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🇿🇦 South Africa

Overview

ISO 3166-1 alpha-3ZAF
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2ZA
UN M49 numeric710
IOC codeRSA
Official nameRepublic of South Africa
Native name(s)afr: official: Republiek van Suid-Afrika; common: South Africa; eng: official: Republic of South Africa; common: South Africa; nbl: official: IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika; common: Sewula Afrika; nso: official: Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa ; common: Afrika-Borwa; sot: official: Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa; common: Afrika Borwa; ssw: official: IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika; common: Ningizimu Afrika; tsn: official: Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa; common: Aforika Borwa; tso: official: Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga; common: Afrika Dzonga; ven: official: Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe; common: Afurika Tshipembe; xho: official: IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika; common: Mzantsi Afrika; zul: official: IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika; common: Ningizimu Afrika
Alt spellingsZA, RSA, Suid-Afrika, Republic of South Africa
Statusofficially-assigned
IndependentYes
UN memberYes

Geography

RegionAfrica
SubregionSouthern Africa
UN regional groupAfrican Group
CapitalPretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town
Area (km²)1,221,037
Lat / Lng-29.0000, 24.0000
LandlockedNo
Borders (ISO3)BWA, LSO, MOZ, NAM, SWZ, ZWE
Top-level domain.za
Calling coderoot: +2; suffixes: 7

Demographics

Population (World Bank)64,747,319 (2025)
Life expectancy (years, World Bank)66.312 (2024)
Languagesafr: Afrikaans; eng: English; nbl: Southern Ndebele; nso: Northern Sotho; sot: Southern Sotho; ssw: Swazi; tsn: Tswana; tso: Tsonga; ven: Venda; xho: Xhosa; zul: Zulu
Demonymseng: f: South African; m: South African; fra: f: Sud-africaine; m: Sud-africain
Population time-series (UN WPP)74

Economy

GDP (current USD)427,184,325,997.307 (2025)
GDP per capita (current USD)6,597.715 (2025)
Unemployment rate (%)32.391 (2025)
CurrenciesZAR: name: South African rand; symbol: R

Population by year (UN WPP)

74 yearly data points — click to expand
YearPopulation
195013,038,491
195113,309,020
195213,595,543
195313,892,910
195414,203,779
195514,533,365
195614,880,686
195715,244,839
195815,620,418
195916,014,974
196016,440,172
196116,908,035
196217,418,522
196317,954,564
196418,511,361
196519,089,380
196619,690,087
196720,314,066
196820,957,287
196921,614,676
197022,279,984
197122,942,143
197223,609,456
197324,294,263
197424,989,108
197525,690,940
197626,395,450
197727,118,952
197827,869,507
197928,634,162
198029,518,857
198130,541,044
198231,615,339
198332,739,304
198433,892,788
198535,042,093
198636,180,515
198737,326,190
198838,480,649
198939,628,575
199040,746,268
199141,687,898
199242,443,509
199343,297,156
199444,004,139
199544,541,554
199645,123,018
199745,666,838
199846,223,880
199946,730,335
200047,159,719
200147,566,800
200248,019,415
200348,500,348
200448,991,421
200549,490,033
200649,998,277
200750,528,584
200851,114,599
200951,728,516
201052,344,051
201152,995,205
201253,782,567
201354,678,791
201455,594,838
201556,723,537
201657,259,551
201757,635,162
201858,613,001
201959,587,885
202060,562,381
202161,502,603
202262,378,410
202363,212,384

Full raw record (JSON)

JSON
{
  "iso3": "ZAF",
  "iso2": "ZA",
  "ccn3": "710",
  "cioc": "RSA",
  "name": {
    "common": "South Africa",
    "official": "Republic of South Africa",
    "native": {
      "afr": {
        "official": "Republiek van Suid-Afrika",
        "common": "South Africa"
      },
      "eng": {
        "official": "Republic of South Africa",
        "common": "South Africa"
      },
      "nbl": {
        "official": "IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika",
        "common": "Sewula Afrika"
      },
      "nso": {
        "official": "Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa ",
        "common": "Afrika-Borwa"
      },
      "sot": {
        "official": "Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa",
        "common": "Afrika Borwa"
      },
      "ssw": {
        "official": "IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika",
        "common": "Ningizimu Afrika"
      },
      "tsn": {
        "official": "Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa",
        "common": "Aforika Borwa"
      },
      "tso": {
        "official": "Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga",
        "common": "Afrika Dzonga"
      },
      "ven": {
        "official": "Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe",
        "common": "Afurika Tshipembe"
      },
      "xho": {
        "official": "IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika",
        "common": "Mzantsi Afrika"
      },
      "zul": {
        "official": "IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika",
        "common": "Ningizimu Afrika"
      }
    }
  },
  "alt_spellings": [
    "ZA",
    "RSA",
    "Suid-Afrika",
    "Republic of South Africa"
  ],
  "translations": {
    "ara": {
      "official": "جمهورية جنوب أفريقيا",
      "common": "جنوب أفريقيا"
    },
    "bre": {
      "official": "Republik Suafrika",
      "common": "Suafrika"
    },
    "ces": {
      "official": "Jihoafrická republika",
      "common": "Jihoafrická republika"
    },
    "deu": {
      "official": "Republik Südafrika",
      "common": "Südafrika"
    },
    "est": {
      "official": "Lõuna-Aafrika Vabariik",
      "common": "Lõuna-Aafrika Vabariik"
    },
    "fin": {
      "official": "Etelä-Afrikan tasavalta",
      "common": "Etelä-Afrikka"
    },
    "fra": {
      "official": "République d'Afrique du Sud",
      "common": "Afrique du Sud"
    },
    "hrv": {
      "official": "Južnoafrička Republika",
      "common": "Južnoafrička Republika"
    },
    "hun": {
      "official": "Dél-afrikai Köztársaság",
      "common": "Dél-afrikai Köztársaság"
    },
    "ita": {
      "official": "Repubblica del Sud Africa",
      "common": "Sud Africa"
    },
    "jpn": {
      "official": "南アフリカ共和国",
      "common": "南アフリカ"
    },
    "kor": {
      "official": "남아프리카 공화국",
      "common": "남아프리카"
    },
    "nld": {
      "official": "Republiek Zuid-Afrika",
      "common": "Zuid-Afrika"
    },
    "per": {
      "official": "جمهوری آفریقای جنوبی",
      "common": "آفریقای جنوبی"
    },
    "pol": {
      "official": "Republika Południowej Afryki",
      "common": "Południowa Afryka"
    },
    "por": {
      "official": "República da África do Sul",
      "common": "África do Sul"
    },
    "rus": {
      "official": "Южно-Африканская Республика",
      "common": "Южно-Африканская Республика"
    },
    "slk": {
      "official": "Juhoafrická republika",
      "common": "Juhoafrická republika"
    },
    "spa": {
      "official": "República de Sudáfrica",
      "common": "Sudáfrica"
    },
    "srp": {
      "official": "Republika Južna Afrika",
      "common": "Južnoafrička Republika"
    },
    "swe": {
      "official": "Republiken Sydafrika",
      "common": "Sydafrika"
    },
    "tur": {
      "official": "Güney Afrika Cumhuriyeti",
      "common": "Güney Afrika"
    },
    "urd": {
      "official": "جمہوریہ جنوبی افریقا",
      "common": "جنوبی افریقا"
    },
    "zho": {
      "official": "南非共和国",
      "common": "南非"
    }
  },
  "capital": [
    "Pretoria",
    "Bloemfontein",
    "Cape Town"
  ],
  "region": "Africa",
  "subregion": "Southern Africa",
  "un_regional_group": "African Group",
  "currencies": {
    "ZAR": {
      "name": "South African rand",
      "symbol": "R"
    }
  },
  "languages": {
    "afr": "Afrikaans",
    "eng": "English",
    "nbl": "Southern Ndebele",
    "nso": "Northern Sotho",
    "sot": "Southern Sotho",
    "ssw": "Swazi",
    "tsn": "Tswana",
    "tso": "Tsonga",
    "ven": "Venda",
    "xho": "Xhosa",
    "zul": "Zulu"
  },
  "idd": {
    "root": "+2",
    "suffixes": [
      "7"
    ]
  },
  "tld": [
    ".za"
  ],
  "area_sq_km": 1221037,
  "latlng": [
    -29,
    24
  ],
  "landlocked": false,
  "borders": [
    "BWA",
    "LSO",
    "MOZ",
    "NAM",
    "SWZ",
    "ZWE"
  ],
  "independent": true,
  "un_member": true,
  "status": "officially-assigned",
  "flag_emoji": "🇿🇦",
  "flag_png_url": "https://flagcdn.com/w320/za.png",
  "demonyms": {
    "eng": {
      "f": "South African",
      "m": "South African"
    },
    "fra": {
      "f": "Sud-africaine",
      "m": "Sud-africain"
    }
  },
  "world_bank": {
    "population_total": {
      "value": 64747319,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "gdp_usd": {
      "value": 427184325997.307,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "gdp_per_capita_usd": {
      "value": 6597.71450918774,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "unemployment_rate_pct": {
      "value": 32.391,
      "year": 2025
    },
    "life_expectancy_years": {
      "value": 66.312,
      "year": 2024
    }
  },
  "population_timeseries": [
    {
      "year": 1950,
      "population": 13038491
    },
    {
      "year": 1951,
      "population": 13309020
    },
    {
      "year": 1952,
      "population": 13595543
    },
    {
      "year": 1953,
      "population": 13892910
    },
    {
      "year": 1954,
      "population": 14203779
    },
    {
      "year": 1955,
      "population": 14533365
    },
    {
      "year": 1956,
      "population": 14880686
    },
    {
      "year": 1957,
      "population": 15244839
    },
    {
      "year": 1958,
      "population": 15620418
    },
    {
      "year": 1959,
      "population": 16014974
    },
    {
      "year": 1960,
      "population": 16440172
    },
    {
      "year": 1961,
      "population": 16908035
    },
    {
      "year": 1962,
      "population": 17418522
    },
    {
      "year": 1963,
      "population": 17954564
    },
    {
      "year": 1964,
      "population": 18511361
    },
    {
      "year": 1965,
      "population": 19089380
    },
    {
      "year": 1966,
      "population": 19690087
    },
    {
      "year": 1967,
      "population": 20314066
    },
    {
      "year": 1968,
      "population": 20957287
    },
    {
      "year": 1969,
      "population": 21614676
    },
    {
      "year": 1970,
      "population": 22279984
    },
    {
      "year": 1971,
      "population": 22942143
    },
    {
      "year": 1972,
      "population": 23609456
    },
    {
      "year": 1973,
      "population": 24294263
    },
    {
      "year": 1974,
      "population": 24989108
    },
    {
      "year": 1975,
      "population": 25690940
    },
    {
      "year": 1976,
      "population": 26395450
    },
    {
      "year": 1977,
      "population": 27118952
    },
    {
      "year": 1978,
      "population": 27869507
    },
    {
      "year": 1979,
      "population": 28634162
    },
    {
      "year": 1980,
      "population": 29518857
    },
    {
      "year": 1981,
      "population": 30541044
    },
    {
      "year": 1982,
      "population": 31615339
    },
    {
      "year": 1983,
      "population": 32739304
    },
    {
      "year": 1984,
      "population": 33892788
    },
    {
      "year": 1985,
      "population": 35042093
    },
    {
      "year": 1986,
      "population": 36180515
    },
    {
      "year": 1987,
      "population": 37326190
    },
    {
      "year": 1988,
      "population": 38480649
    },
    {
      "year": 1989,
      "population": 39628575
    },
    {
      "year": 1990,
      "population": 40746268
    },
    {
      "year": 1991,
      "population": 41687898
    },
    {
      "year": 1992,
      "population": 42443509
    },
    {
      "year": 1993,
      "population": 43297156
    },
    {
      "year": 1994,
      "population": 44004139
    },
    {
      "year": 1995,
      "population": 44541554
    },
    {
      "year": 1996,
      "population": 45123018
    },
    {
      "year": 1997,
      "population": 45666838
    },
    {
      "year": 1998,
      "population": 46223880
    },
    {
      "year": 1999,
      "population": 46730335
    },
    {
      "year": 2000,
      "population": 47159719
    },
    {
      "year": 2001,
      "population": 47566800
    },
    {
      "year": 2002,
      "population": 48019415
    },
    {
      "year": 2003,
      "population": 48500348
    },
    {
      "year": 2004,
      "population": 48991421
    },
    {
      "year": 2005,
      "population": 49490033
    },
    {
      "year": 2006,
      "population": 49998277
    },
    {
      "year": 2007,
      "population": 50528584
    },
    {
      "year": 2008,
      "population": 51114599
    },
    {
      "year": 2009,
      "population": 51728516
    },
    {
      "year": 2010,
      "population": 52344051
    },
    {
      "year": 2011,
      "population": 52995205
    },
    {
      "year": 2012,
      "population": 53782567
    },
    {
      "year": 2013,
      "population": 54678791
    },
    {
      "year": 2014,
      "population": 55594838
    },
    {
      "year": 2015,
      "population": 56723537
    },
    {
      "year": 2016,
      "population": 57259551
    },
    {
      "year": 2017,
      "population": 57635162
    },
    {
      "year": 2018,
      "population": 58613001
    },
    {
      "year": 2019,
      "population": 59587885
    },
    {
      "year": 2020,
      "population": 60562381
    },
    {
      "year": 2021,
      "population": 61502603
    },
    {
      "year": 2022,
      "population": 62378410
    },
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "population": 63212384
    }
  ],
  "reference_raw": {
    "cca3": "ZAF",
    "name": {
      "common": "South Africa",
      "official": "Republic of South Africa",
      "native": {
        "afr": {
          "official": "Republiek van Suid-Afrika",
          "common": "South Africa"
        },
        "eng": {
          "official": "Republic of South Africa",
          "common": "South Africa"
        },
        "nbl": {
          "official": "IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika",
          "common": "Sewula Afrika"
        },
        "nso": {
          "official": "Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa ",
          "common": "Afrika-Borwa"
        },
        "sot": {
          "official": "Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa",
          "common": "Afrika Borwa"
        },
        "ssw": {
          "official": "IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika",
          "common": "Ningizimu Afrika"
        },
        "tsn": {
          "official": "Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa",
          "common": "Aforika Borwa"
        },
        "tso": {
          "official": "Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga",
          "common": "Afrika Dzonga"
        },
        "ven": {
          "official": "Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe",
          "common": "Afurika Tshipembe"
        },
        "xho": {
          "official": "IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika",
          "common": "Mzantsi Afrika"
        },
        "zul": {
          "official": "IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika",
          "common": "Ningizimu Afrika"
        }
      }
    },
    "tld": [
      ".za"
    ],
    "cca2": "ZA",
    "ccn3": "710",
    "cioc": "RSA",
    "independent": true,
    "status": "officially-assigned",
    "unMember": true,
    "unRegionalGroup": "African Group",
    "currencies": {
      "ZAR": {
        "name": "South African rand",
        "symbol": "R"
      }
    },
    "idd": {
      "root": "+2",
      "suffixes": [
        "7"
      ]
    },
    "capital": [
      "Pretoria",
      "Bloemfontein",
      "Cape Town"
    ],
    "altSpellings": [
      "ZA",
      "RSA",
      "Suid-Afrika",
      "Republic of South Africa"
    ],
    "region": "Africa",
    "subregion": "Southern Africa",
    "languages": {
      "afr": "Afrikaans",
      "eng": "English",
      "nbl": "Southern Ndebele",
      "nso": "Northern Sotho",
      "sot": "Southern Sotho",
      "ssw": "Swazi",
      "tsn": "Tswana",
      "tso": "Tsonga",
      "ven": "Venda",
      "xho": "Xhosa",
      "zul": "Zulu"
    },
    "translations": {
      "ara": {
        "official": "جمهورية جنوب أفريقيا",
        "common": "جنوب أفريقيا"
      },
      "bre": {
        "official": "Republik Suafrika",
        "common": "Suafrika"
      },
      "ces": {
        "official": "Jihoafrická republika",
        "common": "Jihoafrická republika"
      },
      "deu": {
        "official": "Republik Südafrika",
        "common": "Südafrika"
      },
      "est": {
        "official": "Lõuna-Aafrika Vabariik",
        "common": "Lõuna-Aafrika Vabariik"
      },
      "fin": {
        "official": "Etelä-Afrikan tasavalta",
        "common": "Etelä-Afrikka"
      },
      "fra": {
        "official": "République d'Afrique du Sud",
        "common": "Afrique du Sud"
      },
      "hrv": {
        "official": "Južnoafrička Republika",
        "common": "Južnoafrička Republika"
      },
      "hun": {
        "official": "Dél-afrikai Köztársaság",
        "common": "Dél-afrikai Köztársaság"
      },
      "ita": {
        "official": "Repubblica del Sud Africa",
        "common": "Sud Africa"
      },
      "jpn": {
        "official": "南アフリカ共和国",
        "common": "南アフリカ"
      },
      "kor": {
        "official": "남아프리카 공화국",
        "common": "남아프리카"
      },
      "nld": {
        "official": "Republiek Zuid-Afrika",
        "common": "Zuid-Afrika"
      },
      "per": {
        "official": "جمهوری آفریقای جنوبی",
        "common": "آفریقای جنوبی"
      },
      "pol": {
        "official": "Republika Południowej Afryki",
        "common": "Południowa Afryka"
      },
      "por": {
        "official": "República da África do Sul",
        "common": "África do Sul"
      },
      "rus": {
        "official": "Южно-Африканская Республика",
        "common": "Южно-Африканская Республика"
      },
      "slk": {
        "official": "Juhoafrická republika",
        "common": "Juhoafrická republika"
      },
      "spa": {
        "official": "República de Sudáfrica",
        "common": "Sudáfrica"
      },
      "srp": {
        "official": "Republika Južna Afrika",
        "common": "Južnoafrička Republika"
      },
      "swe": {
        "official": "Republiken Sydafrika",
        "common": "Sydafrika"
      },
      "tur": {
        "official": "Güney Afrika Cumhuriyeti",
        "common": "Güney Afrika"
      },
      "urd": {
        "official": "جمہوریہ جنوبی افریقا",
        "common": "جنوبی افریقا"
      },
      "zho": {
        "official": "南非共和国",
        "common": "南非"
      }
    },
    "latlng": [
      -29,
      24
    ],
    "landlocked": false,
    "borders": [
      "BWA",
      "LSO",
      "MOZ",
      "NAM",
      "SWZ",
      "ZWE"
    ],
    "area": 1221037,
    "flag": "🇿🇦",
    "demonyms": {
      "eng": {
        "f": "South African",
        "m": "South African"
      },
      "fra": {
        "f": "Sud-africaine",
        "m": "Sud-africain"
      }
    }
  }
}