Nelson Mandela Bay

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Population of 1,152,115 – Census 2011

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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is located on the south- eastern coast of Africa in the Eastern Cape.  It is one of eight category A municipalities in South Africa.  In 2001, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality was formed as an administrative area covering Port Elizabeth, the neighbouring towns of Uitenhage and Despatch, and the surrounding agricultural areas.  Nelson Mandela Bay is a major seaport and automotive manufacturing centre.

The Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) is situated within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.  The initiative is a multibillion-dollar industrial development complex customized for heavy, medium and light industries.  It is adjacent to a deepwater port, the Port of Ngqura, and covers 110 km² of land.  The city’s unique advantage of possessing two ports, namely Port Elizabeth Harbour and Ngqura, creates an opportunity for the city to establish a strong and vibrant maritime sector.

Rank By:
6 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Ethekwini , KwaZulu-Natal 3,442,361 3
Ekurhuleni , Gauteng 3,178,470 4
City of Tshwane , Gauteng 2,921,488 5
Nelson Mandela Bay , Eastern Cape 1,152,115 6
Buffalo City , Eastern Cape 755,200 7
Mangaung , Free State 747,431 8
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12% Higher education aged 20+.

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The population of the NMBM is 1 152 115 and it covers an area of 1 950 km². Census 2011 also tells us that there are 324 292 households. The official estimate of the population in 2001 was 1 005 779 people and 260 799 households.

According to Census 2011, 60,1% of respondents described themselves as black African, 23,6% coloured, 14,4% white and 1,1% Indian/Asian. Of the population, 552 994 (48%) are male and 599 121 (52%) are female.

Young people (0–14 years) constitute 25,5% of the population, youth (15–35 years) 37,1%, adults (36–64 years) 31,4% and the elderly (65+ years) 6%.

IsiXhosa is spoken by 53,2% of the residents as their mother tongue. Afrikaans is the mother tongue of 28,9%, and English 13,3%.

 

Group Percentage
Black African60,1%
Coloured23,6%
Indian/Asian1,1%
White14,4%
Other0,8%
Age Males Females
0-4 4,9% 4,7%
5-9 4,3% 4,2%
10-14 3,8% 3,7%
15-19 4,3% 4,4%
20-24 4,9% 5,1%
25-29 4,6% 4,7%
30-34 3,7% 3,9%
35-39 3,4% 3,7%
40-44 3,1% 3,5%
45-49 2,8% 2,8%
50-54 2,4% 3%
55-59 2% 2,4%
60-64 1,5% 1,8%
65-69 0,9% 1,3%
70-74 0,6% 1%
75-79 0,4% 0,7%
80-84 0,2% 0,4%
85+ 0,1% 0,3%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 28,9%
English 13,3%
IsiNdebele 0,3%
IsiXhosa 53,2%
IsiZulu 0,4%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,4%
Setswana 0,3%
Sign Language 0,4%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0,1%
Other 1%
Not Applicable 1,3%
Group Percentage
Married 26,1%
Living together like married partners 5%
Never married 62,3%
Widower/Widow 4%
Separated 0,6%
Divorced 1,9%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,7%
Some Primary 39,3%
Completed Primary 5,6%
Some Secondary 33%
Completed Secondary 15%
Higher Education 2,7%
Not Applicable 1,6%
Sex Percentage
Female 52%
Male 48%
Quick Fact

90,5% Use electricity for lighting

Quick Fact Image 90,5% Electricity

The average household income p.a. increased from R53 904 in 2001 to R105 602 in 2011.

Census 2011 shows that 90,5,% of households are using electricity as the main source of energy for lighting, 85,9% for heating and 54,5% for cooking.  Of the households, 90% have access to piped water inside their dwellings.

Nelson Mandela Bay Metro consistently has the highest percentage of households with access to flush/ chemical toilets (89,4%) and lowest percentage with no access to a toilet (1,9%), compared to other district municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

Area Percentage
Urban 97,7%
Tribal/Traditional 0%
Farm 2,3%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 85,5% 14,5%
Computer 26,3% 73,7%
Television 83,9% 16,1%
Satellite Television 29,3% 70,7%
Radio 67,9% 32,1%
Landline / Telephone 23,5% 76,5%
Motor Car 35,6% 64,4%
Refrigerator 78,2% 21,8%
Electric / Gas-Stove 85,1% 14,9%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 85,9% 54,5% 90,5%
Gas 3,3% 2,1% 0,2%
Paraffin 9,6% 21,1% 7,6%
Solar 0,2% 0,3% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 1,2%
Wood 0,6% 1,8% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,2% 0%
Animal Dung 0% 0,1% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,2% 20% 0,2%
Access Percentage
From Home 11%
From Cellphone 14%
From Work 4,8%
From Elsewhere 5%
No Access 65,2%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 19,3%
Owned and fully paid off 47,2%
Owned but not yet paid off 14,2%
Occupied rent free 15,8%
Other 3,5%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 96,6%
Borehole 0,6%
Spring 0,1%
Rain water tank 0,3%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 0,3%
River/Stream 0,1%
Water vendor 0,3%
Water tanker 0,6%
Other 1,2%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 1,9%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 87,4%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 2%
Chemical toilet 0,1%
Pit toilet with ventilation 0,4%
Pit toilet without ventilation 1,2%
Bucket toilet 6,3%
Other 0,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 82,9%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 8,6%
Communal refuse dump 2,3%
Own refuse dump 3,3%
No rubbish disposal 2,2%
Other 0,8%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 82,9%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 8,6%
Communal refuse dump 2,3%
Own refuse dump 3,3%
No rubbish disposal 2,2%
Other 0,8%
Quick Fact

36,6% Unemployment rate.

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The unemployment rate in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was 36,6% in 2011, compared to 46,4% and 36,3% in 2001 and 1996 respectively.

According to ECSECC (Eastern Cape Socio Economic Consultative Council), the GDP growth rate for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was 2,1% in 2010 and the GDP per capita R52 147.  The largest economic sectors in the Nelson Mandela Metro are manufacturing, finance, community services and transport.  Community services, trade and manufacturing sectors are the sectors that create the most employment in the metro.

Employment Status Number
Employed 290155
Unemployed 167229
Discouraged Work Seeker 41859
Not Economically Active 289969
Income Percentage
None income 15,8%
R1 - R4,800 4,4%
R4,801 - R9,600 6,1%
R9,601 - R19,600 15,9%
R19,601 - R38,200 17,2%
R38,201 - R76,4000 12,9%
R76,401 - R153,800 10,7%
R153,801 - R307,600 9%
R307,601 - R614,400 5,6%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 1,6%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,4%
R2,457,601+ 0,3%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 3,320
Poultry production 3,575
Vegetable production 7,659
Production of other crops 2,342
Other 6,427

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

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 6,587
Animals only 2,877
Mixed farming 2,157
Other 2,543

**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 3,826
R1-R4 800 394
R4 801-R38 400 5,723
R38 401-R307 200 3,091
R307 201+ 665
Unspecified 465

Place names

Places in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population1,152,115
Young (0-14)25,5%
Working Age (15-64)68,5%
Elderly (65+)6%
Dependency ratio46
Sex ratio92,3
Growth rate1,36% (2001-2011)
Population density588 persons/km2
Unemployment rate36,6%
Youth unemployment rate47,3%
No schooling aged 20+3%
Higher education aged 20+12%
Matric aged 20+30,5%
Number of households324,292
Number of Agricultural households14,165
Average household size3,4
Female headed households40,6%
Formal dwellings87,2%
Housing owned/paying off61,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage87,4%
Weekly refuse removal82,9%
Piped water inside dwelling74,1%
Electricity for lighting90,5%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population1,005,779
Young (0-14)26,2%
Working Age (15-64)68,5%
Elderly (65+)5,3%
Dependency ratio45,9%
Sex ratio91,2
Growth rate0,73% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate46,4%
Youth unemployment rate56,3%
No schooling aged 20+6,8%
Higher education aged 20+8,9%
Matric aged 20+24,8%
Number of households260,799
Average household size3,7
Female headed households38,6%
Formal dwellings75,2%
Housing owned/paying off59,4%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage77,6%
Weekly refuse removal86,1%
Piped water inside dwelling47%
Electricity for lighting75,2%