South Africa
Size
1,219,090 km2
Key economic sectors
Mining services and transport, energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture
Population
49.32 million (mid-2009)
Estimates by population group and gender
|
Population |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|||
|
Number |
% of total |
Number |
% of total |
Number |
% of total |
|
|
Black |
18 901 000 |
79,2 |
20 235 200 |
79,5 |
39 136 200 |
79,3 |
|
Coloured |
2 137 300 |
9,0 |
2 295 800 |
9,0 |
4 433 100 |
9,0 |
|
Indian/Asian |
635 700 |
2,6 |
643 400 |
2,5 |
1 279 100 |
2,6 |
|
White |
2 194 700 |
9,2 |
2 277 400 |
9,0 |
4 472 100 |
9,1 |
|
Total |
23 868 700 |
100,0 |
25 451 800 |
100,0 |
49 320 500 |
100,0 |
Source: Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2009
Official languages
- English
- isiZulu
- isiXhosa
- isiNdebele
- Afrikaans
- siSwati
- Sesotho sa Leboa
- Sesotho
- Setswana
- Tshivenda
- Xitsonga
Mother tongues
|
isiZulu |
23,8% |
|
Sesotho |
7,9% |
|
IsiXhosa |
17,6% |
|
Xitsonga |
4,4% |
|
Afrikaans |
13,3% |
|
siSwati |
2,7% |
|
Sesotho sa Leboa |
9,4% |
|
Tsivenda |
2,3% |
|
English |
8,2% |
|
isiNdebele |
1,6% |
|
Setswana |
8,2% |
|
Other |
0,5% |
Source: Census 2001
Although English is the mother tongue of only 8,2% of the population, it is the language most widely understood, and the second language of the majority of South Africans.
Government
Constitutional multiparty, three-tier (local, provincial, national) democracy.
Capitals
- Pretoria (administrative)
- Cape Town (legislative)
- Bloemfontein (judicial)
Provinces
- Western Cape
- Eastern Cape
- KwaZulu-Natal
- Northern Cape
- Free State
- North West
- Gauteng
- Mpumalanga
- Limpopo
Currency
Rand (ZAR). 100 cents equals one rand
Time
GMT +2 hours
Distances
- Cape Town to Johannesburg 1 400 km (880 miles)
- Johannesburg to Durban 600 km (380 miles)
- Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein 700 km (440 miles)
Transportation
Excellent roads, rail and air facilities (both domestic and international)
Telecommunications
World-class infrastructure. Internet access is widely available. There are four mobile (cellular) networks.
Value-added tax
Levied at 14%. Tourists may apply for tax refunds on purchases over R250 on departure.
Health
Top-quality healthcare is available throughout the country, although basic in rural areas.
Inoculations are only required for those travelling from yellow-fever areas. Malaria precautions are necessary in some areas.
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