Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting, which has grown in recent years, came to a head in September 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI resigned, and Kgalema MOTLANTHE, the party's General-Secretary, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in April 2009.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,219,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 25
land: 1,214,470 sq km
water: 4,620 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,798 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 9.87%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 89.79% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,700 sq km (2012)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
51.4 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%)
per capita: 271.7 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
prolonged droughts
volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
IsiZulu (official) 23.82%, IsiXhosa (official) 17.64%, Afrikaans (official) 13.35%, Sepedi (offcial) 9.39%, English (official) 8.2%, Setswana (official) 8.2%, Sesotho (official) 7.93%, Xitsonga (official) 4.44%, siSwati (official) 2.66%, Tshivenda (official) 2.28%, isiNdebele (official) 1.59%, other 0.5% (2001 census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
48,601,098 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
note: Statistics South Africa (the national statistical agency of South Africa) estimates the country's mid-year 2013 total population to be 52,981,991, which takes into account the findings of South Africa's 2011 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 6,909,066/female 6,866,163)
15-24 years: 20.6% (male 5,041,412/female 4,960,190)
25-54 years: 38.1% (male 9,561,452/female 8,948,398)
55-64 years: 6.9% (male 1,450,420/female 1,916,960)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,177,999/female 1,769,038) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 53.9 %
youth dependency ratio: 45.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 %
potential support ratio: 11.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 25.5 years
male: 25.2 years
female: 25.8 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.45% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.14 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.36 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-6.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 197
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2013 est.)
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 62% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 1.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Johannesburg 3.607 million; Cape Town 3.353 million; Ekurhuleni (East Rand) 3.144 million; Durban 2.837 million; PRETORIA (capital) 1.404 million (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.5 (2003 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 39
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 42.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 45.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 38.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 49.48 years
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 50.43 years
female: 48.51 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.25 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
59.9% (2003/04)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 54
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.6 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
310,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.6% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 63
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 38
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.9%
female: 92.2% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 51.5%
country comparison to the world: 6
male: 47.1%
female: 56.9% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
former: Union of South Africa
abbreviation: RSA
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Pretoria (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved 4 December 1997, effective 4 February 1997; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Jacob ZUMA elected president; National Assembly vote - Jacob ZUMA 277, Mvume DANDALA 47, other 76
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) and the National Assembly (400 seats; members elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held on 22 April 2009 (next to be held in April 2014)
election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 65.9%, DA 16.7%, COPE 7.4%, IFP 4.6%, other 5.4%; seats by party - ANC 264, DA 67, COPE 30, IFP 18, other 21
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): 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 selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice-president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Joint Services Commission (JSC), a 22-member body of judicial and other government officials, and a law academics; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service in terms of an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 12-year non-renewable terms or until age 70
subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts;
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]
note: COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Ebrahim RASOOL (since 4 August 2010)
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick GASPARD (since 1 August 2013)
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era
note: the South African flag is one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Sudan's
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
springbok antelope
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "National Anthem of South Africa"
lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers
note: adopted 1994; the anthem is a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; the official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English; the music incorporates the melody used in the Tanzanian and Zambian anthems
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors and a stock exchange that is the 15th largest in the world. Even though the country possesses modern infrastructure that support a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, some components retard growth. The economy began to slow in the second half of 2007 due to an electricity crisis. State power supplier Eskom encountered problems with aging plants and meeting electricity demand necessitating "load-shedding" cuts in 2007 and 2008 to residents and businesses in the major cities. Subsequently, the global financial crisis reduced commodity prices and world demand. GDP fell nearly 2% in 2009 but has recovered since then. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality remain a challenge, with official unemployment at nearly 25% of the work force. Eskom has built two new power stations and installed new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability. South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation, however, the country has had significant budget deficits that restrict its ability to deal with pressing economic problems. The current government faces growing pressure from special interest groups to use state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to low-income areas and to increase job growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$576.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$379.1 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$11,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 60.4%
government consumption: 22.4%
investment in fixed capital: 19.2%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 28.3%
imports of goods and services: -31.3%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 28.4%
services: 69% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18.06 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 9%
industry: 26%
services: 65% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.3% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 51.7% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
63.1 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 2
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $99.56 billion
expenditures: $117.8 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-4.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 38
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.75% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$122 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$277 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$298.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.038 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-24.07 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$93.48 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 11.8%, US 8.3%, Japan 6%, Germany 5.7%, India 4.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$102.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 14.4%, Germany 10.1%, Saudi Arabia 7.7%, US 7.4%, Japan 4.6%, India 4.5% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$130.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$139 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$82.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
rand (ZAR) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
257.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
234.2 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.04 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.89 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44.26 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
90.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
181,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
385,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 86
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
437,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
590,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
80,460 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
79,010 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.28 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.01 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es)
country comparison to the world: 78
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
461.6 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.03 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 42
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68.4 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 19
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber-optic submarine cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; the EASSy fiber-optic cable system connects with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international channels; well developed mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network, state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.za
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.761 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 23
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.42 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
566 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 11
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 144
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 65
under 914 m: 9 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 422
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 258
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
condensate 94 km; gas 1,293 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,460 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 20,192 km
country comparison to the world: 14
narrow gauge: 19,756 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified); 122 km 0.750-m gauge; 314 km 0.610-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 364,131 km
country comparison to the world: 19
paved: 62,995 km (includes 254 km of expressways)
unpaved: 301,136 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 134
by type: petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 19 (Australia 1, Isle of Man 2, Mexico 1, NZ 1, Seychelles 1, Singapore 13) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay
container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,712,975)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 13,439,781
females age 16-49: 12,473,641 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 7,617,063
females age 16-49: 6,476,264 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 482,122
female: 485,017 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.16% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 269
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refugees (country of origin): 17,864 (Somalia); 13,386 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 5,805 (Angola); 5,538 (Ethiopia) (2012)