George

Quick Fact

According to Census 2011, the local municipality has a total population estimated at 193 672.

Quick Fact Image 2,59% Growth Rate

George Local Municipality forms part of the Eden District Municipality and is situated in the middle of Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay and Hessequa Local Municipalities. The municipality is classified as a category B municipality, and is inter alia responsible for basic service delivery. George is located along the N2 highway. Its strategic location along the N2 highway to Cape Town and the Eastern Cape facilitates mobility of people, goods and services (http://www.george.org.za).

Rank By:
48 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Matatiele , Eastern Cape 203,843 45
Merafong City , Gauteng 197,520 46
Nongoma , KwaZulu-Natal 194,908 47
George , Western Cape 193,672 48
Umzimvubu , Eastern Cape 191,620 49
Lukhanji , Eastern Cape 190,723 50
Ulundi , KwaZulu-Natal 188,317 51
Quick Fact

Afrikaans is the dominant language in the district at 65,7%, followed by isiXhosa (21,2%) and English (7,9%).

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According to Census 2011, the local municipality has a total population estimated at 193 672. Of the population, 50,4% are coloured, 28,2% are black African, 19,7% are white, with other population groups making up the remaining 1,7%.

Of those 20 years and older, 6,0% have completed primary school, 35,4% have some secondary education, 29,3% have completed matric, and 11,7% have some form of higher education. Of the mentioned age group, 3,9% have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African28,2%
Coloured50,4%
Indian/Asian0,5%
White19,7%
Other1,2%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,8% 4,7%
5-9 4,3% 4,2%
10-14 4,2% 4,1%
15-19 4,3% 4,4%
20-24 4,4% 4,4%
25-29 4,6% 4,4%
30-34 3,8% 3,7%
35-39 3,6% 3,8%
40-44 3,4% 3,7%
45-49 3% 3%
50-54 2,5% 2,7%
55-59 1,9% 2,2%
60-64 1,6% 1,8%
65-69 1,1% 1,2%
70-74 0,8% 1%
75-79 0,5% 0,6%
80-84 0,3% 0,4%
85+ 0,2% 0,3%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 65,7%
English 7,9%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 21,2%
IsiZulu 0,3%
Sepedi 0,1%
Sesotho 0,5%
Setswana 0,4%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 0.9%
Not Applicable 2,3%
Group Percentage
Married 29,4%
Living together like married partners 9,1%
Never married 55,4%
Widower/Widow 3,7%
Separated 0,6%
Divorced 1,8%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3,1%
Some Primary 42%
Completed Primary 6,7%
Some Secondary 31,7%
Completed Secondary 13,1%
Higher Education 1,6%
Not Applicable 1,9%
Sex Percentage
Female 50,8%
Male 49,2%
Quick Fact

91% of households have access to electricity for lighting

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There are 53 551 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,4 persons per household. Of the households, 70,3% have access to piped water inside the dwelling/institution and 20,6% have water in their yard. Only 2,4% of households do not have access to piped water.

Area Percentage
Urban 88,7%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 11,3%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 84,6% 15,4%
Computer 30,3% 69,7%
Television 82,6% 17,4%
Satellite Television 28,6% 71,4%
Radio 71,7% 28,3%
Landline / Telephone 24,9% 75,1%
Motor Car 42,9% 57,1%
Refrigerator 75,9% 24,1%
Electric / Gas-Stove 87,3% 12,7%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 83,8% 56,9% 91%
Gas 7% 3,6% 0,2%
Paraffin 5,1% 10,4% 3,8%
Solar 0,1% 0,3% 0,4%
Candles 0% 0% 4,1%
Wood 3,4% 9,4% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,1% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,1% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 19,2% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 14,4%
From Cellphone 14,2%
From Work 4,8%
From Elsewhere 3,6%
No Access 63,1%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 27,7%
Owned and fully paid off 38,8%
Owned but not yet paid off 10,2%
Occupied rent free 19,9%
Other 3,4%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 88,9%
Borehole 2%
Spring 0,8%
Rain water tank 2,8%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 2,4%
River/Stream 0,7%
Water vendor 0,2%
Water tanker 1%
Other 1,2%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 4,8%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 82%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 6%
Chemical toilet 0,6%
Pit toilet with ventilation 1,8%
Pit toilet without ventilation 1,6%
Bucket toilet 2%
Other 1,1%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 88,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 1,1%
Own refuse dump 5,9%
No rubbish disposal 2,6%
Other 1,6%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 88,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 1,1%
Own refuse dump 5,9%
No rubbish disposal 2,6%
Other 1,6%
Quick Fact

20,7% unemployment rate

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Of the 79 544 economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work) people in the municipality, 20,7% are unemployed.

27,6% of the 37 947 economically active youth (15 – 34 years) in the municipality are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 63110
Unemployed 16434
Discouraged Work Seeker 5140
Not Economically Active 45664
Income Percentage
None income 12,1%
R1 - R4,800 2,6%
R4,801 - R9,600 4,4%
R9,601 - R19,600 13,2%
R19,601 - R38,200 19,4%
R38,201 - R76,4000 17,3%
R76,401 - R153,800 12,7%
R153,801 - R307,600 9,8%
R307,601 - R614,400 6%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 1,7%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,5%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 1,275
Poultry production 1,482
Vegetable production 2,025
Production of other crops 733
Other 988

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 1,615
Animals only 1,399
Mixed farming 789
Other 271

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 754
R1-R4 800 97
R4 801-R38 400 1,923
R38 401-R307 200 998
R307 201+ 165
Unspecified 137

Place names

Places in George Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population193,672
Young (0-14)26,3%
Working Age (15-64)67,3%
Elderly (65+)6,4%
Dependency ratio48,6
Sex ratio96,9
Growth rate2,59% (2001-2011)
Population density37 persons/km2
Unemployment rate20,7%
Youth unemployment rate27,6%
No schooling aged 20+3,9%
Higher education aged 20+11,6%
Matric aged 20+29,1%
Number of households53,551
Number of Agricultural households4,074
Average household size3,4
Female headed households33,2%
Formal dwellings83,9%
Housing owned/paying off49%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage82%
Weekly refuse removal88,1%
Piped water inside dwelling70,3%
Electricity for lighting91%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population149,436
Young (0-14)28,9%
Working Age (15-64)67,3%
Elderly (65+)5,3%
Dependency ratio51,9%
Sex ratio95,9
Growth rate4,36% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate27,8%
Youth unemployment rate34,5%
No schooling aged 20+8,4%
Higher education aged 20+9,7%
Matric aged 20+23,9%
Number of households38,867
Average household size3,7
Female headed households31,1%
Formal dwellings80,9%
Housing owned/paying off50,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage75,9%
Weekly refuse removal82,2%
Piped water inside dwelling58,5%
Electricity for lighting86,7%