South Africa
About South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is a sovereign country located in Africa, specifically within the Southern Africa subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Pretoria, and the country is home to approximately 63.1 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as “South Africa”, “South Africa”, “Sewula Afrika”. Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout South Africa. The official currency in circulation is the South African rand (R), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. South Africa is widely recognised for its safaris, Nelson Mandela's legacy and the city of Cape Town. People from South Africa are referred to as South African.
Geography & climate
South Africa covers approximately 1.22 million km² of territory, making it a large country by land area. It shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, South Africa sits in the Southern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 29.0° S, 24.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+02:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of South Africa can be summarised as: plateau, coast & drakensberg with mostly semi-arid with regional variation. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.
People, language & society
With roughly 63.1 million inhabitants, South Africa is one of the more populous nations on Earth. Linguistic life is plural here: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Citizens are formally known in English as South African, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the South African rand (R) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.
Quick facts at a glance
- 🏙️ CapitalPretoria
- 📛 Official nameRepublic of South Africa
- 🗣️ Native nameSouth Africa · South Africa · Sewula Afrika · Afrika-Borwa · Afrika Borwa · Ningizimu Afrika · Aforika Borwa · Afrika Dzonga · Afurika Tshipembe · Mzantsi Afrika · Ningizimu Afrika
- 🧑 DemonymSouth African
- 📍 RegionSouthern Africa
- 🌐 SubregionSouthern Africa
- 📐 Area1.22 million km²
- 👥 Population63.1 million
- 🌡️ ClimatePlateau, coast & Drakensberg · Mostly semi-arid with regional variation
- 🗺️ Land borders6
- 💬 LanguagesAfrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
- 💰 CurrencySouth African rand (R)
- 📞 Calling code+27
- 🌐 Internet TLD.za
- 🚗 Drives onleft side
- 🕐 Time zoneUTC+02:00
- 🇺🇳 UN memberYes
Practical travel & daily-life info
Visitors planning a trip to South Africa should familiarise themselves with the capital, Pretoria, the local time zone (UTC+02:00), the local currency (South African rand). The international dialling prefix is +27, which is required when phoning a South Africa number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .za, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.
Government & global standing
South Africa is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, South Africa is generally classified within the Africa region and more specifically the Southern Africa subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.
Bordering countries
South Africa shares land borders with 6 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:
Did you know?
South Africa is the only country to have voluntarily dismantled its own nuclear weapons — it built and then destroyed all six of its atomic bombs between 1979 and 1991.
South Africa in the GlobeIQ atlas
Inside the GlobeIQ game, South Africa appears as an easier opening puzzle for new players. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, South Africa carries the personality tags “🌈 Rainbow Nation” and “💎 Diamond Capital”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding South Africa to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.