- Official name
- Republic of South Africa Republiek van Suid-Afrika · Afrikaans
9 more names
Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa · Northern Sotho (Sepedi)IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika · Southern NdebeleRephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa · Sotho (Sesotho)IRiphabhulikhi yeNingizimu Afrika · Swazi (siSwati)Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga · Tsonga (Xitsonga)Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa · Tswana (Setswana)Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe · Venda (Tshivenda)IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika · XhosaIRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika · Zulu - Capital
- Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town
- Region
- Southern Africa
- Population (2018 est.)
- ≈ 58 million
- Area
- 1,221,037 km²
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)
- Neighbours
- Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe
- Internet / phone
- .za · +27
Where it is
Notable facts
- South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).
- It has twelve official languages, including South African Sign Language, recognised in 2023.
- The Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg has produced a large share of known early hominin fossils.
- The world’s first successful human heart transplant was performed in Cape Town in 1967.
World Heritage 12 sites
National dish
Bobotie Spiced minced beef with dried fruit under a set savoury egg custard, with turmeric rice and chutney.
Braai — meat over an open fire — is the national way of eating rather than one dish, and would win a vote.