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South Africa

Republic of South Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is an unitary parliamentary constitutional republic with its capital in Pretoria. This page brings together source-cited key facts, international memberships, economic and social indicators and practical information.

Independent referenceNot affiliated with any government
Sources citedFigures link to the sources listed below
Data status Under reviewLast updated 24 September 2026
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Key facts

Core reference data for South Africa. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the end of this page.

Official name
Republic of South Africa [1]
Capital
Pretoria [2]
Official languages
Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, Ndebele [2]
Population
64,747,319 [2]2025
Area
1,219,090 km² [2]
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Time zone
Africa/Johannesburg [4]
Calling code
+27
Internet domain
.za
UN member since
7 November 1945 [3]
Recognition
Universally Recognized
Official portal
gov.za

Government and leadership

Form of government
Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic [1]
Head of state
Cyril Ramaphosa [1]
Head of government
Cyril Ramaphosa [1]
Parliament
Parliament of South Africa400 seats
Constitution
18 December 1996 [1]
Independence
31 May 1910 [2]
Legal system
Mixed

International memberships

Membership status in major international organizations and groups.

  • UNUnited Nations, since 1945Member
  • IMFInternational Monetary FundMember
  • World BankWorld Bank GroupMember
  • WTOWorld Trade OrganizationMember
  • G20Group of TwentyMember
  • EUEuropean UnionNot a member
  • NATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNot a member
  • SchengenSchengen AreaNot a member
  • G7Group of SevenNot a member
  • UNSC P5Permanent seat, UN Security CouncilNot a member

Economy

Headline indicators. Values marked est. are projections for the current or a future year.

GDP
$427 B [5]2025
GDP per capita
$6,598 [5]2025
GDP growth
1.1% [5]2025
Inflation
3.2% [5]2025
Unemployment
32.4% [5]2025
Exports
$116 B [10]Reference year not recorded
Imports
$126 B [10]Reference year not recorded

Main exports

  • Gold
  • Diamonds
  • Platinum
  • Coal
  • Iron ore

Main imports

  • Machinery
  • Petroleum
  • Chemicals
  • Vehicles
  • Food

Top export partners

Geography

Area
1,219,090square kilometres
Coastline
2,798kilometres
Highest point
3,450 mMafadi
Coordinates
-25.746, 28.1871Geographic centre (approx.)

Bordering countries

Society and development

Life expectancy
66.3 years [10]Reference year not recorded
Literacy rate
91.2% [10]2024
Human Development Index
0.717 [6]Rank 110, 2022
Corruption Perceptions Index
41/100 [7]Reference year not recorded
Press freedom rank
21 [8]Reference year not recorded
Internet use
78.4% [10]of population
International tourist arrivals
3.9 M [11]2020
Majority religion
Christianity

Practical information

Emergency number
10111
Driving side
Left
Electricity
230
Plug types
  • Type C
  • Type M
  • Type N
Tap water
Generally safe to drinkLocal conditions can vary; follow local advice.
Calling code
+27

Travel and visa

Passport rank
48 [9]Henley Passport Index
Visa-free or on-arrival access
103 [9]destinations for this country's passport holders

Visiting South Africa? Check official sources before you travel

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and the length of your stay, and they can change at short notice. NexaNations does not provide immigration or legal advice.

Quick answers

What is the capital of South Africa?

The capital of South Africa is Pretoria.

What currency does South Africa use?

South Africa uses the South African Rand (ZAR).

What is the official language of South Africa?

The official languages of South Africa are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, Ndebele.

What is the emergency number in South Africa?

The emergency number in South Africa is 10111.

Which side of the road do people drive on in South Africa?

In South Africa, traffic drives on the left.

Sources

  1. Official government portal of South Africa. gov.za
  2. Wikidata, item Q258. wikidata.org
  3. United Nations, member states. un.org
  4. GeoNames, entry 953987. geonames.org
  5. International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. imf.org
  6. United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report. hdr.undp.org
  7. Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index. transparency.org
  8. Reporters Without Borders, World Press Freedom Index. rsf.org
  9. Henley and Partners, Henley Passport Index. henleyglobal.com
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators. data.worldbank.org
  11. UN Tourism, tourism statistics. untourism.int

Data last updated on 24 September 2026. Read how we select and verify sources in our methodology.

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