A Community Survey conducted by the Statistics South Africa in October 2007, estimates the total population of Buffalo City to be 724 306, a marked growth from 2001 census which put it at 701 895.

In the last census (2007) the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality population was as follows:

General

• Number of households: 208 389
• African residents: 616 833
• Coloured residents: 52 212
• Asian residents: 1 950
• White residents: 53 311
• Male residents: 354 106
• Female residents: 370 200

Age breakdown

• 0-14 years: 196 085
• 15 – 64 years: 488 103
• 65 years and older: 40 118

Employment

• Employed: 82 000
• Unemployed: at least 84 000

Education

• No schooling: 12 696
• Some primary education (below grade 7): 50 836
• Complete primary education (grade7): 33 759
• Some secondary education (below grade 12): 229 291
• Complete secondary education (grade 12): 78 816
• Further education (certificate or diploma): 49 606
• Higher education (first degree and higher): 19 782
• Other/unspecified: 14 177

Annual household income

• Between R1 –R400: 18 677
• R401 – R800: 26 181
• R801 – R1 600: 62 514
• R1 601 – R3 200: 29 461
• R3 201 – R6 400: 25 179
• R6 401 – R12 800: 20 605
• R12 801 – R25 600: 7 520
• R25 601 – R51 200: 2 613
• R51 201 – R102 400: 1 054
• R102 401 – R204 800: 609
• R204 801 and more: 283

Area

• King William’s Town and Surroundings: 184 246
• East London: 204 862
• Mdantsane: 168 284
• Rural South: 63 967
• Rural North: 80 536

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government website has statistics and demographic information that help to give a complete picture of what life is like for those living in Buffalo City.

Basic statistics
Provincial capital: Bhisho
Principal languages:

• IsiXhosa 83,8%
• Afrikaans 9,6%
• English 3,7%
• SeSotho 2,2%

Population
Population: 6,3-million people
Percentage of national total: 15,5%
The population of the Eastern Cape was approximately 6,7 million in 1993, representing 16,4% of the total South African population. Population growth between 1985 and 1993 was 2,6%, slightly higher than the national average of 2,4%. Half of the population is between 15 and 65, compared with the national average of 58.3%. About 43% of the province's population is under the age of 15. 55% of the population is functionally urbanised but only a third live in official towns.

Area
Area: 69 580km²
Area as a percentage of total: 13,9%
The Eastern Cape is the second largest province in South Africa.

Economy
GDP (1995): R49,6634-million
Percentage of total: 13,3%
The Eastern Cape is the poorest province in terms of average on monthly expenditure, followed by Free State and the Northern Province according to the Statistics SA report: Measuring Poverty in South Africa. The wealthiest provinces were Gauteng, followed by the Western Cape.