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Largest Cities in Eastern Cape

Top 86 cities ranked by largest cities

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All Countries  ·  South Africa  ·  Eastern Cape

Largest Cities — Eastern Cape

1 Gqeberha 1,050,078
2 East London 478,676
3 Kariega 291,052
4 Mdantsane 205,504
5 Mthatha 164,848
6 Bhisho 137,287
7 Queenstown 118,599
8 Qonce 93,072
9 Grahamstown 91,548
10 Graaff Reinet 62,896
11 Fort Beaufort 58,419
12 Butterworth 53,086
13 Aliwal North 44,436
14 Cradock 43,936
15 Stutterheim 35,510
16 Humansdorp 34,733
17 Whittlesea 33,844
18 Jeffreys Bay 32,477
19 Port Alfred 30,981
20 Dimbaza 26,099
21 Lady Frere 25,041
22 Gonubie 23,733
23 Somerset East 22,553
24 Middelburg 22,380
25 Queensdale 20,009
26 Burgersdorp 19,159
27 Kruisfontein 18,991
28 Clydesdale 18,357
29 Ndevana 18,151
30 Alice 18,141
31 Khowa 17,224
32 Ugie 16,133
33 Tlokoeng 15,884
34 Cala 15,764
35 Adelaide 14,606
36 Hankey 14,091
37 Molteno 13,840
38 Kenton 13,539
39 Dutywa 13,270
40 Nomathamasanqa 12,815
41 Ilinge 12,806
42 Maclear 12,604
43 Dordrecht 12,292
44 Flagstaff 12,280
45 Alexandria 12,084
46 Barkly East 11,965
47 Mount Frere 11,842
48 Ngcobo 11,783
49 Cofimvaba 10,523
50 Bedford 10,506
51 Kirkwood 10,148
52 Bontrug 10,057
53 Ilitha 9,757
54 Komga 9,692
55 Bizana 9,553
56 Indwe 9,505
57 Willowmore 9,199
58 Cathcart 8,818
59 Phakamisa 8,806
60 Maluti 8,654
61 Steynsburg 8,642
62 Sterkstroom 8,584
63 Aberdeen 8,580
64 Lady Grey 8,414
65 Bathurst 7,630
66 Addo 7,475
67 Joubertina 7,472
68 Lusikisiki 7,396
69 Tarkastad 7,260
70 Tsolo 6,860
71 Cookhouse 6,837
72 Jansenville 6,723
73 Paterson 6,687
74 Mount Ayliff 6,431
75 Patensie 6,304
76 Venterstad 5,977
77 Kareedouw 5,972
78 Port Saint John’s 5,939
79 St Francis Bay 5,910
80 Qumbu 5,904
81 Louterwater 5,785
82 James Calata 5,590
83 Peddie 5,580
84 Khaya Mnandi 5,500
85 Libode 5,464
86 Pearston 5,410

The largest cities in Eastern Cape represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Gqeberha leads with a population of 1,050,078, followed by East London and Kariega. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. 05 dominates the top 10 with 10 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

  • 1. Gqeberha's population is larger than that of several U.S. states.
  • 2. 05 has 10 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
  • 3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 10,506 — larger than most cities worldwide.
  • 4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 2,190,158.

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