- Bangindlala
- Barnardspruit
- Baviaanskloofrivier
- Baviaansrivier
- Baviaansrivier
- Bawa Falls
- Bazane
- Beervleidam
- Bell River
- Bell River
- Benecuti
- Benerivier
- Bengu
- Bholotwa
- Bholotwa
- Biesiesdam

…and 1,277 more.

### Coast and islands

45 headlands; 18 beaches; 15 bays.

- Beacon Point
- Bloubaai
- Bloubaai
- Bluff Point
- Boknesstrand
- Bosbokstrand
- Brazen Head
- Breezy Point
- Castle Point
- Chelsea Point
- Cherry’s Point
- Cintsa Bay
- Daeraad se Baai
- Danger Point
- Druipkelder
- Dunpunt
- East Beach
- Eastern Beach
- Elandspunt
- First Beach
- Flat Point
- Flip se Baai
- George’s Bay
- Gonubie Point

…and 54 more.

### Hills and mountains

1,106 mountains; 875 hills; 183 mountain passes; 64 valleys; 14 peaks.

- Ben Macdhui · 2,991 m
- Breslin’s Kop · 2,852 m
- Little Tooth · 2,824 m
- Tina Head · 2,814 m
- Avoca Peak · 2,754 m
- Ben Dearg · 2,743 m
- Table Hill · 2,727 m
- Scobells Kop · 2,718 m
- Snowdon · 2,694 m
- Pelion Peak · 2,675 m
- Edge Hill · 2,670 m
- Fern Tower · 2,663 m
- Kopshorn · 2,642 m
- The Ram · 2,637 m
- Balloch Peak · 2,624 m
- Bonnyvale Peak · 2,616 m
- Rotkop · 2,607 m
- Wetterhorn · 2,581 m
- Mount Blyth · 2,565 m
- Ben Nevis · 2,562 m
- Graskop · 2,561 m
- Mount Enterprise · 2,549 m
- Foxley’s Trek Path · 2,546 m
- Brandtskop · 2,504 m

…and 2,218 more.

### Forests and nature

73 forests; 56 forest reserves; 9 nature reserves; 9 parks.

- Addo Elephant National Park
- Alexandria Forest
- Andrews Forest
- Arnes Forest
- Auckland Forest Reserve
- Baviaanskloof Staatsbos
- Beggars Bush Forest Reserve
- Bele Forest Reserve
- Benebos
- Bloubos
- Blueliliesbush State Forest
- Botha’s Forest
- Bulembu Forest
- Bwani
- Camdeboo National Park
- Camtsholo
- Cathcart Forest
- Cefane
- Cockscomb State Forest
- Cwencwe Forest
- Delville Bos
- Dwessa
- Elandsbos
- Elandsrivier Bosreserwe

…and 123 more.

### History

14 ruins; 1 historic site.

- Beenekraal
- Elephant Park
- Fort Brown
- Fort Willshire
- Fraaiuitsig
- H.G. Fourcade's Witte Els Bosch homestead
- Old Fort
- Piet Retief se Huis
- Rooidam
- Swanepoelshoek
- The Glen
- The Lodge
- The Ranges
- Van der Bergskuil
- Warmwater

### Estates

12 estates.

- Korana Plantation
- Langanci Plantation
- Libode Plantation
- Mgomanzi Plantation
- Mgunduza Plantation
- Nkobongo Plantation
- Nqabara Plantation
- Ntsubane Plantasie
- Qunu Plantation
- Sipunzi Plantation
- Vumise Plantasie
- Willowvale Plantation

### Getting around

138 railway stations; 63 airfields; 17 airports; 11 bridges; 7 lighthouses; 1 port.

- Aberdeen
- Aberdeen Road
- Addo
- Addo
- Adelaide
- Adelaide
- Alexandria New
- Aliwal North
- Aloes
- Amabele
- Arnold Hechter Bridge
- Arnoldton
- Arolsen
- Assegaaibos
- Bailey
- Barkley East
- Barkly Bridge
- Barkly East
- Baroda
- Baroe
- Bashee Bridge
- Bedford
- Bentinck
- Bethesdaweg

…and 213 more.

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Eastern Cape Province and the best time to visit

In Eastern Cape Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (8 °C). About 725 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (115 mm) and the driest Jun (18 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **August to May**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 21 115 

Feb 20 110 

Mar 18 91 

Apr 15 59 

May 12 24 

Jun 8 18 

Jul 8 23 

Aug 10 25 

Sep 14 32 

Oct 16 59 

Nov 18 76 

Dec 20 91 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Eastern Cape Province

Places mapped inside Eastern Cape Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals355
- Banks631
- ATMs337
- Petrol pumps639
- Hotels1,572
- Shopping malls163
- Schools6,951
- Colleges and universities200
- Cinemas13
- Pharmacies321
- Restaurants1,881
- Police stations182
- Dental clinics79

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Eastern Cape Province?In South Africa
- What is the population of Eastern Cape Province?6,510,816 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Eastern Cape Province?About 25 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Eastern Cape Province?About 39 people per km²
- What borders Eastern Cape Province?Free State Province, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Nothern Cape Province and Western Cape Province
- What is there to see in Eastern Cape Province?05P Container Terminal, 10 October 1992 Train Accident, 1820 Settlers Monument, 1820 Settlers National Monument
- What time zone is Eastern Cape Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Eastern Cape Province?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Eastern Cape Province?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Eastern Cape Province?Gqeberha
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Eastern Cape Province?41 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Eastern Cape Province?Ben Macdhui (2,991 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Eastern Cape Province?August to May
- How many hospitals are in Eastern Cape Province?355 mapped
- How many banks are in Eastern Cape Province?631 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Eastern Cape Province?337 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Eastern Cape Province?639 mapped
- What is the P-code of Eastern Cape Province?ZA2 (OCHA common operational dataset)