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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

58 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

13.75 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

5.075 million (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

over 2,000,000 (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

5.2 million (1997)

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]

$25.7 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$676.3 million

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

South Africa is a middle-income, developing country with an abundant supply of resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world, and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to cut into the 30% unemployment, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. Other problems are crime, corruption, and HIV/AIDS. At the start of 2000, President MBEKI vowed to promote economic growth and foreign investment by relaxing restrictive labor laws, stepping up the pace of privatization, and cutting unneeded governmental spending. His policies face strong opposition from organized labor.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

174.486 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

4.093 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

5 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

192.015 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 92.09% hydro: 0.83% nuclear: 7.08% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

rand (R) per US$1 - 6.12439 (January 2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$28 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, diamonds, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

UK, Italy, Japan, US, Germany (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $296.1 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,900 (1999 est.)

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

0.6% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 47.3% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$26 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, foodstuffs and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany, US, UK, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-5% (1998 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

15 million economically active (1997)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1999 est.)

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, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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]

contiguous zone: 24 nm 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

Capital [time series]

Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial center

Constitution [time series]

10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then 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 Delano E. LEWIS embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Makate Sheila SISULU chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 2 June 1999 (next scheduled for sometime between May and July 2004) election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation) note: ANC-IFP governing coalition

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; the Y embraces 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]

ACP, 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, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, 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, 10 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 National Council of Provinces - last held 2 June 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 66.4%, DP 9.6%, IFP 8.6%, NP 6.9%, UDM 3.4, FF 0.8%, other 4.3%; seats by party - ANC 266, DP 38, IFP 34, NP 28, UDM 14, FF 3, other 17; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3

National holiday [time series]

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

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

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI, president]; Democratic Party or DP [Tony LEON, president]; Freedom Front or FF [Constand VILJOEN, president]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; National Party (now the New National Party) or NP [Marthinus VAN SCHALKWYK, executive director]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

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

Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]; note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

Military

Military - note [time series]

the National Defense Force continues to integrate former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces

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 billion (FY99/00)

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

1.5% (FY99/00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 11,345,031 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,901,252 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 460,917 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32.46% (male 7,094,756; female 6,999,009) 15-64 years: 62.76% (male 13,111,457; female 14,139,372) 65 years and over: 4.78% (male 782,397; female 1,294,030) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.56 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

58.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 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: 51.1 years male: 50.41 years female: 51.81 years (2000 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]

-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

43,421,021 note: South Africa took a census October 1996 which showed a population of 40,583,611 (after an official adjustment for a 6.8% underenumeration based on a post-enumeration survey); estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.5% (2000 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), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.47 children born/woman (2000 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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

744 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 143 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 46 914 to 1,523 m: 73 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 601 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 303 under 914 m: 265 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 534,131 km paved: 63,027 km (including 2,032 km of expressways) unpaved: 471,104 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 274,797 GRT/270,837 DWT ships by type: container 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 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)