The annual REB Provincial Review analyses developments in the real economy and in development policies and projects at the provincial level. Provincial GDP data are only available up to 2014.

The share of provinces in the national GDP and population varies substantially. Gauteng alone accounts for over a third of the GDP and almost a quarter of the population. In contrast, the Eastern Cape accounts for 13% of the population but 8% of the GDP, while the Northern Cape contributes just 2% of both the economy and the population.

The differences are even starker in the provinces' contribution to the real economy. Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal together account for 77% of national manufacturing production and 74% of manufacturing employment. Gauteng dominates heavy industry, while the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have more light industry.

Report by the Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies