01
Physical geography
Vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain.
Local timePretoria ·
Africa / Southern Africa · Card 049
South Africa
South Africa is a country in Southern Africa. Its capital is Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
Find South Africa
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Languages
- 12 official languages
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)
- Population
- 64.7 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,221,037 km²471,445 square miles
- Key transition
- 1994 · universal-suffrage election
South Africa in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Pretoria; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
There are 12 official languages: Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga and South African Sign Language.
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Location
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.
Flag
Two equal-width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y; a black isosceles triangle is in the Y, with narrow yellow bands around it; the red and blue bands are bordered by narrow white stripes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Statistics South Africa · official languages
History & independence
The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 under British dominion status; the country became a republic in 1961. Resistance to apartheid, international pressure and negotiations led to the first national elections with universal adult suffrage in 1994.
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The Union of South Africa is formed
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The National Party begins formal apartheid policies
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The first fully inclusive national election is held
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Statistics South Africa · official languages
Economy
Main activities
Services, manufacturing, mining and agriculture form a diversified economy. Minerals, vehicles and agricultural products are important exports. Electricity supply, employment and inequality remain major economic issues.
Industry and production
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Statistics South Africa · official languages
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people64.72025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 22,279,984 | 22.280 |
| 1980 | 29,518,857 | 29.519 |
| 1990 | 40,746,268 | 40.746 |
| 2000 | 47,159,719 | 47.160 |
| 2010 | 52,344,051 | 52.344 |
| 2020 | 60,562,381 | 60.562 |
| 2025 | 64,747,319 | 64.747 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars369.92025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 185,160,422,892 | 185.160 |
| 1991 | 183,275,036,204 | 183.275 |
| 1992 | 179,358,388,483 | 179.358 |
| 1993 | 181,570,878,123 | 181.571 |
| 1994 | 187,381,146,228 | 187.381 |
| 1995 | 193,189,961,763 | 193.190 |
| 1996 | 201,497,130,113 | 201.497 |
| 1997 | 206,736,055,499 | 206.736 |
| 1998 | 207,769,735,777 | 207.770 |
| 1999 | 212,756,209,431 | 212.756 |
| 2000 | 221,691,970,228 | 221.692 |
| 2001 | 227,677,653,425 | 227.678 |
| 2002 | 236,102,579,036 | 236.103 |
| 2003 | 243,065,422,272 | 243.065 |
| 2004 | 254,135,982,543 | 254.136 |
| 2005 | 267,546,870,424 | 267.547 |
| 2006 | 282,539,679,230 | 282.540 |
| 2007 | 297,685,145,427 | 297.685 |
| 2008 | 307,184,409,061 | 307.184 |
| 2009 | 302,459,639,040 | 302.460 |
| 2010 | 311,653,604,140 | 311.654 |
| 2011 | 321,528,523,982 | 321.529 |
| 2012 | 329,233,094,599 | 329.233 |
| 2013 | 337,416,077,838 | 337.416 |
| 2014 | 342,186,555,601 | 342.187 |
| 2015 | 346,709,790,459 | 346.710 |
| 2016 | 349,013,858,373 | 349.014 |
| 2017 | 353,055,253,707 | 353.055 |
| 2018 | 358,551,560,869 | 358.552 |
| 2019 | 359,483,563,937 | 359.484 |
| 2020 | 337,307,318,680 | 337.307 |
| 2021 | 353,695,896,167 | 353.696 |
| 2022 | 360,975,440,919 | 360.975 |
| 2023 | 363,885,280,376 | 363.885 |
| 2024 | 365,831,497,261 | 365.831 |
| 2025 | 369,909,150,542 | 369.909 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.741High human developmentRank 106 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.633
20000.618
20100.669
20200.724
20230.741
66.1 yearsLife expectancy at birth
11.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary republic. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). Government is formed through the parliamentary system.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Statistics South Africa · official languages
Knowledge check
Three questions about South Africa.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in South Africa: The National Party begins formal apartheid policies?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile · Statistics South Africa · official languages
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.