Cape Town Household Survey Dashboard

Understanding the needs and experiences of Cape Town residents

2024 Survey Results

Why This Survey Matters

Cape Town is a city full of diversity—different neighbourhoods, different ways of living, and different needs. To plan better for everyone, the City launched a new household survey to understand how people live across all communities, from formal suburbs to informal settlements and backyard dwellings.

Good planning starts with good data. This survey helps the City make smarter decisions about services, infrastructure, and support—especially in areas that are often underrepresented in national surveys.

About the Survey

Between February and October 2024, over 8,300 households were randomly selected and interviewed across approximately 150 suburbs. These households represent a mix of living arrangements and levels of formality.

  • Formal dwelling: A structure built according to approved plans, i.e. house on a separate stand, flat or apartment, townhouse, room in a backyard or rooms or flat let elsewhere. 1
    • These dwellings are located on erfs serviced directly by the City.
  • Informal dwelling: Makeshift structure not approved by a local authority and not intended as a permanent dwelling. Typically built with found materials (corrugated iron, cardboard, plastic, etc.). 2
    • These can be found in informal settlements or on the same property as a formal dwelling (see Additional Dwelling Informal).
  • Informal settlement: An unplanned settlement on land that has not been surveyed or proclaimed as residential, consisting mainly of informal dwellings (shacks), and is characterized by informality. 3
    • The City provides services to each settlement to a varying degree depending on the specific context of the settlement. The City, however, generally does not service individual dwellings.
  • Additional Dwelling Informal (ADI): A structure constructed of any material, intended or used for human habitation, on the same residential property as a main dwelling, and is therefore not categorized as an informal settlement. Built with no approved plans. Commonly known as informal backyard. 4
    • These households are located on erfs serviced by the City, but the level of services provided within the dwelling depends largely on the relationship with the formal dwelling.

What Is a Household?

A household is a group of people who live together most of the week, share meals, and pool resources—or a single person living alone.

What You’ll See in the Dashboard

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Not every household in Cape Town was surveyed—only a sample from each suburb.
  • The survey is accurate at the city level (95% confidence), with a margin of error of ±15% at suburb level.
  • Some suburbs had fewer responses than planned due to fieldwork challenges (marked with a red outline on the map).
  • Areas like national parks, airports, and military bases were excluded as they are not considered residential.

Despite these limitations, the survey offers valuable insights that help the City plan more effectively for all residents.

Contact Information

For more information about the survey methodology or to request additional analysis, please contact:

Email: CT.survey@capetown.gov.za

Key Insights
  • 84.5% of dwellings across Cape Town have refuse removed at least once a week by the local authority, private company, or community members
  • 97.6% of Formal Dwellings reported that their refuse is removed by a local authority/private company/community members at least once a week
  • 25.9% of Informal Dwellings reported that their refuse is removed by a local authority/private company/community members at least once a week
  • 92.2% of Additional Dwellings Informal reported that their refuse is removed by a local authority/private company/community members at least once a week
  • Communal container points and central collection points are increasingly being used by the City to collect refuse within informal settlements. 35.9% of Informal Dwellings reported that they use these points
  • Across the City, households reported that most suburbs have more than 80% who have their refuse removed at least once a week
Data Limitations

Variable-specific limitations

  • Census 2022 included an additional category: Removed regularly by municipality/local authority/private company (communal container/central collection point) .
  • This response option was found to be confusing during the pilot with many having selected this response in areas where refuse was confirmed to take place weekly.
  • This option was not included in the data released by Statistics South Africa .
  • It remains unclear how this selection was handled in the Census 2022 data .

General limitations

  • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
  • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
  • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
  • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
  • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
  • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
  • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
  • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

Rubbish Removal

Households who reported having their refuse removed at least once a week


Key Insights
  • Across the majority of surburbs in Cape Town, more than 80% of households reported access to piped water inside the dwelling
  • 75.3% of households across Cape Town reported having to piped water
  • 95.1% of households living in formal dwellings reported having access to piped water inside the dwelling
  • 15.8% of households living in informal dwellings reported having access to piped water inside the dwelling
  • 21.3% of households living in informal dwellings reported having access to piped water inside the yard
  • 51.1% of households living in Informal Additional Dwellings reported having access to piped water inside the dwelling, with a further 42.1% reported having access to piped water inside the yard
Data Limitations

Variable-specific limitations

  • Distance to piped water on a community stand was estimated by the respondent and not measured by the interviewer.

General limitations

  • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
  • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
  • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
  • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
  • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
  • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
  • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
  • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

Access to Piped Water

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Households reporting having access to piped (tap) water inside the dwelling/house by Suburb

Key Insights
  • 83.2% of households across Cape Town have a flush toilet connected to a public sewerage system
  • Across the City, households reported that most suburbs have more than 80% with access to a flush toilet
  • 98.3% of households living in formal dwellings reported having a flush toilet connected to a public sewerage system
  • 23.4% of households living in informal dwellings having a flush toilet connected to the public sewerage system with a further 29.2% having a bucket toilet (collected by municipality)
  • 83.8% of households living in informal additional dwellings reported having a flush toilet connected to a public sewerage system
Data Limitations

Variable-specific limitations

  • Question refers to the type of sanitation used by the household, which may not necessarily be within the dwelling or within a reasonable distance . These details may be collected in the future.
  • Some respondents may have answered based on sanitation facilities within the dwelling and this may account for some of the None responses observed.

General limitations

  • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
  • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
  • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
  • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
  • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
  • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
  • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
  • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

Type of Sanitation

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Households reporting having access to flush toilet by Suburb

Key Insights
  • Nearly all formal dwellings have access to electricity: 80% via prepaid meters and 20% with conventional meters
  • In informal settlements: 56.7% have prepaid meters in CCT-supplied areas vs 37% in Eskom-supplied areas
  • 31.9% of informal dwellings have no electricity (vs 19.3% in CCT-supplied areas)
  • 60% of Additional Dwellings Informal have prepaid meters
  • >25% of ADIs have electricity connections to the main dwelling
  • >90% of households use electricity as main lighting source: 98.4% formal dwellings and 94.9% ADIs
  • In informal settlements: 70.1% use electricity, 8.4% use paraffin, 0.5% use gas
  • 76.8% of all households use electricity for cooking
  • Gas usage for cooking: 33.8% in informal settlements vs 19.5% in formal dwellings
  • 4.3% of informal dwellings use paraffin for cooking
Data Limitations

Variable-specific limitations

  • Respondents were only asked for the main energy source and this does not mean it was the only source used .
  • There was a relatively high rate of solar energy for lighting but respondents did not mention solar energy elsewhere in the survey. As such, many of the responses are assumed to mean natural light . More clarity will be provided to respondents that this refers to lighting after dark . Phrasing was identical to question used by Statistics South Africa . This question is traditionally used as a proxy to identify those with access to electricity .
  • Main source of electricity for IADs may be problematic. It is unclear if they have separate prepaid electricity or were answering on behalf of the main dwelling . While some ADIs have been given their own prepaid meters, it is unlikely any ADIs would have access to credit meters .
  • It was not asked whether the connections were legal to help collect more accurate data .

General limitations

  • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
  • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
  • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
  • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
  • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
  • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
  • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
  • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za
Line Department Notes
  • In Cape Town, the City of Cape Town municipality provides electricity to approximately 70% of the city, while Eskom handles the remaining 30%. Learn more

Electricity Connection


Households reporting sources of energy

Households reporting sources of energy for lighting by suburb

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Households reporting using electricity from mains for lighting

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Households reporting sources of energy for cooking by suburb

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Households reporting using electricity from mains for cooking

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Key Insights
  • 43.9% of households living in informal additional dwellings are rented compared to only 6.1% of informal dwellings - showing vastly different tenure patterns.
  • 71.9% of householdss living in informal dwellings are occupied rent-free compared to 13.3% of formal dwellings.
  • Across all Cape Town dwellings, 50.5% are owned while 22.0% are rented.
  • In ADIs, rented dwellings ( 43.9% ) outnumber owned dwellings ( 23.6% ) by nearly 2:1.
  • Compared to 2022 Census, the 2024 survey shows higher ownership rates in both formal (+6.7%) and ADI's (6.4%).
  • ADIs show diverse wall materials: Corrugated iron/zinc (42.0%) , wood (31.3%) , and bricks (20.5%).
  • 79.6% of ADI roofs are corrugated iron/zinc - similar to informal dwellings.
  • Across Cape Town: 35.4% corrugated iron 37.4% tile and 18.8% asbestos roofs.
    • Data Limitations

    Variable-specific limitations

    • IAD's (Informal Additional Dwellings) , commonly referred to as informal backyarders , are separate structures that exist on the same property as a formal (main) dwelling and do not have registered building plans regardless of building materials or amenities and/or services.
    • Any structures that have been registered with the City are considered ADFs (Additional Dwelling Formal) and have been included under Formal Dwellings.
    • All habitable structures within informal settlements are considered part of the informal settlement as they are not on the same property as a formal dwelling.
    • Dwelling types in the Census and GHS are self-defined and may not follow the definitions used in this survey.
    • Households were asked to identify their own dwelling type with minimal guidance. Interviewers were also asked to identify the dwelling based on the definitions used in this survey.
    • Interviewer responses were confirmed based on GPS coordinates , address details , and City records to distinguish ADFs and ADIs. Building materials for formal dwellings was also considered.
    • Extra scrutiny was given to those where there was a discrepancy between the respondent and the interviewer. Interviewer mistakes have been corrected in the data.
    • In informal settlements and IAD's , it is difficult to distinguish the difference between owned and occupied rent-free due to the lack of formal property rights for both of these dwelling types .
    • Some homeowners are known to keep a minimal balance on their access bonds . It is unclear whether they would select that the home is fully paid off or not given the technicality but selected the response they felt was most accurate.

    General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

    Building materials used for walls and roofs

    Housing Tenure Status


    Key Insights
    • 16.5% of households in Cape Town reported that an adult seldom or sometimes went hungry in the last 12 months because there wasn't enough food.
    • 2% reported that an adult often or always went hungry due to food shortages.
    • There are more than double the number of households experiencing hunger in informal and backyard dwellings compared to formal dwellings.
    • Experience of hunger varies significantly across different regions and suburbs of Cape Town.
    • The 2024 Cape Town survey shows lower hunger rates compared to Census 2022 data.
    Data Limitations

      Variable-specific limitations

    • Respondents were able to interpret "Go hungry" themselves. Some may have interpreted this to mean to go without any food and others to go without enough food.
    • Many respondents selected "Not applicable" , which has been interpreted to mean "No, never" . Not applicable should not have been presented as an option as: (1) interviews could only be completed with adults, and (2) households with no minors had already been identified at this point in the questionnaire.
    • Results should be interpreted only with regards to hunger and only identifies the most food insecure households.
    • These findings do not speak to:
      • The quality of food available
      • The nutritional value of food available
    • Important note: Households not experiencing hunger should not be considered food secure based solely on this measure.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za
    Expert Notes
    • The data presented focuses on hunger rather than food insecurity . Food insecurity is a more comprehensive indicator that requires variables not collected in this survey.
    • The methodology used to categorize households based on food security is the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) which is based on a series of questions that assess access to food and quality of food over the last 12 months. It is calculated in the General Household Survey (GHS)
    • With its large sample size, this dataset is one of the few available on hunger at the sub-metro level and specifically at the suburb level, as the census will only be released at the ward level.

    Frequency of Adult Hunger in Households

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    Frequency of Adult Hunger in households by suburb

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    Key Insights
    • 13.9% of households in Cape Town reported that a child seldom or sometimes went hungry in the last 12 months because there wasn't enough food.
    • 1.7% reported that a child often or always went hungry due to food shortages.
    • There are more than double the number of households with child hunger in informal and backyard dwellings compared to formal dwellings.
    • Child hunger varies significantly across different regions and suburbs of Cape Town.
    • The 2024 survey shows lower child hunger rates compared to Census 2022 data.
    Data Limitations

      Variable-specific limitations

    • Respondents were able to interpret "Go hungry" themselves. Some may have interpreted this to mean to go without any food and others to go without enough food.
    • Many respondents selected "Not applicable" , which has been interpreted to mean "No, never" . Not applicable should not have been presented as an option as: (1) interviews could only be completed with adults, and (2) households with no minors had already been identified at this point in the questionnaire.
    • Results should be interpreted only with regards to hunger and only identifies the most food insecure households.
    • These findings do not speak to:
      • The quality of food available
      • The nutritional value of food available
    • Important note: Households not experiencing hunger should not be considered food secure based solely on this measure.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za
    Expert Notes
    • The data presented focuses on hunger rather than food insecurity . Food insecurity is a more comprehensive indicator that requires variables not collected in this survey.
    • The methodology used to categorize households based on food security is the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) which is based on a series of questions that assess access to food and quality of food over the last 12 months. It is calculated in the General Household Survey (GHS)
    • With its large sample size, this dataset is one of the few available on hunger at the sub-metro level and specifically at the suburb level, as the census will only be released at the ward level.

    Frequency of Child Hunger in Households

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    Frequency of Child Hunger in Households by Suburb

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    Key Insights
    • 48.0% of residents use private vehicles as their main mode of transport to work
    • 29.8% use minibus taxis and 9.3% use public buses
    • 11.3% walk to work
    • Most residents reach work within: 15 minutes (17.2%) or 15-30 minutes (41.1%)
    • 6.7% have commuting times over 60 minutes
    • Walking has the shortest commuting times
    • Bus commuters: 49.2% take 31-60 minutes
    • Minibus taxi commuters: 51.6% take 15-30 minutes
    Data Limitations

      Variable-specific limitations

    • Responses for main mode of usual transport. Where multiple modes were used, respondents were asked for the mode that covered the largest distance.
    • Travel times are for single journeys only and not total commuting time per day.
    • Household representatives answered on behalf of others, so some inaccuracy is likely.
    • Travel time varies based on: distance between home/workplace and transport mode used.
    • Note: This provides indicative data only, not detailed analysis.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za
    Line Department Notes
    • The results presented here may differ from those in sources such as the CITP . The CITP relies primarily on observed vehicle counts and measured travel time data , whereas the survey is based on self-reported travel behaviour .
    • The survey focuses on the main mode of transport used, which may not capture trips made as part of multimodal journeys .

    Main mode of transport used to get to work

    Usual travel time to work

    Main mode of transport used to get to work by Suburb

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    Usual travel time to work by Suburb

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    Key Insights
    • Short trips dominate:
      • 65.4% of vehicle users arrive in <15 mins
      • 63.7% of walkers arrive in <15 mins
    • Minibus taxis: Most used for 15-30 min trips (60.2%)
    • Commute patterns by mode:
      • Walkers/vehicles: Mostly <15 mins (63-65%)
      • Minibus taxis: Mostly 15-30 mins (60.2%)
      • Public buses: Mostly 31-60 mins (43.0%)
    • Extended commutes:
      • 1.4% take 61-90 minutes
      • 0.2% exceed 90 minutes
      • Most common by bus (12.8%) and minibus (3.6%)
    • Walking is optimal: Common (53.7%) and efficient (63.7% <15 mins)
    • Public transport takes 3-5× longer commutes than private vehicles
    Data Limitations

      Variable-specific limitations

    • Responses for main mode of usual transport. Where multiple modes were used, respondents were asked for the mode that covered the largest distance.
    • Travel times are for single journeys only and not total commuting time per day.
    • Household representatives answered on behalf of others, so some inaccuracy is likely.
    • Travel time varies based on: distance between home/workplace and transport mode used.
    • Note: This provides indicative data only, not detailed analysis.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za
    Line Department Notes
    • The results presented here may differ from those in sources such as the CITP . The CITP relies primarily on observed vehicle counts and measured travel time data , whereas the survey is based on self-reported travel behaviour .
    • The survey focuses on the main mode of transport used, which may not capture trips made as part of multimodal journeys .

    Main mode of transport used to get to educational institution

    Usual travel time to educational institution

    Main mode of transport used to get to educational institution by Suburb

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    Usual travel time to educational institution by Suburb

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    Key Insights
    • Community halls are the most commonly used public facilities with more than a quarter of households making use of them within their neighbourhoods on a monthly (23.3%) or weekly (2.2%) basis.
    • Libraries are also more commonly used within neighbourhoods with 17.7% of households using it monthly and 9.5% using it weekly.
    • Neighbourhood parks show a high rate of usage especially with weekly users (17.4%) .
    • Public sports facilities and swimming pools are used regularly by at least one person in more than 20% of households.
    • Weekly users of sports facilities tend to use them within their neighbourhoods slightly more often, while more people use swimming pools outside of their neighbourhoods.
    Data Limitations

      Variable-specific limitations

    • Public facilities may include those run by CCT, Western Cape or National governments .
    • Respondents were allowed to self-define neighbourhood , so answers may not reflect official suburb boundaries.
    • Results indicate at least one member of the household uses the facility and cannot measure total users of facilities.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

    Frequency of visits to public facilities in a typical month

    Usage of public facilities at least once a month by suburb

    Download Data
    Key Insights
    • Income distribution shows that 41.2% of households earn between R3 201 -R6,400 per month or less according to the 2024 CCT Cape Town Household Survey.
    • 30.9% of households citied food price increases and 25.6% citing electricity price increases as primary budget constraints.
    • Households living in informal dwellings spending R600 monthly on accommodation compared to formal dwellings at R5,000 .
    • 33.0% of households, most likely to go without cellphone airtime or data due to financial constraints.
    • Energy expenditure shows that households spend R200-800 monthly on energy, with informal dwellings at the lower end (R200) and formal dwellings at the higher end (R800) of this range.
    Data Limitations

    General limitations

    • Income - Questions related to total household income can be challenging to answer accurately. The household representative may not be aware of earnings of all household members, especially before taxes and deductions. Income from other sources such as grants, private pensions, and remittances may not be considered as income by individual respondents and are sometimes not included in total household estimates despite instructions. Remittances may vary considerably from month to month making it difficult to provide an average monthly amount. In line with the 2022 Census, no refusal option was given and many 'Don’t know' responses are likely to be refusals given the sensitive nature of this question.
    • Spending habit changes - Households were asked whether they had to modify their spending habits based on price increases of certain goods or services. This meant either not buying certain products, buying less of them, or buying less preferred alternatives. It may be difficult to identify a single reason for a reduction in the available household budget but the increases of goods/services listed were felt by households. An increase in the cost of one type of good/service, may not necessarily result in a reduction in spending on the same good/service. For example, an increase in food prices may result in similar food purchases but less spending on clothing or entertainment. As such, an increase in the cost of given good/service, should not be interpreted as changes in spending habits on the same good/service.
    • Rising living costs/Going without some needs - Households may not always have enough income to cover some of their basic needs (or things that most households are expected to purchase regularly). This means that they may need to go without these needs/items at some point in time either partially or fully. Some of these are considered to be more critical than others such as food. Respondents used their own definition of having enough. These households are likely to be quite vulnerable especially to price increases. Some households may borrow money to cover these items and may not be identified through this question.
    • Median expenditure - Households were asked to estimate their average expenditure on certain categories. It is not possible to cover all expenditure so this should not be used to estimate the proportion of total expenditure. Only the median expenditure is presented. This is the amount where half of all households spend more than this amount and half of households spend less than this amount. This prevents the effects of some households with very high levels of expenditure from influencing the results.

      • General limitations

    • Some suburbs have been combined to reach the necessary sample size for data to be statistically representative. The suburb boundaries shown on the maps reflect these combined suburbs (e.g. Meadowridge/Bergvliet).
    • Metro-level data has been weighted by sub-place (smaller areas within suburbs) and by dwelling type based on household estimates held by the CCT to mitigate over/underrepresentation.
    • Many questions were designed to be directly comparable to those from Statistics South Africa in the 2022 Census and General Household Survey (GHS) . Very few changes to these questions were made.
    • All data is self-reported by a member of the household and has not been independently verified apart from dwelling type. This is standard in most household questionnaires and censuses.
    • Cape Town household survey data shows 8.4% of households living in ADIs report that they reside in a formal dwelling (such as cottage/granny flat/flatlet) though the dwellings do not have approved plans based on City records and 7.9% of households in informal settlements classify their dwellings as being in a backyard rather than in an informal settlement. In the census, households were asked to self-classify their dwelling unit and this likely lead to some differences in results by dwelling type.
    • Deviations in sampling protocols may have biased some results. Weighting by sub-place has been used to mitigate this as far as possible.
    • Fieldwork took place from mid-February 2025 until early October 2025 , so some seasonality may be observed in responses.
    • If you notice anything incorrect or strange in the results presented on this dashboard, please contact us on ct.survey@capetown.gov.za

    Household Income Distribution

    Median household spend on energy, transport and accommodation by dwelling type

    Rising Living Costs

    Sometimes people find that their income does not quite cover their living costs. In the last 12 months, how often have you or anyone else in your househol gone without...

    Spending Habit Changes

    Did you have to change your spending habits in the past 12 months, due to any of the following..? Change to your spending habits means not buying, buying less, or buying less preferred alternatives of things you would have usually bought.