South Africa
South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa with a coast line, which stretches for 2,798 km bordering both the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to it being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, by its location in the climatically milder southern hemisphere. Due to this varied topography and oceanic influence, a great variety of climatic zones exist.
- Full name: Republic of South Africa
- Population: 48.8 million (UN, 2008)
- Capitals: Pretoria (executive capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
- Largest city: Johannesburg
- Area: 1.22 million sq km (470,693 sq miles)
- Major languages: 11 official languages including English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Xhosa and Zulu
- Major religion: Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs
- Life expectancy: 49 years (men), 50 years (women)
- Monetary unit: 1 Rand = 100 cents
- Main exports: Gold, diamonds, metals and minerals, cars, machinery
- GNI per capita: US $5,760 (World Bank, 2007)
- Internet domain: .za
- International dialling code: +27
