Top 10 Richest Cities In South Africa 2020 (Areas)

List of the wealthiest cities in South Africa. The economic development of a given country like SA is determined by how money flows in circulation among the different cities in the country.

The monetary flow in turn is also dependent on many other factors. Among these factors is the number of private and public organizations in the country. Other factors include the number of millionaires and/or billionaires in the country. 

South Africa houses many cities that boast of a better economic situation today as a result of how money flows in them.

So, wondering which areas are the richest cities in South Africa presently, hence, just like with many other countries, some of the cities are richer than others. But which cities are richer? Most of these cities have a huge number of millionaires and billionaires.

Top 10 Richest Cities In South Africa

  • 1. Johannesburg

Being the largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg tops the list due to the high number of millionaires and billionaires in the city. Currently, the city has over 18400 residents with over one million dollars and over 970 residents with over ten million dollars. The city is the capital of Gauteng Province and is famous for housing numerous personalities like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, etc. This has also earned the city as one of the tourist centres in the country. The former residence of Nelson Mandela is now the Mandela House Museum, known for housing numerous historical materials. Currently, the city houses numerous Colleges and Universities and this has increased the educational standard in the country also. Currently, the net worth of the city is over $276 Billion.

  • 2. Cape Town

Located in the Southwest Coast of South Africa, Cape Town is a port city on a peninsula beneath the imposing Table Mountain. Being the largest city in the Western Cape province, Cape Town is also famous for housing Nelson Mandela in one of her notorious prison called Robben Island. The prison is now a living museum that houses numerous historical artifacts. Currently, there are 8300 residents with over one million dollars and over 490 residents with over ten million dollars in the city. The net worth of the city currently is over $155 billion makes it the second richest city in South Africa. The city is the second-most populous city in South Africa after Johannesburg. It is also the legislative capital of South Africa. That is, the Parliament of South Africa sits in the City. In 2014, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design named the city The World Design Capital.

  • 3. Durban

Third on the list of wealthiest cities in SA is Durban, together with Ballito and Umhlanga. With over 3400 residents with over one million dollars and 210 residents with over ten million dollars, Durban is a coastal city in the eastern part of South Africa called KwaZulu-Natal Province. The city is also famous for her African, Indian and Colonial influences. It is the third most populous country in South Africa. In addition, it is the manufacturing hub in South Africa after Johannesburg. The city was officially recognized as one of the New 7 Wonder Cities in May 2015. The city is also the busiest port in the country. This shows the economic commitment in the country. Currently, the net worth of the city is over $55 Billion.

  • 4. Paarl

Paarl, together with Franschoek and Stellenbosch, occupies the fourth position with a net worth of over $54 Billion. Being the third-oldest city and European settlement in the Republic of South Africa after Cape Town and Stellenbosch, Paarl has been famous for numerous reasons both at the local and international levels. Currently, the city has over 3200 residents with over one million dollars and 210 residents with over 10 million dollars. With a population size of over 112,045, Paarl is the largest town in the Cape Winelands. The city is now a de facto urban unit (i.e. in fact an Urban) due to the excessive growth experienced in one of her towns called Mbekweni

  • 5. The Garden Route

Being a city in the stretch of the South-Eastern coast of South Africa, The Garden Route is the fifth richest city in South Africa with over 3000 residents having over one million dollars and over 100 residents having over 10 million dollars. The current net worth of the city is over $52 Billion. The city is well known for its verdant and ecologically diverse vegetation coupled with the numerous estuaries and lakes found along the coast. Some of the towns in the Route include Knysna, Great Brak Liver, Nature’s Valley, Little Brak River, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, etc. In fact, in 2017, the UNESCO added The Garden Route as a member of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

  • 6. Pretoria

With over 2800 residents having over one million dollars and over 120 residents having over 10 million dollars, Pretoria falls on the sixth spot in the richest cities in South Africa. Being the administrative capital of the country, the atmosphere of the city is usually full of events geared towards economic development. Also known as Tshwane, the city is very much famous for having four different Universities including the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, and the University of South Africa. In addition, the country also houses the National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards. All these gave the city the badge of being the Research hub of the country. Currently, the net worth of the city is over $48 Billion. The city is sometimes referred to as the Jacaranda City due to the enormous number of Jacaranda trees located there.

  • 7. The Whale Coast

The seventh-richest city in South Africa is The Whale Coast with over 800 residents having over one million dollars and over 50 residents having over 10 million dollars. Beginning in Cape Town and running through the pretty R44 (Clarence Drive) to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, The Whale Coast is well famous for being where most of the whale viewing spots in South Africa are. The area currently boasts of over $24 Billion as her net worth.

  • 8. The Sunshine Coast

Currently, the area has over 400 residents with one million dollars and over 40 residents having over 10 million dollars. Being a city in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the net worth of the country is currently over $15 Billion.  The area is known for her glorious weather and housing numerous attractive places like seaside resorts, warm waters, water sports, eco-walks, rock pools, nature reserves, and numerous others. The coast stretches from the Tsitsikamma Mountains to East London and has a series of coastal villages, rivers, lakes, lagoon, surfing, swimming, and a host of other activities.

  • 9. Pietermaritzburg 

Being the Capital and Second-largest city in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, together with Natal Midlands, is the ninth richest city in South Africa with over 200 residents having over one million dollars and over 30 residents having over 10 million dollars. Currently, the net worth of the city is over $7 Billion. The city is a regionally important industrial hub known for producing aluminum, timber, and other dairy products.

  • 10. Bloemfontein

With over 100 residents having over one million dollars and over 20 residents having over 10 million dollars, Bloemfontein is the tenth richest city in South Africa. It is the capital of the city of the Province of the Free State of South Africa. Currently, the city has a net worth of over $3 Billion. In addition, it is the Judicial Capital of the Country. Currently, the city has a population size of about 747, 431. 

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Closing On The Wealthiest Cities in South Africa and Areas

The more the number of rich people in a city, the richer the city is more likely to be. This is the situation in South African cities also as many of the cities have numerous rich personalities. As expected, a rich city will have a well developed economic situation with many infrastructures and quality educational setup. The means of livelihood in the city will also increase. All these are seen in these richest cities in South Africa.