eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality covers Durban and its surrounding towns on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The 2022 census counted 4,239,901 people across 2,556 km², up from 3,476,686 in 2011 — the largest population of any municipality in the province. Durban is the seat.
Suburbs and Townships of eThekwini
eThekwini is built around Durban’s central business district and harbour, with dense suburbs to the north and south and large townships — KwaMashu, Umlazi, Inanda, Ntuzuma — housing much of the metro’s population.
| Place | Type | Pop. |
|---|---|---|
| Durban | Seat city | 3,338,026 |
| Pinetown | Town | 144,026 |
| Mpumalanga | Township | 140,121 |
| Ntuzuma | Township | 125,394 |
| Tongaat | Town | 64,829 |
| Folweni | Township | 36,425 |
| eMkhomazi | Town | 20,410 |
The remaining named suburbs, townships and localities in the register (dupes and spelling variants merged), true total 240:
- Adams College
- Addington
- Albert Park
- aMatata
- Amatikwe
- Assagay
- Athlone
- Austerville
- Bayhead
- Bayview
- Bedat
- Bellair
- Berea
- Berea West
- Bluff
- Bothas Hill
- Bottlebrush
- Brighton Beach
- Brookdale
- Buffelsdraai
- Canelands
- Cato Manor
- Cato Ridge
- Caversham Glen
- Centenary Park
- Chatsworth
- Chesterville
- Clairwood
- Clausthal
- Clermont
- Cowies Hill
- Craigieburn
- Crestholme
- Crossmoor
- Cutting
- Dassenhoek
- Dawncrest
- Densainagar
- Doonside
- Drummond
- Duff’s Road
- Durban Central
- Durban North
- Durban Point
- Earlsfield
- Effingham Heights
- Egolokodo
- Egolomi
- Elangeni
- eMadundube
- eManzimtoti
- eMatikwe
- Emberton
- eMdloti
- Emgidweni
- eMlaza
- Emona
- Enkanyisweni
- Ensutha
- eNtshangwe
- Escombe
- Essenwood
- Ezimbokodweni
- Flamingo Heights
- Flnnland
- Forest Haven
- Forest Hills
- Fraser
- Gillitts
- Glen Ashley
- Glen Hills
- Glenwood
- Gologodo
- Golokodo-Ensimbini
- Goqokazi
- Greenwood Park
- Greylands
- Greystreet Complex
- Greyville
- Grosvenor
- Grove End
- Hambanathi
- Hammarsdale
- Harbour
- Harrison
- Havenside
- Hazelmere
- Herrwood Park
- Hillary
- Hillcrest
- Illovo Beach
- Inanda
- Inanda Seminary
- Inchanga Park
- Isipingo
- Isipingo Beach
- Isipingo Rail
- Island View
- Ispongo
- Jacobs
- Karridene
- Kenville
- Kings Rest
- Kingsborough
- Kingsmead
- Klaarwater
- Kloof
- KwaDabeka
- KwaKhangela
- KwaMakhutha
- KwaMashu
- KwaMnyandu
- KwaNgcolosi
- KwaNgendezi
- La Lucia
- La Mercy
- Lamontville
- Lenham
- Lindley
- Lotus Park
- Lusaka
- Magabeni
- Maidstone
- Malukaze
- Malvern
- Manor Gardens
- Mariannhill
- Mayville
- Merebank
- Merewent
- Mobeni
- Montclair
- Monteseel
- Montford
- Morningside
- Mount Edgecombe
- Mount Moreland
- Mount Vernon
- Mountview
- Mshayazafe
- Musgrave
- Naidooville
- New Germany
- New Kingsmead
- New River
- Newlands
- Newlands East
- Newlands West
- Newtown Inanda
- North Beach
- Northcroft
- Ocean Drive-In
- Ocean View
- Odidini
- Ottawa
- Overport
- Park Hill
- Phoenix
- Pinelands
- Point
- Prestondale
- Prospect
- Prospecton
- Puntans Hill
- Qiniselani Manyuswa
- Queensburgh
- Ragbubee
- Red Hill
- Redfern
- Reservoir Hills
- Reunion
- Richmond
- Rietrivier
- Risecliff
- Riverside
- Roseneath
- Rossburgh
- Rydalvale
- Saint Winifred’s Beach
- Salisbury Island
- Sea View
- Selection Beach
- Shallcross
- Sherwood
- Silverton
- Situndu
- Sobonakhona
- South Beach
- Sparks
- Springfield
- Springfield Flats
- St Wendolins Ridge
- Sunford
- Sydenham
- Thornwood
- Tongaat Beach
- Treasure Beach
- Trenance Manor
- Trenance Park
- Tshelimnyama
- Umbilo
- Umbumbulu
- Umgababa
- Umgeni Park
- Umhlanga
- Umhlanga Rocks Suburb
- Umlazi E
- Umlazi G Section
- Umlazi J
- Umlazi L
- Umlazi M
- Umlazi U
- Verulam
- Warner Beach
- Welbedacht
- Wentworth
- Westbrook
- Westcliff
- Westmead
- Westridge
- Westville
- Wewe
- Widenham
- Wiggins
- Winklespruit
- Winston Park
- Woodhurst
- Woodlands
Geography
eThekwini stretches along the Indian Ocean coast of KwaZulu-Natal, centred on Durban harbour, Africa’s busiest port. It borders iLembe district municipality to the north, Umgungundlovu district municipality to the west, and Ugu district municipality to the south. The terrain rises from sandy coastal flats through rolling hills — Kloof, Hillcrest, Cato Ridge — to the inland Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Demographics
Population grew from 3,476,686 at the 2011 census to 4,239,901 in 2022, a rise of roughly 22%. Growth has concentrated in the northern corridor around Phoenix, Tongaat and Verulam, and in townships such as KwaMashu, Umlazi and Ntuzuma, which together house a large share of the metro’s residents.
Economy and Local Life
Durban’s harbour and container terminal anchor the metro economy, supporting logistics, manufacturing and petrochemical refining. Tourism is significant along the beachfront and North Coast, and the metro serves as KwaZulu-Natal’s main commercial and administrative centre, with finance, retail and public-sector employment concentrated in central Durban.
Getting There
King Shaka International Airport, north of the city near La Mercy, serves the metro. The N2 runs along the coast connecting Durban to the Eastern Cape and to Richards Bay; the N3 climbs inland toward Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. Durban’s harbour is the country’s busiest container port.
FAQ
What is the seat of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality?
Durban.
What is the population of eThekwini?
4,239,901 people at the 2022 census, up from 3,476,686 in 2011.
Which districts border eThekwini?
iLembe to the north, Umgungundlovu to the west, Ugu to the south.
How big is eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality?
2,556 km².
What is eThekwini’s main economic activity?
Port logistics and manufacturing centred on Durban harbour, plus tourism and commerce.