OUR IMPACT ON THE
NORTH WEST

South Africa’s platinum province, North West has more platinum than any other place in the world. In spite of this 59,6% of the adult population are living in poverty.

The provincial poverty index is at 3 out of 5. 42.0% intensity of poverty is an indication of the prevalence of malnutrition in the North West
To ensure the North West’s nutritional determinants and drivers are included in the efforts to address the triple burden of malnutrition, Operation Hunger has developed the data below.

At the underlying level, nutrition equity is caused by the way that people’s everyday social, psychological/behavioural and material circumstances interact with their wider environments.

These environments include: access to adequate and quality food; provision for infant care; healthcare environments; and wider living environments (including sanitation and opportunities for physical activity).

Operation Hunger has put together the latest data using the conceptual framework consistent with the determinants of undernutrition and prevalence of malnutrition to comprehensively elucidate barriers and opportunities leading to unhealthy nutrition outcomes.

Regional/Provincial Data

Economic Data

  • Community Service 19.7% 19.7%
  • Agriculture 2.5% 2.5%
  • Manufacturing 3.3% 3.3%
  • Construction 2% 2%
  • Mining 41.7% 41.7%
  • Other 30.8% 30.8%

Top Imports Market

14.4%

CHINA

10.1%

GERMANY

7.7%

SAUDI ARABIA

Top Export Market

11.8%

CHINA

8.3%

USA

5.7%

JAPAN

*Please note that all percentages are subject to change, as the current figures are based on 2024 statistics.

Employment in the Eastern Cape

The estimated total of the working age population:
2 620 000

Employed

Inactive

Unemployed

Discouraged

Formal and informal Sector employment

The formal sector is accounting for 65.9% of all employment. 
The informal accounts for 20.7% of all employment.

Spatial Considerations

Rural areas have been more affected than urban areas and urban areas have been more prone to recover jobs than rural Areas.

Employment Demographics characteristics

%

Male

%

Female

Population Dynamics

Total population 6.9Million

Plus – 322 957 net migrations

Inequality and human Development

0.60

Gini Coefficient

0.595

Human Index

Education

%

NSC Results

Life expectancy in The Eastern Cape

60.5 years

Male

64.8 years

Female

Health

47 Hospitals
66 Health Care Community Centre
360 Clinics

Leading Natural Causes

Diabetes
Heart Disease
HIV/AIDS

Percentage of households that lived in formal, informal and traditional dwellings

%

Formal

%

Informal

%

Traditional

%

Other

Types of Sanitation

Access to sanitation

%

Basic Sanitation

%

Limited Sanitation

%

Unimproved Sanitation

Food Systems/ Environment Determinants



Grains

Grains & Food Crop (17.3%),
Industrial Crops (1.7%)

ï…¹

Fruit
& Veg

Fruit and vegetable crops (33.6%)



Animal
Production

Livestock (72.1%), Poultry (50.2%)

Percentage of households experiencing food
adequacy or inadequacy

%

Food Access Severely inadequate

%

Food Access Inadequate

%

Food access adequate

Percentage of households involved in
agricultural activities:

%

Household Consumption of Foods from
Different Food Groups

Consistency of Food Access by Food
Security Status

Food Affordability

Monthly Household Expenditures

Percentage of individuals and households benefiting from social grants

34%

PERSONS

49.6%

HOUSEHOLD

Percentage distribution of sources of household income

56.3%

SALARIES

50.2%

GRANTS

20.5%

REMITTANCE

12.9%

BUSINESS INCOME

3.3%

PENSIONS

Food Expenditure for Low Income

Pap
Rice
Beans
Potatoes
Fat Oil
Sugar
Milk
Poultry