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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.za

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

645,179 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

5.1 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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: country code - 27; 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]

4.729 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

33.96 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $65.91 billion expenditures: $70.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

rand (ZAR)

Current account balance [time series]

$-11.08 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$29.97 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

59.3 (1995)

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

$487.5 million (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural 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 lower South Africa's high unemployment rate, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era - especially poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. South African economic policy is fiscally conservative, but pragmatic, focusing on targeting inflation and liberalizing trade as means to increase job growth and household income.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

197.4 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

10.14 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

6.739 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

215.9 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

rand per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$50.91 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 11.1%, US 9.1%, Japan 8.3%, Germany 6.3%, China 5.2%, Italy 4.5% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$187.3 billion (2005 est.)

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

$540.8 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 30.3% services: 67.1% (2005 est.)

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

$12,200 (2005 est.)

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

4.9% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)

Imports [time series]

$52.97 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 14.9%, US 7%, China 6.9%, UK 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, Japan 5.9%, Iran 5.8%, France 4.3% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.6% (2005 est.)

Industries [time series]

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) [time series]

4% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

16.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

15.23 million economically active (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.35 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

2.35 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

28.32 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

484,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

216,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

7.84 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

50% (2000 est.)

Public debt [time series]

35.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$20.63 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

26.6% (2005 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 outpacing 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-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, 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]

14,980 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,862 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12.1% permanent crops: 0.79% other: 87.11% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

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, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Capital [time series]

name: Pretoria (administrative capital) geographic coordinates: 29 12 S, 28 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

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 former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jendayi E. FRAZER embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria 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 Barbara Joyce Mosima MASEKELA chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); 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 Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 24 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009) election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation)

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, NSG, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, 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

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 14 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%; seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other 21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

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 Alliance or DA [Anthony LEON] (formed from the merger of the Democratic Party or DP and the Freedom Alliance or FA); Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; New National Party or NNP; 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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 10,354,769 females age 18-49: 10,626,550 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 4,927,757 females age 18-49: 4,609,071 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 512,407 females age 18-49: 506,078 (2005 est.)

Military - note [time series]

with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

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

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Joint Support Command, Military Intelligence, Military Health Service (2005)

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

1.5% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long history of military service in noncombat roles, dating back to World War I (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 6,603,220/female 6,525,810) 15-64 years: 65% (male 13,955,950/female 14,766,843) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 905,870/female 1,429,944) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.2 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

21.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

370,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

5.3 million (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 60.66 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 42.73 years male: 43.25 years female: 42.19 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 87% female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 24.1 years male: 23.3 years female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: South African(s) adjective: South African

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

44,187,637 note: 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 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.4% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, other Christian 36%, Islam 1.5%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

South Africa has placed military along the border to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution; managed dispute with Namibia over the location of the boundary in the Orange River

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, 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; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 5,774 (Angola) 9,516 (Democratic Republic of Congo) 7,118 (Somalia) (2005)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for sexual exploitation; women from other African countries are trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe for sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked from neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor; Asian and Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for debt-bonded sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Africa is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to show increasing efforts to address trafficking in 2005

Transportation

Airports [time series]

731 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 146 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 585 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 302 under 914 m: 249 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,815 GRT/39,295 DWT by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1) registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, UK 5) (2006)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 100 km; gas 1,062 km; oil 966 km; refined products 1,354 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 20,872 km narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,868 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 362,099 km paved: 73,506 km unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)