South Africa

Official English Name: Republic of South Africa
Official Local Name(s): Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)
!Riphabhuliki yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
Note: 8 other official local names exist; these are the most widely spoken official languages
Common English Name: South Africa
Capital: Pretoria (Executive)
Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Cape Town (Legislative)

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Official Language(s)

Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, Ndebele
Secondary Languages:

Resources

Gold, Chromium, Antimony, Coal, Iron ore, Manganese, Nickel, Phosphates, Tin, Rare earth elements, Uranium, Gem diamonds, Platinum, Copper, Vanadium, Salt, Natural gas

Neighbors

Namibia (Northwest), Botswana (North), Zimbabwe (Northeast), Mozambique (Northeast), Swaziland (Northeast), Lesotho (Surrounding)

Ethnic groups

Black African (80.2%), Coloured (8.8%)¹, White (8.4%), Asian (2.5%)

People

Est. Population:

54,300,704

Demonym:

South African

Religions:

Other Christian (37.6%)
Protestant (20.9%)
Indigenous (18.6%)
Roman Catholic (17.0%)
Anglican (1.9%)

Largest City:

Soweto (1,271,628)

Other Cities:

Johannesburg (957,441)
Pretoria (741,651)
Durban (595,061)
Tembisa (463,109)
Cape Town (433,688)

Geography

Region:

Southern Africa

Bodies of Water:

Indian Ocean (South and East)
Atlantic Ocean (West)

Total Area:

1,219,090 km² (99.6% land, 0.4% water)

Total Land:

4,862 km

Total Coastline:

2,798 km

Climate

Semiarid

Terrain:

Vast interior plateau
Rugged hills
Coastal plain

Highest Point

Njesuthi (3,408 m)

Lowest Point

Sea Level

Natural Disasters

Droughts
Volcanic activity

Government

Type:

Republic

Head of State and Government:

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Admin. Divisions

9 Provinces

Independence:

31 May 1961 (Declaration of republic)

Nat'l Symbol:

Springbok antelope

Nat'l Anthem:

National Anthem of South Africa

Economy

GDP Per Capita

$13,100 (USD)

Currency

R (Rand)

Exchange Rate

$1 (USD) = R (Rand)14.22

Communication

Internet Code

.za

Telephone Code

+27

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Cultural Notes

Traditional culture in South Africa among the Bantu peoples is still prevalent in rural areas.

Sources

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html (Majority of information)
https://joshuaproject.net/countries/SF (Religious data)
http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P03014/P030142011.pdf (City population data)
Wolfram|Alpha (Currency exchange data)
Information accurate to best of ability as of 30 November 2016
¹Coloured is a term used by South Africans to describe someone of mixed race.

SOUTH AFRICA