Country exposure · ZA
South Africa
Africa · Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) · parliamentary republic
What South Africa means for your money — the prices you pay, the tariffs in motion, and where U.S. policy could change both.
$16.5B
U.S. imports, 2025
+12.1%
change in one year
$6.3B
U.S. exports, 2025
61M
Population
$400.3B
GDP
In your house
What you buy that South Africa makes
America bought $16.5B in goods from South Africa in 2025. Of every $100 of it, here's where the money went.
Other precious metals
$5.2B31.6%
Finished metal shapes
$4.2B25.5%
Nonmonetary gold
$1.9B11.4%
Passenger cars, new and used
new and used cars
$711M4.3%
Bauxite and aluminum
aluminum for cans and autos
$558M3.4%
Steelmaking materials
$519M3.2%
Gem diamonds
$454M2.8%
Fruits, frozen juices
fruit and frozen juices
$300M1.8%
Chemicals-organic
$268M1.6%
Nonferrous metals, other
$213M1.3%
2026 so far (through April): $3.5B in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).
The other direction
What America sells to South Africa
$6.3B in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.
Other parts and accessories of vehicles
$559Mcar parts and accessories
Crude oil
$539MCivilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts
$431MMinimum value shipments
$277MComputers
$270Mlaptops, desktops, monitors
Natural gas liquids
$256MIndustrial machines, other
$222MPlastic materials
$174Mplastics for packaging and goods
Chemicals-other
$173MWhere you stand
U.S. tariff posture toward South Africa
South Africa never reached a deal — its May 2025 framework offer was rejected — so it bore the full 30% reciprocal tariff from August 7, 2025, hitting citrus, table grapes, wine, and automotive exports and largely superseding its AGOA duty-free access. Relief came not from negotiation but from Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions, Feb 20, 2026), which terminated the IEEPA reciprocal duties; Proclamation 11012 replaced it with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge effective February 24, 2026. AGOA was extended in February 2026 (backdated to September 2025) but expires at year-end. South Africa has no Section 232 steel/aluminum exposure.
Reciprocal tariff (assigned — terminated)
30%
The rate this country was assigned under the EO 14257 reciprocal Annex — no longer in force. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs and they were terminated February 24, 2026 (EO 14389), replaced by a universal ~10% Section 122 surcharge. See the timeline below for the current effective rate.
Policy in motion
Tariff status: a moving target
U.S. tariff policy toward South Africa has changed 4 times since 2025. This page tracks it.
2026-02-24
IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122
In effectExecutive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties effective February 24, 2026, cutting South Africa's 30% rate and replacing it with a 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge under Proclamation 11012 (capped at 150 days).
91 FR 9437 →2025-08-07
Full 30% reciprocal rate takes effect — no deal reached
In effectExecutive Order 14326 set the post-pause Annex I reciprocal rates. South Africa's framework offer submitted May 20, 2025 was unsuccessful, so it bore the full 30% rate from August 7, 2025, hitting citrus, wine, grapes, and autos and overriding much of its AGOA duty-free access.
90 FR 37963 →2025-04-10
Elevated reciprocal rates paused to 10% for 90 days
In effectExecutive Order 14266 suspended the higher country-specific reciprocal rates — including South Africa's 30% — back to the 10% baseline for 90 days to allow negotiations.
90 FR 15625 →2025-04-05
Reciprocal tariff regime begins — South Africa assigned 30%
In effectExecutive Order 14257 imposed a 10% universal reciprocal duty effective April 5 and a higher country-specific rate of 30% for South Africa scheduled to take effect April 9 under Annex I.
90 FR 15041 →
Made for America
What South Africa makes for America
South Africa is a direct U.S. source of 12 essential goods Americans rely on — the items themselves, shipped finished off the line.
materials
Vehicles and light trucks
$712M to the U.S.
materials
3% of U.S.Jewelry
$554M to the U.S.
grocery
1% of U.S.Fresh produce staples
$181M to the U.S.
materials
1% of U.S.Aluminum and aluminum products
$111M to the U.S.
materials
Steel and iron products
$97M to the U.S.
materials
Auto parts and repairs
$72M to the U.S.
food
1% of U.S.Soft drinks & juices
$67M to the U.S.
food
1% of U.S.Canned and shelf-stable foods
$51M to the U.S.
food
1% of U.S.Snacks & confectionery
$48M to the U.S.
food
Seafood and fish
$44M to the U.S.
food
1% of U.S.Frozen foods
$36M to the U.S.
food
Beer, wine, and spirits
$33M to the U.S.
Go deeper
The supply chain view
South Africa sits upstream of 24 essential American goods through 12 tracked inputs.
mineral
72%Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) — Catalytic Converters
mineral
70%PGM Sulfide Ore — Bushveld Complex (South Africa)
energy
65%Grid Electricity for PGM Smelting (South Africa / Russia)
mineral
61%Platinum group metal (pharmaceutical grade)
mineral
20%Manganese ore
mineral
19%Titanium mineral concentrates (ilmenite/rutile)
Reference
The country itself
Africa · Geography, people, economy, and government — public-domain data from the CIA World Factbook.
Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-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 settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance 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 from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption.
Geography
- Location
- Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
- Area
- 1,219,090 sq km
- Climate
- mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
- Terrain
- vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
- Natural resources
- gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
- Coastline
- 2,798 km
- Natural hazards
- prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano
People & society
- Population
- 61,089,926 (2025 est.)
- Nationality
- South African(s)
- Ethnic groups
- Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
- Languages
- isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
- Religions
- Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.)
- Median age
- 30.7 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth
- 71.9 years (2024 est.)
- Literacy
- 91.2% (2024 est.)
Economy
- Economic overview
- upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals
- Industries
- mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
- Agricultural products
- sugarcane, maize, milk, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, grapes, chicken, oranges, apples (2023)
- Exports - partners
- China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023)
- Imports - partners
- China 21%, India 7%, USA 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Government
- Government type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
- Independence
- 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
- Constitution
- several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997
- Executive branch
- President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
- Legislative branch
- Parliament
Full reference data
Every field, by section — CIA World Factbook. Open a topic to expand it.
Introduction
Background
Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-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 settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance 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 from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption.
Travel Facts
US State Dept Travel Advisory
The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime and civil unrest. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements
US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 30 days after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days. Currently South Africa requires that children travel with birth certificates, valid passports, and (if not traveling with both of the parents on the birth certificate), a parental consent letter from both of the parents.
US Embassy/Consulate
[27] (12) 431-4000; US Embassy Pretoria, 877 Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; ACSJohannesburg@state.gov; https://za.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code
27
Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 10177; Fire: 10177; Police: 10111
Vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccine, at least 10 days before arrival, is required for travelers originating from or transiting through WHO-designated yellow fever countries. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/
Climate
Mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Currency (Code)
Rand (ZAR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, M, N
Major Languages
IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, English, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele
Major Religions
Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%
Time Difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water
Yes
International Driving Permit
Suggested
Road Driving Side
Left
Tourist Destinations
Kruger National Park; Cape Town; Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Transfrontier Park; Stellenbosch; Drakensberg; Garden Route; iSimangaliso Wetland Park; Cape of Good Hope; Robben Island (Nelson Mandela's prison); Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng
Major Sports
Rugby, cricket, soccer, boxing
Cultural Practices
Placing both hands together with fingers pointing up is a way to say "thank you."
Tipping Guidelines
It is customary to tip 10-15% for good service in restaurants. For private drivers, 100 rand per person per day is appropriate.
Souvenirs
Zulu spoons, Zulu beaded items, seshweshwe fabric, Rooibos tea, wine and liqueur
Traditional Cuisine
Bobotie — minced meat simmered with spices, especially curry powder, herbs, and dried fruit, then topped with a mixture of egg and milk and baked
CIA source last updated
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Travel resources
Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency? Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Geography
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
Area - land
1,214,470 sq km
Area - water
4,620 sq km
Area - note
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries - total
5,244 km
Land boundaries - border countries
Botswana 1,969 km; Lesotho 1,106 km; Mozambique 496 km; Namibia 1,005 km; Eswatini 438 km; Zimbabwe 230 km
Coastline
2,798 km
Maritime claims - territorial sea
12 nm
Maritime claims - contiguous zone
24 nm
Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Maritime claims - 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 - highest point
Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m
Elevation - lowest point
Atlantic/Indian Oceans 0 m
Elevation - mean elevation
1,034 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
Natural resources - note
note: South Africa was the World's leading chromite ore producer in 2022 with an output of 18,000 mt
Land use - agricultural land
79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.)
Land use - forest
18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use - other
1.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
16,700 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpoporivier (Limpopo) river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) - Atlantic Ocean drainage
Orange (941,351 sq km)
Major aquifers
Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin
Population distribution
the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano
Geography - note
note 1: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini note 2: sometimes mistaken for the southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is more accurately described as the southwestern-most point of the African continent; Cape Agulhas, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is the southernmost point of the African continent
People and Society
Population - total
61,089,926 (2025 est.)
Population - male
29,989,969
Population - female
31,099,957
Nationality - noun
South African(s)
Nationality - adjective
South African
Ethnic groups
Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
Ethnic groups - note
note: Colored is a term used in South Africa, including on the national census, for persons of mixed race ancestry who developed a distinct cultural identity over several hundred years
Languages - Languages
isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
Languages - major-language sample(s)
Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Languages - note
note: data represent language spoken most often at home
Religions
Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.)
Age structure - 0-14 years
27.2% (male 8,227,690/female 8,194,392)
Age structure - 15-64 years
65.3% (male 19,524,873/female 19,947,839)
Age structure - 65 years and over
7.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,911,825/female 2,636,028)
Dependency ratios - total dependency ratio
53 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios - youth dependency ratio
41.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios - elderly dependency ratio
11.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios - potential support ratio
8.4 (2025 est.)
Median age - total
30.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age - male
30.1 years
Median age - female
30.6 years
Population growth rate
1.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
17.21 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization - urban population
68.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization - rate of urbanization
1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
10.316 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.890 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.228 million Durban, 2.818 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.296 million Port Elizabeth, 934,000 West Rand (2023)
Sex ratio - at birth
1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio - 0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio - 15-64 years
0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio - 65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio - total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate - total
19.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate - male
23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate - female
20 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth - total population
71.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth - male
70.3 years
Life expectancy at birth - female
73.5 years
Total fertility rate
2.23 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.1 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source - improved: urban
urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source - improved: rural
rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source - improved: total
total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source - unimproved: urban
urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source - unimproved: rural
rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source - unimproved: total
total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure - Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure - Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access - improved: urban
urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access - improved: rural
rural: 81.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access - improved: total
total: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access - unimproved: urban
urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access - unimproved: rural
rural: 18.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access - unimproved: total
total: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
28.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita - total
7.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita - beer
3.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita - wine
1.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita - spirits
1.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita - other alcohols
0.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use - total
20.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use - male
35.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use - female
6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
4.9% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
33.6% (2020 est.)
Child marriage - women married by age 15
0.9% (2016)
Child marriage - women married by age 18
3.6% (2016)
Child marriage - men married by age 18
0.6% (2016)
Education expenditure - Education expenditure (% GDP)
6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure - Education expenditure (% national budget)
19.1% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy - total population
91.2% (2024 est.)
Literacy - male
91.5% (2024 est.)
Literacy - female
90.8% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - total
14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - male
14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - female
14 years (2022 est.)
Government
Country name - conventional long form
Republic of South Africa
Country name - conventional short form
South Africa
Country name - former
Union of South Africa
Country name - abbreviation
RSA
Country name - etymology
self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital - name
Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Capital - geographic coordinates
25 42 S, 28 13 E
Capital - time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital - etymology
Pretoria was named in honor of Boer statesman Andries PRETORIUS in 1855; Cape Town's name refers to its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein was named after the farm on which it was built in 1846, whose name combined the Dutch words bloem (flower) and fontein (fountain)
Administrative divisions
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
Legal system
mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
Constitution - history
several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997
Constitution - amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship - citizenship by birth
no
Citizenship - citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa
Citizenship - dual citizenship recognized
yes, but requires prior permission of the government
Citizenship - residency requirement for naturalization
5 year
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch - chief of state
President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Executive branch - head of government
President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Executive branch - cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch - election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch - most recent election date
29 May 2024
Executive branch - election results
2024: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed 2019: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed
Executive branch - expected date of next election
May 2029
Executive branch - note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch - legislature name
Parliament
Legislative branch - legislative structure
bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber - chamber name
National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber - number of seats
400 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber - electoral system
proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber - scope of elections
full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber - term in office
5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber - most recent election date
6/15/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber - percentage of women in chamber
44.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber - expected date of next election
May 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber - chamber name
National Council of Provinces
Legislative branch - upper chamber - number of seats
90 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber - scope of elections
full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber - term in office
5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber - most recent election date
5/29/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber - percentage of women in chamber
44.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber - expected date of next election
June 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber - note
note: the Council has special powers to protect regional interests, including safeguarding cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities
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)
Judicial branch - 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 justice; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa 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 serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70
Judicial branch - subordinate courts
High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts
Political parties
African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP African Independent Congress or AIC African National Congress or ANC African People's Convention or APC Agang SA Congress of the People or COPE Democratic Alliance or DA Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF Freedom Front Plus or FF+ GOOD Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP National Freedom Party or NFP Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP United Democratic Movement or UDM
Diplomatic representation in the US - chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 17 March 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US - chancery
3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US - telephone
[1] (240) 937-5760
Diplomatic representation in the US - FAX
[1] (202) 265-1607
Diplomatic representation in the US - email address and website
Diplomatic representation in the US - consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Leo Brent BOZELL III; Chargé d’Affaires Marc DILLARD (since October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US - embassy
877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
Diplomatic representation from the US - mailing address
9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC 20521-9300
Diplomatic representation from the US - telephone
[27] (12) 431-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US - FAX
[27] (12) 342-2299
Diplomatic representation from the US - email address and website
Diplomatic representation from the US - consulate(s) general
Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AIIB, 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, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence
31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
National holiday
Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Flag
description: two equal-width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y; a black isosceles triangle is in the Y, with narrow yellow bands around it; the red and blue bands are bordered by narrow white stripes meaning: the colors have no official meaning, but the Y stands for "the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"
Flag - note
note: South Africa has one of two national flags that display six colors as part of the primary design -- the other is South Sudan's
National symbol(s)
springbok (antelope), king protea flower
National color(s)
red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
National anthem(s) - title
"National Anthem of South Africa"
National anthem(s) - lyrics/music
Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers
National anthem(s) - history
adopted 1997; 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 (the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages)
National heritage - total World Heritage Sites
12 (7 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage - selected World Heritage Site locales
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c); iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n); Robben Island (c); Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m); Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c); Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n); Vredefort Dome (n); Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c); Khomani Cultural Landscape (c); Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n); Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (c); The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (c)
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$870.42 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$865.402 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$859.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - note
note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate - note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2024
$13,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2023
$13,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2022
$13,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita - note
note: data in 2021 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$400.261 billion (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) - note
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - note
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture
2.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry
24.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services
62.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin - note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption
64.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption
19.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital
14.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories
-0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services
31.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services
-29.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use - note
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, milk, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, grapes, chicken, oranges, apples (2023)
Agricultural products - note
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
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
-0.4% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate - note
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force
27.766 million (2024 est.)
Labor force - note
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2024
33.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2023
32.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2022
33.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate - note
note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - total
60.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - male
57.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - female
65.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - note
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Average household expenditures - on food
16.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures - on alcohol and tobacco
4.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances - Remittances 2024
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances - Remittances 2023
0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances - Remittances 2022
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances - note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget - revenues
$123.263 billion (2022 est.)
Budget - expenditures
$137.593 billion (2022 est.)
Budget - note
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt - Public debt 2022
76.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Public debt - note
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
26% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues - note
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance - Current account balance 2024
-$2.384 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance - Current account balance 2023
-$6.143 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance - Current account balance 2022
-$1.878 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance - note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports - Exports 2024
$127.629 billion (2024 est.)
Exports - Exports 2023
$124.671 billion (2023 est.)
Exports - Exports 2022
$136.01 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - partners
China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023)
Exports - partners - note
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
gold, platinum, coal, cars, iron ore (2023)
Exports - commodities - note
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - Imports 2024
$119.59 billion (2024 est.)
Imports - Imports 2023
$123.454 billion (2023 est.)
Imports - Imports 2022
$127.669 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - partners
China 21%, India 7%, USA 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - partners - note
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Imports - commodities - note
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$65.435 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$62.492 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$60.553 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - note
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Debt - external - Debt - external 2023
$93.879 billion (2023 est.)
Debt - external - note
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates - Currency
rand (ZAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2024
18.329 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2023
18.45 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2022
16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2021
14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2020
16.459 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access - electrification - total population
86.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access - electrification - urban areas
87.1%
Electricity access - electrification - rural areas
93.4%
Electricity - installed generating capacity
65.989 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity - consumption
194.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity - exports
12.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity - imports
10.837 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity - transmission/distribution losses
22.838 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - fossil fuels
87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - nuclear
3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - solar
2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - wind
5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - hydroelectricity
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources - biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy - Number of operational nuclear reactors
2 (2025)
Nuclear energy - Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
1.85GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy - Percent of total electricity production
4.4% (2023 est.)
Coal - production
239.712 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal - consumption
176.095 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal - exports
66.918 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal - imports
3.301 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal - proven reserves
9.893 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum - total petroleum production
88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum - refined petroleum consumption
609,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum - crude oil estimated reserves
15 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas - production
66.094 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
3.834 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas - imports
3.768 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita - Total energy consumption per capita 2023
86.197 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines - total subscriptions
1.353 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular - total subscriptions
115 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
167 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 6 free-to-air TV stations; 1 private TV station; multiple subscription TV services with mix of local and international channels; mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; state-owned SABC radio network has 18 stations, including one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; over 100 community stations with rural coverage
Internet country code
.za
Internet users - percent of population
76% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions - total
2.15 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ZS
Airports
573 (2025)
Heliports
49 (2025)
Railways - total
30,400 km (2021)
Railways - standard gauge
80 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified)
Railways - narrow gauge
19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified)
Merchant marine - total
110 (2023)
Merchant marine - by type
bulk carrier 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 99
Ports - total ports
8 (2024)
Ports - large
2
Ports - medium
4
Ports - small
1
Ports - very small
1
Ports - ports with oil terminals
7
Ports - key ports
Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay
Military and Security
Military and security forces
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services Ministry of Police: South African Police Service (SAPS) (2025)
Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2021
0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2020
1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 65-70,000 active-duty National Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the SANDF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US origin armaments, alongside some domestic systems, such as combat helicopters and some naval vessels; South Africa has one of Africa's leading defense industries (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-22 (18-26 for college graduates) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military service age and obligation - note
note: in 2023, women comprised nearly 30% of the military
Military deployments
approximately 2,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community) (2025)
Military - note
the South African National Defense Force's (SANDF) primary responsibilities include territorial and maritime defense, supporting the Police Service, protecting key infrastructure, responding to disasters, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; border security and maintaining a rapid reaction capability for regional security missions and disaster response have been priorities; in recent years, it has been deployed internally to assist the Police with quelling unrest and assisting with border security; the SANDF also regularly participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force the SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Terrorist group(s) - note
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons - refugees
171,484 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons - IDPs
7,385 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons - tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore South Africa was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-africa/
Illicit drugs - USG identification
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Environment
Environmental issues
limited freshwater resources due to lack of major rivers or lakes; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban waste; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; significant floral extinctions
International environmental agreements - party to
Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements - signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Climate
mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Land use - agricultural land
79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use - agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.)
Land use - forest
18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use - other
1.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization - urban population
68.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization - rate of urbanization
1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions - total emissions
446.704 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions - from coal and metallurgical coke
365.269 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions - from petroleum and other liquids
73.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions - from consumed natural gas
7.522 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
17 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions - energy
1,489.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions - agriculture
754.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions - waste
770.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions - other
32.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling - municipal solid waste generated annually
18.457 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling - percent of municipal solid waste recycled
28.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal - municipal
3.476 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal - industrial
4.616 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal - agricultural
11.839 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources
51.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
South African National Space Agency (SANSA; established 2010) (2025)
Space launch site(s)
Arniston launch facility (Western Cape) used to support space launch vehicle and ballistic missile program (1980s-1990s); it is now a weapons testing facility called the Denel Overberg Test Range (2024)
Space program overview
key areas of emphasis for its national space program include Earth observation/remote sensing (RS) capabilities, weather monitoring, research, engineering, and operations (tracking, telemetry, etc.); produces and operates satellites; has a sounding rocket program for carrying experimental payloads for research; cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, Russia, and the US; member of the African Space Agency; participates in international programs such as the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a number of state- and privately-owned aerospace companies, as well as academic and research institutions involved in space-related activities (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1976 - established a satellite remote sensing (RS)/radio astronomy center (originally built by the US in 1961 to receive data from US space missions) 1980s - conducted program to launch reconnaissance satellites on a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (abandoned in 1994 along with nuclear program) 1999 - first domestically built RS/technology demonstrator microsatellite (Sunsat-1) launched by US 2009 - first government-owned and -operated RS/scientific/technology demonstrator satellite (SumbandilaSat) launched by Russia 2018 - inaugurated a radio space telescope array (Karoo Array Telescope or MeerKAT) 2021 - began construction of the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope observatory; launched a sounding rocket for research purposes to an altitude of nearly 18,000 km (11,185 mi) 2022 - opened Africa's first regional space weather center 2023 - agreed to participate in China's international lunar research station project