What is the capital of South Africa?

South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive capital and seat of government), Cape Town (legislative capital and seat of Parliament), and Bloemfontein (judicial capital and seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal).

What is the population of South Africa?

South Africa's population is approximately 62–63 million people (2024 estimate), making it the 24th most populous country in the world.

What currency does South Africa use?

South Africa uses the South African Rand (ZAR), symbolized as R. The rand is divided into 100 cents and is one of the most traded emerging market currencies.

What languages are spoken in South Africa?

South Africa has 11 official languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho (Sepedi), Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda, and Ndebele. English and Afrikaans are widely used in government and business.

What type of government does South Africa have?

South Africa is a constitutional democracy and federal republic. The President serves as both head of state and head of government. The current constitution, widely regarded as one of the most progressive in the world, was adopted in 1996.

Where is South Africa located?

South Africa occupies the southernmost part of the African continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe to the north; Mozambique and Eswatini to the northeast; and entirely surrounds the landlocked country of Lesotho.

South Africa Country Facts

Name: South Africa Country Facts
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Instant reference for key facts about South Africa — capitals, population, area, currency, languages, government, and more.

Overview

Official Name

Republic of South Africa

Executive Capital

Pretoria (Tshwane)

Legislative Capital

Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Judicial Capital

Bloemfontein (Mangaung)

Continent

Africa

Region

Southern Africa

Country Code

ZA / ZAF

Calling Code

+27

Internet TLD

.za

Geography

Total Area

1,221,037 km² (471,445 sq mi)

Rank by Area

25th largest country in the world

Borders

Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini; surrounds Lesotho

Coastline

2,798 km — Atlantic & Indian Oceans

Highest Point

Mafadi — 3,450 m (11,319 ft)

Major Rivers

Orange, Limpopo, Vaal

Climate

Semi-arid; subtropical east coast; Mediterranean near Cape Town

Time Zone

SAST — UTC+2 (no daylight saving)

Coordinates (approx. center)

29° S, 25° E

People & Language

Population

~62–63 million (2024 est.)

Population Rank

24th most populous country

Official Languages

11 languages (Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, and 7 others)

Most Spoken at Home

Zulu (~25% first-language speakers)

Major Religion(s)

Christianity (~79%), Islam (~1.5%), Hinduism (~1%)

Demonym

South African

Largest City

Johannesburg (City of Gold / eGoli)

Ethnic Groups

Black African (~80%), Colored (~9%), White (~8%), Indian/Asian (~3%)

Life Expectancy

~64 years (2024 est.)

Government

Government Type

Constitutional democracy and federal republic

Current Constitution

Adopted 1996, effective February 4, 1997

Legislature

Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly + NCOP)

Union Formed

May 31, 1910 (Union of South Africa)

Republic Declared

May 31, 1961

End of Apartheid

April 27, 1994 (first democratic elections)

UN Member Since

1945 (founding member)

Provinces

9 provinces (Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and 6 others)

Freedom Day (National Holiday)

April 27

Economy

Currency

South African Rand (ZAR / R)

GDP (nominal)

~$373 billion USD (2023 est.)

GDP per Capita

~$6,000 USD (2023 est.)

Key Industries

Mining, finance, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture

Natural Resources

Gold, platinum, diamonds, coal, iron ore, chromium

Stock Exchange

JSE (Johannesburg) — largest in Africa

Driving Side

Left

Notable Landmarks

Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Kruger National Park

BRICS Member

Yes — founding member since 2009

Summary

Instant reference for key facts about South Africa — capitals, population, area, currency, languages, government, and more.

How it works

Browse the fact cards organized by category (overview, geography, people, government, economy).
Use the search box to filter facts by keyword.
Click any card to highlight it for easy reading.
Use the "Copy All Facts" button to copy the full fact sheet to your clipboard.

Use cases

Students researching South Africa for school or university assignments.
Travelers planning a trip and wanting a quick country overview.
Quiz participants brushing up on world geography.
Journalists or writers needing verified baseline statistics.
Teachers preparing lesson materials on African countries.
Trivia enthusiasts checking facts about South Africa.
Business professionals researching market entry into sub-Saharan Africa.
Curious readers learning about one of Africa's most diverse nations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-24 · Reviewed by Nham Vu