Mbhashe

Quick Fact

The Mbhashe municipality has the total population of 254,909 people.

Quick Fact Image -0,35% Growth Rate

The Mbhashe municipality is situated in the south eastern part of the Eastern Cape Province, and is bound by the Qhora River in the south to Mncwasa River in the north along the Indian Ocean. Mbhashe has earned the name from the fast-flowing river called Mbhashe which flows from the banks of eNgcobo. Mbhashe municipality comprises the three towns of Idutywa, Gatyana, Xhora and numerous rural settlements. Source:  (www.mbhashemun.gov.za).

Rank By:
30 ranking by population size
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Ingquza Hill , Eastern Cape 278,481 27
Makhuduthamaga , Limpopo 274,358 28
Hibiscus Coast , KwaZulu-Natal 256,135 29
Mbhashe , Eastern Cape 254,909 30
Mnquma , Eastern Cape 252,390 31
Drakenstein , Western Cape 251,262 32
Dr JS Moroka , Mpumalanga 249,705 33
Quick Fact

Just over 21,2% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

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According to Census 2011, Mbhashe Local Municipality has a total population of 254 909. Nearly all the people (99,4%) residing in the municipality are black African , 0,2% are White, with the other population groups making up the rest.Of those aged 20 years and older, 6,7% have completed primary school, 31,8% have some secondary education, 10,2% have completed matric and 5,1% have some form of higher education.

Group Percentage
Black African99,4%
Coloured0,1%
Indian/Asian0,1%
White0,2%
Other0,1%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,2% 6,1%
5-9 6,2% 6,1%
10-14 7% 6,4%
15-19 7,1% 6,8%
20-24 4% 4,4%
25-29 2,6% 3%
30-34 1,9% 2,5%
35-39 1,5% 2,5%
40-44 1,2% 2,4%
45-49 1,3% 1,3%
50-54 1,4% 2,5%
55-59 1,3% 2%
60-64 1,3% 1,9%
65-69 1% 1,4%
70-74 1% 1,5%
75-79 0,5% 1%
80-84 0,3% 0,7%
85+ 0,2% 0,5%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 0,5%
English 1,5%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 94,1%
IsiZulu 0,4%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,2%
Setswana 0,2%
Sign Language 0,7%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0%
Xitsonga 0%
Other 0.2%
Not Applicable 1,7%
Group Percentage
Married 20,4%
Living together like married partners 1,2%
Never married 71,3%
Widower/Widow 6,1%
Separated 0,7%
Divorced 0,3%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,9%
Some Primary 55%
Completed Primary 7,2%
Some Secondary 27,9%
Completed Secondary 4,4%
Higher Education 0,4%
Not Applicable 2,2%
Sex Percentage
Female 54%
Male 46%
Quick Fact

About half (49,7%) of households have access to electricity

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There are 34 159 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 4,1 persons per household. More than half (58,3%) of households are headed by females.About half (49,7%) of households have access to electricity. Only 3,5% of households have access to piped water inside their dwellings.

Area Percentage
Urban 6,3%
Tribal/Traditional 93,7%
Farm 0%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 76,8% 23,2%
Computer 2,5% 97,5%
Television 38,3% 61,7%
Satellite Television 4% 96%
Radio 51,2% 48,8%
Landline / Telephone 1,7% 98,3%
Motor Car 7,9% 92,1%
Refrigerator 26,9% 73,1%
Electric / Gas-Stove 44,1% 55,9%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 36,7% 15% 49,7%
Gas 3,2% 1,2% 0,4%
Paraffin 15,2% 23,5% 24,9%
Solar 0,1% 0,1% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 24,3%
Wood 40,5% 50,1% 0%
Coal 0,2% 1,1% 0%
Animal Dung 3,6% 1,8% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,2% 7,2% 0,5%
Access Percentage
From Home 0,9%
From Cellphone 11,6%
From Work 0,9%
From Elsewhere 1,9%
No Access 84,6%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 8,9%
Owned and fully paid off 68,8%
Owned but not yet paid off 4,8%
Occupied rent free 11,3%
Other 6,2%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 17,6%
Borehole 3,2%
Spring 2%
Rain water tank 16,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 2,9%
River/Stream 50,8%
Water vendor 1%
Water tanker 4,7%
Other 1,6%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 45,4%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 3,8%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 0,8%
Chemical toilet 3,2%
Pit toilet with ventilation 14,2%
Pit toilet without ventilation 19,8%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 12,4%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 3,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 1,9%
Own refuse dump 55%
No rubbish disposal 34,6%
Other 4,7%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 3,1%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,6%
Communal refuse dump 1,9%
Own refuse dump 55%
No rubbish disposal 34,6%
Other 4,7%
Quick Fact

50,7% youth are unemployed.

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30 840 people are economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work), and of these 42,3% are unemployed.Of the 16 348 economically active youth (aged 15–34 years) in the area.

Employment Status Number
Employed 17779
Unemployed 13061
Discouraged Work Seeker 12161
Not Economically Active 94412
Income Percentage
None income 14%
R1 - R4,800 6,8%
R4,801 - R9,600 12,4%
R9,601 - R19,600 27,7%
R19,601 - R38,200 24,2%
R38,201 - R76,4000 7,3%
R76,401 - R153,800 4%
R153,801 - R307,600 2,3%
R307,601 - R614,400 0,8%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,1%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,1%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 23,504
Poultry production 24,586
Vegetable production 15,627
Production of other crops 6,437
Other 2,175

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 3,468
Animals only 18,105
Mixed farming 14,609
Other 195

**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 11,414
R1-R4 800 1,760
R4 801-R38 400 21,012
R38 401-R307 200 1,504
R307 201+ 126
Unspecified 561

Place names

Places in Mbhashe Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population254,909
Young (0-14)38%
Working Age (15-64)53,9%
Elderly (65+)8,1%
Dependency ratio85,5
Sex ratio85,1
Growth rate-0,35% (2001-2011)
Population density80 persons/km2
Unemployment rate42,4%
Youth unemployment rate50,7%
No schooling aged 20+21,2%
Higher education aged 20+5,1%
Matric aged 20+10,2%
Number of households60,124
Number of Agricultural households36,377
Average household size4,1
Female headed households58,3%
Formal dwellings30,9%
Housing owned/paying off73,6%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage3,8%
Weekly refuse removal3,1%
Piped water inside dwelling3,5%
Electricity for lighting49,7%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population263,959
Young (0-14)44,1%
Working Age (15-64)53,9%
Elderly (65+)7,2%
Dependency ratio105,5%
Sex ratio80,4
Growth rate0,63% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate69,9%
Youth unemployment rate78,1%
No schooling aged 20+46%
Higher education aged 20+3,8%
Matric aged 20+6,4%
Number of households54,720
Average household size4,8
Female headed households60,5%
Formal dwellings18,7%
Housing owned/paying off55,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage3,6%
Weekly refuse removal3,3%
Piped water inside dwelling0,6%
Electricity for lighting15,3%