Country Profile: South Africa

South Africa, located at the southern tip of the African continent, boasts a diverse geography characterized by vast interior plateaus and rugged hills. Home to over 60 million people, it is the largest economy in southern Africa, classified as an upper-middle-income nation facing challenges such as high unemployment and income inequality. A parliamentary republic, South Africa has made significant strides since the end of apartheid in 1994, striving towards socio-economic reform under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Geography

South Africa is primarily located in the southern region of Africa, with a total area of 1,219,090 sq km, making it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. The country's elevation ranges from 0 m at sea level to its highest point, Ntheledi (Mafadi), which stands at 3,450 m. The climate is predominantly semiarid with a subtropical coastal influence, while its diverse terrain includes an interior plateau and narrow coastal plains.

Coastline: 2,798 km
Natural Resources: Includes gold, coal, platinum, and diamonds
Land use: 79.4% agricultural land (2023 est.)
Major rivers: Orange River (2,092 km)
Irrigated land: 16,700 sq km (2012)

People and Society

As of 2024, South Africa's population is estimated at 60,442,647, with a diverse ethnic composition: 80.9% Black African, 8.8% Colored, 7.8% White, and 2.6% Indian/Asian. The country recognizes 11 official languages, with isiZulu and isiXhosa being the most widely spoken. The population exhibits significant urbanization, with 68.8% living in urban areas as of 2023.

Median Age: 30.4 years (2024 est.)
Urbanization Rate: 1.72% annual change (2020-25 est.)
Christianity: Predominant religion at 86%
Literacy Rate: 91.2% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate: 17.7 births/1,000 people (2024 est.)

Economy

South Africa is categorized as an upper-middle-income country with an economy heavily reliant on its mineral resources. The real GDP (purchasing power parity) is estimated at $870.42 billion for 2024, with a growth forecast of 0.6%. Key industries include mining, automobile assembly, and agriculture, producing commodities like gold, platinum, and coal.

Unemployment Rate: 33.2% (2024 est.)
GDP per Capita: $13,600 (2024 est.)
Public Debt: 76.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Inflation Rate: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Exports: $127.629 billion (2024 est.)

Government

South Africa is a parliamentary republic with a mixed legal system comprising Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law. The capital cities include Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). The governing body operates through the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

President: Cyril Ramaphosa since June 19, 2024
Elections: Universal suffrage at 18 years
Constitution: Effective since February 4, 1997
Administrative Divisions: 9 provinces
Political Parties: Multiple, with the ANC as a major player

Military and Security

The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) comprises the army, navy, air force, and military health services. The military budget is approximately 0.7% of GDP, focusing on regional security and peacekeeping missions. The country maintains around 65,000-70,000 active-duty military personnel.

Military Expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Active Personnel: Approximately 65-70,000 (2025)
Military Service Age: 18-22 years for voluntary service
Deployments: About 2,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025)

Energy

South Africa's energy sector relies heavily on coal, contributing to 87.3% of its electricity generation capacity. The country has made efforts to diversify its energy mix, incorporating renewable sources such as wind and solar. As of 2022, 86.5% of the population has access to electricity.

Installed Capacity: 65.989 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 194.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Coal Production: 239.712 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Nuclear Contribution: 4.4% of total electricity production (2023 est.)

Environment

South Africa faces several environmental challenges, including limited freshwater resources and pollution from agricultural runoff and urban waste. The country is party to various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change and biodiversity.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 446.704 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Water Resources: Total renewable water resources estimated at 51.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Deforestation and Desertification: Notable environmental issues
Recycling Rate: 28.2% of municipal solid waste (2022 est.)

Transportation

South Africa features a comprehensive transport network, including a significant railway system and multiple major ports. Air travel is facilitated by a substantial number of airports, and the country supports a mix of road and rail freight transport.

Railways: 30,400 km total (2021)
Airports: 573 (2025)
Ports: 8 major ports (2024)
Merchant Marine: 110 vessels (2023)

Communications

The communications infrastructure in South Africa includes widespread mobile and internet access, with approximately 76% of the population using the internet. The South African Broadcasting Corporation operates multiple television and radio channels.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: 108 million (2023 est.)
Internet Users: 76% of population (2023 est.)
Broadband Subscriptions: 2.15 million (2023 est.)
Fixed-Line Telephones: 1.353 million (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	60,442,647	Estimate for 2024
Area	1,219,090 sq km	Total area
Real GDP (PPP)	$870.42 billion	Estimate for 2024
Unemployment Rate	33.2%	Estimate for 2024
Birth Rate	17.7 births/1,000	Estimate for 2024
Life Expectancy	71.9 years	Estimate for 2024
Literacy Rate	91.2%	Estimate for 2024
Energy Consumption per Capita	86.197 million Btu/person	Estimate for 2023
Total Exports	$127.629 billion	Estimate for 2024
Total Debt	76.2% of GDP	Estimate for 2022