Highest Poverty in Eastern Cape

Top 86 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · South Africa · Eastern Cape

Highest Poverty — Eastern Cape

1 Bizana 31.2%

2 Bathurst 31.2%

3 Lady Grey 31.2%

4 Aberdeen 31.2%

5 Sterkstroom 31.2%

6 Steynsburg 31.2%

7 Maluti 31.2%

8 Phakamisa 31.2%

9 Cathcart 31.2%

10 Willowmore 31.2%

11 Indwe 31.2%

12 Addo 31.2%

13 Komga 31.2%

14 Ilitha 31.2%

15 Bontrug 31.2%

16 Kirkwood 31.2%

17 Bedford 31.2%

18 Cofimvaba 31.2%

19 Ngcobo 31.2%

20 Mount Frere 31.2%

21 Barkly East 31.2%

22 Alexandria 31.2%

23 Venterstad 31.2%

24 Pearston 31.2%

25 Libode 31.2%

26 Khaya Mnandi 31.2%

27 Peddie 31.2%

28 James Calata 31.2%

29 Louterwater 31.2%

30 Qumbu 31.2%

31 St Francis Bay 31.2%

32 Port Saint John’s 31.2%

33 Kareedouw 31.2%

34 Flagstaff 31.2%

35 Patensie 31.2%

36 Mount Ayliff 31.2%

37 Paterson 31.2%

38 Jansenville 31.2%

39 Cookhouse 31.2%

40 Tsolo 31.2%

41 Tarkastad 31.2%

42 Lusikisiki 31.2%

43 Joubertina 31.2%

44 Butterworth 31.2%

45 Gonubie 31.2%

46 Lady Frere 31.2%

47 Dimbaza 31.2%

48 Port Alfred 31.2%

49 Jeffreys Bay 31.2%

50 Whittlesea 31.2%

51 Humansdorp 31.2%

52 Stutterheim 31.2%

53 Cradock 31.2%

54 Aliwal North 31.2%

55 Somerset East 31.2%

56 Fort Beaufort 31.2%

57 Graaff Reinet 31.2%

58 Grahamstown 31.2%

59 Qonce 31.2%

60 Queenstown 31.2%

61 Bhisho 31.2%

62 Mthatha 31.2%

63 Mdantsane 31.2%

64 Kariega 31.2%

65 East London 31.2%

66 Tlokoeng 31.2%

67 Dordrecht 31.2%

68 Maclear 31.2%

69 Ilinge 31.2%

70 Nomathamasanqa 31.2%

71 Dutywa 31.2%

72 Kenton 31.2%

73 Molteno 31.2%

74 Hankey 31.2%

75 Adelaide 31.2%

76 Cala 31.2%

77 Gqeberha 31.2%

78 Ugie 31.2%

79 Khowa 31.2%

80 Alice 31.2%

81 Ndevana 31.2%

82 Clydesdale 31.2%

83 Kruisfontein 31.2%

84 Burgersdorp 31.2%

85 Queensdale 31.2%

86 Middelburg 31.2%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Eastern Cape face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Bizana has a poverty rate of 31.2%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Bizana, 31.2% of residents — roughly 1 in 3 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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