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South Africa

2025 Edition · 450 data fields

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Introduction

Background

Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-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 settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance 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 from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption.

Geography

Area

Land: 1,214,470 sq km
Note: note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Total: 1,219,090 sq km
Water: 4,620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate

mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Coastline

2,798 km

Continent

Africa

Elevation

Highest point: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m
Lowest point: Atlantic/Indian Oceans 0 m
Mean elevation: 1,034 m

Geographic coordinates

29 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note

note 1: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini note 2: sometimes mistaken for the southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is more accurately described as the southwestern-most point of the African continent; Cape Agulhas, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is the southernmost point of the African continent

Irrigated land

16,700 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

Border countries: Botswana 1,969 km; Lesotho 1,106 km; Mozambique 496 km; Namibia 1,005 km; Eswatini 438 km; Zimbabwe 230 km
number of neighbors: 6
Total: 5,244 km

Land use

Agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.)
arable land: 9.89%
Forest: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Other: 1.9% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 0.34%

Landlocked

Location

Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Major aquifers

Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin

Major rivers (by length in km)

Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpoporivier (Limpopo) river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)

Map links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/CLCZ1R8Uz1KpYhRv6
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/87565

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano

Natural resources

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
note: note: South Africa was the World's leading chromite ore producer in 2022 with an output of 18,000 mt

Population distribution

the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map

Subregion

Southern Africa

Terrain

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Time zone

UTC+02:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 8,227,690/female 8,194,392)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,524,873/female 19,947,839)
65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,911,825/female 2,636,028)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer: 3.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 1.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 7.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 1.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

17.21 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

Men married by age 18: 0.6% (2016)
Women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016)
Women married by age 18: 3.6% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.9% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

33.6% (2020 est.)

Death rate

6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 213 per 1,000
adult male: 327 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Total dependency ratio: 53 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 41.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total: 68.01%
Improved: rural: rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.1% national budget (2025 est.)

Education expenditures

6 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
note: note: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years

Gross reproduction rate

1.1 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

9 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.2%

Infant mortality rate

Female: 20 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
neonatal: 12 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 19.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages: isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
Major-language sample(s): Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Note: note: data represent language spoken most often at home
number of languages: 11

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 73.5 years
Male: 70.3 years
Total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female: 90.8% (2024 est.)
Male: 91.5% (2024 est.)
Total population: 91.2% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

10.316 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.890 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.228 million Durban, 2.818 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.296 million Port Elizabeth, 934,000 West Rand (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

Female: 30.6 years
Male: 30.1 years
Total: 30.7 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

52 births/1,000 women 15-19

Nationality

Adjective: South African
Noun: South African(s)

Net migration rate

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

Female: 31,099,957
Male: 29,989,969
Total: 61,089,926 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.06% (2025 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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved total: 73.78%
Improved: rural: rural: 81.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 18.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female: 14 years (2022 est.)
Male: 14 years (2022 est.)
Total: 14 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female: 6% (2025 est.)
Male: 35.3% (2025 est.)
Total: 20.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles: 76%

Government

Administrative divisions

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape

Capital

Etymology: Pretoria was named in honor of Boer statesman Andries PRETORIUS in 1855; Cape Town's name refers to its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein was named after the farm on which it was built in 1846, whose name combined the Dutch words bloem (flower) and fontein (fountain)
Geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E
Name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa
Dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 year

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/za.svg

Constitution

Amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president
History: several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997

Country name

Abbreviation: RSA
alternative spellings: ZA, RSA, Suid-Afrika, Republic of South Africa
Conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
Conventional short form: South Africa
Etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
FIFA code: RSA
Former: Union of South Africa
local long form (afr): Republiek van Suid-Afrika

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Leo Brent BOZELL III; Chargé d’Affaires Marc DILLARD (since October 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Email address and website: ACSJohannesburg@state.gov https://za.usembassy.gov/
Embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299
Mailing address: 9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC  20521-9300
Telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 17 March 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Email address and website: Info.saembassyDC@dirco.gov.za https://www.saembassy.org/
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
Telephone: [1] (240) 937-5760

Executive branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Election results: 2024: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed 2019: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed
Election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Expected date of next election: May 2029
Head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Most recent election date: 29 May 2024
Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: 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 meaning: the colors have no official meaning, but the Y stands for "the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"
note: note: South Africa has one of two national flags that display six colors as part of the primary design -- the other is South Sudan's

Flag description

The flag of South Africa is composed of two equal horizontal bands of red and blue, with a yellow-edged black isosceles triangle superimposed on the hoist side of the field. This triangle has its base centered on the hoist end, spans about two-fifth the width and two-third the height of the field, and is enclosed on its sides by the arms of a white-edged green horizontally oriented Y-shaped band which extends along the boundary of the red and blue bands to the fly end of the field.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/za.svg

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

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 Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa 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 serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70
Subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts

Legal system

mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law

Legislative branch

Legislative structure: bicameral
Legislature name: Parliament

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Chamber name: National Assembly
Electoral system: proportional representation
Expected date of next election: May 2029
Most recent election date: 6/15/2024
Number of seats: 400 (all directly elected)
Percentage of women in chamber: 44.7%
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Chamber name: National Council of Provinces
Expected date of next election: June 2029
Most recent election date: 5/29/2024
Note: note: the Council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities
Number of seats: 90 (all appointed)
Percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years

National color(s)

red, green, blue, yellow, black, white

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c); iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n); Robben Island (c); Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m); Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c); Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n); Vredefort Dome (n); Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c); Khomani Cultural Landscape (c); Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n); Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (c); The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (c)
Total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed)

National holiday

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

National symbol(s)

springbok (antelope), king protea flower

Political parties

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP African Independent Congress or AIC African National Congress or ANC African People's Convention or APC Agang SA Congress of the People or COPE Democratic Alliance or DA Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF Freedom Front Plus or FF+ GOOD Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP National Freedom Party or NFP Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP United Democratic Movement or UDM

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

sugarcane, maize, milk, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, grapes, chicken, oranges, apples (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco: 4.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 16.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures: $137.593 billion (2022 est.)
Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $123.263 billion (2022 est.)

Currency

code: ZAR
name: South African rand (ZAR) [R]

Current account balance

$-2,578,559,236
Current account balance 2022: -$1.878 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$6.143 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$2.384 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$175.9 billion
Debt - external 2023: $93.879 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals

Exchange rates

Currency: rand (ZAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 16.459 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 18.45 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 18.329 (2024 est.)

Exports

$127.53 billion
Exports 2022: $136.01 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $124.671 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $127.629 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, platinum, coal, cars, iron ore (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $2.33 billion

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services: 31.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 19.2% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 64.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -29.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 14.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.6% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Industry: 24.4% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 62.7% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$400.261 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$6,267

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

63 (2014)

GNI (gross national income)

$393.26 billion

GNI per capita

$6,110

Gross domestic investment

14 % of GDP

Imports

$119.76 billion
Imports 2022: $127.669 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $123.454 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $119.59 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 21%, India 7%, USA 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-0.4% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.36%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

27.766 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 26.73 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 5.41%
industry: 20.76%
services: 73.83%

Public debt

79 % of GDP
Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2022: 76.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$989.31 billion
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $859.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $865.402 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $870.42 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

0.53%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.6% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$15,456
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

$855.37 million
Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$65.43 billion
Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $60.553 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $62.492 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $65.435 billion (2024 est.)

Revenue (excl grants)

30 % of GDP

Tax revenue

25 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

26% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

32.39%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 33.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 33.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Male: 57.1% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 60.9% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Consumption: 176.095 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 66.918 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.301 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Production: 239.712 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 9.893 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 194.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption per capita: 3,247 kWh
Exports: 12.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 10.837 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 65.989 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 22.838 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - rural areas: 93.4%
Electrification - total population: 86.5% (2022 est.)
Electrification - urban areas: 87.1%

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectric: 2.91%
Hydroelectricity: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
renewable: 6.45%
Solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Wind: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

1,939 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 86.197 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption: 3.834 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.768 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 66.094 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.85GW (2025 est.)
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production: 4.4% (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 609,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Total petroleum production: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

9.7%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 3 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Total: 2.15 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 6 free-to-air TV stations; 1 private TV station; multiple subscription TV services with mix of local and international channels; mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; state-owned SABC radio network has 18 stations, including one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; over 100 community stations with rural coverage

Internet country code

.za

Internet users

Percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

####

Telephone calling code

+27

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1.353 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 172 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 115 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Air transport

passengers carried: 15.45 million passengers
registered carrier departures: 169,154 departures

Airports

573 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Left

Heliports

49 (2025)

Merchant marine

By type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 99
Total: 110 (2023)

Ports

Key ports: Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay
Large: 2
Medium: 4
Ports with oil terminals: 7
Small: 1
Total ports: 8 (2024)
Very small: 1

Railways

Narrow gauge: 19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified)
Standard gauge: 80 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified)
Total: 30,400 km (2021)

Vehicle registration code

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

Military - note

the South African National Defense Force's (SANDF) primary responsibilities include territorial and maritime defense, supporting the Police Service, protecting key infrastructure, responding to disasters, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; border security and maintaining a rapid reaction capability for regional security missions and disaster response have been priorities; in recent years, it has been deployed internally to assist the Police with quelling unrest and assisting with border security; the SANDF also regularly participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force the SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands (2025)

Military and security forces

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services Ministry of Police: South African Police Service (SAPS) (2025)
active duty personnel: 89,000
percent of total labor force: 0.40 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 65-70,000 active-duty National Defense Forces (2025)

Military deployments

approximately 2,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SANDF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US origin armaments, alongside some domestic systems, such as combat helicopters and some naval vessels; South Africa has one of Africa's leading defense industries (2025)

Military expenditures

1 % of GDP
current USD: $2,835,956,043
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
percent of central government expenditure: 2.11 %
percent of GDP: 0.70 % of GDP

Military service age and obligation

18-22 (18-26 for college graduates) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)
note: note: in 2023, women comprised nearly 30% of the military

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 0.6843

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 7,385 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 171,484 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore South Africa was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-africa/

Space

Key space-program milestones

1976 - established a satellite remote sensing (RS)/radio astronomy center (originally built by the US in 1961 to receive data from US space missions) 1980s - conducted program to launch reconnaissance satellites on a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (abandoned in 1994 along with nuclear program) 1999 - first domestically built RS/technology demonstrator microsatellite (Sunsat-1) launched by US 2009 - first government-owned and -operated RS/scientific/technology demonstrator satellite (SumbandilaSat) launched by Russia 2018 - inaugurated a radio space telescope array (Karoo Array Telescope or MeerKAT) 2021 - began construction of the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope observatory; launched a sounding rocket for research purposes to an altitude of nearly 18,000 km (11,185 mi) 2022 - opened Africa's first regional space weather center 2023 - agreed to participate in China's international lunar research station project

Space agency/agencies

South African National Space Agency (SANSA; established 2010) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

Arniston launch facility (Western Cape) used to support space launch vehicle and ballistic missile program (1980s-1990s); it is now a weapons testing facility called the Denel Overberg Test Range (2024)

Space program overview

key areas of emphasis for its national space program include Earth observation/remote sensing (RS) capabilities, weather monitoring, research, engineering, and operations (tracking, telemetry, etc.); produces and operates satellites; has a sounding rocket program for carrying experimental payloads for research; cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, Russia, and the US; member of the African Space Agency; participates in international programs such as the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a number of state- and privately-owned aerospace companies, as well as academic and research institutions involved in space-related activities (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

From coal and metallurgical coke: 365.269 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.522 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 73.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total emissions: 446.704 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited freshwater resources due to lack of major rivers or lakes; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban waste; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; significant floral extinctions

International environmental agreements

Party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

Agriculture: 754.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 1,489.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Other: 32.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 770.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

17 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

13 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

4 % of total

Total renewable water resources

51.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

47 % of internal resources
Agricultural: 11.839 billion cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 4.616 billion cubic meters (2022)
Municipal: 3.476 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 18.457 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.2% (2022 est.)