# Swartland Municipality, West Coast District – Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/swartland/ Local municipality · West Coast District # Swartland Swartland is a local municipality of South Africa in West Coast District, Western Cape Province. It had an estimated **160,594 people** in 2020 on 3,707 km² (about 43 per km²). 31 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 375 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 160,594people (2020) - 3,707km² - 375mapped services - 116 mtypical elevation ## How many people live in Swartland? Swartland had an estimated **160,594 people** in 2020 — 32.3% of West Coast District, 67th of 190 local municipalities. There are 976 women for every 1,000 men (close to the West Coast District figure of 976). Spread over 3,707 km², that is about **43 people per km²**, 90th of 190 local municipalities. 24.1% of people are children under 15 and 6.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 31 across West Coast District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 45 children and older people. 0–4 ****12,564** 5–9 ****13,112** 10–14 ****13,053** 15–19 ****11,600** 20–24 ****12,483** 25–29 ****14,113** 30–34 ****14,350** 35–39 ****14,083** 40–44 ****13,145** 45–49 ****10,028** 50–54 ****8,061** 55–59 ****6,760** 60–64 ****6,268** 65–69 ****4,616** 70–74 ****2,949** 75–79 ****2,122** 80+ ****1,287** 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 Swartland? Swartland lies in [West Coast District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/), [Western Cape Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 4 other local municipalities: [Bergrivier](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/bergrivier/), [City of Cape Town](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/city-of-cape-town/city-of-cape-town/), [Drakenstein](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/cape-winelands/drakenstein/) and [Saldanha Bay](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/saldanha-bay/). By area it is the 106th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 11.9% of [West Coast District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/western-cape/west-coast/). The centre of Swartland is about 1,250 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 17 km from Moorreesburg, the main town of West Coast District. The centre point is at 33.2936° S, 18.5994° E. Local names: WC015 . 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 Swartland OpenStreetMap lists 29 named sights in Swartland: 20 nature reserves; 6 museums; 2 attractions; 1 monument. - Darling Museum · museum - Encouters · museum - First People · museum - Malmesbury Museum · museum - Smuts Birthplace · museum - Way of the San · museum - !Khwa ttu Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Bokbaai Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Darling Renosterveld Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Darling Wildflower Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Dassen Island Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Grotto Bay Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Han's Gift Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Kalbaskraal Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Kasteelberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Paardenberg Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Pella Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Radyn Dam Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Riverlands Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Sonquas Fontein Wildlife Private Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Tinie Versveld Wildflower Reserve · nature reserve - Waylands Wildflower Reserve · nature reserve - Yzerfontein Local Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Stone Labyrinth · attraction - Sunk Tractor · attraction - Voortrekker Memorial · monument 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: Swartland - 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 Town76 km ### Nearest railway station Rust (Swartland), about 4.9 km from the centre. ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 05:30) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 07:46, sunset around 17:44). 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. ## Villages and localities in Swartland Open gazetteers list **31 villages, towns and localities** in Swartland. The largest with a recorded population: Malmesbury (43,009), Moorreesburg (15,428), Darling (12,484), Riebeek-Kasteel (5,704), Riebeek West (5,211) and Chatsworth (4,854). Settlements here lie between about 23 m and 258 m above sea level (median 116 m). - Abbotsdale - Abbotsdale West - Bothasig - Chatsworth - Darling - Doornkloof - Esterhof - Grottobaai - Hooikraal - Jakkalsvlei - Kalbaskraal - Koringberg - Malmesbury - Moorreesburg - Morelig - Mount Royal - Nuwedorp - Oupos - Riebeek West - Riebeek-Kasteel - Riebeek-Wes - Rietfontein - Riverlands - Rosenhof - Steynsburg - Swartwater - Tierfontein - Vetkoekheuwel - Wesbank - 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 Swartland Named natural and historic features inside Swartland, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 7 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank. - Brakrivier - Doringrivier - Groen - Klein Berg - Moolmaaks - Moorreesburg - Newlands Reservoir - Sandspruit ### Coast and islands 5 headlands; 1 island. - Bokpunt - Boompunt - Dasseneiland - Die Blaasbalk - Ichabo Point - Skaapeiland ### Hills and mountains 21 hills; 19 mountains; 1 mountain pass. - Kasteelberg · 773 m - Graskop · 697 m - Perdeberg · 679 m - Sonkop · 607 m - Dassenberg · 559 m - Swartberg · 476 m - Contreberg · 470 m - Kapokberg · 455 m - Kanonkop · 447 m - Wolfkop · 429 m - Koringberg · 414 m - Goudmyn se Berg · 342 m - Bokkop · 339 m - Neulfontein se Berg · 331 m - Bakenkop · 311 m - Kanonberg · 304 m - Bonteberg · 302 m - Bothmeskloofpas · 297 m - Kanonkop · 285 m - Swartberg · 284 m - Staart van Paardeberg · 264 m - Tontelberg · 258 m - Klipberg · 256 m - Moedmaag · 255 m …and 17 more. ### Forests and nature 1 forest reserve; 1 nature reserve. - Riebfor Forest Reserve - Tienie Versveld ### Getting around 5 railway stations; 3 airfields; 1 lighthouse. - Dassen Island Lighthouse - Januarieskraal - Kalbaskraal - Kiekoesvlei - Malmesbury - Mamreweg - Riebeek-Kasteel - Riebeek-Wes - Somersveld 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 Swartland and the best time to visit Using the climate of 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/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Swartland Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Malmesbury Animal Hospital Group - Moorreesburg · Swartland 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.15794&mlon=18.67147#map=17/-33.15794/18.67147) Bank ABSA · Swartland 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.15558&mlon=18.66274#map=17/-33.15558/18.66274) ATM Moorreesburg 2 · Swartland 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.15539&mlon=18.66334#map=17/-33.15539/18.66334) Petrol pump Astron Energy Malmesbury N7 North · Swartland 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.35276&mlon=18.70049#map=17/-33.35276/18.70049) Hotel Lelieblom Farm Cottage · Swartland 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.26550&mlon=18.47791#map=17/-33.26550/18.47791) Mall De Zwartland Mark't · Swartland 20 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.44082&mlon=18.72063#map=17/-33.44082/18.72063) School Acvv Kleuterland · Swartland 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.16133&mlon=18.66165#map=17/-33.16133/18.66165) College Langgewens Research Farm · Swartland 10.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.27716&mlon=18.70474#map=17/-33.27716/18.70474) Police station SAPS Moorreesburg Police Station · Swartland 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-33.15375&mlon=18.66451#map=17/-33.15375/18.66451) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Swartland Places mapped inside Swartland in open map data, by type. - Hospitals3 - Banks20 - ATMs15 - Petrol pumps24 - Hotels67 - Shopping malls10 - Schools102 - Colleges and universities2 - Pharmacies7 - Restaurants116 - Police stations6 - Dental clinics3 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. ## Other local municipalities in West Coast District - Bergrivier - Cederberg - Matzikama - Saldanha Bay ## Quick answers - Where is Swartland?In West Coast District, Western Cape Province, South Africa - What is the population of Swartland?160,594 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Swartland?About 31 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Swartland?About 43 people per km² - What borders Swartland?Bergrivier, City of Cape Town, Drakenstein and Saldanha Bay - What is there to see in Swartland?!Khwa ttu Nature Reserve, Bokbaai Nature Reserve, Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve, Buffelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve - What time zone is Swartland in?UTC+2 - What currency is used in Swartland?Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Swartland?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Swartland?31 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Swartland?Settlements lie between 23 m and 258 m - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Swartland?1 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Swartland?Kasteelberg (773 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Swartland?January to December - Where is the nearest hospital to Swartland?Malmesbury Animal Hospital Group - Moorreesburg, about 17 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Swartland?ABSA, about 16 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Swartland?Moorreesburg 2, about 16 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Swartland?Astron Energy Malmesbury N7 North, about 11 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Swartland?3 mapped - How many banks are in Swartland?20 mapped - How many ATMs are in Swartland?15 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Swartland?24 mapped - What is the P-code of Swartland?ZA1015 (OCHA common operational dataset)