South Africa

Flag of South Africa

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PROFILE
  • Area: 1,219,090 sq. km (470,693 sq. mi.)
  • Population: 54,300,704 (2016 est.)
  • Population growth rate: 0.99% (2016 est.)
  • Life expectancy: 63.1 years (2016)
  • Languages: IsiZulu (official) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%,
  • Religions: Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1%
  • Formal name: Republic of South Africa
  • Alternate names: Aforika Borwa, Afrika Borwa, Afrika Dzonga, Afrika-Borwa, Afurika Tshipembe, IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika, IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika, IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika, IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika, Mzantsi Afrika, Ningizimu Afrika, Rephaboliki ya
  • Government type: parliamentary republic
  • Leaders: chief of state and head of government: President Jacob ZUMA
  • Capital: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
  • Administrative divisions: 9 provinces
  • GDP per capita (PPP): $13,200 (2015 est.)
  • Exports: gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
  • Imports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs
  • Currency: rand (ZAR)