Background Data as at June 2024

(Data will be updated to 30 June 2025 after it has been audited)

Karoo Hoogland Municipality consists of the following towns and areas: Sutherland, Williston and Fraserburg and surrounding rural areas.

The municipality comprises an area of 29 423 km2 and falls within the area of jurisdiction of Namakwa District Municipality.

Houses

• Houses * 2209 (Households serviced)
• Households billed: * 2209

Population

• Population * 13069 (Community Survey Census 2016)
• * 11 691 (Census 2022 outcome)

Erven

• Registered erven * 4290 (Per Valuation Roll)

Structures

• Informal structures * +/- 60

Households

• Total Households * 3109 (Including Rural areas)
• Indigent households as at 30/06/2020 * 912
• Indigent households as at 30/06/2021 * 874
• Indigent households as at 30/06/2022 * 897
• Indigent households as at 30/06/2023 * 1090

Households with Access to Water and Basic Services: 2209

• Households with access to sanitation: 2209
• Households with access to electricity: 2209
• Households with access to refuse removal: 2209

Population Distribution in Karoo Hoogland Municipality Area

• Fraserburg : 23% of total population
• Non Urban areas (Rural) : 29% of total population
• Sutherland: 20% of total population
• Williston : 28% of total population

The Karoo Hoogland population can be regarded as having a high dependency ratio. With 9,7% of the population over the age of 65 and 25,5% are under 15 years. The latter youth group will be demanding education, housing and jobs in the near future.

The population of Karoo Hoogland has increased from 12 387 persons in 1996 to 13 069 persons in 2016. Gender proportions show there are more males than females in the municipality.

According to the 2022 Census the population of Karoo Hoogland Municipality stands at 11 691 which indicates a decline from the 2011 statistics.

The average population growth rates between 2001 and 2010 are as follows:

• Northern Cape Province (0.3%)
• Namakwa District Municipality (-0.1%)
• Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality (-1.7%) And from 2010 – 2016 (1,8% growth) Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality population growth rate from 2011 – 2022 = – 0,7%

The Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality in the Northern Cape has experienced a population decline (-0.7%) in the past ten years which is largely attributed to push factors such as limited economic opportunities in the area and better economic opportunities in neighboring municipalities.