South Africa is a country located on the southern tip of the African continent. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Eswatini to the northeast, and Lesotho, an enclave within South Africa, to the east. The country has a diverse population of approximately 60 million people and has 11 official languages.

South Africa is known for its stunning natural beauty, which includes the famous Table Mountain in Cape Town, the Kruger National Park, and the Drakensberg Mountains. The country is also famous for its wildlife, including the "Big Five" (lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros, and Cape buffalo), as well as its diverse plant life.

South Africa has a rich cultural history, and its past has been shaped by colonization, apartheid, and a struggle for freedom and democracy. The country is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Robben Island Museum, which was once a prison where Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists were held.

South Africa is one of the most industrialized countries in Africa, with a well-developed economy that is focused on mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. The country is also home to several multinational corporations, including the mining company Anglo American and the retailer Woolworths.

Despite the progress made since the end of apartheid, South Africa still faces significant challenges, including high levels of crime, poverty, and inequality. The country has made significant progress in combating HIV/AIDS, but the disease remains a significant public health concern.

Telephone Code
27

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 10177; Fire: 10177; Police: 10111

Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccine, at least 10 days before arrival, is required for travelers originating from or transiting through WHO-designated yellow fever countries. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Currency (Code)
Rand (ZAR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, M, N

Major Languages
IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, English, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele

Major Religions
Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Kruger National Park; Cape Town; Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Park; Stellenbosch; Drakensberg; Garden Route; iSimangaliso Wetland Park; Cape of Good Hope; Robben Island (Nelson Mandela's prison); Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng

Major Sports
Rugby, cricket, soccer, boxing

Cultural Practices
Placing both hands together with fingers pointing up is a way to say "thank you."

Tipping Guidelines
It is customary to tip 10-15% for good service in restaurants. For private drivers, 100 rand per person per day is appropriate.

Souvenirs
Zulu spoons, Zulu beaded items, seshweshwe fabric, Rooibos tea, wine and liqueur

Traditional Cuisine
Bobotie — minced meat simmered with spices, especially curry powder, herbs, and dried fruit, then topped with a mixture of egg and milk and baked

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
58,048,332 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)

Languages
isiZulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes Khoi, Nama, and San languages) 2%; note - data represent language spoken most often at home (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
0.91% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

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)
$790.625 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$13,300 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
sugar cane, maize, milk, potatoes, grapes, poultry, oranges, wheat, soybeans, beef

Industries
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Exports
$130.885 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
China 15%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, United States 6%, India 6% (2019)

Exports - commodities
gold, platinum, cars, iron products, coal, manganese, diamonds (2019)

Imports
$104.806 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 18%, Germany 11%, United States 6%, India 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, gold, broadcasting equipment (2019)