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South Africa: Facts & Stats

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Facts

Also Known As Union of South Africa • Republic of South Africa
Head Of State And Government President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Capitals (De Facto) Pretoria2 (executive); Bloemfontein3 (judicial); Cape Town (legislative)
Population (2024 est.) 64,701,000
Currency Exchange Rate 1 USD equals 19.046 South African rand
Form Of Government multiparty republic with two legislative houses (National Council of Provinces [90]; National Assembly [400])
Official Languages See footnote 1.
Official Religion none
Official Name Republic of South Africa1
Total Area (Sq Km) 1,220,813
Total Area (Sq Mi) 471,359
Monetary Unit rand (R)
Population Rank (2023) 24
Population Projection 2030 61,592,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2023) 129.6
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2023) 50
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2020) 67.4% • Rural: (2020) 32.6%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2022) 60 years • Female: (2022) 65.6 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate Male: not available • Female: not available
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2022) 406,307
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2022) 6,780
1South Africa has 12 official languages; the country’s official name in each language is provided in parentheses: Afrikaans (Republiek van Suid-Afrika); English (Republic of South Africa); Ndebele (IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika); Pedi (Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa); Sotho (Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa); Swati (IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika); Tsonga (Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga); Tswana (Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa); Venda (Riphabuliki ya Afurika Tshipembe); Xhosa (IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika); Zulu (IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika); South African Sign Language.2Name of larger municipality including Pretoria is Tshwane. 3Name of larger municipality including Bloemfontein is Mangaung.

Did You Know?

  • South Africa is the only country that has dismantled its nuclear weapons program voluntarily.
  • The first successful human heart transplant was perfomed in Cape Town, South Africa.
  • An app developed in South Africa calculates the number of cows to pay for a bride's dowry.
  • South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge hosts the highest natural bungee jump in the world.

Photos and Videos

National anthem of South Africa

Topics

Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
president of South Africa
Jan Smuts.
Jan Smuts
South African statesman
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
president of South Africa
Malema, Julius
Julius Malema
South African politician
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
South African politician
Botha, Louis
Louis Botha
prime minister of Union of South Africa
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
South African archbishop
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
president of South Africa
Daniel F. Malan
South African politician
John Vorster.
John Vorster
prime minister of South Africa
J.B.M. Hertzog
prime minister of South Africa
Sir Hercules Robinson, lithograph by W.H. Schröder
Sir Hercules Robinson
British colonial governor
F.W. de Klerk
F.W. de Klerk
president of South Africa
P. W. Botha
state president of South Africa
Abbie Park Ferguson
American educator
Kgalema Motlanthe
Kgalema Motlanthe
president of South Africa
Steve Biko
Steve Biko
South African political leader
Hendrik Verwoerd
Hendrik Verwoerd
prime minister of South Africa
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
South African leader
Allan Boesak
South African clergyman

Africa
Africa
continent
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg
South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa locator map
Cape Town
national legislative capital, South Africa
Southern Africa, c. 1902
Transvaal
historical province, South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
province, South Africa
Western Cape
Western Cape
province, South Africa
Durban, South Africa locator map
Durban
South Africa
Northern Cape
Northern Cape
province, South Africa
Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
province, South Africa
Free State
Free State
province, South Africa
Gauteng
Gauteng
province, South Africa
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
province, South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa locator map
Pretoria
national administrative capital, South Africa
Limpopo
Limpopo
province, South Africa

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