Central Karoo District Municipality covers the Great Karoo interior of the Western Cape. The 2022 census counted 102,174 people across three local municipalities, over roughly 38,854 km² — the province’s largest district by area and its smallest by population. The seat is Beaufort West.
Local Municipalities in Central Karoo
| Municipality | Seat | 2022 Population |
|---|---|---|
| Beaufort West | Beaufort West | 72,972 |
| Prince Albert | Prince Albert | 17,836 |
| Laingsburg | Laingsburg | 11,366 |
Major Towns
Beaufort West town is by far the district’s largest centre, followed by Prince Albert and Laingsburg. Smaller towns include Murraysburg, Leeu-Gamka, Nelspoort and Merweville.
- Beaufort West
- Prince Albert
- Laingsburg
- Murraysburg
- Leeu-Gamka
- Nelspoort
- Merweville
- Matjiesfontein
Geography
Central Karoo sits in the semi-arid interior of the Western Cape, bordered by the Northern Cape’s Karoo Hoogland and Ubuntu districts to the north and the Eastern Cape’s Dr Beyers Naudé area to the east. The N1 national highway runs the length of the district, past Laingsburg, Prince Albert Road and Beaufort West.
Economy and Local Life
Sheep farming and Karoo lamb dominate the district economy, supplemented by dried-fruit farming near Prince Albert and long-distance road-travel trade along the N1 corridor through Beaufort West. Tourism has grown around Prince Albert’s heritage streetscape and Matjiesfontein’s preserved Victorian village in Laingsburg.
History
All three of the district’s constituent towns date from the 18th and 19th centuries as Dutch Reformed mission and farming settlements, later linked by the Cape railway to Johannesburg. Central Karoo District Municipality itself was formed under South Africa’s 2000 local-government reorganisation, grouping the three sparsely populated municipalities under one district administration based in Beaufort West.
FAQ
What is the seat of Central Karoo District Municipality?
Beaufort West.
How many people live in Central Karoo District?
102,174 people, per the 2022 census, across its three local municipalities.
Which local municipalities make up Central Karoo District?
Beaufort West, Prince Albert and Laingsburg.
How big is Central Karoo District Municipality?
About 38,854 km², the largest district in the Western Cape by area.
What is the Central Karoo’s main industry?
Sheep farming and Karoo lamb production, plus travel trade along the N1 through Beaufort West.
Which is the district’s largest town?
Beaufort West, home to most of the district’s population.
Which provinces border Central Karoo District?
The Northern Cape to the north and the Eastern Cape to the east.
What tourism draws exist in the district?
Prince Albert’s heritage streetscape and Matjiesfontein’s preserved Victorian village in Laingsburg.
How does the N1 highway serve the district?
It runs the full length of the district, passing through Laingsburg, Prince Albert Road and Beaufort West, linking Cape Town to Johannesburg.