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Photos of South Africa

South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope (pictured) is one of the most famous capes in maritime history. Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European to sail around it in 1488, naming the cape “Good Hope” for the many opportunities this water route to Asia offered Europe. Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, is located on the Cape Peninsula.

Introduction

World Factbook Glyph

Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 26

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 136

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 90

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 82

Death rate

comparison ranking: 124

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 104

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 59

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 71

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 78

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 84

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 27

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 3

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 177

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 128

Labor force

comparison ranking: 25

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 207

Public debt

comparison ranking: 44

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 38

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 189

Exports

comparison ranking: 43

Imports

comparison ranking: 43

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 11

Energy

Communications

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 13

Heliports

comparison ranking: 40

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 86

Military and Security

Space

Terrorism

Transnational Issues