Good to know
Good to Know
- Jeffreys Bay has experienced explosive growth since 2001 (from 16,177 to ~59,000 residents), making it one of South Africa's fastest-expanding towns.
- The expat community is substantial and well-established, particularly from Western Europe and North America; integration is eased by English-language prevalence.
- Job opportunities are limited outside tourism, hospitality, and fishing; most digital nomads and retirees are self-funded or remote-working.
- The town's economy is tourism-centric; SME activity reflects this, with limited formal tech or venture-capital presence.
- Population is young relative to South Africa's national median, reflecting in-migration of working-age residents and families seeking coastal lifestyle.
Population
- Growth Rate Annual Percent
- 5.3
- Year
- 2026
- Status
- Fastest-growing town in South Africa, with rapid urbanization driven by tourism and migration.
- Current Estimate
- 58797
Historical Data
- Year
- 2001
- Population
- 16177
- Year
- 2011
- Population
- 27107
- Year
- 2025
- Population
- 55839
Age Profile
- Detail
- Town population is younger on average than South Africa's national median age, supporting local demand for education, housing, and services.
- Median Age Approximate
- Younger than national median; population skews younger overall.
Primary Languages
Primary Languages
- English
- Afrikaans
- Xhosa
Business And Tech Presence
- Summary
- Limited but growing tech and SME activity; economy primarily tourism-based (surfing, hospitality).
- Tech Ecosystem
- Minimal venture capital or startup ecosystem; most businesses are small owner-operated or tourism-service oriented. Some IT support services (e.g., Ashbren Computers) and renewable energy companies present.
- Active SME Count
- 102
- SME Note
- 102 active and verified businesses for sale/investment listed on SMERGERS as of May 2025.
Sectors
- Tourism and hospitality
- Surf industry and retail
- Solar/renewable energy
- Computer services and IT support
- Wellness and health services
- Real estate and property management
Ethnic And Cultural Diversity
- Profile
- Diverse population with mix of Afrikaans and Xhosa speakers; historically predominantly white but increasingly diverse.
- Note
- Town becoming more ethnically diverse with inbound migration from rural Eastern Cape regions (Hankey, Patensie, Transkei, Ciskei).
Notable Nationalities And Expat Presence
- Foreign Born Percentage
- No official census figure published; estimated significant expat presence driving recent growth.
- Primary Demographics
- International residents include retirees, digital nomads, and seasonal residents (3–6 months per year).
Key Source Nationalities
- Germany
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- United States
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Jeffreys Bay
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.