# West Coast District, Western Cape Province – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/

District · Western Cape Province 

# West Coast District

West Coast District is a district or metropolitan municipality of South Africa in Western Cape Province. It had an estimated **497,485 people** in 2020 on 31,119 km² (about 16 per km²). Its main town is Moorreesburg. It is divided into 5 local municipalities. 145 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,510 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 497,485people (2020)
- 31,119km²
- 5local municipalities
- 1,510mapped services

## How many people live in West Coast District?

West Coast District had an estimated **497,485 people** in 2020 — 7.2% of Western Cape Province, 38th of 50 districts. There are 976 women for every 1,000 men (below the Western Cape Province figure of 1,002). Spread over 31,119 km², that is about **16 people per km²**, 42nd of 50 districts.

24.5% of people are children under 15 and 7.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 31 across Western Cape Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 46 children and older people.

0–4 ****39,955**

5–9 ****41,015**

10–14 ****40,747**

15–19 ****35,899**

20–24 ****38,201**

25–29 ****42,222**

30–34 ****45,198**

35–39 ****43,347**

40–44 ****39,203**

45–49 ****30,982**

50–54 ****25,704**

55–59 ****21,569**

60–64 ****18,560**

65–69 ****14,865**

70–74 ****9,694**

75–79 ****6,307**

80+ ****4,017**

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 West Coast District?

West Coast District lies in [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 3 other districts: [Cape Winelands District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/cape-winelands/), [City of Cape Town District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/city-of-cape-town/) and [Namakwa District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/nothern-cape/namakwa/). By area it is the 13th largest of 52 districts in South Africa. It covers 24.0% of [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/). The centre of West Coast District is about 1,145 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 212 km from Cape Town, the main town of Western Cape Province. The centre point is at 32.0587° S, 18.8822° E. Local names: DC1 .

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 West Coast District

OpenStreetMap lists 164 named sights in West Coast District: 61 attractions; 53 nature reserves; 16 viewpoints; 10 museums; 7 caves; 5 memorials; 4 archaeological sites; 3 waterfalls; 2 ruins; 2 beachs; 1 monument.

- Darling Museum · museum
- Encouters · museum
- First People · museum
- Malmesbury Museum · museum
- Ou Trunk Museum · museum
- Piketberg Museum · museum
- Sandveld Museum · museum
- Smuts Birthplace · museum
- Way of the San · museum
- West Coast Fossil Park Exhibition · museum
- Bushman Paintings · archaeological site
- Fossil dig · archaeological site
- Olaff Bergh Fontein · archaeological site
- Old Leopard Trap · archaeological site
- "Shower head" · waterfall
- Disapool · waterfall
- Warmhoek Falls · waterfall
- !Khwa ttu Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Aan de Klipheuvel Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Banghoek Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Beaverlac Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Bokbaai Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Cape Columbine Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Cederberg Oasis Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Cederberg Wilderness Area · nature reserve
- Darling Renosterveld Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Darling Wildflower Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Dassen Island Nature Reserve · nature reserve

…and 134 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: West Coast District

- 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

- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) · Cape Town215 km

### Nearest railway station

Graafwater (Cederberg), about 28 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 05:32) and shortest in Jun (about 10.1 hours, sunrise around 07:42, sunset around 17:46).

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.

## Local municipalities of West Coast District

Local municipality People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[Swartland](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/swartland/) 160,594 43 3,707 31 375 

[Saldanha Bay](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/saldanha-bay/) 127,121 63 2,015 38 541 

[Matzikama](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/matzikama/) 76,790 5.9 12,981 26 174 

[Bergrivier](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/bergrivier/) 75,301 17 4,407 21 224 

[Cederberg](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/cederberg/) 57,679 7.2 8,007 32 196 

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).

## Villages and localities in West Coast District

Open gazetteers list **145 villages, towns and localities** in West Coast District. The largest with a recorded population: Saldanha (68,284), Vredenburg (45,986), Malmesbury (43,009), Vredendal (21,769), Moorreesburg (15,428) and Piketberg (14,862). Settlements here lie between about 5 m and 994 m above sea level (median 95 m).

- Abbotsdale
- Abbotsdale West
- Albanie
- Algeria
- Aurora
- Bekbaai
- Bergrivier
- Bitterfontein
- Bosdorp
- Bothasig
- Bottelary
- Bovenfontein
- Brakfontein A
- Britannia Bay
- Cederberg
- Chatsworth
- Churchhaven
- Citrusdal
- Clanwilliam
- Darling
- De Brug
- De Hoek
- Diazville
- Donkergat
- Doornkloof
- Doringbaai
- Doringbos
- Dwarskersbos
- Ebenhaeser
- Eendekuil
- Elands Bay
- Elandsbaai
- Eselbank
- Esterhof
- Goedverwag
- Graafwater
- Groot Matjiesfontein
- Grootfontein
- Grottobaai
- Het Kruis
- Heuningvlei
- Hex rivier
- Hooikraal
- Hopefield
- Jacobs Bay
- Jacobsbaai
- Jakkalsvlei
- Kalbaskraal
- Karoetjieskop
- Klawer
- Kleinvlei
- Klipfontein
- Kliphuis
- Kliprand
- Koekenaap
- Koelfontein
- Koringberg
- Laaiplek
- Laingville
- Lamberts Bay
- Langebaan
- Langebaanweg
- Langkloof
- Le Souvenir
- Leipoldtville
- Louwville
- Lutzville
- Maasrust
- Malmesbury
- Milnavair
- Molsvlei
- Monte Bertha
- Moorreesburg
- Morelig
- Mount Royal
- Muishondfontein
- Myburgh Park
- Môreson
- Noordbaai
- Noordhoek
- Nuwedorp
- Nuwehoop
- Nuwerus
- Ongegund
- Oudekraalfontein
- Oupos
- Paleisheuwel
- Papendorp
- Parker's Town
- Paternoster
- Piketberg
- Port Owen
- Porterville
- Redelinghuys
- Reneen
- Riebeek West
- Riebeek-Kasteel
- Riebeek-Wes
- Rietfontein
- Rietpoort
- Riverlands
- Rooibaai
- Rosenhof
- Rusfontein
- Rustig
- Saint Helena Bay
- Saldanha
- Sandberg
- Sandy Point
- Sauer
- Seeberg
- Shelley Point
- Skilpaddorp
- South Africa
- Steynsburg
- Stofbergsfontein
- Stofkraal
- Stompneus Bay
- Stompneusbaai
- Strandfontein
- Swartwater
- Tahiti
- Theerivier
- Tierfontein
- Tierkloof
- Uitkyk
- Uitvlugt
- Vanrhynsdorp
- Velddrif
- Verlorevlei
- Vetkoekheuwel
- Vlaminkvlei
- Vredenburg
- Vredendal
- Weltevrede
- Wesbank
- West Point
- White City
- Witblok
- Witteklip
- Witwater
- Wuppertal
- Wupperthal
- Yzerfontein
- Zonquasdrift

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of West Coast District

Named natural and historic features inside West Coast District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

80 rivers and streams; 4 lakes; 3 reservoirs and tanks; 1 dam.

- Agtersterivier
- Assegaaibosrivier
- Baviaanskloof
- Berg
- Bergvalleirivier
- Biedourivier
- Boesmansrivier
- Boontjiesrivier
- Boskloofsrivier
- Brakrivier
- Brandkraalsrivier
- Breekkransrivier
- Bulshoek Barrage
- Bulshoekdam
- Clanwilliam Dam
- Dassieboskloofrivier
- Die Vlei
- Doringrivier
- Doringrivier
- Doringrivier
- Driehoekrivier
- Droërivier
- Dwars Rivier
- Dwarsrivier

…and 64 more.

### Coast and islands

26 headlands; 7 islands; 2 bays; 1 beach; 1 lagoon.

- Bakoond
- Baviaanspunt
- Bokpunt
- Boompunt
- Britannia Point
- Bruinpunt
- Cliff Point
- Curlew Strand
- Dasseneiland
- Deurspring
- Die Blaasbalk
- Donkergat Bay
- Elandspunt
- Ichabo Point
- Jut Point
- Jutteneiland
- Kanonpunt
- Kleineiland
- Langebaan Point
- Malgas Island
- Malkopbaaipunt
- Meeu Island
- North Head
- Salamanderpunt

…and 13 more.

### Hills and mountains

367 hills; 203 mountains; 21 mountain passes; 7 valleys; 5 peaks.

- Sneeuberg · 1,964 m
- Tafelberg · 1,939 m
- Sneeukop · 1,924 m
- Shadow Peak · 1,865 m
- South Peak · 1,831 m
- Langberg · 1,818 m
- Corridor Peak · 1,809 m
- Heksberg · 1,780 m
- Laurie’s Hell · 1,752 m
- Drie Koppe · 1,749 m
- Donkerkloofkop · 1,733 m
- Krakadoupiek · 1,729 m
- Drostersberg · 1,700 m
- The Pup · 1,693 m
- Krakadouberge · 1,677 m
- Appollo Peak · 1,674 m
- Groen · 1,654 m
- Skerpioensberg · 1,620 m
- Klein-Krakadoupiek · 1,603 m
- Aguurkop · 1,588 m
- Suurvlak se Kop · 1,587 m
- Middelberg-Suid · 1,586 m
- Middelberg · 1,559 m
- Middel-Krakadoupiek · 1,536 m

…and 579 more.

### Forests and nature

7 nature reserves; 1 forest; 1 forest reserve; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Beaverlac
- Ceder Berg Forest Reserve
- Doorspring Private Nature Reserve
- Great Winterhoek Wilderness Area
- Postberg Nature Reserve
- Riebfor Forest Reserve
- Soopjeshoogte Private Nature Reserve
- Tienie Versveld
- Waterval Private
- Zeven Puts Private Nature Reserve

### History

3 ruins.

- Heerenlogements
- Hopefield Fossil Site
- Soverby

### Getting around

16 railway stations; 14 airfields; 3 airports; 1 port; 1 lighthouse.

- AFB Langebaanweg
- Bergrivier
- Clanwilliam
- Danger Bay
- Dassen Island Lighthouse
- De Hoek
- Doringbaai
- Eendekuil
- Graafwater
- Het Kruis
- Januarieskraal
- Kalbaskraal
- Kiekoesvlei
- Lambertsbaai
- Langebaanweg
- Malmesbury
- Mamreweg
- Monasite
- Moravia
- Paleisheuwel
- Papendorp
- Piketberg
- Piketberg
- Porterville

…and 11 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 West Coast District and the best time to visit

In West Coast District, the warmest month is Feb (average 24 °C) and the coolest is Jul (12 °C). About 332 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (71 mm) and the driest Feb (6 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 24 6 

Feb 24 6 

Mar 22 8 

Apr 19 23 

May 16 40 

Jun 12 71 

Jul 12 64 

Aug 12 53 

Sep 15 23 

Oct 18 15 

Nov 21 13 

Dec 23 9 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in West Coast District

Places mapped inside West Coast District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals21
- Banks82
- ATMs45
- Petrol pumps90
- Hotels312
- Shopping malls26
- Schools467
- Colleges and universities11
- Pharmacies40
- Restaurants387
- Police stations18
- Dental clinics11

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 West Coast District?In Western Cape Province, South Africa
- What is the population of West Coast District?497,485 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in West Coast District?About 31 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of West Coast District?About 16 people per km²
- What borders West Coast District?Cape Winelands District, City of Cape Town District and Namakwa District
- What is there to see in West Coast District?!Khwa ttu Nature Reserve, "Shower head", 5km mark, Aan de Klipheuvel Nature Reserve
- What time zone is West Coast District in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in West Coast District?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in West Coast District?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in West Coast District?145 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of West Coast District?Settlements lie between 5 m and 994 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in West Coast District?3 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in West Coast District?Sneeuberg (1,964 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit West Coast District?January to December
- How many hospitals are in West Coast District?21 mapped
- How many banks are in West Coast District?82 mapped
- How many ATMs are in West Coast District?45 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in West Coast District?90 mapped
- What is the P-code of West Coast District?ZA101 (OCHA common operational dataset)