Mossel Bay

Quick Fact

According Census 2011, Mossel Bay Local Municipality has a total population of 89 430.

Quick Fact Image 2,24% Growth Rate

Mossel Bay was officially proclaimed a town in 1848 and in 1852 it became a municipality. As a result of the new municipal dispensation introduced by the South African government, during December 2000 the municipality of Mossel Bay was merged with those of the much smaller Friemersheim, Great Brak River and Herbertsdale to establish the present-day municipality of Mossel Bay.

The municipal area is 2007 km2 in size and includes the towns and / or settlements of Mossel Bay, Boggoms Bay, Brandwag, Buisplaas, D’Almeida, Dana Bay, Glentana, Fraaiuitsig, Friemersheim, Great Brak River, Hartenbos, Herbertsdale, Hersham, KwaNonqaba, Little Brak River, Outeniqua Beach, Reebok, Ruiterbos, Southern Cross, Tergniet and Vleesbaai.

Source: (www.mosselbay.gov.za)

Rank By:
128 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
uMngeni , KwaZulu-Natal 92,710 125
Mutale , Limpopo 91,870 126
Joe Morolong , Northern Cape 89,530 127
Mossel Bay , Western Cape 89,430 128
Thabazimbi , Limpopo 85,234 129
Pixley Ka Seme , Mpumalanga 83,235 130
Umtshezi , KwaZulu-Natal 83,153 131
Quick Fact

13,5% Higher education – aged 20+

Quick Fact Image

According Census 2011, Mossel Bay Local Municipality has a total population of 89 430, of which 43,5% are coloured people, 25,5% white people, with the other population groups making up the rest.

Of those aged 20 years and older, 5,6% have completed primary school, 33,8% have some secondary education, 31,9% have completed matric, 13,5% have some form of higher education and 2,9% of those aged 20 years and older have no form of schooling.

Group Percentage
Black African29,5%
Coloured43,5%
Indian/Asian0,5%
White25,5%
Other1,1%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,4% 4,1%
5-9 3,8% 3,7%
10-14 3,6% 3,6%
15-19 3,6% 3,8%
20-24 4% 4,2%
25-29 4,5% 4,5%
30-34 3,8% 3,7%
35-39 3,5% 3,6%
40-44 3,4% 3,5%
45-49 2,9% 2,9%
50-54 2,6% 2,8%
55-59 2,2% 2,6%
60-64 2% 2,4%
65-69 1,7% 2%
70-74 1,3% 1,5%
75-79 0,8% 0,9%
80-84 0,4% 0,6%
85+ 0,3% 0,5%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 66,4%
English 6,4%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 21,1%
IsiZulu 0,5%
Sepedi 0,1%
Sesotho 1,3%
Setswana 0,6%
Sign Language 0,3%
SiSwati 0,1%
Tshivenda 0,2%
Xitsonga 0,3%
Other 0.7%
Not Applicable 1,8%
Group Percentage
Married 35,4%
Living together like married partners 8,2%
Never married 49,7%
Widower/Widow 4,3%
Separated 0,5%
Divorced 1,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 3%
Some Primary 41,3%
Completed Primary 6,8%
Some Secondary 31,7%
Completed Secondary 14,3%
Higher Education 1,8%
Not Applicable 1,2%
Sex Percentage
Female 51,1%
Male 48,9%
Quick Fact

93.8% Access to electricity for lighting.

Quick Fact Image 93,8% Electricity

There are 28 025 households in the municipality, with an average household size of 3,0 persons per household. 33,9% of households are headed by females and 93,8% of households have access to electricity. 77,9% of households have access to piped water inside dwelling.

Area Percentage
Urban 94,6%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 5,4%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 89,1% 10,9%
Computer 32,6% 67,4%
Television 86,6% 13,4%
Satellite Television 41,7% 58,3%
Radio 76,4% 23,6%
Landline / Telephone 31,7% 68,3%
Motor Car 48,8% 51,2%
Refrigerator 83,1% 16,9%
Electric / Gas-Stove 90,2% 9,8%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 85,9% 56,2% 93,8%
Gas 7,6% 4,2% 0,3%
Paraffin 4,7% 8,8% 1,9%
Solar 0,2% 0,6% 0,3%
Candles 0% 0% 3,4%
Wood 1,1% 2,7% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,1% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,2% 27,3% 0,3%
Access Percentage
From Home 17%
From Cellphone 11,6%
From Work 3,9%
From Elsewhere 3,1%
No Access 64,3%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 23,5%
Owned and fully paid off 50,2%
Owned but not yet paid off 10,5%
Occupied rent free 10%
Other 5,9%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 93%
Borehole 1%
Spring 0,3%
Rain water tank 1,2%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 1%
River/Stream 0,9%
Water vendor 0,2%
Water tanker 1,2%
Other 1,2%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 3,5%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 83,1%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 7,9%
Chemical toilet 0,2%
Pit toilet with ventilation 0,9%
Pit toilet without ventilation 1,1%
Bucket toilet 1,6%
Other 1,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 92,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,5%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 3,2%
No rubbish disposal 2,3%
Other 0,6%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 92,6%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 0,5%
Communal refuse dump 0,8%
Own refuse dump 3,2%
No rubbish disposal 2,3%
Other 0,6%
Quick Fact

22,9% Unemployment rate.

Quick Fact Image 22,9% Unemployment

There are 34 901 economically active (employed or unemployed but looking for work) people, and of these 22,9% are unemployed.

Of the 16 549 economically active youth (15–35 years) in the area, 29,9% are unemployed.

Employment Status Number
Employed 26909
Unemployed 7992
Discouraged Work Seeker 2017
Not Economically Active 22809
Income Percentage
None income 17,4%
R1 - R4,800 2,8%
R4,801 - R9,600 4,1%
R9,601 - R19,600 12,5%
R19,601 - R38,200 16%
R38,201 - R76,4000 15,4%
R76,401 - R153,800 13,2%
R153,801 - R307,600 10,5%
R307,601 - R614,400 5,5%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 1,7%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,5%
R2,457,601+ 0,4%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 854
Poultry production 834
Vegetable production 869
Production of other crops 434
Other 1,110

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 472
Animals only 629
Mixed farming 536
Other 376

**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 358
R1-R4 800 42
R4 801-R38 400 781
R38 401-R307 200 594
R307 201+ 118
Unspecified 119

Place names

Places in Mossel Bay Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population89,430
Young (0-14)23,1%
Working Age (15-64)66,8%
Elderly (65+)10,1%
Dependency ratio49,7
Sex ratio95,8
Growth rate2,24% (2001-2011)
Population density44 persons/km2
Unemployment rate22,9%
Youth unemployment rate29,9%
No schooling aged 20+2,9%
Higher education aged 20+13,5%
Matric aged 20+31,9%
Number of households28,025
Number of Agricultural households2,013
Average household size3
Female headed households33,9%
Formal dwellings85,9%
Housing owned/paying off60,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage83,1%
Weekly refuse removal92,6%
Piped water inside dwelling77,9%
Electricity for lighting93,8%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population71,494
Young (0-14)25,6%
Working Age (15-64)66,8%
Elderly (65+)7,2%
Dependency ratio48,7%
Sex ratio98,6
Growth rate3,58% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate24,7%
Youth unemployment rate32,5%
No schooling aged 20+6,1%
Higher education aged 20+13,4%
Matric aged 20+25,2%
Number of households20,060
Average household size3,5
Female headed households29,3%
Formal dwellings85,5%
Housing owned/paying off61,5%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage79,4%
Weekly refuse removal90%
Piped water inside dwelling63,4%
Electricity for lighting90,8%