(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Overview of South Africa
- Capital
- Pretoria (executive); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Region
- Africa
- GDP Per Capita, PPP
- $13,630
- GDP
- $368.3 billion
- Population
- 57,779,622
- Area
- 1,219,090 SQ.KM
Overview of South Africa
South Africa is located on the southern tip of Africa, with coastlines on both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Africa’s third-largest economy behind Nigeria and Egypt, South Africa draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year eager to see its impressive terrain, wildlife and cultural diversity.
Although South Africa has come a long way since the end of apartheid in 1994, it remains a country of vast inequality and high crime. While the country is dotted with world-class dining, trendy shops, sprawling vineyards and upscale safari lodges, townships lacking basic infrastructure are often only a short distance away.
About 80 percent of South Africa’s population is black African, whose ancestors predated the arrival of English and Dutch settlers in the 17th century. Throughout the 19th century, South African history was dominated by power struggles among the Dutch and British, the discovery of diamonds and gold and clashes caused by European expansion.
Many Afrikaner nationalists, descendants of the Dutch, pushed for race-based segregation throughout the 20th century, their efforts eventually culminating in the introduction of apartheid in the late 1940s. The policy cemented white rule by creating a race-based caste system and limited freedoms for the country’s non-white citizens.
[Explore the top universities in South Africa.]
South Africa is a multiparty republic with two legislative houses and three capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. The country’s main industries include manufacturing as well as finance, real estate and business services. South Africa produces almost half the entire continent’s electricity output.
Some of the world’s most famous human-rights activists emerged from the anti-apartheid movement, including the late former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, both Nobel Peace Prize winners. The country has 11 official languages and one of the world’s most progressive constitutions.
While South Africa is celebrated for its largely nonviolent transition to democracy, it still faces a host of economic, political and health challenges. The country grapples with immigration tensions, the AIDS epidemic, rising unemployment and persistent poverty. While the ruling party, the African National Congress, has increased services for the country’s poor, it has faced serious allegations of corruption throughout its ranks.
South Africa is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the World Bank and several other international organizations.
South Africa Rankings
#39
Adventure | 40.6 | #26 |
---|---|---|
Citizenship | 11.3 | #37 |
Cultural Influence | 17.1 | #37 |
Entrepreneurship | 13.4 | #35 |
Heritage | 35.7 | #26 |
Movers | 50.0 | #17 |
Open for Business | 32.2 | #61 |
Power | 9.1 | #32 |
Quality of Life | 9.1 | #56 |
#39
Adventure | 40.6 | #26 |
---|---|---|
Citizenship | 11.3 | #37 |
Cultural Influence | 17.1 | #37 |
Entrepreneurship | 13.4 | #35 |
Heritage | 35.7 | #26 |
Movers | 50.0 | #17 |
Open for Business | 32.2 | #61 |
Power | 9.1 | #32 |
Quality of Life | 9.1 | #56 |
Attributes
- 38.0Fun
- 66.0Scenic
- 63.8Pleasant climate
- 34.3Friendly
- 5.6Sexy
Attributes
- 2.0Respects property rights
- 20.0Progressive
- 2.0Trustworthy
- 11.9Gender equality
- 2.9Well-distributed political power
- 9.9Cares about the environment
- 12.5Cares about human rights
- 38.9Religious freedom
Attributes
- 8.2Prestigious
- 23.9Culturally significant in terms of entertainment
- 13.8Fashionable
- 17.2Trendy
- 18.4Modern
- 30.0Has an influential culture
- 15.8Happy
Attributes
- 12.0Provides easy access to capital
- 3.4Well-developed infrastructure
- 2.5Transparent business practices
- 15.6Educated population
- 13.4Skilled labor force
- 18.8Entrepreneurial
- 43.4Connected to the rest of the world
- 8.4Innovative
- 5.8Technological expertise
- 11.6Well-developed legal framework
Attributes
- 33.6Culturally accessible
- 46.6Many cultural attractions
- 47.7Has a rich history
- 20.6Has great food
Attributes
- 44.8Distinctive
- 52.2Different
- 65.2Unique
- 26.5Dynamic
Attributes
- 79.4Corrupt
- 8.6Favorable tax environment
- 31.6Bureaucratic
- 1.3Transparent government practices
- 40.5Cheap manufacturing costs
Attributes
- 8.8Strong military
- 12.1Strong international alliances
- 10.6Economically influential
- 10.7Politically influential
- 4.8A leader
Attributes
- 8.1Economically stable
- 17.9A good job market
- 31.8Affordable
- 0.7Safe
- 5.5Politically stable
- 14.3Family friendly
- 6.3Well-developed public education system
- 4.7Well-developed public health system
- 0.0Income equality
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