ECONOMIC OVERVIEW FAST
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW FAST FACTS CAPITAL: KIMBERLEY POPULATION: 1.29-MILLION PERCENTAGE SHARE OF THE TOTAL SOUTH AFRICAN POPULATION: 2.2% AREA: 372889 KM 2 The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province, taking up almost a third of the country’s total land area. However, the province is sparsely populated with only about 1.2-million people on 372 889 km2 of land. The province lies to the south of its most important asset, the mighty Orange River. The Orange River provides the basis for a healthy agricultural industry. The Northern Cape borders the Atlantic Ocean in the west with Namibia and Botswana to the north-west and north, respectively. It is fringed by the Swartberg mountain range on its southern border. The Northern Cape is located in the north-western corner of South Africa and has a shoreline of approximately 313km along the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its incredible size as compared to the rest of the country, the province only accommodates 2.2% of the total South African population. The Big Hole in Kimberley attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors every year. The Northern Cape features six Provincial Nature Reserves. With two major airports at Kimberley and Upington and an excellent road network, the province’s interior is easily accessible from South Africa’s major cities, harbours and airports. Sutherland hosts the southern hemisphere’s largest astronomical observatory, the multinationalsponsored Southern African Large Telescope. The Northern Cape is one of two sites to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio-telescope. Developed by scientists from 17 countries, it will be the largest and most advanced radio telescope in the world. Among many other benefits, the province’s tourism and hospitality industry is profiting from the project, as scientists and other interested parties are flooding into the town of Carnarvon. The province has several national parks and conservation areas, including the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park as well as the Augrabies Falls National Park. The largest part of the province lies in the dry Nama- Karoo Biome, which contain a number of fascinating plants, including the elephant’s trunk (“halfmens” or half-man) tree, aloe (“kokerboom” or quiver tree) and a variety of succulents. The area is also well known for its spectacular annual spring flowers, which attracts thousands of tourists.
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE South Africa Gross Domestic Product Economic growth: 2011-2021 8 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 % ECONOMICS 130 bn Current prices Northern Cape 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 Economic growth annual % change 2.1% of national GDP National Total 2020-2021 10 year avg. Northern Cape 6.9% 1.2% National Total 4.9% 0.9% Sector composition Top 10 sectors (GVA) - R billions 2021 Mining of metal ores 28.50 Public administration and defence activities 11.45 Finance and insurance 8.37 Agriculture and hunting 8.34 Education 7.82 Health and social work 7.29 Other business activities 6.86 Wholesale and commission trade 5.18 Land and water transport 5.08 Post and telecommunication 4.13 All other smaller sectors 25.29 LABOUR MARKET Employment 302,000 number of jobs 2.1% of national employment Unemployment Jobs Primary 2021 share Created / lost since 2011 Agriculture 12.3% Mining 14.5% Secondary Manufacturing 4.1% Electricity 0.5% Construction 5.0% Tertiary Trade 17.6% Transport 2.2% Finance 9.3% Community 34.7% -5 820 427 4 430 Employment growth: 2011-2021 6 4 2 0 -2 -4 Northern Cape National Total -6 % 2011 2014 2017 2020 Employment growth Annual % change 27,3 33,6 Northern Cape National Total Informal employment 2021 - millions Northern Cape National Total Employees Informal % informal 0.30 0.03 8.4% 14.73 2.61 17.7% Northern Cape South Africa -4.4% -4.5% 2021 0.5% 0.7% 10-year avg Source: IHS Markit Regional eXplorer version 2257
