The Eastern Cape province is located on the east coast of South Africa between KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces. Inland, the Eastern Cape borders the Free State and Northern Cape provinces and the country of Lesotho.
The province was formed in 1994 out of the Xhosa homelands or bantustans of Ciskei and Transkei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province.
The Eastern Cape covers an area of 168,966 square kilometres (65,238 square miles), making it the second-largest province of South Africa.
The province has an estimated 7,176,230 million inhabitants (11.4% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa, making it the fourth most populous province in the country.
The capital of the Eastern Cape is Bhisho, while the largest city in the province is Gqeberha.
Other major cities and towns in the province include East London, Qonce (formerly King William’s Town), Mthatha, Makhanda, Kariega, Jeffreys Bay, Komani, Port St. Johns, Port Alfred, KwaBhaca, eMaxesibeni, Barkly East, Stutterheim, KwaNojoli, and Ngcobo.
The Eastern Cape has a total of 35 municipalities, divided into two metropolitan municipalities and six district municipalities. The district municipalities are, in turn, divided into 31 local municipalities.
Metropolitan municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality | BUF | East London | 2,750 |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality | NMA | Gqeberha | 1,957 |
District municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Nzo District Municipality | DC44 | eMaxesibeni | 10,731 |
| Amathole District Municipality | DC12 | East London | 21,117 |
| Chris Hani District Municipality | DC13 | Komani | 36,407 |
| Joe Gqabi District Municipality | DC14 | Barkly East | 25,617 |
| OR Tambo District Municipality | DC15 | Mthatha | 12,141 |
| Sarah Baartman District Municipality | DC10 | Gqeberha | 58,245 |
