South Africa

Population

64.0M

Rank #24

Source: World Bank

Capital

Pretoria

Source: REST Countries

Region

Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

Source: REST Countries

GDP (Nominal)

$401.14B

Rank #40

Source: World Bank

Land Area

1.2M km²

Rank #25

Source: REST Countries

Life Expectancy

66.139 yrs

Source: World Bank

Historical Trends

Population Trend (5-Year)

Source: World Bank

GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)

Source: World Bank

Geography

Area: 1,221,037 km²

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation: mean elevation: 1,034 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural Hazards: prolonged droughtsvolcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano

Environmental Issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban...

Land Use: agricultural land: 79.4% (2011 est.) forest: 7.6% (2011 est.) other: 13% (2011 est.)

Geography Note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini

Natural Resources

goldchromiumantimonycoaliron oremanganesenickelphosphatestinrare earth elements

People & Society

Fertility Rate

2.22

Population

64.0M

Ethnic Groups

black African (80.9%)colored (8.8%)white (7.8%)Indian/Asian (2.5%)

Religions

Christian (86%)or other traditional African religions (5.4%)Muslim (1.9%)other (1.5%)nothing in particular (5.2%)

Economy

GDP per Capita

$6,267.187

GDP per Capita PPP

15,456.199
(2024)

GNI per Capita

6,110
(2024)

Gini Index

63
(2014)

Unemployment

32.279%
(2024)

Inflation

4.361%
(2024)

Public Debt

79.447%
(2023)

Energy

Electricity Access

87.7%
(2023)

Renewable Energy

9.7%
(2021)

CO₂ Emissions

440.168 Mt
(2024)

Energy Intensity

6.57 MJ/$
(2021)

Renewable Electricity

6.448%
(2021)

Environment

Forest Coverage

13.965% of land
(2023)

Communications

Internet Users

75.659%
(2023)

Mobile Penetration

171.509%
(2023)

Broadband Subscribers

3.406%
(2023)

Transportation

Air Transport Freight

59.665 M ton-km
(2023)

Container Port Traffic

4,053,350 TEU
(2022)

Airports

169,154

Rail Lines

20,953 km

Roads Total

767,608 km(©IRF)

Military

Military Forces

South African National Defence Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services

Personnel Strength

the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is comprised of approximately 75,000 personnel (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force; 8,000 Military Health Service; 10,000 other)

Military Expenditure (USD)

$2.84B

Military Expenditure (% of GDP)

0.70%

Military Expenditure History

1% of GDP (2019) 1% of GDP (2018) 1% of GDP (2017) 1.1% of GDP (2016) 1.1% of GDP (2015)

Deployments

1,050 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2020)

Equipment & Inventories

the SANDF's inventory consists of a mix of domestically-produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were...

Service Age & Obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation

Education

Pre-Primary Enrollment

17.546%
(2020)

Primary Enrollment

101.772%
(2023)

Secondary Enrollment

104.133%
(2023)

Tertiary Enrollment

23.494%
(2023)

Education Spending

6.021% of GDP
(2024)

Adult Literacy Rate

91.15%
(2024)

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

30.332:1
(2015)

Health

Physicians per 1,000

0.794
(2022)

Safe Water Access

90.192%
(2024)

Safe Drinking Water

68.008%
(2024)

Under-5 Mortality

34.7 per 1,000
(2023)

Maternal Mortality (World Bank)

15.271 per 100,000
(2021)

Hospital Beds per 1,000

61.499
(2021)

UHC Coverage Index

74
(2023)

Measles Immunization

74%
(2024)

Social Indicators

Extreme Poverty Rate

31.2%
(2014)

Food Insecurity

10%
(2023)

Youth NEET Rate

60.111%
(2024)

Governance

Women in Government

44.703%
(2024)

Voice & Accountability

0.74
(Above Average)
(2023)

Political Stability

-0.67
(Below Average)
(2023)

Government Effectiveness

-0.26
(Below Average)
(2023)

Regulatory Quality

-0.22
(Below Average)
(2023)

Rule of Law

0.09
(Above Average)
(2023)

Control of Corruption

-0.28
(Below Average)
(2023)

Government

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Legal System

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018); Deputy President David MABUZA (26 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government;...

Legislative Branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of:National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10-member delegations appointed by each of the 9 provincial legislatures to serve 5-year terms; note - the...

Judicial Branch

highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge...

International Organizations

ACPAfDB AU BISBRICSCCD FAO

National Symbols

Flag Description

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a...

National Symbols

springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white

National Anthem

name: National Anthem of South Africa lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers note: adopted 1994; a combination of "N'kosi...

Safety

Homicide Rate

43.72 per 100,000
(2022)

Travel Information

Language(s): Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, +8 more

Currency: ZAR (R)

Timezone(s): UTC+02:00

Landlocked: No

Independent: Yes

Driving Side: Left

Calling Code: +27

Car Sign: ZA

Week Starts: Monday

Photos

Cape Town is considered to be one of the great scenic cities of the world. Situated in the southwestern part of Cape Province, it lies at the foot of Table Mountain (1,088 m; 3,567 feet in altitude) on the shore of Table Bay, in which lies Robben Island. Because the mountains obstruct inland expansion, the city has developed along the coast. The Cape of Good Hope appears at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Franschhoek (Afrikaans for "French Corner") is a small town in Western Cape Province and one of the oldest towns in the Republic of South Africa. Settlement by French Huguenot refugees began in 1688 and many of their original farms are today renowned wineries. The town, at the very heart of the South African wine industry, still retains much of its historic Dutch Cape-style architecture, including this much photographed Dutch Reformed Church.

Sculpture at a Cape Town shopping mall.

Cape Town waterfront. Pleasure boats, ferries, and cranes fill the harbor.

Monument marking Table Mountain as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Table Mountain - a level plataeu about 3 km (2 mi) from side to side - overlooking some homes in Cape Town.

31 photos available

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Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data

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South Africa