South Africa
🇿🇦 Southern Africa · Republic of South Africa
How South Africa ranks globally
About South Africa
South Africa (officially Republic of South Africa) is a country in Southern Africa, with Pretoria as its capital. It is home to roughly 64.75 million people, giving a population density of about 53 people per square kilometre. The country covers 1,221,037 km² of land and shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries. Its economy is valued at approximately $427.18B in nominal GDP (2025), and it records a Human Development Index of 0.741. The official currency is the South African rand (ZAR), and the main languages are Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu.
Key indicators
💹 Economy
👥 People
🌍 Quality of Life
GDP over time
How South Africa measures up
How South Africa is governed
Head of state and government — but elected by parliament, not directly.
Leads the executive; accountable to the National Assembly.
Bicameral — National Assembly — 400 seats; National Council of Provinces
Who holds the power?
South Africa has an unusual hybrid: the President is both head of state and head of government (like a presidential system) but is elected by the National Assembly and can be removed by it (like a parliamentary system). This makes the President dependent on a parliamentary majority. A strong Constitutional Court guards one of the world's most admired post-apartheid constitutions.
Did you know?
South Africa is the 24th most populous country in the world, with about 64.75 million people.
By land area it is the 24th-largest country in the world, covering 1,221,037 km².
It has the world's 39th-largest economy by nominal GDP ($427.18B).
South Africa shares land borders with 6 countries.
It is classed by the UN as a country of high human development, with an HDI of 0.741.
South Africa has a population density of about 53 people per square kilometre.
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