Quick facts
Gqeberha overview
Gqeberha (orange) and the other large cities of South Africa
Gqeberha lies in Eastern Cape in South Africa at 33.96°S, 25.61°E, about 61 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Johannesburg (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a district seat.
It is smaller than Soweto (1,695,047) and larger than Soshanguve (872,309). The largest city in South Africa is Johannesburg with 9,418,183 people; the capital, Pretoria, has 2,112,693.
The national capital, Pretoria, is about 947 km away; the nearest large city is Motherwell, 19 km from Gqeberha.
South Africa as a whole has a live population of 65,656,172 (+1.1% a year) and ranks #24 of 238 countries — see the South Africa population page for the full statistics and the South Africa atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Gqeberha
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Motherwell Eastern Cape | 19 km | 140,351 |
| Kariega Eastern Cape | 30 km | 291,052 |
Largest cities in South Africa
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johannesburg | Gauteng | 9,418,183 |
| 2 | Cape Town | Western Cape | 4,772,846 |
| 3 | Durban | KwaZulu-Natal | 3,338,026 |
| 4 | PretoriaCapital | Gauteng | 2,112,693 |
| 5 | Soweto | Gauteng | 1,695,047 |
| 6 | Gqeberha | Eastern Cape | 1,050,078 |
| 7 | Soshanguve | Gauteng | 872,309 |
| 8 | Pietermaritzburg | KwaZulu-Natal | 839,327 |
| 9 | Evaton | Gauteng | 725,468 |
| 10 | Benoni | Gauteng | 605,344 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gqeberha?
Gqeberha has about 1,050,078 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Gqeberha the capital of South Africa?
No. The capital of South Africa is Pretoria (2,112,693 people), about 947 km away. Gqeberha is the 6th largest city of the country and a district seat.
How big is Gqeberha compared with the rest of South Africa?
Its 1,050,078 residents are 1.6% of the 65,656,172 people living in South Africa today. Johannesburg is larger with 9,418,183 people.
Where is Gqeberha?
In Eastern Cape, South Africa, at latitude -33.96 and longitude 25.61, 61 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Motherwell (19 km), Kariega (30 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Gqeberha Population 2026 — South Africa. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/gqeberha/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/south-africa/gqeberha/">Gqeberha Population 2026 — South Africa</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.