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, 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 |
Local municipalities
| Name | Code | District | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matatiele Local Municipality | EC441 | Alfred Nzo | Matatiele | 4,352 |
| Ntabankulu Local Municipality | EC444 | Alfred Nzo | Ntabankulu | 1,385 |
| Umzimvubu Local Municipality | EC442 | Alfred Nzo | KwaBhaca | 2,579 |
| Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality | EC443 | Alfred Nzo | Bizana | 2,415 |
| Amahlathi Local Municipality | EC124 | Amathole | Stutterheim | 4,505 |
| Great Kei Local Municipality | EC123 | Amathole | Komga | 1,700 |
| Mbhashe Local Municipality | EC121 | Amathole | Dutywa | 3,303 |
| Mnquma Local Municipality | EC122 | Amathole | Gcuwa | 3,137 |
| Ngqushwa Local Municipality | EC126 | Amathole | Peddie | 2,115 |
| Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality | EC129 | Amathole | Alice | 6,357 |
| Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality | EC137 | Chris Hani | Ngcobo | 2,484 |
| Emalahleni Local Municipality | EC136 | Chris Hani | Cacadu | 3,484 |
| Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality | EC139 | Chris Hani | Komani | 13,584 |
| Intsika Yethu Local Municipality | EC135 | Chris Hani | Cofimvaba | 2,873 |
| Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality | EC131 | Chris Hani | Nxuba | 11,663 |
| Sakhisizwe Local Municipality | EC138 | Chris Hani | Cala | 2,318 |
| Elundini Local Municipality | EC141 | Joe Gqabi | Nqanqarhu | 5,019 |
| Senqu Local Municipality | EC142 | Joe Gqabi | Lady Grey | 7,329 |
| Walter Sisulu Local Municipality | EC145 | Joe Gqabi | Burgersdorp | 13,269 |
| Ingquza Hill Local Municipality | EC153 | OR Tambo | Flagstaff | 2,477 |
| King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality | EC157 | OR Tambo | Mthatha | 3,019 |
| Mhlontlo Local Municipality | EC156 | OR Tambo | Qumbu | 2,880 |
| Nyandeni Local Municipality | EC155 | OR Tambo | Libode | 2,474 |
| Port St Johns Local Municipality | EC154 | OR Tambo | Port St. Johns | 1,291 |
| Blue Crane Route Local Municipality | EC102 | Sarah Baartman | KwaNojoli | 11,068 |
| Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality | EC101 | Sarah Baartman | Graaff-Reinet | 28,653 |
| Kouga Local Municipality | EC108 | Sarah Baartman | Jeffreys Bay | 2,670 |
| Kou-Kamma Local Municipality | EC109 | Sarah Baartman | Kareedouw | 3,642 |
| Makana Local Municipality | EC104 | Sarah Baartman | Makhanda | 4,376 |
| Ndlambe Local Municipality | EC105 | Sarah Baartman | Port Alfred | 1,841 |
| Sundays River Valley Local Municipality | EC106 | Sarah Baartman | Nqweba | 5,995 |
