Province · South Africa
# Western Cape Province

Western Cape Province is a province of South Africa. It had an estimated 6,898,299 people in 2020 on 129,462 km² (about 53 per km²). Its main town is Cape Town. It is divided into 6 districts. 1,551 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 22,058 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 6,898,299 people (2020)
- 129,462 km²
- 6 districts
- 22,058 mapped services

## How many people live in Western Cape Province?

Western Cape Province had an estimated 6,898,299 people in 2020 — 12.2% of South Africa, 3rd of 9 provinces. There are 1,002 women for every 1,000 men (below the South Africa figure of 1,024). Spread over 129,462 km², that is about 53 people per km², 4th of 9 provinces.

24.1% of people are children under 15 and 6.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 28 across South Africa). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 45 children and older people.
- 0–4 575,701
- 5–9 554,239
- 10–14 535,753
- 15–19 497,290
- 20–24 552,046
- 25–29 633,553
- 30–34 689,590
- 35–39 613,050
- 40–44 504,860
- 45–49 405,108
- 50–54 336,945
- 55–59 282,242
- 60–64 246,717
- 65–69 194,783
- 70–74 132,002
- 75–79 84,750
- 80+ 59,670

Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is Western Cape Province?

Western Cape Province lies in South Africa. It borders 2 other provinces: Eastern Cape Province and Nothern Cape Province. By area it is the 4th largest of 9 provinces in South Africa. It covers 10.6% of South Africa. The centre of Western Cape Province is about 959 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. The centre point is at 32.6322° S, 22.2263° E. Local names: WC.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Western Cape Province

OpenStreetMap lists 1,250 named sights in Western Cape Province: 366 attractions; 261 nature reserves; 177 viewpoints; 107 museums; 69 caves; 53 memorials; 43 galleries; 37 waterfalls; 32 monuments; 32 beachs; 30 ruins; 17 zoos; 15 archaeological sites; 5 castles and forts; 3 aquariums; 2 theme parks; 1 hot spring.
- 18 Gangster Museum · museum
- ATKV-Hartenbos Museum · museum
- Afrikaanse Taalmuseum · museum
- Amlay House Heritage Museum · museum
- Beaufort West Museum · museum
- Blombos Museum of Archaeology · museum
- Bo-Kaap Museum · museum
- CP Nel Museum · museum
- Calitzdorp Museum · museum
- Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Museum · museum
- Cape Medical Museum · museum
- Cape Town Diamond Museum · museum
- Cape Town Holocaust Centre · museum
- Castle Military Museum · museum
- Chavonnes Battery Museum · museum
- Classic Car Collection · museum
- Darling Museum · museum
- De Oude Woning · museum
- Dias Museum · museum
- District Six Museum · museum
- Drostdy Museum · museum
- Drostdy-Hof · museum
- Encouters · museum
- First People · museum
- Fish Hoek Valley Museum · museum
- Flood Museum · museum
- Franschhoek Cellar · museum
- Franschhoek Motor Museum · museum
- Fransie Pienaar Museum · museum
- Fransmanshoek Information Centre · museum

…and 1,220 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

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

## Know before you go: Western Cape Province
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- George Airport (GRJ) · George 153 km

### Nearest railway station

Viviers (Beaufort West), about 4.3 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 05:17) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:30, sunset around 17:31).
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
| Jan | 05:37 | 19:41 | 14.1 h |
| Feb | 06:07 | 19:23 | 13.3 h |
| Mar | 06:30 | 18:50 | 12.3 h |
| Apr | 06:51 | 18:10 | 11.3 h |
| May | 07:12 | 17:41 | 10.5 h |
| Jun | 07:30 | 17:31 | 10.0 h |
| Jul | 07:31 | 17:42 | 10.2 h |
| Aug | 07:09 | 18:02 | 10.9 h |
| Sep | 06:31 | 18:21 | 11.8 h |
| Oct | 05:51 | 18:41 | 12.8 h |
| Nov | 05:22 | 19:09 | 13.8 h |
| Dec | 05:17 | 19:34 | 14.3 h |

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

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 Western Cape Province
| District | People | per km² | Area km² | Local municipalities | Services |
| City of Cape Town District | 4,436,413 | 1,814 | 2,446 | 1 | 12,555 |
| Cape Winelands District | 909,523 | 42 | 21,473 | 5 | 3,186 |
| Eden District | 673,839 | 29 | 23,331 | 7 | 2,967 |
| West Coast District | 497,485 | 16 | 31,119 | 5 | 1,510 |
| Overberg District | 303,457 | 25 | 12,239 | 4 | 1,547 |
| Central Karoo District | 77,582 | 2.0 | 38,854 | 3 | 293 |

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Largest towns in Western Cape Province
- Cape Town 4,772,846
- Athlone 237,414
- Paarl 236,910
- Somerset West 225,289
- George 188,580
- Worcester 127,597
- Stellenbosch 96,228
- Atlantis 82,736
- Mossel Bay 78,940
- Oudtshoorn 73,694
- Knysna 68,659
- Saldanha 68,284
- Kraaifontein 57,911
- Hermanus 56,139
- Wellington 55,543

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Western Cape Province

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

### Water

643 rivers and streams; 57 reservoirs and tanks; 29 lakes; 3 waterfalls; 3 dams.
- Aap se Kloof
- Aapsrivier
- Afdaksrivier
- Afgunsrivier
- Agtersterivier
- Alexandra Reservoir
- Amandelrivier
- Amandelrivier
- Annex Droë
- Anye
- Appelfontein
- Artoisloop
- Assegaaibosdam
- Assegaaibosrivier
- Assegaaibosrivier
- Baneke
- Banghoekrivier
- Bankrock
- Banksa
- Baviaanskloof
- Baviaansrivier
- Baviaarskloof
- Beaufort West Dam
- Bellair Dam

…and 711 more.

### Coast and islands

86 headlands; 27 beaches; 12 islands; 7 bays; 5 lagoons.
- Badtamboer
- Bakoond
- Batsata Point
- Baviaanspunt
- Black Point
- Block House Point
- Bobbejaan
- Bokpunt
- Boompunt
- Bothastrand
- Botriviervlei
- Britannia Point
- Bruinpunt
- Buffels Bay
- Cape Maclear
- Cape Point
- Castle Rock
- Christinabaai
- Cliff Point
- Cole’s Point
- Curlew Strand
- Danger Point
- Dasseneiland
- Dawidskraalbaai

…and 113 more.

### Hills and mountains

1,380 hills; 978 mountains; 155 mountain passes; 143 peaks; 91 valleys.
- Seweweekspoortpiek · 2,303 m
- Rooiberg · 2,190 m
- Matroosberg · 2,188 m
- Meelberg · 2,187 m
- Kafferskop · 2,172 m
- Tierberg · 2,110 m
- Toorberg · 2,108 m
- Toringberg · 2,103 m
- Groothoekpiek · 2,075 m
- Blesberg · 2,059 m
- Keeromsberg · 2,056 m
- Bloupunt · 2,038 m
- Sneeukop · 2,025 m
- Mostertshoek Twins · 2,008 m
- Middelberg · 2,002 m
- Kariegasberg · 1,999 m
- Sonkliprug · 1,998 m
- Toorkop · 1,992 m
- Towerkop High Site · 1,980 m
- Waboomsberg · 1,980 m
- Milner Peak · 1,975 m
- Spitskop · 1,975 m
- Conical Peak · 1,974 m
- Ben Heatlie · 1,971 m

…and 2,723 more.

### Forests and nature

51 forests; 37 forest reserves; 23 nature reserves; 7 parks; 2 wildlife reserves; 2 gardens; 1 zoo.
- African Jackass Penguin Colony
- Agulhas National Park
- Anysberg Forest Reserve
- Appelbos
- Beaverlac
- Bel Ombre Meadow
- Bendigo Bush
- Bergplaasplantasie
- Bird's Paradise
- Blouberg Forest Reserve
- Bloubos
- Bloukrans-Bosreservaat
- Bokkerivier Staatsbos
- Bracken Hill Forest
- Bredasdorpkus Forest Reserve
- Buffelsbos
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
- Cecilia State Forest
- Ceder Berg Forest Reserve
- Company's Garden
- Concordia Forest Reserve
- De Hoop Nature Reserve
- Devils Peak Forest Reserve
- Doorspring Private Nature Reserve

…and 99 more.

### History

13 ruins; 5 museums; 1 fort.
- Bloupunt
- Breëleegte
- Buffelsrivier
- Castle of Good Hope
- Elandskloof
- Fortuinsklip
- Hamelkuil
- Heart of Cape Town Museum
- Heerenlogements
- Hopefield Fossil Site
- Hugenot Memorial Museum
- Iziko South African Museum
- Jonkerspos
- Robben Island Museum
- Soverby
- The Meadows
- Tweeling
- Valsrivier
- Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art of Africa

### Estates

1 estate.
- Groote Schuur

### Getting around

169 railway stations; 42 airfields; 13 airports; 11 lighthouses; 3 railway halts; 2 harbours; 1 port; 1 bridge.
- AFB Langebaanweg
- AFB Overberg
- Acacia
- Acacia Park
- Albertina
- Ashton
- Athlone
- Avondale
- Avontuur
- Bantams
- Baviaan
- Beaufort West
- Bellville
- Bergrivier
- Blackheath
- Bonnievale
- Bontheuwel
- Botrivier
- Brackenfell
- Bredasdorp
- Breërivier
- Buffeljagsrivier
- Caledon
- Calizdorp

…and 218 more.

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

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

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

In Western Cape Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 25 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 300 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (38 mm) and the driest Jun (12 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 25 | 33 |
| Feb | 25 | 38 |
| Mar | 22 | 35 |
| Apr | 18 | 31 |
| May | 15 | 20 |
| Jun | 11 | 12 |
| Jul | 11 | 14 |
| Aug | 12 | 20 |
| Sep | 15 | 15 |
| Oct | 18 | 24 |
| Nov | 21 | 27 |
| Dec | 23 | 30 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

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

Places mapped inside Western Cape Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 450
- Banks 947
- ATMs 631
- Petrol pumps 1,172
- Hotels 3,768
- Shopping malls 521
- Schools 6,268
- Colleges and universities 334
- Cinemas 45
- Pharmacies 718
- Restaurants 6,620
- Police stations 211
- Dental clinics 373

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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

## Quick answers
- Where is Western Cape Province? In South Africa
- What is the population of Western Cape Province? 6,898,299 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Western Cape Province? About 31 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Western Cape Province? About 53 people per km²
- What borders Western Cape Province? Eastern Cape Province and Nothern Cape Province
- What is there to see in Western Cape Province?!Khwa ttu Nature Reserve,!Khwa-ka!Ku-!ku ǀKö-ǀkö, "Shower head", 18 Gangster Museum
- What time zone is Western Cape Province in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in Western Cape Province? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Western Cape Province? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Western Cape Province? Cape Town
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Western Cape Province? 57 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Western Cape Province? Seweweekspoortpiek (2,303 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Western Cape Province? January to December
- How many hospitals are in Western Cape Province? 450 mapped
- How many banks are in Western Cape Province? 947 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Western Cape Province? 631 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Western Cape Province? 1,172 mapped
- What is the P-code of Western Cape Province? ZA1 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Province
- Area: 129,462.2 km²
- P-code: ZA1
- Main town: Cape Town

---
Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.