South Africa Map

Description:

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South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is a country located at the southern tip of Africa. It shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini, while completely surrounding the nation of Lesotho. South Africa's coastline stretches more than 1,739 miles along both the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, from the Namibian border in the west to the Mozambican border in the east.

With a population of approximately 62 million people, South Africa is the world's 24th-most populous nation. The country has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). The largest city is Johannesburg. South Africa covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilmeters (471,445 square miles)

South Africa is known for its diversity in landscapes, people, and wildlife. The country features 11 official languages, with English, Afrikaans, and various indigenous languages being widely spoken. The nation's biodiversity includes unique flora and fauna, making it one of only 17 megadiverse countries in the world.

The country possesses significant mineral resources, including gold, platinum, and diamonds. South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum and chromium, and also has substantial reserves of coal and iron ore. This mineral wealth has played a crucial role in the nation's economic development.

Historically, South Africa underwent significant changes in the 20th century. The country's system of racial segregation, known as apartheid, was dismantled in the early 1990s, leading to the first multi-racial democratic elections in 1994, won by Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (ANC). Since then, South Africa has been a parliamentary representative democratic republic.

The country is a major tourist destination, known for its national parks, including the famous Kruger National Park, diverse wildlife, beautiful beaches, and world-class wine regions. South Africa successfully hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010, becoming the first African nation to do so. The nation is also recognized for its achievements in sports, particularly in rugby and cricket.

The Facts:

Flag:
Capital:	Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
Largest city:	Johannesburg
Area:	471,445 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km)
Population:	~ 62,027,503 (2022 census)[1]
Official language:	Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, South African Sign Language, Swazi, Tshivenda, Xhosa, Xitsonga, Zulu.
Religion (2022)[1]:	85.3% Christianity 7.8% traditional faiths 3.1% no religion 1.6% Islam 1.1% Hinduism 1.1% other
Ethnic groups (2022):	81.4% Black 8.2% Coloured 7.3% White 2.7% Indian or Asian 0.4% other
Currency:	South African rand (ZAR)
Driving side:	left
Calling code:	+27
Internet TLD:	.za
Time zone:	UTC+2 (SAST)
Gross domestic product (PPP) (2024 estimate):	$993.75 billion (Total) $15,720 (Per capita)
Gross domestic product (nominal) (2024 estimate):	$403.75 billion (Total) $6,380 (Per capita)
Official government website:	www.gov.za

Google Map of South Africa

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List of Largest Cities in South Africa (2018)

Provinces of South Africa

List of Provinces of South Africa

Province	Capital	Area	Population (2022)
Eastern Cape	Bhisho	168,966	7,230,204
Free State	Bloemfontein	129,825	2,964,412
Gauteng	Johannesburg	18,178	15,099,422
KwaZulu-Natal	Pietermaritzburg	94,361	12,423,907
Limpopo	Polokwane	125,754	6,572,720
Mpumalanga	Mbombela	76,495	5,143,324
North West	Mahikeng	104,882	3,804,548
Northern Cape	Kimberley	372,889	1,355,946
Western Cape	Cape Town	129,462	7,433,019

Districts of South Africa: Alfred Nzo, Amajuba, Amathole, Bojanala Platinum, Buffalo City, Cape Winelands, Capricorn, Central Karoo, Chris Hani, City of Cape Town, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ehlanzeni, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Fezile Dabi, Frances Baard, Garden Route, Gert Sibande, Harry Gwala, iLembe, Joe Gqabi, John Taolo Gaetsewe, King Cetshwayo, Lejweleputswa, Mangaung, Mopani, Namakwa, Nelson Mandela Bay, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Nkangala, OR Tambo, Overberg, Pixley ka Seme, Sarah Baartman, Sedibeng, Sekhukhune, Thabo Mofutsanyana, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, uMkhanyakude, uMzinyathi, uThukela, Vhembe, Waterberg, West Coast, West Rand, Xhariep, ZF Mgcawu, Zululand.

Geography of South Africa

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Major Rivers of South Africa

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Major Lakes of South Africa

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The 20 Highest peaks in South Africa

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References

1. ^ "Census 2022 Statistical Release" (PDF). Statistics South Africa

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