| Location |
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa |
| Size |
1 219 090 km2 |
| Key economic areas |
Mining services and transport, energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture |
| Population |
47,4 million (mid-2006) |
| Official languages |
English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, Afrikaans, siSwati, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, Tshivenda and Xitsonga |
| Government |
Constitutional multiparty, three-tier (local, provincial, national) democracy |
| Major cities |
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, East London, Kimberley. There are nine provinces. |
| Currency |
100 cents equals one rand |
| Time |
GMT +2 hours |
| Distances |
Cape Town to Johannesburg 1 400 km (880 miles) Johannesburg to Durban 600 km (380 miles) Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein 700 km (440 miles) |
| Transportation |
Excellent roads, rail and air facilities (both domestic and international) |
| Telecommunications |
World-class infrastructure. Internet access is widely available. There are three mobile (cellular) networks |
| Value-added tax Levied at 14%. |
Tourists may apply for tax refunds on purchases over R250 on departure |
| Health |
Top quality care is available throughout the country, although basic in rural areas. Inoculations are only required for those travelling from yellow-fever areas. Malaria precautions are necessary in some areas |
| Total GDP (2005) |
US$239,4 billion* |
| GDP per capita (2005) |
US$5 056* |
| Real GDP growth (2005) |
4,9% |
| Inflation (CPIX) |
3,9% |
| * Based on a mid-2005 exchange rate of R6,3623 to the US$ |
|
| Official name |
Republic of South Africa |