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Introduction
BACKGROUNDRepublic of South Africa is a sovereign nation in Southern Africa, Africa. The capital is Pretoria. The government is a parliamentary republic. Official/primary language(s): 11 official languages. UN member since 1945.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · World Bank · Government Sources
64.0M
Population
$401.1B
GDP (Nominal)
1,221,037 km²
Area
Pretoria
Capital
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Geography
CORE1,221,037 km²
Total Area
Pretoria
Capital
Africa
Continent
+2 UTC
Timezone
Location
Region
Africa — Southern Africa
Continent
Africa
Land Use
Forest Area
14.0%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land
9.9%
World Bank (2023)
Total Area
1,221,037 km²
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People & Society
DEMOGRAPHICS64.0M
Population
66.1 yr
Life Expectancy
2.2
Fertility Rate
63.7%
Urban Pop.
Population & Language
Population
64.0M
World Bank (2024)
Languages
11 official languages
Urbanization
63.7%
World Bank (2024)
Vital Rates
Birth Rate /1000
18.8
Death Rate /1000
9.2
Fertility Rate
2.2
Life Expectancy
66.1 years
Health Indicators
Infant Mortality /1000
24.4
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
34.7
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
118
World Bank (2023)
Literacy Rate
91.2%
World Bank (2024)
Education
Literacy Rate
91.2%
World Bank (2024)
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
6.0%
World Bank (2024)
Internet Users
75.7%
World Bank (2023)
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Environment
CLIMATE & ECOLOGYEnvironmental Indicators
Forest Area (% of land)
14.0%
World Bank (2023)
Arable Land (%)
9.9%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
9.7%
World Bank (2021)
Access to Electricity
87.7%
World Bank (2023)
Water & Sanitation
Access to Safe Water
90.2%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
77.4%
World Bank (2024)
Electricity Access
87.7%
World Bank (2023)
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Government
POLITICAL STRUCTUREOverview
Type
Parliamentary Republic
Capital
Pretoria
Official Name
Republic of South Africa
UN Member Since
1945
Executive
Head of State
Cyril Ramaphosa
Head of Government
Cyril Ramaphosa
National Information
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
Calling Code
+27
ISO Codes
ZA / ZAF
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Economy & Growth
ECONOMIC DATA$401.1B
GDP Nominal
$6,267
GDP Per Capita
0.5%
GDP Growth
32.3%
Unemployment
GDP
GDP (Current USD)
$401.1B
World Bank (2024)
GDP Per Capita (USD)
$6,267
World Bank (2024)
Real GDP Growth
0.5%
World Bank (2024)
GNI Per Capita
$6,110
World Bank (2024)
Labor & Prices
Unemployment Rate
32.3%
World Bank (2024)
Inflation (CPI)
4.4%
World Bank (2024)
Poverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
N/A
World Bank
GINI Index
N/A
World Bank
Trade
Exports (USD)
$127.5B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$119.8B
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$2.3B
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
61.6%
World Bank (2024)
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Energy & Resources
ENERGYEnergy Access & Mix
Access to Electricity
87.7%
World Bank (2023)
Renewable Energy (% total)
9.7%
World Bank (2021)
Resource Indicators
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
0.7%
World Bank (2024)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
8.9%
World Bank (2023)
Education Expenditure (% GDP)
6.0%
World Bank (2024)
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Communications
TELECOMInternet Users (% of pop.)
75.7%
World Bank (2023)
Mobile Subscriptions /100 people
171.5
World Bank (2023)
Calling Code
+27
Languages
11 official languages
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Transportation
LOGISTICSTransportation data for South Africa is available through national government sources, ICAO (aviation), IMO (maritime), and the CIA World Factbook (archived). Key indicators include airports, roadways, railways, merchant marine fleet, and major ports.
CIA World Factbook (archived) · ICAO · IMO
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Military & Security
DEFENSEDefense Spending
Military Expenditure (% GDP)
0.7%
World Bank (2024)
Government Type
Parliamentary Republic
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Terrorism
GTI4.44/10
GTI Score
MODERATE
Threat Level
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Travel Advisory
Institute for Economics & Peace — Global Terrorism Index 2024 · US State Department Travel Advisories
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Transnational Issues
CROSS-BORDERTrafficking in Persons
Tier 2
US State Dept TIP Report 2024
Freedom Status
Free (79/100)
Freedom House 2024
Travel Advisory
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
US Department of State
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Agriculture & Food Security
WORLD BANKArable Land (% of area)
9.9%
World Bank (2023)
Forest Area (%)
14.0%
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
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Financial Sector
WORLD BANKGovernment Debt (% GDP)
79.4%
World Bank (2023)
FDI Net Inflows (USD)
$2.3B
World Bank (2024)
Currency
South African Rand (ZAR)
World Bank WDI (GC.DOD.TOTL.GD.ZS, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD)
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Gender Equality
WORLD BANKMaternal Mortality /100K
118.0
World Bank (2023)
Fertility Rate
2.2
World Bank (2023)
Life Expectancy at Birth
66.1
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.IN)
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Poverty & Inequality
WORLD BANKPoverty Rate (<$2.15/day)
N/A
World Bank
GINI Index
N/A
World Bank
GNI Per Capita (USD)
$6,110
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD)
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Science & Technology
WORLD BANKInternet Users (% of pop.)
75.7%
World Bank (2023)
Mobile Cellular Subscriptions /100
171.5
World Bank (2023)
World Bank WDI (IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS)
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Urban Development
WORLD BANKUrban Population (%)
63.7%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Electricity
87.7%
World Bank (2023)
Access to Safe Water
90.2%
World Bank (2024)
Access to Sanitation
77.4%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS, SH.H2O.BASW.ZS, SH.STA.BASS.ZS)
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Health (Expanded)
WORLD BANK + GOVLife Expectancy
66.1
World Bank (2023)
Infant Mortality /1000
24.4
World Bank (2023)
Under-5 Mortality /1000
34.7
World Bank (2023)
Maternal Mortality /100K
118.0
World Bank (2023)
Health Expenditure (% GDP)
8.9%
World Bank (2023)
Safe Water Access
90.2%
World Bank (2024)
Sanitation Access
77.4%
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI (SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS)
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Governance & Rule of Law
EXTENDED INTELLIGENCE41/100
CPI Score
7.05/10
Democracy Index
#38
Press Freedom Rank
Free
Freedom Status
Corruption & Transparency
CPI Score
41/100 (Rank: #86)
Transparency International CPI 2024
Basel AML Index
5.34/10
Basel Institute on Governance 2024
FATF Status
Enhanced Follow-Up
FATF Mutual Evaluations
Democracy & Freedom
Democracy Index
7.05/10
Economist Intelligence Unit 2023
Freedom Status
Free (79/100)
Freedom House FIW 2024
Press Freedom
Rank: #38/180
Reporters Without Borders 2024
State Fragility
Fragile States Index
62.3/120
Fund for Peace FSI 2024
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Trade & Sanctions
EXTENDEDExports (USD)
$127.5B
World Bank (2024)
Imports (USD)
$119.8B
World Bank (2024)
Trade (% of GDP)
61.6%
World Bank (2024)
FDI Net Inflows
$2.3B
World Bank (2024)
World Bank WDI · Global Affairs · OFAC · EU Sanctions Map
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All Data Sources
35+ SOURCESCIA Factbook (Archived)
CIA World Factbook — DISCONTINUED Feb 4, 2026. All 258 country pages removed from cia.gov. This platform preserves and extends South Africa's data using 35+ alternative open sources.
World Bank Open Data
| Category | Key Indicators |
|---|---|
| Economy & Growth | NY.GDP.MKTP.CD, NY.GDP.PCAP.CD, FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG, SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Health | SH.DYN.MORT, SH.STA.MMRT, SP.DYN.LE00.IN, SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS |
| Education | SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS, SE.ADT.LITR.ZS |
| Environment | AG.LND.FRST.ZS, AG.LND.ARBL.ZS, EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Infrastructure | IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.CEL.SETS.P2, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Poverty | SI.POV.DDAY, SI.POV.GINI, NY.GNP.PCAP.CD |
| Trade | NE.EXP.GNFS.CD, NE.IMP.GNFS.CD, BX.KLT.DINV.CD.WD |
| Demographics | SP.POP.TOTL, SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS, SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
International Risk & Governance Sources
| Source | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Transparency International | CPI — Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 |
| Freedom House | Freedom in the World 2024 |
| US State Department | TIP Report 2024 · Travel Advisories |
| Institute for Economics & Peace | Global Terrorism Index 2024 |
| Basel Institute on Governance | Basel AML Index 2024 |
| Fund for Peace | Fragile States Index 2024 |
| Economist Intelligence Unit | Democracy Index 2023 |
| Reporters Without Borders | Press Freedom Index 2024 |
| FATF / FSRBs | AML/CFT Mutual Evaluations |
| UNDP | Human Development Index |
| IMF | World Economic Outlook, Article IV |
| OECD | Comparative indicators |
| SIPRI | Military expenditure, arms transfers |
| UNHCR | Refugee data |
| IEA | Energy statistics |
Categories Coverage
This platform covers 25+ categories with 100+ data fields from 35+ validated sources. World Bank data is fetched via API v2 from the most recent available year (2018-2024). All risk indices use the latest published edition.
Social Protection & Labor
WORLD BANK