MunicipalitiesSA

The nine provinces

South Africa divides into nine provinces, and local government within them into three categories. Metropolitan municipalities govern the largest urban centres alone. Elsewhere, a district municipality coordinates a group of local municipalities that share responsibility for services.

Municipalities by province

Census 2022 and the Municipal Demarcation Board

Province Municipalities Population Area km2 People per km2
Eastern Cape 39 7 230 204 333 216 21.7
Free State 23 2 964 411 249 766 11.9
Gauteng 11 15 099 421 26 443 571.0
KwaZulu-Natal 54 12 423 908 186 170 66.7
Limpopo 27 6 572 665 251 512 26.1
Mpumalanga 20 5 143 042 152 986 33.6
North West 22 3 804 262 209 764 18.1
Northern Cape 31 1 355 948 745 774 1.8
Western Cape 30 7 433 022 256 485 29.0
South Africa 257 62 026 883 2 412 116