Gauteng is the smallest province of South Africa by land, covering an area of 18,178 square kilometres (7,018 square miles) which is 1.5% of the country’s total surface area.
Despite its small size, Gauteng is the most populous province in South Africa with 15,931,824 residents (25.3% of the national population) according to the 2024 Mid-Year estimates by Statistics South Africa.
It is bordered by four provinces; Limpopo to the north, North West to the west, Free State to the south, and Mpumalanga to the east.
Gauteng was formed from part of the former Transvaal Province after South Africa’s 1994 general elections.
Gauteng lies on the highest part of the interior plateau of South Africa’s Highveld and stretches northward from the Vaal River.
Gauteng is highly urbanised and contains South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg, which is also its provincial capital.
Considered the financial hub of the country with most of the financial activity taking place in Johannesburg, Gauteng is the wealthiest province in South Africa and is responsible for over 34.8% of the country’s GDP.
Gauteng is also home to South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria, and the country’s largest township, Soweto.
Other major cities and towns in Gauteng include Ekurhuleni, Midrand, Sandton, Centurion, Vanderbijlpark, Kempton Park, Boksburg, and Vereeniging.
Gauteng has a total of 11 municipalities, it is divided into three metropolitan municipalities and two district municipalities. The district municipalities are further subdivided into 6 local municipalities.
Metropolitan municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality | EKU | Germiston | 1,975 |
| City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality | JHB | Johannesburg | 1,645 |
| City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality | TSH | Pretoria | 6,298 |
District municipalities
| Name | Code | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedibeng District Municipality | DC42 | Vereeniging | 4,173 |
| West Rand District Municipality | DC48 | Randfontein | 4,087 |
Local municipalities
| Name | Code | District | Seat | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emfuleni Local Municipality | GT421 | Sedibeng | Vanderbijlpark | 966 |
| Lesedi Local Municipality | GT423 | Sedibeng | Heidelberg | 1,484 |
| Midvaal Local Municipality | GT422 | Sedibeng | Meyerton | 1,722 |
| Merafong City Local Municipality | GT484 | West Rand | Carletonville | 1,631 |
| Mogale City Local Municipality | GT481 | West Rand | Krugersdorp | 1,342 |
| Rand West City Local Municipality | GT485 | West Rand | Randfontein | 1,115 |
