South Africa (Republic of South Africa)  

Large country at the southern tip of African continent with a vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain.

Capital Pretoria (Cape Town is legislative center, Bloemfontein is judicial center)

Form of Government Republic

Legal System Based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law

Population 42,718,530

Area 1,219,912 sq km (slightly less than twice the size of Texas)

Climate Mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Nationality South African

Ethnic Groups Black 75.2%, white 13.6%, colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%

Major Languages Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Religions Christian 68%, Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%, indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%

Currency rand (ZAR)

Life Expectancy 44.19 years

Literacy 86.4%

GDP/capita $10,700

Unemployment Rate 31%