A demographic profile of the Cape metropolitan area, 1996 and 2021

Abstract

With a total population of 2.56 million in 1996, the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA) is the third largest metropole in South Africa. It is the second largest contributor to the country’s GDP, accounts for 8.0% of employment, and is a popular migration destination, especially from the Eastern Cape. The population of the CMA is demographically young, with more females than males, and it is dominated by the coloured population group. Each of the six local authority areas has its own unique demographic profile. By 2021, between 0.76 million and 1.56 million additional people could be residing in the CMA, with Tygerberg and Central Cape Town expected to experience the highest population growth rates.