Introduction
Background
By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups settled into northeastern South Africa. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652. The British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806. British and Afrikaners (Dutch descendants) ruled jointly from 1910 to 1961 in the Union of South Africa. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 followed the end of apartheid.
Geography
Area
total : 1,219,090 sq km
land: 1,214,470 sq km
water: 4,620 sq km
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Natural resources
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
People and Society
Population
total: 60,442,647
Ethnic groups
Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages
isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
Religions
Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.)
Population growth rate
1.07% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Legislative branch
summary: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council of Provinces (90 seats) and the National Assembly (400 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 3 May 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Reuben E. BRIGETY II (since 11 August 2022)
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income South African economy; hard hit by COVID-19; poor utilities management; key rare earth goods exporter; high income inequality; hosts Africa’s largest stock exchange; rising unemployment, especially youth; land rights changes
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$862.981 billion (2023 est.)
$857.82 billion (2022 est.)
$841.739 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$14,300 (2023 est.)
$14,300 (2022 est.)
$14,200 (2021 est.)
Exports
$124.731 billion (2023 est.)
$136.112 billion (2022 est.)
$130.882 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
China 16%, US 7%, Germany 7%, India 6%, Japan 6% (2022)
Exports - commodities
gold, platinum, coal, cars, diamonds (2022)
Imports
$123.541 billion (2023 est.)
$127.596 billion (2022 est.)
$104.867 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 21%, Germany 9%, India 7%, US 5%, Saudi Arabia 4% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, October 15, 2024
