ARCHIVE // ZA // 2015

South Africa

2015 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international channels; well-developed mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network, state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.za
Internet users [time series]
total: 24.8 million | percent of population: 46.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
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: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons; 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; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber-optic submarine cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; the EASSy fiber-optic cable system connects with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 4.3 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 79.5 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
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: $87.1 billion | expenditures: $102.2 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-4.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Central bank discount rate [time series]
5.75% (31 December 2014) | 7% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 74
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
9.25% (31 December 2014 est.) | 8.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95
Current account balance [time series]
-$19.06 billion (2014 est.) | -$20.45 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Debt - external [time series]
$143 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $142.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
62.5 (2013 est.) | 59.3 (1994) | country comparison to the world: 2
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; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world. | Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. Economic growth has decelerated in recent years, slowing to just 1.5% in 2014. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is roughly 25% of the work force, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Eskom, the state-run power company, is building three new power stations and is installing new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability. Load shedding and resulting rolling blackouts gripped many parts of South Africa in late 2014 and early 2015 because of electricity supply constraints that resulted from technical problems at some generation units, unavoidable planned maintenance, and an accident at a power station in Mpumalanga province. The rolling black outs were the worst the country faced since 2008. Construction delays at two additional plants, however, mean South Africa will continue to operate on a razor thin margin; economists judge that growth cannot exceed 3% until electrical supply problems are resolved. | South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation; however, the country faces structural constraints that also limit economic growth, such as skills shortages, declining global competitiveness and frequent work stoppages due to strike action. The current government faces growing pressure from urban constituencies to improve the delivery of basic services to low-income areas and to increase job growth.
Exchange rates [time series]
rand (ZAR) per US dollar - | 10.79 (2014 est.) | 9.6442 (2013 est.) | 8.2 (2012 est.) | 7.2597 (2011 est.) | 7.3212 (2010 est.)
Exports [time series]
$97.9 billion (2014 est.) | $95.15 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Exports - commodities [time series]
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Exports - partners [time series]
China 32%, US 6.5%, Japan 5%, India 4.7% (2013)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$350.1 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$704.5 billion (2014 est.) | $693.9 billion (2013 est.) | $678.9 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 31
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 61.9% | government consumption: 22.8% | investment in fixed capital: 21.7% | investment in inventories: -0.3% | exports of goods and services: 34% | imports of goods and services: -40.1% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 2.4% | industry: 28.5% | services: 69.1% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$13,000 (2014 est.) | $12,900 (2013 est.) | $12,600 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 115
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1.5% (2014 est.) | 2.2% (2013 est.) | 2.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Gross national saving [time series]
14.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 14.4% of GDP (2013 est.) | 15.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.2% | highest 10%: 51.7% (2009 est.)
Imports [time series]
$102.2 billion (2014 est.) | $102.8 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs
Imports - partners [time series]
China 16.2%, Germany 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 8%, US 7%, India 4.8% (2013)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128
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]
6.1% (2014 est.) | 5.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185
Labor force [time series]
20.23 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 4% | industry: 18% | services: 66% (2014 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$1.007 trillion (31 December 2013) | $1.038 trillion (31 December 2012) | $855.7 billion (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 15
Population below poverty line [time series]
35.9% (2012 est.)
Public debt [time series]
47.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 46.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$50.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $49.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Stock of broad money [time series]
$204.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $195.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$122.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $117.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$177.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $171.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$256.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $246.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$112.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $108 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
25.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Unemployment rate [time series]
25.1% (2014 est.) | 24.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
473.2 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - imports [time series]
414,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Crude oil - production [time series]
168,700 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
15 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - consumption [time series]
234.2 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - exports [time series]
13.93 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
90.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
4.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
4.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - imports [time series]
9.428 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
44.15 million kW (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21
Electricity - production [time series]
257.9 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
4.637 billion cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports [time series]
3.45 billion cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - production [time series]
1.187 billion cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
604,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
80,460 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
79,010 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
437,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1,219,090 sq km | land: 1,214,470 sq km | water: 4,620 sq km | note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) | country comparison to the world: 25
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
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%) | per capita: 271.7 cu m/yr (2005)
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]
16,700 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 5,244 km | border countries (6): Botswana 1,969 km, Lesotho 1,106 km, Mozambique 496 km, Namibia 1,005 km, Swaziland 438 km, Zimbabwe 230 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 79.4% | arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2% | forest: 7.6% | other: 13% (2011 est.)
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 | volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano
Natural resources [time series]
gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Terrain [time series]
vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Total renewable water resources [time series]
51.4 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
Capital [time series]
name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) | geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved 4 December 1997, effective 4 February 1997; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)
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 Patrick Hubert GASPARD (since 16 October 2013) | embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria | mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 | telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000 | FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299 | consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Mninwa Johnnes MAHLANGU (since 23 February 2015) | 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 Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 26 May 2014) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 26 May 2014) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019) | election results: Jacob ZUMA (AFC) reelected president by the National Assembly unopposed
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that 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; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era | note: the South African flag is one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Sudan's
Government type [time series]
republic
Independence [time series]
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, 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, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch [time series]
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 jusice and includes other judges and judicial executives, members of parliament, practicing lawyers and advocates, a teacher of law, and several members designated by the national president; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by terms of an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the national president 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 appointed for 12-year non-renewable terms or until age 70 | subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10-member delegations appointed by each of the 9 provincial legislatures to serve 5-year terms; note - this council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) and the National Assembly (400 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held on 7 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019) | election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 62.2%, DA 22.2%, EFF 6.4%, IFP 2.4%, NFP 1.6%, other 5.2%; seats by party - ANC 249, DA 89, EFF 25, IFP 10, NFP 6, other 21
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "National Anthem of South Africa" | lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers | note: adopted 1994; a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English (i.e., the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages); music incorporates the melody used in the Tanzanian and Zambian anthems
National holiday [time series]
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
National symbol(s) [time series]
springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE] | African National Congress or ANC [Jacob ZUMA] | Congress of the People or COPE [Mosiuoa LEKOTA] | Democratic Alliance or DA [Helen ZILLE] | Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF [Julius MALEMA] | Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter MULDER] | Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI] | National Freedom Party or NFP [Zanele kaMAGWAZA-MSIBI] | Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC [Alton MPHETHI] | United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP [Isaac Sipho MFUNDISI] | 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 Civic Organization or SANCO [Richard MDAKANE, national president] | note: COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the African National Congress
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern 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 of the Dutch settlers (Afrikaners, called "Boers" (farmers) by the British) trekked north to found their own republics in lands taken from the indigenous black inhabitants. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Afrikaners resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Second South African War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the Afrikaner-dominated National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition 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 by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 following the end of apartheid ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting came to a head in 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI was recalled by Parliament, and Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in 2009; he was reelected in 2014.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 13,439,781 | females age 16-49: 12,473,641 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 7,617,063 | females age 16-49: 6,476,264 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 482,122 | female: 485,017 (2010 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)
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), South African Military Health Services (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.2% of GDP (2014) | 1% of GDP (2013) | 1.16% of GDP (2012) | 1.14% of GDP (2011) | 1.16% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 100
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 28.43% (male 7,660,173/female 7,598,013) | 15-24 years: 18.52% (male 4,937,169/female 5,002,201) | 25-54 years: 41.07% (male 11,120,423/female 10,923,422) | 55-64 years: 6.53% (male 1,628,183/female 1,874,946) | 65 years and over: 5.46% (male 1,231,627/female 1,699,406) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
20.75 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
8.7% (2008) | country comparison to the world: 72
Death rate [time series]
9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 52.1% | youth dependency ratio: 44.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 7.7% | potential support ratio: 13.1% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 99.6% of population | rural: 81.4% of population | total: 93.2% of population | urban: 0.4% of population | rural: 18.6% of population | total: 6.8% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
6.2% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 42
Ethnic groups [time series]
black African 80.2%, white 8.4%, colored 8.8%, Indian/Asian 2.5% | note: colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry (2014 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
19.05% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
195,300 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
6,274,100 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.9% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 42
Hospital bed density [time series]
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 32.99 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 36.62 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 29.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51
Languages [time series]
IsiZulu (official) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 62.34 years | male: 60.83 years | female: 63.87 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 223
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 94.3% | male: 95.5% | female: 93.1% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: intermediate | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni) 9.399 million; Cape Town (legislative capital) 3.66 million; Durban 2.901 million; PRETORIA (capital) 2.059 million; Port Elizabeth 1.179 million; Vereeniging 1.155 million (2015)
Median age [time series]
total: 25.7 years | male: 25.4 years | female: 26 years (2014 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: South African(s) | adjective: South African
Net migration rate [time series]
2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population | note: Zimbabweans are increasingly migrating into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
25.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 24
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.78 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Population [time series]
53,675,563 | note: Statistics South Africa (the national statistical agency of South Africa) estimates the country's mid-year 2013 total population to be 52,981,991, which takes into account the findings of South Africa's 2011 census; 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28
Population growth rate [time series]
1.33% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222
Religions [time series]
Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 69.6% of population | rural: 60.5% of population | total: 66.4% of population | urban: 30.4% of population | rural: 39.5% of population | total: 33.6% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 14 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 51.5% | male: 47.1% | female: 56.9% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 64.8% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African economy
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 40,133 (Somalia); 30,125 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 18,830 (Ethiopia); 6,217 (Zimbabwe); 6,035 (Republic of Congo) (2014)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
566 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 11
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 144 | over 3,047 m: 11 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 | 914 to 1,523 m: 65 | under 914 m: 9 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 422 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 | 914 to 1,523 m: 258 | 132 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
1 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 3 | by type: petroleum tanker 3 | registered in other countries: 19 (Australia 1, Isle of Man 2, Mexico 1, NZ 1, Seychelles 1, Singapore 13) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 136
Pipelines [time series]
condensate 94 km; gas 1,293 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,460 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay | container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,712,975) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Mossel Bay
Railways [time series]
total: 20,986 km | standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 19,756 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified) | other: 1,150 km (passenger rail, gauge unspecified, 1,115.5 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 14
Roadways [time series]
total: 747,014 km | paved: 158,952 km | unpaved: 588,062 km (2014) | country comparison to the world: 10