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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

12.1 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international : 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

5,206,235 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

67 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

3.45 million (1990 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues : $30.5 billion expenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 rand (R) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$30 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: current aid pledges include US $600 million over three years, 1994-96; UK $150 million over three years; Australia $21 million over three years; Japan $1.3 billion over two years ending in 1996; EU $833 million over five years

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Despite the efforts of South Africa's first majority-run government, income inequality remains among the world's most extreme. Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment, lack of job skills, and bleak living conditions. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living standards, to set the country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow at least 5% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

34.57 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

3,305 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

158.78 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

rand (R) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $29.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3% (1994) partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, Hong Kong

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $227 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture : 5% industry: 37% services : 58% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value : $26.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments (1994) partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

9% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 14.2 million economically active (1996) by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%

Unemployment rate [time series]

34% (1996 est.); note - an additional 11% of the workforce is underemployed

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

2,798 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : Njesuthi 3,408 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

Irrigated land [time series]

12,700 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total : 4,750 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops : 1% permanent pastures: 67% forests and woodland: 7% other: 15% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

prolonged droughts

Natural resources [time series]

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa abbreviation : RSA

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador James A. JOSEPH embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador Franklin SONN chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nelson MANDELA (since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive President Thabo MBEKI (since 10 May 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and deputy executive presidents elected by the National Assembly; election last held 9 May 1994 (next to be held in April 1999) election results: Nelson MANDELA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation); Thabo MBEKI and Frederik W. DE KLERK elected deputy executive presidents; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation) note: the initial governing coalition, made up of the ANC, the IFP, and the NP, which constituted a Government of National Unity or GNU, no longer includes the NP which was withdrawn by DE KLERK on 30 June 1996 when he voluntarily gave up his position as deputy executive president and distanced himself from the programs of the ANC

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing 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 note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

31 May 1910 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

AfDB, BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate Courts

Legal system [time series]

based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, ten 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); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution elections: National Assembly and Senate - last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to be held NA April 1999); note - the Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces on 6 February 1997 election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF 2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats by party - ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)

National holiday [time series]

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

African National Congress or ANC [Nelson MANDELA, president]; National Party or NP [Frederik W. DE KLERK, president]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; Democratic Party or DP [Tony LEON, president]; Freedom Front or FF [Constand VILJOEN, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president] note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]; Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [John GOMONO, president]; note - both SANCO and COSATU, as well as the South African Communist Party, are in a formal alliance with the ANC

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

South African National Defense Force or SANDF (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service or SAPS

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$2.9 billion (FY95/96)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.2% (FY95/96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 10,972,813 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 6,672,760 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 435,972 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (male 7,470,444; female 7,340,734) 15-64 years: 61% (male 12,729,753; female 12,891,969) 65 years and over : 4% (male 762,041; female 1,132,517) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.89 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.89 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

53.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 56.29 years male: 54.4 years female: 58.23 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.8% male : 81.9% female: 81.7% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: South African(s) adjective: South African

Net migration rate [time series]

0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

42,327,458 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.51% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), traditional and animistic 28.5%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment center for heroin and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE Sandwich Islands] (dependent territory of the UK)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

662 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 351 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m : 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 43 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 220 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 311 1,524 to 2,437 m : 33 914 to 1,523 m: 278 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 182,329 km paved : 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways) unpaved: 126,901 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 270,848 GRT/266,029 DWT ships by type: container 6, oil tanker 1 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha

Railways [time series]

total: 21,431 km narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)