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Africa :: South Africa

- ## Introduction :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Background:
  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.

- ## Geography :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Location:
  Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
  Geographic coordinates:
  29 00 S, 24 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  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:
  slightly less than twice the size of Texas
  Land boundaries:
  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
  Coastline:
  2,798 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
  Climate:
  mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
  Terrain:
  vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
  Natural resources:
  gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 79.4%
  arable land 9.9%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 69.2%
  forest: 7.6%
  other: 13% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  16,700 sq km (2012)
  Total renewable water resources:
  51.4 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%)
  per capita: 271.7 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  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
  Environment - current issues:
  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
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  Geography - note:
  South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

- ## People and Society :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Nationality:
  noun: South African(s)
  adjective: South African
  Ethnic groups:
  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.)
  Languages:
  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.)
  Religions:
  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)
  Population:
  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
  Age structure:
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 52.1%
  youth dependency ratio: 44.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7.7%
  potential support ratio: 13.1% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 25.7 years
  male: 25.4 years
  female: 26 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.33% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 222
  Birth rate:
  20.75 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Death rate:
  9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Net migration rate:
  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
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 64.8% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  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)
  Sex ratio:
  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.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  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
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 62.34 years
  male: 60.83 years
  female: 63.87 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Total fertility rate:
  2.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Health expenditures:
  8.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Physicians density:
  0.78 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.6% of population
  rural: 81.4% of population
  total: 93.2% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.4% of population
  rural: 18.6% of population
  total: 6.8% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 69.6% of population
  rural: 60.5% of population
  total: 66.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 30.4% of population
  rural: 39.5% of population
  total: 33.6% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  19.05% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  6,274,100 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  195,300 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: intermediate
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  25.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  8.7% (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Education expenditures:
  6.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 94.3%
  male: 95.5%
  female: 93.1% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 51.5%
  male: 47.1%
  female: 56.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6

- ## Government :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
  conventional short form: South Africa
  former: Union of South Africa
  abbreviation: RSA
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  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)
  Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
  Independence:
  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)
  National holiday:
  Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved 4 December 1997, effective 4 February 1997; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  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
  Legislative branch:
  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
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Political parties and leaders:
  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 pressure groups and leaders:
  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
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  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
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
  National anthem:
  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

- ## Economy :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Economy - overview:
  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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $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 (official exchange rate):
  $350.1 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.5% (2014 est.)
  2.2% (2013 est.)
  2.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $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
  Gross national saving:
  14.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  14.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  15.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  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:
  agriculture: 2.4%
  industry: 28.5%
  services: 69.1% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products
  Industries:
  mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Labor force:
  20.23 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 4%
  industry: 18%
  services: 66% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  25.1% (2014 est.)
  24.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Population below poverty line:
  35.9% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.2%
  highest 10%: 51.7% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  62.5 (2013 est.)
  59.3 (1994)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Budget:
  revenues: $87.1 billion
  expenditures: $102.2 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  25.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Public debt:
  47.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  46.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6.1% (2014 est.)
  5.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Central bank discount rate:
  5.75% (31 December 2014)
  7% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9.25% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Stock of narrow money:
  $112.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $108 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Stock of broad money:
  $204.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $195.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $256.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $246.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $1.007 trillion (31 December 2013)
  $1.038 trillion (31 December 2012)
  $855.7 billion (31 December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Current account balance:
  -$19.06 billion (2014 est.)
  -$20.45 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Exports:
  $97.9 billion (2014 est.)
  $95.15 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Exports - commodities:
  gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
  Exports - partners:
  China 32%, US 6.5%, Japan 5%, India 4.7% (2013)
  Imports:
  $102.2 billion (2014 est.)
  $102.8 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  China 16.2%, Germany 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 8%, US 7%, India 4.8% (2013)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $50.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $49.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Debt - external:
  $143 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $142.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $177.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $171.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $122.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $117.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Exchange rates:
  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.)

- ## Energy :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Electricity - production:
  257.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - consumption:
  234.2 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Electricity - exports:
  13.93 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Electricity - imports:
  9.428 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  44.15 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  90.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  4.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  4.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Crude oil - production:
  168,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Crude oil - imports:
  414,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  15 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  437,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  604,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  80,460 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  79,010 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Natural gas - production:
  1.187 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Natural gas - consumption:
  4.637 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Natural gas - imports:
  3.45 billion cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  473.2 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14

- ## Communications :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 4.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 79.5 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Telephone system:
  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)
  Broadcast media:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .za
  Internet users:
  total: 24.8 million
  percent of population: 46.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24

- ## Transportation :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Airports:
  566 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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:
  total: 422
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
  914 to 1,523 m: 258
  under 914 m:
  132 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  condensate 94 km; gas 1,293 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,460 km (2013)
  Railways:
  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:
  total: 747,014 km
  paved: 158,952 km
  unpaved: 588,062 km (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Merchant marine:
  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
  Ports and terminals:
  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

- ## Military :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Military branches:
  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 service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 13,439,781
  females age 16-49: 12,473,641 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 7,617,063
  females age 16-49: 6,476,264 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 482,122
  female: 485,017 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  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 - note:
  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)

- ## Transnational Issues :: SOUTH AFRICA

- Disputes - international:
  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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  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)
  Illicit drugs:
  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

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