Alarm has been raised over the Western Cape trailing in the nationwide census count.

Premier Alan Winde warns that the low numbers will impact residents in the years to come as this process helps in accurately determining the population growth and ultimately budget allocations.

The latest data from Statistics South Africa, which conducts the census, shows that only around 55% of people have been counted, while the average number counted in the country stands at 87%. Winde says this is concerning as the extended deadline is on Saturday.

The low number count in the province has been blamed on among others the failure to recruit enough data collectors, inability to get the appropriate vehicles in farming areas as well as an unwillingness by some residents to be counted.