South Africa , Table Mountain -- 2024 -- 2821.jpg?width=1200)
Quick answerSouth Africa is a country in Southern Africa, with a population of 63,015,904 (2024). Its capital is Pretoria, its official languages include Afrikaans, English and 10 others, and its currency is the South African rand (ZAR). It covers 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square miles), and its time zone is Africa/Johannesburg.
South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, home to about 63 million people. It has three capitals, twelve official languages, and its currency is the rand.
Key facts
| Capital | Pretoria |
|---|---|
| Population | 63,015,904 (2024) · 63.0 million |
| Population density | 51.9 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 1,221,037 km² (471,445 sq mi) total · 1,214,470 km² (468,909 sq mi) land |
| Official languages | Afrikaans (official), English (official), Southern Ndebele (official), Northern Sotho (official), Southern Sotho (official), Swazi (official), Tswana (official), Tsonga (official), Venda (official), Xhosa (official), Zulu (official), South African Sign Language (official) |
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR, R) |
| Time zone | Africa/Johannesburg |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency |
| Coastline | 2,798 km |
| Highest point | Mafadi, 3,450 m |
| Life expectancy | 66.3 years (2024) |
| Calling code | +27 |
| Driving side | Left |
| Internet domain | .za |
Overview
South Africa sits at the southern tip of Africa, between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, with 2,798 kilometres of coastline. It covers 1,221,037 square kilometres and is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini, and it entirely surrounds Lesotho. Its landscapes range from the semi-desert Karoo and the Highveld plateau to the Drakensberg mountains, where Mafadi rises to 3,450 metres, and the subtropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa is unusual in having three capitals: Pretoria is the executive capital, where the president and cabinet sit; Cape Town is the legislative capital, home to Parliament; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Pretoria is the capital most people mean when they ask for the capital of South Africa, and it is the one listed as the capital here. Johannesburg, the largest city, is the country's economic hub, but it is not a capital at all.
About 63 million people lived in South Africa in 2024, according to Statistics South Africa, making it the sixth most populous country in Africa. About 63.7 per cent of the population was urban in 2024, according to the World Bank, and life expectancy at birth was 66.3 years. South Africa has twelve official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English; South African Sign Language became the twelfth in 2023. The rand is the currency, and the country drives on the left.
South Africa is a parliamentary republic with an executive president. After the end of apartheid in 1994, Nelson Mandela became the country's first democratically elected president, and the country is still often called the rainbow nation for its diversity. South Africa is known for its wildlife: Kruger National Park, first protected as a game reserve in 1898, is one of Africa's largest game reserves. Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned, the Cape Floral Region and the Cradle of Humankind are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Notable facts
- South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).
- South Africa has twelve official languages, after South African Sign Language became the twelfth in 2023.
- Mafadi, at 3,450 metres in the Drakensberg, is the highest point in South Africa.
- South Africa's population was 63,015,904 in 2024, according to Statistics South Africa, making it the sixth most populous country in Africa.
- Kruger National Park, first protected as a game reserve in 1898, is one of Africa's largest game reserves.
How South Africa compares
Comparison table — South Africa next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa ★ | 63,015,904 (2024) | 1,221,037 km² | 51.9 people per km² | Pretoria |
| Australia | 27,801,023 (2025) | 7,692,024 km² | 3.6 people per km² | Canberra |
| Brazil | 213,421,037 (2025) | 8,515,767 km² | 25.2 people per km² | Brasília |
| Canada | 41,798,407 (2026) | 9,984,670 km² | 4.6 people per km² | Ottawa |
Cities in South Africa
See all 4 cities in South Africa →
- Johannesburg 4,803,262 people (2022) Known for Gold mining history
- Cape Town 4,772,846 people (2022) · Capital Known for Table Mountain
- Durban 4,239,901 people (2022) Known for Golden Mile beachfront
- Pretoria 4,040,315 people (2022) · Capital Known for Union Buildings
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of South Africa?
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria is the executive capital, Cape Town the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. Pretoria, where the president and cabinet sit, is the capital most people mean when they ask the question. Johannesburg is the largest city, but it is not a capital.
What is the population of South Africa?
South Africa had a population of 63,015,904 in 2024, according to Statistics South Africa, based on the 2022 census. That makes it the sixth most populous country in Africa. Most South Africans live in cities, with the largest urban areas around Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, and about 63.7 per cent of the population was urban in 2024.
What language is spoken in South Africa?
South Africa has twelve official languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, English, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele and South African Sign Language. Zulu is the most widely spoken first language, while English is the main language of government, business and education. Most South Africans speak more than one language.
What currency is used in South Africa?
South Africa uses the rand (ZAR, symbol R). It is divided into 100 cents, and coins and banknotes are used across the country. Cards are widely accepted in cities, hotels and larger shops, while cash is still useful in markets and rural areas. The rand is also used in Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.
Where is South Africa?
South Africa is at the southern tip of Africa, between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. It borders Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique and Eswatini to the east, and it entirely surrounds Lesotho. Cape Agulhas, south of Cape Town, is the southernmost point of the African continent.
What time zone is South Africa in?
South Africa uses South African Standard Time (SAST), which is UTC+2 all year round. The country does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference with London is one hour in winter and two in summer. The IANA time zone name is Africa/Johannesburg, and it applies to Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban alike.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Johannesburg — city in South Africa
- Cape Town — capital of South Africa
- Durban — city in South Africa
- Pretoria — capital of South Africa
- Botswana — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Lesotho — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Mozambique — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Namibia — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Eswatini — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Zimbabwe — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — South Africa
- Statistics South Africa, via Wikipedia (2022 census)
- World Bank, World Development Indicators
- CIA World Factbook — South Africa
- Wikipedia — Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution of South Africa
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: area, borders, currencies, languages, latlng)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.